Today's AFL-CIO press clips
POLITICS
Trump’s Plans Could Increase U.S. Debt While Raising Costs for Most Americans
The New York Times
By Andrew Duehren and Alan Rappeport
Oct. 7, 2024
Former President Donald J. Trump’s economic proposals could inflame the nation’s debt burden while ultimately raising costs for a vast majority of Americans, according to a pair of new economic analyses that are among the most in-depth studies to date of the Republican nominee’s plans. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group that seeks lower deficits, found that Mr. Trump’s various plans could add as much as $15 trillion to the nation’s debt over a decade. That is nearly twice as much as the economic plans being proposed by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris to propose new Medicare home care benefit for seniors
Politico
By Megan Messerly
Oct. 8, 2024
Kamala Harris during a Tuesday appearance on “The View” is expected to announce a new policy aimed at helping families care for aging seniors. The vice president will propose establishing a home care benefit through Medicare focused on helping families afford the cost of caring for seniors at home instead of in nursing facilities, according to a senior campaign official granted anonymity to share details of the proposal.
What would a second Trump administration look like for workers’ rights?
Fast Company
By Capital & Main
Oct. 7, 2024
GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, have recently tried to woo unions and working-class voters, but Cemex is just one of several consequential rulings by the Biden-era NLRB that would likely be reversed if Trump wins in November. Under Cemex, companies that commit unfair labor practices in the run-up to an election — such as holding mandatory anti-union meetings or retaliating against pro-union workers — can now be ordered to recognize the union and begin bargaining with it. On September 17, the NLRB’s Region 2-Manhattan office issued a complaint and notice of hearing in a case against Trader Joe’s in Manhattan and sought a bargaining order based on the Cemex ruling. The NLRB complaint alleges a range of unfair labor practices. Trader Joe’s did not respond to a request for comment from Capital & Main.
Michigan Dems, labor, call Trump-Vance a threat to future of auto industry
The Livingston Post
By Gongwer
Oct. 7, 2024
“This is exactly what we mean when we say Trump and Vance don’t give a damn about union workers,” Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber said in a statement. “There are hundreds of people who work at that plant whose ability to put food on the table and plan for the future depends on that funding. I know Trump and Vance think the Michigan auto industry is just a campaign talking point, but there are real lives at stake here. It’s a truly chilling glimpse into what a second Trump Administration would mean for auto workers here.”
Harris vote is a 'no brainer' for transport workers: Transport Workers Union's John Samuelsen (Video)
CNBC
Oct. 7, 2024
John Samuelsen, international president of the Transport Workers Union, joins CNBC's 'The Exchange' to discuss why the union is backing Kamala Harris in the election, the threat of automation in the transportation sector, and more.
Biden to announce $2.6B in funding to replace all lead pipes throughout the U.S.
CBS News
By Paulina Smolinski
Oct. 8, 2024
President Biden is set to announce $2.6 billion in funding to replace all lead pipes in the United States as part of a new EPA rule that will require lead pipes to be identified and replaced within 10 years using the new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. The EPA estimates that nine million homes in the U.S. have lead pipes. The city of Milwaukee, where Mr. Biden will make the announcement, has 65,000 lead pipes, which the city says will cost an estimated $700 million to remove.
President Biden traveling to Milwaukee to discuss adding jobs and removing lead pipes
NBC 26
By MacLeod Hageman
Oct. 8, 2024
President Biden is traveling to Milwaukee Tuesday and says he's announcing new actions in his Investing in America agenda to connect the people of Milwaukee to good-paying jobs. This includes replacing lead pipes and upgrading infrastructure through the Milwaukee Workforce hub.
MANUFACTURING
Center for American Progress
By Aurelia Glass and Karla Walter
Oct. 7, 2024
The Biden-Harris administration’s industrial investments mark a turning point for economic policy that can help the United States regain competitiveness in several emerging sectors and create jobs across the economy. These investments include creating hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs that, at their best, provide routes to the middle class and offer a new generation of American workers decent wages and benefits and the freedom to unionize. Unlike in federally supported construction work, however, the government had little experience in supporting job quality incentives in the manufacturing sector prior to the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS), and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Awarding agencies have had to learn how to incentivize job quality in the three years since the enactment of the first of these laws. While the government has made significant progress in encouraging a job quality race to the top in the sector, federal agencies and pro-worker lawmakers can do more to ensure manufacturing jobs created with government support offer good wages and the chance to join a union and are accessible to workers from all walks of life.
SUPREME COURT
US Supreme Court denies Uber, Lyft bid to avoid California driver suits
Yahoo! Finance/Reuters
By Daniel Wiessner
Oct. 7, 2024
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear a challenge by Uber and Lyft to lawsuits by the state of California on behalf of drivers who signed agreements to keep legal disputes with the ride-hailing companies out of court in a legal fight over their status as contractors. The justices turned away appeals by the two companies of a California state appeals court's ruling that let the Democratic-led state's attorney general and labor commissioner pursue claims that Uber and Lyft owe money to drivers who were misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees.
