Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST READ
The News Line
By Staff
Jan. 11, 2025
The AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced on Thursday that they are reuniting to launch ‘a new, long-term effort to make it easier for workers to win a voice on our jobs with their unions’. Two million SEIU service and care workers will join the nearly 13 million-member AFL-CIO, and together, these powerful organisations will push back on union-busting and win for working-class families. The unions formally announced the affiliation at a roundtable discussion with workers who are fighting to win their unions on Thursday in advance of the AFL-CIO’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference, which started yesterday. The workers will share their stories of why they need new rules to make it easier to join together in unions. The joint statement said: ‘At a critical moment when everything is on the line for the nation’s working people, the labour movement is uniting to challenge the status quo and build a movement of workers who will fight — on the job, in the streets, at the ballot box, in our communities — for higher pay, expanded benefits and new rules that empower them to join together in unions and organise across industries.
POLITICS
Why Trump and GOP attacks on IRA can’t score a clean sweep in red states
CNBC
By Bob Woods
Jan. 12, 2025
In addition to spurring new job growth, the IRA, Infrastructure Act and CHIPS Act each have provisions ensuring that a significant portion of jobs created go to union members or provide prevailing wages and benefits, apprenticeships and job training to non-union workers. So it’s no surprise that unions are also on the front line in the battle to protect the bills. Unionization rates in clean energy have surpassed traditional energy employment for the first time, reaching 12.4%, according to a recent Department of Energy report. “That’s a really big deal for us and we want to keep building on that,” said Samantha Smith, strategic advisor for clean energy jobs for the AFL-CIO, which represents more than 12.5 million U.S. workers in manufacturing, construction, mining and other sectors. “We’re going to work to make sure that every job and clean-energy project with this federal funding can be a good union job,” she said. “That is our focus when looking at this legislation and what Congress might do.”
USW President McCall releases statement after U.S. Steel lawsuit
Chicago Tribune
By Maya Wilkins
Jan. 12, 2025
Following lawsuits filed by U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel earlier this week, the United Steelworkers president released a statement Friday, doubling down on the union’s reasoning for its opposition of the Japanese company’s potential purchase. “In a ridiculous final attempt to get the government, the general public and the union to support this shortsighted and dangerous merger, U.S. Steel and Nippon have filed baseless lawsuits,” USW President David McCall said in a video statement. “This is more of the same kind of bullying that we’ve seen from U.S. Steel for years and what we had to look forward to had Nippon been the successful bidder.” On Jan. 3, President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel from buying U.S. Steel for nearly $15 billion. If approved, the deal would have brought more than $1 billion to the company’s Gary Works facility.
LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY
CES 2025: Hollywood Unions Battle To Contain AI Disruptions In Creative Industries
Forbes
By Rob Salkowitz
Jan. 10, 2025
The increasing capabilities of generative AI systems were all the rage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this year, but for all the enthusiasm from the tech world, there is still plenty of concern about the impact these tools will have on the workforce, from industrial and service work to creative industries, including entertainment, film and TV. So while the crowds were jamming the aisles of the Las Vegas Convention Center, representatives of America’s biggest unions were meeting down the street at the AFL-CIO’s Labor Innovation and Technology Summit to coordinate strategy around AI and try to ensure that workers have a seat at the table when it comes to setting policy around AI. Co-founded by SAG-AFTRA, the AFL-CIO, and the AFL-CIO Tech Institute, the LIT Summit brings together top labor leaders, worker advocates, policy experts, and allied organizations to discuss workers’ role in emerging technologies, as Big Tech’s role in the market and the halls of government evolves, according to the organization. Some of the unions in attendance such as the machinists have been engaged around issues of automation for decades, while others like those representing teachers and nurses are looking to ensure that new AI-driven innovations in education and medicine are deployed in collaboration and consultation with frontline workers rather than imposed from above.
