Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST WATCH
The ReidOut Exclusive: Massive unions join forces ahead of expected anti-labor Trump administration
MSNBC
Jan. 8, 2025
The nation's largest labor federation, the AFL-CIO, has announced that they are joining forces with the Service Employees International Union, the SEIU, and its two million service workers, in a joint effort to strengthen their push for workers’ rights. Joining The ReidOut with Joy Reid for an exclusive interview are Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, and April Verrett, president of the SEIU.
MUST READ
Service workers union rejoins AFL-CIO after 20 years just ahead of Trump’s inauguration
AP
By Josh Boak
Jan. 8, 2025
“We are amassing our forces, building our strength and our power before the inauguration,” Shuler said. “Working people will continue to demand that our voices be heard.” Verrett said the election did not play a role in the choice, even if it affirmed the decision. “We are determined to organize in unprecedented ways — and that requires real power,” she said.
Two powerful unions combining ahead of the Trump administration
Axios
By Emily Peck
Jan. 8, 2025
Two of the most powerful labor groups in the country are teaming up, with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) rejoining the AFL-CIO after nearly 20 years apart. Why it matters: Organized labor is consolidating power ahead of Donald Trump's return to office. Where it stands: SEIU's 2 million workers will join 12.5 million represented by the AFL-CIO. "We think we will be more powerful than ever as joint forces," AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler told Axios Wednesday afternoon.
Powerful Labor Group Joins A.F.L.-C.I.O. Ahead of New Trump Era
The New York Times
By Noam Scheiber and Lisa Lerer
Jan. 8, 2025
Ms. Verrett and Ms. Shuler said the alliance was unrelated to the result of November’s presidential election, but they acknowledged that it would help organized labor fend off potential threats from the Trump administration.
SEIU Rejoins AFL-CIO After Splitting Off 20 Years Ago
HuffPost
By Dave Jamieson
Jan. 8, 2025
One of the largest and most powerful U.S. unions is rejoining the AFL-CIO, giving the country’s leading labor federation a boost as it prepares for another Donald Trump presidency. The 2 million-member Service Employees International Union announced Wednesday that it had decided to re-affiliate with the federation after a nearly 20-year absence. The SEIU will immediately become the biggest union within the AFL-CIO. Liz Shuler, the federation’s president, called it “a BFD.” “You know that we always say ‘stronger together,’ right?” Shuler told HuffPost. “This is an incredible time for us to be amassing our power, uniting and building our muscle together and really showing the power of solidarity. Because we want to make sure that workers continue to have their voices heard as we are about to enter into this new administration.”
Service workers union rejoins AFL-CIO after 20 years just ahead of Trump's inauguration
The Washington Post
By Josh Boak
Jan, 8, 2025
“We are amassing our forces, building our strength and our power before the inauguration,” Shuler said. “Working people will continue to demand that our voices be heard.” Verrett said the election did not play a role in the choice, even if it affirmed the decision. “We are determined to organize in unprecedented ways — and that requires real power,” she said. “This is a big deal,” President Joe Biden said in a statement Wednesday night, adding, “Their affiliation will help workers across the country to organize, earn higher wages, receive better benefits and build retirement security.”
Major service workers union joins forces with AFL-CIO as second Trump term looms
NBC News
By Megan Lebowitz
Jan. 8, 2025
"The notion that this is political couldn't be further from the truth in terms of the election results," AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in an interview. At the same time, the union leaders said they are prepared to defend workers as Trump enters office. Both unions had endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race, arguing that Trump’s agenda would be “devastating” and “anti-worker.” “We do not have rose-colored glasses on about the threats that could be coming our way,” SEIU International President April Verrett said in an interview. Shuler said the unions will tap into their organizing power to respond to threats with a “really robust defense” while also going on the offensive. “We are the, probably, only institution in the country that has an infrastructure in every city, in every state, in every workplace, that is a mobilizing machine,” she said. “And as they say, outside power builds inside power.”
POLITICS
Alabama unions celebrate passage of Social Security Fairness Act
Alabama Political Reporter
By Alex Jobin
Jan. 8, 2025
Following the bill’s passage into law, the North Alabama Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO released an official statement celebrating the new policy. “This bipartisan bill will ensure that over 2.5 million Americans who paid into Social Security, but because of their public service were not eligible for benefits, will now be able to enjoy a secure retirement. For more than 40 years, dedicated teachers, firefighters, postal workers, and so many other public sector workers have been shortchanged in their golden years, but now these cornerstones of our communities will get the income and dignity they deserve,” reads the NAALC press release.
