Service & Solidarity Spotlight: OPM Finalizes AFGE-Backed Locality Pay Bump for 32,900 Federal Workers
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued the final rule implementing a locality pay raise the AFGE sought for nearly 33,000 federal employees. Those working in Fresno, California; Reno, Nevada; Rochester, New York; and Spokane, Washington, are slated to get a locality pay raise on Jan. 1, 2024. New counties will also be added, so those working and living in these counties will get a locality pay bump as well.
This is a direct result of AFGE pushing the Biden administration to adopt the Federal Salary Council’s pro-labor recommendations that would increase pay for tens of thousands of General Schedule employees who in 2022 made 24.09% less than employees outside the federal government doing similar jobs.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/22/2023 - 09:13Native American Heritage Month Profiles: Patricia Salway
Throughout Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile features Patricia Salway of AFGE.
Patricia “Trish” Salway is a member of the Blackfeet Tribe located in Browning, Montana, outside of Glacier National Park, and her family has lived on the Blackfeet Reservation for decades. Salway also has Cree and Sioux heritage. Salway has been an employee of the Montana VA Health Care System for 22 years and a member of AFGE for the past 13 years, serving as the local’s secretary for the last six years and treasurer for the last three.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/21/2023 - 10:06Native American Heritage Month Profiles: DeLanna Studi
Throughout Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile features DeLanna Studi of SAG-AFTRA.
SAG-AFTRA member DeLanna Studi is a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation and has over 25 years experience as a performer, storyteller, educator, advocate and activist. Since 2007, she has served as chair of the SAG-AFTRA National Native Americans Committee.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/20/2023 - 10:04Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Detroit Casino Workers Win Tentative 5-Year Contract
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
After months of negotiations and 32 days on strike, the Detroit Casino Council’s 3,700 members reached a tentative agreement on Friday for a new five-year contract with the MGM Grand Detroit, the Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino Hotel. The members will continue to strike until the contract is ratified. The coalition representing the workers includes UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW Local 7777, Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Teamsters Local 1038.
The historic tentative agreement includes the largest wage increases ever negotiated in the Detroit casino industry’s 23-year history (including an immediate 18% pay raise on average), no health care cost increases for employees, workload reductions and other job protections, first-ever technology contract language, retirement increases and more.
“A contract of this significance makes me feel proud to work in Detroit’s casinos once again,” said Alicia Weaver, a guest room attendant for 24 years at MGM Detroit and member of Local 24. “Cleaning hotel rooms is a really tough job that gets tougher every year, so the fixes we made in this contract to reduce my daily workload mean less strain on my body and more energy for my family when I get home from work. Everyone on both sides worked hard to get this done.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/20/2023 - 09:57Native American Heritage Month Profiles: Eric Moore
Throughout Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile features Eric Moore of IATSE.
Eric Moore has been a Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 728 member for 25 years and is currently a rigging CLT on "Mayans M.C." He is half Hopi from Arizona and half Tewa from the Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico. “Being a member of Local 728 has been a wonderful career choice. The entertainment industry is filled with interesting projects and amazing people. It is an honor to work with members of my local and the other guilds and locals in our industry.”
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 11/17/2023 - 09:14Service & Solidarity Spotlight: President Shuler Calls Out Detroit Casino Ownership in Visit to ‘Strike City’ Picket Line
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler joined workers on the picket line at MotorCity Casino Hotel on Wednesday night for a rally as they continue their negotiations with management of the three casinos in Detroit. Unions participating in the strike include UNITE HERE Local 24, UAW Local 7777, Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 324, the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Teamsters Local 1038. The negotiations are reportedly boiling down to core issues, and hundreds of workers joined the rally.
“Union casino workers kept this industry alive during the pandemic,” Shuler told Michigan Advance. “But despite Detroit casino owners making record profits, they are refusing to take care of their workers. This is unjust, unfair and unethical. It is time to pay the workers who keep you in business a living wage, to provide health care that allows workers to care for themselves and their families and to guarantee the job security their employees have earned. We stand in solidarity with our union brothers and sisters on the strike line as they fight for the contract they deserve.”
This was Shuler’s fifth visit to Detroit since Labor Day. Local unions have dubbed the town as “Strike City,” given the number of large strikes that happened concurrently this fall and the collaborative strike actions that have been executed among the various unions.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 11/17/2023 - 09:07Native American Heritage Month Profiles: Russell Denny
Throughout Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile features Russell Denny of the United Steelworkers (USW).
