Today's AFL-CIO press clips
POLITICS
Redmond: Labor has ‘the responsibility to lead’ the fight for democracy
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
Sept. 20, 2024
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond is repeating a somber warning to workers, union and non-union alike: This November’s election is not just about the presidency, but about democracy. Redmond told a panel discussion at the Labor Department on September 17, the anniversary of the founders’ signing the Constitution, that organized labor must lead the fight to preserve the republic. “Unions thrive in democratic countries and in countries where you have democratic principles. They don’t survive in autocracies and dictatorships,” Redmond declared. “So we have the responsibility to fight for democracy and it should be the responsibility of the entire labor movement to lead that fight.”
Exclusive: Harris to release new economic proposals this week on US wealth creation, sources say
Reuters
By Nandita Bose
Sept. 22, 2024
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris plans to roll out a new set of economic policies this week that aim to help Americans build wealth and set economic incentives for businesses to aid that goal, three sources with knowledge of the matter said. The new policies, which have not been previously reported and could be announced in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, come as undecided voters continue to ask for more information about how Harris would help them economically if she were elected president in November, including those in critical swing states, the sources said.
Poll: Newly popular Harris builds momentum, challenging Trump for the mantle of change
NBC News
By Mark Murray
Sept. 22, 2024
“And on Project 2025 — the conservative policy blueprint with ties to former Trump administration officials, which Democrats have featured in their campaign — a whopping 57% of voters have a negative view of it, versus just 4% who see it in a positive light.”
Vance floats new health plans for chronically ill, reopening ACA debate
The Washington Post
By Dan Diamond and Meryl Kornfield
Sept. 20, 2024
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) this week said the Trump campaign wants to roll back the Affordable Care Act’s approach to how chronically ill Americans shop for health insurance, with the Republican vice-presidential candidate reopening a health-care debate that Democrats are eager to have — and resurrecting a fight that has repeatedly burned the GOP.
Harris shows some gains and economic views brighten a bit — CBS News poll
CBS News
By Anthony Salvanto, Fred Backus, Jennifer De Pinto and Kabir Khanna
Sept. 22, 2024
The 2024 presidential race clearly remains a contest either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris can win, CBS News' latest polling finds. But with interest rates and gas prices coming down, the number of voters saying the economy is good has ticked up. That, along with a debate voters say was net positive for her, has helped Harris a bit. The vice president has now moved to the slightest of edges across the battleground states (it was 50-50 last month), and she is now up 4 points nationally over Donald Trump.
ORGANIZING
Boilermakers union blitz at Gunderson
Northwest Labor Press
By Don McIntosh
Sept. 20, 2024
Workers at a Portland barge-maker could soon be union. On Sept. 13, Boilermakers Local 104 filed a petition asking the National Labor Relations Board to hold a union election at the shipyard known as Gunderson Marine, at 4350 NW Front Ave. The unit would consist of about 220 welders, fitters, riggers, crane operators, carpenters, painters, janitors, forklift operators, and others.
WKOW
By Lucas Kihmm
Sept. 21, 2024
Teachers at Toad Hill Montessori Inc. plan to unionize, which they say would be the first private school union formed in Wisconsin. More than two dozen teachers at the Toad Hill Montessori schools announced Friday that they are forming a union through Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 39.
NEGOTIATIONS & STRIKES
A strike by Boeing factory workers shows no signs of ending after its first week
AP
By David Koenig
Sept. 20, 2024
A labor strike at Boeing showed no signs of ending Friday, as the walkout by 33,000 union machinists entered its eighth day and the company started rolling furloughs of nonunion employees to conserve cash. Federal mediators joined talks between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers this week, but company and union officials reported that little progress was made during the first two sessions.
San Francisco Symphony cancels performances after chorus members go on strike
CBS News
By Dave Pehling
Sept. 20, 2024
The San Francisco Symphony had to cancel performances this weekend after SF Symphony Chorus members announced a strike. "Due to a three-day work stoppage by the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) union members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, the September 19–21 performances of Salonen Conducts Verdi's Requiem have been canceled and will not be rescheduled," a spokesperson for the San Francisco Symphony said in an email Thursday.
Culinary Union celebrates the end of their longest campaign
KTNV Las Vegas
By Steve Sebelius
Sept. 19, 2024
Culinary Union secretary-treasurer Ted Pappageorge said at an event Thursday to mark the signing of the contract that he had faith that the Venetian would one day be a union property. "I can tell you that I knew one day we would be doing that, but honestly, we didn't know when," he said. "We have a fighting spirit at the Culinary and Bartenders union here in Las Vegas, and we look at time maybe a little differently than some organizations do."
