BlueCollarWriter Labor News Update
Labor News Update - 05/10/2023
Writers Guild of America Strike Updates
WGA Strike Hub website: https://www.wgacontract2023.org/
Entertainment Industry Loses $10 Billion in One Day Following Writers Strike - "The totality of what we’re asking for would’ve cost them 5% of what they lost in one day."
https://collider.com/writers-strike-entertainment-stocks-drop-10-billion/
Actors’ Equity Association, the union representing theater actors and stage managers, is inviting its members and allies to join the WGA picket line outside HBO and Amazon offices tomorrow.
The WGA Strike ls a Fight Against Silicon Valley's Gigification of the Entire Economy https://jacobin.com/2023/05/wga-writers-guild-of-america-strike-silicon-valley-gigification-economy-residuals
‘SNL’ Alums Tina Fey, Seth Meyers & Fred Armisen Join WGA Picket Line At Silvercup Studios https://deadline.com/2023/05/tina-fey-seth-meyers-fred-armisen-picket-line-silvercup-studios-1235360733/
Directors Guild opens second front in labor battle in Hollywood; focus is on streaming revenue sharing https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/dga-writers-strike-amptp-residuals-1235606647/
DGA Chief Lesli Linka Glatter Blasts Studios As “Threat” To Union Jobs, Won’t “Share Fairly” As Streaming Grows; Guild Talks Set To Start Tomorrow https://deadline.com/2023/05/writers-strike-dga-talks-lesli-linka-glatter-statement-dga-amptp-1235359831/
SAG-AFTRA prez Fran Drescher joins the WGA picket line, says 'This is a strike for everybody in the industry' https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/fran-drescher-writers-strike-sag-aftra-picket-1235606636/
Video: "I sincerely hope the strike gets resolved, and writers are given a fair deal as soon as possible. This is an iconic, meaningful American industry & we need the writers—and all the workers—to tell the stories of our nation, and the stories of all of us." - Joe Biden, POTUS https://twitter.com/WGAEast/status/1655752650892144642?t=nrbb60pWrknyL8jaXq5Wtw&s=19
Labor News
Workers to Starbucks: Time to Negotiate
https://labornotes.org/2023/05/workers-starbucks-time-negotiate
Brunswick coffee shop employees strike after forming union
Union workers at Clarios automobile battery manufacturer go on strike https://www.wtol.com/video/life/automotive/union-workers-at-clarios-automobile-battery-manufacturer-go-on-strike/512-4215b8c1-1cc4-4865-984b-50fcf9dd6d1a
Heartwarming story alert! In a Maryland elementary school, an AFSCME member’s unwavering commitment empowers kids and families to overcome obstacles and thrive. afsc.me/3LLiKjD
UMass Dartmouth grad-student employees form union https://dartmouth.theweektoday.com/article/umass-dartmouth-grad-student-employees-form-union/63682
Union workers at Clarios automobile battery manufacturer go on strike https://www.wtol.com/article/life/automotive/uaw-union-workers-go-on-strike-clarios/512-42f16674-2078-482d-8e10-caab0e134db9
Culinary strike to target Las Vegas hospital https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/culinary-strike-to-target-las-vegas-hospital-2774293/
Laborers Local 955 members end strike at Wildcat Materials with fair contract, community Support https://labortribune.com/laborers-local-955-members-end-strike-at-wildcat-materials-with-fair-contract-community-support/
American Airlines pilots have voted overwhelmingly to walk off the job over substandard working conditions—and pilots at Southwest are now conducting their own strike authorization vote. https://inthesetimes.com/article/american-airlines-southwest-pilots-vote-strike-union
Teamsters Local 175 strike over 2 grievances while larger issues remain unresolved https://wvmetronews.com/2023/05/09/teamsters-strike-over-2-grievances-while-larger-issues-remain-unresolved/
There are picket lines set up at Coca-Cola distribution sites in St. Albans, Bluefield, Logan, Parkersburg and Clarksburg. Members of the Teamsters Union are on strike.
