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The New South Wales government’s refusal to enforce basic accessibility standards for new homes is “salt in the wound” for people with disabilities and will force more than 1 million Australians to continue living in ill-suited dwellings, advocates say. Australia’s building ministers finalised the new national construction code (NCC) last week, which included much-lauded changes to energy efficiency standards as well as mandatory “silver” level accessibility standards, as described by Liveable Housing Australia.But Australia’s most populous state confirmed it will opt out of implementing the clauses that would require new homes to have basic accessibility features such as at least one step-free entrance, a toilet on the entry level and reinforced walls in the bathroom.These features were added to the NCC after a push from advocates highlighting the difficulties that disabled people, older people and others face in finding homes that meet their basic needs. The standards also include a walk-in shower recess and wider door frames and corridors to facilitate ease of movement.“To say that we are disappointed is an understatement,” Serena Ovens, the chief executive of the Physical Disability Council of NSW, said on Monday. “The salt in the wound is that NSW has failed to give us anything as an alternative. It’s just radio silence. There’s no engagement with community stakeholders on this at all, despite years of pushing for this.”It wasn’t just an issue for people with physical disabilities, Ovens said, but a matter for all families. “If you’ve ever had to think about whose home to host an event at because a relative can’t manage stairs, installed a baby gate, or made modifications to your home to avoid slips and falls, this reform would benefit you.”The Western Australian government also confirmed it would opt out of adopting the accessibility standards, saying in a statement to media on Friday that WA was “not in a position to adopt the accessibility provisions in the short term” and would “continue to monitor this situation”.“It doesn’t make any sense from a community perspective or an industry perspective,” said Tim Naughtin, the director of the Building Better Homes campaign.“We are very disappointed in the decision of the NSW and WA governments. They have put politics ahead of people. And the result is people in NSW and WA will have to continue living in homes that they can’t properly use.”Approximately one in five people in Australia have a disability.The minimum standards would benefit ageing Australians too, said Karen Appleby, the acting CEO of Council on the Ageing NSW. “It would enable people to stay in their homes throughout their life course, allowing people to age in place, host visitors and provide easier access for parents.”A spokesperson for the NSW government said: “While the NSW government supports improved accessibility design in new housing stock, it will not be adopting the minimum accessibility provisions contained in the updated national construction code at this time.”The former Liberal government of South Australia had previously indicated that it would not support the inclusion of mandatory accessibility standards in the NCC. But Peter Malinauskas’s recently elected Labor government changed the state’s position, with the SA housing minister Nick Champion saying last week that the accessibility standards would “play an important role in improving the everyday lives of South Australians with a disability”.The NCC will come into effect from 1 May 2023 but states opting into the accessibility requirements will have until 1 October to implement them. | Labor Activism |
MoneyWatch August 18, 2022 / 1:55 PM / CBS/AP Hundreds of Google employees are petitioning the company to extend its abortion health care benefits to contract workers and to strengthen privacy protections for Google users searching for abortion information online. Google parent company Alphabet had pledged to pay travel and other health care costs for employees seeking an out-of-state abortion and to help some workers relocate after the U.S. Supreme Court repealed the constitutional right to an abortion. The June decision overturning 1973′s Roe v. Wade ruling has paved the way for severe abortion restrictions or bans in nearly half of the U.S. states. Why even discussing abortion can now get you arrestedThe benefits for abortion services offered by Google and other tech companies don't cover contract workforces, which are common in the tech industry and often get paid less and have fewer perks than full-time employees. A letter signed by more than 650 employees and sent this week to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and other Alphabet executives calls for the inclusion of contractors in those benefits. The petition was organized by members of the Alphabet Workers Union, a labor union that's been trying to gain traction inside the company.It also demands that the company cease any political donations or lobbying of politicians or organizations "responsible for appointing the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade and continue to infringe on other human rights issues related to voting access and gun control." The employees seek additional protection for Google users, such as by blocking advertisements that misleadingly direct users to anti-abortion "pregnancy crisis" centers.The employees' petition said the company should also institute immediate data privacy controls for all health-related activity, including abortion information, so that it "must never be saved, handed over to law enforcement, or treated as a crime."The recent case of a Nebraska teenager facing felony charges over an alleged abortion — charges that prosecutors were able to bring thanks to messages they obtained from Facebook — has caused alarm in privacy and technology circles. Privacy advocates fear that as states like Texas and Oklahoma create bounty hunter laws to prod citizens into reporting on suspected abortions, data surveillance offers a plethora of possible sources of evidence for prosecutors. Facebook turns over chat messages in Nebraska abortion case 03:41 Google declined to comment about the petition Thursday. The company said in July it would start automatically purging information about users who visit abortion clinics or other places that could trigger legal problems. Users have always had the option to edit their location histories on their own, but Google said it will proactively do it for them as an added level of protection. In: Google Sundar Pichai Supreme Court of the United States Abortion civil rights California Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Labor Activism |
Published July 10, 2022 3:45PM article Sign with logo at the headquarters of car-sharing technology company Uber in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood of San Francisco, California, with red vehicle visible in the background parked on Market Street, October 13, 2017. (Photo by Smith C As Uber aggressively pushed into markets around the world, the ride-sharing service lobbied political leaders to relax labor and taxi laws, used a "kill switch'' to thwart regulators and law enforcement, channeled money through Bermuda and other tax havens and considered portraying violence against its drivers as a way to gain public sympathy, according to a report released Sunday. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, a nonprofit network of investigative reporters, scoured internal Uber texts, emails, invoices and other documents to deliver what it called "an unprecedented look into the ways Uber defied taxi laws and upended workers' rights.'' The documents were first leaked to the British newspaper The Guardian, which shared them with the consortium. In a written statement, Uber spokesperson Jill Hazelbaker acknowledged "mistakes'' in the past and said CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, hired in 2017, had been "tasked with transforming every aspect of how Uber operates ... When we say Uber is a different company today, we mean it literally: 90% of current Uber employees joined after Dara became CEO.'' Founded in 2009, Uber sought to skirt taxi regulations and offer inexpensive transportation via a ride-sharing app. The consortium's Uber Files revealed the extraordinary lengths that the company undertook to establish itself in nearly 30 countries. The company's lobbyists — including former aides to President Barack Obama — pressed government officials to drop their investigations, rewrite labor and taxi laws and relax background checks on drivers, the papers show. The investigation found that Uber used "stealth technology'' to fend off government investigations. The company, for example, used a "kill switch'' that cut access to Uber servers and blocked authorities from grabbing evidence during raids in at least six countries. During a police raid in Amsterdam, the Uber Files reported, former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick personally issued an order: "Please hit the kill switch ASAP ... Access must be shut down in AMS (Amsterdam).'' The consortium also reported that Kalanick saw the threat of violence against Uber drivers in France by aggrieved taxi drivers as a way to gain public support. "Violence guarantee(s) success,'' Kalanick texted colleagues. In a response to the consortium, Kalanick spokesman Devon Spurgeon said the former CEO "never suggested that Uber should take advantage of violence at the expense of driver safety.'' The Uber Files say the company cut its tax bill by millions of dollars by sending profits through Bermuda and other tax havens, then "sought to deflect attention from its tax liabilities by helping authorities collect taxes from its drivers.'' | Labor Activism |
WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden excoriated "MAGA Republicans" and the extreme right on Monday, pitching personal Labor Day appeals to swing-state union members who he hopes will turn out in force for his party in November."The middle class built America," Biden told a workers' gathering at park grounds in Milwaukee. "Everybody knows that. But unions built the middle class."Later Monday, he flew to West Mifflin, outside Pittsburgh - returning to Pennsylvania for the third time in less than a week and just two days after his predecessor, Donald Trump, staged his own rally in the state.The unofficial start of fall, Labor Day also traditionally starts a political busy season where campaigns scramble to excite voters for Election Day on Nov. 8. That's when control of the House and Senate, as well some of the country's top governorships, will be decided.Trump spoke Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre, near Scranton, where Biden was born. The president made his own Wilkes-Barre trip last week to discuss increasing funding for police, to decry GOP criticism of the FBI after the raid on Trump's Florida estate and to argue that new, bipartisan gun measures can help reduce violent crime.Two days after that, Biden went to Independence Hall in Philadelphia for a prime-time address denouncing the "extremism" of Trump's fiercest supporters.Trump has endorsed candidates in key races around the country and Biden is warning that some Republicans now believe so strongly in Trumpism that they are willing to undermine core American values to promote it. The president said Thursday that "blind loyalty to a single leader, and a willingness to engage in political violence, is fatal to democracy."Trump responded during his Saturday rally that Biden is "an enemy of the state." Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel tweeted Monday that Biden "is the most anti-worker president in modern history," noting that high inflation had taken a bite out of American wages, income and savings.During his address in Milwaukee, Biden said "Not every Republican is a MAGA Republican" but singled out those who have taken Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign cry to dangerous or hateful lengths. He highlighted episodes like last year's mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.He said that many in the GOP are "full of anger, violence, hate, division.""But together we can, and we must, choose a different path forward," Biden said. "A future of unity and hope. we're going to choose to build a better America."The crowd jeered loudly as the president repeatedly chided Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin for voting against a Democratic-backed measure meant to lower prescription drug prices. The president also suggested Johnson and other congressional Republicans were willing to undermine Social Security.Unions endorsements helped Biden overcome disastrous early finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire to win the 2020 Democratic primary, and eventually the White House. He has since continued to praise the labor movement as president.Mary Kay Henry, president of the 2 million-member Service Employees International Union, called Biden's championing of unions heading into the midterm elections "critical" and said workers must "mobilize in battlegrounds across the country to ensure that working people turn out.""We're really excited about the president speaking directly to workers about, if he had the opportunity, he'd join a union," Henry said. She added: "This president has signaled which side he's on. And he's on the side of working people. And that matters hugely."In Pennsylvania, Biden addressed members of the United Steelworkers and noted that Trump is a "former, defeated president."Referencing Trump's persistent, false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election, Biden said, "You can't love the country and say how much you love it when you only accept one of two outcomes of an election: Either you won or you were cheated."Both of the perennial presidential battleground states Biden visited Monday may provide key measures of Democrats' strength before November. With inflation still raging and the president's approval ratings slightly better but remaining low, how much Biden can help his party in top races - and how much candidates want him to try - remains to be seen.That was on display in Milwaukee, where Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is trying to unseat incumbent Johnson, but didn't appear with Biden.In the state's other top race, Tim Michels, a construction executive endorsed by Trump, is attempting to deny Democratic Gov. Tony Evers a second term. Evers spoke at the labor event Biden addressed and briefly greeted the president backstage."We have a president who understands the challenges facing working families," Evers told the crowd. He said Biden "hasn't forgotten that working families matter, not just on Labor Day, but every single day of the year."Pennsylvania voters are choosing a new governor, with state Attorney General John Shapiro facing another Trump-endorsed Republican, Doug Mastriano, and a new senator. That race is between Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Trump-backed celebrity heart physician Mehmet Oz. Fetterman spoke with Biden before both gave speeches in West Mifflin.The Pennsylvania and Wisconsin races could decide which party controls the Senate next year, while the winner of each governorship may influence results in 2024's presidential election. The stakes are particularly high given that some Trump-aligned candidates have spread his lies about widespread fraud that did not occur during the 2020 election. Judges, including ones appointed by Trump, dismissed dozens of lawsuits filed after that election, and Trump's own attorney general called the claims bogus.Vice President Kamala Harris paid tribute to organized labor in at breakfast meeting with the Greater Boston Labor Council, declaring "When union wages go up, everybody's wages go up.""When union workplaces are safer everyone is safer," Harris said. "When unions are strong, America is strong."Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. | Labor Activism |
A CSX freight train crosses the Potomac River in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia October 16, 2012. REUTERS/Gary Cameron/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Unions and freight railroads said on Monday they have struck contract deals covering 15,000 workers after U.S. President Joe Biden named an emergency board to help reach agreements.The National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), which represents U.S. freight railroads in national collective bargaining, said deals had been struck with the Transportation Communications Union/IAM, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers representing more than 15,000 rail employees.The deal implements recommendations by the presidential board.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Rail Division said the 24% compounded pay raise over the five-year contract would be the largest ever if ratified.On Aug. 16, the emergency board tasked with helping major freight railroads and unions end a contract negotiation stalemate proposed annual wage increases of 3% and 7% from 2020 to 2024 equal to a 24% compounded hike. The board also recommended five $1,000 annual bonuses and an additional paid day off."We fought side by side against the carriers’ attack on wages and healthcare benefits," IAM's Josh Hartford said in a statementTalks between 30 major freight railroads, including Union Pacific (UNP.N), Berkshire Hathaway-owned (BRKa.N) BNSF and CSX (CSX.O), and unions representing 115,000 workers have dragged on for more than two years.Nine of the 12 unions have yet to reach contract agreements.Biden appointed the three-member presidential emergency board in July to reduce transportation-related disruptions that stoke inflation and threaten supplies of food and fuel.Rail service at major U.S. seaports has suffered recently due to spreading supply-chain snarls and labor and equipment shortages. read more Under the Railway Labor Act, carriers and unions remain in a 30-day cooling off period that expires just after midnight ET on Sept. 16.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by David Shepardson
Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Labor Activism |
A cup of Starbucks coffee sits on a table in a cafe.Joel Boh | ReutersNew York City is suing Starbucks over allegations that the company wrongfully terminated a barista and union organizer.The city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection said the case marks its first lawsuit for a violation of New York City's "just cause" protections for fast-food workers.Austin Locke, a longtime barista and union organizer, was fired less than a month after he and his coworkers voted to unionize a Starbucks in Queens, according to the lawsuit. The store is one of dozens of Starbucks locations that have voted to unionize.Starbucks had said that Locke was fired for failing to fill out a Covid-19 questionnaire and falsely reporting that a supervisor made physical contact with him, according to the city's lawsuit. The missteps were reportedly confirmed by surveillance footage, but the suit states that Locke's district and store manager did not let him see that footage. Locke's shifts were canceled, and he filed a complaint to the city days later."We do not comment on pending litigation," a Starbucks representative wrote to CNBC. "However, we do intend to defend against the alleged violations of the New York City Just Cause Law."Under the city's Fair Workweek law, it is illegal to fire workers who have completed a 30 day probation or reduce their hours by more than 15% without just cause or an economic justification.The city is suing to get Locke reinstated and to win him restitution and back pay, which the city says will continue to accrue until Locke returns to his job."It's been a year since the campaign with Starbucks Workers United began at a Starbucks in Buffalo, NY," said Austin Locke in a statement released by the city. "There are now 235 unionized Starbucks around the country. Starbucks continues to wrongfully fire pro-union workers nationwide in retaliation for union organizing."Starbucks has seen a wave of stores unionize across the country, and organizers have brought claims of retaliation by the company. Howard Schultz returned to the company as interim CEO amid the labor push, and has said he wants to reinvent the employee, customer and store experience to better reflect how the world has changed since the pandemic. The company named its new CEO on Thursday.–CNBC's Dan Mangan and Amelia Lucas contributed to this report. | Labor Activism |