Obamacare Enrollment Hits Record Ahead of Trump’s Return
The New York Times
By Noah Weiland and Sheryl Gay Stolberg
Jan. 8, 2025
The number of Americans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces has roughly doubled since President Biden took office, but White House officials warned Wednesday that the surge in Americans taking advantage of increased government health care subsidies could face risks as President-elect Donald J. Trump returns to office. Nearly 24 million Americans, a record, have already signed up for plans under the program, popularly known as Obamacare, during the current enrollment period, according to the White House. Those gains have been driven in part by major federal subsidies that helped shave the cost of premiums across income groups. Those subsidies, approved by Mr. Biden and Democratic lawmakers, are set to expire this year.
IMMIGRATION
Musk's DOGE, Promise of Trump Deportations Prompt Union 'Rapid Response' Plans
BNN Bloomberg
By Josh Eidelson
Jan. 8, 2025
The largest US union federation has been working to equip its affiliates around the country to help defend immigrant workers against potential workplace raids and mass deportation efforts once Donald Trump becomes president this month. “Immigrant rights are worker rights, and this is a top priority for the labor movement,” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in an interview. The union federation has provided its state and local affiliates with resources to inform immigrant workers of their rights, secure legal assistance and “be ready for the fightback,” Shuler said. “We have a rapid response network on the ground to help workers who are scared and fearful of what’s going to come.”
ORGANIZING
U.A.W. Seeks Union Election at Ford Battery Plant in Kentucky
The New York Times
By Neal E. Boudette
Jan. 8, 2025
The United Automobile Workers union is seeking approval from federal labor regulators for a union election among workers at a Ford Motor battery plant in Kentucky, providing an important test of organized labor’s strength after the election of Donald J. Trump. The union petitioned the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday to let workers at the new factory in Glendale, about 55 miles south of Louisville, vote on whether they want to join the U.A.W. The plant, which is expected to begin production this year, is a joint venture between Ford and SK On, a South Korean battery company.
Workers at Ford EV joint-venture battery plant seek to unionize with UAW
The Washington Post
By Lauren Kaori Gurley
Jan. 8, 2025
Autoworkers at a Ford international joint venture electric-battery plant in Kentucky have filed for a union election, a key development in the storied United Auto Workers’ campaign to organize Southern auto factories and EV battery facilities. The union said more than half of the workers at the new $6 billion electric-vehicle battery plant in Glendale, Kentucky — started by Ford and its South Korean partner SK On — filed with the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday to hold a union election. The development at the BlueOval SK plant builds on a string of victories by the UAW — which represents about 400,000 workers — under the union-friendly Biden administration. If successful, the effort could lead to the first unionized Ford-backed EV battery venture, at a time when EV sales in the United States are picking up.
Workers at Ford joint venture plant in Kentucky file to hold union election
Reuters
By Nora Eckert
Jan. 8, 2025
The United Auto Workers union is petitioning the National Labor Relations Board to hold an election at a Kentucky battery plant run by a Ford Motor (F.N) joint venture, the union said in a release Wednesday. The BlueOval SK plant, owned by a partnership of South Korea's SK On and Ford, is the latest battery battleground for the union as it seeks to grow its decreasing membership and secure jobs as the industry electrifies.
BlueOval SK workers file to unionize; KY AFL-CIO responds
Forward Kentucky
By Berry Craig
Jan. 8, 2025
In response to the announcement that battery workers at BlueOval SK in Kentucky have filed for a union election to join the United Auto Workers (UAW), Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Dustin Reinstedler has released the following statement: “Kentucky’s labor movement applauds the bravery of BlueOval SK (BOSK) workers who are organizing for the fair wages, benefits, strong safety standards, and voice on the job they deserve. By filing for an election to join the United Auto Workers (UAW), they have taken an important step towards securing a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
Maui Health, union workers reach agreement in labor negotiations
The Maui News
By Eli Pace
Jan. 8, 2025
Union workers and Maui Health have reached an agreement that members of the bargaining team are calling “historic” and say should avoid further strikes after hundreds of health care workers walked off the job for three days in November. Announced on Monday by the bargaining team representing the United Nurses and Health Care Employees of Hawaii, a tentative four-year agreement has been reached with Maui Health that includes “significant wage increases” for the lowest-paid union workers and “enforceable staffing language” to help safeguard patient care.