MLK CONFERENCE
At MLK conference, unionist tells how she had to duck to avoid bullets
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
Jan. 10, 2025
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Verrett opened the discussion, after the formal announcement that Verrett’s two-million-member union has rejoined the AFL-CIO. “I want to challenge all the leaders of the AFL-CIO to lead with the same authenticity” they saw from the panel, Verrett said. Shuler picked up the theme, saying “challenging sometimes makes us uncomfortable. “But our single fight is for all working people and we’ve all got to unify” to take working conditions “in a different direction.” To do so, “we have to juice up our expertise,” Shuler added.
LABOR AND ECONOMY
U.S. adds 256,000 jobs, as Biden leaves Trump with a sturdy labor market
NBC News
By Rob Wile
Jan. 10, 2025
President Joe Biden will end his term with a relatively healthy labor market as the United States added a surprising 256,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1%. Both figures, reported Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compare favorably to historical averages and beat Wall Street forecasts. Analysts surveyed by Dow Jones had expected just 155,000 jobs to be added in December, with the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 4.2%. On their own, the latest figures indicate the U.S. economy has largely achieved the "soft landing" scenario Biden sought: relatively low unemployment and relatively low inflation.
ORGANIZING
Workers overwhelmingly vote to unionize at Tuscaloosa chemical plant
Alabama Political Reporter
By Chance Phillips
Jan. 10, 2025
This past Tuesday and Wednesday, 19 production and maintenance workers at the Gaylord Chemical manufacturing facility in Tuscaloosa voted on whether to unionize with the International Chemical Workers Union Council, a subunit of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. Late Wednesday night, the National Labor Relations Board reported that the union won the election, with 16 employees voting in favor of unionizing and 3 voting against. Workers at the Tuscaloosa plant primarily make the chemical compounds dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS). DMSO is a solvent with medical and industrial applications and DMS is commonly used as a flavorant. Jordan Easley, the ICWUC’s national organizing coordinator, told APR that several employees reached out to him a couple months ago asking about unionizing.
The Video Game Industry Is Unionizing
Jacobin
By Tom Smith
Jan. 10, 2025
This summer, World of Warcraft and Bethesda Game Studios workers joined the growing number of video game developers organizing with Communications Workers of America. We spoke with some of the workers and organizers who have been unionizing the industry. Last month, 461 video game workers with Microsoft’s ZeniMax Online Studios announced they were unionizing with the Campaign to Organize Digital Employees–Communications Workers of America (CODE-CWA). ZeniMax employees join over six thousand workers across the tech and video game industry in the United States and Canada who have now unionized with CODE-CWA since its creation in 2020. That now includes unions at major video game studios like Sega of America, Blizzard, and Bethesda, as well as games like World of Warcraft.
State Theatre Production Staff Files Petition To Unionize
Broadway World
By A.A. Cristi
Jan. 12, 2025
Production staff members at Maine's State Theatre recently filed a petition to unionize with the National Labor Relations Board, according to Portland Press Herald. The group of around 35 stagehands have joined forces with the Portland-based International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 114, in their movement to establish industry-standard wages and full benefits for all production staff and future employees.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
Stagehands Walk Off the Job at Atlantic Theater Company
The New York Times
By Michael Paulson
Jan. 12, 2025
The labor union representing stagehands went on strike Sunday against Atlantic Theater Company in Manhattan, prompting the prestigious nonprofit to postpone two productions that had already begun performances and to warn that union demands could force the closing of the Atlantic and other Off Broadway nonprofits. Both the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the labor union, and the Atlantic said negotiations had broken down, but each side blamed the other for the stalemate. The strike comes at a time when many nonprofit theaters around the country are running deficits and facing serious financial challenges, but also at a time when the labor movement nationally has been emboldened and insistent on better pay and working conditions. Actors’ Equity, the labor union representing stage performers, said it supported the stagehands.
