Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST READ
Rigging the tax code (Letter)
Labor Tribune
By Liz Shuler
Dec. 2, 2024
Of all the attacks working people can expect from the incoming Trump administration, none will come as fast and furious as their attempt at “tax reform” — their code for further rigging the tax code in favor of billionaires. On Nov. 20, I testified before Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s banking subcommittee and told our elected officials what working-class people already know: A repeat of Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 would be a disaster for families across America. Let’s be clear: Our tax code is already massively unfair. While 60 percent of workers live paycheck to paycheck and 100 million of us are being crushed by medical debt, billionaires in this country are paying a lower tax rate than most teachers and retail workers. Trump’s 2017 law did nothing but expand the gap between the uber-rich and the rest of us.
POLITICS
Amid worry about Trump, calls for career Justice Dept. staff to stay
The Washington Post
By Perry Stein and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez
Dec. 2, 2024
Trump has vowed to reinstate Schedule F once he is sworn in. If he does, it could take years to implement the rule, as the untested issue of firing masses of federal workers makes its way through the courts. “We think the Biden regulations are pretty strong regulations, and they will — at least we hope they will — initially delay any type of actions Trump takes related to Schedule F,” said Rushab Sanghvi, general counsel of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents some Justice Department employees, though not prosecutors. “The protections that Biden put in will help, but it will be a fight.”
Trump says he will block the acquisition of U.S. Steel by the Japanese firm Nippon Steel.
The New York Times
By Minho Kim
Dec. 2, 2024
President-elect Donald J. Trump said he would block the Japanese company Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel when he assumed office. The $15 billion deal has faced opposition from members of both political parties and the United Steelworkers union since it was announced in December 2023, amid concerns over job security and the foreign buyout of a storied, 123-year-old American manufacturer.
STATE LEGISLATION
Wisconsin Judge Strikes Down Limits on Public Sector Unions
The New York Times
By Mitch Smith
Dec. 2, 2024
“Restoring union freedoms to Wisconsin workers will strengthen Wisconsin’s middle class, lift up the voices of workers and lead to better public services for our communities,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, the president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, in a statement.
Act 10 overturned by Dane County judge. Walker-era law decimated public employee unions
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jessica Van Egeren, Hope Karnopp and Sophie Carson
Dec. 2, 2024
A Dane County judge on Monday sent ripples through Wisconsin's political landscape, overturning a 13-year-old law that banned most collective bargaining among public employees, consequently decimating the size and power of employee unions and turning then-Republican Gov. Scott Walker into a nationally known political figure. The effort to overturn Act 10 began in November 2023 when several unions representing public employees filed the lawsuit, citing a "dire situation" in workplaces with issues including low pay, staffing shortages and poor working conditions.
Unions score a major win in Wisconsin with a court ruling restoring collective bargaining rights
AP
By Scott Bauer
Dec. 2, 2024
Wisconsin public worker and teachers unions scored a major legal victory Monday with a ruling that restores collective bargaining rights they lost under a 2011 state law that sparked weeks of protests and made the state the center of the national battle over union rights. That law, known as Act 10, effectively ended the ability of most public employees to bargain for wage increases and other issues, and forced them to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits.
Labor unions, politicians in Wisconsin respond to decision overturning Act 10, look ahead
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By Hope Karnopp
Dec. 2, 2024
Bloomingdale, president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, said "it’s time to turn the page on the dark days of Scott Walker’s union-busting and move forward together with full worker freedoms and union rights for all in Wisconsin." "Act 10 has done great harm to working people in our state and has done great damage to the public services our families depend on every day. It has lowered wages and led to staff shortages and long-term vacancies in key public service positions," Bloomingdale said.
ORGANIZING
Why Philly Whole Foods Market Employees Are Unionizing
Forbes
By Errol Schweizer
Dec. 2, 2024
On November 22, Whole Foods Market employees in Philadelphia declared their intention to unionize with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776 and filed papers with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). If successful, this would be the first unionized Whole Foods Market store in the company. Past unionization campaigns that occurred before the 2017 Amazon takeover, such as in Madison, Wisconsin and Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, succumbed to captive audience trainings and other effective union avoidance techniques. Whole Foods Market’s founder and former CEO once even likened unions to herpes. But the company’s industry leading pay, culture and benefits also deterred employees from unionizing. At least until now.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
The strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is now the longest in the nation. And it’s not over.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star
By Ian Karbal
Dec. 2, 2024
Journalists and newsroom staff, represented by the Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild, have gone without a union contract for seven years. During this time, the paper imposed terms that raised health care costs and cut other benefits. An administrative law judge has ruled that the Post-Gazette failed to bargain in good faith, and the National Labor Relations Board took the rare step of issuing an injunction request to resume bargaining that could effectively end the strike. The Post-Gazette’s owners have appealed that move.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Several unions sponsoring toy, food drives during holiday season
The Labor Tribune
By Staff
Dec. 2, 2024
Several unions are hosting toy and food drives to make the holiday season a little brighter for those in need, and you can help. United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 655 is once again sponsoring its annual toy drive. The union has created a Go Fund Me Page to jump start the effort. You can donate at gofundme.com/f/support-ufcw-655s-toy-drive-for-kids. Local 655 is also setting up boxes for toy donations in member breakrooms so they can easily contribute. Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6300 is also sponsoring a toy drive, along with a personal care item/gift drive for those in need. Some of the donations will go to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, and other toys as well as personal care/gift items will go to Pony Byrd, which serves over 1,100 individuals with disabilities and their families in St. Louis, Jefferson and Franklin counties. Laborers Local 660 in Wentzville is hosting a canned food drive this holiday season to benefit local food shelters. Items may be dropped off at the union’s hall at 1320 S. Callahan Road in Wentzville.