POLITICS
Meet the Michigan workers supporting Biden over Trump
The ‘Gander
By Kyle Kaminski
May 22, 2024
Union workers are standing behind President Joe Biden’s efforts to invest in manufacturing, infrastructure, and clean energy—and sounding alarms over what another Trump administration could mean for Michigan’s middle class. John Coleman has already decided which candidate will earn his vote in this year’s presidential election. As a union organizer for metal workers across Michigan, he said it was a relatively simple decision that all boiled down to an even simpler underlying philosophy: “We support people who support labor. Period,” Coleman, of Traverse City, told The ‘Gander.
Investing in infrastructure helps everybody (Opinion)
Las Vegas Sun
By Cristian Cespedes
May 22, 2024
My family is my life, and I’m grateful that the Biden administration’s infrastructure legislation was written with families like mine in mind. Not only is it expected to create 2 million jobs per year through the course of a decade, it incentivizes companies to hire union workers and pay non-union laborers a fair prevailing wage. This protection of wages for millions of workers gives us a real chance to grow the middle class, and marks the difference between delivering jobs and building careers.
INFRASTRUCTURE
$1.6 billion in grants bringing wide-speed internet to rural Southern Illinois
The Southern Illinoisan
By Libby Gerdes
May 22, 2024
Wider high-speed internet is coming to rural Southern Illinois with $1.6 billion in state and federal grant funding. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 702 announced the regional broadband internet installation initiative Tuesday at the IBEW Local 702 Lineman Training Facility.
Metropolitan Park: A catalyst for union job creation in Queens
AM NY
By Union Leaders
May 22, 2024
In the heart of Queens, a groundbreaking project is poised to redefine the landscape surrounding Citi Field. Metropolitan Park, led by Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International, isn’t just a visionary concept; it’s a lifeline for thousands of construction workers and their families. With an $8 billion investment, this ambitious project heralds a new era of opportunity for hardworking men and women throughout Queens and across the city. At its core, Metropolitan Park represents a monumental economic engine, set to create approximately 17,100 direct, good paying union construction jobs and another 6,100 direct good paying permanent union jobs.
APPRENTICESHIPS
AZ apprenticeship programs look to grow construction, trade jobs
Public News Service
By Alex Gonzalez
May 22, 2024
The State of Arizona has received more than $650,000 in grant awards to advance five construction and trade registered apprenticeship programs. Michael Dea, business manager and secretary-treasurer for Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1184, said Arizona is experiencing an "economic boom" thanks to federal legislation passed by the Biden administration.
JOINING TOGETHER
Workers at an electric bus plant in Anniston unionized and won double-digit raises
Alabama Political Reporter
By Chance Phillips
May 22, 2024
On May 16, the Communications Workers of America announced that workers at the New Flyer electric bus plant in Anniston had successfully unionized and ratified their first union contract. Around 600 New Flyer workers joined the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine, and Furniture Workers, the industrial division of the CWA. Approved by over 99 percent of union members, the new contract includes raises between 15 and 38 percent by 2026, cost-of-living adjustments, and improvements to retirement benefits.
Business Insider
By Joshua Zitser
May 22, 2024
Mai Vo began her career as a lookalike performer at Disneyland in 2004. She returned to the role in 2021. In September 2022, she became involved in Magic United, culminating in an overwhelming vote by the Anaheim-based performers last week in favor of unionizing. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. I realized that people felt unhappy at the happiest place on earth, which didn't make sense to me. Since we voted to unionize, I've felt less unhappy because I've put my energy into doing something about it. I'm using every talent I can think of to steer this group toward a better working environment.
REI union to hold rally in New York demanding company bargain in good faith
Bicycle Retailer
By Staff
May 22, 2024
REI union members at the SoHo store will hold a rally Thursday to demand that the co-op sign a letter of commitment to reach a contract by the end of the year. The protest scheduled for 11 a.m. over REI's "failure to bargain a contract in good faith," according to the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), will include union members from around the city.
AFSCME, SIU School of Medicine ratify new agreement
WSIU
By SIU School of Medicine
May 21, 2024
After nearly 14 months of negotiations, SIU School of Medicine and AFSCME Local 370 have come to an agreement and ratified a new contract, effective through June 30, 2025. More than 600 SIU School of Medicine employees work in positions represented by AFSCME. The plan includes sustainable pay increases that are in addition to the 17.2% in increases that SIU School of Medicine has voluntarily made since 2019.
Electrician strike in Puget Sound region stretches beyond five weeks
Daily Record
By Grace Deng
May 21, 2024
More than 1,000 electricians in the Puget Sound region have been on strike for the past five weeks, disrupting construction at major job sites, including Microsoft and Amazon office buildings. Limited energy electricians with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 46, are asking the National Electrical Contractors Association for paid holidays, more pay, and increased safety measures like ensuring radios are available on all job sites.
Postal Union Pursues Grievance Claims For Workers Removed From Schedule
WV Public Broadcasting
By Jack Walker
May 21, 2024
Four workers at the Charleston Processing and Distribution Center ushered in the new month with unexpected letters from their employers. Sent by facility management May 1, these letters said that the workers would be removed from the work schedule in a matter of days “due to the needs of this facility.” In subsequent correspondence with workers, management said they were required to reduce the number of temporary workers at the facility by regional officials with the United States Postal Service (USPS), which oversees the Charleston center. In response, representatives with Charleston’s American Postal Workers Union Local 133 are pursuing grievance claims on behalf of the four workers, as months-long tensions between USPS and local workers continue to flare.
