Today's AFL-CIO press clips
POLITICS
Federal workers brace for Trump with morale ‘as low as it’s ever been’
The Guardian
By Michael Sainato
Nov. 18, 2024
AFGE Local 1003, which represents non-supervisory Environmental Protection Agency employees in Texas and surrounding states, is braced for a tough four years. During the first Trump administration, the union at the EPA was operating under an expired contract, and it only reached a new one this summer. Under Trump, managers used a directive “which supplanted our expired contract at that time and caused a whole bunch of chaos, problems and headaches for the unions at the agency”, Justin Chen, president of AFGE Local 1003, said. “We couldn’t represent employees and grievances while on duty time. Essentially, they took away our offices and significantly shrunk our rights as the representation for the bargaining unit employees.”
LABOR AND ECONOMY
UNITE HERE Calls on Regulators to Investigate Marriott’s Resort Fees
Business Wire
By Staff
Nov. 19, 2024
While hotel workers are on strike at Marriott locations in San Francisco, UNITE HERE’s “Resort Fee Ripoff” website has revealed how the company’s "destination fees” are just like unpopular resort fees at other hotels—and in some cases worse. Just like resort fees, Marriott’s destination fees charge guests for hotel basics like Internet and fail to cover important services like parking, while making customers pay for hotel services they might not even want.
ORGANIZING
Labor unions are a growing trend in health care industry
Dayton Daily News
By Samantha Wildow
Nov. 19, 2024
While health care has traditionally been an area of low union representation, growth in labor unionization in general has started to reach health care workers who want to have more of a voice in their organization. The trend is particularly picking up with medical residents, who are doctors who have graduated from medical school and are in a post-graduate training program, but local efforts tend to involve nurses who want representation.
Arapahoe Basin, CO, Ski Patrollers File to Unionize
Snow Brains
By Staff
Nov. 19, 2024
The Arapahoe Basin Ski Patrol announced today its decision to file for union representation with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). As Arapahoe Basin Ski Patrol takes this important step to secure a stronger, collective voice in the workplace, it seeks to join nearly 1,000 ski patrollers and lift maintenance unionized crew members at 12 resorts across the Mountain West Region, including Colorado, Montana, Washington, and Utah.
Employees at Casper Wells Fargo CY Ave branch vote to join union
Oil City News
By Dan Cepeda
Nov. 18, 2024
Workers at a Casper Wells Fargo bank branch have voted to unionize, making it the 20th branch in the country to join the growing movement. The trend started a year ago, in November 2023, when a branch in Albuquerque, New Mexico, joined the Communications Workers of America, according to Andrew King, who is the local union representative and a personal banker at Casper’s Wells Fargo west-side branch on CY Avenue. It’s one of three Wells Fargo branches in Casper and the only one in town to unionize at this time.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
New Lenox D122 Support Staff To Rally Amid Ongoing Contract Talks
Patch
By Lauren Traut
Nov. 19, 2024
As months of contract talks continue in New Lenox District 122, support staff are set to rally Tuesday ahead of the Board of Education's meeting. The newly formed union council for the New Lenox Professional Support Staff Council (IFT Local 604) is bargaining their first contract with the district, and seeking an agreement that reflects their hard work and loyal service to New Lenox students, the Illinois Federation of Teachers said in a release.
Times of San Diego
By City News Service
Nov. 19, 2024
Thousands of patient care and service workers at the UC San Diego Medical Center and other University of California campuses across the state will stage a two-day strike starting Wednesday, alleging unfair bargaining tactics, allegations the UC system denies.
According to the AFSCME Local 3299 union, the strike will include roughly 37,000 UC workers “at every UC campus and medical facility across the state.” The strike will begin at midnight Wednesday morning and continue until midnight Thursday night. Picketing will be held both days from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Potential triple strike involving SEPTA and city workers could 'shut region down,' union boss says
6 ABC
By Beccah Hendrickson
Nov. 19, 2024
Three large unions in greater Philadelphia are all threatening to strike at the same time in a move that could "shut the region down," according to one union boss. Unions representing SEPTA operators in both the city and suburbs are currently negotiating new contracts, as is the union representing more than 9,000 municipal workers. All three unions have voted to authorize strikes if talks break down.
Culinary Union strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas enters fifth day
KSNV
By Fidel Moreno-Meza
Nov. 19, 2024
The Culinary Union strike outside Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has reached its fifth day, with union members addressing the Clark County Commission on Tuesday to explain their reasons for striking and to seek support. Ted Pappageorge, the union's secretary, and a union researcher were among the speakers at the meeting. They aimed to provide commissioners with a clearer understanding of the strike's motivations.
