Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
POLITICS
The US economy Kamala Harris inherits and how she may run on it
CNN
By Elisabeth Buchwald, Chris Isidore, Bryan Mena and Allison Morrow
July 27, 2024
President Joe Biden arrived at the White House in 2021 at a time of heightened chaos and uncertainty across a country reeling from the pandemic. Biden used his inauguration address to promote unity, in hopes of delivering a nation that’s “stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future.” But, as Biden has acknowledged throughout his time in office, there’s more work to be done. That task could now fall to Vice President Kamala Harris, who inherits Biden’s campaign promises to rebuild the middle class, invest in infrastructure, boost domestic manufacturing and lower health care costs. Since Harris kicked off her presidential campaign, there’s been a string of good news for the US economy.
Project 2025’s Anti-Union Game Plan
Jacobin
By Jenny Brown
July 27, 2024
Corporate backers of the Donald Trump campaign have tipped their hand. In “Project 2025: Presidential Transition Project,” the Heritage Foundation unveiled its 900-page wish list for a new Trump presidency and a compliant Supreme Court. Trump’s victory last time was a surprise, and many corporate types view his chaotic term as a missed opportunity. This time Heritage, which is a mouthpiece for big employers, has compiled a long list of people they want Trump to hire and appoint, and a scorched-earth plan for his first 180 days.
House Dems Unveil Sweeping Bill to Protect Worker Rights and Safety
Common Dreams
By Brett Wilkins
July 26, 2024
A group of Democratic U.S. House members on Friday unveiled legislation "aimed at bolstering protections for America's workers and ensuring accountability for employers who flout labor and employment laws." The Labor Enforcement to Securely (LET'S) Protect Workers Act was introduced by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.)—the ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce—and House Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), and Steven Horsford (D-Nev.). Earlier this month, nearly 50 labor organizations led by the AFL-CIO and representing a wide range of U.S. workers urged congressional Democrats to resist Republican efforts to roll back rules enacted by the Biden administration to protect worker rights amid relentless attacks by abusive employers.
ORGANIZING
KCUR staffers vote to unionize. Negotiations will begin with the University of Missouri
KCUR
By Barbara Shelly
July 26, 2024
By an overwhelming majority, editorial staffers at KCUR have agreed to unionize and join the Communication Workers of America. More than 30 of the 39 eligible employees voted in favor of unionization. Among those eligible to vote were non-supervisory employees at Classical KC, as well as KCUR-based staffers for the Kansas News Service, the Midwest Newsroom and Harvest Public Media. They are all employees of KCUR and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
6,300 University of Pittsburgh staffers gain chance to join Steelworkers union
Trib Live Oakland News
By Bill Schackner
July 26, 2024
For University of Pittsburgh staff who watched as 3,400 faculty colleagues gained collective bargaining rights a few years back, what’s coming in the mail soon represents their own moment of choice. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board will oversee another union election at Pitt. This time, it’s for 6,300 staff. Ballots for the month-long voting will be mailed out on Aug. 15. They will ask eligible staff in Oakland, as well as Pitt-Greensburg, Pitt-Johnstown, Pitt-Bradford and Pitt -Titusville if they want to join the United Steelworkers, said Jess Kamm, a union spokeswoman.
JOINING TOGETHER
Union workers protest in downtown Baltimore
Afro News
By Tierra Stone
July 27, 2024
Members of Unite Here Local 7, the City Union of Baltimore, the American Federation of Government (AFGE) and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) joined forces July 25 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel located in the Inner Harbor to protest wages earned by hospitality workers.
NEGOTIATIONS & STRIKES
U.S. union and Apple reach tentative labor agreement
CNBC
By Reuters
July 26, 2024
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) reached a tentative agreement with tech giant Apple
on Friday over improvement in work-life balance, pay raises and job security. Workers at the Towson, Maryland, Apple retail store will vote on the tentative agreement on Aug. 6. The tentative three-year agreement includes an average pay raise of 10%, limits on contracted employees and a severance clause, improvement in work-life balance and rules on transparency. The deal will maintain all current benefits and an agreement to bargain over any future additions.
Video game actors and performers on strike over artificial intelligence protections
CBS News
By Julie Sharp
July 26, 2024
Video game actors went on strike early Friday morning after contract negotiations with major game studios broke down over artificial intelligence protections. The strike of around 2,500 SAG-AFTRA video game voice actors and motion capture performers comes after nearly two years of negotiations between the union and video game producers. The union argues that AI poses an even greater threat to voice and motion performers in the video game industry than it does to actors in film and television. Video game actors are seeking a new contract that would require producers to obtain their consent before reproducing their voices or likenesses with AI.
