MUST WATCH
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on Election and Vision
GMA3
August 26, 2021
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler joined GMA3: What You Need To Know to discuss her historic election and vision for building an inclusive labor movement.
MUST READ
Liz Shuler, New AFL-CIO President, Takes Helm Of Labor Federation At Pivotal Moment
HuffPost
By Dave Jamieson
August 26, 2021
The executive council of the AFL-CIO held a special meeting last week to name their next leader, following the death of the labor federation’s longtime president, Richard Trumka. For the first time in the organization’s history, they chose a woman. Liz Shuler, 51, had served as the federation’s second-in-command under Trumka since they were elected together in 2009. Despite the sad and unusual circumstances of the succession ― Trumka died on Aug. 5 of a heart attack, at age 72 ― Shuler said assuming the presidency marked a historic moment for women in the labor movement. “I am extremely humbled by it,” she said in an interview. “We are a movement of women. We are finally stepping into the leadership positions, and really bringing the voices and hopes and dreams of women in our movement into the decision-making roles.” Shuler takes the reins at a critical time. The AFL-CIO is not a union but a league of 56 of them, responsible for advancing the interests of member unions and the labor movement as a whole. With Joe Biden in the White House and Democrats holding threadbare control of Congress, unions have an invaluable but probably short window to accomplish big legislative goals, like passing an infrastructure package and landmark labor law reforms.
JOINING TOGETHER
Mondelēz employees making Nabisco cookies and snacks strike in 5 states
Food Dive
By Christopher Doering
August 26, 2021
Mondelēz International workers who make Oreos and other Nabisco products are on strike in five states as they negotiate a new contract with the food maker. The strike started on Aug. 10 in Oregon and has since spread to factories in Illinois, Virginia, Colorado and Georgia. Nabisco workers have been without a contract since the end of May. Members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union argue the company is pushing for unfair changes in overtime rules and shift lengths while exporting jobs to Mexico. They also claim that during the pandemic, employees have often worked 16-hour days and Mondelēz has profited at their expense.
First contract talks will be next test for Colectivo, employees
Wisconsin Examiner
By Erik Gunn
August 26, 2021
State and local union leaders who joined the news conference stressed both the long-fought unionizing campaign, as well as the importance of getting a first labor agreement. Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale called on the company “to do the right thing, to get to the bargaining table immediately and bargain a fair contract.”
NJ AFL-CIO, Lawmakers join AFSCME Members in Rally for Contract
InsiderNJ
August 26, 2021
Labor leaders and rank-and file members from the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions, pro-labor state legislators and AFSCME New Jersey Council 63 members staged a picket line and rally outside SERV headquarters in Ewing on Thursday, August 26, 2021, to protest lack of progress in contract negotiations. AFSCME, representing residential counselors and maintenance workers, is negotiating a first contract at SERV Mercer County, a behavioral health provider paid by the State of New Jersey. Negotiations began in late July 2020 after the National Labor Relations Board’s May 2020 certification of AFSCME as the collective bargaining representative for these workers.
Strike at NE Portland Nabisco bakery spreads to 5 other facilities, gains national attention
The Oregonian
By Jamie Goldberg
August 26, 2021
A strike that began at the Nabisco bakery in Northeast Portland on Aug. 10 has spread to five other facilities across the United States and gained national attention with both politicians and celebrities voicing support for the workers. Workers at the Nabisco distribution center in Norcross, Georgia, on Monday became the latest group of employees to go on strike. Approximately 1,000 members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers union are now on strike across six Nabisco bakeries and distribution centers nationwide. Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International President Anthony Shelton accused Nabisco in a statement earlier this month of closing the bakeries with union jobs and sending them to Mexico. Mondelez said no work was sent to Mexico as a result of the factory closures this summer.
IN THE STATES
Highlighting the positive impact for PA, local officials want Infrastructure Deal passed
CBS21
By Samantha York
August 26, 2021
PA AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale said the potential deal could be historically beneficial for the Keystone State, “Millions of pounds of commerce move through the state of Pennsylvania.”
Bloomington Labor Day Parade to return
The Pantagraph
By Olivia Jacobs
August 26, 2021
This year's theme is "Labor, Stronger than Ever" and will feature union marching units, the Illinois State University Big Red Marching Machine band, local high school bands, community organizations, construction equipment and elected officials. The route follows Front, Lee and Wood streets to Miller Park. Information is at shorturl.at/cuET4 or through bnparade@gmail.com. The parade is sponsored by the Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly, AFL-CIO, the central labor council for all area labor unions.