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Fighting for a Fair and Just Contract: What Working People Are Doing This Week Fighting for a Fair and Just Contract: 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:
Sign up to march and/or have a meal with your fellow union members from Equity, SAG-AFTRA and AGMA! Visit the member portal to register. https://t.co/CFWhbcjJDj pic.twitter.com/0JKxuoUgja — Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) August 24, 2024
AFGE:ICYMI: @AFGEPrezKelley delivering the opening invocation for tonight’s @DemConvention events. pic.twitter.com/ClEzaekKv5 — AFGE (@AFGENational) August 22, 2024
AFSCME:In a video that was shown at the Democratic National Convention, AFSCME member Kelli Gray described how the Biden-Harris administration helped lift the weight of her crushing student loan debt. https://t.co/8EXdAnXLDX — AFSCME (@AFSCME) August 27, 2024
Alliance for Retired Americans:Let's be clear: For those worried about their retirement security, a second term for Donald Trump would be devastating. We need to elect candidates who will protect and expand Social Security and Medicare -- not cut them. https://t.co/qpBMawCBGR pic.twitter.com/VI6E93H887 — Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) August 27, 2024
Amalgamated Transit Union:We support our Local 1724 HandyDART members in their fight for the fair and just contract they deserve. #ATUStrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/Cn87HuUNR6 — ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) August 28, 2024
American Federation of Teachers:Honor Emmett Till's legacy and learn more with these resources from @ShareMyLesson: https://t.co/6QKUDni1wz https://t.co/tHVJIKc2iF — AFT (@AFTunion) August 28, 2024
American Postal Workers Union:Clerk Craft Director Lamont Brooks summarizes the Clerk Conference at the APWU Biennial Convention, including delegate-approved changes to the national constitution and bylaws that will directly affect Clerk Division’s representation going forward. https://t.co/Qf1XIDoDei — The American Postal Workers Union - APWU (@APWUnational) August 28, 2024
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:Our hearts are with Delta Tech Op workers and their families affected by the tragic incident in Atlanta where two workers lost their lives and others were injured earlier today. AFA EAP is always available at 800-424-2406. https://t.co/mgC2OZlKDP — AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) August 27, 2024
Bakery, 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, 2024
Boilermakers:Breaking news: The International Executive Council has elected Clint Penny as International Secretary-Treasurer: https://t.co/VqWpTjwvZ6 pic.twitter.com/qz1Y1hGaHo — Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) August 27, 2024
Bricklayers:Our President Tim Driscoll had the honor of joining @MassGovernor Maura Healey and others in addressing the @IAFFofficial at their 57th convention. The conversation surrounded union solidarity and the importance of political advocacy!Thanks for the invite! #ItsBetterInAUnion pic.twitter.com/VdzArmYRwq — Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union (@IUBAC) August 28, 2024
Communications Workers of America:CWA members at AT&T in the Southeast are still on strike. When we fight, we win! Video: @PBNewsGuild & @CWA3108 pic.twitter.com/AqHvT6UZC8 — CWA (@CWAUnion) August 26, 2024
Department for Professional Employees:Historically, private-sector architectural professionals have not been union members. However, interest in unions is growing among architectural professionals and other professionals in design-related occupations. https://t.co/8ohEFS9wZ8 — Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) August 27, 2024
Electrical Workers:#IBEW members were out in full force at the 2024 #DNC to make our voice heard and to support@KamalaHarris and @Tim_Walz pic.twitter.com/5FYGLyNaIx — IBEW (@IBEW) August 28, 2024
Heat and Frost Insulators:In The City of Brotherly Love🔔Next time you’re in Downtown Philly, check out “Pat Eiding Way,” honoring the Philadelphia AFL-CIO President Emeritus & former Local 14 Business Manager.➡️Read more: https://t.co/xvVYLZqU4T#InsulatorsUnion #Insulators #InsulatorPride #HFIAW pic.twitter.com/QlBEEG3d9D — Insulators Union 🦎 (@InsulatorsUnion) August 28, 2024
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:IFPTE Members Attend DNC as Delegates and Advance Priorities for Workers, Communities, and All Americanshttps://t.co/juV8uSXHE0 — IFPTE (@IFPTE) August 23, 2024
