Labor News Update - 05/01/2023

May Day - International Workers Day 

On May 1, International Workers' Day, rallies, protests and demonstrations were held across the globe in celebration of working people and their continued fight for rights in the workplace.

https://aflcionc.org/international-workers-day-may-day/

May Day in America has bloody origins

May Day in America was born out of the 8-hour workday movement in 19th-century Chicago. At the time, as the capitalist system gained a foothold in industrial-era America, working-class conditions had worsened. A 16-hour shift wasn't unusual for workers at the time.

https://www.npr.org/2022/04/30/1095729592/what-is-may-day-history

Labor News

DHL EXPRESS WORKERS JOIN TEAMSTERS! The International Brotherhood of #Teamsters scored a massive organizing victory today for more than 1,100 DHL Express workers at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)! https://teamster.org/2023/04/dhl-express-workers-join-teamsters/

‘Throwing The Heroes Away’: As Arkansas Tyson Plant Closes, Workers Strike over Treatment https://www.labornotes.org/2023/04/throwing-heroes-away-arkansas-tyson-plant-closes-workers-strike-over-treatment

Barnes & Noble Workers at Manhattan Store Want to Unionize https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-28/barnes-noble-union-drive-spreads-to-four-story-manhattan-store#xj4y7vzkg

Imperial Valley Transit workers formed a strike line outside the fence of the bus yard early Tuesday morning, April 25 after a failed labor negotiation between Teamsters Local 542 and First Transit officials, a third party operator for the Imperial County Transportation Commission. https://www.thedesertreview.com/business/bus-drivers-union-members-on-strike-due-to-prolonged-labor-negotiations/article_d0216112-e48a-11ed-bc4f-6307e7b31e17.html

Hollywood, both frantic and calm, braces for writers’ strike https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/business/media/hollywood-writers-strike.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&fbclid=IwAR2iXP9BwxMrdO_2_49-Si0hTmqeIoY-qSWtkn77vMcZIefqps0hmbFgYPQ

Austin workers form first animation studio union in Texas; organize with IATSE https://www.tpr.org/business/2023-04-27/austin-workers-form-first-animation-studio-union-in-texas-organize-with-iatse

By restricting strikes, Princeton silences workers' free speech https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2023/04/princeton-workers-union-local-175-free-speech-silenced

Ben & Jerry’s Paves Way for Union at Vermont Store — The company agreed to a set of election rules that make it likely for workers at its flagship ice cream shop to unionize. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/business/ben-jerrys-union-burlington-vermont.html

Push to unionize tech industry makes advances https://www.axios.com/2023/04/27/unions-tech-industry-labor-youtube-sega

Auto workers union, Sanders blast GM for wages at US battery plant https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/auto-workers-union-sanders-blast-gm-wages-us-battery-plant-2023-04-27/

The essential workers who fought for their lives during the pandemic are now fighting for a union. https://inthesetimes.com/article/meatpacking-union-tyson-iowa-2

Brightly Colored Bandages and Bags of Ice: Meatpacking Workers Say Tyson Foods Makes Them Fight to See the Doctor https://inthesetimes.com/article/tyson-osha-meatpacking-2

Tell Trader Joe’s: Stop union-busting! https://actionnetwork.org/forms/tell-trader-joes-stop-union-busting?source=group-more-perfect-union&referrer=group-more-perfect-union&link_id=0&can_id=03cf3a4da8bc5e187dcf000a3360189a&email_referrer=email_1898948&email_subject=trader-joes-united

Chicago postal workers protest outside South Side post office over staffing issues https://abc7chicago.com/american-postal-workers-union-usps-chicago-protest/13194228/

WV postal workers protest poor working conditions in Clarksburg https://www.wboy.com/news/harrison/west-virginia-postal-workers-protest-poor-working-conditions-in-clarksburg/

Detroit postal workers protest over working conditions https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1213658

Postal Service workers to protest in Twin Cities as a part of nationwide union effort https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/postal-service-workers-to-protest-in-twin-cities-as-part-of-nationwide-union-effort/89-d956766b-2b50-449c-8edc-d5fd3ba31774

