Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
EDITOR'S NOTE: "Most union voters didn't abandon Kamala Harris," another one of our stories cross-posted on Forward Kentucky, tops today's AFL-CIO's Daily Press clips. Thanks to Bruce Maples at FK for cross-posting many of our stories. It's nice to be noticed nationally!
POLITICS
Most union voters didn't abandon Kamala Harris
Forward Kentucky
By Berry Craig
Nov. 12, 2024
“The union vote has always been the bedrock of the Democratic Party, and obviously they weren’t swayed in the way that people expected to vote for Donald Trump,” said Bill Londrigan, past president of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO. “It’s a good sign that union members are still a more reliable voting bloc and really do care about this country.” Niedzwiadek quoted Steve Smith, the AFL-CIO’s deputy director for public affairs: “There were much bigger issues afoot for Democrats in this election, but if you’re looking for bright spots, labor was one of them.”
Mass meetings already underway to plan resistance to Trump
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
Nov. 12, 2024
Post-election exit polls for the AFL-CIO showed 57% of union members and their households voted for Trump’s Democratic foe, Vice President Kamala Harris. That included 58% in Pennsylvania and 67% in Minnesota. And Black women, such as Pringle and Verrett, mobilized and voted for Harris, who is African-American and Asian-American. She won them 87%-9%.
What Trump's reelection means for union workers, according to experts
ABC News
By Max Zahn
Nov. 12, 2024
In recent years, the labor movement received a makeover. A surge in organizing and a swell of popularity coincided with the tenure of President Joe Biden, who some labor leaders have praised as the most pro-union president in the nation’s history. The impending arrival of President-elect Donald Trump has thrust some of those gains into question, experts told ABC News. Trump’s first term featured a weakening of labor regulations and the appointment of pro-management officials in key positions, experts said, voicing expectations of a similar approach when Trump returns to office. Such changes would likely make it more difficult for workers to form unions and negotiate workplace improvements, but the labor movement may withstand those headwinds since many of the factors that have driven its growth remain in place, experts said.
ORGANIZING
Flight Attendants Union Sees Opening at Delta: Labor Fight’s Next Phase
Skift
By Sean O’Neill
Nov. 12, 2024
Flight attendants at Delta Air Lines may soon make another push to unionize as broader public support for organized labor creates momentum, according to the head of the largest U.S. flight attendants union. Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, said Tuesday that developments in the long-running campaign to organize Delta’s cabin crew “maybe” could emerge “in a few months.” “The big change today is that we have a positive view of unions in the public,” Nelson said onstage at the Skift Aviation Forum in Dallas-Fort Worth. “They’re one of the most popular things in the country.”
Workers at San Antonio's Texas Public Radio seek union representation
San Antonio Current
By Michael Karlis
Nov. 12, 2024
Employees at Texas Public Radio this week became the latest workers at a San Antonio news organization to seek union representation. In Monday post on social media platform X, members of the station's newsroom staff said they're organizing as part of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which represents performers and broadcasters. “We believe the content we create reflects the diversity and culture that makes South Texas unique, and we believe a union organized with SAG-AFTRA will safeguard our organization's future success,” the employees said in their statement.
Intimacy Coordinators Vote To Organize With SAG-AFTRA
Deadline
By Katie Campione
Nov. 12, 2024
Intimacy coordinators have said a resounding “yes” to being represented by SAG-AFTRA. The group voted unanimously to organize with the guild in a National Labor Relations Board election, in hopes that the union will represent them in any dealings with the major studios, SAG-AFTRA announced Tuesday. The next step will be negotiating the group’s first contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
Fort Wayne GM, UAW sign agreement, avoid strike
Fox 55
By Andy Paras
Nov. 12, 2024
The local UAW and Fort Wayne General Motors plant have come to an agreement to avoid a strike. According to a Local 2209 bargaining committee report, the two sides agreed on several conditions that will allow senior members to return to their original jobs. The conflict started in September when the plant looked to lay off 250 temporary employees.
Thousands of hotel workers ratify new contract at major Waikiki hotels
Hawaii News Now
By HNN Staff
Nov. 12, 2024
Over 2,500 workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 5 voted to ratify a new contract at five Marriott-operated hotels in Waikiki. Employees approved the deal Monday for the Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Sheraton Waikiki, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, and the Westin Moana Surfrider. Their union says the contract comes with raises and a management commitment to address workload and staffing concerns. The Sheratons on Maui and Kauai will take ratification votes later this week.