At the pandemic's outset, many labor experts doubted that a professional work culture long defined by commutes and cubicles was ready to truly embrace remote employment. That's changed. The next revolution on the job? According to Nobel Prize-winning MIT economist Esther Duflo, it should be about the long hours synonymous with success.The current work model that rewards extremely long workweeks is outdated, unmanageable, and is a contributing factor to the ongoing gender gap, making it a particularly important issue at a time when many women have left the workforce.Decades of progress made by women in the workplace was reversed in the wake of Covid-19. As of February 2021, just one year into the pandemic, 2.3 million women had dropped out of the labor force. Globally, women lost $800 billion in income. The old-school work model forced women – most often the caretakers – to leave their jobs at a rate almost twice to that of men. And the trend remained throughout the pandemic. In August 2021, 41,000 women left the workforce, while 139,000 men joined in the same month, according to a report from the National Women's Law Center, which estimated that at this rate it would take near a decade for women to make up the lost jobs.Congress is currently debating how to enact legislation that takes these issues into account. The "human capital" component of President Joe Biden's two-part infrastructure spending plan, which Democratic leaders are trying to pass this month, seeks to make paid family leave and child-care funding core components of the social safety net.What makes a good worker? Not long hoursAccording to Duflo, work culture itself needs to change, and specifically, the American obsession with long hours that places a major limitation on women succeeding in their careers. She says it is time for "getting rid of this idea that a good worker is a worker that puts in 90 hours a week."As much as the world of work has experienced an upheaval in the past two years, today's labor culture can still be compared to the 1950s "Mad Men" model, according to Nicole Mason, president and CEO of the Institute for Women's Policy Research."What that pandemic has shown us is that that model has never worked for women," Mason said. In a professional culture that glorifies being busy, women adapted because they had to, but work culture was never designed to work for them."The first [lesson we learned] is that the workplace and our workplace model was not working for most workers, or half of the workforce: women," Mason said.Belinda Howell | Getty ImagesWomen are feeling severe effects of the pandemic work era, according to McKinsey & Company's annual "Women in the Workplace" report, which it conducted with women's advocacy group Lean In. The study reported that 1 in 3 women considered leaving or changing jobs in the last year. That was up from 1 in 4 women surveyed in 2020, highlighting the pressures of taking care of children and holding a job."Now we have an opportunity to create a workplace model that is reflective of today's workforce, and that is half women," Mason said. Taking professional women's needs into consideration means thinking about "caretaking responsibilities, workplace flexibility, all of the things that we know make a difference for women workers," she said.An unsustainable employment cultureShifting to remote work last year proved people could be as productive at home as they had been in the office, which should make it clear that long hours — the proverbial "time in seat" — is the wrong way to think about productivity going forward. "Shifting from a culture of busy to a culture of goals and outcomes and productivity" is more important than showing your face in the workplace, Mason said. "What is necessary for people to be successful in their work and career and family life? Balance."The current work culture is unsustainable, according to Julie Kashen, director of women's economic justice and senior fellow at The Century Foundation, "I think we will be a healthier and better society if we start shifting our values," she said.That means employers need to treat employees "like people who have lives outside of the workplace," Kashen said, which will create more loyalty "and make people want to show up for their employers."The pandemic has blurred the lines between "on the clock" and "off the clock," and the dynamics of balancing work at home have been challenging, which has not reduced the focus on hours worked regardless of where the work is done."Right now, success is so defined by working more hours instead of how much you are able to be there for your family, stay healthy and not burnout," Kashen said "We have all lived through this collective trauma for almost two years now, and if we don't recognize that we have a collective mental health issue, it will be harder to retain great employees."As many workers reach the 20th month of working from home, 42% of women say they are burned out, according to the McKinsey/Lean In research.The policy ideas being debated in Congress would offer support and alternative options for working mothers. "Transformative change is on the table for the first time in a very long time," Kashen said. "We may see Congress address some of these new key issues that would make a huge difference."While a California congressman introduced legislation over the summer to reduce the standard workweek to four days, economists say we need the world of work to rethink its priorities in the wake of Covid.Putting employee well-being first is the right thing to do regardless of any negative productivity results, Kashen said. Accommodating work changes for a pregnant worker, for example, "may seem to have immediate productivity implications that are negative, but it's the right thing to do to support that mother and baby. In the long run, doing so will likely support that employee's healthy return to work after a maternity leave, which has long-term positive productivity impacts by reducing turnover and continuing to invest in her experience.""There is certainly a tendency in the U.S. for putting a lot of weight on extremely long hours for no particular reason," Duflo said. "Maybe we can all work more flexible hours, maybe the pandemic helped with that."The CNBC @Work Summit returnsOn October 13, Michael Dell, Ray Dalio, Bank of America Chief Operations and Technology Officer Cathy Bessant, WeWork Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure, Levi Strauss & Co. CFO Harmit Singh and Estee Lauder CFO Tracey Travis will talk building a resilient future and more. Register now. | Labor Activism |
The lawsuit was filed late Sunday in Texas by two workers who said they were terminated from Tesla’s gigafactory plant in Sparks, Nevada, in June.A sign marks the entrance to the Tesla Gigafactory in Sparks, Nev., on Oct. 13, 2018.John Locher / AP fileJune 21, 2022, 2:43 PM UTCFormer Tesla employees have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. electric car company alleging its decision to carry out a “mass layoff” violated federal law as the company did not provide advance notice of the job cuts.The lawsuit was filed late Sunday in Texas by two workers who said they were terminated from Tesla’s gigafactory plant in Sparks, Nevada, in June.According to the suit, more than 500 employees were terminated at the Nevada factory.The workers allege the company failed to adhere to federal laws on mass layoffs that require a 60-day notification period under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, according to the lawsuit.They are seeking class action status for all former Tesla employees throughout the United States who were laid off in May or June without advance notice.“Tesla has simply notified the employees that their terminations would be effective immediately,” the complaint said.Tesla, which has not commented on numbers of layoffs, did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the lawsuit.Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, said earlier this month he had a “super bad feeling” about the economy and that Tesla needed to cut staff by about 10%, according to an email seen by Reuters.More than 20 people identifying themselves as Tesla employees said they were laid off, let go or had positions terminated this month, according to online postings and interviews with Reuters.The action filed by John Lynch and Daxton Hartsfield, who were fired on June 10 and June 15 respectively, seeks pay and benefits for the 60-day notification period.“It’s pretty shocking that Tesla would just blatantly violate federal labor law by laying off so many workers without providing the required notice,” Shannon Liss-Riordan, an attorney representing the workers told Reuters.She said Tesla is offering some employees only one week of severance, adding that she is preparing an emergency motion with a court to try to block Tesla from trying to get releases from employees in exchange for just one week of severance.Musk played down the lawsuit as “trivial”.“Let’s not read too much into a pre-emptive lawsuit that has no standing,” he said at the Qatar Economic Forum organised by Bloomberg.“It seems like anything related to Tesla gets a lot of clicks, whether it is trivial or significant. I would put that lawsuit you’re referring to in the trivial category.”The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas.Reuters reporting by Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru and Hyunjoo Jin in San Francisco; editing by Richard Pullin and Jason Neely. | Labor Activism |
Politics September 12, 2022 / 9:12 PM / CBS News The Biden administration has been working to avert a possible railroad work stoppage that could begin late Friday and cost the U.S. economy at least $2 billion daily in lost productivity, potentially sparking yet another supply chain crisis.President Joe Biden has personally talked with two of the railroad unions with and railroad companies to prevent a strike, according to a White House official. Bloomberg first reported the president's discussions. The official added that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are also engaged in the talks.Earlier Monday, a White House official said in a statement that the parties are still "working to resolve outstanding issues and come to an agreement," and the White House urged the parties to keep negotiating "promptly and in good faith." The official called the possibility of a shutdown of the freight rail system "an unacceptable outcome for our economy and the American people" and said the administration "has made that clear emphatically and repeatedly to all parties involved." Here's what's at the heart of the dispute between the railroad companies and the unions.What's it all about? About a dozen unions represent the workers of the major national railroads like BNSF, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and CSX, among others. Most of the unions, including IBEW and the Teamsters, have settled with the railroads, but two — SMART and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) — have not. Together, they represent half of railroad union workers. The primary issue centers around attendance policies that workers say are being used to terminate and otherwise discipline railroad crews for taking off for absences because of medical appointments and bereavement. The railroads, on the other hand, claim that workers have been calling out too often to enjoy long weekends, sporting events and concerts, and that the new points-based attendance policies they've recently imposed are necessary to maintain service for customers. What's already happened?Under the terms of the century-old Railway Labor Act, President Biden in July appointed an Emergency Board to look at the dispute and make recommendations. A 60-day "cooling off" period triggered by Mr. Biden's action ends on Friday. Last month the board recommended that the union employees be given a 24% aggregate pay increase, but it rejected the unions' arguments about the attendance policies. Most of the unions agreed with the recommendations and have reached settlements along those lines with the railroads, but SMART and BLET have not. These two unions say if such a deal were put to workers in their unions for a vote, it would fail. "Our members are being terminated for getting sick or for attending routine medical visits as we crawl our way out of a worldwide pandemic," SMART said in a Sunday statement. "No working-class American should be treated with this level of harassment in the workplace for simply becoming ill or going to a routine medical visit." The workers don't get sick pay, but longtime employees do get up to five weeks' vacation and 14 paid holidays. What could happen next? If the two unions don't reach agreement with the railroads by Friday, the companies could lock the workers out even before a strike is called. Why would they do that? The unions say one reason would be to highlight the pain the issue is causing the country because their trade association says a shutdown would cost the economy $2 billion a day. In the past, most recently in 1982 and 1986, Congress has acted to end railroad strikes. The process would be quite simple. Both houses could pass — and the president would sign — a joint resolution imposing the Presidential Emergency Board's recommendations, which the companies happen to find agreeable. The U.S. Chamber of Congress has already urged Congress to stand by and be ready to intervene.The dynamic puts Mr. Biden and congressional Democrats in an awkward position. Democrats are keen to side with unions, but the president's own emergency board rejected the workers' arguments that they shouldn't be subject to new, points-based attendance policies. In theory, Congress could also pass a law imposing a new "cooling-off" period to allow for more time to talk before either side strikes or imposes a lockout.Ed O'Keefe and Bo Erickson contributed to this report. | Labor Activism |
Several weeks after Starbucks workers in Ithaca, New York voted to unionize, the company announced with just a week’s notice that their store on College Avenue, one of three in Ithaca, would be shut down. Starbucks claimed the decision to close was unrelated to unionization and was due to a problem with the grease trap system. Workers felt the store closure was retaliatory to the union.The dispute is just one of many that newly unionized workers can expect in the coming months. Starbucks workers have driven an unprecedented wave of union organizing victories, in the face of fierce opposition from the company. Now comes the hard part – agreeing a contract and moving forward with a company determined to stamp out its nascent union movement.Evan Sunshine, a barista at the Starbucks in Ithaca that closed, sees the closure as a continuation of union opposition he experienced leading up to the workers’ election win.“It was retaliation because we had the strongest union sentiments at our store,” said Sunshine. “It’s prime property – there’s just no reason for them to close. The rest of the reasons are all really miniscule – it didn’t make any sense.”Unionization efforts at the store began in October, but gradually grew. After the Christmas holiday break, Sunshine and his co-workers gathered union authorization cards at all three stores in Ithaca and filed for union elections.Starbucks management and corporate executives flooded the stores. Sunshine said workers were frequently subjected to one-on-one listening sessions with managers, faced constant surveillance, and experienced intimidation. Pro-union fliers were removed from anywhere in the store, workers were denied time off requests during school breaks. He said store management even stopped customers from being able to change their name in the Starbucks app to something union-related to show their support.Despite the opposition, Sunshine’s store voted 19-1 in favor of unionizing, along with the two other Starbucks locations in Ithaca.He now currently works at a unionized Starbucks in Virginia while completing a summer internship in Washington, but has traveled to Ithaca to participate in community events in support of Starbucks workers and a local boycott against the company to protest against his store’s closure.“[Starbucks chief executive] Howard Schultz says he will never embrace the union,” said Sunshine. “All we can do really is stand up against that, hope the NLRB [National Labor Relations Board, the agency which enforces US labor law] continues to take our side, keep fighting the legal battle, in the long run, take collective action, hope the community gets involved. In the end, if it gets serious and stores aren’t getting union contracts, no coffee. No contract, no coffee.”Since the first Starbucks store in the US unionized in December, organizing has surged, with about 300 stores filing for union elections in total. One hundred and sixty-nine stores have won their elections so far, in spite of staunch opposition from Starbucks, and workers have filed numerous complaints alleging widespread union-busting and retaliation, which Starbucks has denied.“While the workers are doing their part with their amazing organizing and working on their proposals, what we really need is that the public and political leaders demand that Schultz, Mellody Hobson [Starbuck’s chair] and the entire board end their union-busting,” said Richard Bensinger, an organizer with Starbucks Workers United.“That kind of pressure is necessary to get Starbucks to bargain in good faith. The workers are going to keep fighting and keep growing their union until this corporation decides to end its war on its workers.”As of 24 June, 212 unfair labor practice cases have been filed against Starbucks across 25 states, according to the NLRB. Eleven complaints covering 66 charges have been issued by NLRB regions, with 10 complaints awaiting a hearing before a judge and one complaint awaiting a board decision.In May, Starbucks announced investments and wage increases for workers company-wide, but stipulated that pay increases would not be implemented in stores that have unionized, or where union activity is taking place. In June, the company cited the same exemption in extending travel benefits for abortion access to workers with health insurance coverage through the company.Howard Schultz, Starbucks’ chief executive. Photograph: Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for The New York TimesStarbucks workers have engaged in strikes to protest against union-busting and to demand recognition of their unions across the country and Starbucks Workers United recently established a $1m strike fund to cover lost wages and benefits for workers on strike.“The main reason that we’re striking is labor cuts. All the people at our store are struggling to make rent, to make ends meet. Even with our normal hours that we were getting, it was hard to make rent each month, and now everyone has had to pick up a second, third, in some cases, even fourth job,” said Leah Grimm, a barista at the Bloomfield store in Pittsburgh, where workers recently went on strike to protest against unfair labor practices and scheduling cuts.Grimm said she had to get a second job as a server to compensate for the income lost to reduced work hours, and that many of her co-workers have resorted to selling plasma to try to fill in the gaps.“The reason that we’re doing this is because we like our jobs and we want it to be a sustainable job,” added Grimm.Starbucks has fired over 40 workers involved in union organizing efforts since December, many of whom are pushing for reinstatement through the National Labor Relations Board and have participated in protests of their firings.Cathy Creighton, a labor attorney and director of Cornell University industrial and labor relations Buffalo Co-Lab, said that under US labor laws, employers are not bound to reach a collective bargaining agreement. But she noted that NLRB counsel Jennifer Abruzzo recently filed a motion to overturn a 1952 ruling that would make workers whole in cases where collective bargaining is delayed by employers.“The employer does not have to reach an agreement with the union but the workers can go on strike. And that also goes into the difficulties with US labor law with that, because if workers go on an economic strike, they can be permanently replaced by their employer,” said Creighton. “According to Gallup polling, we know that 68% of Americans support the right to unionization, so I’m not sure why Starbucks is fighting so hard. I feel like it’s ruining its own brand.”Nabretta Hardin worked as a barista at a Starbucks in Memphis, Tennessee for over a year before she was fired, one of seven terminated shortly after launching a union campaign at her store, including five other co-workers who served on the organizing committee.Since her firing in March, Hardin explained it’s been difficult to find other work, especially due to the way in which she and her co-workers were terminated. She also lost stock options she had just recently qualified for after hitting her one-year mark as an employee.Hardin said union organizing became a topic of discussion in her store in late December in the wake of the first Starbucks corporate store union win in Buffalo. Her store’s union campaign went public on Martin Luther King Day in January. She said Starbucks immediately began its anti-union campaign at the store.“We started getting heavy surveillance, spies from corporate, an increased presence of our district and regional managers,” said Hardin.In March, the Memphis area was hit with an ice storm that knocked out power for much of the area, including the Starbucks store. Hardin said when workers were called into the store to meet with management to hear about Starbucks’ plans, she and her co-workers were given termination slips.She expressed dismay toward Starbucks for how it has responded to the union organizing campaigns, but said that a May NLRB decision in workers’ favor is an exciting sign in hopes that those efforts by Starbucks are failing.“It shows people that we were wrongfully terminated, that the government also thinks that we were wrongfully terminated, and we will get repercussions,” added Hardin.On 7 June, despite the firing of several union leaders, the Memphis Starbucks location voted in favor of unionizing. The court proceedings over the firings are continuing.A spokesperson for Starbucks claimed the Memphis workers were terminated following an investigation over safety and security violations. They denied all allegations of retaliation and argued Starbucks will bargain in good faith at stores that have chosen to unionize.In an email, the spokesperson said: “Starbucks does not agree that the claims in the filing have merit, and the complaint’s issuance does not constitute a finding by the NLRB. It is the beginning of a litigation process that permits both sides to be heard and to present evidence.“We believe the allegations contained in the filing by the NLRB Regional Director are false, and we look forward to presenting our evidence when the allegations are adjudicated. A partners’ right to organize does not exempt them from adhering to our policies. We will continue to enforce those policies equally for all partners.” | Labor Activism |
