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.
Georgia Republicans Pass Bill Punishing Union-Friendly Employers: “Liz Shuler, the president of the AFL-CIO labor federation, took to X on Wednesday to call the bill ‘appalling,’ saying that it ‘attacks the fundamental freedoms’ of both workers and employers. She also said that it violates ‘long-held precedent’ under the National Labor Relations Act.”
Lawmakers Propose a New Federal Office to Regulate Workplace Surveillance Tech: “A pair of House Democrats have introduced legislation that would require employers to be more transparent about their use of surveillance technologies to monitor their workers. The bill, known as the Stop Spying Bosses Act, was introduced on March 15 by Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and would ‘prohibit, or require disclosure of, the surveillance, monitoring and collection of certain worker data by employers.’ The legislation has been endorsed by several worker advocacy organizations and unions, including the Communications Workers of America and the AFL-CIO.”
New Wage Data Shows When Workers Organize and Fight 'It Pays Off—Literally': “A new analysis shows that unionized workers across the United States secured historic wage increases under contracts negotiated last year, further demonstrating the power of collective bargaining. According to Bloomberg Law, 2023 union contracts ‘gave workers an average first-year wage increase of 6.6%’—the highest raise since at least 1988. ‘With signing bonuses and other lump-sum payments added to the calculations,’ the outlet added, ‘2023's average first-year wage increase was 7.3%, also a record high, according to Bloomberg Law's latest Quarterly Union Wage Data report.’ The AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the U.S., highlighted the findings on social media Thursday, writing, ‘When we fight together, it pays off—literally.’”
EPA Is Banning the Import and Use of Asbestos: “In a separate release, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said the rule ‘will undoubtedly save lives and prevent countless exposures that endanger working families.’ Shuler added: ‘This rule is a landmark protection for workers, banning and phasing out all current uses and imports of chrysotile asbestos, and eliminating these exposures in workplaces and throughout the supply chain.’ EPA published a proposed rule to ban the use of chrysotile asbestos in April 2022.”
Biden Wins United Steelworkers Union Endorsement After Opposing U.S. Steel Sale to Nippon: “Less than a week after President Joe Biden came out in opposition of the planned sale of U.S. Steel to Japanese-based Nippon Steel Corporation, the company’s union has endorsed his 2024 reelection bid. ‘With his track record of supporting working people, we're eager for his administration's continued progress on our core issues,’ the union announced in a Tweet Wednesday. The United Steelworkers union, which also backed Biden in 2020, represents 850,000 workers in steel mills, manufacturing plants, mines, rubber plants and railyards as well as nursing homes, legal clinics, social agencies, call centers and credit unions, among other sectors.”
There's a Big Wealth Gap Between Union and Nonunion Workers: “There's a massive wealth gap between workers in unions and nonunionized workers, across education levels, finds a new analysis from the liberal think tank Center for American Progress shared first with Axios. Why it matters: Typically, unionized workers earn about 10%-20% more than their nonunion peers, but these wealth gaps are far wider, an indication that the benefits of union membership accrue to workers over time.”
OPM’s Labor-Management Forum Guidance Charts New Ground for Union Policies: “The Office of Personnel Management last week issued new guidance aimed at helping federal agencies reinstitute forums for management and federal employee unions to work collaboratively to solve problems and, for the first time, measure how the initiative affects employee engagement and agency mission fulfillment. Earlier this month, President Biden signed an executive order restoring labor-management partnerships at federal agencies, rescinding a Trump-era edict banning the practice, as well as encouraging agencies to expand the use of registered apprenticeship programs to boost recruitment of young jobseekers into public service.”
Man of Steel: “You’d think it would be hard for Biden to top his full-on embrace of the UAW and their stunningly successful strike against the Big Three automakers. But Biden has just done it by declaring that he opposes the takeover by Japan’s Nippon Steel of U.S. Steel. The U.S. needs to ‘maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers,’ Biden declared, adding: ‘U.S. Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.’”
Boeing Labor Contract Is Opportunity for Overdue Culture Change: “You know a company is in deep trouble when comedians and stock analysts take similar jabs. With almost every day bringing more negative headlines about the quality and airworthiness of its products, Boeing is both a punchline and a cautionary tale. In response, the company has made a series of moves to reassure nervous airline customers, investors and the flying public. Much of it has been deemed too little, too late.”
VW Workers Seek Union Vote at Tennessee Plant for Third Time: “Volkswagen employees in Tennessee who are hoping to join the United Automobile Workers asked a federal agency on Monday to hold an election, a key step toward the union’s longtime goal of organizing nonunion factories across the South. With the union’s backing, Volkswagen workers filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board asking for a vote on UAW representation, saying that more than 70% of the 4,000 eligible workers at the plant had signed cards supporting the union. ‘Today, we are one step closer to making a good job at Volkswagen into a great career,’ Isaac Meadows, an assembly worker at the plant, said in a statement.”
Auto Workers Are Unionizing at Harvard University: “The United Auto Workers are unionizing at Harvard, or, to be precise, among the prestigious and influential university’s non-tenure-track research and teaching employees. ‘In a miraculous come from behind win we @HAWorkers have our elections in early April!! Totally thrilled to be able to VOTE YES and get to bargaining the first historic contract for HLS clinical workers,’ tweeted law school worker Rebecca Greening, one of the lead organizers of the drive.”
Regional Labor, Energy Leaders Call for Union-Powered Offshore Wind Advancements: “In just over 10 days, this coalition ‘will be closing bids on a massive, 6-gigawatt offshore wind proposal,’ said Patrick Crowley, secretary-treasurer for the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, calling this action ‘a massive step forward’ in a national initiative to create 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030. ‘In southern New England, we were the home of the nation’s first Industrial Revolution,’ Crowley said—a movement that gave rise to rapid mechanical and manufacturing advancements, but at the cost of ‘massive exploitation of workers and the environment.’ With offshore wind, Crowley continued, the northeast now has an opportunity to once again lead the nation, but without these past failures. ‘This time, we’re going to get it right,’ Crowley continued. ‘It’s going to be worker-led and committed to healing the environment.’ Crowley was joined by Michael Sabitoni, general secretary treasurer of the Laborers’ International Union of North America and president of the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council; Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO; and other Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut officials and workers. The industry has endured some announcements over the past year, with Shuler calling last year ‘challenging…for offshore wind.’”
Kansas City Nurses Kick Off Contract Talks Saying They’re Prepared to Strike: “About 1,000 nurses at the two hospitals are working under a contract that will expire May 31. Their union, National Nurses United (NNU), said 150 nurses left jobs at Research last year, while 89 left Menorah. The union wants HCA to improve nurse retention and schedule more nurses to work each shift. The union said nurses are ‘prepared to make demands for their new agreements that will improve patient care by addressing critical issues with staffing and safety, and services at their hospitals.’”
Hormel Workers Picket Central Iowa Plant After Union Unanimously Rejects First Offer: “Hormel workers in Knoxville displayed their frustration with ongoing contract talks by picketing the plant there Thursday, carrying signs with slogans such as ‘We Keep Hormel Running.’ Negotiations between United Food and Commercial Workers Local 431 and the company will resume next week, said Mark McRoberts, a business agent with the union. If a deal isn’t reached then, McRoberts said, the union is prepared for a strike at the Marion County facility, one of Knoxville's largest employers.”