LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY
Deadline
By Max Goldbart
June 11, 2024
The new WGA-AMPTP deal is months old but the AI battle is far from over, according to union negotiator John August. August was speaking on an AVPSummit panel showcasing several AI-generated videos and images that he said represents a grave threat, even after the WGA was able to secure AI guardrails for the first time in its latest deal. “We were in negotiations with the six biggest companies but the things we see here today did not require a big company [to create],” he added.
APPRENTICESHIPS/TRAININGS
More than 6,100 members from five trade unions gearing up for skills training
Morning Star
By GlobeNewswire
June 10, 2024
More than 6,100 members from five national and international trade unions will travel to Ann Arbor this summer to advance their skills and knowledge. Nearly 5,000 will train at Washtenaw Community College (WCC). Plumber and pipefitter; ironworker; roofer; plasterer and cement mason; and electrical worker union members will train with their respective trade organizations each for a week beginning today through August. The “teach the teacher” partnerships bring union members from throughout the United States and countries such as Canada, Ireland, Australia and beyond. Through a multi-year program, trainers work to enhance their skills and safety practices and then go back to teach fellow trade workers in their organizations.
ORGANIZING
Educators, staff in Va.’s largest school district back collective bargaining
The Washington Post
By Karina Elwood
June 11, 2024
Teachers and staff in Fairfax County, home to Virginia’s largest school district, are a step closer to being able to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement for the first time in nearly 50 years. School employees overwhelmingly voted in favor of collective bargaining on Monday, with the Fairfax Education Association and the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers coming together under an alliance group, the Fairfax Education Unions, that will represent more than 27,000 school system employees in labor talks.
American Folk Art Museum, Glenstone Museum Vote To Unionize
The Art Insider
By Karan
June 11, 2024
Last week, employees at the American Folk Art Museum and the Glenstone Museum voted separately in favor of unionizing. On June 6, the staff at the American Folk Art Museum (AFAM) unanimously voted in favor of unionizing and joining with the UAW Local 2110. The move came a month after the employees initially announced their intention to unionize, citing issues like better benefits and better wages. Other local museums affiliated with the UAW Local 2110 are the Dia Art Foundation and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
Austin Pets Alive workers vote to unionize, creating the largest animal shelter union in the U.S.
KUT News
By Katy McAfee
June 11, 2024
Workers at local animal shelter Austin Pets Alive voted to unionize on Friday after almost a year of organizing. The union will support nearly 200 employees, making it the largest animal shelter union in the country, according to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers, the union representing APA staff. APA employees say they are fighting to secure a contract with better pay and benefits, more work-life balance and newer equipment for the animals. Morty Gillum, who works with cat placement at APA, said unionizing will ultimately improve the lives of the animals at the shelter. “Our voice isn’t listened to when we are the ones who are giving the care to animals every day,” Gillum said. “Winning this election really gives us a chance to give the animals the voice and the advocation they need for the care they need.”
Nurses at Essentia’s 3rd St. Clinic vote to unionize
Northern News Now
By Jason Van Horn
June 10, 2024
Just weeks after nurses at two Essential Health facilities voted to form unions, nurses at another clinic are taking steps to unionize. At a news conference Monday night, nurses at Essentia’s 3rd Street Clinic and Patient Flow Hospital in Duluth announced they plan to vote to join the Minnesota Nurses Association union. The announcement followed similar moves recently by nurses at Essentia’s 1st and 2nd Street clinics, Miller Hill Surgery Center, and Solvay Hospice House staff. The nurses argue they want a voice at the table to improve both working conditions, have fair wages and benefits, and how care is provided to their patients.
JOINING TOGETHER
Food 4 Less workers may go on strike; chain has stores in Cathedral City, Indio, Coachella
Desert Sun
By City News Service
June 11, 2024
Workers at the grocery chain Food 4 Less, which has three stores in the Coachella Valley, are voting this week on whether to authorize a strike as their union and the company remain deadlocked on a contract. The chain's owners presented what they deemed their “best offer,” including wage increases of up to $3.25 an hour for some workers over the next three years. The strike authorization vote will continue through the week, absent a contract agreement, with results set to be announced after voting ends on Friday, according to a statement by United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442. Their labor contract expired Saturday.
Supplier to Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in contract dispute with UAW workers
WDRB
By Chris Otts
June 10, 2024
A key supplier to Ford Motor Co.'s Kentucky Truck Plant is mired in a contract dispute with its rank-and-file workers. About 100 United Auto Workers members at Dakkota Integrated Systems rejected the company's "last, best and final" contract offer in a vote earlier this month. While members earlier voted unanimously to authorize a strike, the union and the company continue to negotiate, UAW Local 3058 President Tom Williams told WDRB News.
City of Jacksonville & IAFF Local 122 Reach Collective Bargaining Agreement
Jacksonville Free Press
By Staff
June 10, 2024
After months of productive negotiations, the City of Jacksonville and International Association of Firefighters, Local 122 have reached and signed a three-year tentative collective bargaining agreement.
Maryland parole officers rally for better safety after colleague's alleged murder
WJLA
By Brad Bell
June 11, 2024
More than 100 Maryland parole and probation officers rallied Tuesday for better safety measures in the wake of the alleged murder of Agent Davis Martinez on May 31 in Chevy Chase. Standing outside the Catonsville, Maryland headquarters of the Division of Parole and Probation, the workers stood for a moment of silence for Agent Martinez before voicing their concerns. The workers are members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 3, and they have released a list of demands to improve safety.