MoneyWatch August 22, 2022 / 5:59 PM / MoneyWatch Unions rise again: Labor collectives vs. Amazon Unions rise again: Labor collectives vs. Amazon 04:58 With workers around the U.S. moving to unionize at a rate not seen in decades, employees at a GE plant in Alabama are the latest to file for union representation.Manufacturing workers at the GE Aviation plant in Auburn, Alabama, filed on Monday to be represented by the IUE-CWA. The union said that a "strong majority" of the plant's approximately 180 workers supported joining, without offering specific figures.Union drives are on the rise around the U.S. as employees demand better pay and working conditions amid a nationwide labor shortage, with workers at companies from Apple to Starbucks seeking to organize. Workers at the GE plant, which makes fuel nozzles for the LEAP jet engine, told CBS MoneyWatch their pay hasn't kept up with that of colleagues in other plants. "I used to be excited to go to work, and now I'm dreading it," said Donna Rawlinson, who has worked at the Auburn plant for seven years. Rawlinson, 46, said workers at the facility earn much less than those at comparable GE Aviation locations in Greenville, South Carolina, and Madisonville, Kentucky, and that the raises the company has given have been wiped out by increases in health insurance costs. Rawlinson said some workers in Greenville make $80,000 a year, while "we don't even make $50,000, and we make the same parts," she said. "We work just as hard as everybody else, so why can't we make the same amount of money?" The GE employees are working uphill in Alabama, a so-called right-to-work state that allows workers to benefit from union representation without paying union dues. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union lost two high-profile elections at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, in the face of intense opposition from the company."Nothing ever gets done"Marcus Durrell, another worker at GE Aviation's Auburn plant, said the company had taken away workers' specialized titles to avoid paying them more and that the plant's leadership ignored input from workers."We go to HR, and they listen to it, and nothing ever gets done," he told CBS MoneyWatch. "Other GE plants, they produce what we produce, but they're union plants and get paid more. It's just not fair," said Durrell, a single father of two. Workers also complained that, since they started organizing in April, managers had pulled them into anti-union meetings and retaliated against union supporters, including firing one worker. Durrell said managers had questioned him about his support for the union and asked him how he would vote — a move that is likely illegal under U.S. labor law. GE did not address questions about alleged union-busting and retaliation when reached by CBS MoneyWatch. In a statement, the company said: "GE employs more than 55,000 Americans, pays competitive wages in every community in which we operate and has invested more than a billion dollars in our U.S. facilities since 2016, including in Auburn. We are committed to a direct relationship with our employees based on teamwork, cooperation and actively pursuing mutually beneficial goals."The IUE-CWA represents about 3,000 members in GE facilities and is the largest union at the company. That number is down significantly from 4,900 GE workers it represented in 2016, according to GE figures.The workers announced the campaign on Monday at a rally at the Birmingham offices of the National Labor Relations Board, with Alabama AFL-CIO president Bren Riley and leaders from Alabama Jobs With Justice and Alabama Interfaith Power and Light showing up in support.GE Aviation recently rebranded as GE Aerospace while the company is in the process of splitting itself into three divisions. Unionized workers have opposed the GE split, saying the estimated $2 billion the process would cost is better spent investing in the company. Said Durrell, "I want it so that my grandkids, if they want to work [in Auburn], can work there. I want to have jobs there for 40-plus years and not ship them overseas." In: Union Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Labor Activism |
When the Senate unveiled its reconciliation package in August, service providers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) were stunned to see additional funding for the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program was excluded — even despite the fact that HCBS funding was proposed by the White House and faced no opposition from Senate Democrats. A pattern is starting to emerge: Congress repeatedly suggests that it is committed to strengthening services for people with disabilities, only for disability services to quickly fall by the wayside before any funding proposal can get across the finish line. As a result, service providers are unable to pay a living wage to their essential workers and our most vulnerable populations lack access to these critical services. This continues to be an ongoing cycle that’s only getting worse. Today, chronic workforce shortages, exacerbated by the pandemic, are threatening access to services for millions of people with disabilities and their families. Thousands are left languishing on waiting lists, while providers have been forced to close countless programs. As brand-new data from a survey of nearly 800 providers reveals, 62 percent of community providers have discontinued programs and services, representing a staggering 82 percent increase since just before the pandemic. Lack of access to services has devastating impacts for people with disabilities, their family members and our society. As the chief executive of the nation’s leading association for community disability providers, I hear heart-wrenching stories every week about how a lack of staff means, for example, that people have to sleep in their wheelchairs because there is no one there to help them maneuver out of bed when they wake up the next morning. We have long said that we need bold, decisive, bipartisan action from lawmakers to address the growing workforce crisis. But Congress squandered an opportunity for transformational change by excluding an investment in HCBS from its reconciliation package. As such, the onus is now on lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to find some other mechanism to deliver this legislation before the entire service delivery system collapses. The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. Our system to support people with I/DD was falling apart long before the COVID-19 pandemic. A separate report from my organization and United Cerebral Palsy found that between 2019 and 2020, vacancy rates for full-time direct support roles increased from 8.5 percent to 12.3 percent—roughly a 45 percent increase in a single year. Meanwhile, whereas starting wages in some hourly-wage industries nearly doubled in response to the pandemic, average hourly wages for direct support professionals — which are dictated primarily by states’ Medicaid rates — increased by just $1 between 2019 and 2022. Even if providers can find qualified workers, the quality of services decreases when wages are suppressed. Our newest survey reveals that 92 percent of disability service providers are struggling to adhere to quality standards due to ongoing recruitment and retention challenges. As a result, more than 8 in 10 providers are turning away new referrals, an increase of more than 25 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels. If Congress is ready to take decisive action, there is no shortage of bold steps to be taken. First, an investment in the Medicaid HCBS program of the scope initially proposed by the Better Care Better Jobs Act would make significant strides toward strengthening the workforce and should be included in any year-end legislation Congress takes up after the midterms. Second, Congress can compel the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish a standard occupational classification for DSPs, which would help improve data collection and shed light on the scope of the problems we face. Congress should also create legislation that mandates that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services require states to adjust their Medicaid reimbursement rates to combat ongoing wage suppression, and then require comprehensive rate reviews at regular intervals every two to three years. Bipartisan legislation to stabilize the direct support workforce is long overdue, and every day we wait is another day that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities risk unnecessary hospitalization or long-term institutionalization. Barbara Merrill is CEO of the American Network of Community Options and Resources. | Labor Activism |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday a tentative railway labor agreement has been reached, averting a potentially devastating strike before the pivotal midterm elections.He said the tentative deal “will keep our critical rail system working and avoid disruption of our economy.”The Democratic president believes unions built the middle class, but he also knew a rail worker strike could have badly damaged the nation’s economy. That left him in the awkward position of espousing the virtues of unionization in Detroit, a stalwart of the labor movement, while members of his administration went all-out to keep talks going in Washington between the railroads and unionized workers in hopes of averting a shutdown.But after a long night, the talks succeeded and Biden announced Thursday that the parties had reached a tentative agreement to avoid a shutdown that would go to union members for a vote. He hailed the deal in a statement for avoiding a shutdown and as a win for all sides.“These rail workers will get better pay, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their health care costs: all hard-earned,” Biden said. “The agreement is also a victory for railway companies who will be able to retain and recruit more workers for an industry that will continue to be part of the backbone of the American economy for decades to come.”It looked far more tenuous for the president just a day earlier.United Auto Workers Local 598 member Ryan Buchalski introduced Biden at the Detroit auto show on Wednesday as “the most union- and labor-friendly president in American history” and someone who was “kickin’ ass for the working class.” Buchalski harked back to the pivotal sitdown strikes by autoworkers in the 1930s. In the speech that followed, Biden recognized that he wouldn’t be in the White House without the support of unions such as the UAW and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, saying autoworkers “brung me to the dance.” But back in Washington, officials in his administration at the Labor Department were in tense negotiations to prevent a strike — one of the most powerful sources of leverage that unions have to bring about change and improve working conditions. Without the deal that was reached among the 12 unions, a stoppage could have begun as early as Friday that could halt shipments of food and fuel at a cost of $2 billion a day.Far more was at stake than sick leave and salary bumps for 115,000 unionized railroad workers. The ramifications could extend to control of Congress and to the shipping network that keeps factories rolling, stocks the shelves of stores and stitches the U.S. together as an economic power.That’s why White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, speaking aboard Air Force One as it jetted to Detroit on Wednesday, said a rail worker strike was “an unacceptable outcome for our economy and the American people.” The rail lines and their workers’ representatives “need to stay at the table, bargain in good faith to resolve outstanding issues, and come to an agreement,” she said. Biden faced the same kind of predicament faced by Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 with coal and Harry Truman in 1952 with steel — how do you balance the needs of labor and business in doing what’s best for the nation? Railways were so important during World War I that Woodrow Wilson temporarily nationalized the industry to keep goods flowing and prevent strikes.Inside the White House, aides don’t see a contradiction between Biden’s devotion to unions and his desire to avoid a strike. Union activism has surged under Biden, as seen in a 56% increase in petitions for union representation with the National Labor Relations Board so far this fiscal year.One person familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss White House deliberations on the matter, said Biden’s mindset in approaching the debate was that he’s the president of the entire country, not just for organized labor.With the economy still recovering from the supply chain disruptions of the pandemic, the president’s goal is to keep all parties so a deal could be finalized. The person said the White House saw a commitment to keep negotiating in good faith as the best way to avoid a shutdown while exercising the principles of collective bargaining that Biden holds dear.Biden also knew a stoppage could worsen the dynamics that have contributed to soaring inflation and created a political headache for the party in power.Eddie Vale, a Democratic political consultant and former AFL-CIO communications aide, said the White House pursued the correct approach at a perilous moment.“No one wants a railroad strike, not the companies, not the workers, not the White House,” he said. “No one wants it this close to the election.”Vale added that the sticking point in the talks was about “respect basically — sick leave and bereavement leave,” issues Biden has supported in speeches and with his policy proposals.Sensing political opportunity, Senate Republicans moved Wednesday to pass a law to impose contract terms on the unions and railroad companies to avoid a shutdown. Democrats, who control both chambers in Congress, blocked it. “If a strike occurs and paralyzes food, fertilizer and energy shipments nationwide, it will be because Democrats blocked this bill,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.The economic impact of a potential strike was not lost on members of the Business Roundtable, a Washington-based group that represents CEOs. It issued its quarterly outlook for the economy Wednesday.“We’ve been experiencing a lot of headwinds from supply chain problems since the pandemic started and those problems would be geometrically magnified,” Josh Bolten, the group’s CEO, told reporters. “There are manufacturing plants around the country that likely have to shut down. ... There are critical products to keep our water clean.”The roundtable also had a meeting of its board of directors Wednesday. But Bolten said Lance Fritz, chair of the board’s international committee and the CEO of Union Pacific railroad, would miss it “because he’s working hard trying to bring the strike to a resolution.”Back at the Labor Department, negotiators ordered Italian food as talks dragged into Wednesday night and the White House announced the agreement at 5:05 a.m. on Thursday. | Labor Activism |
MINNEAPOLIS — Thousands of nurses in Minnesota launched a three-day strike Monday, complaining of low salaries and understaffing worsened by the strains of the coronavirus pandemic.Some 15,000 nurses at seven health care systems in the Minneapolis and Duluth areas walked out. The affected hospitals said they recruited temporary nurses and expected to maintain most services.Picket signs went up and strike chants began at 7 a.m. outside 15 Twin Cities and Duluth area hospitals.The hospitals and the striking nurses said staff shortages are a shared concern.Minnesota Nurses Association president Mary Turner said pay raises are necessary to address the “crisis of retention” that would otherwise leave the hospitals severely understaffed.The hospitals have offered 10-12% wage increases but the nurses are seeking more than 30%. Hospital leaders called their wage demands unaffordable, noting that Allina and Fairview hospitals have posted operating losses and that the cost of such sharp wage increases would be passed along to patients.“The union rejected all requests for mediation and held fast to wage demands that were unrealistic, unreasonable and unaffordable,” several of the Twin Cities hospitals under strike said in a joint statement.Second-year nurse Madi Gay, who was picketing Monday morning after completing her overnight shift, told the Star Tribune that she had already reduced her hours at M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital because of the stress and frustration of caring for so many severely ill patients.“How long can you keep this up?” Gay asked. “My license is on the line.”Union spokesman Sam Fettig said the nurses settled on a three-day rather than open-ended strike because of concerns about the impact of drawn-out labor action on patient care.“As the nurses always say, this isn’t something they want to be doing, they want to be at the bedside providing care,” Fettig said.Hospitals argued that the proposals by the union and its nurses are too costly.“It just isn’t a realistic number,” Paul Omodt, a spokesman for several of the Minneapolis-area hospitals, said last month.The hospitals affected by the strike included those operated by Allina Health, M Health Fairview, Children’s Hospital, North Memorial and HealthPartners. In Duluth, it was Essentia and St Luke’s.As union members in Minnesota walked the picket line, UW Health nurses and the UW Hospital board in Wisconsin approved an agreement intended to avert a strike that had been scheduled to start Tuesday, a spokesperson for the nurses’ union said Monday.Nurses and administrators didn’t immediately release details of that agreement. The hospital board and 97% of nurses who voted approved the deal, according to SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin.The Minnesota nurses’ strike comes amid an upsurge in union activity nationwide.A national railroad strike could begin as early as Friday unless Congress steps in to block it. The two largest railroad unions have been demanding that the major freight carriers go beyond a proposed deal recommended by arbitrators appointed by President Joe Biden.Some high-profile companies, including Starbucks, are among those trying to stifle ongoing unionization efforts. Since late last year, more than 230 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize. Starbucks opposes unionization. | Labor Activism |
The number of American workers who quit their jobs during the pandemic—over a fifth of the workforce—may constitute one of the largest American labor movements in recent history. Workers demanded higher pay and better conditions, spurred by rising inflation and the pandemic realization that employers expected them to risk their lives for low wages, mediocre benefits, and few protections from abusive customers—often while corporate stock prices soared. At the same time, automation has become cheaper and smarter than ever. Robot adoption hit record highs in 2021. This wasn’t a surprise, given prior trends in robotics, but it was likely accelerated by pandemic-related worker shortages and Covid-19 safety requirements. Will robots automate away the jobs of entitled millennials who “don’t want to work,” or could this technology actually improve workers’ jobs and help firms attract more enthusiastic employees?The answer depends on more than what’s technologically feasible, including what actually happens when a factory installs a new robot or a cashier aisle is replaced by a self-checkout booth—and what future possibilities await displaced workers and their children. So far, we know the gains from automation have proved notoriously unequal. A key component of 20th-century productivity growth came from replacing workers with technology, and economist Carl Benedikt Frey notes that American productivity grew by 400 percent from 1930 to 2000, while average leisure time only increased by 3 percent. (Since 1979, American labor productivity, or dollars created per worker, has increased eight times faster than workers’ hourly compensation.) During this period, technological luxuries became necessities and new types of jobs flourished—while the workers’ unions that used to ensure livable wages dissolved and less-educated workers fell further behind those with high school and college degrees. But the trend has differed across industrialized countries: From 1995 to 2013, America experienced a 1.3 percent gap between productivity growth and median wage growth, but in Germany the gap was only 0.2 percent.Technology adoption will continue to increase, whether America can equitably distribute the technological benefits or not. So the question becomes, how much control do we actually have over automation? How much of this control is dependent on national or regional policies, and how much power might individual firms and workers have within their own workplaces? Is it inevitable that robots and artificial intelligence will take all of our jobs, and over what time frame? While some scholars believe that our fates are predetermined by the technologies themselves, emerging evidence indicates that we may have considerable influence over how such machines are employed within our factories and offices—if we can only figure out how to wield this power.While 8 percent of German manufacturing workers left their jobs (voluntarily or involuntarily) between 1993 and 2009, 34 percent of US manufacturing workers left their jobs over the same period. Thanks to workplace bargaining and sectoral wage-setting, German manufacturing workers have better financial incentives to stay at their jobs; The Conference Board reports that the average German manufacturing worker earned $43.18 (plus $8.88 in benefits) per hour in 2016, while the average American manufacturing worker earned $39.03 with only $3.66 in benefits. Overall, Germans across the economy with a “medium-skill” high school or vocational certificate earned $24.31 per hour in 2016, while Americans with comparable education averaged $14.55 per hour. Two case studies illustrate the differences between American and German approaches to