Labor News Update - 04/18/2023

Labor News

‘We are stronger together’: ACLU Kentucky moves to unionize

https://www.wtvq.com/we-are-stronger-together-aclu-kentucky-moves-to-unionize/

'We're in for a fight' | UPS, Teamsters begin high-stakes contract talks

 — Under new leadership, UPS' longtime union is striking a 'militant' tone, vowing to deliver overdue gains for workers in the U.S.'s biggest private-sector labor contract https://www.wdrb.com/news/business/were-in-for-a-fight-ups-teamsters-begin-high-stakes-contract-talks/article_a725c00c-dd62-11ed-9f35-a3a4b88e6dee.html

TEAMSTERS TELL UPS: MAKE MOVEMENT ON OUR MEMBERS’ ISSUES NOW https://teamster.org/2023/04/teamsters-tell-ups-make-movement-on-our-members-issues-now/

Southern California Teamsters rally for a new contract https://m.fightbacknews.org/2023/4/17/southern-california-teamsters-rally-new-contract

SUPPLEMENTAL TALKS MOVE TO D.C. AS TEAMSTERS CALL OUT UPS FOR STALLING REGIONAL NEGOTIATIONS https://teamster.org/2023/04/supplemental-talks-move-to-d-c-as-teamsters-call-out-ups-for-stalling-regional-negotiations/

Administrators at Governors State University and the school’s faculty and staff union have reached a tentative agreement, ending a strike that began April 11, according to union officials. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-governors-state-university-ends-strike-20230418-jwnrenbedbbsjo2ut35lxiwp4q-story.html

‘Not Too Much to Ask’: Harvard Undergrad Workers Rally for a Union After University Denies Recognition https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/4/18/huwu-recognition-denied/

California State University student workers took a step toward forming a union Monday https://www.livingstonenterprise.com/ap_news/national/california-state-university-student-workers-file-for-union/article_3014bc0f-74be-5862-bf8b-58df7680290b.html

Update on where the Buffalo teachers union contract negotiations stand https://www.wgrz.com/video/news/local/as-seen-on-tv/update-on-where-the-buffalo-teachers-union-contract-negotiations-stand/71-49c42e6f-9f94-419d-bc40-6d686e96ecc3

Juneau School District and teachers union reach tentative agreement https://www.ktoo.org/2023/04/17/juneau-school-district-and-teachers-union-reach-tentative-agreement/

Hollywood writers voted overwhelmingly in favor of giving union negotiators the power to call a strike, moving a step closer to a production shutdown that would hamper studios and disrupt what viewers see on television. https://nypost.com/2023/04/17/hollywood-writers-give-union-power-to-call-a-strike-if-needed/

Staff of Burlington Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop to unionize https://www.mynbc5.com/article/burlington-ben-and-jerrys-scoop-shop-union-vermont/43621410

While there will be strikes inside PNC Park on Thursday during the Pirates next home game, there could also be striking workers outside on a picket line. https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/04/union-workers-at-pa-baseball-stadium-authorize-strike-plan-to-picket-teams-next-home-game.html

Another Rutgers union considers strike as profs return to classes https://gothamist.com/news/another-rutgers-union-considers-strike-as-profs-return-to-classes

Hundreds of workers at a Philly Coca-Cola distributor are on strike. Here’s why. https://www.inquirer.com/news/liberty-coca-cola-philadelphia-teamsters-local-830-strike-20230417.html

Union-busting is Disgusting: Wells Fargo Fears the Union Boogeyman https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/04/17/wells-fargo-fears-the-union-boogeyman/

Holthouser: 'The greatest honor I have received in my professional career' https://ky.aflcio.org/news/holthouser-greatest-honor-i-have-received-my-professional-career

Steelworker James Campbell has been elected interim chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party's new Labor Council.

https://ky.aflcio.org/news/campbell-interim-head-kdp-labor-council

IN MEMORIAM: Union members we recently lost https://labortribune.com/in-memoriam-union-members-we-recently-lost-20/ 

Politics, Government & Legislation

Electing Union Members to Office Is Good, Actually https://jacobin.com/2023/04/brandon-johnson-chicago-electing-union-members-ctu-mayor-working-class

PRO Act would finally crack down on the illegal union busting of Starbucks, other companies https://labortribune.com/your-letters-pro-act-would-finally-crack-down-on-the-illegal-union-busting-of-starbucks-other-companies/

Bernie Sanders: We must raise the minimum wage to a living wage

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/17/bernie-sanders-minimum-wage-living-wage

NLRB News, Decisions & Summaries

Confirm Julie Su for Labor Secretary https://aflcio.org/2023/4/17/sign-confirm-julie-su-labor-secretary 

Jobs, Business & Economy

Millions of Americans could face massive consequences unless Speaker Kevin McCarthy can navigate out of a debt trap he has set for President Joe Biden that is instead threatening to capture his House Republicans. https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/18/politics/mccarthy-biden-debt-ceiling/index.html

We’ve Been Measuring the Economy All Wrong...Questionable theoretical assumptions drive economic models to rubber-stamp disastrous policy changes.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/04/economic-models-trump-tax-cut/673749/

This Day in Labor History 

Labor History in 2:00 Podcast:

On this day in Labor History the year was 1857. That was the day that Clarence Darrow was born in Kinsman, Ohio.  Darrow was perhaps the original U.S. labor lawyer.  Known to be a friend to underdogs, Darrow once supposedly said, “Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for.”