Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST READ
Unions Say Building Worker Power Is Only Way to Defeat Trump's Fascist Right
Common Dreams
By Jake Johnson
Nov. 7, 2024
Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, said in a statement Wednesday that the Project 2025 agenda crafted by Trump allies and members of his first administration "promises to dismantle labor unions because we are a pillar of democracy and a check on power." Acknowledging that Trump's win represents "a blow for every worker who depends on our elected leaders to fight for our jobs, our unions, and our contracts," Shuler said that "we stand for solidarity—the kind that is built when working people stand together to take on the biggest, richest bosses and the most powerful extremist politicians." "Most importantly, we know how to fight back when anyone comes after our freedoms," said Shuler. "No one—not Donald Trump or JD Vance, nor any one CEO—can stop solidarity. Organized labor is the path forward."
POLITICS
How Julie Su negotiated the end of the Boeing strike
Axios
By Emily Peck
Nov. 7, 2024
While the world braced for the election earlier this week, acting labor secretary Julie Su was busy solving another crisis — helping to end the Boeing strike. The big picture: It was at least the fifth time Su's stepped in to wrestle thorny union talks to a deal in the less than two years she's been in her role.
Trump’s return may help oil and Elon Musk. Retail and unions, not so much.
The Washington Post
By Julian Mark
Nov. 7, 2024
When Donald Trump assumes the presidency in January, he will have a chance to implement an economic vision that includes corporate tax cuts, sweeping tariffs on foreign goods and a wave of deregulation. If the second Trump administration follows through on his campaign ideas, these could be the business world’s winners and losers.
Trump won the presidency. What does that mean for education?
Pennsylvania Capital-Star
By Shauneen Miranda
Nov. 7, 2024
“The voters have spoken. While we hoped and fought for a different outcome, we respect both their will and the peaceful transfer of power,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the largest teachers unions in the country, said in a Wednesday statement. “At this moment, the country is more divided than ever, and our democracy is in jeopardy. Last night, we saw fear and anger win,” Weingarten said. Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, the country’s largest labor union, said in a statement Wednesday that “this is not the outcome we campaigned for, nor the future we wanted for our students and families, but it is the road through history we now must travel.”
How The Trump Administration Could Impact Aviation Unions
Simple Flying
By Mia Ping-Chieh Chen
While these reforms, including infrastructure improvements and workforce development, are expected to benefit the broader aviation industry, unions in the sector may face a less favorable environment under a second Trump term. With Trump's pro-business, deregulation-focused agenda, aviation unions could see their bargaining power diminished, particularly as the National Mediation Board (NMB) is expected to shift to a Republican majority. The NMB, which plays a key role in mediating labor disputes in the airline and railroad industries, is likely to become more pro-business, making it more difficult for unions to secure favorable contracts.
Federal workers union say they are worried about D.C. jobs under Trump (Video)
WUSA 9
By WUSA9.com
Nov. 6, 2024
The American Federation of Government Employees released a statement on Wednesday following the results of the 2024 election.
LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY
How AI and Intelligent Data Transformed a Major Labor Union
Builtin
By Matt Richard
Nov. 7, 2024
At first glance, the mission of a labor union seems fairly straightforward: to represent the interests of its members. But when you look at the operational tasks that go into fulfilling that mission — from training, upskilling and job placement, to benefits administration, political organizing, retirement services and more — the magnitude of the mission becomes clear. Further consider the complexities for an international union covering half a million construction workers and laborers who often deploy across more than 300 chapter jurisdictions to countless job sites. They do all this on tight timelines for crucial construction projects, many of which are funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This is the daily reality for my organization, the Laborer’s International Union of North America (LiUNA). And here’s the story of how we evolved our technology and processes with AI, intelligent data and automation to meet unprecedented operational challenges to fulfill our important mission.
LABOR AND ECONOMY
Fed trims interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point
The Washington Post
By Andrew Ackerman
Nov. 7, 2024
The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates on Thursday by a quarter of a percentage point, its second consecutive rate cut this year, as inflation continues to cool. Donald Trump’s presidential victory this week may upend the U.S. economic outlook and the central bank’s future stance on rates. Trump’s campaign commitment to impose tariffs on U.S. imports, to deport undocumented immigrants and to renew expiring tax cuts could, depending on how they are implemented, put upward pressure on inflation. They could also expand federal deficits.
