Labor News Update - 05/24/2023

Writers Guild of America Strike Updates

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

As the WGA strike entered its fourth week, Tony Kushner swore, Steve Earle sang, Wanda Sykes led union chants and Busy Philipps told CEO jokes for more than 1,000 demonstrators and hundreds of onlookers who filled the street in front of NBCUniversal headquarters Tuesday in Midtown Manhattan. https://bit.ly/3ovyHmz

With the Hollywood writers' strike going into its fourth week, many members of the Writers Guild of America are struggling to pay bills, but they're getting plenty of support. https://bit.ly/45padMr

The Wire creator David Simon slams the use of AI and says he'd 'rather put a gun in my mouth' than use it to transform scripts - a week after being 'let go' from HBO amid writer's strike https://bit.ly/3MQvUOe

Tom Hanks Eloquently Explains Why The Writers' Strike Is Needed In This Moment https://bit.ly/4362Wj8

In an expression of solidarity with Writers Guild of America members, comedian Drew Carey said he will pay for their meals at two L.A. restaurants for the duration of the writers strike. https://bit.ly/422xRez

“Your Fight Is Our Fight”: John Leguizamo, Busy Philipps, Tony Kushner and Unions Show Solidarity With WGA https://bit.ly/425eWQD

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

Labor News

Federal judge finds Justice coal companies liable for nearly six years of unpaid UMWA retiree benefit plan premiums https://bit.ly/3MUuL8r

The US workplace is a private dictatorship where bosses exercise extraordinary power and systematically union bust. “Salting,” or getting a job with the intent to organize a workplace, is a completely justifiable response to this workplace despotism. https://bit.ly/3BSTweL

SAG-AFTRA: Studios Seek To “Pad Corporate Profits & Fund Lavish Executive Compensation” As Threatened Actors Strike Looms https://bit.ly/3IDXWtM

UPS, represented by Teamsters, could go on strike when contract expires https://bit.ly/3BT7k9e

UPS, Teamsters negotiate with summer strike worries looming large https://bit.ly/3BTZbkC

UPS strike looms in a world grown reliant on everything delivered everywhere all the time https://abcn.ws/3BPu35Q

Teamsters voted in at second Smart & Final distribution center in California https://bit.ly/3BTZuMy

With every worker participating in the ratification vote, Teamsters Local 332 members at Alro Steel have voted by a two-to-one margin to approve their most recent collective bargaining agreement. The Teamsters are responsible for processing and distributing industrial-grade steel. https://bit.ly/3IElXRs

Transdev workers represented by Teamsters Local 683 who provide transportation services for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) are on an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike. While workers have been on the picket line since May 16, Transdev has refused to negotiate with Local 683 and has made false statements to the media regarding the status of negotiations. https://bit.ly/3IBb5Ui

The Teamsters are calling on shareholders of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. to support Item Six, a proposal that calls for the adoption of a non-interference policy in worker organizing efforts to prevent union busting at the company. https://yhoo.it/3q2qEOt

Flight attendants at Sun Country Airlines who are represented by Teamsters Local 120 have voted overwhelmingly to reject their latest collective bargaining agreement with the carrier. https://bit.ly/3MxauUR

Union officials representing Planned Parenthood employees say they have been told to expect layoffs affecting 10 to 20% of the national workforce, or at least 80 people. https://n.pr/3opmCiP

Union-busting is Disgusting: InterContinental Washington D.C. forces acclaimed restaurant Moon Rabbit to close rather than see UNITE HERE organize kitchen workers https://wapo.st/3MsO5rP

Companies Are Taking a Harder Line on Union Organizers, Workers Say https://nyti.ms/3IxA0rZ

Pro-union Delta flight attendants plan rally at ATL airport Thursday https://bit.ly/432P358

Bureau of Prisons employees union deals with both management and the inmates https://bit.ly/434oix7

SPOTLIGHT ON STAR GARDEN: Dancers at a North Hollywood topless bar voted to be represented by Actors’ Equity Association last week, setting them up to be the only unionized strippers in the U.S., according to the union. https://politi.co/3MUE4VT

Unions, Public Interest Advocates Thwart Hedge Fund's Attempted Takeover of Local News and Set Groundbreaking FCC Precedent https://bit.ly/3Ow2hD3

On Day Three of TruStage Strike, Union Files Two New Unfair Labor Practices Complaints https://bit.ly/3ovlzxS

Politics, Government & Legislation

Memorial to Kentuckians lost to COVID pandemic will be dedicated in Frankfort https://bit.ly/3MyD1cM

'It's not their money': Older Americans worried debt default means no Social Security https://abcn.ws/3OwJK9G

Veterans benefits, Social Security and Medicare payments, and SNAP could be among the first federal programs at risk if the US defaults in 10 days, a new analysis says https://bit.ly/43mbzWj

A popular Orlando restaurant that regularly features drag shows filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Florida and Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, less than a week after he signed a bill that targets drag performances. The lawsuit filed in Orlando federal court by the owner of Hamburger Mary’s Orlando claims the state is depriving the business of its First Amendment rights to free expression. The restaurant is asking the court to temporarily stop the law from taking effect while the case moves forward. https://bit.ly/420dCOJ

Labor union calls Wheeler’s budget move a ‘political stunt’ https://bit.ly/3IyECOs

NLRB News & Decisions 

Amazon COVID changes and CEO's anti-union comments broke law, labor board alleges https://bit.ly/3MRRW2S

Jobs, Business & Economy 

Companies are using sneaky software and legal tricks to make you endlessly pay for stuff you already bought https://bit.ly/3MQ2UGj 

This Day in Labor History 

May 24 - The Eighth Wonder of the World

On this day in Labor History the year was 1883. The “eighth wonder of the world, the Brooklyn Bridge opened for traffic.  600 men worked on the project, which took 14 years to complete. Between twenty and thirty men died working on the bridge.  This included the bridge’s designer, German-born John. A. Roebling.