Workers to strike for 2 days this week at UC San Diego Medical Center, La Jolla
NBC 7 San Diego
By Staff
Nov. 19, 2024
Thousands of patient care and service workers at UC San Diego Medical Center and other University of California campuses across the state will stage a two-day strike starting Wednesday, alleging unfair bargaining tactics, allegations the UC system denies. According to the AFSCME Local 3299 union, the strike will include roughly 37,000 UC workers "at every UC campus and medical facility across the state." The strike will begin at midnight Wednesday morning and continue until midnight Thursday night. Picketing will be held both days from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
333 workers at IKEA distribution center in Perryville on strike
Cecil Whig
By Carl Hamilton
Nov. 19, 2024
More than 330 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local Lodge I460, District 4, remained on strike Tuesday — five days after walking off their jobs at the IKEA wholesale distribution center in the wake of voting against that company’s contract proposal. The local union secretary/treasurer, Tony Venzon, reported that 333 lodge members went on strike at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, after union officials rejected IKEA management’s proposal for the next three-year contract. Since then, striking union members in shifts of varying numbers have manned a picket line on IKEA Way, a short distance from the Principio Furnace Road intersection. Five union members holding signs were picketing there on Friday afternoon. Earlier that day, according to Venzon, approximately 50 union members participated in the picketing.
Contract talks enter new week for Philly transit and municipal workers
The Philadelphia Tribune
By Marco Cerino
Nov. 18, 2024
Contract negotiations enter a new week of talks between two of the city’s major unions and their employers. SEPTA and TWU Local 234 returned to bargaining Monday to avoid service stoppages, while the city continues to discuss a new deal with AFSCME DC 33’s many divisions. Both unions have seen their contracts expire this year and are seeking new ones. While both have voted to authorize strikes, TWU Local 234 has already backed up their walkout date once this month. Instead of leaving when their contract expired on Nov. 8, they’re now giving SEPTA until the end of the month for a new deal to avoid the first service stoppage since 2016.
Your Central Valley
By Briana Byus
Nov. 18, 2024
Airline workers picketed outside the Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) Monday. It was the first informational picket the airport has ever had, according to officials. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) Union gathered ramp workers together to picket for higher wages and better benefits.
SAG-AFTRA doesn't want you to forget about striking workers during awards season
Game Devleoper
By Chris Kerr
Nov. 19, 2024
Performer union SAG-AFTRA has responded to the reveal of The Game Awards nominations by imploring people not to forget about striking workers during awards season. A number of unionized actors who ply their trade in the game industry are currently striking in a bid to secure better AI protections and working conditions. SAG-AFTRA noted that its members have been striking for almost four months after initially agreeing to down tools in late July, and is evidently keen for people to keep that in mind as high-profile events like The Game Awards take center stage.
JOINING TOGETHER
PBS KIDS writers support strike call by live-action colleagues
Kidscreen
By Ryan Tuchow
Nov. 19, 2024
Unionized live-action PBS writers are days away from striking at three PBS member stations, and part of their demands are that their colleagues who write for PBS KIDS animated programming be covered under future labor contracts. And in solidarity, PBS Kids writers have pledged not to cross any picket lines should they go up. Writers Guild of America (WGA) members at PBS member stations WGBH (Boston), Thirteen (New York) and PBS SoCal (Southern California) voted yesterday to authorize a strike if management doesn’t agree to a deal they view as fair before the current contract expires. And time is running out, since the existing contract ends at 11:59 ET on November 21.
WV Metro News
By Brad McElhinny
Nov. 19, 2024
Three unions representing public workers are planning to rally about how increased insurance costs will affect their members. Leaders and members from AFT-West Virginia, the West Virginia Education Association and the United Mine Workers of America will participate in a rally before a PEIA public hearing in Morgantown this evening. Two of the unions represent educators statewide. The United Mine Workers, best known for representing coal miners, also represents some public sector workers like county employees in Monongalia County.
STATE LEGISLATION
Colorado Democrats announce bill that would remove union organizing barrier
Colorado Newsline
By Sara Wilson
Nov. 19, 2024
A group of Democratic Colorado lawmakers will run a bill next year to alter the state’s labor laws by removing a secondary election requirement for unions. The bill, dubbed the Worker Protection Act, would repeal a requirement that workers win a second election — on top of the one to form their union — to require fees from every worker that the union represents. Colorado is the only state to have that requirement, which is part of the state’s 1943 Labor Peace Act. “It is uniquely hard to form a union in the state of Colorado, and we are asking our colleagues to affirm the right to collectively bargain and fight for better pay and safer workplaces,” Democratic Rep. Javier Mabrey of Denver said.