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:Today, we are proud ✊🏽 to join organizations across the country to shed light on the harmful effects of Project 2025 and how it will impact our comunidades. For more information or to get involved, visit https://t.co/tMivLyFh7B#DefendiendoNuestroFuturo #LatinosAgainstProject2025 pic.twitter.com/jjlscjih7O — LCLAA (@LCLAA) August 27, 2024
Labor Heritage Foundation:Check out our updated 2024 Labor Day Labor Arts Calendar! Festivities include labor arts events across the country. Got a labor music, film, history, or art event in your community? Let us know at [email protected], and we'll add it to our calendar! https://t.co/dwuBAThirZ pic.twitter.com/mwoCsASz05 — Labor Heritage (@LaborHeritage1) August 27, 2024
Laborers: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, 2024
Machinists:IAM branding is going up at the Hilton Midtown, NYC courtesy of Carpenters Local 157 members!Union members building a union Convention! ⚙️💪#IAM2024 pic.twitter.com/mwpFa6Titr — Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) August 28, 2024
Mine 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, 2024
Musical Artists:Sept 9: Join the AGMA Staging Staff Caucus for a discussion on labor-management conflict resolution w/ experts from Cornell's Scheinman Institute. Open to AGMA Staging Staff members. Details: https://t.co/J2GKA8xWHY pic.twitter.com/hJ0b6Qeyq6 — AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) August 27, 2024
National Association of Letter Carriers:Reno, NV Branch 709 was proud to rally in solidarity with @NRLCA yesterday as letter carriers continue to call for protection from violence & crime while delivering mail in communities across the U.S. Learn more about the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act ➡️ https://t.co/ylwbV47kaq pic.twitter.com/89bWIoZiSj — Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) August 27, 2024
National Day Laborer Organizing Network:SYRACUSE, NY 🚌❤️: We're here! Join us TODAY on our next #CareCantWait Bus Tour stop to fight for an affordable and accessible care system we all deserve. RSVP here: https://t.co/7dHlZ5aEf5 — Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) August 28, 2024
National Nurses United:Union nurses in @nynurses, @minurses, @mnnurses, and all across the country are fired up to see nurse values on the ballot this election season! Join the #NursesforKamala coalition in getting Harris and Walz into the White House! 🗳️ pic.twitter.com/6ZmKotNJ3a — NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) August 25, 2024
NFL Players Association:Help us give a warm welcome to our two newest NFLPA Player Directors: Michael Thomas + Scott Wells! Their first experience will be hitting the road for the next six weeks to meet and support all current players. pic.twitter.com/F4Lv2dJEl5 — NFLPA (@NFLPA) August 26, 2024
North America's Building Trades Unions:Donald Trump is not a friend to unions. pic.twitter.com/uG90kiiTqe — The Building Trades (@NABTU) August 27, 2024
Office and Professional Employees:OPEIU Local 251 represents over 550 workers at Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their union contract expires on September 24, 2024. Sign a letter in support of their fight for a fair contract! ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/AstWPFWZUH — OPEIU | #UnionStrong (@OPEIU) August 22, 2024
Painters and Allied Trades:As we chart our course for the next five years, we honor a century of progress that has secured democracy, fair wages, and dignity for workers. Together, we can become an unmatched force in our industry—stronger, inclusive, and empowering at every level. #OneIUPAT pic.twitter.com/DxJnKhgHfC — IUPAT (@GoIUPAT) August 27, 2024
Plasterers and Cement Masons:Active & retired union members may be eligible for home financing benefits through the @UnionPlus® Mortgage program, with financing provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Equal Housing Lender. https://t.co/nXrO69XJC7 pic.twitter.com/xZ9j76bthh — OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) August 26, 2024
Pride At Work:Being LGBTQIA+ can be an obstacle as a voter who lives in a state that has voter identification laws. Join @prideatwork, @LCLAA, @CLUWNational and @VoteRiders on Tuesday, August 27th at 6:00 PM EDT to learn about the potential impacts.Register here: https://t.co/phYgZPZ0G6 pic.twitter.com/KWrw6rnTcK — Pride at Work (@PrideatWork) August 21, 2024
