MUST READ
EPA bans last form of asbestos used in United States
WSVN
By CNN
March 18, 2024
The AFL-CIO, the country’s largest labor federation that includes unions, applauded the EPA’s ban for providing “landmark protection” for workers. “This action once more shows the deep commitment of the Biden administration to ensure working people remain safe and healthy on the job,” the federation said in a statement. It added, though, that although it is a critical step forward, Monday’s action does not eliminate all types of asbestos fibers and does not address “legacy” asbestos through the country’s old buildings and infrastructure. “We urge the EPA to move swiftly to address those risks as well,” the AFL-CIO said.
EPA Announces 'Long-Overdue' Asbestos Ban
Common Dreams
By Brett Wilkins
March 18, 2024
Labor and environmental advocates on Monday applauded the Environmental Protection Agency for finalizing a ban on the last remaining type of asbestos used in the United States eight years after Congress amended the nation's chemical safety law to accelerate the phaseout of the carcinogenic substance. Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO union, hailed the EPA's "groundbreaking, landmark protection," adding that "unions have been sounding the alarm on this dangerous substance for decades."
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND CLIMATE
Feds' proposed site for offshore wind gets mixed grades from labor, lobster trade groups
Maine Biz
By Laurie Schreiber
March 18, 2024
Cynthia Phinney, president of the Maine AFL-CIO, said offshore wind has potential community benefits.
“We are extremely pleased that BOEM has heard the concerns of fishermen and their union allies by excluding critical lobster grounds from the siting of offshore wind,” said Phinney. “Offshore wind has the potential to transform our coastal economies with thousands of well-paying union jobs, make Maine more energy independent, and substantially cut our climate pollution, but it’s crucial that these projects are sited properly so that our fishing communities are protected.”
ORGANIZING
VW Workers Seek Union Vote at Tennessee Plant for Third Time
The New York Times
By Neal E. Boudette
March 18, 2024
Volkswagen employees in Tennessee who are hoping to join the United Automobile Workers asked a federal agency on Monday to hold an election, a key step toward the union’s longtime goal of organizing nonunion factories across the South. With the union’s backing, Volkswagen workers filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board asking for a vote on U.A.W. representation, saying that more than 70 percent of the 4,000 eligible workers at the plant had signed cards supporting the union. “Today, we are one step closer to making a good job at Volkswagen into a great career,” Isaac Meadows, an assembly worker at the plant, said in a statement.
Auto Workers are unionizing at Harvard University
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
March 18, 2024
The United Auto Workers are unionizing at Harvard, or, to be precise, among the prestigious and influential university’s non-tenure-track research and teaching employees. “In a miraculous come from behind winnnn we @HAWorkers have our elections in early April!! Totally thrilled to be able to VOTE YES and get to bargaining the first historic contract for HLS clinical workers,” tweeted law school worker Rebecca Greening, one of the lead organizers of the drive.
On-Air Employees at Erie Station Vote to Join Union
Ad Week
By Kevin Eck
March 18, 2024
In an 11 to 4 vote, anchors, reporters, meteorologists and other on-air employees at Nexstar-owned ABC and Fox affiliates WJET-WFXP in Erie, Pennsylvania voted to unionize with the Screen Actors Guild — American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO. “We believe our union will strengthen WJET-TV as a station and make it a better source of news and information for viewers in the Erie community,” said the union. “Some of the most pressing issues we wanted to address by forming this union were staffing, wages, and the fair and uniform enforcement of company policies.”
JOINING TOGETHER
University of Michigan unions gather in support of collective bargaining efforts
WEMU
By Taylor Bowie
March 18, 2024
Unions across the University of Michigan gathered this weekend to support the bargaining efforts many of the unions are undergoing. Representatives from twelve organizations at the university gathered to discuss their priorities for ongoing union contract negotiations. Among the speakers was Penni Toney, the president of the United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals union. She says UMMAP wants to restore benefits that were taken away during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Striking Pittsburgh news workers take their cause to billboards around city
Pittsburgh Union Progress
By Bob Batz Jr.