Russell Denny, an electrician and instrument technician at Elk Petroleum, serves as unit recording secretary of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 12-477. Denny and his fellow workers at Elk Petroleum attended the union’s first gathering of Indigenous members in the U.S., where activists from numerous tribes exchanged ideas on how unions can improve their responsiveness to issues important to Native American members, communities and peoples.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/15/2023 - 10:30Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Cannabis Workers in Massachusetts Join UFCW
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Cannabis production workers at Holistic Industries in Monson, Massachusetts, voted to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1459. The win comes after months of organizing and after major layoffs left the workers short-staffed, which led to long hours and work well outside their job descriptions. The workers are also concerned about low pay and hazardous working conditions.
“Before, I’d come into work every day and say to myself, ‘There’s room for improvement,’” said Jessica Bozenhard, packaging associate at Holistic Industries. “This victory means we can start making improvements. The union gives us a voice and the support we need to make change possible.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/15/2023 - 10:17Native American Heritage Month Profiles: Robert Gilson
Throughout Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile features Robert Gilson of the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7019 member Robert Gilson has worked for Lumen for more than 24 years, where he works as a broadband technician. He has been a proud union member the entire time. A descendant of the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona, Gilson served seven years in the U.S. Army before going to work at U.S. West Communications (now Lumen). He encourages his workgroup to be active in the union so they will always have a voice at the table and because the union knows how to ensure equality for all.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/14/2023 - 10:11Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Home Chef Workers in Illinois Join UFCW
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
After a four-month campaign, production and distribution workers at the Home Chef facility in Bedford Park, Illinois, voted to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1546. Home Chef is a Kroger-owned meal-kit delivery and prepared foods provider with more than 450 workers at the Bedford Park location.
“Workers at this Chicago-based location came together to seek better working conditions, higher pay, improved benefits, along with management accountability,” said Local 1546 Organizing Director Carlos Cartagena. “We listened carefully to the workers’ concerns and relied heavily on a strategic mobile organizing approach; a strong sense of unity among co-workers; and workers learning from past lessons of failed corporate promises and divisive rhetoric.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/14/2023 - 10:07Native American Heritage Month Profiles: Donna Lahr
Throughout Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile features Donna Lahr of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS).
“Oki nitanikoo Donna Lahr!” this Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) member says. Born and raised on the 1.5 million acre Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, Donna Lahr’s traditional name is Ksiistsikomaakii, Thunder Woman. She began her career with the Federal Aviation Administration in 2006 after serving in the Marines. Lahr currently works at Southern California TRACON as the National Airspace System Operations manager.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/13/2023 - 11:41Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Brooklyn Museum Workers Ratify First Union Contract
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Workers at the Brooklyn Museum, members of International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 2110, voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first contract on Tuesday, one day before the union was set to strike. The new three-and-a-half-year contract boosts pay by more than 23% over the life of the contract, raises minimum pay, guarantees annual pay increases, reduces the employee’s share of health premium costs, expands eligibility for health care benefits to part-time staff and establishes an annual $50,000 set aside for professional development.
“We’re thrilled to have finally reached this agreement with the Museum,” said Elizabeth St. George, an assistant curator of decorative arts. “I will now have the opportunity to do the work I love at a Museum I love in a workplace with union rights.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/13/2023 - 10:13Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Supporters Unite in Solidarity with Medieval Times Performers United on Nine-Month Strike
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Members of Medieval Times Performers United, represented by the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA), have been on strike for nine months. They have been fighting tirelessly for living wages, safe working conditions and the humane treatment of their animal co-stars. They will be rallying this Sunday, with a performance featuring Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman, guitarist for the legendary band Rage Against the Machine.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 11/09/2023 - 10:19Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Los Angeles County Labor Federation Tackles Poverty and Homelessness
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor recently hosted a Summit on Poverty and Homelessness. Hundreds of labor, political and community leaders called for real policy change to help working families tackle the affordability crisis.
“We must address the issue of structural working poverty if we ever hope to emerge from the homelessness and poverty crises,” said LA County Labor Federation President Yvonne Wheeler. “It is simply unacceptable that working people are working paycheck to paycheck but still can’t afford to pay the rent. We look forward to locking arms with our elected leaders so we can work together to make meaningful change to address poverty and homelessness in our communities head-on. We understand tenants’ struggle. Their fight is our fight. We can only solve this crisis when we work together, and that’s the goal of our Summit on Poverty and Homelessness.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/08/2023 - 09:31Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Oakland IAM Members Achieve Landmark Contract with SSA
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Nearly 100 Machinists (IAM) Local 1414 members working at SSA Marine (SSA) terminals in Oakland, California, voted to ratify a robust new six-year contract Nov. 1. The contract includes significant wage increases, enhanced health care and retirement benefits, retroactive pay, and other critical improvements. IAM members working at SSA Marine are employed as heavy equipment, crane, chassis and refrigeration mechanics.