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:61 years ago today, @RWDSU joined working people for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom! RWDSU leaders like Cleve Robinson helped plan the march, and Local 1-S members, pictured here, were among the union workers who traveled to the historic civil rights action! pic.twitter.com/gHQESertCT — RWDSU (@RWDSU) August 28, 2024
SAG-AFTRA:“We are thrilled that one of our top legislative priorities, AB 2602 has passed in the State of California. The bill, which protects not only SAG-AFTRA performers but all performers, is a huge step forward. ... 1/2https://t.co/jNF0bRYOef — SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) August 28, 2024
Solidarity Center:The support from @Culinary226 for striking Evolution Gaming workers in the Republic of Georgia is what true global #solidarity looks like. ✊https://t.co/i1rBZLe1jC@casinosc0m — Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) August 27, 2024
The NewsGuild-CWA:🚨 More than 3,000 supporters have already given to @ThePUPNews strikers to cover rent, unexpected expenses, groceries and much more. We're so close to blowing past $800k raised in support of the LONGEST strike in the country! Pitch in here: https://t.co/rSonkCeva7 pic.twitter.com/iGtE8Lyt4B — NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) August 27, 2024
Theatrical Stage Employees:On #WomensEqualityDay, we honor the fearless women who fought for the right to vote, paving the way for equality. This November, let's exercise our right to vote, ensuring that the hard-won victories are preserved, and our voices continue to drive the fight for gender equality. pic.twitter.com/htFpPTu4sq — IATSE // #IASolidarity (@IATSE) August 26, 2024
Transport Workers Union:pic.twitter.com/USvu57iqy2 — TWU (@transportworker) August 19, 2024
Transportation Trades Department:WATCH: @TTDAFLCIO President Greg Regan spoke at the @DemConvention last week to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration's investments in America’s working families, transportation and infrastructure. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/5WrDbl31Sg — TTD | America's Transportation Unions (@TTDAFLCIO) August 26, 2024
UAW:Workers at the Detroit-area Webasto plant are standing up to form their union and UAW Local 900 has their backs! #StandUpWebasto pic.twitter.com/7Doiq1j2xQ — UAW (@UAW) August 28, 2024
UNITE HERE:Hotel workers are putting the industry on notice.Our wages aren’t enough.Staffing cuts have made our jobs more painful than ever.And we’re ready to strike for what our families need. pic.twitter.com/UITZ58wlyJ — UNITE HERE (@unitehere) August 27, 2024
United Food and Commercial Workers:Over 45 workers at 17 CBD Kratom & Mr. Nice Guy cannabis dispensaries have joined UFCW Local 655. Workers organized to join UFCW due to shared concerns about insufficient wages, benefits, health insurance, & job stability. Let’s get to work! ➡️ https://t.co/tXit8QFQYF pic.twitter.com/KVWoVJvTaG — UFCW (@UFCW) August 27, 2024
United Steelworkers:For Paige Cisco of Local 689 in Ohio, fighting for workers’ health and safety is what motivates her every day. Read her full story: https://t.co/fNURJ8TXGw pic.twitter.com/9nV2ATGGCF — United Steelworkers #EverybodysUnion (@steelworkers) August 27, 2024
Utility Workers:The Executive Board of @UWUA_Local_1_2 is ready for Labor Day!Every UWUA local received a limited quantity of these #ItsBetterInAUnion shirts so that across the country our union will be visible as we celebrate the labor movement. pic.twitter.com/w1JY5TjHvq — UWUA National (@The_UWUA) August 28, 2024
Writers Guild of America East:When writers decide to work together to organize a union at their workplace, they create the leverage and power they need to improve their working lives. You are the union. Reach out to us at [email protected] to learn more and ask questions. #UnionStrong 💪 — Writers Guild of America East (@WGAEast) August 27, 2024
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/28/2024 - 10:04 — Aug 28 -
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: SMART-TD Announces Tentative Deal for Conductors with Amtrak Service & Solidarity Spotlight: SMART-TD Announces Tentative Deal for Conductors with Amtrak 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. Last week, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) announced a tentative agreement for a seven-year contract with Amtrak that covers conductors and assistant conductors. Details of the agreement will go out to membership for a ratification vote over the next few weeks. Key economic highlights of the contract include substantial wage increases that are retroactive to July 2022, greater new hire training per diem, more conductor certification pay and improved training pay. SMART-TD also secured major wins relating to worker health and work-life balance, such as more paid parental leave, designating Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday, improvements to bereavement pay and expansion of overtime. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/28/2024 - 09:56 — Aug 28
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Break the Bias: In the States Roundup Break the Bias: 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). Arizona AFL-CIO:
💪Michael "BIG MIKE" Dawson, a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) has made the 10,000th call in our #2024LaborVotes campaign! pic.twitter.com/ZtBxIG3XSe — Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) August 21, 2024
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:We are training up more union members throughout the state to hit worksites and the doors about the importance of the upcoming elections. pic.twitter.com/zXQ9WklIs9 — California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) August 24, 2024
Connecticut AFL-CIO:The Connecticut AFL-CIO strongly condemns the anti-Semitic remarks made by Rep. Figueroa. @ehawthorne3 pic.twitter.com/Fwvi0lj7hy — Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) August 13, 2024
Florida AFL-CIO:We love to see it! ✊ 💪 https://t.co/Srce55p0aP — Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) August 23, 2024
Georgia State AFL-CIO:As of 2020, roughly 10.6 million of the 15.9 million workers covered by a union contract are women and/or people of color. Almost half of workers represented by a union are women (47.1%).#WomenEqualityDay #1u #unionstrong #unionproud #solidarity #UnionsForAll #love #Equality pic.twitter.com/6ger5qGLvM — Georgia AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOGeorgia) August 26, 2024
Illinois AFL-CIO:Our friends at the @CFM10208 are organizing Hip Hop musicians, DJs, and EDM artists. These genres have rich ties to Illinois. Let's celebrate these artists as they fight for fair wages and an end to a "pay to play" culture of exploitation. More here: https://t.co/QOyVYfkV2M pic.twitter.com/vfERUxuiEl — Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) August 26, 2024
Indiana State AFL-CIO:https://t.co/GsrHDWdQ7Q — Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) August 27, 2024
Massachusetts AFL-CIO:🚨Primary GOTV Alert🚨 Election Day is Tuesday, 9/3!! We will be working to elect our endorsed labor champions before, during, and after primary day! To kick off GOTV week, join Women Build Boston in Cambridge Monday to support State Rep. Marjorie Decker! 1/3 pic.twitter.com/Km15WcTJJ2 — Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) August 23, 2024
Minnesota AFL-CIO:The two-year-old Inflation Reduction Act is fulfilling its promise of accelerating the country’s transition to renewable energy while creating good-paying, union jobs along the way. #1u https://t.co/Ym21wOop4P — Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) August 26, 2024
Missouri AFL-CIO:🌡️ ☀️ It is very hot. Make sure you are hydrating and know the symptoms of a heat stroke. #heatwave pic.twitter.com/eQCoY2MS3X — Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) August 27, 2024
Nevada State AFL-CIO:Thank you to our amazing affiliates, sponsors, elected officials, and community partners for joining us for our 68th Constitutional Convention Welcome Reception! pic.twitter.com/iyMTdSliHN — Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) August 26, 2024
New York State AFL-CIO:Congratulations to our President Mario Cilento, Secretary-Treasurer Terry Melvin, and the Vice Presidents on their elections! A special thanks to @NYSDOLCommish for swearing in our leaders this morning. pic.twitter.com/0suk9PNu6N — NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) August 27, 2024
North 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, 2024
Ohio AFL-CIO:It's easy to see where @johnlegend got his values when we find out he grew up in a @UAW @AFLCIO #union household. https://t.co/HPtJLOqJjN — Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) August 26, 2024
Oregon AFL-CIO:The clock is ticking Boeing ⏰ @IAM751 and District W24’s contract expires on September 12. Boeing Machinists deserve a #FairContractNow. #Solidarity Read more 👇https://t.co/tFCm6fxtvM pic.twitter.com/JsrHVCMP9Y — Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) August 27, 2024
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:Unions are the best tool to stand up to the historic inequity & corporate greed we are up against. In 2022 unions won 76% of National Labor Relations Board elections, the highest rate ever. And unions are more popular with the public now than at any time since the 1960s.#LaborDay pic.twitter.com/lltdUBH44S — PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) August 26, 2024
Texas AFL-CIO:NEWS: Through our 2024 Scholarship Program, the Texas AFL-CIO awarded 25 grants of $1,500 each to an outstanding class of applicants.Thank you to the locals and members who made this possible through their generous donations.Read more: https://t.co/3M5bK7ZO1A — Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) August 26, 2024
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:Under Gov. Walz, Minnesota runs one of the most effective OSHA state plan programs. The state ranks fifth-lowest in the rate of workplace fatalities, significantly lower than the federal workplace fatality rate. https://t.co/FX4BpGhOm0 — WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) August 24, 2024
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/27/2024 - 10:37 — Aug 27 -
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Guitar Center Workers in Six Locations Ratify New Contract Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Guitar Center Workers in Six Locations Ratify New Contract 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. Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU-UFCW) members at six Guitar Center locations in Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada and New York ratified a new three-year contract. The agreement includes multiple meaningful wins for staff, like an increased minimum wage rate for every position—which will continue to go up every year throughout the life of the contract—and an additional seniority wage adjustment for more tenured workers. Additionally, members are maintaining their union health care plan with the addition of a new short-term disability benefit. Other highlights are an updated attendance policy that increases the grace period for being late, provisions protecting the right to call additional labor-management meetings during the year, work schedule transparency, upward mobility opportunities, protections for the current commissions policy and more. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/27/2024 - 09:56 — Aug 27
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Saving Workers' Lives and Limbs: The Working People Weekly List Saving Workers' Lives and Limbs: 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. Labor Leaders Stand Up, Show Out for Kamala at DNC: “The Democratic National Convention’s (DNC) nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris for president and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the next vice president commenced with a wave of endorsements from the nation’s largest labor unions. On the very first night of the convention, an impressive gathering of union presidents took the stage. AFSCME’s Lee Saunders, SEIU (Service Employees International Union) President April Verrett, LIUNA (Laborer’s International Union of North America) President Brent Booker, Ken Cooper of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Claude Cummings Jr. of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), and Liz Shuler of the AFL-CIO stood on stage together, they displayed the power of unions.” NWSL, Players Reach New CBA That Includes Elimination of Draft: “The National Women’s Soccer League and its players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement that will grow salaries and further expand player rights regarding free agency and trades, the sides announced Thursday. The deal includes the elimination of the college draft, a first for a major North American professional sports league. The new CBA will extend the current contract, which was negotiated in 2022 and was set to expire in 2026, through 2030. Some of the new terms, such as the elimination of the draft and free agency for all players when their contracts expire, will go into effect immediately; others will begin in 2025.” How Tim Walz Saved Workers’ Lives and Limbs: “In 2023, with a narrow Democratic majority and working closely with the Minnesota AFL-CIO, the state legislature passed several innovative laws that greatly strengthen the safety and health protections provided to Minnesota workers employed in high-hazard jobs. These include: Protecting Workers from Ergonomic Hazards: About 30% of all serious injuries reported by employers to the Bureau of Labor Statistics are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These are injuries to the