Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST READ
Pro-Union Labor Chief Pick to Navigate Unusual Confirmation Path
Bloomberg Law
By Diego Areas Munhoz and Rebecca Rainey
Nov. 26, 2024
“Donald Trump is the President-elect of the United States—not Rep. Chavez-DeRemer—and it remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as Secretary of Labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda,” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement. “The AFL-CIO will work with anyone who wants to do right by workers, but we will reject and defeat any attempt to roll back the rights and protections that working people have won with decades of blood, sweat, and tears.”
POLITICS
3 Ways Workers’ Rights Are on the Chopping Block Under President Trump
In These Times
By Samantha Sanders
Nov. 26, 2024
Much of the Trump-Vance campaign’s platform was designed to provoke outrage rather than to supply policy details. So, if you’re trying to figure out what to actually expect from the coming second Trump administration, it’s helpful to look at the record of Trump’s first term in office, as well as the individuals and organizations that influenced the 2024 GOP campaign. When it comes to workers’ rights, that record is crystal clear: from attacks on unions and workers’ freedom of speech to rolling back laws that would have boosted paychecks or expanded worker safety protections, Trump has been a disaster.
Compact Mag
By Alex Hogan
Nov. 26, 2024
Regardless of how Trump’s remaining appointments turn out, unions are better positioned to weather the changes in Washington than they were in 2016. Emboldened by a tight labor market, historically high approval ratings, and a friendly White House, unions today are more robust, more popular, and more audacious than they were a decade ago—notwithstanding lagging density. The day before the election, Boeing workers joined the ranks of dockers, auto workers, hotel employees, and Hollywood writers in winning a historically high wage and benefits package. Major strike activity increased by 280 percent in 2023, and there is little sign that labor is ready to let up.
Biden proposes expanded Medicare, Medicaid coverage of obesity drugs
Reuters
By Andrea Shalal and Patrick Wingrove
Nov. 26, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday proposed expanding coverage of anti-obesity drugs, like Novo Nordisk's (NOVOb.CO), for more than 7 million people with Medicare and Medicaid health coverage, which could cut out-of-pocket expenses for some by as much as 95%. This would enable more Americans to afford new weight loss medications in the GLP-1 class that have been shown to reduce weight by as much as 20% on average and can help prevent type 2 diabetes but cost as much as $1,000 a month without insurance coverage. The drugs have also been shown in trials to lower the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular-related death.
Mexico vows to retaliate if Trump imposes 25 percent tariffs
The Washington Post
By Mary Beth Sheridan
Nov. 26, 2024
Mexico’s president responded angrily Tuesday to President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to impose a 25 percent tariff on its products if the country didn’t curb the flow of irregular migrants and fentanyl, warning that the penalties would only wind up causing inflation and unemployment in the United States. President Claudia Sheinbaum also made clear that Mexico would retaliate with its own tariffs if Trump went ahead with his plan.
Union Bosses Proved Trump Wrong, Again
LA Progressive
By Berry Craig
Nov. 25, 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."
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND CLIMATE
New England labor unions call for faster offshore wind buildout
Canary Media
By Carrie Klein
Nov. 26, 2024
“We looked at the way this industry was starting to develop and thought to ourselves: How can we work as a labor movement to make sure we’re making this an industry that is not only going to benefit the climate but benefit our members?” said Patrick Crowley, president of the Rhode Island chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), which represents roughly 900,000 union members across the three states. Crowley and the AFL-CIO partnered with the Climate Jobs National Resource Center and unions in Massachusetts and Connecticut to put together the new report, which outlines how the industry can expand with organized labor at the forefront.
NLRB
Waffle House claims NLRB process is unconstitutional
HR Drive
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne
Nov. 25, 2024
Waffle House is suing the National Labor Relations Board, its general counsel and individual board members in federal court in South Carolina, according to a complaint filed Friday. The chain argues that the board’s administrative law process, which does not preclude parties from recourse to federal courts, is unconstitutional and deprives the chain of due process.