Video game actors last went on strike in October 2016, before AI became a major issue.
Apple agrees to first US labor deal
CNN
By Chris Isidore
July 27, 2024
Apple and the union representing retail workers at its store in Towson, Maryland, agreed to a tentative labor deal late Friday in the first US labor agreement not only for an Apple store but for any US workers of the tech giant. Workers at the Apple store in Towson had voted to join the International Association of Machinists union in June 2022 and have since been seeking their first contract. In May, they voted to authorize a strike without providing a deadline.
Worker's union releases report on AT&T worker issues amid contract negotiations
ABC News4
By Perrin Moore
July 26, 2024
The Communications Workers of America Southeast released a scathing report this week outlining issues they say are faced on the job and at home by AT&T technicians. The report comes as the union is negotiating with the multinational telecommunications holding company for a new contract. Communications Workers of America District 3 bargains on behalf of thousands of wire and premises technicians throughout the Southeast, including South Carolina. Over 150 union workers at Communications Workers of America Local 3704 are represented in the Charleston metro area, including technicians and buried service machine operators.
Hollywood Teamsters and other crew unions reach tentative deals with studios
Los Angeles Times
By Christi Carras
July 28, 2024
A coalition of unions representing drivers, mechanics, location managers, electricians and other Hollywood crew members has struck tentative contract deals with the major studios — closing out a long, turbulent chapter of labor activity in the film and TV industry. As of late Saturday night, the Hollywood Basic Crafts and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have reached agreements on six different contracts. The settlements concluded several weeks of negotiations that became notably tense following a less contentious contract campaign led by fellow crew members union IATSE. “After a long last 48 hours, we are proud to report that ALL Hollywood Basic Crafts Locals have reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP late this evening,” Hollywood Basic Crafts spokesperson Amy Gorton said in a statement.
Union for striking Minneapolis park workers says it’s reached a tentative contract agreement
MPR News
By MPR News Staff
After a strike lasting more than three weeks, the union representing Minneapolis park workers announced Friday morning that it’s reached a tentative contract agreement with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. LIUNA Local 363 said it’s canceled plans for picketing on Friday and will resume negotiations this morning to finalize details about returning to work. There was no immediate word from the Minneapolis Park Board on the possible agreement, and no information yet on the terms of a deal. The contentious strike centered on wages and also on contract wording.
Video game actors are on strike. Here’s what that means
Los Angeles Times
By Samantha Masunaga and Christi Carras
July 27, 2024
Video game performers are officially on strike. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists called a walkout this week on behalf of roughly 2,600 actors doing voice-over, motion-capture and other work in the gaming industry. Union leaders took the step after they could not reach an agreement on artificial intelligence terms while bargaining for a new contract with the top video game companies, including Activision, Electronic Arts, Insomniac and Blindlight.
Union for Apple workers in Towson reaches ‘historic’ contract with tech giant
The Baltimore Banner
By Cody Boteler
July 26, 2024
The union representing workers at the Apple store in Towson said it reached a contract agreement with the tech giant on Friday, calling it a first-of-its-kind deal, “historic” that gives its members “a voice in their futures.” The retail employees in Baltimore County, the first Apple employees in the country to organize, will vote on whether to ratify the contract in early August, according to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ Coalition of Organized Retail Employees.
Negotiators Reach A Deal, Avoiding Strike At Airline Caterer Gate Gourmet
Forbes
By Ted Reed
July 27, 2024
Negotiators have reached a near last-minute deal, averting the possibility of a strike at airline caterer Gate Gourmet. “We reached a tentative agreement late last night,” Meghan Cohorst, spokeswoman for Unite Here, said Saturday morning. “There are still a few critical issues to work out and we’ll be sharing more in the coming days.” The 8,000 workers are members of four unions, led by Unite Here with more than 5,000. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has about 3,000. Additionally, some workers are represented by two other unions: BCTGM, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union as well as RWDSU, the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union.
Minneapolis park workers returning to work Monday after reaching tentative agreement with board
KARE 11
By David Griswold
July 26, 2024
Minneapolis park workers will return to work Monday after the union and board signed a tentative agreement Friday to end the contentious strike that spanned more than three weeks. LIUNA Local 363, the union representing more than 300 workers, will vote on the contract next week, but no specific date or location have been announced.
Disneyland workers to vote on tentative labor deal on Monday
LAist
By Gillian Morán Pérez
July 28, 2024
On Monday, thousands of Disneyland employees will vote on a labor contract reached last week.