manufacturing workers and automation, from policies to supply chains to worker training systems.In a town on the outskirts of the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, complete with winding cobblestone streets and peaked red rooftops, there’s a 220-person factory that’s spent decades as a global leader in safety-critical fabricated metal equipment for sites such as highway tunnels, airports, and nuclear reactors. It’s a wide, unassuming warehouse next to a few acres of golden mustard flowers. When I visited with my colleagues from the MIT Interactive Robotics Group and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation’s Future Work Lab (part of the diverse German government-supported Fraunhofer network for industrial research and development), the senior factory manager informed us that his workers’ attitudes, like the 14th-century church downtown, hadn’t changed much in his 25-year tenure at the factory. Teenagers still entered the firm as apprentices in metal fabrication through Germany’s dual work-study vocational system, and wages are high enough that most young people expected to stay at the factory and move up the ranks until retirement, earning a respectable living along the way. Smaller German manufacturers can also get government subsidies to help send their workers back to school to learn new skills that often equate to higher wages. This manager had worked closely with a nearby technical university to develop advanced welding certifications, and he was proud to rely on his “welding family” of local firms, technology integrators, welding trade associations, and educational institutions for support with new technology and training.Our research team also visited a 30-person factory in urban Ohio that makes fabricated metal products for the automotive industry, not far from the empty warehouses and shuttered office buildings of downtown. This factory owner, a grandson of the firm’s founder, complained about losing his unskilled, minimum-wage technicians to any nearby job willing to offer a better salary. "We’re like a training company for big companies,” he said. He had given up on finding workers with the relevant training and resigned himself to finding unskilled workers who could hopefully be trained on the job. Around 65 percent of his firm’s business used to go to one automotive supplier, which outsourced its metal fabrication to China in 2009, forcing the Ohio firm to shrink down to a third of its prior workforce.While the Baden-Württemberg factory commanded market share by selling specialized final products at premium prices, the Ohio factory made commodity components to sell to intermediaries, who then sold to powerful automotive firms. So the Ohio firm had to compete with low-wage, bulk producers in China, while the highly specialized German firm had few foreign or domestic competitors forcing it to shrink its skilled workforce or lower wages.Welding robots have replaced some of the workers’ tasks in the two factories, but both are still actively hiring new people. The German firm’s first robot, purchased in 2018, was a new “collaborative” welding arm (with a friendly user interface) designed to be operated by workers with welding expertise, rather than professional robot programmers who don’t know the intricacies of welding. Training welders to operate the robot isn’t a problem in Baden-Württemberg, where everyone who arrives as a new welder has a vocational degree representing at least two years of education and hands-on apprenticeship in welding, metal fabrication, and 3D modeling. Several of the firm’s welders had already learned to operate the robot, assisted by prior trainings. And although the German firm manager was pleased to save labor costs, his main reason for the robot acquisition was to improve workers’ health and safety and minimize boring, repetitive welding sequences—so he could continue to attract skilled young workers who would stick around. Another German factory we visited had recently acquired a robot to tend a machine during the night shift so fewer workers would have to work overtime or come in at night. | Labor Activism |
The employees at U.S. Brick in Mooresville, Indiana, have had enough of the Teamsters union. They made that clear with a union “disaffection” petition, signed by more than two-thirds of the workforce. The National Labor Relations Act gives workers the right to request a union decertification election to remove a union from their workplace, but only under certain conditions. Those conditions are under the control of the National Labor Relations Board, a five-member board that “enforces” federal labor policy, allegedly to protect workers in the private sector. Over the years, the NLRB has created its own internal policies and bureaucratic rules that restrict decertification well beyond what is required by federal law. But one should never assume the wishes of employees mean anything to federal bureaucrats, especially if the employees want to get rid of union representation. That brings us back to Mooresville and a labor law case study that comes with a “you can’t make this up” lesson to it. For years, the workers at U.S. Brick were blocked from having a union decertification vote because the NLRB-created “contract bar” policy that says after union officials sign a bargaining contract with an employer, the NLRB won’t even consider allowing a decertification election for as long as three years. This explains why union bosses push for contracts that expire in exactly three years. They create a “thread-the-needle” 30-day window for workers to attempt a union decertification before a new contract takes effect and immediately blocks any vote from being held for the next three years. The Teamsters’ contract at the Mooresville facility expired late last year, but the workers’ opportunity to request a vote to remove the Teamsters quickly vanished. Enter the Department of Justice. The Mooresville facility’s former owner was undergoing a merger and had to sell the facility to U.S. Brick to settle DOJ antitrust concerns. That government-forced sale triggered yet another NLRB-created election bar, the “successor bar,” which prevents the removal of an unwanted union for a year after ownership changes. Now, events triggered by the Department of Justice, which U.S. Brick’s workers could not control or even foresee, could prevent them from voting for another three years if the Teamsters can get a new contract in place before the expiration of the one-year successor bar. The NLRB explains all of this as necessary in the name of “industrial stability.” It’s clear, however, that the NLRB is not seeking any “stability” in how frequently workers get the opportunity to dismiss monopoly union representation through decertification. Nor are they trying to accommodate workers’ desire for “stability” in their relations with their employer, since decertifications only ever happen when enough workers demand it. The one group for whom the NLRB’s policies do create “stability” is union bosses. By erecting extra barriers to decertification that are not actually in the text of the National Labor Relations Act, the NLRB protects union officials’ job security by shielding them from accountability to workers. Ideally, workers would not have to go through the NLRB at all. They would be able to choose freely whether to associate with a union as individuals. In Indiana and the 26 other right-to-work states, the financial component of that freedom is protected; no worker can be compelled to pay dues or fees to a union they do not support. But federal law still lets union officials in all 50 states sign monopoly union contracts that apply even to nonmember employees who oppose the union. Union officials have the extraordinary power to force workers to accept their “representation." The NLRB should be working to ensure that workers have the ability to hold union officials accountable. Instead, the NLRB protects the forced unionism privilege union bosses enjoy by snuffing out challenges brought by the very workers whom union officials claim to “represent.” More states should pass right to work laws so that union officials at least cannot profit from sticking around where they are not wanted. Situations such as the one at U.S. Brick are what we can expect as long as the Biden NLRB continues to prop up and expand policies that entrench union bosses at the expense of workers’ rights. Mark Mix is president of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. | Labor Activism |
The protests that have swept Iran since the death a week ago of a young woman in the custody of the morality police have expressed a pent-up determination to create real change in the Islamic Republic.Mahsa Amini was detained for an alleged infraction of edicts that require the full covering of women’s hair with a hijab, or headscarf, in public. Witnesses and family members say the 22-year-old was severely beaten in custody. Her death triggered rage that quickly morphed into broader anti-regime unrest.
Why We Wrote This Women and their freedoms are the catalyst for widespread demonstrations in Iran demanding reforms – even, as some protesters are saying, the toppling of the Islamic Republic.
By Friday, protests had spread to some 83 cities, and the violent clashes and a crackdown by security forces have left 26 dead, according to state TV. Protesters say 50 have died.The protesters’ stated goals go beyond merely reforming the strict rules about women’s dress and extend to broadly expanding freedoms. And they speak openly of using violence to chip away at what they say is the calcified edifice of the regime.“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for,” says Mahnaz, an English tutor in the Kurdish region of northwest Iran. “Our people have never been this united,” she says. “I know this might not necessarily lead to our ultimate goal of overthrowing the regime this time. But I have no doubt it’s causing a very deep crack on its body.” Viewed from the level of Iran’s acrid, smoke-filled streets, the protests that have swept the country since the death a week ago of a young woman in the custody of the morality police have unleashed a pent-up determination to create real change in the Islamic Republic.The protesters’ stated goals go beyond merely reforming the strict rules about women’s dress and extend to broadly expanding freedoms. And they speak openly of using violence to chip away at what they say is the calcified edifice of the regime.Yet it is women’s outrage that is the driving force.
Why We Wrote This Women and their freedoms are the catalyst for widespread demonstrations in Iran demanding reforms – even, as some protesters are saying, the toppling of the Islamic Republic.
Mahsa Amini was detained by Iran’s morality police for an alleged infraction of edicts that require the full covering of women’s hair with a hijab, or headscarf, in public. Witnesses and family members say the 22-year-old was severely beaten in custody, charges the authorities deny. Her death after a three-day coma triggered rage that quickly morphed into broader anti-regime unrest.By Friday, protests had spread to some 83 cities, and the violent clashes and a crackdown by security forces have left 26 dead, according to state TV. Protesters say 50 have died.Videos posted on social media appear to show police firing directly into crowds.Women have conducted mass burnings of headscarves, and even symbolically cut off their own hair in protest, against a backdrop of burning police cars and buses, and clashes with baton-bristling riot police.Indeed, women and the evisceration of their freedoms are for the first time since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 the catalyst for demonstrations demanding reform, even, as some on the streets are saying, the wholesale toppling of the regime.“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for,” says Mahnaz, a 40-something English tutor in Sanandaj, a city in the Kurdish region of northwest Iran near Ms. Amini’s hometown, who has taken part in the protests. Like others interviewed, she gave only one name. Individuals in Iran were contacted by phone or online messaging services, despite severe disruptions to internet usage this week across the country.“Our people have never been this united. Our men could never be more supportive of women,” Mahnaz says. “I know this might not necessarily lead to our ultimate goal of overthrowing the regime this time. But I have no doubt it’s causing a very deep crack on its body.“It’s like a wall which you can’t smash to the ground with one blow. More blows, and it will collapse,” she says. “I am absolutely positive, victory is ours and it’s more imminent than it’s ever been.”Shrinking political spaceFor years Iranians have reeled from a growing sense of hopelessness due to an economy crushed by U.S.-led sanctions, mismanagement, and corruption; political disenfranchisement; and more recently, even the failure to restore the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.Those problems have been exacerbated, analysts say, by conservative and hard-line control of all levers of power in Iran. Since President Ebrahim Raisi assumed office last year, the space for political expression has shrunk further. In this photo taken by an individual and obtained by the Associated Press outside Iran, protesters chant slogans during a protest over the death of a woman who was detained by the morality police, in downtown Tehran, Iran, Sept. 21, 2022. In July the government rolled out a new hijab policy, and videos of morality police violently enforcing strict rules have gone viral.On Thursday, during his first visit to the United Nations in New York, Mr. Raisi decried the “acts of chaos” in the streets of Iran.“The Islamic Republic ignored us women, humiliated us, and destroyed two entire generations of women, and it only got worse,” says a protester in Sanandaj called Shiva, who’s 19 and plans to be a civil engineer.“But they never knew that the rage was just intensifying beneath the surface. And guess what? We’re there to vent all that accumulated anger back into their faces. ... And trust me, it will be devastating,” she says.“This girl [Ms. Amini] has united us all, because we could all relate to her, not just women, even men. She’s the embodiment of our plight; in one word she’s ‘Iran,’ its suffering, the barest form of a nation’s misery under a criminal regime,” Shiva says.“Woman, life, freedom”The protests have seen a welter of slogans, including “Death to the dictator” – a reference to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose portraits have been torn down and burned.But there was also “Woman, life, freedom” – about the issue that sparked these protests, and a desire to open civil society.According to Tara Sepehri Far, Iran researcher for Human Rights Watch, under Mr. Raisi Iran has been “trying to further curtail the very minimal space that activists were trying to create.”“Labor rights activists, teachers, those were some of the leading voices in civil society that were organizing peaceful mobilization. They’ve been arrested; there’s been a crackdown against them,” says Ms. Sepehri Far. “There’s been a lot of human rights defenders [who] have been summoned to serve prison sentences.“As a woman who grew up in Iran, seeing people united en masse for something that is about women’s choice of dress code, as well as obviously accountability for the death of Mahsa, it is unprecedented,” she says.“I have never seen the criticism and calls for reform this loud. So regardless of where these protests go, the debate on hijab has moved forward forever, and there is no going back,” she adds. “Iranian women have demonstrated their will to walk in streets of big cities without hijab in total defiance of the law.”Past nationwide protests have been brutally squelched, such as in 2009 over a presidential election widely seen as rigged, and in 2019 over economic grievances that are reported to have left 1,500 dead. Nasibe Samsaei, an Iranian woman living in Turkey, reacts after she cut her hair during a protest following the death of Mahsa Amini, outside the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul, Sept. 21, 2022. “No-violence idea is gone”This time the anger seems to have leaped beyond class, economic, and ethnic boundaries that marked previous upheavals. Another change is the rejection by some of peaceful methods.“This time the no-violence idea is gone. Even very young kids are sharing stuff [about] how to defeat the security forces,” says a businessman in southern Iran, who asked not to be identified further.“In the past we wanted to be on the peaceful side and that was a value, but now it is the opposite,” he says. He points to a 19-year-old woman sharing tactics on social media of how to “take down” a squad of police officers on motorcycles.Also making the rounds is a list of 13 techniques for countering interrogation, based on the past experience of detainees in Iran.“Mahsa was a trigger,” says the businessman. “Establishment corruption is making everyone angry, but as I talk to very young friends, they are tired of being told what to do and not do,” he says. “They want to take down everything.”“Those moments are behind us when they held rifles and we gave them flowers,” says Afghani, a student in Sanandaj.Fueling popular anger is how the current government appears to have turned upside down 25 years of conventional political wisdom about maintaining peace in Iran. It holds that when the hard-line minority has the political upper hand, as it does today, social rules like hijab-wearing are slightly relaxed – in an unspoken quid pro quo over other policies unpopular with the majority, reform-minded population.“It is quite clear that the government of Ebrahim Raisi has to give something back to the ultraconservative elements of the system that have elevated him to this position, and in these circles the mandatory hijab is obviously a very sensitive and very elementary issue,” says Adnan Tabatabai, an Iran expert and founder of the Bonn, Germany-based Center for Applied Research and Partnership With the Orient.At the same time, he says, there may now be “a critical mass of political figures that may be pushing for gradual changes in how the mandatory hijab is enforced.”“Probably it is not anxiety that the system and the elite feel, because they’re all aware that they have the necessary zeal and the necessary means to suppress these kinds protests and clear the streets in the coming days and weeks,” says Mr. Tabatabai. “But we at least have some current and former officials who have been extremely critical of mandatory hijab and its enforcement, who spoke out long before the case of Mahsa Amini, and have spoken out again.”Two sistersAny change won’t come soon enough for two sisters in Kermanshah, a provincial capital in northwest Iran. Each hold master’s degrees, and both were peaceful attendees at rallies. One night last week one was arrested, when 30 security agents descended on their home at 3 a.m.“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” says one sister, who reckons her sibling was identified by security cameras. “You can’t believe how wild they were in the raid, cursing with the worst-ever sexist slurs, dragging her on the floor.“If you remember, once they were propagating the slogan that if we don’t fight Islamic State in Syria, we have to battle it in our streets,” she says.“Now they are ISIS loud and clear, and they have no shame to act like it. So aren’t we fighting an enemy right on our own soil?” she asks. “They are occupiers; it’s high time we pushed them out.”An Iranian researcher contributed reporting for this story. | Labor Activism |
Shipping containers are seen at a terminal inside the Port of Oakland as truck drivers continue protesting against California's new law known as AB5, in Oakland, California, U.S., July 21, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos BarriaRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comJuly 21 (Reuters) - Truckers protesting California's new "gig worker" law blockaded the state's third-busiest seaport for a second day on Thursday, stalling agricultural exports and threatening to worsen U.S. supply chain backups.The operator of the largest marine terminal at the Port of Oakland closed it for business on Thursday, while the three other marine terminals on the property had some on-ship labor underway, port spokesman Robert Bernardo said.Independent truck drivers have been picketing terminal gates and choking truck traffic on the port since Monday in protest of California's new labor law formally known as AB5.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBackers say AB5 aims to clamp down on labor abuses and push companies to hire drivers as employees - which would enable them to join unions and collectively bargain with employers.The law was a win for unions but is broadly opposed by big rig drivers who say it would make it more expensive for them to remain independent and push them to become company employees.Protesters and the trucking industry want California Governor Gavin Newsom to delay enforcement of the law. Some organizers say the protesters - whose rally call is "The cargo won't flow 'til AB5 goes" - won't stop until they get a sit-down with Newsom.In a rebuff on Thursday, the governor's office said: "No one should be caught by surprise by the law's requirements. The industry should focus on supporting this transition."The eighth-busiest U.S. container seaport - a key hub for agricultural trade - was already working to clear a pandemic-fueled cargo backup before the trucker protests began. The knock-on effects of the occasionally confrontational protests are already rippling beyond trucking."It's not just this as a one-off," Shawna Morris, senior vice president for U.S. Dairy Export Council and National Milk Producers Federation, said of the blockade.ADDING TORNADO TO HURRICANEDairy farmers and other food producers have struggled to get products on the water because container shipping lines prioritized more lucrative, pandemic-fueled imports from Asia to the United States."We've added a tornado to the hurricane that the industry has been trying to endure for the last almost two years now," Morris said.It also complicates matters for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which is in-high stakes U.S. West Coast port labor contract negotiations with terminal operators. The ILWU supports AB5 and said its dock worker members didn't cross the blockade line for safety reasons."We're not going to put our members in harm's way to pass through the line of truckers," said Farless Dailey, ILWU Local 10 president."We have dispatched 450 workers in the past three days who haven't been able to get in to move cargo for the day, and they don't get paid when they don't get in," Dailey said.When trucks and dock workers don't move cargo, the port clogs and ships don't move - exacerbating backups and amplifying risks for shippers who rely on the port.Oakland handles about $1.86 billion in exports per month at this time of year. Two thirds of the value of those are agricultural products, and perishables will take the biggest hit from the shutdown, said Jock O'Connell, international trade advisor at consultancy Beacon Economics.That puts at risk California's $20 billion-plus agriculture export industry and shipments of everything from almonds and rice to milk powder and wine.The clock is also ticking for the $18 billion U.S. pork and beef export market, said Joe Schuele, spokesman for the U.S. Meat Export Federation.Fresh U.S. beef and pork producers transport products hundreds of miles to the Oakland port because it is the preferred launch point for cargo ships bound for Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, Schuele said.If port delays drag on more than a few days, the refrigerated meat may need to be frozen to prevent it from spoiling, which lowers its value while adding frozen storage costs, he said."You don't have a lot of time to spare," Schuele said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles, additional reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago; Editing by Mark Porter and Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Labor Activism |
