Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST WATCH
Project 2025 Exposed: Child labor and decimated unions promised with Trump’s election (video)
MSNBC
By Joy Reid
Aug. 8, 2024
Donald Trump took a private flight with the head of Project 2025, Kevin Roberts, The Washington Post reports. Jody Calemine, director of advocacy for the AFL-CIO, joins Joy Reid to discuss the potential, destructive impact of Project 2025 on labor unions and the American worker.
MUST READ
What is Tim Walz's record on the economy? Look at Minnesota
ABC News
By Max Zahn
Aug. 8, 2024
The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest labor organization, praised the selection of Walz as vice presidential nominee. "We know that Gov. Walz will be a strong partner in the Harris White House, fighting every day to improve the lives of workers in communities across America," AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement on Tuesday.
PAYWATCH/CEO PAY
AFL-CIO Warns of 'CEO Payflation' Crisis Fueled by Stock Buybacks, Trump Tax Cuts
Common Dreams
By Jake Johnson
Aug. 8, 2024
The largest federation of labor unions in the U.S. published a report Thursday warning that the country is facing a crisis of "CEO payflation" as executive compensation at leading companies surges, a trend fueled by former President Donald Trump's regressive tax cuts and record stock buybacks. The AFL-CIO's annual report on executive pay shows that the CEO-to-median-worker-pay ratio at S&P 500 companies was 268 to 1 last year, meaning that "it would take more than five career lifetimes for workers to earn what CEOs receive in just one year." "This level of inequality is not sustainable," Fred Redmond, the AFL-CIO's secretary-treasurer, said during a press call on Thursday. "Working people are sick and tired of politicians like Donald Trump pushing massive tax breaks for CEOs."
POLITICS
Harris and Walz are showing their support for organized labor with appearance at Detroit union hall
AP News
By Darlene Superville and Joey Cappelletti
Aug. 8, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, are set to play up their support for organized labor during an appearance at a Detroit-area union hall as the new Democratic ticket lavishes attention on a crucial base of support. Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and Walz, who joined the ticket on Tuesday, plan to speak on Thursday to several dozen United Auto Workers members. After President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign last month and endorsed his vice president, organized labor quickly rallied around Harris. The AFL-CIO endorsed her after having first backed Biden. The UAW formally backed her last week.
Harris secures support from union leaders. But workers are still weighing their options.
CNN
By Kayla Tausche and Arlette Saenz
Aug. 8, 2024
“There’s so much work available, and they’re trying to bring in more apprentices, get more people trained up because of these investments,” said Greg Regan, the president of the Transportation Trades Department at the AFL-CIO. “This is not surface-level stuff.”
Harris campaign memo cites importance of labor support ahead of UAW event
The Hill
By Brett Samuels
Aug. 8, 2024
The Harris campaign argued in a memo Thursday that union workers would help drive the Democratic ticket’s success in November ahead of a meeting in Detroit with United Auto Workers (UAW) members. Vice President Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), were set to meet Thursday afternoon with UAW members for their second campaign stop in as many days in the crucial battleground state of Michigan.
WI AFL–CIO: Wisconsin Labor: All in for pro-worker Harris-Walz ticket
WIS Politics
By Staff
Aug. 7, 2024
Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale released the following statement as Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Governor Tim Walz visit Eau Claire: Wisconsin union families proudly welcome Vice President Kamala Harris to Eau Claire today. Workers are energized to rally with her and her VP pick Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. As Wisconsinites come together to move our country forward, the Wisconsin AFL-CIO ‘Labor Votes’ program is educating union members on the pro-worker record of the Harris-Walz ticket.
Labor Secretary hears from workers impacted by heat
12 News
By William Pitts
Aug. 8, 2024
Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su heard from Arizona workers impacted by extreme heat during a round table hosted by labor unions in Tempe. Sitting around the table with Su were representatives of various unions, most of them dealing with airport and airline workers. “It can reach upwards of 130," Imari Heard, an airport worker with the Communications Workers of America said. "The time that it takes to work an aircraft flight is about 60 minutes. So 60 full minutes that I have my agents outside in these extreme heat conditions, without shade, without a break." "They are literally cooking outside there," flight attendant Alana Billingsly said. Billingsly said she's taken to pouring water for the workers who restock and clean the planes when she saw them struggling.