Postal service workers protest in Tampa, nationwide https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/usps-postal-service-worker-american-postal-worker-union-protest/67-b53c2b26-273c-4c4d-89d4-3f1b8ec1d7f3

St. Paul Starbucks workers’ strike, walk off job Thursday https://www.fox9.com/news/st-paul-starbucks-workers-strike-walk-off-job-thursday

Amazon delivery drivers ratify union contract, but Amazon says its contract with delivery partner expires in June https://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-delivery-drivers-ratify-union-contract-but-benefits-could-be-short-lived-dcfdd6a6

“Colleges run on student labor. I think that students as workers get taken advantage of, and that they have tremendous power to build a more just higher ed system,” said Christl. “Get organized. There's a ton of organizations that exist to help. Reach out to Worker Justice [Wisconsin], reach out to the University of Labor Council, reach out to the South Central Federation of Labor, there are labor movements here to help anyone get organized.” https://www.dailycardinal.com/article/2023/04/colleges-run-on-student-labor-labor-spring-2023-provides-hotbed-for-labor-organizing

After long battle, New Bedford paraprofessionals say new contract may be in sight. https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/2023/04/27/new-bedford-paraprofessionals-union-set-to-vote-on-new-contract-may-2/70151934007/

Both SEIU Local 49 and the Oregon Nurses Association said a notice is posted at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center warning staff against unionizing. https://www.fox26medford.com/unions-say-asante-will-fight-unionization-with-all-they-got/

'The company has forgotten about the people': Blue Bird manufacturing workers set to vote on creating union in May https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/the-company-has-forgotten-about-the-people-blue-bird-manufacturing-workers-set-to-vote-on-creating-union-in-may-4/93-fd6c1b98-17ce-4309-807d-56a39bf7249a

Postal worker union members picket Topeka post office https://www.wibw.com/2023/04/28/postal-worker-union-members-picket-topeka-post-office/

Employees of a Columbia construction supply company returned to work Thursday after a eight-day strike. Wildcat Materials employees, who are members of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 955, voted unanimously to ratify their contract Thursday morning, according to a news release. https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/wildcat-materials-employee-strike-ends-with-new-contract-agreement/article_760e12e4-e519-11ed-93bf-a394201a6cc0.html

American Federation Of Musicians Joins Chorus Of Unions Supporting WGA As Strike Looms https://deadline.com/2023/04/hollywood-strike-american-federation-of-musicians-supporting-writers-guild-1235339815/

Union Roundup: WGA Prepares the Picket Signs as Strike Becomes Inevitable, Though Talks Continue https://www.btlnews.com/commentary/union-roundup/union-roundup-wga-preps-picket-signs/

To be effective, resurgent labor activism must address workplace racial inequality and the resistance of the state and corporations. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2023/04/28/to-be-effective-resurgent-labor-activism-must-address-workplace-racial-inequality-and-the-resistance-of-the-state-and-corporations/

Efforts to unionize agricultural workers in WA face long-standing hurdles https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/efforts-to-unionize-agricultural-workers-in-wa-face-long-standing-hurdles/article_5b65dba8-e522-11ed-a7ff-bf8e075e37e0.html

S.F.’s Cesar Chavez Day parade a labor of love for union leader https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/cesar-chavez-day-parade-17925388.php

The New Amazon Delivery Drivers Union: Understanding what the Law Requires of Amazon https://onlabor.org/the-new-amazon-delivery-drivers-union-understanding-what-the-law-requires-of-amazon/

Teamsters Local 830 union group has entered its third week on strike against Liberty Coca-Cola in Philadelphia, the tri-state region's largest provider of Coca-Cola products. https://6abc.com/liberty-coca-cola-philadelphia-teamsters-local-830-union-ongoing-strike-contract-negotiations/13198869/

Workers Memorial Day (4/28/2023)

On Workers’ Memorial Day, Workforce Services remembers lives lost on the job

https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/on-workers-memorial-day-workforce-services-remembers-lives-lost-on-the-job,82274

Local union honors Workers' Memorial Day, brothers killed in 2022 refinery fire — "People should go to work and expect to go home the same way they went to work," Jim Witt, the president of USW 1-346, said.