Park City ski patrollers, resort reach tentative settlement
KSL
By Pat Reavy
Jan. 8, 2025
Park City Mountain Resort and its ski patrol have reached a tentative agreement. Late Tuesday night, the resort and the Park City Professional Ski Association released a joint statement announcing that a tentative agreement had been reached through April of 2027. "The union's bargaining committee is unanimously endorsing ratification by its unit with a vote scheduled to take place (Wednesday)," the two sides said. "The tentative agreement addresses both parties' interests and will end the current strike."
Strike threat at Kimmel eases with a tentative pact for ushers
The Philadelphia Inquirer
By Peter Dobrin
Jan. 8, 2025
Ushers at the Kimmel Center, the Academy of Music, and Miller Theater have struck a tentative deal on a new labor contract. If approved, the contract would give the members of the union a 23% raise over five years, officials of IATSE Local B29 and the Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts announced Wednesday.
ATDA members vote to ratify national agreement with NCCC
American Journal of Transportation
By AJOT
Jan. 8, 2025
The National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) has announced the ratification of a national collective bargaining agreement with the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA). The ratified contract, which covers ATDA-represented freight rail employees through Dec. 31, 2029, is the fourth national agreement ratified after NCFO, TCU and BRC members approved their contracts in recent weeks.
Mid-Michigan nurses union to strike amid call for higher wages, unfair labor practice charge
The ‘Gander
By Kyle Kaminski
Jan. 8, 2025
About 2,000 nurses and healthcare professionals at Mid-Michigan’s largest healthcare provider are set to go on a five-day strike this month while their union representatives negotiate with corporate leaders to get them higher wages and better benefits. The Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association (PECSH-MNA) on Tuesday provided notice to corporate officials at University of Michigan Health-Sparrow that they intend to conduct a five-day strike beginning on Jan. 20. The upcoming work stoppage—which is set to conclude on Jan. 25—is designed to serve as a sort of warning shot for hospital administrators, who have reportedly failed to meet the union’s contract demands for fair wages, access to reliable and affordable healthcare insurance coverage, and better safety and security features at its largest hospital in downtown Lansing.
Vail Resorts, ski patrollers reach an agreement that could end strike at Park City Mountain Resort
The Colorado Sun
By Jason Blevins
Jan. 8, 2025
Ski patrollers at Park City Mountain Resort have reached a contract agreement with Vail Resorts that could end a strike that left the country’s largest ski area struggling with long lines and closed terrain over the recent holidays. The ski area operator and the Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association late Tuesday announced a new tentative agreement through the 2026-27 ski season, ending a 12-day strike that has made national and international headlines. The unionized patrollers spent several months negotiating with Vail Resorts for increased pay and benefits before hanging up their skis and striking Dec. 27. It is the first known ski patrol strike in recent decades and a reflection of the growing influence of collective bargaining for resort workers facing skyrocketing home prices and high costs of living in mountain communities.
Patch
By CBS Philly
Jan. 8, 2025
A strike by ushers at several major Philadelphia arts venues appears to have been avoided, according to a representative for the Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts. On Tuesday night, an Ensemble Arts spokesperson told CBS News Philadelphia that the organization had reached an agreement with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local B29 (IATSE Local B29). The union representing the ushers has not yet confirmed the reported deal. CBS News Philadelphia has requested a joint statement that includes the terms.
NCCC, ATDA Ratify National Agreement
Railway Age
By Marybeth Luczak
Jan. 8, 2025
ATDA reached a tentative agreement last month. The now ratified contract covers represented freight rail employees through Dec. 31, 2029. It follows the pattern established by agreements reached at both the local and national levels. The terms include: “Wage increases of 18.8% over five years. Based on current inflation projections, this will translate to real wage growth for covered railroaders along with pay certainty for the life of the contract. “Enhancements to world-class health and welfare benefits with no increase to the employee contribution rate. In 2025, health care premiums will decrease to about $277/month, well below the national average of more than $500/month for employer-provided family coverage. “Access to more paid vacation time for employees earlier in their careers.”
Council Approves WTU Contract, Celebrates Crucial Milestone
The Washington Informer
By Staff
Jan. 8, 2025
On Jan. 7, the council unanimously approved the Working Conditions and Compensation Agreement between the District of Columbia Public Schools and the Washington Teachers’ Union, Local #6 of the American Federation of Teachers Approval Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025. This emergency bill, introduced by D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) on behalf of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), puts into motion the collective bargaining agreement that the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) reached with D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) last year.