ORGANIZING
Brightline on-board works file to form union
Trains.com
By Trains Staff
Aug. 8, 2024
On-board workers with Florida’s Brightline have filed to form a union, the Transport Workers Union of America has announced. The workers made the filing today (Thursday, Aug. 8) with the National Mediation Board, the government agency that handles labor relations with railroads and the airline industry under the Railway Labor Act. Workers involved include lead attendants and on-board attendants. “Today, Brightline workers begin the path forward to protect and advance the economic security of their families,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said in a press release. “We thank them for putting their trust in us. The TWU is committed to winning industry-leading contracts that deliver wages, benefits and quality-of-life improvements.”
‘Living paycheck to paycheck’: Hearst journalists in Connecticut announce they’re starting a union
Boston Globe
By Aidan Ryan
Aug. 8, 2024
Journalists across more than two dozen print and digital news outlets owned by Hearst Connecticut Media Group announced Thursday they’re forming a union to negotiate better wages, protections from their jobs being taken by artificial intelligence, and a different return-to-office policy. The 110-person Connecticut News Guild, made up of reporters, photographers, editors, and digital producers, is asking the company for voluntary recognition. The group’s efforts come at a precarious time for the media industry, when hundreds of journalists have lost their jobs and legacy news outlets and digital news startups alike have shuttered, just in 2024 alone. Hearst journalists hope that by forming a union, they can have a say in preserving the coverage they work hard to produce for people across the state.
Brightline Florida attendants seek to unionize in historic organizing effort
Orlando Weekly
By McKenna Schueler
Aug. 8, 2024
Just over 100 on-board attendants for Brightline Florida, including workers in Orlando, have begun the process of unionizing with the Transport Workers Union, an international labor union that represents more than 155,000 workers across the airline, railroad, transit and related sectors in the United States. It's a historic effort by the workers in a state that is generally considered hostile to labor unions, and where less than 5 percent of the private sector workforce has union representation. “Today, Brightline workers begin the path forward to protect and advance the economic security of their families,” said union president John Samuelsen in a statement released Thursday. “We thank them for putting their trust in us,” he continued.
Character actors are the face of Disneyland. Now they’ve unionized
Fast Company
By Bryce Covert
Aug. 8, 2024
Character actors were always the holdout, but no longer. In May, the so-called pageant and parade employees at Disneyland voted 953 to 258 to be represented by Actors’ Equity Association, according to the National Labor Relations Board. (There are 1,713 such workers at Disneyland.) Hefner is now staff representative for Disneyland character actors at Actors’ Equity. By standing shoulder to shoulder with all the other unionized employees, character actors hope to extract concessions from the company at the bargaining table. Talks have not yet been scheduled, but the performers are hoping to begin negotiations in the fall.
NEGOTIATIONS & STRIKES
Workers at CT Omni hotel authorize strike; say wages, work conditions among issues
Hartford Courant
By Staff Report
Aug. 8, 2024
Workers at a Connecticut Omni hotel have authorized a strike for workers who are seeking “raises, better workloads, and work protections,” according to the union. Hotel workers voted with 93 out of 120 workers voting to authorize a strike at Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, according to the Local 217-UNITE HERE union. “Workers say that after months of unsuccessful negotiations, they’re tired of waiting for raises, better workloads, and protections for work associated with providing guest services and amenities,” the union said in a statement. The union said it also seeks to protect against cuts to services and staffing. An email seeking comment was sent to Omni. A voice message also was left at the Omni in New Haven.