Colorado grocery workers could strike against King Soopers, again
People’s World
By Cameron Harrison
Jan. 10, 2025
After securing a lucrative contract for grocery workers three years ago, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 is back at the bargaining table with King Soopers, an affiliate of grocery giant Safeway/Albertsons, and negotiations are stalling, again. Last week, UFCW Local 7 units at King Soopers stores in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Grand Junction and Northern Colorado agreed to a two week contract extension to continue bargaining. The King Soopers/City Market contract negotiations will resume January 15 and 16. The extended contract will now expire on January 24 at midnight. Strike authorization votes could be held in the coming weeks.
Collective Bargaining Agreements Approved For FCPS Teachers, More Staff
Patch
By Emily Leayman
Jan. 10, 2025
Collective bargaining agreements for teachers and some other school staff will advance after approval by the Fairfax County School Board Thursday. This is the first time in decades that eligible employees can have a collective bargaining agreement, as a state ban on collective bargaining was lifted in 2021. The school board unanimously ratified contracts for the licensed instructional staff and operational employees bargaining units.
Portland’s newest leaders work to ease labor tensions as city strike looms
OPB
By Alex Zielinski
Jan. 10, 2025
Portland’s new city council entered office amid tense, drawn-out labor negotiations between several different public labor unions and the city. Now, after a week on the job, some elected officials are trying to turn down the heat as 1,200 city employees consider striking next month. “It’s time we signal that this new city council is a labor council,” said Councilor Mitch Green, who represents Portland’s west side and some southeast neighborhoods in District 4. Two unions could walk off the job as soon as February: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 189, which represents more than 1,000 workers across nearly every city department, and the District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU), which represents around 200 engineers, painters, plumbers, electricians, and other trade workers across city bureaus.
Culinary Union members march from The Strip to Virgin
News3 LV
By News 3 Staff
Jan. 11, 2025
On the 58th day of the Culinary Union's longest strike in over two decades, hundreds of strikers marched from the Las Vegas Strip to Virgin Las Vegas. The union members are advocating for a new 5-year contract for 700 hospitality workers. The march follows a unanimous vote by the officers of the Adult Performance Artists Guild (APAG), which represents over 1,400 members, to support the Virgin Las Vegas workers on strike and to refrain from crossing the picket line.
Concord Fire Officers Frustrated With Lack Of New Union Contract With Higher Pay
Patch
By Tony Schinella
Jan. 10, 2025
Frustration has boiled over in recent months between Concord’s fire officers and city officials due to the lack of a union contract while other employee units are receiving retention payments worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Jim Duckworth, the president of the Concord Fire Officials Association, IAFF Local 3195, said the org had been working without a contract since July 2024. Members started expressing their frustration during recent Concord City Council meetings. The union represents fire commanders in the department.
KGW
By Celine Stevens
Jan. 11, 2025
Providence announced they are making plans to schedule negotiations for other bargaining units in the days to come and are ready to discuss with federal mediators the process for resuming negotiations with Providence Medford and Newberg as soon as Saturday. This comes on the second day of the largest health care worker strike in state history.
Portland labor unions reach standstill with city’s bargaining unit
KOIN
By Jashayla Pettigrew
Jan. 10, 2025
Negotiations between Portland workers and officials are down to the wire after the city reached a bargaining standstill with two unions. According to Portland Labor Relations, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 189 and the District Council of Trade Unions declared an impasse with the city in late December — meaning the bargaining units were unable to reach an agreement. All parties are now reaching the end of a 30-day cooling-off period before negotiations continue.
Sparrow & workers union add fourth bargaining session after talks fail Friday
Fox47 News
By Danny Valle
Jan. 10, 2025
Leaders with the University of Michigan Health Sparrow and its caregivers union are adding an extra day of negotiations with over a week before a planned strike occurs. The hospital and the Professional Employee Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association (PESCH-MNA) met Friday to discuss contract talks that have been ongoing since August.