Butte machinists avert strike for now, return to contract negotiations with Butte-Silver Bow County
KXLF
By Meagan Thompson
Sept. 20, 2024
After contract negotiations between Butte-Silver Bow County and machinists with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 88 came to a standstill recently, a vote to strike was put forth by the union. But now, they are going back to the table one more time in an effort to come up with what they consider a fair contract. "We’re kind of a well-rounded group in here. We can work on just about anything if called to, so some days—most days I work on fire trucks—but if need be I can work on an excavator or a plow or forklift or a weed whacker, whatever it calls for," says Tim Seymour, mechanic for B-SB.
UAW holds rally in Chattanooga ahead of contract negotiations with Volkswagen
Local 3 News
By Cornelia Nicholson
Sept. 20, 2024
The President and Vice President of the United Auto Workers union were in Chattanooga to gather support from Volkswagen workers Sunday. This comes ahead of Thursday's first contract negotiations with Volkswagen. "You're the backbone of this plant, you're the backbone of this company and you deserve your fair share of the wealth that you create," said UAW President Shawn Fain to a packed ballroom.
Kapi‘olani, nurses union return to bargaining table
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
By Nina Wu
Sept. 20, 2024
The Hawaii Nurses’ Association and management at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children concluded talks Friday and resumed again at 10 a.m. today. There has so far been no agreement between the union and Kapi‘olani on a new, three-year contract covering about 600 nurses. The previous contract ended Nov. 30. Talks resumed Friday morning after a bargaining session Thursday — the first one held since nurses held a one-day strike Sept. 13, and were locked out the next day from returning to work by management.
Machinists union members reject Textron contract, vote to strike
KSN
By Daniel Fair
Sept. 21, 2024
Machinists union members assembled at Park City Arena on Saturday, where they rejected the final contract offer from Textron Aviation. Union members voted against the final contract and also moved to strike, KSN has learned. 81% of union members voted to strike.
Nearly 1,500 San Francisco hotel workers go on strike: Here's what they're asking for
ABC News
By Staff
Sept. 22, 2024
Nearly 1,500 hotel workers are on strike across multiple hotels in San Francisco. Members with UNITE HERE Local 2 Union are calling for a number of changes including better pay and the reversal of pandemic-era cuts. The employees consist of housekeepers, bellhops, cooks, and other workers at Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott hotels.
Machinists Reject Textron Aviation’s Contract Offer, Vote To Strike
Aviation Week
By Molly McMillin
Sept. 22, 2024
Machinist union members at Textron Aviation overwhelmingly rejected the company’s offer of a new four-year contract Sept. 21 and voted to strike. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represent about 5,000 hourly workers at Textron Aviation in Wichita.
99% Of Frontier Airlines Flight Attendants Vote On Strike Authorization
Simple Flying
By Trevin Christian Casinader
Sept. 22, 2024
Flight attendants at Frontier Airlines have chosen to strike after the airline refused to negotiate with the union regarding its change in business model, which has severely and negatively impacted its flight attendants. This puts pressure on airline management to begin talks regarding the change in earnest.
JOINING TOGETHER
SPEEA union president: ‘We stand with the machinists,’ ‘We don’t do furloughs’
My Northwest
By Heather Bosch
Sept. 20, 2024
A labor strike at Boeing showed no signs of ending Friday, as the walkout by 33,000 union machinists entered its eighth day and the company started rolling furloughs of nonunion employees to conserve cash. Federal mediators joined talks between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers this week but company and union officials reported that little progress was made during the first two sessions. KIRO Newsradio’s Heather Bosch interviewed SPEEA president John Dimas on Friday. SPEEA stands for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace. It is a professional labor union that represents aerospace professionals in the United States, including engineers, technical workers and pilots.