LABOR AND ECONOMY
The dockworkers’ strike is suspended, but automation remains a sticking point for unions
Fast Company
By Aj Hess
Oct. 4, 2024
Amanda Ballantyne, director of the AFL-CIO’s Technology Institute, stresses that automation does not inherently increase worker safety. “It is a myth that automating technologies automatically makes everything safer,” she says. “The labor movement is not anti-technology. We are pro-worker and we are totally in favor of technologies that make our jobs better and safer and more efficient. But it is not the case that technology in general just does that. There are good technologies and bad technologies for workers.” “I guess the argument is there are fewer people to be hurt,” says Greg Regan, president of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department.
ORGANIZING
Students stand up: Logan Labor Union
The Utah Statesman
By Justin Brewster
Oct. 7, 2024
As of this academic school year, there will now be a student-raised Labor Union at the Logan campus of Utah State University called the United Campus Workers of Utah, or the UCW. This will be the first time a union has been formed on a Utah State campus. “A labor union is a collective of workers who work together to bargain or come to agreements with their employer to better worker welfare,” said Emily Burgess, a graduate teaching assistant in the biology department and a member of the organizing committee for the union.
NEGOTIATIONS & STRIKES
Hundreds of Boston hotel workers on strike indefinitely
NBC Boston
By Alison Kuznitz
Oct. 7, 2024
Nearly 600 hospitality workers at two Hilton hotels in Boston are on strike indefinitely, creating the potential for the most disruptive action yet in the city as thorny labor contract negotiations continue. Workers are slated to picket 24/7 outside the Hilton Boston Park Plaza and the Hilton Boston Logan Airport, UNITE HERE Local 26 said Sunday as it launched the latest strikes. They are expected to strike "until they reach a mutually satisfactory agreement with the hotel companies," the union said.
Boeing and machinists' union to meet again amid ongoing strike
KOMO
By Lee Stoll
Oct. 7, 2024
Boeing executives and the striking machinists' union are set to meet again this morning in an effort to resolve a strike that has now entered its fourth week. The work stoppage is proving costly for both sides. Negotiations, however, appear to be at a standstill.
Boston hotel workers walk off job in new wave of strikes
WCVB
By Alex Svenson
Oct. 6, 2024
Hotel workers from two Hilton locations in Boston have walked off the job after failing to reach an agreement on Friday with the hotels they’ve been bargaining with. According to a post from UNITE HERE Local 26, the union representing the workers, 600 hotel workers are on strike at the Hilton Boston Logan and the Hilton Boston Park Plaza.
APPRENTICESHIPS & TRAINING
Trades spotlight power of apprenticeship
The Stand
By Staff
Oct. 7. 2024
Registered union apprenticeship is a tried and true path to stable careers and economic security for many working folks — but only if they know about it. Trades unions tackled that awareness gap in an event last week in Elma, Washington giving high school students the opportunity to get some hands-on experience with a trade that could change their lives. More than 18 trades participated: Boilermakers, Bricklayers & Allied Crafts, Carpet Layers, Cement Masons & Plasterers, Drywall Finishers, Electricians, Elevator Constructors, Glaziers, Heat & Frost Insulators, Ironworkers, Laborers, Operating Engineers, Painters, Plumbers & Pipe Fitters, Roofers & Waterproofers, Sheet Metal Workers, Sprinkler Fitters, and Teamsters.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Iron Workers’ Dave Beard named Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council’s Labor Man of the Year
Labor Tribune
By Carl Green
Oct. 7, 2024
If it seems like David Beard has been a high-ranking leader among the Iron Workers for a long time, it’s because he has. But on Aug. 29, he received his due from the Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council at its well-attended annual awards banquet, as always at Bel-Air Bowl. Beard was named the George R. Badgley Labor Man of the Year in recognition of his long career of leadership and ever-higher positions in the union, which have made him a national figure within the Labor Movement. With bowling sounds echoing from above, Council President Scot Luchtefeld said he was pleased to present the award to Beard. “This is really and truly a great honor, because this gentleman is from Monroe County, and that’s where I live — and I’ve known him for a few years,” Luchtefeld said. “He didn’t know about it until he showed up here tonight and saw his wife, Mary, and kids. That’s how good a job they did.”
Operating Engineers Local 513 making a mark at Missouri county fairs
Labor Tribune
By Staff
Oct. 7, 2024
In a standout mover over the past two summers, Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 513 has become a prominent fixture at county fairs across eastern Missouri. Guided by President and Business Manager Brian Graff, the union has embarked on a unique initiative that underscores its commitment to community involvement and member engagement. Local 513’s Executive Board made a strategic decision to channel the union’s advertising budget toward purchasing grand champion steers at local 4-H auctions. The initiative not only supports local youth in 4-H programs but also benefits union members directly.
Fun and games galore at AFGE Local 2192 Fall Festival(Photos)
Labor Tribune
By Staff
Oct. 7, 2024
The AFGE Local 2192 Fall Festival offered fun and games for the whole family at the CWA Local 6300 union hall on Sept. 21. Attendees celebrated with food and drinks, snow cones, raffles, bingo, pumpkin decorating, facepainting and other games.