AFL-CIO
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Memphis City Employees Celebrate Across-the-Board Pay Raises and Bonuses
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Memphis City Employees Celebrate Across-the-Board Pay Raises and Bonuses
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Employees of the city of Memphis, Tennessee, are celebrating much-needed wage hikes and bonuses they secured through the union they formed—a testament to the power of a union.They are celebrating $5,000 bonuses along with pay raises of at least 5%. Workers who keep Memphis’ hospitals, schools and roads running saw this increase last month.Employees of the city’s Solid Waste Department, who keep Memphis clean, saw pay raises ranging from 6% to 34%.Corrections officers and deputies saw raises of 6%.These well-deserved pay raises and bonuses are thanks to AFSCME Local 1733 members, who had been negotiating with the Memphis City Council since April and came to an agreement.Tomorrow Bonds, a member of Local 1733’s negotiations team and a crewperson in the Memphis Public Works Department, said that she and her co-workers were not going to back down from their proposals.“We came to the table with our proposals for the wage increases that we wanted, but the city kept turning it down,” Bonds said. “But we decided we weren’t going to take their counterproposals for less, and we wanted a fair wage.”On June 18, Local 1733 members ratified a memorandum of understanding that they reached with the city for these pay increases and bonuses to take effect on July 1.For Bonds, these wage increases are only the beginning. The fight for a livable wage continues.“It’s very important to me that everybody has a livable wage, and right now, we’re still not at a livable wage,” Bonds said. “But I can see that fighting for this pay increase has opened up a path for us to get there.”This post originally appeared on the AFSCME blog.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 08/23/2024 – 10:02
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Women’s Soccer Players Association Scores Historic Collective Bargaining Agreement
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Women’s Soccer Players Association Scores Historic Collective Bargaining Agreement
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The National Women’s Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA) announced their historic new collective bargaining agreement, which ensures free agency for all players, revenue sharing on top of salaries, important health and safety protections, and other provisions that will help create a more equitable League. For the first time ever in American professional sports, this contract also eliminates the draft, empowering athlete workers to have a real say over their futures.“The new Collective Bargaining Agreement is a reflection of the collective power of the Players,” said NWSLPA President Tori Huster. “Together, we secured freedoms that empower the Players to have autonomy over their careers and in doing so, reshaped American sports.”“Just weeks after some members of the NWSLPA became Olympic champions with Team USA, these athletes have made history yet again,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “This game-changing collective bargaining agreement sets the gold standard for all professional sports and affirms what workers in unions can accomplish when we stand together. The revolutionary victories they secured—from eliminating the draft to requiring player consent for trades to safeguarding player health—advance the critical work of professional sports associations to let players decide what’s best for their families. Collective bargaining is a powerful tool in achieving women’s equality in any workplace, and these results are a testament to the visionary leadership of President Tori Huster, Executive Director Meghann Burke, Vice President Simone Charley, the bargaining committee and all members of the Players Association who are dedicated to creating a better, fairer League. The AFL-CIO is beyond proud to count the NWSLPA among its Sports Council and affiliate unions, and we look forward to continuing to support the NWSL players to ensure fair implementation of this contract. It’s a damn good day for union women in America!”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 08/22/2024 – 09:58
More Freedom for Working People: What Working People Are Doing This Week
More Freedom for Working People: What Working People Are Doing This Week
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here’s a look at the broad range of activities we’re engaged in this week.
Actors’ Equity:Each month, Equity shares the names of recently deceased members in order to honor their passing and pay our respects. You may read about the losses in our community reported to Equity for July 2024 on the member portal. https://t.co/myvtrd4Ufv pic.twitter.com/Ck1c3B8GWp— Actors’ Equity (@ActorsEquity) August 21, 2024AFGE:Thank you @RepMarkTakano for working tirelessly to improve our VA medical centers and the workplace rights of those who serve our nation’s heroes. pic.twitter.com/G2zo9Rqu5I— AFGE (@AFGENational) August 21, 2024AFSCME:ICYMI: AFSCME backs @KamalaHarris for president because she believe in “more freedom for working people,” President Saunders said at #DNC2024. https://t.co/86PYM4udOz— AFSCME (@AFSCME) August 20, 2024Alliance for Retired Americans:Affordable health care and protections for people with pre-existing conditions are on the ballot this year. https://t.co/JVPEeqg7tB— Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) August 20, 2024Amalgamated Transit Union:Day 2 of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago was just as exciting as the first. Representing the ATU were #DNC New Jersey Delegate International President John Costa, International Vice President Yvette Trujillo, Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk, International Vice… pic.twitter.com/wnkQQCx9pf— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) August 21, 2024American Federation of Teachers:Are you absolutely sure that you’re registered to vote?Couldn’t hurt to check. Visit https://t.co/lfN1JDpjKD to confirm your voter registration status, and share this to your friends so they do the same! #AFTvotes pic.twitter.com/XV0o3rtfPt— AFT (@AFTunion) August 14, 2024Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:Flight Attendants save lives. We are aviation’s first responders and the last line of defense in aviation security. We are the first impression and the smile of aviation connecting the people of our nations.Happy National Aviation Day to Aviation’s First Responders! pic.twitter.com/EmNC7roE7l— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) August 19, 2024Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:No one in government fought as hard as @SenSherrodBrown did for our pensions. https://t.co/RRMETZS2rA— BCTGM International (@BCTGM) August 21, 2024Boilermakers:‼️ Breaking News: IBB announces leadership changes: https://t.co/QMz9Hcpvqq pic.twitter.com/kAnuH7Fuxz— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) August 20, 2024Bricklayers:Happy #WorkSiteWednesday! This week, Justin Guillermo, Jeris Orian, and Joe Ermitano from BAC local 1 Hawaii are working on the Wahiawa Civic Center!Thank you for your hard work!#Unionstrong #thebesthandsinthebusiness pic.twitter.com/wevdu6PwPL— Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union (@IUBAC) August 21, 2024Coalition of Labor Union Women:Sylvia Lieberman Recalls First CLUW Convention. #CLUW50 https://t.co/Xt7NNGc6ki— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) August 19, 2024Communications Workers of America:🚨Strike Alert! 🚨CWA members at AT&T Southeast are on strike to protest unfair labor practices committed by management during negotiations for a new union contract. pic.twitter.com/qb4iCXdyzX— CWA (@CWAUnion) August 16, 2024Department for Professional Employees:ICYMI: Apple TV visual effects professionals voted to join together in union with @IATSE https://t.co/Z8IlD1VelM— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) August 11, 2024Electrical Workers:. @UnionSportsmen brings you Major League Fishing Angler Jesse Spellicy who shares five baits you need in your tacklebox. https://t.co/KrWt0oJ5uY— IBEW (@IBEW) August 21, 2024Heat and Frost Insulators:Asbestos Memorial🕊️During the 2024 Officers Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, General President, Terry Larkin & former IVP, Anthony Ceraldi, visited the Memorial. ➡️Read more: https://t.co/NInou94huB #InsulatorsUnion #HFIAW #asbestos #mesothelioma pic.twitter.com/VCyZzCTBAx— Insulators Union 🦎 (@InsulatorsUnion) August 19, 2024Jobs With Justice:We just heard from union leaders at the #DNC. They are right—it’s time for workers to be able to freely organize w/o interference from billionaire CEOs, take home family-sustaining wages, and retire w/ dignity. #UnionYes @AFLCIO @AFSCME @IBEW @CWAUnion @SEIU @LIUNA— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) August 20, 2024Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:🚨 Eliminating the Department of Education under #Project2025 would have devastating effects on our society and communities. Historically, authoritarian regimes target education to control citizens and impose conservative ideals, undermining democratic values. pic.twitter.com/tUtC8EWNZA— LCLAA (@LCLAA) August 21, 2024Labor Heritage Foundation:No Contract, No Cartoons.”After weekend rallies, The Animation Guild (TAG) started contract talks w/the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. “We’re defending the soul of this industry,” said TAG President Jeanette Moreno KingRead more: https://t.co/8ual57wPpt pic.twitter.com/SWpigI22g4— Labor Heritage (@LaborHeritage1) August 21, 2024Laborers:Our GP and several labor leaders brought the POWER to the #DNC2024 stage last night, uniting behind the Harris-Walz ticket! Their passion and commitment to workers and #unions were electric. This is the momentum we need to secure our future! @DemConvention @VP @Tim_Walz https://t.co/2qH8Xmv03e— LIUNA (@LIUNA) August 20, 2024Machinists:Celebrating the beautiful life and legacy of Sister Maria Santiago Lillis, IAM Western Territory Locals united with community organizations in her honor. Their service magnifies the dedication Maria had for our communities. https://t.co/9aWtkhzpYc.— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) August 21, 2024Mine Workers:“Betty Jean Hall was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to advocating for coal miners and championing the rights and opportunities for women in our industry. Her legacy is one of strength…” – Cecil Robertshttps://t.co/97mBMS41A0— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) August 20, 2024Musical Artists:Save the San Francisco Symphony Chorus: Send a Letter to Management – https://t.co/OfUYN7k9AO pic.twitter.com/EJYjSxAAyT— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) August 19, 2024National Air Traffic Controllers Association:Are you keeping your contact information current on MyNATCA? It’s crucial for all NATCA members to regularly update their preferred contact details on MyNATCA to ensure they receive important communications.Visit https://t.co/snJux6foFR and log in with your credentials. pic.twitter.com/6Iys6A3Tey— NATCA (@NATCA) August 20, 2024National Association of Letter Carriers:This #MemberMonday, we’re giving a shout-out to New Castle, PA Branch 22 carrier Bill Rubin. For Scott Collar, a customer with disabilities who lives on Bill’s route, the kindness that Bill delivers each day makes him more than a mailman – he’s become a true friend. (🧵1/2) pic.twitter.com/nc2YQCgM1U— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) August 19, 2024National Day Laborer Organizing Network:Coming up next month!#BringHumanRightsHome https://t.co/x6jgzPxeM6— NDLON (@NDLON) August 20, 2024National Domestic Workers Alliance:More workers than ever need paid time off for mental health conditions and are getting denied. Employers must support the well-being of their employees. That means investing in care. https://t.co/HeWXEO2RNu— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) August 15, 2024National Nurses United:Nurses met with @RevDrBarber today at #DNCConvention2024!We’re excited and honored to be fighting alongside such a powerful champion for working families. #NursesForKamala pic.twitter.com/pVInzv04cc— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) August 20, 2024NFL Players Association:Denver Broncos linebacker Baron Browning tackled back-to-school prep at a block party last week, where 100 kids and their families scored school supplies and a day of fun at the team’s training facility. 