POLITICS
The Biden Administration's labor department is hitting the road for 'Good Jobs Summer'
Business Insider
By Juliana Kaplan
June 3, 2024
It's the DOL's latest attempt at promoting the idea of "good jobs," and making them more widespread. Part of Su's guiding edicts is to fill the economy with jobs that provide workers security, stability, good pay, and benefits. The Good Jobs Principles framework outlines eight hallmarks of what makes a job good quality; that includes hiring and recruitment from underrepresented backgrounds and doing away with unnecessary educational or credential requirements — a major barrier for many workers. It also includes better pay, benefits, job security, and access.
Biden vetoes bill to overturn NLRB joint employer rule, protecting workers
Labor Tribune
By Staff
June 3, 2024
President Biden has vetoed a Congressional Review Act measure that sought to overturn the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule preventing corporations from hiding behind a subcontractor or staffing agency when workers want to collectively bargain. The NLRB’s joint employer rule expands bargaining obligations and liability for labor violations for employers that have power over working conditions, even if workers are hired through a third party or by franchisees of a larger franchise. The regulation ensures that union members can bargain with each company that has the power to make changes in the workplace. A two-thirds majority in the House and Senate would be required to overturn the veto, an unlikely scenario as an overwhelming majority of congressional Democrats endorse the rule. “Since day one, my administration has fought to strengthen workers’ right to organize and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions,” Biden said in a statement.
LABOR AND ECONOMY
AFGE, AFL-CIO laud anti-job discrimination, pro-public service bills
Labor Tribune
By Staff
June 3, 2024
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) are lauding the latest version of legislation opposing job discrimination on the basis of age and of being differently abled. And the AFL-CIO has thrown its support behind a reintroduced bill giving all public service workers the freedom to bargain — effectively overriding bargaining bans in Texas, North Carolina and elsewhere. The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would extend bargaining rights, the right “to join a union chosen by a majority,” the right to bargain “over essential workplace matters, to access dispute resolution” and to collect union dues, AFL-CIO Legislative Director Jody Calemine wrote to lawmakers on May 15. They’d also be able to “engage in activities related to collective bargaining and mutual aid.”
JOINING TOGETHER
Unionized iron workers warn contractors they won’t rest until bosses negotiate contract
Nevada Current
By Jennifer Solis
June 3, 2024
In April, the National Labor Relations Board finally certified a union election held by Las Vegas iron workers seeking to join the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. Workers at Black Iron Reinforcing, a Nevada-based concrete reinforcing contractor, voted in September 2022 to join the Ironworkers Union, but the company objected, resulting in a two year delay. Since then, the Ironworkers Union has been helping workers try to improve working conditions at the company while waiting for recognition and a union contract. “What we are fighting for is a contract,” said Artero, a 53 year-old former Black Iron worker from Mexico, and a member of Arriba Las Vegas Workers Center. “We all know that if we are successful at getting the company owners to sign a contract, we can solve all the labor abuses we’ve experienced until now.”
TWU Ratifies Three-Year Contract With NJ Transit
Railway Age
By Carolina Worrell
June 3, 2024
Transport Workers Union (TWU) of America members at Local 2001 working for NJ Transit recently voted to ratify a new three-year contract that includes pay raises and additional time off. The new contract, which will go into effect on July 1, the day after the current agreement expires, was ratified with 80% of votes in favor for the unit representing 180 car inspectors, car mechanics and coach cleaners. According to the union, the new contract, negotiated by Local 2001 President Patrick Howard, Vice President Patrick Flannery and Secretary-Treasurer Brian Corallo with assistance from TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz, includes 3% pay raises for three years, Veterans Day as a paid holiday and one additional paid sick day, bringing the total number of paid sick days to six.
Indie Wire
By Ben Travers
June 2, 2024
One year ago, as the WGA strike was just getting underway and the SAG strike was still looming, Beau Willimon and Greg Iwinski took part in a panel at the ATX TV Festival to rally support and better explain what their unions were fighting to secure. Sunday, with both strikes in the rearview mirror following major victories for both parties, the two WGA East members returned to the festival with SAG member and national board representative Dulé Hill to discuss what they won and what work still needs to be done.
Airport Service Workers, Allies To Rally At CLT Airport To Confront American Airlines
WCCB Charlotte
By Deeandra Michel
June 3, 2024
Airport service workers who work for airline service providers at one of American Airlines’ fastest-growing hubs are coming together with allies and other workers throughout the airline’s system to demand the country’s largest domestic air carrier take responsibility for the airport service workers who fuel their profits, according to a news release. On Tuesday, workers in Charlotte will be joined by airport service workers from every American Airlines hub at a rally to demand the airline use their power to ensure that their airline service providers end poverty wages, respect workers’ right to form a union, win affordable healthcare and commit to ending practices that leave Black, brown and immigrant workers siloed in poverty level jobs. The rally comes as over 10,000 airport service workers around the country bargain new contracts with their employers where they reiterate the same demands.