ORGANIZING
Philadelphia workers at Amazon’s Whole Foods file for first union election
The Guardian
By Michael Sainato
Nov. 26, 2024
“This company makes billions of dollars in profits every year,” said Ben Lovett, a Whole Foods store employee in Philadelphia who along with 300 colleagues is hoping to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). “And my coworkers and I are not paid anywhere near a living wage for living in Philadelphia. I’ve worked two jobs. Many of my coworkers do two jobs, even three jobs.”
University of Pittsburgh graduate students vote to unionize with United Steelworkers
CBS
By Erika Stanish
Nov. 26, 2024
University of Pittsburgh graduate students say their fight to unionize with the United Steelworkers has been a long time coming. Student workers voted on Friday overwhelmingly in favor of joining the union. There were many smiles and happy tears on Friday as the votes were tallied, with 1,033 graduate students voting in favor of unionizing against 28 voting no.
UMD GSG resolution urges university to recognize graduate students’ right to unionize
The Diamondback
By Oliver Mack
Nov. 26, 2024
The University of Maryland GSG passed a resolution Friday that urges this university and the University System of Maryland to voluntarily recognize graduate student workers’ right to unionize. A similar resolution passes each year in the Graduate Student Government. Past resolutions have pressured the state legislature to enshrine collective bargaining rights for graduate student workers into state law, according to GSG member and Graduate Labor Union organizer Rose Ying.
Nevada grad students vote to unionize: ‘$30K shouldn’t feel like a luxurious salary’
Las Vegas Review-Journal
By Emerson Drewes
Nov. 26, 2024
Nevada System of Higher Education graduate student workers have voted to unionize. UNLV, UNR and Desert Research Institute graduate assistants on Thursday received a supermajority vote to unionize under the United Auto Workers union, now known as NGSW-UAW.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
WA public employee union sues state following failed contract vote
Washington State Standard
By Jerry Cornfield
Nov. 26, 2024
A 5,000-member public employee union in Washington that overwhelmingly rejected a new two-year contract in September is accusing the governor’s office and several community colleges of bad-faith bargaining. The Washington Public Employees Association filed a lawsuit on Friday alleging the state Office of Financial Management engaged in unfair labor practices by refusing to resume bargaining on a full, two-year deal. Gov. Jay Inslee, in his official capacity, and 11 community colleges are also named as defendants. The contract now in place expires next June.
Facing austerity drive, Illinois State University tenure track faculty fight for contract
People’s World
By Zach Carlson
Nov. 26, 2024
United Faculty at Illinois State University, a chapter of University Professionals of Illinois (IFT/AFT-AAUP), continues to battle with university administration for a fair contract. The union, which represents more than 600 members, held their first rally on Illinois State University’s (ISU) quad Wednesday, Nov. 20, after nine months of contract negotiations. Representing tenure tract faculty, the union demands fair wages, greater campus protections, proper grievance procedures, anti-discrimination protections, and disability accommodations. The rally filled the quad with chants of “What do we want? A fair contract! When do we want it? Now!” and “Whose got the power? We got the power! What kind of power? Union Power!”
SaltWire
By SaltWire Staff
Nov. 26, 2024
The City of St. John’s and the St. John’s Regional Fire Department (SJRFD) have reached a new collective agreement with the International Association of Firefighters Local 1075, it was announced Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. Both sides say the agreement marks a successful conclusion to negotiations. A news release states the new collective agreement covers a period from Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2026 and includes a total wage increase of 7 per cent over four years. The agreement also includes new language to enhance operations of the SJRFD and benefit IAFF members.
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream workers ratify groundbreaking union contract
Vermont Biz
By Staff
Nov. 26, 2024
More than 300 Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream workers at the St. Albans and Waterbury production facilities, who are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 371, ratified their first union contract by an overwhelming majority vote. “I’m so proud of my co-workers for sticking together and demanding better. The union difference is clear and joining UFCW Local 371 will make a huge difference for us. Joining the union’s health insurance and getting consistent wages means hundreds more in each of my co-worker’s checks each month, and protecting our retirement and our paid time off gives us the security we need in uncertain times.”
