Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST READ
Americans’ Approval Of Labor Unions Near Highest Level Since 1960s
HuffPost
By Dave Jamieson
Aug. 28, 2024
Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO labor federation, argued in a speech in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday that union influence would be pivotal in the race for the White House. The federation, which includes 60 unions, says that 22% of voters in Pennsylvania are either union members or retirees who’d been in unions. “We can run up the margins where it counts, we have built an organizing machine that can mobilize on a dime, and we have built a singular trust and connection with workers, families and neighbors,” Shuler said. “There is no question that the road to the White House runs through America’s union halls.”
POLITICS
Vance backlash reignites as another childless woman comment resurfaces
Axios
By Avery Lotz
Aug. 28, 2024
Liz Shuler, the president of the AFL-CIO, also slammed Vance's comments, saying they "show his true colors: a sexist, anti-woman blowhard who doesn't have a clue what's best for America's students."
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren contrasts Trump, Harris on the economy in Green Bay
Green Bay Press Gazette
By Jesse Lin
Aug. 27, 2024
“Some attendees brought their lawn chairs that narrowed the center aisle stretching down to the four seats in front of the wall plastered with ‘It's Better in a Union’ posters.”
Harris-Walz Campaign Launches Housing Blitz in the Battlegrounds
Blue Virginia
By Staff
Aug. 28, 2024
This week, Team Harris-Walz is holding events across key states as part of our campaign’s comprehensive ad and outreach blitz to help tell the Vice President’s personal story and to share her plans to lower housing costs directly with voters. The events complement a new ad, “Full House,” airing this week in battlegrounds to drive the same message. At more than 20 events across the states, leaders like U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Nevada state Treasurer Zach Conine, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Tempe Mayor Corey Woods and other trusted local voices will highlight the stark contrast between Vice President Harris’ plan to bring down the cost of renting and owning a home and Trump’s Project 2025 agenda that would drastically raise housing prices on American families.
Walz tries to rally working-class voter support in speech to firefighters union
KMPH
By The National Desk
Aug. 28, 2024
Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz made a pitch to working class voters and union members in remarks in front of the International Association of Fire Fighters, one of the largest labor organizations in the country that represents nearly 350,000 emergency responders. Walz told a crowd of union members that he and Vice President Kamala Harris are the pro-union ticket that would work to ensure they continue to have higher wages and better working conditions that they say help power the middle class.
Harris campaign launches new ads continuing to tie Trump to Project 2025
The Washington Post
By Amy B Wang and Maegan Vazquez
Aug. 28, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign is launching a new ad campaign this week that will continue to tie Donald Trump to Project 2025, an aggressive right-wing agenda touted by the former president’s allies and written by several of his former administration members and appointees. Project 2025 calls for, among other things, dismantling the Education Department, passing sweeping tax cuts, imposing sharp limits on abortion, giving the White House greater influence over the Justice Department, reducing efforts to limit climate change and increasing efforts to promote fossil fuels, drastically cutting and changing the federal workforce, and giving the president more power over the civil service.
Democratic VP nominee Gov. Tim Walz touts strong unions in Boston IAFF speech
WCVB
By Veronica Haynes and Jennifer Eagan
Aug. 28, 2024
Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz touted strong unions in his remarks at the International Association of Fire Fighters Convention in Boston on Wednesday. "We know when unions are strong, America is strong," Walz said. The IAFF is one of the largest labor unions, representing nearly 350,000 firefighters, emergency medical workers and rescue workers across the United States and Canada. "We believe that workers deserve to collectively bargain for fair wages, safe working conditions, good health care and secure retirement," he said. "No interference from government."
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND CLIMATE
Biden’s clean energy plan: Pro-worker, pro-consumer, pro-planet (Opinion)
NC Newsline
By W. Rob Axford
Aug. 28, 2024
As a union member of LU 553 for 30 years, I know the difference a good-paying, pro-worker job can make. I am proud to be a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), which has been advocating for high safety standards, family-supporting wages, and industry-leading benefits for its members since 1891. The IBEW is working to protect members’ rights and improve working conditions in the current technological and economic revolution. President Biden’s clean energy plan is sparking a new generation of good-paying union jobs that are good for our communities and our planet.
ORGANIZING
Workers at Pittsburgh's Frick Museum vote to unionize
WESA
By Bill O'Driscoll
Aug. 28, 2024
About 100 employees of the Frick Pittsburgh will be the latest local museum workers to join the United Steelworkers after what the union called an “overwhelming” vote Tuesday. The new bargaining unit will include gallery attendants, café staff, curators, maintenance and housekeeping workers, groundskeepers, educators and more. The union said the workers plan to seek a contract addressing “job security, fair wages, health insurance, understaffing, and respect in the workplace.” “We are the backbone of this institution, and we're excited to finally have a voice in shaping our work environment, our pay, and our benefits,” said John Payne, a groundskeeper at The Frick.