Local transit union wants 'fair contract' from CATS
WBRZ
By Gabby Davis
Jan. 7, 2025
Complaints of a hostile work environment and bad-faith negotiations have caused friction between the Capital Area Transit System and the union representing employees. Although the Amalgamated Transit Union 1546 has extended contracts with CATS to Jan. 8, it is still fighting for fair treatment. "We want a just fair contract that's equitable to us, that's fair to the working staff at CATS," Union President George Decuir said. He says everything erupted when CATS wouldn't meet their requests on their collective bargaining agreement. Although they haven't begun discussing economic negotiations, they want increased wages.
Ski patrollers reach deal to end strike at Utah's Park City Mountain Resort
ABC News
By Mead Gruver
Jan. 8, 2025
Ski patrollers at the biggest U.S. ski resort reached a tentative deal with the corporate owner of Utah's Park City Mountain Resort to end a strike and resume normal operations after almost two weeks of closed terrain and long lift lines at the busiest time of year. Neither the Park City Professional Ski Patrollers Association nor Colorado-based Vail Resorts released details about the agreement ahead of a planned ratification vote Wednesday. Whatever happens, the strike brought attention — and judging from the many supportive car honks for strikers, sympathy — to the struggle of ski patrollers to make ends meet in pricey mountain communities.
Nurses and other caregivers at UMH-Sparrow set 5-day strike after failed contract negotiations
Michigan Advance
By Jon King
Jan. 8, 2025
The union representing approximately 2,000 nurses and health care professionals at the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow in Lansing says it will conduct a five-day strike beginning at 7 a.m. Jan. 20. The Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association (PECSH-MNA), which has been working without a contract since it expired Oct. 30, provided mandatory notice Tuesday of their intention to strike. It followed a vote in December by 98.7% of members to authorize the bargaining team to call a strike if needed. The union said while there had been some recent progress, negotiations since August have overall “failed to produce a contract that meets the caregivers’ needs for affordable healthcare, competitive wages, and safe working conditions.”
STATE LEGISLATION
Colorado bill to ease union formation set to be major debate in upcoming session
Kiowa County Press
By Sara Wilson
Jan. 8, 2025
A group of Democrats announced the bill late last year to repeal Colorado’s Labor Peace Act of 1943. That law requires a second vote — following a successful simple majority union formation vote — of 75 percent of eligible workers for negotiations to begin over whether all employees should be required to pay representation fees to the union regardless of membership. That requirement is known as union security. Proponents of the anticipated bill argue that Colorado’s dual election system is an onerous barrier to achieving a strong union with proper negotiation power over working conditions and safety. The bill has the backing of many Democratic lawmakers and state officials, though not Democratic Governor Jared Polis, who vetoed a pair of labor-related bills last year and expressed skepticism of this new proposal. The bill will be sponsored by House Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon of Denver, Representative Javier Mabrey of Denver, Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez of Denver and Senator Jessie Danielson of Wheat Ridge.
IN THE STATES
UNLV’s teacher initiative gains national attention
Las Vegas Sun
By Hilary Davis
Jan. 8, 2025
A national teachers union leader came to UNLV this week to learn more about how the university is answering the call to get more educators in classrooms through less-traditional routes.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, admired how Nevada Forward, the teacher apprenticeship initiative through UNLV’s College of Education, is turning career-changers and school support staff looking to grow in their work with children into certified teachers.
COLUMN: The Wisconsin Supreme Court can repair Act 10’s damage to the state
Civic Media
By Michael Rosen and Charlie Dee
Jan. 7, 2025
Scott Walker’s infamous Act 10 was a highly partisan political bill that has done enormous damage to Wisconsin’s economy and exacerbated the hollowing out of our middle class. He fueled a politics of resentment that divided families, communities and our state long before Donald Trump emerged as the prince of grievance politics. Now that Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Frost has ruled that Act 10 is unconstitutional, Republican leaders with straight faces claim that Frost’s ruling was – hold your breath – “political” and trot out the same false claims that they used to justify it originally.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
IAFF concerned over conditions at New Hanover County fire station, seeks facility change (Video)
WECT
Jan. 8, 2025
The International Association of Fire Fighters is hoping to improve conditions for New Hanover County first responders working at a station in Castle Hayne.
OTHER UNION NEWS
Longshoremen reach tentative agreement with ports, shippers, averting a potential strike
AP
By Paul Wiseman
Jan. 8, 2025
U.S. longshoremen reached a contract agreement with ports and shippers Wednesday, averting a potential strike that could have damaged the American economy. The International Longshoremen’s Association union and the U.S. Maritime Alliance of ports and shipping companies said they had reached a tentative agreement for a six-year contract, a week ahead of a Jan. 15 deadline. In a joint statement, the two sides said the agreement protects union jobs and allows ports on the East and Gulf coasts to modernize with new technology, “making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.’'