BlueCollarWriter Labor News Update

Labor News

Video game performers will go on strike over artificial intelligence concernsHollywood’s video game performers are going on strike, throwing part of the entertainment industry into another work stoppage after talks for a new contract with major game studios broke down over artificial intelligence protections.

Microsoft’s World of Warcraft Workers Vote to UnionizeThe move adds more than 500 to the unionized video game staff at Microsoft, which has pledged to remain neutral on organizing efforts.

Hotel workers in four US cities to hold strike authorization votesAbout 13,500 unionized hotel workers in four U.S. cities plan strike authorization votes next month as contract talks with Marriott International , Hilton Worldwide Holdings and Hyatt Hotels Corp stall, the union said.

Minneapolis park workers strike enters 4th week after divided board declines to get involved • Minnesota ReformerThe strike by Minneapolis parks workers entered its fourth week on Thursday after a divided Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board decided not to take up a proposal aimed at quickly reaching a deal with the union representing more than 300 workers. The board adjourned on Wednesday evening, having only approved the agenda, after striking park […]

Theater workers’ union opposes Jay-Z-backed casino bid for Times Square: ‘Not good for Broadway’Give it “the hook.” Unions representing workers at Broadway theaters are opposing a proposed casino in Times Square backed by entertainment mogul Jay-Z.

Thousands of Oahu hotel workers could walk off the job as strike vote looms“You know, living paycheck to paycheck is so hard for me because I have kids,” said one worker at Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Missouri UAW workers go on strike at a Lear factory for better working conditionsThe Wentzville facility makes seats for vehicles including ones produced at the nearby General Motors plant. Workers want improvements to pay, health and safety and other conditions.

Three-year contract agreed to by union and Optimum workers in southern West Virginia - WV MetroNewsBECKLEY, W.Va. — A new deal has been reached for telecommunication workers under the Optimum brand in southern West Virginia. On Wednesday, members of the Communications Workers of America reached a deal with Altice USA, the telecommunications company for Optimum, that includes a 7.69% compound wage increase over the three-year deal and minimum salaries for

University System of Maryland employees ratify tentative agreement with universityThe tentative three-year agreement for University System of Maryland employees includes pay raises, health and safety provisions.

USPS letter carriers in Louisville get training against dog attacksLouisville recently ranked in the top 15 cities with the most dog attacks against letter carriers.

Duke University Press Workers Union Ratifies First Contract | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA

Labor practices at private-equity-owned firms may endanger retirement income for teachers, says reportThe American Federation of Teachers says troubling practices like child labor and mass layoffs pose a financial risk to retirees whose savings fuel private-equity operations.

Teamsters at Keolis in Washoe County Ratify Contract(RENO, Nev.) – Bus workers at Keolis Transit, the contractor for the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, represented by Teamsters Local 533 h

Teamsters and striking park workers combine to celebrate 90th anniversary of bloody 1934 Truckers Strike in Minnehaha ParkTeamsters and striking park workers will take over Minnehaha Park picnic area on Saturday, July 27 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the truckers strike that marked Minneapolis as a union town.

NLRB News & Decisions

DOL Responds to United Management's Attempts to Deny Workers Sick Leave Rights

SpaceX Wins a First Battle in Its Assault on the NLRBSpaceX just won a preliminary injunction in a Texas federal district court against the National Labor Relations Board. The decision moves us closer to a potential Supreme Court decision declaring the NLRB unconstitutional — and massively empowering bosses.

Politics, Legislation & Government

What Does a Likely Harris-Trump Matchup Mean for Labor? | KQEDThe potential White House matchup between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump highlights stark differences in workers' demands for higher wages and safer workplaces.

U.S. House GOP spending cuts a preview of Project 2025, lead Dem appropriator says • Nevada CurrentThe cuts to labor, health care and education proposed in a U.S. House Republican bill this week are previews of what would happen to federal agencies under a second Trump term, a key House Democrat said Tuesday. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, told reporters Tuesday that the […]

Project 2025’s proposals for Medicaid and Medicare: What we can VERIFYProject 2025 proposes cuts to Medicaid that could lead to some beneficiaries losing coverage and changes to Medicare that encourage private health coverage.