Bookmans workers unionize at Eastside location
KGUN
By Maria Staubs
Aug. 28, 2024
On Tuesday, workers at Bookmans Entertainment Exchange’s east-side location at East Speedway and North Wilmot Road became the first in their industry to unionize in Arizona. The majority of employees voted to be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union Local 99 during a National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) secret ballot election.
NEGOTIATIONS & STRIKES
UAW and Cornell reach tentative contract agreement, strike could end next week
The Ithaca Voice
By Jimmy Jordan
Aug. 28, 2024
The United Auto Workers of America and Cornell University reached a tentative agreement on a four-year labor contract, the union announced late Tuesday night, marking a potential end to a worker strike that entered its 10th day on Wednesday. UAW Local 2300 represents about 1,200 custodians, food service workers, custodians, and other workers at the university, all of whom will have the opportunity to vote on this upcoming Sunday and Monday — Labor Day, a federal holiday celebrating the American labor movement — to accept or reject the terms of the tentative agreement.
United Airlines flight attendants vote to approve nationwide strike ahead of Labor Day weekend
Click2Houston
By Brittany Taylor
Aug. 28, 2024
Hundreds of United Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), announced the approval to authorize a nationwide strike ahead of Labor Day weekend. The vote, which saw over 90% participation, resulted 99.99% in favor of the strike authorization.
New Contract Agreement Reached for CSO Musicians
Broadway World
By Stephi Wild
Aug. 28, 2024
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the American Federation of Musicians, Local 342 negotiating committee, representing the musicians of the CSO, announced that a new three-year contract has been agreed upon and ratified by both the musicians and the CSO’s Board of Directors, ahead of the current agreement’s expiration. The new contract, effective September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2027, provides stability for the orchestra and its musicians; positions the CSO as an industry leader in audition and tenure practices, as in other areas; and introduces greater flexibility to ensure that the orchestra remains responsive and innovative as it enters Kwamé Ryan’s inaugural season as Music Director.
Fred Meyer employees walk off the job and onto the picket line
KATU
By KATU Staff
Aug. 28, 2024
At 6 a.m. Wednesday, thousands of Fred Meyer employees walked off the job and began to strike. They claim the stores are breaching labor relations laws amid contract negotiations. "The most important thing to our members is that the community respect our lines. Don't shop Fred Meyer. You can just shop somewhere else -- Safeway, Albertsons are fantastic union alternatives," said spokesman Miles Eshaia. "Everyone who stocks, everyone who works at the cash register, if they work in the grocery department, if they work in the meat department, they aren't going to be in those stores, they're going to be out on the lines." Leaders of UFCW Local 555 say its members voted overwhelmingly to walk off the job.
United Airlines flight attendants vote to authorize strike
Reuters
By Reuters
Aug. 28, 2024
Flight attendants at United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab have voted in favor of a strike authorization, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said on Wednesday. Over 90% of the flight attendants participated, with 99.99% of the votes in favor of a strike authorization, the union said. It is the first time since the 2005 bankruptcy negotiations that flight attendants at United voted on strike authorization, it added.
SPORTS UNIONIZATION
New NWSL deal a 'relief and joy', Players Association boss says
ESPN
By ESPN
Aug. 28, 2024
NWSL Players Association executive director Meghann Burke said the new collective bargaining agreement with the NWSL brought "relief and joy," with the elimination of player drafts and amendments to parental leave and childcare benefits two of the key changes. The new CBA went into effect on July 30 when it was approved by players, but not all provisions, like the new salary caps, will start in the middle of the season. Additionally, free agency begins on Sept. 1 this year, while it will start on July 1 in future seasons.
NLRB
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard accused of 'bad faith bargaining' by Raven Software union workers
Game Developer
By Chris Kerr
Aug. 28, 2024
"After Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, our members were optimistic that they would progress quickly to a first contract at Raven Software," said Communications Workers of America president Claude Cummings Jr., in a statement sent to Game File. "Unfortunately, that has not happened. We encourage Microsoft to address the concerns raised in the Unfair Labor Practice charge and make reaching a fair agreement a priority."
IN THE STATES
Parade, Festival planned to celebrate workers on Labor Day in La Crosse
WXOW
By WXOW
Aug. 28, 2024
A parade and festival honoring workers returns to La Crosse on Monday, September 2 for Labor Day. The annual tradition from the Wester Wisconsin AFL-CIO begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of Gillette and Kane Streets on the north side of La Crosse. From there, the parade goes down Gillette and turns at Caledonia Street. It then makes a right turn to go down St. Cloud Street where it ends at the intersection of Copeland Avenue or the entrance to Copeland Park.
Annual Marion County (West Virginia) Labor Day picnic set for Sunday
WV News
By John Mark Shaver
Aug. 28, 2024
The annual Marion County Labor Day Picnic is set to be held in Mannington this Sunday, and officials are encouraging residents to stop by, eat some free food and celebrate the nation's workers. The picnic will be held at Hough Park in Mannington from noon to 4 p.m., and will include not only free food and ice cream, but door prizes and speakers, including a keynote speech by United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts. The UMWA is sponsoring the event alongside the Marion County ALF-CIO, and local AFL-CIO President Mark Dorsey said that Labor Day is an important time of the year for residents to not only rest, but to appreciate the workers who came before them.
