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Today's AFL-CIO press clips

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POLITICS

Labor groups cheer Biden dismissal of US Steel sale as businesses bristle

The Hill

By Tobias Burns

Jan. 3, 2025

Labor groups applauded as businesses leveled sharp criticism Friday at the decision by the Biden administration to block the acquisition of steelmaker U.S. Steel by Japanese rival Nippon Steel over national security concerns. The United Steelworkers (USW) labor union called the decision the “right move” for its members and national security. “With responsible management, U.S. Steel will continue to support good jobs, healthy communities and robust national and economic security well into the future,” the group said in a statement.


 

Biden blocks takeover of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel

Reuters

By David Shepardson, Tim Kelly and Katya Golubkova

Jan. 3, 2025

Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel had warned that thousands of jobs would be at risk without the deal. But the United Steelworkers union, which opposed the merger from the outset, praised Biden's decision, with USW President David McCall saying the union has "no doubt that it's the right move for our members and our national security."


 

Biden blocks Japan’s Nippon from taking over US Steel

CNN

By Chris Isidore, Arlette Saenz and Kayla Tausche

Jan. 3, 2025

The United Steelworkers union has strongly opposed the deal since the moment it was announced, arguing that Nippon has not given it sufficient guarantees that it would protect unionized jobs at some of the company’s older mills staffed by union members.


 

As House GOP Reelects Johnson as Speaker, Coalition Says Hands Off Medicaid

Common Dreams

By Jake Johnson

Jan. 3, 2025

As Rep. Mike Johnson won reelection as House speaker on Friday, a broad coalition of more than 300 advocacy organizations warned the incoming Republican-controlled Congress against cutting Medicaid amid reports that the GOP is eyeing work requirements and other damaging changes to the program that provides healthcare coverage to around 80 million Americans. In a letter to the congressional leaders of both parties, Families USA, the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers, Doctors for America, the NAACP, and other national and state-level organizations wrote that "cutting Medicaid was not a budget solution that American families asked for" during the 2024 election cycle.


 

How labor law changed under Biden—and what comes next

Time

By Michelle Peng

Jan. 5, 2025

Core to the Biden administration’s economic policy was an attempt to rebalance the power between workers and employers through labor and employment regulations, from the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on non-compete clauses to the Department of Labor’s expanded overtime protections. At the center of this effort was the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency charged with protecting workers’ rights to organize and combating unfair labor practices. Led by general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, the board took an active stance in interpreting and enforcing labor law, generating new precedents that reduced barriers to worker voice and unionization.


 

Biden signs bill to increase Social Security benefits for millions of public workers

CNBC

By Lorie Konish

Jan. 5, 2025

President Joe Biden on Sunday signed the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation that clears the way for teachers, firefighters, policeman and other public sector workers who also receive pension income to receive increases in their Social Security benefits. The benefit boost comes as the new law repeals two provisions — the Windfall Elimination Provision, or WEP, and the Government Pension Offset, or GPO — that have been in place for more than four decades.


 

Biden signs Social Security Fairness Act into law

ABC News

By Julia Reinstein

Jan. 5, 2025

President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law Sunday afternoon, marking what is expected to be one of the last major pieces of legislation of his presidency. Prior to signing the bill, Biden touted the importance of Social Security benefits for working class Americans and said he was "proud to have played a small part in this fight and get to sign it." "The bill I'm signing today is about a simple proposition: Americans who have worked hard all their lives to earn an honest living should be able to retire with economic security and dignity," he said.


 

LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY

Disney, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery And SAG-AFTRA Join Growing Industry Roster Set For Tech Talk At CES

Deadline

By Dade Hayes

Jan. 5, 2025

Technology has undeniable allure, but it is also a complex force for creative stakeholders in film, TV and streaming. SAG-AFTRA, which seized on AI as a key issue in its 2023 strike against studios and streamers, is back at CES for its annual LIT Conference, short for “labor innovation and technology.” Duncan Crabtree, SAG-AFTRA’s National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator, will speak at the event, as will DGA National Executive Director Russell Hollander and senior officials from the WGA, IATSE and other guilds.


