Labor News Update - 05/03/2023

Labor News

Construction union strike puts pause on projects around St. Louis https://www.kmov.com/2023/05/03/construction-union-strike-puts-pause-projects-around-st-louis/

Medieval Times Charged With Illegal Union-Busting At California Castle https://www.huffpost.com/entry/medieval-times-union-busting-complaint_n_645195d2e4b0fe3b9bc784d2

Starbucks staff strikes after lead organizer was sent home for wearing pro-union shirt https://www.koin.com/local/starbucks-staff-strikes-after-lead-organizer-was-sent-home-for-wearing-pro-union-shirt/

Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive May 13 https://labortribune.com/letter-carriers-stamp-out-hunger-food-drive-is-may-13/

The threats against public education are dire, and in a major address March 28, AFT Union President Randi Weingarten was frank as she enumerated them. Yet, her leading message was one of hope. Weingarten not only described the shimmering promise and purpose of public education, she also laid out a clear and powerful pathway to realize its potential and overcome learning loss with four specific strategies: community schools; experiential learning; addressing teacher and staff shortages; and ensuring genuine partnerships among parents, families and educators. https://www.aft.org/news/through-peril-toward-hope-forging-clear-pathway-public-education?link_id=3&can_id=7d155b674bae9804d5fa18d320f1259b&source=email-why-we-union-fair-pay-collective-voice-freedom-to-teach&email_referrer=email_1897663&email_subject=aft-leans-into-hope-and-truth

The Fight for Justice Is a Global One https://wordinblack.com/2023/05/fight-for-justice-is-a-global-one/

The heart of labor is beating strong in Chicago and Illinois https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/5/1/23702533/labor-unions-chicago-illinois-may-day-haymarket-affair-workers-rights-amendment

Workers of the world go for a walk: May Day in San Francisco https://missionlocal.org/2023/05/workers-of-the-world-go-for-a-walk-may-day-in-san-francisco/

May Day reminds us that the fight for workers rights continues https://aflcio.org/press/releases/afl-cio-may-day-reminds-us-fight-workers-rights-continues

AFL-CIO stands in strong solidarity with WGAE and WGAW members on strike https://aflcio.org/press/releases/afl-cio-stands-strong-solidarity-wgae-and-wgaw-members-strike

Writers Guild Negotiators on Where Talks Broke Down: “They Really Weren’t Interested in Making a Deal” https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wga-strike-union-negotiators-talks-broke-down-1235478269/

As labor contract negotiations heat up in Hollywood, unions representing writers and actors seek limits on artificial intelligence. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/business/media/writers-guild-hollywood-ai-chatgpt.html

A letter from SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and NED Duncan Crabtree-Ireland https://www.sagaftra.org/letter-sag-aftra-president-fran-drescher-and-ned-duncan-crabtree-ireland

Illinois’ House speaker, an ally to organized labor, faces a push from his own employees to unionize https://www.wbez.org/stories/employees-for-speaker-welch-seek-union-recognition/187ac786-65b4-4cec-a22f-8dd1363ede99

The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) has sounded the alarm about the use of sports betting apps, warning agents that the mobile gambling platforms can track their clients' activity, leading to stiff penalties. https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/players-union-warns-agents-over-mobile-betting-apps-memo-2023-05-02/

Solidarity Can Come From Anywhere: How a California Lowrider Club Has Been Helping the United Farm Workers Union https://jalopnik.com/solidarity-can-come-from-anywhere-how-a-california-low-1850393782

Oakland’s teachers are preparing to strike on Thursday — how has it gotten this far? https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/02/oaklands-teachers-are-preparing-to-strike-on-thursday-how-has-it-gotten-this-far

An Injury to One is an Injury to All: In the States Roundup https://aflcio.org/2023/5/2/injury-one-injury-all-states-roundup

Politics, Government & Legislation

Jan Resseger: The Unfair Attack on Randi Weingarten and Unions in the NYTimes

https://dianeravitch.net/2023/05/02/jan-resseger-the-unfair-attack-on-randi-weingarten-and-unions-in-the-new-york-times/

Democrats Shouldn’t Fall for McCarthy’s Debt Limit Ransom Attempt https://inthesetimes.com/article/mccarthy-debt-limit-ceiling-democrats-biden

The union for Philly sanitation workers is dumping mayoral candidate Jeff Brown over his ‘pick up the damn trash’ comment https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/2023-mayors-race-jeff-brown-cherelle-parker-endorsement-20230502.html

The Virginia Education Association is calling for an investigation by the state's auditor over concerns of "misappropriated" state funds involving institutions of higher learning. https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/education/virginia-teachers-union-concerns-of-misappropriated-funds-for-some-universities-colleges/291-0076805b-a448-4de8-bffe-ab602ecd4a30

NLRB News & Decisions 

Julie Su Nomination Advances; Show Your Support https://aflcio.org/2023/5/1/service-solidarity-spotlight-julie-su-nomination-advances-show-your-support

Jobs, Business & Economy 

A non-profit organization that supports line workers and their families is collecting donations after the death of an AEP lineman in West Virginia last week. https://wvmetronews.com/2023/05/02/donations-being-collected-following-aep-lineman-death/

Michigan repealed its 'right-to-work law, a victory for organized labor https://www.washingtonpost.com/made-by-history/2023/05/01/michigan-right-to-work/

May Day rally at Texas Capitol: Advocates gather for improved working conditions https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/may-day-rally-at-texas-capitol-advocates-gather-for-improved-working-conditions

This Day in Labor History 

Labor History in 2:00 Podcast:

May 3 - Blood in the Streets for the Eight Hour Day.

On this day in Labor History the year was 1886. A little after three o’clock on that Monday, in Chicago, radical labor activist and newspaper man August Spies climbed onto a box car to give a speech about the fight for the eight hour day.