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.
AFL-CIO’s Shuler: Glacier NW Decision Will Not Deter Workers: “The following is a statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler released [June 1] regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling in Glacier Northwest Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with corporations over working people. But when the facts are revealed on remand, it will be clear the union acted properly and the truck drivers’ strike was protected by federal law.”
Orange County’s Hotel Workers Consider Striking Over Pay Raises: “Hotel workers throughout Orange County, and Southern California, might go on strike as they demand a $5 an hour increase to their wages. Unite Here Local 11, union representing 32,000 hotel workers in Southern California and Arizona, are calling on workers to authorize a strike on June 8, according to Ada Briceño, co-president of the union. Briceño said in a Wednesday phone interview workers are getting squeezed by housing costs and need higher pay. ‘They’re sleeping on other people’s couches, they’re living in their cars and they’re one paycheck away from homelessness,’ she said, adding that she is confident they will authorize a strike.”
United Steelworkers Seeking Vote to Unionize Thousands of Pitt Staff: “The United Steelworkers said it intends to file paperwork Monday calling for a state-supervised labor election that could unionize more than 5,000 workers at the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus and four branches. The USW already represents about 3,000 full- and part-time faculty on Pitt’s main campus in Oakland and branches in Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown and Titusville. Formed in 2021, that union is negotiating with Pitt on its first contract.”
Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea and Secretary-Treasurer Pat Devaney React to the 2023 Legislative Session: “Following the General Assembly’s adjournment, the Illinois AFL-CIO released the following statement: ‘Working Illinoisans celebrated numerous victories this legislative session, building on recent successes that have included the Workers’ Rights Amendment, Paid Leave for All, higher minimum wages, fairer workers' compensation laws, and a robust state construction program.”
Thousands of Local Hotel Workers on Verge of Striking: ‘Living in L.A. Is No Longer an Option’: “A union is asking 15,000 workers at hotels in Los Angeles and Orange counties to authorize a strike during the height of tourist season. Unite Here Local 11 said contracts are expiring June 30 at 62 Southern California hotels, including luxury stays such as the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles, the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica and the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. Union officials say they are asking for the strike authorization vote on June 8 to jump-start sluggish negotiations and convince hotel operators to seriously consider pay increases for their workers.”
'Pony Up:' UAW Leadership Details Priorities for Detroit Three Contract Talks: “The United Auto Workers' bargaining strategy for upcoming contract talks with the Detroit automakers came into sharper focus Wednesday as union leaders spelled out their top priorities. They are: ending tiered wage and benefit structures; reinstating cost-of-living adjustments; and securing stronger job protections. The UAW's top five leaders detailed those goals during a union-wide town hall Wednesday on Facebook Live. ‘These companies have been extraordinarily profitable, and our members have created incredible value for these companies during some really hard and dangerous years,’ said UAW President Shawn Fain. ‘They can afford our demands, and we expect them to pony up.’”
Burga Majority Rule Matters to Working People and We Will Preserve It: “In short, the sacred principle of one person, one vote and majority rule matter a lot to working people, and we will win this fight to preserve it.”
One Month: The Writers Guild of America Strike Enters its Fourth Week: “It's been nearly a month since the Writers Guild of America went on strike. The writers failed to reach an agreement with the studios and streaming platforms that make up the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. As the strike continues, it's becoming more likely that audiences will see an impact on their favorite movies and shows. If you were looking forward to catching new seasons of your favorite shows on streaming, you may have to wait a little longer. With the Writers Guild of America on strike for a fourth week, some shows and movies have already put production on hold. WGA East writer Brendan Fitzgibbons says when studios devalue writers, they're devaluing their content.”
WGA Urges Netflix and Comcast Shareholders to Reject Pay Hikes for Companies’ Top Executives in Light of Ongoing Strike: “WGA West President Meredith Stiehm is urging Netflix and Comcast stockholders to reject pay raises for the companies’ top executives at their upcoming shareholders meetings, saying that approving the proposed pay packages is ‘inappropriate in light of the ongoing WGA writers’ strike.’ The Netflix shareholders meeting will be held on Thursday and Comcast will hold its on June 7.”
Union Sportsmen's Alliance, Kentucky Union Volunteers Host Take Kids Fishing Day Events: “Young people from around Kentucky braved rainstorms to spend several hours honing their fishing skills on Saturday, May 20, during three separate Take Kids Fishing Day events hosted by the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 110 and the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Services. While the weather may have dampened the venues—Jacobson Park in Lexington, Waverly Park in Louisville and Bob Noble Park in Paducah—it didn’t lessen the kids’ spirit or excitement, according to event organizer Mark Adams, SMART 110 Business Manager. ‘Every child received a free rod-and-reel from the USA and got the chance to catch a few fish,’ he says. ‘Everyone had a fantastic time, despite the weather.’”
UAW Organizes Supplier of Jeep, Chevy Corvette, Ford Bronco and Mustang Roofs: “UAW President Shawn Fain commended the nearly 200 new members who fought to organize an automotive parts supplier that makes tops for the Ford Mustang, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet Corvette and Jeep. Webasto, a global company headquartered near Munich, Germany, has a presence in Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Plymouth Township, New Hudson and Fenton. The manufacturer makes roof, charging, heating and air conditioning and battery systems. Workers at Webasto Roof Systems in Plymouth Township, who began their organizing drive in November, voted earlier this month to join UAW Local 3000 in Woodhaven. ‘This election was a tough fight with heavy employer opposition. But these workers, as courageous as they were, they stuck together,’ Fain said Wednesday during live remarks to members streamed on the UAW Facebook page. ‘This win goes on to prove that we are continuing to get back to our roots and back in the fight.’”
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, Urging Members to Authorize a Strike, Says 'Acting Careers Are at Stake': “Saying that ‘acting careers are at stake,’ SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher has sent an audio message to the guild’s members urging them to vote ‘Yes’ for strike authorization. The guild’s often fractious national board voted unanimously last week to recommend that members authorize a strike in advance of the June 7 start of its negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The guild’s current contract expires June 30. ‘SAG-AFTRA is taking a big bold step as the union prepares for our upcoming TV, theatrical and streaming negotiations,’ Drescher said in a message posted on social media. ‘We’re asking you, one of our members, to vote ‘Yes’ for a strike authorization. This will give our negotiating team much needed leverage at the bargaining table. You know, acting careers are at stake. We must ensure that our employers don’t continue to devalue the performers who bring productions to life.’”
Industries Facing Worker Shortages Push to Roll Back Child Labor Protections: “The push to change the labor laws brought protesting Democrats and labor unions to the state capitol. Charlie Wishman is president of the Iowa Federation of Labor. He and others say the bill could allow businesses to take advantage of low-income and migrant children for cheap labor and jeopardize their education.”