Harris tells teachers union she's ready to fight for country's future — 'bring it on'Vice President Kamala Harris has blasted Republicans' views on gun control and public education in a speech to the American Federation of Teachers.

Kamala Harris campaigns in Indiana, offering visions of America’s future; ‘We are not going back’It was her second public appearance outside of the nation's capitol since taking up the mantle as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Kamala Harris is erasing Donald Trump's gains with union votersHarris has won over union voters in three key swing states, but Trump has increased his support in one, according to a new poll..

What is 'brat summer'? Harris campaign using phrase to connect with Gen Z votersThe phenomenon, which has developed a following within internet pop culture, has unexpected ties to the 2024 election and Gen Z voters.

J.D. Vance’s Appalachian GraveyardThe Republican VP nominee’s politics of blame were never meant to help the working class.

Kentucky’s Andy Beshear most popular Democratic governor, survey findsA Morning Consult poll shows Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is the most popular Democratic governor in the country.

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman addresses political future - ABC36 NewsLt. Gov. Coleman has been governor Andy Beshear's right hand since getting elected back in 2019.

Kentucky Constitution 'not entirely clear' when it comes to Gov. Andy Beshear leaving seat early for higher office"Our constitution is not a model of clarity... It's been amended many, many times," Kentucky's Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams said.

Andy Beshear issues apology to diet Mountain Dew after argument with JD VanceThe governor pulled out a diet Mountain Dew from behind the podium and issued an apology Thursday during a Team Kentucky update.

These States Are Cracking Down On Anti-Union Employers In A Big WayIllinois is about to become the latest state to bar employers from pressuring workers with anti-union talk. But legal challenges lie ahead for these laws.

'More projects, more people, more growth': Easton sets agreement with building, construction unionsEaston City Council approved a new Project Stabilization Agreement with the Greater Lehigh Valley Building and Construction Trades Council that could lead to more local union workers scoring high-cost government projects.

Biden signs executive order giving more time for NJ Transit, union to resolve labor disputeNJ Transit and a union representing its rail engineers will have more time try work out a labor dispute under an executive order President Joe Biden signed Wednesday. The White House said in a statement that the president authorized the creation of a Presidential Emergency Board aimed at helping the state’s transit agency and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen…

Bernie Sanders report exposes Amazon’s ‘outrageous injury levels’ during Prime Day seasonU.S. Senator Bernie Sanders released an interim report last week condemning "outrageous injury levels" at Amazon during the Prime Day season. This report is part of a broader investigation into the e-commerce giant's workplace safety practices and corporate conduct.

Earth just sweltered through the hottest day ever recordedAnd 2024 is on track to be the hottest year, too.

Local Wins for Gig Drivers Could Translate to National GainsAs rideshare and delivery drivers rack up local legislative wins, the idea of gig work legislation on a federal level no longer seems farfetched.

Union's initiative to organize Oregon marijuana workers nears ballotAn Oregon union turned in signatures for a November ballot initiative to allow marijuana retail and processor employees to organize.

Biden is back at the White House performing his duties, not in hospice | Fact checkPresident Joe Biden continues to perform presidential duties following a bout with COVID-19, according to his White House physician.

Jobs, Business & Economy

AI brings soaring emissions for Google and Microsoft, a major contributor to climate changeThe tech giants both report surges in greenhouse gas emissions as they double-down on adding artificial intelligence to all of their products.

You’re not going crazy — you may actually be paying higher prices than other people | CNN BusinessIt’s hard not to get fired up by how much more everything costs compared to just a few years ago. But people making the same exact purchases as you aren’t necessarily paying the same exact prices as you.

What is 'surveillance pricing,' and is it forcing some consumers to pay more? FTC investigatesThe FTC orders eight large companies to explain how they use personal data collected online and AI to set different prices for different customers.