As Negotiations Drag On, Animation Guild Members March on DreamWorks
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
Nov. 12, 2024
Animation workers marched to the DreamWorks Animation offices on Tuesday to deliver a petition demanding a “fair deal” less than a week before their union contract negotiations restart. Workers and supporters walked to the company’s location in Glendale to deliver a petition that the union previously presented to Netflix during a similar demonstration on Oct. 24. The union says that hundreds attended this latest demonstration. “Members of The Animation Guild (TAG), IATSE Local 839, are facing unprecedented levels of unemployment despite animation outperforming on screens and in merchandise sales,” the petition states. “Companies made poor decisions in the streaming wars and now animation workers are paying the price.”
Oregon State University graduate workers strike for higher wages
OPB
By Tiffany Camhi
Nov. 12, 2024
OSU’s Coalition of Graduate Employees represents more than 1,700 graduate teaching and research assistants at the university’s Corvallis campus. A wide majority of the union’s members voted to authorize a strike two weeks ago. More than 800 CGE members took a further step by signing a strike pledge, said union President Austin Bosgraaf. “What I really hope to see today is all these union members, all here at the same time, working together to begin this next step in trying to win a contract for CGE,” said Bosgraaf. In a statement early Tuesday, CGE expected hundreds of its members to participate in a walkout and picket at OSU’s Memorial Union Quad.
WGA East members at McGee Media ratify first union contract
Editor & Publisher
By Writers Guild of America East
Nov. 12, 2024
Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members at McGee Media overwhelmingly ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. The 25-member McGee Media bargaining unit, which includes producers, archivists and researchers, began negotiations in April. The unit secured progressive gains and strong protections at the Nonfiction television production company founded by award-winning filmmaker Dyllan McGee.
Strike averted at U-M Health as 'memorandum of understanding' is reached with UMMAP
Detroit Free Press
By Kristen Jordan Shamus
Nov. 11, 2024
A one-day strike of 4,500 workers at University of Michigan Health was averted Monday afternoon when a "memorandum of understanding" was reached with the United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals AFT Local 6730, also known as UMMAP. Workers had been set to strike at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The union represents radiological professionals, physical therapists, medical assistants, social workers and other classifications who work for the clinical operation of Michigan Medicine.
Hotel workers at 5 Marriott hotels in Waikiki ratify new contract
Island News
By Jeremiah Estrada
Nov. 11, 2024
Over 2,500 Waikiki hotel workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 5 voted to ratify a new contract at five Marriott-operated hotels. The decision that happened on Monday, Nov. 11 came at an “overwhelming majority.” The hotels include the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Sheraton Waikiki, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and the Westin Moana Surfrider.
TX Nurses Score Major New Contract Focused on Safe Staffing, Wages, and Nurse Well-being
Nurse.org
By Angelina Walker
Nov. 11, 2024
Nurses at Corpus Christi Medical Center (CCMC) have successfully ratified a new union contract in a significant development for healthcare workers in the Coastal Bend region of Texas. This agreement, reached between HCA Management and the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), represents a major step forward in addressing long-standing concerns and improving working conditions for over 700 nurses across Texas. The contract's provisions aim to enhance patient care, ensure fair compensation, and create a more sustainable work environment for healthcare professionals.
NLRB
Grindr targeted nascent union with return-to-office ultimatum, labor board alleges
Los Angeles Times
By Suhauna Hussain and Caroline Petrow-Cohen
Nov. 12, 2024
In a recent complaint, the National Labor Relations Board’s regional office in Los Angeles accused Grindr of interfering with employees’ right to organize and refusing to recognize the union workers had elected to join, calling the company’s actions “serious and substantial unfair labor practice conduct.”
IN THE STATES
Chi Ossé’s broker fee bill set to pass City Council
City and State
By Annie McDonough
Nov. 12, 2024
Ossé credited the coalition assembled in support of the legislation – including the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, and the listing site StreetEasy – with helping to get it over the finish line. Ossé, who has a Gen Zer’s easy command of social media, also noted they got “really loud” about it on platforms like TikTok. “We kind of made it hard to look away from this bill,” he said.
RETIREMENT SECURITY
‘Social Security Fairness Act’ heads to U.S. Senate after resounding House floor vote
KALB
By Colin Vedros
Nov. 12, 2024
On November 12, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 82, commonly known as the “Social Security Fairness Act of 2023.” With a resounding 327 to 75 vote, the U.S. Senate will now take up H.R. 82 before President Joe Biden decides the bill’s future. H.R. 82 aims to eliminate two Social Security provisions in the U.S., the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). HR 82 was co-authored by Louisiana Republican Congressman Garret Graves and Virginia Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger.