BlueCollarWriter Labor News Update
Labor News Update - 05/26/2023
Writers Guild of America Strike Updates
Nation's largest nurses union stands in solidarity with writers https://bit.ly/3MyCxTP
Colin Farrell Speaks in Support of the WGA Strike at a Picket Line, Says it's 'Unfair' What's Happening to the Writers https://bit.ly/3J4qLjp
WGA Strike: Barack Obama Says Studios ‘Wouldn’t Be Around If It Weren’t for Writers’ https://bit.ly/3MDwMUU
Take Action: Stand with Striking Writers https://aflcio.org/2023/5/10/take-action-stand-striking-writers
Labor News
Bandcamp workers won their union – and it could be a sign of things to come https://bit.ly/3OB8EVH
Hedge Fund Takeover of Local News Fails Thanks to CWA Union Efforts https://bit.ly/3OCgQFf
Potential UPS strike approaches as company negotiates with Teamsters union https://bit.ly/3WyoPVy
With the clock ticking and writers out on the picket lines all over town, the Directors Guild of America and the studios are far from even the framework of a deal. https://bit.ly/43ml4oq
Life and Struggle Of Harry Belafonte With ILWU Local 10 Retired Secretary Treasurer Clarence Thomas https://bit.ly/3q2zCLy
Seattle school bus drivers authorize strike: ‘We don’t cross picket lines’ https://yhoo.it/4250Xdn
City Teamsters bringing contract negotiations over health care to public. https://bit.ly/3WxscfF
Building Trades Unions chief introduces ‘infrastructure generation’ to Lower Mills https://bit.ly/43pc4Pt
Union workers to rally in LA for better wages, benefits https://bit.ly/45xepJR
Longtime Milwaukee manufacturer Master Lock announced Thursday May 25 that the company is closing its Milwaukee factory, with workers remaining employed until October. But just because the workers are losing their jobs doesn’t mean the work is over for their union, Local UAW 469, which represents the 360 workers at the Master Lock plant. Union president Mike Bink tells WTMJ there’s still a lot to do. https://bit.ly/43sFlsx
Missoula Starbucks at Brooks and Central joins union https://bit.ly/43oLUwe
Pro-union Delta flight attendants rally at Hartsfield-Jackson https://bit.ly/3BUcmlE
Superintendent Ryan Walters’ Video Escalates Attacks on Teacher Unions https://bit.ly/45uMVEV
Sun Country Airlines (SY) Flight Attendants rejected a new tentative contract this week with an overwhelming majority. The SY FAs represented by Teamsters Local 120 voted against their collective bargaining agreement with the Minneapolis-based airline. This comes as airline workers across the United States have pushed for pay increases following the pandemic. https://bit.ly/45qq90Z
Tell TCGplayer to Respect Workers’ Right to a Union https://bit.ly/3WwuQCp
Politics, Government & Legislation
'Coal country' snubs Republicans in deep-red state, backs Democrat governor for re-election — The endorsements of Kentucky's Andy Beshear come amid the Biden administration's rush toward green energy https://fxn.ws/43sqGh6
TEAMSTERS CONDEMN PLAN TO RAISE FEDERAL LIMITS ON MAXIMUM TRUCK WEIGHTS https://bit.ly/3OGd4dP
Bills to restore teacher union bargaining rights sent to Michigan House floor https://bit.ly/3BULzFI
NLRB News & Decisions
Are Revenue Generating NCAA Student-Athletes Employees? California NLRB Office Says YES. https://bit.ly/43qhqK9
UFCW Asks 11th Circ. To Enforce NLRB's Bargaining Order
Amazon Hit With NLRB Complaint Over Conduct In Illinois https://bit.ly/3BXAnZe
Wage Theft
'Significant payment. Lexington fine-dining restaurant settles tip and wage theft lawsuit https://bit.ly/3BX3VGc
Jobs, Business & Economy
Once dismissed as a fringe theory, the idea that corporate thirst for profits drives up inflation, aka "greedflation," is now being taken more seriously by economists, policymakers and the business press. https://bit.ly/3q2RtSx
Workplace Safety
Tower Climbers Release Report Exposing Safety Hazards and Mobilize for Bill of Rights to Improve Conditions https://bit.ly/3WPBFiF
Slingshot: Children on the Killing Floor https://bit.ly/3MzLhZZ
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This Day in Labor History
Today in Labor History, May 26, the year was 1824. That day was the first time when women workers in the United States left their jobs and walked out on strike. It happened at the Slater Mill, part of New England’s rapidly growing textile industry.
May 26 - SWOC Strikes Little Steel
On this day in labor history, the year was 1937.
That was the day the Steel Workers Organizing Committee or SWOC, called a nationwide strike against three of the four ‘Little Steel’ companies, Republic, Inland and Youngstown Sheet & Tube.
The drive to organize Little Steel came on the heels of an historic agreement with U.S. Steel and J&L earlier in the year.
In his book, The Last Great Strike, legal scholar Ahmed White points out that SWOC leaders established a three-pronged strategy in their organizing efforts: to breakdown racial and ethnic differences among workers, to use the Wagner Act and newly formed NLRB to their advantage whenever possible and to take over company unions where they existed.
They hoped Little Steel would follow earlier precedent.
But mill owners wouldn’t budge on union recognition.
Firing of organizers intensified and lockouts began.
Sheriffs departments began the swearing in of deputies.
Republic and Youngstown Sheet & Tube started shipping and stockpiling munitions, including machine guns and tear gas to mills throughout the Midwest and Northeast. Scattered walkouts and wildcats began throughout the latter part of May as SWOC continued to demand recognition and first contracts.
And on this day SWOC delegates from the Little Steel locals met in a Youngstown ‘war council’ to demand a strike.
The strike began late that evening with the shift change at 11 pm.
The mills were shut down tight.
Pitched battles between strikers, scabs and police continued throughout the summer with hundreds arrested.
Anti-union violence would explode with the Memorial Day Massacre in South Chicago and the Women’s Massacre in Youngstown the following month.
After five months, the strike collapsed. It would take until 1942 before recognition was finally won.