March 18, 2024
Workers from five unions that have been on strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for 17 months put their cause on billboards around the city. “Post-Gazette: Restore our healthcare,” the billboards read. “End the strike now.” The photo was made by Steve Mellon, one of the journalists in the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, who went on its own unfair labor practice strike on Oct. 18, 2022. Higgins says being on billboards “feels a bit surreal,” but, “I am extremely happy and honored to be on the front lines of the strike. We are now on day 528 [Sunday], and yet we are still stronger than ever, and we will not back down!”
Tallahassee firefighters blast city leaders, step down over pay raise, contract dispute
Tallahassee Democrat
By Elena Barrera
March 18, 2024
Three firefighters stepped down from the Tallahassee Fire Department over the last week, with two publicly blaming city politics and low pay for their departures. In social media announcements posted on their personal pages, the heavy-hearted firemen said their "backs were against the wall" and they were unable to support their families on their current salaries.
Union Members Protest at East Brunswick Public Library
Tap Into
By Maureen Berzok
March 18, 2024
Members of the Communication Workers of America Local 1031 which represents the library workers at the East Brunswick Public Library staged a protest this Saturday to bring attention to the need for "equitable salary increases'' and the fair treatment of part-time workers who comprise more than 75% of the EBPL staff. This Tuesday night, March 19, workers will attend the Library Board meeting scheduled for 7:30pm in EBPL's Meeting Room 3. Led by CWA leaders and Kathleen Hernandez, President of Local 1031, more than 30 workers and supporters marched in front of the library and in the Municipal Courtyard to express their grievances. In addition to salary concerns, issues include payment for part-time workers on days when the library is unexpectedly closed (weather or other emergency) or during a prolonged closure like 2023's renovation of the EBPL.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Third Annual $5 for the Fight Comedy Night a roaring success
Labor Tribune
By Sheri Gassaway
March 18, 2024
Some 240 people packed this year’s Third Annual St. Louis Labor Council “Dick Kellett $5 for the Fight Comedy Night,” raising $5,225 for local union members in need. The Feb. 24 event, co-hosted by the Labor Tribune, was held at the CWA Local 6300 union hall in Maryland Heights. Guests were entertained by three comedians – Sean O’Brien, Johnny Kavanaugh and Joe Marlotti. “I was really pleased with the turnout,” said Morton Todd, the event’s organizer. “I had quite a few people come up to me after the event who said they really enjoyed themselves.” The late Dick Kellett was a fierce fighter for the working men and women of Missouri. His legacy is honored through raising money to help union families that are facing tough times through the “$5 for the Fight” fund, contributions to which are now tax-deductible. Prior to the laughs, the St. Louis Labor Council paid tribute to Mike Louis, former president of the Missouri AFL-CIO, and former Missouri Senator Gina Walsh, deputy director of the International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators Union Labor Management and Cooperative Trust (LMCT).
Birdhouse builds bring together union members and families in Kansas City
Labor Tribune
By Staff
March 18, 2024
Volunteers from Laborers’ International Union of North American (LiUNA) Local 663 hosted a family bluebird birdhouse build in early February, marking the first Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) outreach event of the year. LiUNA also hosted a kestrel nesting box project on Feb. 17 for LiUNA retirees who put their skills to work building the intricate boxes. At the LiUNA Local 663 Hall in Kansas City, 30 participants ranging from toddlers to grandparents built and took home all 50 birdhouses that were provided by the USA.
RETIREMENT SECURITY
Trump Wants to Destroy Social Security, But Biden Plan Would Improve and Expand It
Common Dreams
By Robert Reich
March 18, 2024
Biden wants to save Social Security by having the super-rich — who have become far richer over the past several decades — pay more Social Security taxes. Let's be clear about what's at stake in this election. During a typically rambling and incoherent interview last week, Trump admitted he would cut Social Security and Medicare if reelected. “There is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements.”
UNION BUSTING
Low morale, allegations of union busting plague ongoing talks between workers and DART
KERA News
By Pablo Arauz Peña
March 18, 2024
Longtime DART employees are frustrated with decisions by the agency’s leadership they say are impacting benefits and morale among workers. Last week, members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1338, which represents DART workers, met with DART leadership as part of a process called meet and confer to discuss policy changes. The union can’t legally strike, so it’s the only avenue the union has to negotiate with the agency. “I was hoping it would have been better than what we had already in place, as far as our policies, that we will retain those, and that we could discuss issues that were relevant to what we need to negotiate going forward in the future,” said Donnie Jolly, president of the local union. “That didn't happen.”