https://wvmetronews.com/2023/05/09/teamsters-on-strike-against-coca-cola/
Largest union officially rejects Kroger, Albertsons merger — The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and its 1.3 million members have voted to reject the $24.6B deal https://www.supermarketnews.com/issues-trends/largest-union-officially-rejects-kroger-albertsons-merger
After three teens attempted to shoot a 14-year-old student in the head on a Maryland school bus last week, a labor union representing bus drivers and other school employees is calling on the district to protect employees and students with more security measures. https://www.foxnews.com/media/maryland-student-bus-driver-traumatized-teens-attempt-shoot-14-year-old-bus-union-leader
Starbucks Is Closing All Stores in a Main Union Stronghold https://newrepublic.com/post/172571/starbucks-closing-stores-main-union-stronghold
Politics, Government & Legislation
Teachers Union Reacts to Education Bills Signed by DeSantis https://www.nbcmiami.com/on-air/as-seen-on/teachers-union-reacts-to-education-bills-signed-by-desantis/3031161/
Nurses’ union stages sit-in outside Minnesota governor’s office over staffing bill https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/05/09/nurses-union-stages-sit-in-outside-minnesota-governors-office-over-staffing-bill/
Union Members Disrupt Council’s Teacher Appreciation Day Proclamation https://www.mymcmedia.org/union-members-disrupt-councils-teacher-appreciation-day-proclamation/
West Virginia Supreme Court justices heard arguments about whether the system being used to approve charter schools is constitutional. https://wvmetronews.com/2023/05/09/justices-hear-arguments-on-constitutionality-of-charter-schools-approval/
Secretary of State Adams predicts 'really sad' 10% turnout for Kentucky primary https://www.wlky.com/article/kentucky-primary-secretary-of-state-low-voter-turnout/43842894
Some Kentucky Lawmakers Want To Tackle Gun Violence Through A Public Health Lens https://www.leoweekly.com/2023/05/some-kentucky-lawmakers-want-to-tackle-gun-violence-through-a-public-health-lens/
President Biden on Tuesday said he has been looking at the 14th Amendment as a way to unilaterally work around the debt ceiling, though he acknowledged it will not be a viable short-term solution with the nation on track to default without congressional action by June. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3996832-biden-says-hes-considering-14th-amendment-as-debt-ceiling-option/
NLRB News & Decisions
NLRB Makes it Harder to Discipline Employees who Engage in Abusive Behavior https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/nlrb-makes-it-harder-to-discipline-4574087/
Jobs, Business & Economy
Teacher Appreciation Week, National Nurses Week 2023: Deals, discounts and freebies https://www.whas11.com/article/news/nation-world/deals-teacher-appreciation-nurse-appreciation-week/507-45b96f9b-3d6b-4f14-b293-6b16f6c88c32
Amazon offers shoppers $10 to pick up purchases as it targets delivery costs https://www.reuters.com/technology/amazon-offers-shoppers-10-pick-up-purchases-it-targets-delivery-costs-2023-05-08/
One out of every five state jobs in Nevada are vacant, workers lobby for better wages https://mynews4.com/news/local/one-out-of-every-five-state-jobs-in-nevada-are-vacant-workers-lobby-for-better-wages
Reopening a grocery store in eastern Kentucky after historic flooding https://www.lpm.org/news/2023-05-09/reopening-a-grocery-store-in-eastern-kentucky-after-historic-flooding
Farmworkers continue to speak out about conditions at Sunnyside mushroom plant
Workplace Safety
Every Worker Deserves Strong Workplace Safety Protections: The Working People Weekly List https://aflcio.org/2023/5/9/every-worker-deserves-strong-workplace-safety-protections-working-people-weekly-list
The worker injury rate at Amazon warehouses and logistics facilities continues to outpace that of non-Amazon facilities in New York, according to a new report by the National Employment Law Project shared exclusively with City & State. https://www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2023/05/report-amazon-warehouse-injuries-surpass-other-facilities-ny/385962/
He Died Helping Build Tesla's Gigafactory. Tesla Didnt Tell Local Officials. https://www.texasobserver.org/tesla-texas-worker-death-heat/
Labor Honors and Celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Lisa Takeuchi Cullen https://aflcio.org/2023/5/9/asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month-profiles-lisa-takeuchi-cullen
Why Julie Su’s Nomination as Secretary of Labor Matters to Asian-Pacific Americans and Beyond
Announcements & Events
Dr. Kilolo Kijakazi, Ph.D., MSW, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), will host a special Older Americans Month Virtual Town Hall for Alliance for Retired Americans members on May 17. https://ky.aflcio.org/news/sign-today-virtual-may-17-alliance-town-hall-dr-kilolo-kijakazi-acting
UFCW is honored to once again partner with the National Association of Letter Carriers for the 31st annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive to take place on Saturday, May 13, 2023. https://www.ufcw.org/stampouthunger/
This Day in Labor History
Labor History in 2:00 Podcast:
On this day in Labor History the year was 1869. At 2:47 pm a one-word telegram was sent from Promontory Summit, Utah. The message read simply, “done.”
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