Effort continues to merge the two West Virginia teacher unions
WOWK TV
By Mark Curtis
Aug. 27, 2024
Progress is being reported in the effort to merge the two teachers’ unions in West Virginia: The West Virginia Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers – West Virginia. The goal is to give teachers a bigger voice at the capitol and in the classroom. There are a number of things teachers want to get done and they believe a united union will help.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
Nurses at MountainView Hospital push for larger staff to ensure patient safety
News 3 LV
By Khalia Patterson
Aug. 28, 2024
Nurses at MountainView Hospital are speaking up on Tuesday, demanding a new contract from the Hospital Corporation of America. HCA is the company that owns MountainView Hospital. "When you are strapped by a hospital corporation who's constantly trying to put their profit over their patients, it makes it really hard to provide really good care," said Nicole Taylor, MountainView Hospital Registered Nurse.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Support for unions is strong, according to Gallup Labor Day poll
Spectrum
By Susan Carpenter
Aug. 28, 2024
Support for labor unions is near an all-time high. According to the newest Gallup Labor Day poll, 70% of Americans say they approve of labor unions — up from 67% last year. The support for unions comes even as few survey respondents reported being union members. Just 13% of those surveyed said a household member was part of a labor union. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11.2% of the country’s workforce were represented by unions and 10% belonged to a union in 2023.
VOTING RIGHTS
Voting Rights for Nebraska Felons in Flux as Election Day Approaches
The New York Times
By Mitch Smith
Aug. 28, 2024
When the Nebraska Legislature voted 38 to 6 this year to allow people convicted of felonies to cast a ballot immediately after completing their sentences, it was a moment of bipartisan unity. That moment did not last. Just before the measure was set to take effect last month, the state’s Republican attorney general, Mike Hilgers, issued a written opinion that the law was unconstitutional. He did not stop there. Mr. Hilgers added that a law on the books since 2005, allowing felons to vote two years after finishing their sentences, was also based on a flawed interpretation of the Nebraska Constitution. In the weeks since, people convicted of crimes and election administrators have been caught in legal limbo. Had thousands of former criminals been wrongly allowed to vote for 19 years, as the attorney general argued, or were potential new voters being unfairly blocked from registering this year, as supporters of the new law claimed?
Voting Rights Leaders Step Up Election Initiatives After Texas Raids
The New York Times
By Jazmine Ulloa
Aug. 28, 2024
Republican officials in Texas in recent days have investigated a number of Latino voting activists and political organizers as part of an election fraud inquiry, conducting a series of raids that led one group to appeal to the federal government. The searches have also prompted response from voting rights organizers far beyond the state’s borders. Activists across the Sun Belt have criticized the raids as the latest in a string of efforts in Republican-led states aimed at curbing access to the ballot box. Those efforts often cite baseless claims over noncitizens voting that have proliferated in right-wing media.
VETERANS
Even Trump should know to keep Arlington Cemetery a campaign-free zone (LTE)
Washington Post
By Will Attig
Aug. 28, 2024
If any other figure were to commit them, Mr. Trump’s actions toward the men and women who have served this country would be an automatic disqualifier from public service. Yet once again, we see a man who behaves as though he is above the very norms and values that define the United States — the same values which the men and women at Arlington made the ultimate sacrifice to protect.
LABOR HISTORY
A Brief History of America’s Labor Movement and Its Jewish Leaders
The Detroit Jewish News
By Mike Smith
Aug. 28, 2024
If the last 248 years of American history is any gauge, unions are here to stay. “Labor is on the March!” Over the past few years, this union slogan from the 1930s could describe the current status of America’s Labor Movement, commonly referred to as just “Labor.” Last year, despite the strong job market and trend toward higher wages, over 500,000 American workers walked off the job from their places of work in nearly 500 different strikes. This was the largest wave of union strikes in decades. A strike, a mass refusal to work at one’s place of employment until bargaining demands are met, is the single most powerful tool possessed by labor unions. It is a tool to be used judiciously as it has severe risks for both employers and employees. Workers risk their jobs and lose income every day they are off the job, while strikes may severely damage the company for which they work. Employers lose revenue and possible permanent loss of business. A union’s decision to strike cannot be taken without serious and thoughtful consideration.
Columbus’ historical ties to the American Federation of Labor
Spectrum
By Kennedy Chase
Aug. 28, 2024
The American Federation of Labor, also known as the AFL is the largest labor federation in the country. It started over 130 years ago in Columbus. “There would be no labor movement if it wasn't for the labor movement in Ohio and the historical things that have happened here in Ohio,” said President of the Ohio AFL-CIO Tim Burga.