Labor News Update - 05/17/2023

Writers Guild of America Strike Updates

WGA Strike Hub website: https://www.wgacontract2023.org/

‘Big Bang Theory’ star slams ‘Jeopardy!’ host for crossing WGA picket line

https://nypost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/nypost.com/2023/05/16/big-bang-star-slams-jeopardy-host-for-crossing-wga-picket-line/amp/?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16842758728343&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2023%2F05%2F16%2Fbig-bang-star-slams-jeopardy-host-for-crossing-wga-picket-line%2F

Writers Guild Posts Studio-By-Studio Forecast of How Much a Deal Would Cost — The striking union projects that a consensus would set Disney back $75 million annually, and Netflix $68 million. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wga-strike-union-estimates-how-much-deal-would-cost-1235493055/

Take Action: Stand with Striking Writers https://aflcio.org/2023/5/10/take-action-stand-striking-writers

Labor News

Supervisors employed by LAZ Parking at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport have unanimously ratified their tentative agreement. It will include them in an existing contract with drivers, cashiers, maintenance, and lot inventory workers at the company who are already represented by Teamsters Local 251. https://teamster.org/2023/05/laz-parking-teamsters-ratify-agreement/

Miami-Dade: Amidst grumbles, county OKs seven last-minute union contracts https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2023/05/16/amidst-grumbles-county-oks-seven-last-minute-union-contracts/

The owners of Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood expect to recognize and negotiate with a union of strippers who had been dismissed from the club in March 2022, when they protested for safe working conditions and picketed outside for months. https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/16/business/strippers-union/index.html

Colorado Springs teachers union, District 11 reach tentative contract agreement https://gazette.com/news/education/colorado-springs-teachers-union-district-11-reach-tentative-contract-agreement/article_32a025f4-f45c-11ed-91d3-4fc22872757a.html

St. Petersburg College faculty union files complaint as pay talks drag on — Faculty leaders question whether the board is retaliating against them for unionizing. https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2023/05/16/st-petersburg-college-faculty-union-files-complaint-pay-talks-drag/

Yellow’s credit ratings fall as negotiations with union continue https://www.freightwaves.com/news/yellows-credit-ratings-fall-as-negotiations-with-union-continue

MTA and TWU Local 100 fail to reach contract agreement, talks stalled over wages, COVID benefits https://www.amny.com/transit/mta-and-transit-workers-union-fail-to-reach-agreement-talks-stalled-over-wages-covid-benefits/

Culinary Union says it will ensure worker protections if Tropicana closes for ballpark https://news3lv.com/news/local/culinary-union-says-it-will-ensure-worker-protections-if-tropicana-closes-las-vegas-oakland-athletics-a-ballpark-mlb-baseball-ballys-corp-glpi-southern-nevada

CNET Workers Unionize as ‘Automated Technology Threatens Our Jobs’ https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3m4e9/cnet-workers-unionize-as-automated-technology-threatens-our-jobs

Tech executive: AI will eliminate 'a large fraction' of jobs eventually https://www.fox5vegas.com/video/2023/05/16/tech-executive-ai-will-eliminate-a-large-fraction-jobs-eventually/

Fighting Against the Gigification of the Entire Economy: The Working People Weekly List https://aflcio.org/2023/5/16/fighting-against-gigification-entire-economy-working-people-weekly-list 

Politics, Government & Legislation

Today, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) applauds Maryland Gov. Wes Moore for signing into law House Bill 629, which allows a surviving service member’s spouse, under certain conditions such as death, suffering a service-connected disability, being declared a prisoner of war, or missing in action, to apply for a scholarship under the Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program. https://www.goiam.org/press-releases/iam-union-applauds-governor-moore-for-signing-of-veteran-surviving-spouse-benefits-legislation/

Biden, McCarthy hopeful on debt ceiling deal, US president cuts Asia trip short https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/biden-mccarthy-meet-us-debt-ceiling-talks-come-down-wire-2023-05-16/

Colorado is trying to make it possible for more employees — like Walmart and McDonald's workers — to accept tips https://www-businessinsider-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.businessinsider.com/colorado-bill-would-allow-walmart-mcdonalds-employees-to-accept-tips-2023-5?amp=&amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16842961245877&csi=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Fcolorado-bill-would-allow-walmart-mcdonalds-employees-to-accept-tips-2023-5

A state House committee has advanced bills that would allow union members to have political donations automatically deducted from their paychecks. The bills adopted Tuesday are part of an overall effort by Democrats to restore union power that was eroded while the Legislature was under Republican control. https://www.michiganradio.org/politics-government/2023-05-16/bill-to-allow-union-pac-payroll-deductions-headed-to-house-floor

Ky. Secretary of State Adams says primary win a victory against “misdirection and misinformation” https://www.lpm.org/news/2023-05-16/ky-secretary-of-state-adams-says-primary-win-a-victory-against-misdirection-and-misinformation

West Virginia Governor Justice’s companies challenge the way their bank has claimed $300 million in debt https://wvmetronews.com/2023/05/15/governor-justices-companies-challenge-the-way-their-bank-has-claimed-300-million-in-debt/

NLRB News & Decisions 

NLRB Orders Postal Service To Hand Over Info To Union https://www.law360.com/employment-authority/articles/1678479/nlrb-orders-postal-service-to-hand-over-info-to-union

Summary of NLRB Decisions for Week of May 1 - 5, 2023 https://www.nlrb.gov/cases-decisions/weekly-summaries-decisions/summary-of-nlrb-decisions-for-week-of-may-1-5-2023

What do Julie Su, Starbucks and McDonald’s Have in Common? https://aflcio.org/2023/5/16/service-solidarity-spotlight-what-do-julie-su-starbucks-and-mcdonalds-have-common

Jobs, Business & Economy 

The Biden administration on Tuesday released an update of its multi-agency efforts to develop and expand the U.S. workforce that will be needed for jobs created through recent federal legislation. https://www.ccdaily.com/2023/05/white-house-roadmap-outlines-workforce-development-for-new-jobs/

How generative A.I. and ChatGPT will influence jobs at all professional levels https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/16/how-generative-ai-chatgpt-will-change-jobs-at-all-work-levels.html

USAA cuts 300 more jobs after reporting first loss in company history — The San Antonio-based company's layoffs follow its first loss in 100 years. https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/usaa-layoff-18103341.php

Walmart-backed DroneUp is cutting jobs as drone delivery market struggles https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/16/walmart-backed-drone-delivery-startup-droneup-is-cutting-jobs-.html

This Day in Labor History 

No More Separate

Today in Labor History, May 17, the year was 1954.  That was the day the Supreme Court handed down their decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.  In the unanimous decision the court declared that racial segregation in public education was illegal.