APPRENTICESHIPS & TRAINING
Students learn about future in trades at Central Illinois career fair Tuesday
WGEM
By Max Cotton
Nov. 19, 2024
Many high school seniors are probably like Williamsville’s Bryson Trickey, asking what’s next as they prepare to graduate. Tuesday, some of those students got a chance to get answers as the AFL-CIO hosted the eighth annual Central Illinois Building Trades Career Day fair at the BOS Center in Springfield as part of National Apprenticeship Week. “It’s great to see a lot of future career options. There’s a lot of opportunities out there, and I’m able to talk to all these people who are in those career and have experience in those careers, so they definitely guide me and show me what I want to do and how I can do it,” Trickey said.
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 23 Celebrate National Apprenticeship Week
My Stateline
By Taminique Blackwell
Nov. 19, 2024
The 10th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week started yesterday and ends on the 23rd. Greg Harle shares the pre-apprenticeship partnerships they have with Rock Valley College HCCTP and Goodwill to educate potential applicants about their programs. For more information, head to www.ualocal23.org. Sponsored by Plumbing, Pipefitting and Heating Ventilation and Refrigeration Apprenticeship of Local 23.
IBEW Local 596 holds open house for apprenticeship program
WBOY
By Jordan Massey
Nov. 19, 2024
To recognize National Apprenticeship Week (Nov. 17-23), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 596 held an open house event so technical centers across north central West Virginia could see what the Clarksburg Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee program has to offer. Students came by from Marion County Technical Education Center, Monongalia County Technical Education Center and Randolph County Technical Education Centers, as well as the South Branch Career & Technical Center based in Petersburg.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
Workplace violence is on the rise for Texas nurses. Many are feeling stressed and burnt out
Houston Chronicle
By Evan MacDonald
Nov. 19, 2024
The prevalence of violence and abuse has been harmful to nurses, who continue to experience high levels of burnout in the wake of the pandemic. That stress is causing many to reevaluate their careers; the National Nurses United survey found that more than six in 10 nurses were considering quitting their job or leaving the profession entirely due to workplace violence.
WVTM
By Zoe Blair
Nov. 19, 2024
Teachers, coaches and bus drivers spent their Monday morning learning what to do if a shooting were to happen at their school. "You never know when you'll be in this kind of situation, especially in a school setting," Hueytown coach and teacher Billy Chandler said. "It's just good to learn some tactics in case this ever arises."
Scheduling Transparency, Safety are Retail Workers’ Biggest Concerns this Holiday Season
Retail Touch Points
By Nicole Silberstein
Nov. 19, 2024
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but for a sizeable portion of the U.S. workforce the holiday shopping season can be the most strenuous and stress-filled time of year. As consumers furiously stock up on everything they need for under the tree and around the table, retail workers — who make up more than one quarter of the U.S. labor force — find themselves literally on the front lines of the holiday madness. In addition to extended store hours, increased inventory pressures and customers who often are even more impatient than normal, these workers also often find themselves working more hours at a time when many other employees are taking time off.
CIVIL, HUMAN, & WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Laborers to offer union-wide paid maternity leave January 1
People’s World
By Press Associates
Nov. 19, 2024
The Laborers will offer all new mothers among their members offering 12 weeks of maternity leave benefits starting January 1. The mothers will be eligible for up to $800 per week, union President Brent Booker says. With the new union-wide union-paid benefit, “You don’t have to choose between being a mother or being a Laborer,” Booker told the recent Trades Women Build Nations conference in New Orleans. “We’re looking to the future and we want all members, including female members, to know that we value them, we value their families, we value their children.”
EDUCATION
With 90% of West Virginia’s children in public schools, lawmakers must prioritize them
West Virginia Watch
By Leann Ray
Nov. 19, 2024
“We can’t expect better achievement from public school students by taking resources and investment away from them. Many of these students are among the most vulnerable of our state’s population and require even more resources to overcome their challenges,” said Fred Albert, president of American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Union Workers Hold a Pie and Bingo Event at Pine Street Inn
WBZ
By Staff
Nov. 19, 2024
Union workers held an event for the residents of Pine Street Inn, the largest homeless shelter in New England. Members of Iron Workers Local 7 gave out pie and beverages to those staying at the shelter. They also held bingo games, with the winners receiving gift cards as prizes. Union president Frank Murray talked about how they hope the event brings some happiness to the Pine Street residents this holiday season.