BlueCollarWriter Labor News Update

Labor News

More Colorado Safeway stores will join strike as negotiations stall, union saysMore Colorado Safeway stores are expected to join an ongoing strike as negotiations between the workers union and the grocer’s parent company stalled for the week Thursday night.

Workers at Seattle’s Most Prestigious Restaurant Group Have UnionizedSome employees at Renee Erickson’s Sea Creatures say that the new service charge system is leaving them shortchanged.

Lone Star Labor: Texas Workers Unite!No matter our age, where we’re from, who we voted for, or who we love, in the labor movement we’re united in the fight to protect and expand workers’ rights.Fair wages. Safe working conditions. Dignity on the job — for all workers. And at the Texas AFL-CIO, we’ll work with anyone who believes in that vision of a better Texas.

Indiana Kroger union workers want better wages, increased hours in negotiations with grocerUnion workers at Kroger stores across the country are negotiating their contracts with the company — including in central Indiana.

Philadelphia teachers have voted to authorize a strike. Here’s what to knowThe strike authorization is the union’s first in more than two decades, with an August contract expiration looming.

CBS News Digital Staffers Say Fight for Contract Improvements Continue a Year After WGA Unionization | ExclusiveThe unionized journalist, editors and social media producers call on management to meet "in good faith" ahead of their current last scheduled bargaining date of June 24.

Kroger stores in Kingsport and Abingdon to close, union saysKroger will close its stores in Kingsport and Abingdon, according to a union that represents employees who work at both stores.

Zoo Teamsters Tame Management With Strike ThreatTeamsters at the San Diego Zoo prove that rank-and-file organizing gets the goods.

Albertson's and Smith's workers voting to strike in New MexicoLocal 1564 is a union that represents the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. They hope the grocery chains can negotiate a new deal to prevent strikes.

West Virginia labor community mourns UMWA couple killed in flooding, public viewing scheduled

As Wheeling continues to recover from this week’s devastating flooding, the local labor community is mourning the loss of two of its own.

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Bristol union ironworker killed in Wolcott crash just days after becoming a journeymanMarkus Salnias was a second-generation ironworker, following in the footsteps of his father and brother, according to his family and the union.

Union Members and Retirees Could Win Big With Unions Power America Campaign from Union PlusEarlier this week, Union Plus launched its fifth annual Unions Power America campaign with its Sweepstakes and Hometown Heroes Contest.

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Government & Politics

AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler on how labor is uniting in response to Trump

In an exclusive interview with Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan, the U.S. labor leader also discusses DOGE, Musk, and AI.

From Wolves and Sheep: Is the Trump Presidency unsustainable? And what does it mean if it is? MATT KERBELJUN 20, 2025

The Senate Must Reject Job-Killing Cuts | OpinionNow is the moment for senators to stand up for our workers, our families, and our energy future.

Trump’s Bid to End Union Contracts Is Unprecedented, Judge SaysPresident Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions appears to be far too sweeping in its scale, a San Francisco federal judge said at a hearing Wednesday.

Unions are right to stand with immigrants against ICE deportations

Conservatives and anti-union forces are hammering labor unions for our role in the demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies. But unions, including controversial Service Employees International Union California president David Huerta, are doing what we should be doing — standing up for our members and for workers as a whole against the enemies of labor.

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US Social Security, Medicare to run short of funds in 2033, trustees sayThe date the programs will not be able to fully pay benefits has moved up to three years sooner than last year's estimate, reflecting a January legislation change.

Social Security Benefits Could Be Cut in 8 Years Unless Congress ActsThe nation’s key program for retiree benefits continues to see financing shortfalls. Unless Congress acts, those drops could lead to payment cuts in eight years.

Social Security Defenders Say Trustees Report Shows Expansion—Not GOP Cuts—Is Path Forward | Common DreamsU.S. government report warns Social Security trust funds may run out by 2034 without action. Advocates call for increased revenue to protect benefits.

Study Projects Medicaid Cuts Would Lead To Major Insurance Loss, Increase In DeathsA new study projects that the House budget bill would increase the number of U.S. uninsured by 7.6 million and cause an additional 16,500 deaths annually.

Wall Street Gets A Trump Tax Break To Fire WorkersLawmakers quietly added a line that effectively subsidizes Wall Street buying up companies, slashing wages, closing factories, and firing workers.

Trump’s Labor Solicitor Pick Distances Himself From Project 2025President Donald Trump’s nominee for US Labor Department chief attorney sought to separate himself from his Project 2025 proposals, vowing to enforce workplace laws and emphasizing that the position doesn’t involve policymaking.