ORGANIZING
Judge Orders Another Union Election At Amazon Warehouse In Alabama
HuffPost
By Dave Jamieson
Nov. 7, 2024
A judge at the federal labor board has ordered a do-over union election at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, finding that the online retail giant broke the law in ways that spoiled a vote by workers in 2022. The new election would be the third one held at the facility — the previous vote itself was a do-over, after a labor board official set aside the results of the initial election, in 2021, due to Amazon’s allegedly illegal conduct.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
Coastal Bend nurses ratify new union contract at CCMC
KRIS 6 News
By Alexis Scott
Nov. 6, 2024
Nurses at Corpus Christi Medical Center (CCMC) are seeing changes that will help improve workplace practices and all-around patient care. That's thanks to a new three year contract that was ratified by HCA Management for nurses represented by National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU). More than 700 nurses across Texas will be impacted by the changes. KRIS 6 News previously reported in June that nurses at CCMC protested for better staffing practices.
Meridian Federation of Teachers announce tentative agreement with school district
WCIA
By Danny Connolly
Nov. 7, 2024
The Meridian Federation of Teachers is celebrating making a breakthrough at the bargaining table. The union announced they agreed to a tentative agreement late Tuesday night. Teachers held a rally before the agreement was reached.
Belvidere UAW members to vote on Stellantis strike Thursday
My Stateline
By John Clark
Nov. 6, 2024
Members of the United Auto Workers in Belvidere plan to vote on whether to authorize a strike Thursday, against automaker Stellantis. According to UAW Local 1268, the vote will happen between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the union hall, located at 1100 W. Chrysler Drive. “I don’t think anyone likes being in this position to have to take this vote. This is the position the corporation has put us in. We need to show them and the rest of the membership that we are in favor of fighting for Belvidere and the loss of the Durango at the Detroit Assembly Complex (JNAP),” President Matt Frantzen said.
Benton County and union employees resume negotiations, focus on wages
KVAL
By News Staff
Nov. 7, 2024
Talks resumed Thursday, November 7, 2024, between Benton County and the county's union employees. But union members are not optimistic. Milana Grant with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal employees say last Friday's mediation session did not go well, with the county not having a prepared proposal and taking 2.5 hours to present one. Grant says, "The county sent us a proposal that essentially just restructured their old wage proposal."
JOINING TOGETHER
Striking New York Times tech workers made their own versions of Wordle and Connections
Engadget
By Mariella Moon
Nov. 7, 2024
The New York Times Tech Guild asked the publication's readers not to play its games, including Wordle and Connections, in solidarity when it announced that it was going on strike on November 4. Now, the guild has released its own versions of the The Times' games so that readers can still play without crossing its digital picket line. Of course, the workers' versions won't be able to keep your Wordle streak running, but they're pretty much the same games you've been playing on the publication's website.
IN THE STATES
Baltimore unions, activists celebrate defeat of ‘Question H’ at ballot box
WMAR
By Jack Watson
Nov. 7, 2024
Folks at the Thursday celebration said downsizing the council would have left Baltimore vulnerable to wealthy interests. A coalition of opponents - dubbed 'Baltimore City Not For Sale' said in a news release it knocked on more than 3,000 doors. "We proved when we educate and organize voters, we win. When we fight, we win," said Courtney Jenkins, president of the Metropolitan Baltimore Council of AFL-CIO unions.
EDUCATION
Voters Poised to Reject Private School Vouchers in Three States
The New York Times
By Dana Goldstein and Troy Closson
Nov. 7, 2024
On a bright Election Day for Republicans, one of their signature education policies — private school choice — was poised to be rejected by voters in three states: Colorado, Nebraska and Kentucky. In Kentucky, nearly two-thirds of voters defeated a proposal to allow state tax dollars to fund private and charter schools. In Nebraska, 57 percent of voters approved a ballot initiative that repealed a small program intended to give low-income families tax dollars to pay for private-school tuition.