📚✏️ pic.twitter.com/mWm4Q4knai— NFLPA (@NFLPA) August 16, 2024North America’s Building Trades Unions:Brent Booker, @LIUNA General President, says Trump made empty promises, while the Biden-Harris Administration delivered. As President, Kamala Harris will fight for the workers who are building America.https://t.co/zngunCZixh— The Building Trades (@NABTU) August 21, 2024Office and Professional Employees:Standardized patients at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia are fighting for a fair contract!Tell university administrators to stop union-busting and pay them a fair wage! ↓↓↓ #UnionStrong https://t.co/KbvUUTanQ5— OPEIU | #UnionStrong (@OPEIU) August 20, 2024Painters and Allied Trades:As we approach our General Convention, we reflect on each and every one of our members who have shaped the IUPAT into the strong and fighting union that we are today.For over 137 years, our members’ commitments and our union’s collective efforts have ignited a force of change… pic.twitter.com/EYtfCXqRkK— IUPAT (@GoIUPAT) August 12, 2024Plasterers and Cement Masons:Project 2025 wants Congress & DOL to exempt small business, first-time, non-willful violators from OSHA fines issued by, even potentially in egregious cases of employer malpractice. https://t.co/3Y0j8V9TVC— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) August 15, 2024Pride At Work:Join us to organize this election season and ensure LGBTQIA+ worker power is a priority!Sign up here: https://t.co/jkPXJ0Ym8c #organize #solidarityforever pic.twitter.com/x1FtxpmvK7— Pride at Work (@PrideatWork) August 19, 2024Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:.@RWDSU President @sappelbaum opens the 2nd @DemConvention Labor Council meeting. Asst. to the President Jessica Garcia who has spearheaded the planning led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. #DemConvention2024 pic.twitter.com/WQfY6rNCYY— RWDSU (@RWDSU) August 21, 2024Roofers and Waterproofers:Certain weather conditions can be hazardous for roofers. Follow these tips to stay safe! https://t.co/4J2VP83XzI #roofersafety365 pic.twitter.com/XPjZABkM3D— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) August 21, 2024SAG-AFTRA:🎙️ “Voice Actor and Movement Performers, we love this work.” Check out the full Game Actors on Game Actors: SAG-AFTRA Panel At Comic-Con 2024: https://t.co/D7AguPJaC0 pic.twitter.com/sxkMuaMnSc— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) August 21, 2024Solidarity Center:“We will leave no one behind.”Amid victory against union busting after a month-long campaign, #Sofitel workers’ unions continue to lead the push for job security for all workers.🔗https://t.co/Oy6exvFsLu#StandWithSofitelWorkers #Philippines #Solidarity pic.twitter.com/qAN9sA8Suo— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) August 21, 2024The NewsGuild-CWA:🚨On Sunday evening, Adrian Szkolar – a member of the @CTnewsguild organizing committee – was fired. This comes a mere ten days after the guild went public with their union drive.Tell Hearst CT Media Group: Reinstate Adrian & recognize @CTnewsguild 👇https://t.co/8DjIkU4bh6— NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) August 19, 2024Theatrical Stage Employees:“As a union member, it’s important that we have candidates who support our values,” IATSE Local 720 (Nevada) Member Matt Kimball said.“Donald Trump crossed my union’s picket line in ‘04, and that’s something I can never forgive him for and never will.” https://t.co/SoqFek4XxA— IATSE // #IASolidarity (@IATSE) August 21, 2024Transport Workers Union:pic.twitter.com/USvu57iqy2— TWU (@transportworker) August 19, 2024Transportation Trades Department:The @seattletimes Editorial Board nails it with a message for the Washington State Ferry System: pay your workers! Low staffing levels, noncompetitive wages, and overworked @MEBAUNION marine engineers = compromised service. Read more: https://t.co/W4DjOzEPU8— TTD | America’s Transportation Unions (@TTDAFLCIO) August 20, 2024UAW:Cornell University has a $10 billion endowment. Management could easily afford to treat workers with the dignity and respect they deserve. Instead, Cornell is attempting to union bust by encouraging retirees and faculty to scab.This is textbook corporate greed. @UAWregion9 pic.twitter.com/pyTIMaTxcx— UAW (@UAW) August 21, 2024Union Veterans Council:We proudly call Gov. @Tim_Walz one of our own here at the Union Veterans Council. As a card-carrying Union Vet, he has worked closely with us to pass vital veterans’ legislation and support working families. 🇺🇸 #UnionStrong #StandWithWalz https://t.co/cSL1NJVrpP— Union Veterans Council🪖✊ (@unionveterans) August 11, 2024UNITE HERE:Hotel workers are at a breaking point – and thousands have now authorized strikes.Wages aren’t enough to cover the cost of living. Staffing cuts have made hotel jobs more painful than ever.But we know that when we fight, we win. pic.twitter.com/faAi8vrvTu— UNITE HERE (@unitehere) August 21, 2024United Food and Commercial Workers:Discover the UFCW Discount College Program, offering highly discounted tuition rates at participating colleges. Unlock a wide variety of online degrees & pursue higher education goals on your schedule. Available to all UFCW members & families.➡️ https://t.co/vJfcSxhgs0 pic.twitter.com/BxpXkoA1kv— UFCW (@UFCW) August 20, 2024United Steelworkers:Congrats to USW Local 819, Pactiv Evergreen, in Turlock, Calif., for ratifying a new, three-year collective bargaining agreement after more than 18 months of difficult bargaining. pic.twitter.com/FaxuwJG75W— United Steelworkers #EverybodysUnion (@steelworkers) August 21, 2024Utility Workers:Louder for the folks in the back! 📣Every worker deserves the opportunity to join a union, and those with the lowest wages, fewest benefits, and the most unpredictable schedules have the most to gain by organizing! #UnionYeshttps://t.co/89SAkeba70— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) August 21, 2024Writers Guild of America East:A huge congrats to our @crooked_union members who held strong to win a benchmark-setting contract with an $80k salary minimum – and LOTS more. Take a look ⬇️💪 #UnionStrong https://t.co/SPKSkQpvbc— Writers Guild of America East (@WGAEast) August 15, 2024
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 08/21/2024 – 08:10
