MUST WATCH
The Union Advantage on Infrastructure Projects
Bloomberg TV
July 29, 2021
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka joined Bloomberg TV to discuss the union advantage on infrastructure projects.
MUST READ
ESG investors press companies for fairer labor polices
Roll Call
By By Keith Lewis
July 29, 2021
“Responsible investors understand the importance of respecting the rights of working people to come together into unions,” Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer, said in an emailed statement. “If we are going to have sustainable economic growth, we need to restore balance to our economy between runaway CEO pay and stagnating worker wages.”
JOINING TOGETHER
17,000 University of California Researchers Could Soon Win a Union
Jacobin
By Oren Schweitzer
July 29, 2021
University of California student researchers have announced they have union authorization cards from a super-majority of 17,000 researchers throughout the UC system — one of the largest union drives in recent US history. We spoke to three of the researchers about why they want a union.
Google Contract Workers Win First Labor Deal After Nearly 2 Years Of Negotiations
WESA
By An-Li Herring
July 29, 2021
Nearly two years after unionizing, contract workers based at Google’s Bakery Square office have ratified their first labor contract. In a 51-4 vote tallied Wednesday night, employees of HCL America approved the agreement, ending an unfair labor practices claim against the company that had been pending before the National Labor Relations Board. “We’re super proud that we were able to achieve this contract — it’s a fair contract,” said Amanda Parks, a senior analyst at HCL who was involved in the bargaining process. “The wage increases and job security that we’ll be enjoying has definitely made the past two years more than worth it.”
Women’s soccer union launches #NoMoreSideHustles campaign urging better pay for players
Kansas City Star
By Cora Hall
July 29, 2021
The NWSL currently has a minimum player salary of $22,000 per year. According to the players’ union, the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA), a third of its members make the league minimum. And 75% make $31,000 or less. Last week, the union, which Averbuch West founded in 2017, kicked off an awareness campaign called #NoMoreSideHustles. Players across the league shared stories similar to those related by Jenkins and Averbuch West, who started her own business and remains an entrepreneur.
IN THE STATES
Union members rally in support of PRO act
Fox 22
By Melissa Falcone
July 29, 2021
Activists rallied at the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building early Thursday to urge Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Independent Sen. Angus King to support the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, also known as the PRO Act. People at the rally said this would strengthen workers’ freedom and provide better protection. Public data shows that about half of workers would form a union today if they could. Andy O’Brien, director of Maine AFL-CIO, said he is in favor of the PRO Act. “The PRO Act is essential to guarantee workers the basic freedom to organize in the workplace that will strengthen workers freedom to form unions and penalize employers who routinely break the law,” he said.
Unions Claim Wins as 2021 Special Legislative Session Concludes
Workday Minnesota
By Steve Share
July 29, 2021
Most notably, the legislature agreed to direct $250 million in federal funds to support essential workers who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding, however, should be seen only as a first step, maintained the Minnesota AFL-CIO. “Countless working Minnesotans across multiple sectors and in every corner of our state put themselves in harm’s way for more than a year, many going without pay when forced to quarantine at home,” said Bill McCarthy, Minnesota AFL-CIO president. “These workers, many of whom continue to face racial and economic disparities on top of pandemic stress, need to be made whole for the extraordinary work they do and the sacrifices they made.”