STATE LEGISLATION
Labor Unions Urge Lawmakers to Honor State Supreme Court’s Decision on $15 Min. Wage
Michigan Chronicle
By Donald James
Sept. 20, 2024
Seven labor unions are jointly calling on the Michigan Legislature to adhere to the Michigan Supreme Court’s recent decision declaring that the state lawmakers’ 2018 “adopt and amend” maneuver to avoid putting minimum wage and paid sick time initiatives on the ballot was unconstitutional. In essence, the labor unions are asking lawmakers to abide by the state’s highest court’s ruling to enshrine workers’ rights to a universal $15 minimum wage over the next three-plus years. Afterward, the minimum wage will be adjusted based on inflation data and forecasts. Some Michigan Republican lawmakers have teamed up to find ways to subvert the new minimum wage policies that are set to take effect beginning in February of next year. In a letter sent to House Speaker Joe Tate and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks – both Democrats – the labor unions – Michigan AFL-CIO, SEIU (Michigan), AFT (Michigan), UFCW951, AFSCME Michigan, MI Nurses Association, and Michigan Education Association (MEA) – stressed the importance of protecting workers’ rights through wage increases for tipped workers, youth, and workers with disabilities, all of which should be implemented without legislative roadblocks.
IN THE STATES
Local labor leaders, workers host ‘Workers for Sherrod’ campaign event in Mansfield
Richland Source
By Staff
Sept. 19, 2024
Thursday, “Workers for Sherrod” co-chairs Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mike Knisley and Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga joined USW Local 169 President Steve Ackerman and IBEW 688 Business Manager and Financial Secretary Brian McPeek to host a “Workers for Sherrod” statewide tour stop in Mansfield.
Union workers in North Carolina look to November, with one of their own seeking statewide office
NC Newsline
By Galen Bacharier
Sept. 20, 2024
The North Carolina State AFL-CIO will see one of its own on the ballot this November, as the union aims to help deliver wins to a slate of Democratic candidates. Braxton Winston II, running for labor commissioner, is the first hourly union worker to run for the office in North Carolina. He was joined by other candidates at a panel during the state AFL-CIO’s annual convention in Raleigh on Thursday. “I know we know this well in this room — labor issues have always been political, right?” Winston said. “But they really shouldn’t be — and they’re not — partisan.”
Georgia election rule changes by Trump allies raise fear of chaos in November
News Channel 9
By Jeff Amy and Kate Brumback
Sept. 20, 2024
Four years ago, Georgia was at the center of former President Donald Trump ’s attempts to overturn his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Democrats worry that Trump is at it again, even before the first votes have been cast. Many Democrats in the crucial swing state believe Trump-aligned Republicans are laying the groundwork for another attempt to undermine the vote should the GOP nominee narrowly lose in November, this time by manipulating election rules.
Trade unions open to all seeking American dream | Opinion
The Providence Journal
By Michael F. Sabitoni
Sept. 22, 2024
At a time when Americans are increasingly divided along political lines with both sides demonizing the other, one institution continues to provide a model of uniting people from diverse political backgrounds around common goals: the trade union.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
Transit advocates call for increased security after MATA bus shooting
Fox13
By Kate Bieri
Sept. 22, 2024
Transit advocates are pushing for greater safety measures after an argument on a bus escalated to violence Saturday evening. "Those operators need to be safe at all costs," said Harrison Currie, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 713 President. "The passengers, as well." As FOX13 reported, two riders were arguing on a MATA bus near Calvary Creek on Saturday. After the suspect was removed from the bus, police say the shooter fired at a window. Someone was grazed by a bullet inside, but is expected to be okay.
LABOR HISTORY
Painters Local 10 is turning 125
Northwest Labor Press
By Don McIntosh
Sept. 20, 2024
On Feb. 26, 1899, 44 painters and wallpaper hangers met at the Portland hall of a fraternal order called the Improved Order of Red Men and founded an independent union called “Painters, Paperhangers and Decorators Union No. 1 of Portland.” At the same meeting they approved resolutions calling for a nine-hour workday, an increase in wages from 25¢ to 30¢ per hour, overtime pay of time-and-a-half for work on Sunday or beyond a nine-hour day, and a limit on the ratio of apprentices to journeymen.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Unions and Partners Give Back to Kansas City Community at Free Fishing Event
The Ritz Herald
By Staff
Sept. 21, 2024
The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA), union volunteers, and partners worked together to connect local youths and families to fishing at the 2024 Greater Kansas City Take Kids Fishing Day on Sept. 14. Hosted by the USA and the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC), the 200-plus attendees, including 130 youths, caught hybrid sunfish and channel catfish at Penn Valley Lake. Twenty-four union volunteers assisted participants with baiting hooks, using their fishing rods, and reeling in fish. After the event, every youth took home a free rod and reel to keep pursuing fishing.