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: TA Reached Between OHSU and Postdoc Workers United
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: TA Reached Between OHSU and Postdoc Workers United
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
After almost a year of negotiations, postdoctoral researchers reached their first tentative agreement (TA) last week on a four-year contract with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).Members of OHSU Postdoc Workers United—an affiliate of the Oregon AFSCME Council 75—certified their union back in May 2023. After repeated lowball proposals from the public research university, workers earlier this month voted with 87.5% support to authorize a strike that would have started Thursday. But thanks to the dedication of the bargaining committee, the 250 members of Postdoc Workers United have avoided a strike and will now decide whether to accept an exciting new agreement. The deal includes a 6% pay increase upon ratification, with annual increases of 3.5% through the life of the contract, provisions that support international postdocs, increased paid time off, a commitment to forming a joint labor-management committee and more.“It’s been a long haul,” said Paige Arneson-Wissink, a pancreatic cancer researcher who is on the bargaining team. “Our union was able to stand strong in our belief that this is what we deserved. There were a lot of smiles in the room last night.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 08/21/2024 – 08:03
Life Is Better In A Union: In the States Roundup
Life Is Better In A Union: In the States Roundup
It’s time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on X (formerly Twitter).
Alabama AFL-CIO:August 12, 2024 downtown Montgomery Alabama with a room full of labor leaders from across the state to endorse candidates for this years election and not one candidate #inattendence pic.twitter.com/IURccTxlrd— Alabama AFL-CIO (@AlabamaAFLCIO) August 12, 2024Alaska AFL-CIO:When someone shows you who they are, believe them. https://t.co/2uNEll3ylH— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) August 14, 2024Arizona AFL-CIO:Today @ActSecJulieSu visited Arizona to discuss the dangers workers face from extreme heat, both indoor and outdoors. Heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in Arizona the U.S. A THREAD 🧵 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/pwKdMgKR3u— Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) August 8, 2024California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:#UnionizeCalifornia https://t.co/SC9fUNvGLG— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) August 15, 2024Connecticut AFL-CIO:Management at Hearst have FIRED a union organizer in a clear case of retaliation. Tell Hearst to reinstate Adrian and recognize the @CTnewsguild! #UnionBustingIsDisgusting https://t.co/z0bDpceGI4— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) August 19, 2024Florida AFL-CIO:Today is Florida’s Primary Election, and polls are open from 7am to 7pm. If you haven’t already, go vote! pic.twitter.com/5yop33AyV9— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) August 20, 2024Georgia State AFL-CIO:#Thankful for all the #aviation workers #❤️ #AviationDay #1u #unionstrong #unionproud #solidarity #UnionsForAll https://t.co/UG5be23hhO— Georgia AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOGeorgia) August 19, 2024Illinois AFL-CIO:#unionsforharriswalz because life is better in a union. #1u pic.twitter.com/Ml3Em0jkQR— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) August 19, 2024Maine AFL-CIO:Stage Hands Local 114 are celebrating their 120th Anniversary! Check out our story about the founders of Local 114 during the vaudeville era in 1905 & the rebirth of live stage events in Portland from the late 1970s to the present.https://t.co/kkNdFKjiXN @IATSE114 @IATSE— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) August 16, 2024Massachusetts AFL-CIO:“Unions built the middle class” – @JoeBiden The Biden-Harris admin. has our backs every day: 15 million new jobs, billions in infrastructure, bringing manufacturing back home to America, and saving our pensions #DNC #ThankYouJoe #ItsBetterInAUnion #UnionsForHarrisWalz @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/LtedLJq6Cw— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) August 20, 2024Michigan State AFL-CIO:This November, Michiganders will be faced with a choice between the candidates who stand with working people, and the ones who stand with corporate billionaires. We’re proud to announce our endorsements of pro-labor champions up and down the ballot.https://t.co/y5aSi4UGtS— Michigan AFL-CIO ✊ (@MIAFLCIO) August 19, 2024Minnesota AFL-CIO:Under the legislation, which went into effect on July 1, companies in Minnesota are barred from entering into new contracts that contain restrictive covenants, which function like noncompete agreements but have previously slipped past the prohibitions. #1u https://t.co/70nFyktrVj— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) August 19, 2024Missouri AFL-CIO:We’re voting YES on Proposition A to bring #PaidSickDays to MO and #RaiseTheWage to $15/hr by 2026. It’s time to prioritize the people who keep our communities thriving. pic.twitter.com/vrFLf483e2— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) August 17, 2024Nevada State AFL-CIO:7️⃣9️⃣ days until the election! Thank you to everyone who came to our Superwalk kickoff in both Northern and Southern Nevada, our speakers who energized the room, and our volunteers who are spending their sunny Saturday knocking on doors & phone banking.LETS WIN THIS THING🗳️ pic.twitter.com/c81lHJo1Tu— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) August 17, 2024New Hampshire AFL-CIO:We are thrilled to announce the 2024 @NHAFLCIO Labor Day Breakfast Keynote Speaker, @JBPritzker!