Unions in New South Wales will declare the beginning of a six-month campaign to remove Dominic Perrottet’s coalition from government, releasing the results of a survey suggesting voters believe hospitals, ambulance services and public transport are deteriorating.The Unions NSW secretary, Mark Morey, will tell the state Labor conference on Saturday that the state public sector is on the verge of a “mass resignation” and a new government needs to be elected in March to improve critical services including health and education.The rallying speech will be given as a YouGov poll of 2,797 NSW voters, commissioned by Unions NSW, found more than half of respondents thought public hospitals were getting worse, with about three-quarters of those respondents blaming the state government.The survey also revealed more than 40% of respondents believed public transport was getting worse and 75% of them blamed that on the government. Almost half of respondents said they felt the ambulance service was worsening and a majority of people blamed it on the government. Sign up for our free morning newsletter and afternoon email to get your daily news roundup Unions and the Perrottet government have been at war since the start of the year over conditions and the public sector wage cap that unions argue represents a real wages cut as inflation continues to worsen.Teachers and nurses have repeatedly gone on strike and rail workers have engaged in multiple rounds of industrial action and strikes, which the government has called a conspiracy with Labor to wreak havoc until the 2023 election.Morey will tell the conference of a “conspiracy” – one to lift wages, make workplaces safer and provide better schooling and healthcare.“That’s the conspiracy, and will we be fighting for it all the way to the state election? You bloody bet we will,” he will tell the conference.“Unions NSW and the broader movement are now on a campaign footing. There’s no corner of the state that won’t hear our message.”Morey will also compare the premier with former prime minister John Howard and his WorkChoices changes, which unions at the time argued had worsened workers’ conditions and rights.“[Perrottet] knows his wages policy is shrinking the take-home pay of paramedics, cleaners, firefighters, teachers – the very workers who risked … their lives to get us through the pandemic,” he will say.“We’re on the verge of a mass resignation … The public knows it. Across all major areas of essential services, confidence is collapsing.”The opposition leader, Chris Minns, is this weekend also expected to announce a suite of policies that he plans to present to the people of NSW ahead of the election.A YouGov survey of 2,893 public sector employees released last week found more than a quarter were or had considered moving interstate for work and 62% were considering leaving the public sector within five years. | Labor Activism |
MoMo Productions/Getty ImagesJust under half of moms of young children currently work full time, and nearly 30% are not employed.Childcare policies under the Build Back Better plan could lead to full-time jobs for over a million moms.Although the move could help address the labor shortage, it stands little chance of becoming law.Mothers of young children often face a difficult choice in those early years, one that often ends with them sacrificing their careers to look after their kids.In the US, that means nearly 30% of moms are not employed, and another 22% are working part time, leaving just under half of moms employed full time.The impact is, of course, more acute for lower-income families, who may not be able to afford the rising cost of private childcare.That could change under the early care and education provisions of President Joe Biden's all-but-dead Build Back Better plan, a working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows.Under Biden's plan, most families would see their childcare costs capped at 7% of their income, compared with what they're spending now, which is nearly 18% of their income. The plan also requires anyone receiving benefits to actively seek a job or an education.If the subsidies and work requirements of the plan were implemented, the researchers estimate the percentage of moms working full time would climb by nearly 10 percentage points.That's over a million women moving from either non-employment or part-time work into full-time jobs.There's no question that the US is facing a childcare crisis, as well as a labor shortage, and the analysis shows the Build Back Better plan would help with both.Regardless of this evidence, Biden's plan has almost zero chance of passing the Senate, where 50 Republicans and Joe Manchin have made clear their opposition to using the bill for spending on children and families.The NBER's numbers are consistent with — and more conservative than — earlier findings from The Century Foundation that estimate if mothers of children under 6 were employed at the same rate as those with children between 6 and 12, there would be about 1.6 million more women employed.That analysis found the Biden plan would bring 1.1 million parents into the labor force, and have 2 million others increase their working hours, for a net economic boost of $48 billion per year.Read the original article on Business Insider | Labor Activism |
A contestant on the second season of Netflix’s “Love Is Blind” reality series is suing the streamer and the show’s producers, charging them with a string of labor-law violations, including fostering “inhumane working conditions” and paying cast members less than minimum wage.The lawsuit, filed by Jeremy Hartwell, alleges “Love Is Blind” producers plied the cast with alcohol and deprived them of food and water — while paying rates that were below Los Angeles County’s minimum wage. The suit, filed in California Superior Court in L.A., names as defendants Netflix, production company Kinetic Content and Kinetic’s casting company Delirium TV.Variety has reached out to Netflix and Kinetic Content for comment.Hartwell, who is director at a mortgage company in Chicago, claims he spent several days recovering from the effects of sleep deprivation, lack of access to food and water and copious amounts of alcohol that he was provided. “Love Is Blind” Season 2 premiered on Netflix in February 2022.According to the lawsuit, “Love Is Blind” contestants should have been classified under California state law as employees rather than independent contractors because producers dictated the timing, manner and means of their work. During the production, producers paid contestants a flat rate of $1,000 per week — despite forcing them to work up to 20 hours per day, seven days per week. That works out to as little as $7.14 per hour, well under the minimum wage in Los Angeles County of at least $15 per hour, according to the complaint.Producers of the show “intentionally underpaid the cast members, deprived them of food, water and sleep, plied them with booze and cut off their access to personal contacts and most of the outside world. This made cast members hungry for social connections and altered their emotions and decision-making,” said attorney Chantal Payton of Payton Employment Law, the L.A.-based firm that is representing Hartwell.Hartwell’s suit seeks class-action status on behalf of all participants in “Love Is Blind” and other non-scripted productions created by the defendants over the past four years. Payton Employment Law estimates the potential size of the plaintiff class to number more than 100 individuals.According to Hartwell’s suit, the show’s contracts required contestants to agree that if they left the show before shooting was completed, they would have to pay $50,000 in “liquidated damages.” The lawsuit alleges that reality show cast members “either have a genuine fear of retaliation and harm to their reputation for any resistance to the orders of those holding the purse strings or they aren’t aware of their rights.”Payton said in a statement provided by his attorneys, “Reality show production and casting companies exert a lot more control over the contestants than the law allows for a worker to truly be considered an independent contractor, especially in shows where cast members are supposedly searching for love.”Kinetic Content, in addition to “Love Is Blind,” also produces the reality shows “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On,” which debuted this year on Netflix, and “Married at First Sight,” which was created in 2014 and airs on Lifetime and streams on Netflix.In “Love Is Blind,” the contestants — 15 men and 15 women — meet their dates from separate “pods” and converse through speakers, unable to see each other. Two contestants must get engaged before they are allowed to meet face-to-face, which for some participants leads all the way to an on-screen marriage and for others a wedding-day breakup. “Love Is Blind” just picked up a 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards nomination for structured reality program (and earned Emmys two noms in 2020) and has spawned Brazilian and Japanese versions.Season 3 of “Love Is Blind,” shot in Dallas, is slated to hit Netflix later this year.“The combination of sleep deprivation, isolation, lack of food, and an excess of alcohol all either required, enabled or encouraged by defendants contributed to inhumane working conditions and altered mental state for the cast,” reads Hartwell’s complaint. “At times, defendants left members of the cast alone for hours at a time with no access to a phone, food, or any other type of contact with the outside world until they were required to return to working on the production.”Hartwell’s lawsuit seeks unpaid wages plus, financial compensation for missed meal breaks and rest periods, plus unspecified monetary damages for unfair business practices and civil penalties for labor code violations.The suit was filed June 29 in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles. | Labor Activism |
The US’s third-largest railroad union rejected a deal with employers Monday, renewing the possibility of a strike that could cripple the economy. Both sides will return to the bargaining table before that happens.Over half of track maintenance workers represented by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division who voted opposed the five-year contract, which contained 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses. Union President Tony Cardwell said the railroads didn’t do enough to address the lack of paid time off – particularly sick time – and working conditions after the major railroads eliminated nearly one-third of their jobs over the past six years.“Railroaders are discouraged and upset with working conditions and compensation and hold their employer in low regard. Railroaders do not feel valued,” Cardwell said in a statement. “They resent the fact that management holds no regard for their quality of life, illustrated by their stubborn reluctance to provide a higher quantity of paid time off, especially for sickness.”The group that represents the railroads in negotiations said they were disappointed the union rejected the agreement, but emphasized that no immediate threat of a strike existed because the union had agreed to keep working for now.Four other railroad unions have approved their agreements with freight railroads including BNSF, Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern, CSX and Norfolk Southern, but all 12 unions representing 115,000 workers must ratify their contracts to prevent a strike. Another union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, initially rejected its deal but has since renegotiated a new contract. Voting will be completed in mid-November.Joe Biden pressured the railroads and unions to reach a deal last month ahead of a mid-September deadline to allow a strike or walkout. Many businesses also urged Congress to be ready to intervene in the dispute and block a strike if an agreement wasn’t reached because so many companies rely on railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products.In general, the deals the unions agreed to closely follow the recommendations a special panel of Biden-appointed arbitrators made this summer. That Presidential Emergency Board recommended what would be the biggest raises rail workers have seen in more than four decades, but it didn’t resolve the unions’ concerns about working conditions. Instead it said the unions should pursue additional negotiations or arbitration that can take years with each railroad individually.The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way union said it agreed to delay any strike until five days after Congress reconvenes in mid-November to allow time for additional negotiations.The Rutgers University professor Todd Vachon, who teaches labor relations classes, said he was not entirely surprised the contract was rejected given how emboldened union members feel to fight for better working conditions amidst the current worker shortage.“The biggest sticking issue is quality of life – especially access to paid time off and paid sick time. If the railroads can make some movement in that area, it will likely go a long way with rail workers who currently feel they are not being respected by their employers,” Vachon said. “Wages and resource allocation are one important part of contract negotiations, but feeling respected by one’s employer remains one of the top reasons that workers form and join unions.” | Labor Activism |
Uber and Amazon Flex drivers protest the fuel price serge and demand more money outside an Amazon warehouse in Redondo Beach, California, U.S., March 16, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - After weeks of lobbying the White House on how gig workers should be treated, the rideshare, delivery and retail industries are bracing for a new rule that is likely to make it easier to classify them as employees, multiple sources say.
A proposed rule from the Department of Labor, aimed at defining whether gig workers for companies including Uber (UBER.N), Lyft (LYFT.O), DoorDash (DASH.N) and retailers such as Amazon.com Inc are misidentified as independent contractors, is under review at the White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and is expected to be released in coming weeks.While the details of the new rule are not known, the department could model it on legal guidance that says people economically dependent on a company are employees, or go even further to expand the pool of workers who should receive benefits, legal experts said. read more Groups representing employers, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The National Association of Home Builders, The National Retail Federation and the Associated Builders and Contractors have met with officials at the White House's Office of Management and Budget, according to White House records and sources.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSome of the groups have been trying, and failing, to convince the White House that any broad rule would hurt workers who want to remain independent and have flexibility, people familiar with the discussion said. More than one-third of U.S. workers, or nearly 60 million people, performed some sort of freelance work in the past 12 months, a December 2021 survey by freelancing marketplace Upwork showed.Broadly defining independent contractors as employees would also force companies to pay benefits, such as overtime pay and health benefits, that would hurt their bottom line. Employers can save about 30 percent by skipping payroll taxes and unemployment and benefit costs, workers' groups estimate.The meetings at the White House were one-sided, with officials at OIRA letting groups speak and not participating or asking follow-up questions, several employer sources said. They are interpreting that as a sign the Biden administration's mind is made up.POLITICAL"It's all very political. The administration has been clear about the stakeholders they care about and how organized labor is something they care about," said a senior official at one of the employer groups, who met with the White House to discuss the proposed rulemaking."We expect it to be more antagonistic toward independent work," the official, who did not wish to be named said, and to hurt companies that rely on gig labor.A White House official said that listening without comment is part of the standard rulemaking process at OIRA.Representatives and lobbyists for employers argued against "administrator interpretation" and "the economic realities test" issued in 2015 under the Obama administration, which said most workers should be considered employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. They also presented their opposition to the "ABC test" which determines employee status."I'm not optimistic that the concerns we raised is going to change the direction of the rulemaking," said another lobbyist for an employer group, who spoke to the White House.The White House and the Department of Labor declined comment. Amazon did not respond to a request for comment. A spokeswomen for the Flex Association, which represents Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, said any drastic change that will limit workers' flexibility "could have dire economic consequences as well as reduce income and limit options for workers."WORKERS WARN OF GROWING PAINGig Workers Rising, RideShare Workers United, Mobile Workers Alliance, We Drive Progress also met White House officials to broaden the definition of employee further, according to records and sources.A growing number of companies, including in health care, are misclassifying hundreds of thousands of workers across the United States, they argued. Workers in industries that rely on contractors, like food delivery services, say they're left without social safety nets, accident coverage or paid sick leave, and squeezed by high gas prices."This is a model in which if we don't draw a line in this country, every job is at risk ... and so this rulemaking should be about ensuring people have basic protections," said Nicole Moore, a part-time Lyft driver and the president of the group Rideshare Drivers United.Moore said the rulemaking would help Democrats if it were to be released before the November midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans or Democrats control Congress."The last thing Americans want is to hear promises on what the party stands for, what it will mean to have folks in the White House, Senate and House of Representatives and then to have nothing happen," she said."Leaving out misclassified workers would be a huge mistake."This is President Joe Biden's second stab at re-setting rules about how employees can be defined, and is expected to be quickly challenged in court by companies.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Nandita Bose; Additional reporting by Daniel Weissner, Lisa Baertlein and Doyinsola Oladipo; Editing by Heather Timmons and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Labor Activism |
Of the various right-wing arguments deployed against the social programs of America’s New Deal and Great Society eras, among the most common was that such programs simply didn’t work. Poverty, according to this line of thinking, is not a straightforward by-product of market forces but something whose causes are more diaphanous and that cannot be addressed by way of simple redistribution. At the level of rhetoric, this argument could be very effective: by mystifying poverty or by attributing it to cultural factors, conservatives successfully embedded a prejudice against social spending in the mainstream of both major parties — a development that ultimately led to catastrophic efforts like the Clinton administration’s welfare reform bill.