Is Trump’s Energy Czar Lying About Work Experience in Solar?Donald Trump’s secretary of energy, Chris Wright, has repeatedly claimed that he has past experience working in the solar energy sector. But there’s no evidence that Wright ever studied, invested in, or worked in solar.

Trump’s Biggest Economic Burden on the Working Middle Class And the three policies he’s pursuing will only worsen it

Union warns Trump’s rapid changes for wildland firefighters will be ‘disastrous,’The National Federation of Federal Employees said a lack of planning and a rapid timeline for merging programs will threaten agencies' wildfire season response.

Unions, Dems oppose GOP AI regulation freezeThe AFL-CIO is leading more than 25 unions in opposing a provision in the Republican reconciliation bill that would withhold broadband funds from states.

YOUR LETTERS: An injury to one is an injury to all - The Labor TribuneLast week, countless union members across our affiliated unions and around the nation truly embodied the word “solidarity.” When SEIU California President David Huerta was unlawfully arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for exercising his constitutional rights, the Labor Movement mobilized, took to the streets and made clear that we wouldn’t stop until...

Union members hold the keys to a restored democracyAnd the more of us who join with them, the stronger those keys will be

Education Department Ordered to Undo Civil Rights Cuts (Correct)A federal judge granted a Massachusetts nonprofit’s request to block the Trump administration’s efforts to cut the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Acting head of civil rights agency defends decisions undercutting transgender workersThe acting chair of the federal agency that enforces workers rights acknowledged during a Senate hearing Wednesday that transgender workers are protected under civil rights laws but defended her decision to drop lawsuits on their behalf, saying her agency is not independent and must comply with Pres

Silicon Valley Was Woke. Now They Want Blood.The Big Data firm Palantir spent years developing lethal military tech. Now it’s leading a transformation in Silicon Valley, with tech giants abandoning their progressive posturing to join the battle for American military supremacy.

Rust Belt Voters Are Sick of Both PartiesPolling shows Americans are ready to support independent populists running on economic platforms. But what they don’t want is anything associated with the Democratic Party’s brand.

Weingarten: No Kings was a huge successThis past Saturday, AFT members were among the millions of people who protested at more than 2,100 No Kings rallies across the country. It was estimated that more than 5 million people filled the streets—with some estimates putting that number even higher—as communities everywhere came together peacefully to speak out against the Trump administration’s overreach and to protect our democracy.

Don’t Lose Sight of the OligarchyLast weekend’s massive “No Kings” rallies proved Donald Trump’s deep unpopularity. But Trump should be opposed as a symptom of America’s vast warmongering, oligarchic elite, not a simply a grotesque anomaly.

From the AFL-CIO: Higher Costs and Less Care for Families With Job-Based Health Insurance

The chilling Republican plan to slam shut the courthouse doors on average AmericansA sinister Republican bond scheme could price you out of justice — forever ...

Trump OSHA budget would cut 10,000 job safety inspections - The Labor TribuneBy MARK GRUENBERG PAI Staff Writer Washington (PAI) — President Donald Trump’s budget for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1 would cut job safety inspections nationally by almost 10,000, or one-third, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) says. Baldwin unveiled the figure at a Senate Labor Committee confirmation hearing...

Trump Promises to Keep Terrorizing Blue Cities. It Might Come Back to Haunt Him.And Democrats keep getting arrested while trying to hold ICE accountable.

CWA Members and Other Journalists Face Attacks from Law EnforcementJournalists and other media workers covering protests in Los Angeles last week were deliberately targeted with less-lethal rounds and tear gas by law enforcement.

Job Corps Workers Take a Stand Against Proposed ShutdownEarlier this month, CWA members in Massachusetts took to the streets in outrage over President Trump’s plan to end the Job Corps program, the nation’s largest residential career training venture.

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In the States

Bill Would Formally Designate ‘Gig Workers’ As Independent ContractorsBacked by companies like Uber, proposal would exempt workers from minimum wage, worker's comp requirements.

Will D.C. repeal the law that has cut tipped workers' earnings by $1,800 a year?The law, intended to boost their wealth, has instead cut tipped worker's earnings by $1,800 a year. Will the city council fix its mistake?

Landmark law extends jobless benefits to strikers - NW Labor PressUnion leaders are celebrating the landmark win, but are also frustrated with how hard it was to pass with a 3/5 Democratic supermajority.