back, wrist, neck, or arm caused by exposure to lifting, twisting, repetitive motions, and other ergonomic hazards.” Union Leaders at DNC Push Back Against Trump Overtures to Organized Labor: “Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is highlighting its pro-union stance at the Democratic National Convention this week, pushing back against Republican Party overtures to organized labor at their own convention last month. It’s an attempt to refute former President Donald Trump’s claims that he will work with organized labor amid recent meetings with the president of the Teamsters union, and an effort by Harris to hitch onto President Joe Biden’s labor record, which includes being the first president to walk a picket line. Addressing the Wisconsin delegation to the DNC Wednesday morning, U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su argued Harris had fought wage theft as attorney general of California, and would enact worker-friendly policies as president.” Venetian Las Vegas Reaches Tentative Deal with Workers for First Union Contract: “The Venetian Resort has agreed to its first union contract with more than 4,000 hospitality workers. The Culinary Union announced that a tentative agreement was reached Tuesday morning for workers at The Venetian and Palazzo. A contract ratification vote will be scheduled soon, according to a union spokesperson. Culinary and Venetian leadership reached an agreement in June last year for ‘card check neutrality.’ That meant the resort would not take a position as employees explored possible unionization.” University of Alaska and Graduate Student Union Reach Three-Year Contract: “A new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the University of Alaska and the Alaska Graduate Workers Association-UAW Union (AGWA-UAW) took effect on July 1. This is the first time the University of Alaska and AGWA have negotiated a CBA. The agreement comes less than a year after University of Alaska graduate student employees voted to form a union.” Union Leaders Frame Harris as Champion of the Working Class in Night 1 of DNC: “Union leaders championed Vice President Kamala Harris as the choice for working class folks in a series of speeches on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention. ‘This election is about two economic visions,’ said Liz Shuler, president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, or AFL-CIO. Her union represents nearly 13 million American workers, she said.” Kamala Harris Names a Unionist as Her VP: “Just hours after Vice President Kamala Harris named Tim Walz as her running mate Aug. 6, AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler celebrated the pick in a press statement, calling Walz a ‘principled fighter and labor champion’ who’s not just an ally but a union brother. Walz is a former public high school teacher and football coach who has been Minnesota’s governor since 2019. As governor, he signed lots of pro-worker legislation, including: Paid family and medical leave and mandated paid sick days; A ban on noncompete clauses; A ban on employers from holding mandatory anti-union meetings; Letting teachers unions bargain over class size; and $2.6 billion in infrastructure investments.” The Rev. Barber: Kamala Harris Isn’t Just Listening to Workers. She’s Sounding Like Them: “With its rallies that pack arenas, Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign has harnessed an energy that many have compared to Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. Polls in battleground states indicate that the dynamics of the presidential race have fundamentally shifted, but skeptics question if the good vibes can last once the vice president starts to detail policy. Is this burst of excitement, they ask, just the momentary enthusiasm of voters surprised by an unexpected transition? When we pay attention to what Harris and Walz have already said, though, it’s clear they have tapped the energy of worker-driven movements that want to create an economy that works for all of us. The good vibes and the economic vision of this campaign are, in fact, deeply connected.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/26/2024 - 12:04 — Aug 26
AFL-CIO Blog
- Fighting for a Fair and Just Contract: What Working People Are Doing This Week
- Service & Solidarity Spotlight: SMART-TD Announces Tentative Deal for Conductors with Amtrak
- Break the Bias: In the States Roundup
- Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Guitar Center Workers in Six Locations Ratify New Contract
- Saving Workers' Lives and Limbs: The Working People Weekly List