National Audubon staff union authorizes strike
E&E News by Politico
By Robin Bravender
Aug. 8, 2024
The National Audubon Society’s employee union has voted to authorize a strike as the conservation group and its workers continue to spar over pay and benefits. The Bird Union, represented by the Communications Workers of America, alleges that Audubon’s management unlawfully changed employees’ benefits, refused to bargain over minimum salaries and withheld some benefits from union members that were given to other employees. The vote to authorize a strike comes as the union and Audubon’s management have been working for more than two years to finalize their first collective bargaining agreement. The group is one of several major environmental organizations that have unionized in recent years and have struggled to finalize a contract. Staff at Defenders of Wildlife went on strike for two days in July. Also in July, the Sierra Club and its union reached a deal just before the group’s employees planned to strike.
Providence Omni Hotel Union Workers Vote to Approve Strike
Go Local Prov
By Staff
Aug. 8, 2024
Omni Hotel is now facing the potential of a strike at the downtown Providence hotel.
On Wednesday, 83% of UNITE HERE Local 26 workers at the Omni Providence Hotel have voted to authorize a labor strike. There were 165 "Yes" votes and four "No" votes, claims the union. Because the hotel’s union contract expired on January 31, 2024, a strike could begin at any time, but no timeframe has been set.
Boston hotel workers vote to authorize strike
NBC Boston
By Staff
Aug. 8, 2024
Hotel workers in Boston have voted to authorize a citywide labor strike if they cannot come to a deal before their current contract expires on Aug. 31. Members of Boston's UNITE HERE Local 26 union voted over the course of three days this week. Some 4,500 workers at 35 properties would be involved in the strike, including room attendants, front desk workers, bell and doorpersons, restaurant servers, bartenders, cooks and dishwashers. The union said the vote comes after what they described as "unproductive" and "insulting" bargaining in a session that started in April. Workers say they are struggling to make ends meet while owners continue to turn profit.
Fred Meyer workers voting to authorize strike
KPTV
By FOX 12 Staff
Aug. 7, 2024
Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, representing over 35,000 workers in Ore., Wash., and Idaho, will be voting to authorize their union to call for an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike against Fred Meyer. The strike call is in response to several unfair labor practices the union said have been committed by Fred Meyer. About 4,500 union-represented workers are at the affected Fred Meyer locations.
Boston hotel union votes to authorize citywide strike that could begin on Labor Day weekend
WCVB
By Mary Saladna
Aug. 8, 2024
Boston hotel workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a citywide strike that could begin as soon as Labor Day weekend if they fail to reach a new contract. Unite Here Local 26, which represents hospitality workers in Boston and Rhode Island, announced outside Boston City Hall on Thursday that 99% of members voted in support of going on strike as soon as midnight on Aug. 31, when the current contracts expire.
JOINING TOGETHER
In deal with union, Hotel Figueroa in downtown L.A. to hire back some restaurant workers
Los Angeles Times
By Suhauna Hussain and Cindy Carcamo
Aug. 8, 2024
For months Hotel Figueroa in downtown Los Angeles has been locked in a labor dispute over restaurant staff who were let go after they attempted to unionize. On Wednesday, the union representing the workers announced it had reached a tentative deal that requires the hotel to take over operations of a cafe, a bar and staff kitchen from a contractor and rehire some of the laid-off employees. The deal is part of a broader agreement between the hotel and the union, Unite Here Local 11, that covers about 60 housekeepers, front desk workers and engineers, said Unite Here Local 11 spokesperson Maria Hernandez. If approved by the workers, the deal would put an end to intermittent work stoppages that have roiled the hotel for more than a year.
Multiple Unions Issue Solidarity Statement Ahead of TAG-AMPTP Negotiations
Animation World Network
By Debbie Diamond Sarto
Aug. 8, 2024
The American Federation of Musicians (AFM), Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 40 (IBEW), International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 399 (IBT), Laborers International Union of North America Local 724 (LiUNA!), Operating Plasterers & Cement Masons International Association (OPCMIA) Local 755, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), United Association Plumbers Local 78 (UA), Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) issued the following joint statement of solidarity with The Animation Guild (TAG) ahead of the start of their Master Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) next week: “We stand with the members of TAG as they seek contractual provisions that set fair wages and working conditions, prevent overwork, and safeguard workers from the impact of artificial intelligence. TAG negotiates independently of IATSE’s West Coast Studio Locals to address the unique priorities of animation workers, and they do so with our full collective backing. We also call on the AMPTP to negotiate in good faith, show you value and respect your animation workers, and make meaningful moves to address their specific priorities.”