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/usw-union-workers-memorial-day-honors-lives-lost/512-d922a990-529b-43c4-a987-9569c69af4c2

West Virginia Labor unions come together for 35th annual Worker’s Memorial Day at capitol

https://wvmetronews.com/2023/04/28/labor-unions-come-together-for-35th-annual-workers-memorial-day-at-capitol/

Unions pushing for safer workplaces on Workers Memorial Day https://www.cbs58.com/news/unions-pushing-for-safer-workplaces-on-workers-memorial-day

Politics, Government & Legislation

Following successful lobbying and organizing efforts, the Teamsters are celebrating the defeat of an attempt by anti-union ideologues to remove the history of labor unions from the curriculum of Virginia Public Schools.

https://teamster.org/2023/04/teamsters-labor-union-allies-defeat-attack-on-virginias-labor-history/

WARNING: Florida Bill Gives Politicians Power to Disband Unions

https://iam141.org/florida-bill-gives-politicians-power-to-disband-unions/

How AFT Union President Randi Weingarten landed in the middle of America's most intense political fights

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/magazine/randi-weingarten-teachers-unions.html

One of Jeff Brown's first supporters in organized labor told the Philadelphia AFL-CIO he is not happy with how Brown spoke about two unions in a televised debate this week. https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/jeff-brown-unions-debate-philadelphia-democratic-primary-mayor-20230428.html

Mass. teachers’ union rallies in support of legislation to improve public education

https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/04/mass-teachers-union-rallies-in-support-of-legislation-to-improve-public-education.html

If Supreme Court justices can be bought by billionaires, lifetime terms only enable corruption. https://inthesetimes.com/article/clarence-thomas-harlan-crow-supreme-court-corruption-term-limits

Democrats Should Run on Progressive Approaches to Public Safety. Here’s Proof. https://inthesetimes.com/article/democrats-crime-public-safety-chicago-election-brandon-johnson-bail-reform

Fifty years ago, the U.S. created a program to protect farmworkers from dangerous housing, wage theft and other rampant abuse. Internal documents show a failing system. https://inthesetimes.com/article/farmworker-protection-program-oversight-pandemic-unsafe-housing-wage-theft-failing

Workers in Louisiana who lose their jobs would see half the unemployment benefits currently available if a proposal being considered in the legislature is approved.  https://www.businessreport.com/politics/louisiana-unemployed-workers-could-see-benefits-cut-in-half

NLRB News & Decisions 

Summary of NLRB Decisions for Week of April 17 - 21, 2023 https://www.nlrb.gov/cases-decisions/weekly-summaries-decisions/summary-of-nlrb-decisions-for-week-of-april-17-21-2023

Jobs, Business & Economy 

Federal and state governments are investing billions of dollars in a once-in-a-generation effort to build hundreds of brand-new hydrogen-powered projects in California that will create thousands of new, high-paying jobs for IBEW 11 union brothers and sisters. https://www.ibew11.org/2023/04/coming-green-hydrogen-wave-set-to-create-thousands-of-new-union-jobs/

OSHA cites Amazon for failing to adequately aid injured workers https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/osha-cites-amazon-for-failing-to-adequately-aid-injured-workers/

With new cameras recording in Old Saybrook cars, one employee is using a face cover: ‘Feels like spying’ https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/old-saybrook-cameras-recording-town-vehicles-17909034.php

Jenny Craig is reportedly shutting down some of its weight-loss centers and warning employees of mass layoffs amid upheaval in the industry from popular new prescription drugs like Ozempic. https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/28/business/jenny-craig-weight-loss-ozempic/index.html

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Rivian would invest $10 million in the plant and plans to upgrade its current facility. The company currently stocks replacement parts at the facility but will install a full remanufacturing operation to help support warranty, repair, and service of its all-electric trucks and SUVs.

https://www.teslarati.com/rivian-remanufactruing-facility-kentucky/

Kroger Co. almost certainly will need to sell stores in order to get regulatory approval to complete its $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. Now it seems a likely buyer could be one of its biggest rivals, Amazon. https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/04/27/kroger-albertsons-divest-amazon.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search

This Day in Labor History 

Labor History in 2:00 Podcast:

On this day in Labor History the year was 1886. This was the day that began events in Chicago that would make May First the most important day on the calendar for the labor movement across the world.