How we got here: These 14,000 employees — from candy workers, and costumers to retail workers — have been in negotiations with the theme park since April. They were seeking a more flexible attendance policy, pay raises and an extra bump for people who have worked at the theme park for decades.
SLU Hospital nurses ratify new contract
First Alert 4
By First Alert 4 Staff
July 27, 2024
Saint Louis University Hospital nurses ratified a new three-year contract Saturday after more than a year of negotiations and two strikes. According to the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, the contract includes safe staffing provisions, health and safety language, no contract takeaways and economic gains and health benefit provisions. “This new contract is a huge win for patients and nurses,” Earline Shepard, RN in the cardiac catheterization lab at SLUH, said. “It was a long time coming but we finally won an agreement that will let us recruit and retain experienced nurses. With improved staffing, we can give our patients the care they deserve.”
NLRB
NLRB nixes Trump-era rule that eliminated common union election strategy
Reuters
By Daniel Wiessner
July 26, 2024
Major unions including the AFL-CIO and North America’s Building Trades Unions had filed petitions urging the NLRB to rescind the rule eliminating blocking charges. The AFL-CIO also filed a lawsuit in 2020 claiming the rule conflicted with federal labor law and the NLRB had failed to follow the proper administrative procedures in adopting it. The case in Washington, D.C., federal court had been stayed pending the new rule issued on Friday. Friday's rule also rescinds a provision of the 2020 rule involving employers' voluntary recognition of unions.
IN THE STATES
Labor, veteran and Black leaders make case for Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown
Ohio Capital Journal
By Nick Evans
July 26, 2024
Unsurprisingly many of Brown’s backers come from organized labor. Representatives from the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union and the Ohio Federation of Teachers all sung his praises. Tim Burga from the AFL-CIO pointed to Brown’s support for paid family leave, the expanded child tax credit and the PRO Act, which protects the right of employees to organize their workplaces. “Sherrod is one of the few elected officials who not only talks, but also listens and then acts,” Burga said. “We never have to wonder about where Sherrod stands. He always stands with Ohio workers.”
Beaver County broadband project ranks high on grades from Communications Workers of America
The Times
By Garret Roberts
July 26, 2024
Beaver County's broadband improvements are receiving national praise as a new report details how the project was a successful use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) published a "Broadband Report Card" last week, giving rankings to 14 different projects that had received funding through ARPA's State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). In their rankings, Beaver County's broadband project, which was contracted with Verizon, received the second-highest grade. “At CWA Local 13000 in Pennsylvania, we know what it means to build broadband the right way, and that starts with a highly qualified local workforce. Thanks to Beaver County’s close collaboration with Verizon, and their joint effort to prioritize union workers, we’ve been able to ensure that the federal dollars from ARPA are going towards a high-quality buildout,” said Jim Gardler, president of the local branch of the labor union.
EDUCATION
President of nation's second-largest teachers union says Gov. Abbott is 'defunding' public schools
WFAA
By Michael McCardel
July 28, 2024
When we sat down with the President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), she didn’t hold back when discussing the state of public schools in Texas, in general, and in Houston, specifically. Randi Weingarten says Governor Greg Abbott is “defunding” public schools, and she points to the Houston ISD as an example. The Texas Education Agency took control of the district in June 2023 and installed Mike Miles as Superintendent after ousting the previous Superintendent and the democratically elected school board.
LABOR LEADERSHIP
Association of Flight Attendants' Sara Nelson on United Airlines, Delta, and Kamala Harris
Quartz
By Melvin Backman
July 28, 2024
The Association of Flight Attendants, the union representing flight attendants at United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and more, is always in the middle of a fight, whether it’s a picket or a strike or a contract negotiation. Two of the biggest fights it has going right now are trying to work out its first contract in three years at United — and working up to its first contract ever at Delta Air Lines. The union’s president, Sara Nelson, spoke to Quartz about those battles, as well as the Railway Labor Act, the latest read on the fallout from Joe Biden’s dropping out of the race for president and a few other topics in the industry.
VOTING RIGHTS
How Some States Are Making It Harder to Register Voters
New York Times
By Michael Wines
July 26, 2024
LaVon Bracy has been registering Florida voters ever since Lyndon Johnson signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act, because she wanted, she said, to give others the voice she was denied as a Black student in a largely white high school. In an average year, she said, the nonprofit Faith in Florida, where she serves as democracy director, used to add 12,000 new voters to the state’s rolls. That ended last year, when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that imposed tough new rules on voter registration drives in the name of stopping fraud — and made voter registration groups that break the rules liable for fines as high as $250,000.