The idea is nonsense, and always has been. But the pandemic, which elicited heightened levels of public spending on a range of income support and social security programs during both the Trump and Biden administrations, has helped to debunk it on a truly grand scale. Evidence throughout 2021, for example, clearly showed the Child Tax Credit — which sent payments worth $250/month for children ages six through seventeen and $300/month for children younger than six — quite literally kept millions of children out of poverty (millions of them subsequently reentered it when the credit was phased out).
In this respect, a new analysis recently published by Asha Banerjee and Ben Zipperer of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is just the latest addition to a vast body of data demonstrating that poverty is, straightforwardly, a policy choice. Drawing on the latest census data, Banerjee and Zipperer analyze the implications of various income support and pandemic-era programs in 2021 — finding that they protected tens of millions from falling into poverty, contributing to a rate that was lower than before the pandemic.
Not every program in EPI’s report dates from the pandemic. By far the largest impact (unsurprisingly) came from Social Security, which kept an estimated 26.3 million people from poverty in 2021.
But direct stimulus payments, unemployment checks, and tax credits also had a pronounced effect: For decades, Democratic and Republican politicians alike have hacked away at the universality of various social programs — often, once again, on the absurd grounds that means-testing is more effective. It’s notable, then, that Banerjee and Zipperer find pandemic-era unemployment insurance (UI) benefits kept some 2.3 million out of poverty, one reason being that they did away with many of the restrictive eligibility requirements (the authors, in fact, note that estimates drawing on the existing census data likely understate the extent of UI’s anti-poverty impact, which was quite probably millions more). They conclude:
Given the overwhelming effectiveness of these programs in keeping people out of poverty, it is unconscionable that policymakers have allowed them to expire and added to the stress of low-income families in the years to come.
Banerjee and Zipperer are absolutely right. However, the pandemic — and the various discourse which ensued around particular benefits and credits — also underscored the extent to which the “debate” around the effectiveness (or supposed noneffectiveness) of social expenditure is an illusion.
If people have a modicum of economic security and are not compelled by desperation to seek out low-wage employment, after all, then the pool of cheap labor for business is going to be much smaller — a fact the business lobby and its tribunes in Congress rather shamelessly made explicit at various points throughout the pandemic, especially in relation to unemployment checks. Perhaps the real problem with social security programs and anti-poverty initiatives, in other words, isn’t that they don’t work but rather that they actually work a bit too well. | Labor Activism |
The Port of Oakland – one of the country’s largest and a key hub for global commerce – has been brought to a standstill by a group of truck drivers angered over a state labor law that could upend their business model.
The protest, which entered its second day on Tuesday, escalated to a near complete shutdown of the port as more than 100 protesters blocked terminal entrances halting the flow of goods. Many dock workers also refused to cross the truck drivers’ picket line, which forced the port to stop loading and offloading ships at the main terminal, a port authority spokesperson said.
“We want to show everyone that if our trucks stop, America stops,” said Harnoor Singh, who runs a company of four truck drivers. “We’re going to keep going until something positive comes out of” Sacramento.
Unlike union-backed strikes, the trucker protest is a loose coalition of independent contractors organized through social media without clear leadership. On Tuesday, the truckers said they may continue to halt cargo traffic throughout the week or possibly end the protest on Wednesday with the goal of moving the action to the state capital. At the heart of the protest is the 2019 law AB 5, which will require about 70,000 currently independent owner-operators to register as employees of trucking and other companies. Many small business owners and independent truckers say the law could force them to shut down their operations. However, worker’s rights groups say the trucking industry is in desperate need of employee protections.
OAKLAND, CA – JULY 19: Truck driver Ramiro Jeronimo, left, plays soccer with fellow drivers at the entrance to container terminals at the Port of Oakland on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Oakland, Calif. Truck drivers have blocked access to the terminals in protest of AB 5, a bill that creates standards for classifying workers as independent contractors. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
The law has been held up since 2020 amid legal wrangling. In June the Supreme Court declined to review a case opposing AB 5, paving the way for the state to enforce the new system of employee classifications.
AB 5 has been heavily backed by labor groups who say freelancers are often classified as independent contractors even though their work should qualify them for full-time employee benefits. Gig companies like Uber and Lyft pumped more than $200 million into a successful 2020 ballot measure to be exempt from the law, but that measure is tied up in court after a judge ruled the proposition was unconstitutional.
Doug Bloch, a political director for the Teamsters Union, criticized trucking associations for putting “all their eggs in the lawsuit basket” and not educating drivers on how AB 5 will impact their industry.
“This law is enforced against brokers and companies that hire people to drive trucks,” said Bloch. “If they’re hiring people and misclassifying them as independent contractors and cheating them out of workers comp and a minimum wage . . . well, they’re in trouble.” But many truck drivers say the independent contractors’ model gives them flexibility and the ability to grow small trucking businesses in an industry that has become an economic engine for Sikh immigrants and their children.
“One truck here is supporting two families [in India],” said Singh. The protest — coming after similar events at Southern California ports last week — also threatens to exacerbate supply chains, which are seeing a seasonal increase in cargo traffic and already teetering on the edge of major complications, said Larry Gross, a supply chain expert and president of Gross Transportation Consulting
“(Ports) are still paddling as hard as they can,” said Gross. “This is potentially quite disruptive.”
Gross said Oakland’s port protest could cause the facility to fill up with containers and force ships to seek ports in Southern California or the Gulf of Mexico.
At nearly 100 years old, the Port of Oakland is one of the top three gateways on the West Coast and it handles virtually all of Northern California’s containerized imports and exports. The port is an especially important hub for agricultural exports from California’s Central Valley to Asia.
While supply chain woes caused massive backlogs at shipping facilities during the last year, the import business has boomed amid strong consumer demand. In 2021, the Port of Oakland moved over 1 million import cargo containers, a new record.
On Tuesday, the Oakland port was quiet as protesters stood at all the terminal gates The typically bustling facility saw only a trickle of vehicle traffic as some truckers passed the time by playing soccer and munching pizza.
“The independent truckers’ concerns have been heard,” said Marilyn Sandifur, a port spokesperson, “They need to take their message to Sacramento. Ongoing protests will drive customers away from the Port of Oakland.” | Labor Activism |
Independent truck drivers gather to delay the entry of trucks at a container terminal at the Port of Oakland, during a protest against California's law known as AB5, in Oakland, California, July 18, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos BarriaRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLOS ANGELES, July 20 (Reuters) - Protesting truckers brought traffic at a Northern California port, one of the busiest in the United States, to a halt on Wednesday as they demonstrated against a new state labor law that makes it harder for independent truckers to operate.Drivers picketed gates and blocked other truckers from hauling cargo in and out of the port. The protests in Oakland began on Monday and have grown larger and more disruptive with each passing day. read more The protesters worry that California's "gig worker" law, which could soon be put into effect, will impose hefty costs on them that will wipe out their incomes.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSSA Marine, which manages the largest terminal at the Port of Oakland in the San Francisco Bay area, closed operations due to the protests, port spokesman Robert Bernardo said.The other marine terminals in Oakland are effectively shut for trucks, said Bernardo, adding that some vessel labor operations are under way.SSA and Everport terminal managers sent International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) dock workers home for safety reasons, a source familiar with the situation said Wednesday.TraPac on its website said its terminal would be closed for the first shift because protests were interfering with the entrance gate. Terminal representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.The new law, formally called AB5, sets tougher standards for classifying workers as independent contractors.Trucking industry legal challenges delayed enactment of the law for more than two years, but the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case on June 30, clearing the way for it to go forward. read more Backers, including the Teamsters and the ILWU, say AB5 aims to clamp down on labor abuses and push companies to hire drivers as employees - which would enable them to join unions and collectively bargain with employers.Some 5,000 truckers work at the Oakland port, which is a major hub for agricultural exports including almonds, rice and wine.The protests in Oakland followed actions last week at the nation's top two seaports, at Los Angeles and Long Beach in Southern California. read more The three California ports handle about half of the nation's container cargo volume. The trucker protests come as the ILWU, which represents dock workers at those and other U.S. West Coast ports, is in high-stakes contract talks with terminal operators that employ them.Protest organizers say their actions will continue until they get an audience with Governor Gavin Newsom, who did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.On Monday, the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development said: "Now that the federal courts have rejected the trucking industry's appeals, it's time to move forward."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler, Lisa Shumaker and Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Labor Activism |
truck arrives at the Amazon warehouse facility on the Staten Island borough of New York, April 1, 2022.Photo: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez (AP)It’s no secret that Amazon has been less than friendly to its workers who are trying to unionize. And given the way Amazon has wormed its way into the workings of just about everything, it’s hard to avoid shopping with the retail giant. But if you want to still do something to support workers this Prime Day, sign a petition to demand that Amazon create a safer work environment, stop union-busting, and stop Amazon from mandating overtime on Prime Day. It’s literally the least you can do.“In order to fulfill orders, workers are forced to dig through dangerously overstuffed bins, heavy boxes falling causing sprains and concussions, retrieving items from collapsing bins and struggling to meet back-breaking quotas,” the petition, started by Amazon’s ALB1 warehouse in Schodack, New York, explains.“It’s even worse on Prime Day, when the company’s already-lackluster on-site care is overwhelmed, and workers are forced to work injured. Amazon’s injury rate is 80% higher than similar companies’ injured worker rate. There’s a reason why Amazon has a 150% annual employee turnover rate,” the petition reads.What do the workers want you to do about it? Just sign a petition. “Please sign petition below to demand that Amazon recognizes the Amazon Labor Union, creates safer conditions, respects worker health, and stop its rampant union-busting,” the petition reads.G/O Media may get a commissionThe petition has been signed by just 923 people, with a goal of getting 1,000 people to sign.Not only did Amazon invent a new holiday out of thin air, just like plenty of other companies that would come before it, the retailer is rumored to be interested in adding another Prime Day sometime later in the year, according to CNBC. Double the Prime Days and double the potential for injury!If you’re addicted to the convenience of Amazon, that’s completely understandable. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t demand a safer workplace for all. Just sign the petition. It takes just a few seconds. | Labor Activism |
As students plan a return to the classroom, gearing up with new notebooks and cool backpacks, some schools could still be trying to find their teachers.The labor shortage hit schools especially hard last year and now some states are warning that hundreds of teaching positions for this fall remain unfilled.In Nevada, officials say thousands of teaching jobs are vacant across the state.Dawn Etcheverry, a public school music teacher and the president of the Nevada State Education Association, spoke to ABC News’ “Start Here” about what the teacher shortage can mean for the upcoming school year.START HERE: Is Nevada worried about the fall semester?ETCHEVERRY: Yeah, right now we're tracking over 3,000 jobs that are on our job board. We don't have teachers for the classrooms, and I'm worried about lunch workers who aren't going to be there to serve our kids meals that they need and have missed throughout the summer.And in our second-largest district, we don't have bus drivers to start the school year. So kids will already go on a rotation of one week without a bus driver every four weeks.STOCK PHOTO/Getty ImagesSTART HERE: Wow. As a kid who grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey I took the bus every day to school… I can’t imagine what my family would’ve done if that wasn’t an option.ETCHEVERRY: Right, probably since you rode the bus, you know that the bus driver greeted you every morning. We call them our first educator because they're the first person that greets a child every morning.Now they're working in rotation so that the bus driver doesn't even get to know the children that route because every week the change routes. If a child had a bad day, started off a bad morning, they don't have the same face they get every morning greeting them.Also, the driver sometimes knows if there's an issue they need to alarm the schools about; it's a safety issue because our educators are the ones who make that personal contact with the child. So you're now not giving them the same person every day.START HERE: And so... if there aren’t enough teachers, how is that going to affect the average school day?ETCHEVERRY: Right. So if we had bus drivers to get them to school, we'd have classes that are doubled in size.And we know that COVID brought us into a situation where children's social emotional learning was a big issue. We were isolated. Children weren't getting the time they needed with that adult or other children.So now you have teachers doubling their class sizes. So children aren't getting that need met.STOCK PHOTO/Getty ImagesSTART HERE: You’ve dealt with large classroom sizes in the past. How has that affected your teaching?ETCHEVERRY: It made it hard for me in my music classroom to get to instruments because it's hard to spend time one-on-one teaching a child how to do a fingering on a recorder when you've got 40 sitting in your classroom.Or let's talk about a geometry teacher in a high school who now has 48 kids and they're trying to read all the proofs. Or an English teacher who has to read all those essays and they're following their curriculum.They want those kids to learn. So they're putting in how many hours outside their job to make sure kids are getting their day spent?START HERE: What do you think is the reason behind the shortage?ETCHEVERRY: We have a legislature that meets every two years and that's where we get our funding. And we are not competitive.ETCHEVERRY: Our salaries are some of the lowest in the nation. So we're not bringing in the new educators we need because, if you come here, you can't afford to live here.So it's a cry that we need to start addressing to bring up salaries and benefits.I think nationally: Respect. We've seen educator respect go pretty low… School boards [are] being attacked over curriculum or not teaching.I think we need to really focus on what a teacher does, or what an educator does, what a bus driver does, what a food service [does], what they're there for - and that's for children.Nobody came into this to make millions. We came in this because that was where our hearts led us to and all we want is to be respected for that.START HERE: That’s Dawn Etcheverry, teacher and president of the Nevada State Education Association. | Labor Activism |