“It’s fabulous for our members at SSA,” said IAM District 190 Directing Business Representative Don Crosatto. “This agreement raises the bar for everybody at the port. All the other employers will need to up their game a bit.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/07/2023 - 09:54Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Scholastic Union (TNG-CWA) Walks Out Over Wages
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Union workers at Scholastic staged a one-day work stoppage on Nov. 1 following the publisher's rejection of Scholastic Union's proposal for annual raises. The workers held a picket outside Scholastic's corporate headquarters in Soho, New York. The union members are represented by the NewsGuild of New York and have been without a contract since May 2022, when the previous contract expired. The workers staged a "lunch out" on June 12 over the same grievances, which start with the fact that the workers have not received a wage increase since 2021.
“My voice is still hoarse from chanting,” said Alexandra Lim-Chua Wee, a union member and senior associate editor at Scholastic. “We walked out today because we want to stick to our demands. The desired outcome today is that we get a fair contract with fair wages that really reflect the work that our members have been doing over the past few years.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/06/2023 - 10:03Protecting Workers’ Interests in the Tech Revolution
Americans are experiencing the greatest technological transformation of the modern era. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing how we live, work and communicate.
But the future of this technology feels uncertain. Working people are concerned that this technology will make our jobs worse, make us earn less and maybe even cost us our jobs.
We’ve seen Hollywood studios threatening to replace writers with AI scripts and actors with digital avatars. We’ve seen warehouse workers denied bathroom breaks because an algorithm said it would hurt productivity. We’ve seen more gig work, less equity and fewer benefits.
We need guardrails that put workers—not corporate profits—at the center. That’s why we’re pleased the White House has released a pioneering executive order on AI that reaffirms the Biden–Harris administration’s commitment to America’s workers.
There is still a long road ahead to ensure federal policy around AI prioritizes workers, but this week’s executive order offers a big step in the right direction. The Executive Order on Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence commits to three important principles that champion the interests of working families:
- Worker Rights: Reaffirms workers’ safety and fundamental rights, including the right to organize.
- Worker Voice: Insists workers need a seat at the table in AI development and new industries created by AI.
- Worker Training: Underscores the need for accessible and comprehensive workforce training so workers can fully participate in and benefit from our changing economy.
Learn more about what’s at stake for workers and our families in this technological revolution.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 11/03/2023 - 11:55Economy Gains 150,000 Jobs in October; Unemployment Up Slightly at 3.9%
The U.S. economy gained 150,000 jobs in October, and the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 3.9%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
October’s biggest job gains were in health care (+58,000), government (+51,000), construction (+23,000), social assistance (+19,000), leisure and hospitality (+19,000), and professional and business services (+15,000). Jobs declined over the month in manufacturing (-35,000), transportation and warehousing (-12,000) , and information (-9,000). Over the month, employment showed little change in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; wholesale trade; retail trade; financial activities; and other services.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for teenagers (13.2%), Black Americans (5.8%), Hispanics (4.8%), adult men (3.7%), White Americans (3.5%), adult women (3.3%) and Asian Americans (3.1%) showed little change in October.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) was little changed in September and accounted for 19.8% of the total number of people unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 11/03/2023 - 11:17Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IAM Mechanics at M&K Truck Centers in Alsip, Illinois, Go on Strike
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Members of the Machinists (IAM) Mechanics Union Local 701 working at M&K Truck Centers in Alsip, Illinois, are on strike as of Nov. 1 for a fair contract and to keep their union benefits, which they have enjoyed in previous contracts. The 58 members unanimously rejected the company’s contract offer. The latest offer from the management company, Labor Force, removed company-paid union health care and contributions to workers 401(k) retirement plans, and IAM members are demanding these benefits be restored.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 11/03/2023 - 09:37Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Columbia Postdoctoral Workers Secure New Contract with Up to 24% Salary Increases
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Postdoctoral workers at Columbia University, who are members of International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 4100, secured a new contract Tuesday, approving it with a vote of 89.4% in favor. This contract is an important win for the union, containing notable gains in compensation, rights, and protections for postdocs and associate research scientists. Specifically, the contract provides up to 24% salary increases, $1,200 ratification bonus, protections against power-based harassment and bullying, child care expenses, a hardship fund to cover emergencies, and other gains.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 11/02/2023 - 10:00