Canton City council approves raises for AFSCME employees
Canton Repository
By Kelli Weir
Nov. 26, 2024
Another roughly 100 Canton city workers will receive raises next year. Canton City Council on Monday approved a three-year contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3449 that calls for a 4% raise in 2025, a 3% raise in 2026 and a 3% raise in 2027. Last week, council approved a three-year contract with its largest union, AFSCME Local 2937, that provided its roughly 265 workers with the same raises.
Rail bargaining group announces its fourth tentative national agreement
Trains.com
By Trains Staff
Nov. 25, 2024
The bargaining organization for U.S. Class I railroads has announced a fourth tentative national labor agreement, this time with the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers. The National Carriers Conference Committee announced the deal today (Monday, Nov. 25). It joins earlier deals with the Transportation Communications Union, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical Department. All the agreements are subject to ratification votes.
JOINING TOGETHER
Culinary Union members gifted Thanksgiving meals amid ongoing Virgin Hotels strike
KSNV
By Ambar Rodriguez
Nov. 26, 2024
Culinary Union members who work at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and are on an open-ended strike were gifted Thanksgiving meals. Monday marked the 11th day of the ongoing strike, which the union said includes 700 hospitality workers. Martha Rodriguez is one of the 700 hotel employees fighting for a new work contract after theirs expired in June 2023.
APPRENTICESHIPS & TRAINING
‘Taking them to the next level’
Sentinel & Enterprise
By Staff
Nov. 26, 2024
Nashoba Technical High School’s Career Training Institute continues to make connections for its Electrical students. Two adult students in the evening program at the Westford-based school have been accepted into the IBEW Clean Energy Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship program after successfully completing the Electrical Technology program nights at Nashoba Tech. Ranphy Caceres and Sage Kim, both Lowell residents, recently completed the 200-hour program and applied to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ program for newcomers to the field.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
Yes, It ‘Looks Like a Duck,’ but Carriers Like the New Mail Truck
The New York Times
By Michael Levenson
Nov. 26, 2024
For 19 years, Richard Burton, a letter carrier in Athens, Ga., drove the classic boxy mail truck, with only a fan on the dashboard to keep the cabin cool in the sweltering summer months. A second fan plugged into the cigarette lighter didn’t make much of a difference, he said. But about two months ago, Mr. Burton, 46, became one of the first letter carriers in the United States to get a long-awaited upgrade: a new electric mail truck with air-conditioning, a 360-degreee camera and a sliding cargo door on the side that allows the unloading of packages directly onto the sidewalk.
EDUCATION
TEA passes bible curriculum for public schools
Fox San Antonio
By Mariza Mendoza
Nov. 25, 2024
Schools that use it will receive an incentive of up to $60 per student. The extra money would be particularly attractive at a time when public schools have not received increased funding for operational costs from the Legislature in half a decade. That’s exactly why the president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers Zeph Capo is concerned. While Texas schools will not be required to use the bible curriculum also known as the Blue Bonnet Curriculum, they will get extra funding if they do. "Is it worth pitting one family against another is it worth the potential lawsuits that they're going to face if and when this curriculum gets implemented," says Zeph Capo the Pres. Texas American Federation of Teachers
LABOR LEADERSHIP
6 Leaders Pushing for Fair Education
Word In Black
By Aziah Siid
Nov. 26, 2024
That hasn’t deterred Weingarten, a former educator, attorney and NAACP board member, from standing up for her 1.7 million members and the children they teach. And she challenged the second Trump administration — and Linda McMahon, Trump’s nominee to lead the Education Department, to take similar care if and when she is confirmed.
UNION BUSTING
Worker Sues Kroger And Albertsons, Alleging Collusion Against Union
HuffPost
By Dave Jamieson
Nov. 26, 2024
A grocery store worker filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Kroger and Albertsons in Colorado state court on Monday, accusing the two supermarket giants of colluding against striking employees to keep pay and benefits down. Valarie Morgan, who works at a Kroger-owned King Soopers store, alleges the two competitors reached an illicit agreement not to poach employees or customers during a 2022 work stoppage. Doing so, she claims, gave Kroger an upper hand against its employees’ union during contract talks.