 

ORGANIZING

Waterbury municipal workers look to unionize

Waterbury Roundabout

By Lisa Scagliotti

Jan. 4, 2025

Waterbury’s municipal employees have started the new year with a push to unionize, filing a formal request with the state on Friday. A spokeswoman at the Vermont Labor Relations Board and a union organizer confirmed that 24 of 28 staff members at the Waterbury town offices, library, highway department and the water and wastewater plants had signed on in support of a request to form a collective bargaining unit. The workers have chosen the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union – known as AFSCME for short – to represent them. 


 

Midland PetSmart employees vote to unionize with UFCW Local 540

MRT

By Trevor Hawes

Jan. 4, 2025

Employees at the PetSmart store in Midland have voted to unionize. On Friday, Jan. 3, employees have joined the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 540, which represents workers in retail, grocery, food processing and other industries in Texas, according to a press release. “I, along with my co-workers, am so proud of coming together to form a union that will finally allow us to advocate for improved hours, pay and worker safety on the job,” Stephanie Lawrence, a PetSmart customer engagement lead and member of the organizing committee, was quoted as saying. “We went into this election united, and the results confirmed what we have known for months: PetSmart workers deserve a union.” 


 

West Texas PetSmart becomes second unionized store in national chain

Lonestar Live

By Giavanni Alves

Jan. 4, 2025

A PetSmart store in Midland, Texas, made history Friday by becoming the second store in the national chain to unionize. The employees of Store 191 voted 17-3 on Friday, Jan. 3, to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 540, which represents workers in retail, food processing, manufacturing and several other industries, according to a press release.


 

UNION NEGOTIATIONS

Striking Patrollers Disrupt Season at Largest Ski Resort in U.S.

The New York Times

By David Goodman

Jan. 4, 2025

More than two feet of fresh snow fell on Park City, Utah, this past week, perfectly timed for the throngs of holiday skiers gathering at Park City Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States. But instead of experiencing a powder high, skiers and snowboarders encountered long lift lines, limited terrain and widespread frustration brought on by a strike by ski patrollers. “Five minutes of bliss for 50 minutes of waiting in line,” said one Park City skier on Instagram.


 

Machinists protest furloughs outside Pratt & Whitney ahead of contract talks

NBC Connecticut

By Mike Savino

Jan. 3, 2025

Machinists rallied outside Pratt & Whitney’s Middletown factory Friday to protest furlough days. The company is imposing seven unpaid days in 2025 as a cost saving measure. The workers were frustrated with the decision, but also said the move sends a bad message with union contract talks set to start in just three months. “This solidifies our membership,” International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 700 President Wayne McCarthy said. “We’re united, we’re acting as one.”  


 

Contract set to expire this weekend for King Soopers and Safeway union employees

Denver 7

By Wanya Reese

Jan. 3, 2025

United Food & Commercial Workers Local 7 posted on Facebook that King Soopers refuses to consider any of the proposals that are important to workers. The last time a strike happened at King Soopers, workers protested outside, giving shoppers flyers with information about different grocery stores at which to shop.


 

King Soopers, union agree to two-week contract extension

Denver 7

By Adria Iraheta

Jan. 3, 2025

A nonstop day of bargaining by union leaders and King Soopers executives ended in a short contract extension on Friday afternoon. Bargaining is now set to continue until the new deadline of Jan. 16. “We’ve been negotiating with King Soopers City Market representatives for about three months, and we've made zero to no progress with the company,” said Kim Cordova, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7, which represents 21,000 grocery store workers in Colorado and Wyoming.