@JBPritzker is a true ally to union members everywhere!Get your tickets today using this link: https://t.co/iLbOzbwMbq#NHPolitics #1u #LaborVotes pic.twitter.com/ppCGbVZNe9— New Hampshire AFL-CIO (@NHAFLCIO) August 13, 2024New Jersey State AFL-CIO:At the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, we stand in solidarity with Governor Walz on key issues for working families. pic.twitter.com/Hn8mW1uFSq— New Jersey AFL-CIO (@NJAFLCIO) August 7, 2024New York State AFL-CIO:Standing with our UAW family fighting for a fair contract at Cornell University today ✊ #StandUpCornell #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/VADRCuxUdU— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) August 16, 2024North Carolina State AFL-CIO:NC Labor Movement Welcomes @VP @KamalaHarris back to Raleigh! https://t.co/1eLJR68CvR #1u #ncpol 1/3 pic.twitter.com/D16u6hqaF8— NC State AFL-CIO // #CountMeIn (@NCStateAFLCIO) August 16, 2024Ohio AFL-CIO:Get the @UAW shirt today! #UnionsForHarris #ItsBetterInAUnion#TrumpIsAScab https://t.co/vPfwhk88Pz— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) August 20, 2024Oregon AFL-CIO:Oregon workers are #StrongerTogether. Find out how to organize by going to https://t.co/WphIRB4ySr pic.twitter.com/dw4QrE9cER— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) August 18, 2024Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:Glad you asked!In Pennsylvania, both the number of union members and the number of workers with union representation is the highest it’s been in over a decade. https://t.co/823aBSengh pic.twitter.com/sSj4PldTGa— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) August 20, 2024Texas AFL-CIO:See how we rep Texas workers at the DNC?Very demure. Very mindful. pic.twitter.com/z3GdrUcrLW— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) August 19, 2024Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:The WI AFL-CIO was proud to host a press conference this morning in support of Kamala Harris for President. Standing against the chaos and division of another Trump Presidency, we heard from Former Racine Police Chief Art Howell and U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn. pic.twitter.com/Uqu3ezOltH— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) August 16, 2024
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 08/20/2024 – 08:32
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Richmond Hotel Workers Secure 30% Wage Increase, End Strike
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Richmond Hotel Workers Secure 30% Wage Increase, End Strike
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Workers at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport, members of UNITE HERE Local 40, ratified a new contract after striking for 14 months. The new three-year contract gives all workers a 30.5% wage increase, a return-to-work bonuses, an increase in banquet workers’ gratuities, transparency and other tip protections, and new health benefits. More than 85% of the union members voted in favor of the new contract.“This new agreement sets the union on a new path with Larco Hospitality, and we look forward to forging ahead in a productive and positive working relationship with them,” said Zailda Chan, president of UNITE HERE Local 40.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 08/20/2024 – 08:08
Worker Wins: What We Deserve
Worker Wins: What We Deserve
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
NWSL Players Association Scores Historic New Contract: This morning, the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA) announced that they have secured an historic new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that ensures free agency for all players, revenue sharing on top of salaries, important health and safety protections and other provisions that will help create a more equitable league. “Just weeks after some members of the NWSLPA became Olympic champions with Team USA, these athletes have made history yet again,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “This game-changing collective bargaining agreement sets the gold standard for all professional sports and affirms what workers in unions can accomplish when we stand together….The AFL-CIO is beyond proud to count the NWSLPA among its Sports Council and affiliate unions, and we look forward to continuing to support the NWSL players to ensure fair implementation of this contract. It’s a damn good day for union women in America!” Read the AFL-CIO’s full statement here.Las Vegas Venetian Workers Win Historic TA with Major Pay Boosts: On Tuesday, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165—Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE—announced with The Venetian Resort Las Vegas that they have reached a tentative agreement (TA) on a new four-year contract. Before workers organized in June 2023 through a card-check neutrality agreement, the Venetian Resort Las Vegas—which includes both The Venetian and The Palazzo properties—had been a decades-long holdout under the previous ownership as the Las Vegas Strip’s only nonunion property. If ratified by members, this would be the first union contract covering the more than 4,000 food, beverage, housekeeping, bar, lounge and bell department workers at the casino resorts. A committee of more than 100 staff participated in every main table negotiating session and subcommittee meeting over the past year, resulting in a milestone TA with standard protections, such as health care benefits, language on increased worker security regarding sexual harassment and immigration, a pension and more. The deal also secured wins including the largest wage increases ever, workload reductions, daily room cleaning for guest room attendants, safety protections for workers on the job and recall rights. “I’m happy to have the union protections and voice we deserve,” said Sergio Javier Andrade, floor attendant at The Venetian Resort for 17 years, in a union press release. “This new contract is a game-changer for all of us—getting such a significant wage increase and a pension, is something we’ve been working toward for a long time, and to see it happen this morning is exciting, and I appreciate the Culinary Union and The Venetian Resort working together to make it happen. We’ve worked hard for this for over a year, and I feel very proud of what we were able to accomplish together. By voting yes to ratify, we’re setting ourselves up for a better, more secure future.”WMATA Metro Workers Ratify New Contract: With 90% in approval, Washington Metro workers overwhelmingly ratified a new contract between the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board and their union, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689. The ratification vote took place Monday, and Local 689 