Nurses Rally Against New Float Pool Nurses Scheduling Rules at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Hospital
The Pride
By The Pride LA
July 2, 2024
Registered nurses from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) held a rally on May 29 to protest significant scheduling changes for float pool nurses as part of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) Union. These changes, proposed by management, could lead to mass resignations, negatively affect patient safety, and create unsafe staffing levels across UCLA Health. Float pool nurses at UCLA are crucial, covering multiple units within their specialties to address staffing shortfalls. For several years, these nurses have enjoyed flexible scheduling, allowing them to arrange four shifts at any time during a month. However, starting May 25, UCLA management plans to require float pool nurses to work at least one shift per week.
Muni Workers Might Go On Strike This Summer as Union Rejects Proposed Contract
SFist
By Joe Kukura
June 3, 2024
Well, this could shake up the mayoral race, as well as ruining everyone’s commute possibly as soon as July, as the union of Muni operators, fare inspectors, and mechanics has rejected their new proposed labor agreement and might go on strike this summer. Many of us are just learning today that the current labor contract for SF Muni drivers expires in just 28 days, on June 30, 2024. And we are learning this in the context that the Transport Workers Union Local 250-A union that represents Muni drivers, fare inspectors, mechanics, and other transit workers has rejected the new labor contract just offered to them, as the Examiner first reported late last week.
IN THE STATES
Missouri AFL-CIO’s Jake Hummel receives Labor advocacy award from JeffCo Dems
Labor Tribune
By Sheri Gassaway
June 3, 2024
Jake Hummel, president of the Missouri AFL-CIO, has received the Jefferson County Democrats Labor Advocate of the Year award for leading an extraordinary career in representing working class families in Missouri. Hummel, a third-generation electrician and member of IBEW Local 1, served in the Missouri House and Senate for years and is a founding member of the St. Louis City Labor Legislative Club. He was honored at the Jefferson County Democrats Third Annual Awards Dinner at Taytro’s Bar & Catering in Festus on May 22. “I truly appreciate the Democratic Party and Organized Labor, and Organized Labor is one of the legs in the stool of the Democratic Party,” Hummel said. “I’m truly honored and humbled to be recognized tonight.”
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Hair Stylists and Makeup Artists from IATSE Local Union 706 to Hold Craft Fair June 9
My Burbank
By Community Contributor
June 3, 2024
Over 40 vendors will be selling their wares this Sunday, June 9, 2024 at the Hair Stylists and Makeup Guild Artists Co-Op Garage/Craft Sale. They’ll be joined by food trucks, face painters, cosplayers, and “Mandalorian” actor Brendan Wayne. Local hair and makeup artists created the co-op when the writers’ strike started in 2020, leaving so many out of work. The event’s purpose is for those without work to earn money for life necessities such as food, rent, and gas in one of America’s most expenses cities. Even with the strike over, work is scarce and many people have not picked up jobs like they previously did before the strike. “We in Local 706 are all artists by definition, and we have much more to offer than just hair and makeup,” said event co-founder Maria Sandoval. “Everyone has stepped up their side hustle to make ends meet. This fair is a great way to showcase and sell our wares,” added Sandoval who sells her custom belt buckles and original artwork.
PAYWATCH/CEO PAY
CEOs made nearly 200 times what their workers got paid last year
AP
By Mae Anderson, Paul Harloff and Barbara Ortutay
June 3, 2024
After World War II and up until the 1980s, CEOs of large publicly traded companies made about 40 to 50 times the average worker’s pay, said Brandon Rees, deputy director of corporations and capital markets for the AFL-CIO, which runs an Executive Paywatch website that tracks CEO pay. “The (current) pay ratio signals a sort of a winner take all culture, that companies are treating their CEOs as, you know, as superstars as opposed to, team players,” Rees said.
UNION BUSTING
Is Paul Stamets’ Union Busting Setting a Dangerous Precedent for the Psychedelics World?
Talking Drugs
By André Gomes
June 3, 2024
The company of renowned mycologist and psychedelic advocate Paul Stamets has hired union-busting companies to prevent workers from organising. This revelation comes following the news that workers at Stamets’ enterprise, Fungi Perfecti, have joined their local union to advocate for better working conditions. Speaking to one of the members of the Fungi Perfecti union organising committee, TalkingDrugs understood that the company has hired American Labor Group (ALG), a human resources consulting firm that specialises in “union avoidance” tactics, and acquired similar services from Littler Mendelson P.C., a multinational labour and employment law firm infamous for busting union efforts in companies like Starbucks and Amazon.