Labor History in 2:00

🎧🔊

July 25 - Pushing Back Against Wartime No-Strike PledgeOn this day in labor history, the year was 1944. That was the day Local 212, UAW workers at Briggs returned to work. Briggs was directly involved in war production. 3000 workers, on two shifts, made ball turrets for heavy bombers. Workers on both shifts walked off the job when management at the Outer Drive plant carried out a series of transfers and layoffs, while expecting the same level of production. It had been the second walkout in a week. Management set a precedent of refusing to settle grievances of any kind. They routinely snubbed the union, insisting they take any and all grievances to the War Labor Board. Local 212 president, Jess Ferrazza noted it would take anywhere from 12-18 months to get a grievance processed. Workers were fed up with waiting. He added “it was like a fireman with a water bucket running around trying to put fires out. Management never cooperated. If the grievance were a justifiable one, they would not settle it. They would tell you to get the workers back to work.” The strike came on the heels of a contentious State CIO convention earlier in the month. There, delegates debated the merits of the no-strike pledge. Local 212 delegates were among a full third of total delegates, who made known their opposition to the pledge. Ferrazza argued that, “the no-strike pledge has tied labor’s hands and as long as our hands are tied, the corporations will continue their attacks on labor.” Briggs workers agreed to return to their jobs on the promise of direct settlement of grievances. They also geared up for the national CIO convention, intent on overturning the wartime, no-strike pledge.

July 25 The Beginning of "Our Interests" On this day in Labor History the year was 1898. That was the day that United State armed forces invaded Puerto Rico. The invasion was part of the Spanish-American war. In 1898 the US Department of State, noted “It seems to be conceded that every year we shall be confronted with an increasing surplus of manufactured goods for sale in foreign markets if American operatives and artisans are to be kept employed year round.”

Union Yes: Organize for a Better Life

Wage Data Shows When Workers Organize and Fight 'It Pays Off—Literally'Union contracts negotiated in 2023 earned workers wage increases they haven't seen in over 35 years.

Unions build wealth, narrow racial wealth gapsNew analysis of federal data shows unions increase wealth for all, particularly groups that historically had less wealth The following is from the Center for American Progress: WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21, 2024) — As union membership continues to surge across the United States, newly released data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances […]

Union employees are about $100,000 richer than nonunion workers, according to the Fed, as labor movement continues its winning streakA union is especially important in addressing the wealth gaps based on race and education, study finds

Form a Union!

Organizing a union in your workplace is about getting more rights and more power. Thousands of working people—all across the country and in all kinds of jobs—organize unions every year because unions are the best way to secure the things you care about.

VIDEO: It’s Better in a UnionWe are more committed than ever to ensuring every worker who wants a union has a fair shot at joining one. Last year, we asked you to share your story about why #ItsBetterInAUnion—and wow, were you incredible. We’ve taken your voices and created an inspiring new video.

Contact a Union Organizer

aflcio.org/formaunion/contact

BlueCollarWriter Media Updates

Support Workers' Voices: Donate to BlueCollarWriter Labor Media!

Are you enjoying the top-notch Labor news coverage brought to you by BlueCollarWriter Labor Media? We're dedicated to keeping you informed, inspired, and empowered with the latest updates on the labor movement, strikes, political actions, and everything in between!

But here's the deal: creating quality content takes resources, and readers like you play a crucial role in keeping us going strong. Your support matters! By donating, you're not just contributing financially; you're investing in a community that values truth, fairness, and the voices of hardworking people.

Join us in our mission to provide insightful news coverage that matters. Every contribution, big or small, helps us continue delivering the stories that impact your world directly to your fingertips. Together, let's make a difference and keep the information flowing.

Click the link below to donate today and be a part of the BlueCollarWriter Labor Media family. Your support keeps us going, and we couldn't do it without readers like you!

DONATE NOW

Thank you for being a valued member of our community!

If you or your union prefer checks, email matt@bluecollarwriter.com for mailing info.