Mont. governor vetoes bill providing PTSD workers' comp coverage for first respondersMontana Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed a bill for first responders, citing concerns about fairness and legal issues raised by business and insurance groups

Wisconsin Democratic legislators issue statement to Cummins in support of union amid strikeA three-month standoff has escalated to a state issue with 34 Democrats issuing a statement to the company advocating for UAW Local 291 membership.

Mass. Teamsters lobby to protect workers from weather exposure, ‘unreasonable’ quotasTeamsters from across the Commonwealth lobbied inside the State house demanding lawmakers pass legislation to protect warehouse workers.

MCTS union workers and riders against service cuts as budget deficit reaches $10.9 millionMCTS announced plans to cut 20,000 service hours in response to a projected $10.9 million budget deficit, raising concerns among transportation workers currently negotiating their contracts.

Teachers’ union warns of violence from relocating St. Louis schools hit by tornadoStudents and staff in seven significantly damaged buildings will transfer for the fall semester to host schools in different neighborhoods.

KDP Statement on Trump’s Plan to Appoint Former Bevin Official Responsible for Pardoning Murderers and Child Rapists EDITOR'S NOTE: Bevin pushed to passage in the 2017 GOP supermajority legislature a "right to work" law and a measure to repeal the prevailing wage.

NLRB News & Decisions

NLRB Petitions & Charges for Wednesday, June 18, 2025Total Entries filed Tuesday, June 17, 2025: 60

Jobs, Business & Economy

U.S. Steel acquisition by Japan’s Nippon Steel closes, ending 18-month sagaThe controversial deal weathered two presidential administrations, union opposition, an expensive lobbying campaign and two U.S. security panel reviews.

Over Steelworkers’ objections, Trump approves Nippon purchase of U.S. Steel - The Labor TribuneBy ELIZABETH DONALD Illinois Correspondent After a year and a half of legal and political wrangling and at least two reversals of policy, President Donald Trump has given his approval to allow Nippon Steel to purchase U.S. Steel over the vehement objections of the Steelworkers union. The Tokyo steel company bid nearly $15 billion for...

Fed fears the US economy is heading for stagflation, strategist says | Fox Business VideoQI Research CEO and chief strategist Danielle DiMartino Booth discusses the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates at 4.25 to 4.5%, making it the fourth time in a row for a pause on rates this year.

America’s economy could face a war shock | CNN BusinessWhile the Israel-Iran conflict is playing out thousands of miles away from US soil, Americans may not be able to escape the economic impact of it.

US economy faces reckoning as some immigrants avoid workplacesUncertainty caused by policy shifts and arrests is taking a toll on America’s workplaces, making many immigrants – with and without legal status – hesitant to go to work.

BlueCollarWriter Commentary & Analysis

Juneteenth and the Forgotten Diversity of Appalachia - People's TribuneAppalachia has always been more diverse than we realize. Labor history shows Black, white, immigrant, native-born workers finding solidarity in the mines that fought corporate control.

You Can't Ignore the Working Class Forever

I couldn't agree more with the two union leaders walking away from the DNC — and I’ve felt this way for a long damn time. Truth is, I’ve been disgusted with the national Democratic Party since the Clinton years. They sold out working people in the name of triangulation and corporate comfort, and way too many have never looked back.

Worse yet? A big chunk of the Democratic base still thinks being a "liberal" is some kind of moral gold star — when that’s just the kindergarten-level class. A starting point. Not the destination.

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A Quiet Coup Against Working People

The new Republican proposal seeks to gut civil service protections by making it easier to fire federal workers—workers who, contrary to popular myth, are not some monolithic, lazy bureaucracy but the backbone of essential public services. We’re talking about nurses at VA hospitals, Social Security clerks helping our seniors, weather experts keeping us informed during climate chaos, and inspectors protecting our food supply. These are real people doing real jobs for all of us. But in the eyes of the Right, they are simply pawns—tools to be manipulated or discarded in their relentless war against organized labor and the very idea of a functioning, fair government.

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No Hospital. No Help. No Hope: The Human Cost of Kentucky’s Medicaid Cuts

This isn’t policy—it’s cruelty. Medicaid is supposed to be a safety net, not a noose. And cutting off funds to rural and working-class hospitals is nothing short of state-sanctioned abandonment.

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From the Hills to the Coast: We Know This Fight

The images and testimonies coming out of Los Angeles aren’t just familiar — they echo. For many of us raised on labor stories and union roots, this moment isn’t new. It’s ancestral.

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Labor History in 2:00

Labor History in 2:00 | The Rick Smith ShowA daily, pocket-sized history of America's working people, brought to you by The Rick Smith Show team.

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