 

Strike looms for 1,200 Portland city staff as unions declare ‘impasse’

OPB

By Bryce Dole 

Jan. 2, 2025

Nearly one-fifth of the city of Portland’s unionized workforce could go on strike within the next month if city leaders do not reach a contract agreement with two bargaining units. The city remains “far apart” on the financial aspects of the contract agreement with the two unions, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, and the District Council of Trade Unions, or DCTU, according to a Dec. 31 press release from the city. The unions, which represent more than 1,200 Portland municipal employees, declared an “impasse” last week, the press release said.


 

Wilcox Medical Center nurses prepare for three-day strike

KHON 2

By Emily Cervantes

Jan. 4, 2025

After eight months and 22 negotiating sessions, more than 100 nurses from Wilcox Medical Center are preparing to hold a three-day strike. The Hawaiʻi Nurses’ Association said nurses will begin their strike on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 7 a.m. and will conclude on Friday, Jan. 17 at 6:59 a.m. “The nurses at Wilcox have been fighting for safer nurse-to-patient staffing to deliver excellent care for the people of Kaua‘i. They should not be subject to retaliation because of their advocacy,” explained Rosalee Agas-Yuu, HNA president.


 

IN THE STATES

Minnesota minimum wage rises to $11.13 per hour — and other labor news

Minnesota Reformer

By Max Nesterak 

Jan. 3, 2025

The Minnesota statewide minimum wage rose to $11.13 per hour on Jan. 1, which applies to virtually all workers because of a state law passed in 2024 eliminating a lower minimum wage for workers at small businesses, workers under 18 years old and workers on J-1 visas. The new hourly minimum wage is a 2.6% increase from $10.85 for workers at large businesses and a nearly 26% increase from $8.85 for workers at small businesses. There is still a lower hourly minimum wage for workers under 20 and in training: $9.08. Minnesota is among 34 states and territories with hourly minimum wages higher than the federal rate of $7.25, which hasn’t been changed since 2009.


 

Illinois unions calling Jan. 6 Day of Action to fix Tier 2 pensions

Labor Tribune

By Elizabeth Donald

Jan. 3, 2025

Illinois unions are calling for a Day of Action to push the Illinois General Assembly to fix Tier 2 pensions during the lame duck session. On Monday, Jan. 6, the Illinois Education Association, Illinois AFL-CIO and others are pushing for a one-day lobbying session, setting up a number for constituents and Labor activists to call their legislators and ask them to fix the Tier 2 problem. In 2010, the Illinois state legislature and then-Gov. Pat Quinn approved a law in the middle of the recession that forced state leaders to deal with decades of underfunding by changing the way state retirement benefits and calculated. It only affected employees who began their jobs after Jan. 1, 2011 – known as the Tier 2 employees.


 

In labor-friendly California, 2025 ushers in more worker protections. Here’s what to know

Los Angeles Times

By Suhauna Hussain

Jan. 5, 2025

California lawmakers, by and large, are a labor-friendly bunch and, as in past years, they passed a host of new workplace protections that took effect when the new year struck. Instead of breaking new ground, many of the changes represent expansions of existing protections, such as family leave and enforcement of workplace anti-discrimination laws. And, while state legislatures typically produce fewer pieces of major legislation in years with big, national elections, Chelsea Mesa, an employment attorney with firm Seyfarth Shaw, said she expects legislative activity on the labor front to pick up speed in the coming months. “It’s going to be a very busy year,” she said.


 

APPRENTICESHIPS & TRAINING

PA Invests $1.5 Million to Expand Apprenticeship Opportunities in Building & Construction Trades

Penn Watch

By Editor

Jan. 5, 2025

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry announced a key investment of more than $1.5 million in grants to support registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades across 16 counties that will help expand job opportunities, build diverse talent, and reach underrepresented and underserved populations. “This investment in Pennsylvania’s workforce will ultimately help set workers up for success by equipping them with the skills they need for these in-demand jobs. This funding is yet another example of the Administration’s continued commitment to uplifting and investing in all members of our workforce,” L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker said.