announced Wednesday that the WMATA Board has concurred, making the new agreement official. ATU represents over 8,500 workers across the regional transit system who are indispensable in keeping the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area moving. The new contract includes major victories to improve members’ livelihoods, WMATA’s fiscal responsibility and system accountability. “The contract overwhelmingly approved by Metro workers is a huge win for the dedicated transit professionals who move our region day in and day out,” said ATU Local 689 President Raymond Jackson. “We negotiated a fair and equitable deal with the Authority ensuring our members continue to receive fair compensation they’ve earned while also enforcing accountability throughout the system. Notably, we were able to get retiree healthcare back for many of our members while also guaranteeing that everyone would see raises through the life of this contract.”Workers at Hyatt Regency Crystal City Vote Decisively to Organize Despite Anti-Union Campaign: Despite weeks of aggressive anti-union campaigning from hotel management, a majority of housekeepers at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia, voted Friday to join UNITE HERE Local 25. After a supermajority of staff signed union authorization cards, housekeepers at the hotel filed for a union election on July 12. Hyatt then began an intensive anti-union crusade inside, which included regular anti-union meetings and distribution of anti-union literature. In the face of these attempts at undermining their organizing, workers picketed outside the hotel every Saturday with the support of labor allies and local lawmakers until their scheduled National Labor Relations Board election this past Friday. While the fight isn’t over, housekeepers are hoping that forming a union will help them address their workload and benefits concerns. “We are so excited and proud,” said Olga Ortiz, a housekeeper at the hotel and a leader on the organizing campaign. “It didn’t matter what the company threw at us—we stood strong and stood together. Now we are preparing to win our first contract with fairer workloads, higher pay and affordable benefits.”TA Reached Between OHSU and Postdoc Workers United: After almost a year of negotiations, postdoctoral researchers reached their first tentative agreement (TA) last week on a four-year contract with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Members of OHSU Postdoc Workers United—an affiliate of the Oregon AFSCME Council 75—certified their union back in May 2023. After repeated lowball proposals from the public research university, workers earlier this month voted with 87.5% support to authorize a strike that would have started Thursday. But thanks to the dedication of the bargaining committee, the 250 members of Postdoc Workers United have avoided a strike and will now decide whether to accept an exciting new agreement. The deal includes a 6% pay increase upon ratification, with annual increases of 3.5% through the life of the contract, provisions that support international postdocs, increased paid time off, a commitment to forming a joint labor-management committee and more. “It’s been a long haul,” said Paige Arneson-Wissink, a pancreatic cancer researcher who is on the bargaining team. “Our union was able to stand strong in our belief that this is what we deserved. There were a lot of smiles in the room last night.”New Mexico School for the Deaf Educators Form Union: Staff at the New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD) joined AFT New Mexico earlier this month, forming a wall-to-wall union at the Santa Fe campus. The New Mexico School for the Deaf Faculty & Staff Association bargaining unit includes all workers, from educators to bus drivers to administrative secretaries and more. The state Public Employee Labor Relations Board voted Aug. 6 to ratify the results of a union card-check, and the union has described the organizing process as a “relatively amicable” one. The workers who staff the school—which serves students from prekindergarten to 12th grade—really united over the need to secure wages that keep up with the high costs of living in Santa Fe. Funding for the institution comes from the state, but unlike other public schools, the NMSD doesn’t get money on a per-student basis. So, if the New Mexico Legislature passes a raise for teachers, it doesn’t necessarily mean these staff will receive a pay increase. Members are hoping that with the union, they can better negotiate for transparency and consistency in their salaries and benefits.Torrance Nurses Ratify New Contract by Overwhelming Majority: Registered nurses (RNs) at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, California, voted late last week with 89% supporting the ratification of a new three-year contract. The RNs are represented by the California Nurses Association, an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), and have been bargaining for this agreement since April of this year. Thanks to the bargaining unit’s unfaltering unity—including during an informational picket in June—members are celebrating a powerful new contract that secures critical provisions members need to continue delivering quality care to patients. Highlights of the deal include strengthened health and safety measures, the establishment of an equity and inclusion committee focused on diversity, language to ensure nurses can take their breaks with safe staffing levels and a 14.5% across-the-board wage increase over the three-year term. “We’re very proud of what we were able to achieve,” said Maria Chavez, an RN in the telemetry oncology unit. “We now have an agreement that we think will improve our recruitment and retention rates of RNs, including our vastly expanded educational program that offers RNs tuition assistance and more.”Maine Can Now Order Employers to Pay Workers Back Pay and Damages for Missed Wages: A new law went into effect Friday in Maine that will give the state Department of Labor more tools to hold businesses accountable for failure to pay workers the wages they are rightfully owed. Aimed at fighting wage theft, this legislation empowers the Labor Department to order an employer to pay both the unpaid wages as well as damages equal to twice the amount of those wages with interest. The bill is a