Vincennes PBS
By First City News
May 22, 2024
Some local Gemtron workers remain on strike. Workers hit the picket lines on May 1st over what the members of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Union says were issues regarding employee pensions. Tony McGarvey representing the Union sent a letter to local elected officials and the media this week explaining that the strike continues and claiming that the company has been misleading and untruthful about negotiations.
STATE LEGISLATION
Remote work coming to an end for city workers in Philadelphia as mayor order return to office
Washington Times
By Brad Matthews
May 21, 2024
The union that represents many Philadelphia city employees, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 47 Local 2187, decried the decision. “Eliminating ‘alternative work schedules’ is a mistake. Many Philadelphia city workers on alt work schedules have been for years or even decades. 21st-century city services require them. The City’s economy relies on them. We’re fighting to retain & expand them,” the union wrote on social media. The union also contended that alternative schedules with room for an employee to work from home, far from being a COVID-19 response that now should be undone as the pandemic has ended, are grounded in a “flextime” provision won by the union in a 1992 contract. “We are disheartened to hear that the mayor decided to unilaterally implement returning my members to work 5 days a week on July 15. This to us, is a mandatory subject of bargaining … It has become clearer than ever that the mayor doesn’t not care for her city workforce,” David Wilson, president of the union, said in a statement to Philadelphia NBC affiliate WCAU-TV.
IN THE STATES
Daily Kos
By David McCall
May 22, 2024
“It’s all about making life better,” said Williams, who also serves as a vice president of the North Carolina AFL-CIO. ... “We’re here,” she said. “We’re strong. We’re standing up, and we’re fighting with all that we have.”
Capitol Connection: Tradeswomen travel to Springfield, advocates for worker’s rights
WCIA
By Cole Henke
May 22, 2024
The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades partnered with labor advocates to hold the first Tradeswomen Take Over Springfield Advocacy Day at the Capitol. The group wanted to show lawmakers that women make up a significant portion of these union jobs, and that their interests should be taken into account when developing policies at the State level. Mandy Jo Ganieany, the Director of Organizing for Painters District Council 30 joined Capitol Connection to talk about the new push from labor unions, and about how they intend to consistently be a part of the conversations in Springfield.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
FLOC leader gives advice to fourth graders who wrote his biography
Toledo Blade
By Alexa York
May 22, 2024
After speaking to a fourth-grade class at Maumee Valley Country Day School Tuesday, Toledo-based labor activist Baldemar Velasquez now has his own biography. “We noticed there were no biographies about him, so we wanted to make the first one,” 10-year-old Kaya Watkins said. The 24 fourth graders first visited Mr. Velasquez at the Farm Labor Organizing Committee's headquarters in Toledo last fall. They were “moved by his life story” and decided to channel their enthusiasm into writing it themselves.
An apprenticeship — and an associate degree: Unique program at IUOE Local 825 graduates first cohort
ROI-NJ
By Tom Bergeron
May 22, 2024
As he watched each of the 22 members of the initial cohort of apprentices from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 cross the stage at Red Bull Arena with an associate degree from Hudson County Community College in hand, you couldn’t blame Greg Lalevee if he was looking back at what was a decadelong journey to bring a higher education component to the union. Lalevee, the highly regarded business manager of the union, let his mind wander in the other direction. “The operating engineer of the future is what we’re obligated to train, nurture and create,” he said. “When you talk about AI and the Internet of Things and all the other things that are out there, there is nothing better than having additional schooling.
LABOR HISTORY
Baltimore Museum of Industry uplifts the modern labor movement
WYPR
By Maureen Harvie and Melissa Gerr
May 22, 2024
Baltimore has seen a surge in union organizing, with local wins for workers at high-profile companies like Apple and Starbucks. The Baltimore Museum of Industry is marking this moment in time with its latest exhibit, titled: “Collective Action: Labor Activism in 21st Century Baltimore.” We speak with BMI Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Rachel Donaldson, and Courtney Jenkins, president of the Metropolitan Baltimore Council of the AFL-CIO.
LABOR LEADERSHIP
Art Directors Guild Elects First All-Female Team of Top-Ranking Executive Board Officers
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
May 21, 2024
The Art Directors Guild has elected a new slate of executive board officers, and for the first time in the union’s history, the top-ranking four are all women. In a vote that took place over mail in March and April, the members of the IATSE-affiliated union chose Not Dead Yet and Corporate production designer Dina Lipton to be their president, with current president Nelson Coates vacating the role after eight and a half years. Senior set designer Kristen Davis (A Friend of the Family, Monster) was appointed vice president and supervising art director Helen Harwell (Monster, Fargo) was elected as treasurer. Art director and senior set designer Judy Cosgrove (Loot, The Offer) was re-elected as secretary. These executive officers’ terms, which will last three years, begin on June 1.
UNION BUSTING
Food 4 Less Faces Backlash for Attempting to Silence Workers Ahead of Contract Expiration, June 8
Random Lengths News
By Reporters Desk
May 22, 2024
With the current contract between Food 4 Less and UFCW local unions – representing nearly 6,000 Food 4 Less/Foods Co employees across California– set to expire on June 8, Food 4 Less workers have been targeted by the grocery chain with a threatening cease and desist letter. This aggressive anti-union tactic comes on the heels of store management’s refusal to accept workers’ petitions demanding a fair contract, further highlighting the company’s disregard for the voices of its employees.