Retail Union UFCW Demands Federal Home Loan Banks Address Housing Crisis, not boost Apollo’s profit
Morning Star
By Business Wire
Aug. 8, 2024
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) is urging regulators to reform the Federal Home Loan Bank System (FHLB) to address the housing crisis retail workers face. In a comment letter about FHLB’s mission, UFCW argued that the vast resources of government-subsidized FHLBanks should be used to address urgent affordable housing needs, instead of enriching big insurance companies, like Apollo’s Athene Annuity & Life.
STATE LEGISLATION
Magaziner hopes to crack down on wage theft nationwide
WPRI
By Sarah Doiron
Aug. 8, 2024
Rep. Seth Magaziner will soon introduce legislation that would make wage theft a felony nationwide. The Don’t Stand for Taking Employed American’s Livings (Don’t STEAL) Act is designed to protect workers from the “bad actors” who pay them less than promised, deny them overtime and, in some cases, steal their tips, according to Magaziner. “Every day, workers across the country are cheated out of the pay they’ve earned,” Magaziner said. “It is outrageous that someone can face jail time for stealing a television from the store, but not for stealing wages worth far more than a television out of a worker’s pocket. This is wrong and it needs to change.”
IN THE STATES
"Toxic culture," bullying allegations a concern within Baltimore's Department of Public Works
CBS News
By Jessica Albert
Aug. 8, 2024
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is addressing allegations of bullying inside the city's Department of Public Works after continued calls for immediate changes to how the workers are treated. "We definitely know that the culture, it must must change," AFSCME Local 44 President Dorothy Bryant said. The agency has been under fire for weeks following a Baltimore Inspector General's report stating DPW wasn't giving its workers cold water or cooling facilities as they worked in extreme temperatures, and that DPW facilities needed major renovations.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
Pilot Groups Urge Airbus To Reconsider Single-Pilot Cockpit Proposal
AV Web
By Amelia Walsh
Aug. 8, 2024
Pilot associations are sounding the alarm on Airbus’ proposal to move towards single-pilot operations in the cockpit. In an Aug. 6 letter to Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) President Capt. Jason Ambrosi urged the manufacturer to reconsider its proposal to reduce cockpit crew from two to one from entering the commercial aviation environment. Ambrosi cited the recent CrowdStrike incident as an example of the risks associated with an over-reliance on technology. Ambrosi stated that technology should complement human expertise and monitored airline operations rather than replace it.
INCOME INEQUALITY
Study Shows Pay Gap for Historically Women-Dominated Animation Roles
Animation Magazine
By Animation Magazine
Aug. 8, 2024
The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839, in conjunction with the International Alliance of Stage Employees (IATSE) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst Labor Center, has released a comprehensive study examining pay equity across various crafts within The Animation Guild. The study highlights potential pay gaps that are likely a legacy of historically female-dominated crafts. The study, conducted with a job evaluation tool (JET), revealed disparities in three key crafts: Color Designer, Animation Checker and Storyboard Revisionist. One of the most striking revelations from the study involved the comparison between Color Designers and Background Painters. Despite the equivalent complexity, skills and responsibilities required for both roles, Color Designers were found to be earning significantly less than their Background Painters counterparts. The job evaluation tool used in the study determined that there was no justification for this disparity based on core pay factors.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Few national monuments honor women. Biden will create this new one.
The Washington Post
By Maxine Joselow
Aug. 8, 2024
President Joe Biden plans to create a national monument in Maine honoring Frances Perkins, the first female Cabinet secretary and a fierce advocate for workers’ rights, according to three people briefed on the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the decision is not yet public. Perkins served as labor secretary under President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1945, leaving a lasting mark on the nation’s labor laws. She was instrumental in the creation of New Deal-era programs that expanded the social safety net, including Social Security, federal unemployment insurance and the federal minimum wage.