major win in the effort to combat a widespread issue. The Maine Center for Economic Policy reports that minimum wage violations in Maine amounted to an estimated $30 million in 2017. Additionally, they found that between 2021 to 2023, employers who were caught violating wage and hour laws paid an average penalty of just $9.61 per violation. To make it worse, only 10.7% of the assessed fines were actually paid. “In my 25 years working in the construction industry I have seen countless examples of disreputable contractors taking advantage of non-union workers and cheating them out of their hard-earned wages and benefits,” said Maine AFL-CIO vice president and Ironworkers Local 7 member, Grant Provost. “When the punishment for violating wage and hour protections is just a slap on the wrist, companies have a perverse incentive to break the law and treat fines as a cost of doing business. This law will finally put some teeth in our labor laws to hold corporate lawbreakers accountable and ensure working Mainers are paid fully for an honest day’s work.”NLRB Rules in Favor of NPEU Over Member’s Illegal Termination: The Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) is celebrating a huge win after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled on Wednesday that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) acted illegally when it terminated a worker who was punished for raising concerns about poor working conditions at the nonprofit. NPEU, a local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), represents professionals employed at more than 50 nonprofit organizations. An administrative law judge for the agency found that the ACLU did in fact violate the National Labor Relations Act by denying NPEU member Kate Oh a transfer and discharging her in retaliation for exercising her right to engage in protected concerted activities. As a remedy, the judge ordered the ACLU to offer her reinstatement and to make her whole for any loss of earnings and other benefits. “This decision sends a clear message: no one is above the law, including and especially powerful management officials claiming to champion civil liberties with their words while illegally doing the opposite with their actions,” said Oh. “I am deeply grateful for my union having my back and for an NLRB that seeks to vindicate workers’ rights.” Amy Chin-Lai, president of NPEU, added: “We are thrilled with the NLRB’s decision, which protects the fundamental rights of workers to advocate for better working conditions and speak out without fear of retaliation. Kate Oh’s dedication to her colleagues and her resilience in the face of unlawful treatment exemplify the spirit of our union. I am proud to call her a union sister. We look forward to finishing a first contract for all of our ACLU workers who fight for civil liberties, including Kate.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 08/19/2024 – 10:24
Tags:
Organizing
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Torrance Nurses Ratify New Contract by Overwhelming Majority
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Torrance Nurses Ratify New Contract by Overwhelming Majority
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Registered nurses (RNs) at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, California, voted late last week with 89% supporting the ratification of a new three-year contract.The RNs are represented by the California Nurses Association, an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), and have been bargaining for this agreement since April of this year. Thanks to the bargaining unit’s unfaltering unity—including during an informational picket in June—members are celebrating a powerful new contract that secures critical provisions members need to continue delivering quality care to patients. Highlights of the deal include strengthened health and safety measures, the establishment of an equity and inclusion committee focused on diversity, language to ensure nurses can take their breaks with safe staffing levels and a 14.5% across-the-board wage increase over the three-year term.“We’re very proud of what we were able to achieve,” said Maria Chavez, an RN in the telemetry oncology unit. “We now have an agreement that we think will improve our recruitment and retention rates of RNs, including our vastly expanded educational program that offers RNs tuition assistance and more.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 08/19/2024 – 10:04
Hitting the Picket Lines: The Working People Weekly List
Hitting the Picket Lines: The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
Stark Comparison: Union Leaders Praise Tim Walz as J.D. Vance Tries To Rebrand GOP As Pro-Labor: “As a former high school teacher, Walz was once a union member himself. Long before Walz joined the national ticket, he helped make Minnesota one of the most worker-friendly states in the country. ‘He’s done great work here with labor, and we appreciate his willingness to always be at the table with us,’ said Bernie Burnham, the president of Minnesota AFL-CIO, the president of Minnesota American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). ‘When you see Tim Walz, you can see he’s as comfortable getting down the floor and talking to a toddler as he is listening to senior citizens and hearing about what their needs are,’ Burnham said.”Striking SAG-AFTRA Video Game Actors To Hit Picket Lines for Second Day: “Striking SAG-AFTRA video game performers plan to picket outside Disney Character Voices Thursday—the union’s second picketing event since it walked off the job on July 23 to highlight a dispute it says focuses on an unwillingness by top gaming companies to protect voice actors from the emergence of artificial intelligence.”UAW Suit Against Trump and Musk Breaks New Ground: “Trump’s praise of Musk’s illegal firings didn’t surprise the AFL-CIO. ‘Scab recognizes scab,’ it tweeted. ‘Greedy bosses aren’t just laughing at workers in smoke-filled backrooms anymore,’ federation President Liz Shuler elaborated in a statement. ‘They’re broadcasting it for the world to hear. It’s no surprise coming from Trump and Elon Musk—two notorious union-busters who boast a combined record of crossing picket lines, underpaying workers, flouting health and safety laws, and retaliating against workers for demanding the rights