Nebraska state employees union reaches tentative agreement
Nebraska Examiner
By Aaron Sanderford
Jan. 11, 2025
The largest union representing Nebraska state employees announced last week that its members would vote soon on a tentative agreement with Gov. Jim Pillen’s negotiators. The Nebraska Association of Public Employees, known to many in the state as NAPE/AFSCME, is set to meet and vote on the proposed contract for 2025-2027 starting Jan. 13. The union has said it won’t release the language of the contract until after its members weigh in. But it highlighted some potential changes.
JOINING TOGETHER
Providence health says smooth operations despite striking nurses
Missoula Current
By Mike McInally
Jan. 12, 2025
Nearly 5,000 Providence Health & Systems nurses and other professionals walked off their jobs Friday in the largest strike by health workers in state history – and the first involving unionized doctors. Other Democratic politicians — U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Andrea Salinas and state Reps Rob Nosse and Travis Nelson, a nurse — announced plans for a Saturday rally at the Portland Convention Center in support of the union. The event is scheduled to include speeches from national labor leaders such as Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Liz Shuler, the national president of the AFL-CIO.
IATSE and Other Guilds Offer Assistance to Those Displaced by Wildfires
Variety
By Jazz Tangcay
Jan. 10, 2025
IATSE is offering assistance to its members displaced due to the wildfires. In a release, IATSE, the union that represents the workers behind-the-scenes said, “If you or a fellow member has been displaced due to the wildfires, please contact the Local office as soon as possible to let us know your/their current circumstances, as well as provide any temporary address and contact information you may have, so that we may mobilize resources appropriately.”
Temple unions show support for new RA union’s fight for recognition
The Temple News
By Nurbanu Sahin
Jan. 12, 2025
Unions on Temple’s campus are showing support for the newly-assembled Temple Union of Resident Assistants after the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board stated it would not hold an election to recognize it as an official union. The Temple Association of University Professionals and the Temple University Graduate Student Association have both issued letters of support for the recognition of TURA. Both unions were also present at a rally TURA organized by the Bell Tower on Oct. 21, 2024 to encourage the university to acknowledge it as a union.
STATE LEGISLATION
Lawmakers aim to pass bill so striking workers can access unemployment benefits
KNKX
By Lauren Gallup
Jan. 11, 2025
When workers go on strike in Washington state, they don’t earn a dime. A new piece of legislation could change that. This bill would allow workers to eventually access unemployment benefits, starting the second Sunday after they began withholding their labor. Workers could claim up to four weeks of benefits through the state’s unemployment insurance, according to a co-sponsor of the bill, state Sen. Steve Conway. That safety net can give workers more power to exercise their rights and negotiate with their employer, said April Sims, president of the Washington State Labor Council. “ This bill would help level the playing field,” Sims said. “It would discourage economic hardships as a bargaining strategy and promote good faith contract negotiations.”
IN THE STATES
Illinois union leaders celebrate AFL-CIO, SEIU reunification after 20 years apart
WIFR
By Nathaniel Langley
Jan. 12, 2025
Sara Dorner from Rockford United Labor carries a slogan through her union efforts. “In the labor movement, we always say, ‘The people united will never be defeated,’” she says. Dorner serves as Rockford United Labor’s president – a local labor council of the AFL-CIO representing more than 25,000 workers around the Greater Rockford Area. She expects that number to climb. On Jan. 8, AFL-CIO announced a reunification with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). In 2005, the union representing service and care workers split from the labor federation comprised of 60 national and international unions.
INCOME INEQUALITY
EEOC: The federal gender pay gap gets worse with age
Government Executive
By Erich Wagner
Jan. 10, 2025
The gender pay gap is much more pronounced among older federal workers than their younger counterparts, according to a new report by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Using 2021 HR data from the Office of Personnel Management, EEOC said it measured the gender pay gap across age groups several different ways, but each time, the pay gap among feds older than 40 was larger than among those younger than 40. By one metric, the gender pay gap was three times larger among the older category of workers.