NLRB
CWA accuses Activision QA supplier Lionbridge of retaliatory layoffs
Game Developer
By Chris Kerr
June 11, 2024
U.S. labor union the Communications Workers of America (CWA) has filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against Lionbridge Technologies for allegedly laying off 160 people after they attempted to organize. Lionbridge is a Microsoft supplier that has provided QA services to Activision. The CWA previously helped workers at both Activision Blizzard and Microsoft unionize. Now, the union has filed ULP charges with the National Labor Relations board and claims Lionbridge laid off its entire team in Boise, Idaho, after they engaged in "protected organizing activities and protected speech" when attempting to raise concerns about their working conditions.
CWA files Unfair Labor Practice charges against Microsoft supplier Lionbridge
Games Industry Biz
By Sophie McEvoy
June 11, 2024
The Communications Workers of America has filed Unfair Labor Practice charges against Lionbridge Technologies, which Microsoft has been working with as a QA contractor on Activision projects. The CWA issued the notion with the National Relations Board (NLRB), in which it alleged that Lionbridge violated the rights of its Boise, Idaho team. The filing claimed that Lionbridge laid off the entire team after workers had engaged in collective action about their working conditions.
IN THE STATES
New Jersey State AFL-CIO 31st Constitutional Convention
Insider NJ
By Staff
June 11, 2024
Today, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was a hive of activity as the New Jersey State AFL-CIO gathered with over 400 delegates and guests from affiliated unions for the labor organization’s 31st Constitutional Convention. The delegates asserted their trust in the leadership of President Charles Wowkanech and Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan by unanimously voting to elect President Wowkanech, Secretary Laurel Brennan, and the Executive Board to a four-year term. Throughout their time in office, President Wowkanech and Secretary-Treasurer Brennan have demonstrated a keen understanding of the needs and concerns of the average New Jersey worker. “Each opportunity to improve the lives of New Jersey’s working men and women is a privilege,” said President Wowkanech. “Now more than ever is the time for an unprecedented mobilization effort of the labor movement, not only in New Jersey but nationally, in order to secure a victory for all working families on Election Day.”
Advocates lobby for diverse Massachusetts teaching license
WWLP
By Olivia Ray
June 11, 2024
Advocates gathered to lobby for an educator diversity act on Tuesday at the State House in Boston. On the State House steps, educators and advocates gathered to lobby for the Educator Diversity Act which would allow alternative processes for granting educational licensure. This would include abolishing the requirement for the Massachusetts Test of Educator Licensure, or MTEL, which teachers of color are disproportionately less likely to pass.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
New York State Senate passes Retail Worker Safety Act
Fibre2Fashion
By Staff
June 11, 2024
The New York State Senate has passed the Retail Worker Safety Act, following the passage of the coordinating bill in the Assembly. This landmark legislation mandates corporate retail employers to adopt comprehensive violence prevention plans, train workers in de-escalation and active shooter scenarios, and for large employers, install panic buttons throughout the workplace. The act has been vigorously championed by President Stuart Appelbaum and members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), who have mobilised retail workers across New York State. They organised rallies and press conferences in cities such as New York City, Albany, and online via Zoom, advocating for the bill alongside Senator Jessica Ramos and Assembly member Karines Reyes, RWDSU said in a press release. Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), said: “Today’s passage of the Retail Worker Safety Act by the State Senate is a critical step towards common sense safety measures for retail workers across New York. When the bill is signed into law, basic protections will be provided for both workers and customers. Throughout this campaign, we have heard deeply troubling workers’ stories from all over the state—stories of violent crimes, senseless shootings and harassment. “Workers in retail stores in New York should never have to experience anything like this. One thing is for certain, however: employers can and should do more to protect their employees. That’s why we’re championing this critical law, which requires that retail employers take full responsibility to protect their workers from violence.”
WAGE THEFT
Oakland issues ultimatum to airport hotel in $400,000 wage-theft case
The Mercury News
By Shomik Mukherjee
June 11, 2024
Stopping just short of filing a civil lawsuit, the city of Oakland has issued an ultimatum to the Radisson Hotel near the airport: Pay $400,000 to workers who were victims of wage theft, or face significant consequences. The penalties threatened by the city could include opposition to the Radisson ownership’s goal of converting the 266-room building into affordable housing as part of a continued state program that has been sheltering people experiencing homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CIVIL, HUMAN, AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Pride at Work: building power for LGBTQ workers
The Stand
By Staff
June 11, 2024
LGBTQ workers are leading worker organizing across the US, with trans and queer workers at the forefront of some of labor’s biggest fights. That leadership is nothing new. While much progress has been made in the past few decades, LGBTQ workers still face discrimination on the job — and no matter what, we know the best tool we have to protect and exercise our rights as working people is a union contract. At our best, our labor movement is a powerful force for ensuring equal treatment for LGBTQ working folks — and a welcoming home for all trans and queer workers to organize for both economic and social justice. Enter Pride at Work (P@W), the AFL-CIO constituency group building power for LGBTQ workers, both those in unions and those not (yet) organized. P@W organizes mutual support between organized labor and the LGBTQ community to further social and economic justice.
UNION BUSTING
Chef Ann Kim 'wholeheartedly believes' her Uptown workers don't need to unionize
Star Tribune
By Emma Nelson
June 10, 2024
Workers at Kim's would join Unite Here Local 17, a hospitality union that represents workers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as well as stadiums, hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs across Minnesota."We are disappointed that Vestalia Hospitality has chosen to engage in textbook union-busting tactics at Kim's rather than listen to a supermajority of their workers," Unite Here said in a statement of the parent company of Kim's restaurants. "The challenges of this restaurant — and any restaurant — can be addressed when workers, organized together as a union, have a meaningful and recognized voice in their own workplace."
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