and fair pay we deserve.’”Trump Gutted Federal Employee Unions. They Believe He’d Do It Again: “Labor unions are among Kamala Harris’ most fervent backers in her run for president, and federal employee unions especially so. Not only do they love her unabashed support for labor, they also fear what her opponent Donald Trump might do if he’s elected president again. It’s not hyperbole to say that since becoming vice president, Harris has played a key role in bringing federal employee unions back from the brink.”Walz Gives Remarks at Labor Union Convention in Los Angeles: “Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addressed members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union at their convention in Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon. The visit by the Democratic vice presidential candidate comes as the Harris-Walz ticket looks to solidify its base, including with organized labor. AFSCME is one of several major labor organizations, including other constituent unions within the AFL-CIO, that have given strong support to the Democratic Party ticket.”The Animation Guild Starts Negotiating with Studios: “Following a weekend of solidarity events, The Animation Guild (IATSE 839) officially began its contract negotiations yesterday with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. TAG members and supporters turned out in droves at a rally in Burbank on Saturday (August 10), with support also pouring in online through the #StandWithAnimation hashtag. Industry veterans like Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack), James Baxter (The Lion King), Peter Ramsey (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe) were among an estimated 2000-plus attendees—more than double the crowd that showed up for a previous rally in March 2022. ‘To look out at this sea of people the weekend before we actually go in for negotiations was really inspiring,’ says storyboard artist Kaitrin Snodgrass (My Little Pony: A New Generation).”Recent Contracts Give Amtrak Workers Big Raises: “Two recently ratified contracts, one with the Transport Workers and the other with the Electrical Workers, have given on-board Amtrak workers and the passenger train system’s electricians historically large raises, the unions stated. Both contracts feature 34.1% compounded raises over seven years, retroactive to July 2022 and run through the end of 2028. The contract with Transport Workers Local 1460 covers 360 Amtrak on-board service workers, including train attendants and cafe car workers. Amtrak’s pact with IBEW’s of Railroad System Council 7 covers 1,200 electrical workers. ‘Amtrak on-board workers are a critical part of our nation’s transportation system and this contract includes essential quality-of-life wins,’ TWU President John Samuelsen said in a statement.”Woodland Park Zoo Workers Reach Tentative Agreement On New Contract: “The Joint Crafts Council (JCC) Coalition of Unions, representing approximately 200 Woodland Park Zoo employees, has reached a tentative agreement with zoo management on a new contract, according to a statement released by the union on Monday. The agreement, which is fully recommended by the union’s negotiations committee, is now subject to ratification by the union members. The proposed contract follows months of negotiations centered on key issues, including affordable healthcare, equitable wages, and the long-term well-being of the animals. The JCC Coalition of Unions represents 34 different classifications of zoo workers, including animal keepers, veterinary technicians, carpenters, and laborers.”S&P 500 CEOs Made 268 Times What the Typical Worker Made Last Year, Report Says: CEO Payflation Strikes Again: “‘Today, the very CEOs who benefited most from Trump’s tax gift to the wealthy are making 268 times what their workers are making. And while corporate profits and stock prices surge, working people’s wages aren’t keeping up,’ Fred Redmond, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, said in a statement.”I Helped Organize An Architect’s Union: “Unionization in design industries is approaching a tipping point. In July, three different sectors achieved major victories for the labor movement. At Blizzard, a video game developer where other members have already unionized, more than 500 employees formed a ‘wall-to-wall’ union. Workers at the Apple Store in Towson, Maryland—the first such store to unionize at the world’s most famous design company—ratified their first contract. And finally, my colleagues and I at Bernheimer Architecture (BA) ratified the first collectively bargained contract at a private-sector architecture office.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 08/16/2024 – 10:25
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Crooked Media Union Members Unanimously Ratify Contract with Wage Increases, AI Protection
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Crooked Media Union Members Unanimously Ratify Contract with Wage Increases, AI Protection
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Members of the Crooked Media union, an affiliate of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), unanimously ratified their first contract, with gains including minimum starting salaries of $80,000, protections against artificial intelligence (AI) and a minimum of 49 days of paid time off. The $80,000 minimum salary rises to $84,000 in 2027 and the three-year agreement includes an immediate 15% increase to base salaries; 30 days’ notice from the company if AI is to be used; increased health insurance coverage; and a minimum of 13 weeks severance. The 61-member unit of Crooked Media produces podcasts, including “Pod Save America” and “Lovett or Leave It.”“Today, members of the Crooked Media Workers Union ratified its first contract with a unanimous yes and 100% participation. It’s one thing to talk about the power of unions; it’s another to actually do the work. We’re pleased to have secured a fair, progressive contract, and for those wins to set a new standard for the industry at large. If we inspire workers at one other company to stand up together, fight for each other, and insist on what they deserve, this has all been worth it,” representatives from the Crooked Media Workers Union said.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 08/16/2024 – 10:12