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to hear a case that union supporters fear could end up diminishing the power of workers to go on strike against their employers.The case, Glacier Northwest Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, revolves around a 2017 labor dispute involving unionized drivers at a concrete company in Washington state. Glacier Northwest filed a lawsuit to force the union to compensate it for ready-mix concrete it claims the union destroyed intentionally by declaring a work stoppage.Washington state’s Supreme Court ruled that the strike was arguably protected by federal labor law and that the company’s claims should therefore be dismissed, leaving the dispute under the federal National Labor Relations Board. But Glacier Northwest and conservative groups argue that federal labor law should not preempt the company’s claims and that it should be able to sue the Teamsters in state court.Labor lawyers said a U.S. Supreme Court decision against the Teamsters could open unions up to lawsuits by employers seeking to recoup costs associated with strikes. That, in turn, would make workers more hesitant to go on strike to improve pay and working conditions, thereby weakening unions’ most powerful weapon: the ability to withhold labor. “The real issue is whether this Supreme Court has the ability to be fair in cases involving unions.”- Sharon Block, Harvard Law SchoolSharon Block, director of the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School, said she found it “hugely troubling” that the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case at all after a lower court said the matter should be left to the NLRB.“We have a federal agency that is supposed to figure out these kinds of cases. They have been doing it for decades,” Block told HuffPost. “This has the potential to fundamentally alter how the [National Labor Relations Act] operates. And that doesn’t belong in state court.” She added that a ruling in Glacier Northwest’s favor could have far-reaching implications.“If the court ends up saying, ‘Well, sure, you can strike, but you have to strike in a way that doesn’t cause anybody any discomfort,’ then I think that’s a pretty significant rethinking of the [law],” Block said.The conservative Supreme Court has not been friendly to labor in recent years. In 2018, the court issued a historic ruling making the entire U.S. public sector “right to work,” allowing government employees to opt out of paying union fees even if they’re covered by a union contract. The same year, the court issued a historic decision establishing that employers can force workers to sign arbitration agreements as a condition of employment, making it harder for workers to band together as victims of wage theft or discrimination.The court’s composition has tilted even more rightward since those rulings, following former President Donald Trump’s three appointments, which created a 6-3 conservative majority.The ability to go on strike lies at the heart of the collective bargaining system established during the New Deal. When workers believe they are being mistreated, they can walk off the job to hurt production and force the company into a better deal at the bargaining table. Likewise, employers hold the ability to “lock out” their workers and prevent them from earning a paycheck in order to gain leverage. The Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts has not been friendly to labor unions.ERIN SCHAFF via Getty ImagesBenjamin Dictor, a union-side labor attorney, said a broad ruling against the union could not only undermine the strike as a weapon but also disrupt the balance of power between labor and management as they bargain in good faith.“A ruling that effectively disarms one party of their economic leverage while leaving the other’s intact would necessarily destroy the relative balance of power that the [law] was intended to maintain,” Dictor told HuffPost.In the Glacier Northwest case, Teamsters Local 714 called a strike among its 90 drivers at the company while it was trying to secure a new contract. The strike began at 7 a.m. while some trucks were waiting to be loaded with ready-mix concrete and others were out making deliveries, according to a Teamsters brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court. Sixteen trucks returned to the yard with undelivered concrete. Glacier Northwest claims the union timed its strike to spoil that product ― “intentionally destroying an employer’s property in the course of a labor dispute,” as the company put it ― since the concrete would be useless once it hardened. The company disciplined some of the striking workers and filed a lawsuit against the union.But the Teamsters say workers didn’t intentionally destroy any concrete. “The striking drivers returned their trucks to Glacier’s yard and left them running precisely so that the concrete would not harden,” the union said. “By so doing, the strikers not only safeguarded Glacier’s trucks but they allowed the Company to use the concrete as it saw fit.”“A ruling that effectively disarms one party of their economic leverage while leaving the other’s intact would necessarily destroy the relative balance of power.”- Benjamin Dictor, union-side labor attorneyThe general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, who acts as a kind of prosecutor for labor law, ended up filing a complaint against Glacier Northwest alleging that the company violated workers’ collective bargaining rights by disciplining them over the strike and filing its lawsuit over the concrete, according to the union. That case is scheduled to have a hearing at the labor board next month.Craig Becker, the general counsel of the AFL-CIO labor federation, which includes 58 unions, told HuffPost in a statement that Glacier Northwest has “misrepresent[ed] the facts” of the case by claiming the union destroyed concrete on purpose. “Congress chose to protect strikes as the motor of the collective bargaining system that broadly preserves labor peace,” Becker said. “The Supreme Court should not use this case to narrow that fundamental protection.”In 1959, the Supreme Court held that federal collective bargaining law preempts state and local regulations that might interfere with it. One expert has said the preemption doctrine when it comes to the National Labor Relations Act is “among the broadest and most robust in federal law.” The preemption cuts both ways for unions. It can protect them from claims like the one filed by Northwest Glacier, but it also makes it much harder to pass laws at the state level that could help restore union membership in the U.S. As of last year, a mere 10.3% of workers belonged to a union, nearly half the rate of 1983, the year the government first started tracking.Block said the court may choose to chip away at the preemption doctrine of the National Labor Relations Act but in a way that benefits only employers.“The real issue is whether this Supreme Court has the ability to be fair in cases involving unions,” she said. | Labor Activism |
After Kotaku released reports that Nintendo was experiencing an uproar among contract employees, Doug Bowser reportedly called allegations of anti-union activity “troubling” in an internal memo.Photo: Michael Loccisano (Getty Images)Unlike its poster boy Mario, Nintendo cannot seem to jump high enough to clear accusations they are working to stomp out unions among contracting staff harder than a boot planted squarely on a goomba’s head.OffEnglishIn an interview with Axios, the person who filed an April complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Nintendo and its contracting firm Aston Carter finally spoke out. The unnamed worker who filed the report came out as Mackenzie Clifton, who worked as a quality assurance tester for Nintendo from 2018 to the start of this year.The tester said he loved his job at the start, but quickly came to learn just how poorly the company treated its contracting staff. A strong Super Smash Bros. player, Clifton worked on bug testing for games like Super Smash Bros.: Ultimate and its post-release content. He and fellow contractors grew annoyed at their lack of agency and forced breaks. He learned that in 2021 his and other testers’ names weren’t being added to the credits of Ultimate.During a January Q&A with workers sitting down with Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser, Clifton said they asked “What does [Nintendo of America] think about the unionization trend in QA in the games industry as of late?” The ex-Nintendo tester said one of their bosses from Aston Carter later reprimanded him for asking a “downer question.” Clifton said they were fired a month later.Clifton filed a NLRB complaint against Nintendo and Aston Carter in April this year claiming the company and contract agency had discharged an employee who supported unionizing and surveilled employees who talked about unions.Axios cited a past comment from Nintendo saying the person they let go was leaking confidential information. Clifton said Nintendo showed them a tweet they posted in February that did not reference any game or actual asset. The tweet reportedly read “in today’s build someone somewhere must have deleted every other texture in the game [because] everything is now red. Just like, pure red. it’s very silly.”Ultimate was finally updated with their and other contractor’s names in 2022, only after they were let go. Neither Nintendo nor Aston Carter immediately responded to Gizmodo’s request for comment.Our friends over at Kotaku reported on a second set of labor violations in May, alleging Nintendo and contract hiring firm Aston Carter interfered with workers organizing, and further mentioned possible accusations of retaliation and coercion. Nearly a dozen Nintendo contractors came out of the woodwork to complain about how the company treats temp workers and pays them less than—or close to—minimum wage for quality assurance work. Those same temp staff said a fellow contract worker was being retaliated against for a meeting in which they hinted at the very idea of unionizing, which may well relate to Clifton.After those complaints came out, Bowser reportedly called such accounts of a bad workplace “troubling” in an internal message and promised they would look into it.According to Axios, Clifton sat down with Nintendo to settle the complaint. Clifton wanted a letter of apology from Bowser, but the company countered with a HR letter and a neutral letter of reference.Just a few weeks ago, Nintendo of America’s former president Reggie Fils-Aime offered CNET some very noncommittal comments about games workers unionizing. He seemed to recognize that so many of those working in the games industry don’t have a consistent work schedule while suffering with low pay and the threat of forced relocation. However, he seemed to put unionization efforts as a company’s failure to adequately meet workers’ needs, rather than the workers standing up to have a seat at the table to make sure those needs are met.Fils-Aime retired as NoA’s president in 2019 before Bowser took over. | Labor Activism |
Heather Goodall, a 50-year-old Amazon worker, began pushing for a union at her Amazon warehouse just outside Albany, New York, largely because she was alarmed about safety problems – items often fell off the warehouse’s 27-ft-high racks, she said.“We’ve had packers who had items fall on them. Several complained about concussions,” Goodall said. “You can see wires protruding out. It could cause lacerations. It might take someone’s eyes out.”In early summer, Goodall turned into a dynamo, fighting for improved safety and a union, asking coworker after coworker to sign pro-union cards seeking a unionization election. She obtained so many signatures that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has set a union vote from 12 October through 17, with the vote count set for 18 October.Goodall is hoping the ALB1 warehouse in Schodack, a dozen miles south of Albany, will become the nation’s second unionized Amazon facility, after workers at an 8,300-employee warehouse in Staten Island, New York, voted to join the Amazon Labor Union in April. The Albany-area workers will vote on whether to join that same independent union, although Goodall says Amazon is fighting fiercely to defeat the union drive.Kimberly Lane, a coworker who is helping lead the union drive, said: “The biggest issue is wages.” Lane has worked there for two years and makes $16.20 an hour. “Some new hires are starting at $16.35,” she noted, adding: “It’s ludicrous to live on that wage with this cost of living. Some of these workers are the only breadwinners in their household, and they have three children, and to pay for food, gas and car maintenance, the numbers don’t add up.”“The second big reason people want to unionize is safety,” Lane continued. “It seems that every day somebody gets injured.” She talked of a worker who recently had the tips of two fingers cut off while she was trying to remove something stuck in a machine. Lane said the workers have counted 175 ambulances coming to the warehouse since it opened two years ago.“The overarching safety issue is the combination of this very high-pressure, high-speed work environment with a physically unstable environment because of the way they cut corners in handling materials,” said Eric Frumin, health and safety director of the union-backed Strategic Organizing Center.The US attorney’s office for the southern district of New York has launched an investigation of the Albany-area warehouse. The attorney has asked the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Osha) to visit not just that warehouse, but Amazon warehouses in Chicago, Orlando, Colorado and Idaho. The US attorney’s office said it was investigating injuries resulting from workplace hazards, worker rate requirements and the pace of work, and whether Amazon accurately reported on-the-job injuries.The US attorney has a form asking Amazon workers to answer numerous questions, among them: “Have you seen workers working in unsafe ways to try to meet their productivity/rate requirements?” “Do you believe that Amazon discourages workers from reporting injuries?” and “Do you believe Amazon managers retaliate against workers who report injuries?”Patrick Flaningan, an Amazon spokesman, said: “We’ll of course cooperate with Osha in their investigation, and we believe it will ultimately show that these concerns are unfounded.” Flaningan added: “The safety and wellbeing of our employees at ALB1, and across the company, are our highest priority. Across our network we’ve invested billions of dollars in new safety measures and technologies to protect our employees.”Goodall said that ever since the union drive began, she has been repeatedly called into managers’ offices. Amazon once called the police on her when she was outside the warehouse, asking workers to sign union cards. “They are literally going through everything they can to fire, suspend or write up every worker that is associated with the union,” Goodall said. “A lot of people feel threatened and intimidated.”On 26 August, Amazon surprised Goodall by giving a final written warning – one step from being fired. She said managers accused her of two things: first, driving the wrong way in a one-way Amazon parking lot lane (she said the adjacent lane had been blocked) and second, using her mobile phone to take photos of the warehouse’s interior. Goodall told the Guardian that in late June she pointed out several safety problems to her supervisor – of boxes stacked dangerously and awkwardly in the 27-ft-high racks – and he gave her a go-ahead to take photos to document the problem. She subsequently sent some of those photos to Osha.Seth Goldstein, a lawyer for the Amazon Labor Union, said Amazon’s final warning to Goodall constituted illegal retaliation against her for supporting a union and being a whistleblower to OSHA. “It’s a clear case of retaliation,” Goodall said. “They’ll do anything in their power to get me out of the building.”In late August, Amazon fired Michael Verrastro, a 60-year-old packer after he kicked an empty box (which touched a fellow employer) out of frustration that several pieces of Amazon technology he sought to use that morning were malfunctioning, making it harder for him to meet his production quotas. Verrastro was told he was fired for violating Amazon’s workplace violence policy.“I was stunned,” he said.Verrastro said he was terminated not long after he told an Amazon anti-union consultant: “I don’t like the aggressive way that Amazon is fighting the union.” Verrastro, who has been battling aggressive prostate cancer, said he might have been fired in retaliation for what he told the consultant and because his cancer treatment was costing Amazon so much. Now without health insurance, he is alarmed about how he will pay for his cancer treatment.“This is wrong,” Verrastro said. “I’m going to fight this.”Any claims of retaliation are “absolutely false”, Amazon’s Flaningan said. “We do not retaliate against employees for exercising their federally protected rights.” He added that Amazon, like any employer, asks its workers to meet certain minimum expectations and then might “take appropriate and consistent action when they’re unable to do that”.At the ALB1 warehouse, Amazon has anti-union consultants speak to workers one on one and requires workers to attend anti-union meetings, where Amazon consultants badmouth the Amazon Labor Union, saying it is unproven, will not accomplish anything and will charge lots in union dues.“Our unionization efforts are going well,” Lane said . The pro-union workers talk to co-workers at the warehouse exit, in the parking lot, in their apartments, in other people’s homes and in bars. “The problem is we have to constantly fight Amazon management violating our rights to talk to people and to hand out literature.” Union supporters their literature keeps disappearing from bulletin boards and break rooms.Amazon denies violating any laws in fighting the union. “Our employees have the choice of whether or not to join a union,” Flaningan said. “We don’t think unions are the best answer for our employees” Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work.”Even with a final written warning hanging over her head, Goodall continues to campaign tirelessly for the union, knowing the vote is just weeks away. She fears that Amazon managers are eager to find a reason to fire her.“That’s why we need a union,” Goodall said. “There won’t be a Heather Goodall at every warehouse.” | Labor Activism |
Korean and Latino workers at a Korean restaurant in Los Angeles ratified their first union contract, marking a breakthrough for workers, advocates say.The win last month makes Genwa, an upscale Korean barbecue chain that’s been cited for multiple labor law violations, the first privately owned Korean restaurant to be unionized nationwide.Advocates say the historic victory, which came after a half-decade of cross-racial organizing, can provide a blueprint for other immigrant restaurant workers hoping to fight for their rights in an industry rife with exploitation and wage theft. “Restaurants become a revolving door for servers and bartenders and cooks because there’s no job security,” José Roberto Hernández, president of the union and director of organizing for Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, told NBC Asian America. “We hope the unity between migrant communities, between Asians and Latinos, can bring us to a better future for the workers who are sustaining this industry.”In the restaurant sector, labor law violations disproportionately harm people of color. A 2010 UCLA survey found that 38% of Latino workers and 36% of foreign-born workers in L.A. experienced wage theft, compared with just 10% of white workers. Workers lose $1.4 billion to wage theft every year, according to an estimate from KIWA.The new three-year contract at Genwa, which was ratified by 98% of eligible workers, establishes a host of new benefits, including a raise for kitchen staff, seniority rights, sexual harassment training, a retirement plan, a fair tip-distribution system, a streamlined conflict resolution process, reimbursement for health care and the rehiring of workers who were laid off after February 2020. The agreement covers employees at all three of Genwa’s restaurants in L.A. Genwa Korean BBQ in Los Angeles.Google maps“We’re one of the biggest food capitals in the country,” Rebecca Nathan, a Korean American former hostess and bartender, said. “How we treat our workers sets an example. How can we justify treating the people that we need so poorly?”In 2017, Hernández said a group of Genwa workers approached KIWA for legal help with allegations of poor working conditions, which Genwa denied. Over the next few years, KIWA helped the workers file claims with the state, unionize and stage a Halloween action at the owner’s house.Former front-of-house staff, who are mostly Korean, and back-of-house staff, who are mostly Mexican and Central American, joined forces to hold picket lines and committee meetings. Hernandez said the company retaliated by filing lawsuits against himself and other former employees. In an email, Jay B. Kwon, who owns Genwa with his wife, Jin Won Kwon, said the restaurant did not file any lawsuits against Hernandez or any former employee. Then, in March 2020, the California Labor Commissioner’s Office fined the restaurant $2.1 million for failing to keep proper time records, pay overtime and allow meal breaks — violations “affecting 325 servers, dishwashers and cooks.” Though the pandemic put a halt to the negotiations, the owners finally recognized an independent union, the California Retail and Restaurant Workers Union, in July 2021.Genwa appealed the decision but ultimately dropped it and settled with the commissioner’s office for a lesser amount, Kwon said. Nathan, who began organizing with KIWA in 2019, said she hopes the Genwa case leads to a moment of reckoning for the restaurant industry. “We understood that fighting each other only benefited people who stood to keep our rights from us,” she said. “It was us against the establishment. Hopefully we’ve drawn out some kind of game plan that other people can reference.”Kwon said he hopes the labor efforts can ultimately serve as an example.“Although the events leading to the negotiations have been tense, once the negotiation process commenced, both sides demonstrated respect for the other with the understanding that each side was striving to foster quality jobs which would ultimately lead to better standard of service and food, reaching excellence,” he said. While none of Genwa’s restaurants are located in Koreatown, Hernández hopes the victory inspires cross-racial organizing at other Korean-owned establishments in L.A., many of which he said are known for their poor working conditions and hostility toward unions. He’s currently leading a union drive with workers at the grocery store Hannam Chain.The unique makeup of ethnic enclaves like Koreatown, which is home to roughly 550 restaurants, makes them a hotbed of workplace abuses, said Connie Chung Joe, chief executive officer of Asian Americans Advancing Justice — Los Angeles.“It’s a common place for new and less acculturated immigrants to start out,” Joe said. “So the restaurants there really cater to these populations who are poor and less English speaking and who might not know the labor laws of the U.S.”Like Hernández, Joe said cross-racial organizing is the key to achieving job security and basic rights.“Koreatown is so unique, being more than 50% Latino but still the cultural hub for the Korean community in L.A.,” Joe said. “I think you’ll see more and more opportunities for bridge-building and more realization that this is how we get things accomplished.” | Labor Activism |
WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden said Thursday a tentative railway labor agreement has been reached, averting a potentially devastating strike before the pivotal midterm elections.He said the tentative deal “will keep our critical rail system working and avoid disruption of our economy.” The agreement is “an important win for our economy and the American people,” Biden said in a statement. “It is a win for tens of thousands of rail workers who worked tirelessly through the pandemic to ensure that America’s families and communities got deliveries of what have kept us going during these difficult years.”Biden said the rail workers will get better pay, improved working conditions and “peace of mind around their health care costs: all hard-earned.”He called the agreement “a victory for railway companies” and said they would be able to “retain and recruit more workers for an industry that will continue to be part of the backbone of the American economy for decades to come.” THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden believes unions built the middle class. He also knows a rail worker strike could damage the economy ahead of midterm elections. That left him in the awkward position Wednesday of espousing the virtues of unionization in Detroit, a stalwart of the labor movement, while members of his administration went all-out to keep talks going in Washington between the railroads and unionized workers in hopes of averting a shutdown.United Auto Workers Local 598 member Ryan Buchalski introduced Biden at the Detroit auto show as “the most union- and labor-friendly president in American history” and someone who was “kickin’ ass for the working class.” Buchalski harked back to the pivotal sitdown strikes by autoworkers in the 1930s. In the speech that followed, Biden recognized that he wouldn’t be in the White House without the support of unions such as the UAW and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, saying autoworkers “brung me to the dance.” But back in Washington, officials in his administration were in tense negotiations to prevent a strike — one of the most powerful sources of leverage that unions have to bring about change and improve working conditions. A stoppage could begin as early as Friday if both sides can't agree on a deal. Out of the 12 unions involved, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 19 rejected a deal but agreed to prolong talks through Sept. 29. That bought a bit of time, but not necessarily any more certainty as a stoppage is still possible that could halt shipments of food and fuel at a cost of $2 billion a day.Far more is at stake than sick leave and salary bumps for 115,000 unionized railroad workers. The ramifications could extend to control of Congress and to the shipping network that keeps factories rolling, stocks the shelves of stores and stitches the U.S. together as an economic power.That’s why White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, speaking aboard Air Force One as it jetted to Detroit, said a rail worker strike was “an unacceptable outcome for our economy and the American people.” The rail lines and their workers’ representatives “need to stay at the table, bargain in good faith to resolve outstanding issues, and come to an agreement,” she said. Biden faces the same kind of predicament faced by Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 with coal and Harry Truman in 1952 with steel — how do you balance the needs of labor and business in doing what's best for the nation? Railways were so important during World War I that Woodrow Wilson temporarily nationalized the industry to keep goods flowing and prevent strikes.Inside the White House, aides don't see a contradiction between Biden's devotion to unions and his desire to avoid a strike. Union activism has surged under Biden, as seen in a 56% increase in petitions for union representation with the National Labor Relations Board so far this fiscal year.One person familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss White House deliberations on the matter, said Biden's mindset in approaching the debate was that he's the president of the entire country, not just for organized labor.With the economy still recovering from the supply chain disruptions of the pandemic, the president's goal is to keep all parties at the table until a deal is finalized. The person said the White House saw a commitment to keep negotiating in good faith as the best way to avoid a shutdown while exercising the principles of collective bargaining that Biden holds dear.Biden also knows a stoppage could worsen the dynamics that have contributed to soaring inflation and created a political headache for the party in power.Eddie Vale, a Democratic political consultant and former AFL-CIO communications aide, said the White House is pursuing the correct approach at a perilous moment.“No one wants a railroad strike, not the companies, not the workers, not the White House," he said. "No one wants it this close to the election.”Vale added that the sticking point in the talks was about "respect basically — sick leave and bereavement leave,” issues Biden has supported in speeches and with his policy proposals.Jake Rosenfeld, a sociologist at Washington University in St. Louis, noted that the sticking points in the talks involve “more schedule predictability, and the ability to take time off to deal with routine medical procedures as well as emergencies." On a policy front, the administration generally supports these demands, and that lessens their “willingness to really play hardball with the unions who have yet to settle,” said Rosenfeld, who wrote the book “What Unions No Longer Do.”Sensing political opportunity, Senate Republicans moved Wednesday to pass a law to impose contract terms on the unions and railroad companies to avoid a shutdown. Democrats, who control both chambers in Congress, blocked it. “If a strike occurs and paralyzes food, fertilizer and energy shipments nationwide, it will be because Democrats blocked this bill,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.The economic impact of a potential strike was not lost on members of the Business Roundtable, a Washington-based group that represents CEOs. It issued its quarterly outlook for the economy Wednesday.“We’ve been experiencing a lot of headwinds from supply chain problems since the pandemic started and those problems would be geometrically magnified,” Josh Bolten, the group's CEO, told reporters. “There are manufacturing plants around the country that likely have to shut down. ... There are critical products to keep our water clean.”The roundtable also had a meeting of its board of directors Wednesday. But Bolten said Lance Fritz, chair of the board’s international committee and the CEO of Union Pacific railroad, would miss it “because he’s working hard trying to bring the strike to a resolution.”Back at the Labor Department, negotiators ordered Italian food as talks dragged into Wednesday night. | Labor Activism |
U.S. Updated on: September 15, 2022 / 10:32 AM / CBS News CBS News Live CBS News Live Live President Biden announced early Thursday morning that days of negotiations at the U.S. Department of Labor to avert a national rail strike, with potentially major implications for the economy, had yielded a deal. In a statement, Mr. Biden said the "tentative agreement" between the railroads and rail workers' unions was "an important win for our economy and the American people" and "a win for tens of thousands of rail workers who worked tirelessly through the pandemic to ensure that America's families and communities got deliveries of what have kept us going during these difficult years."Mr. Biden said U.S. rail workers would "get better pay, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their health care costs: all hard-earned," thanks to the agreement, which he said was "also a victory for railway companies who will be able to retain and recruit more workers for an industry that will continue to be part of the backbone of the American economy for decades to come." The president was set to meet with negotiators in the Oval Office on Wednesday morning before delivering remarks on the agreement at 11 a.m., the White House said. This is a win for the economy and for the American people. Rail workers will get better pay, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their health care costs.I thank both the unions and rail companies for negotiating in good faith. https://t.co/9JNtLynsch— President Biden (@POTUS) September 15, 2022 The deal will now go to the unions for a vote to finalize the agreement. The presidents of the unions representing rail workers said the breakthrough provides for "the highest general wage increases over the life of the agreement in over 45 years." "For the first time, our unions were able to obtain negotiated contract language exempting time off for certain medical events from carrier attendance policies," the union chiefs said.A source familiar with the labor talks told CBS News senior White House correspondent Ed O'Keefe says that the negotiating parties had agreed to a "post-ratification cooling off period" of several weeks, to make sure that there isn't an immediate rail shutdown if a vote doesn't succeed for any reason.Labor Secretary Marty Walsh oversaw a marathon negotiation session Wednesday at the Labor Department that led to the agreement, and CBS News learned that Mr. Biden made what one source described as a "crucial call" into the negotiations around 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday evening. Walsh said in a tweet that "following more than 20 consecutive hours of negotiations" at the Labor Department, "the rail companies and union negotiators came to a tentative agreement that balances the needs of workers, businesses, and our nation's economy." Moments ago, following more than 20 consecutive hours of negotiations at @USDOL, the rail companies and union negotiators came to a tentative agreement that balances the needs of workers, businesses, and our nation’s economy. (1/2)— Secretary Marty Walsh (@SecMartyWalsh) September 15, 2022 The announcement came hours after Amtrak said it was canceling all long-distance trips from Thursday amid the threat of a strike, which could have disrupted not only passenger and freight services, but the U.S. economy. Rail companies had warned the strike could result in lost productivity of $2 billion a day. In light of the agreement announced on Thursday morning, Amtrak said it was "working to quickly restore" the cancelled trains "and reaching out to impacted customers to accommodate on first available departures."The root of the problem was a labor dispute between railroad companies and their unionized workforces. If the two sides hadn't come to an agreement, the strike was set to have begun just after midnight on Friday. A Labor Department spokesperson told CBS News on Wednesday evening that dinner was ordered and the talks in Washington among federal officials, railroad executives and railroad worker union leaders were ongoing. Mr. Biden's statement about the agreement came at about 5 a.m. on Thursday. Threat of nationwide rail strike poses supply chain risks 02:07 Without the deal, the strike would have begun Friday at the end a 30-day "cooling-off" period mandated under terms of the Railway Labor Act, which governs contract talks in the railroad and airline industries. It was the Association of American Railroads that had warned halting freight trains could cost the U.S. economy more than $2 billion per day. If a shutdown were to last more than a few days, the impact would likely be felt by millions of consumers, as it would disrupt shipping of virtually all retail products, coal, other fuels and manufacturing components. Commuters would also be out of luck, as many passenger trains run on the freight tracks that would be idled in a strike, experts say. In the past, most recently in 1986, Congress has acted to end railroad strikes. If no agreement had been reached this week, both houses could have passed — and the president would have signed — a joint resolution effectively forcing the rail workers to keep working under terms laid out by an emergency board established by the White House earlier this year. The U.S. Chamber of Congress had urged Congress to stand by and be ready to intervene before Thursday morning's agreement was announced. In a statement lauding Mr. Biden and the labor secretary for their roles in the negotiations, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi confirmed that Congress had "stood ready to take action... to ensure the uninterrupted operation of essential transportation services.""Led by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the House prepared and had reviewed legislation, so that we would be ready to act, pursuant to Section 10 of the Railway Labor Act," said Pelosi. "Thankfully this action may not be necessary."Steven Portnoy and Kathryn Krupnick contributed to this report. Tucker Reals Tucker Reals is the CBSNews.com foreign editor, based at the CBS News London bureau. Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Labor Activism |
A worker sorts out parcels in the outbound dock at Amazon fulfillment center in Eastvale, California on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.Watchara Phomicinda | MediaNews Group | The Riverside Press-Enterprise via Getty ImagesAmazon is raising its hourly wages for its warehouse and delivery workers, the company announced Wednesday.Beginning in October, Amazon's average starting pay for front-line employees in the U.S. will be bumped up to more than $19 per hour from $18 per hour, the company said.Warehouse and delivery workers will earn between $16 and $26 per hour depending on their position, Amazon added. Amazon's minimum wage for employees in the U.S. remains $15 an hour.Amazon is spending roughly $1 billion on the pay hikes over the next year as it looks to attract and retain employees in a historically tight labor market. It's also preparing to enter what's known as "peak" season, the especially busy shopping period tied to the holidays.Tensions have been growing between Amazon and its front-line workforce, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Employees have called for wage increases, more paid time off and adjustments to productivity expectations.Workers at several Amazon facilities have taken steps to organize, and earlier this year, workers at Amazon's warehouse in Staten Island, New York, successfully voted to form the company's first U.S. union. Amazon faces another union election at a site near Albany, New York, next month.The company said earlier this month it planned to raise pay and benefits for drivers employed by members of its contracted delivery network, which handles a growing share of its last-mile deliveries to customers doorsteps.Alongside the pay increase, Amazon said it's also expanding a payday advance program for its employees that allows them to access up to 70% of their eligible earned pay whenever they choose and without fees, not just on a schedule, such as a biweekly basis.WATCH: Amazon labor union wins — president breaks down future decisions | Labor Activism |
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that the United States is rallying its allies against forced labor as it begins implementing an import ban on goods from China’s Xinjiang region, where Washington says Beijing is committing genocide.U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday began enforcing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in December.Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics CBP has said it is ready to implement the law’s “rebuttable presumption” that all goods from Xinjiang, where Chinese authorities established detention camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim groups, are made with forced labor and barred from import unless it can be proven otherwise.The agency has said a very high level of evidence would be required for importers to receive an exception to the law.“We are rallying our allies and partners to make global supply chains free from the use of forced labor, to speak out against atrocities in Xinjiang, and to join us in calling on the government of the P.R.C. to immediately end atrocities and human rights abuses,” Blinken said in a statement, referring to China by its formal name, the People’s Republic of China.“Together with our interagency partners, we will continue to engage companies to remind them of U.S. legal obligations,” he said.China denies abuses in Xinjiang, a major cotton producer that also supplies much of the world’s materials for solar panels.Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said earlier in Beijing that claims of forced labor in Xinjiang were a “big lie concocted by anti-China forces.”“With this so-called law, the United States is trying to create forced unemployment in Xinjiang and to push for the world to decouple with China,” Wang said.Beijing initially denied the existence of any detention camps, but later admitted it had set up “vocational training centers” necessary to curb what it said was terrorism, separatism and religious radicalism in Xinjiang.Last week, CBP issued a list of Xinjiang entities presumed to be using forced labor, which includes textile, solar-grade polysilicon, and electronics companies. It has said imports from other countries would be banned if related supply chains include Xinjiang inputs.The United States, Britain and other countries have called for the United Nations’ International Labour Organization to set up a mission to investigate alleged labor abuses in Xinjiang.Human rights groups and trade associations that support U.S. domestic producers have warned that Xinjiang inputs could find their way into solar imports from other countries, given the difficulty of verifying supply chains in China.Earlier in June, Biden waived tariffs on solar panels from four Southeast Asian nations, which Coalition for a Prosperous America said showed his administration was not serious about cracking down on forced labor.CBP could need two years to ramp up enforcement, the breadth of the task making it potentially more difficult than the post-9/11 effort to track terror financing, said Alan Bersin, a former CBP commissioner who is now executive chairman of supply chain technology company Altana AI.“It comes close to panic in C-suites all across the country where huge enterprises really don’t have visibility into their supply chains aside from the direct supplier,” Bersin said. | Labor Activism |
Something isn't loading properly. Please check back later. Economy Now playing Amazon workers celebrate first labor union John General/CNN Now playing Billionaire investor: Powell would 'say he made a mistake' with inflation CNN Now playing Companies want workers back in office. Workers aren't so sure CNN Now playing 'I can't withstand the heat': Americans behind on utility bills face extreme weather CNN / Getty Images Now playing 'Both a warning and a threat': Economics professor decodes Fed chair's comments Kansas City Fed Now playing Fed chair lays out the 'unfortunate costs of reducing inflation' Now playing Biden's student loan forgiveness plan: Who it helps, who it doesn't CNN Now playing Middle class Black Americans react to economy under Biden Now playing Engineer says she 'quiet quit' her job. Hear what that means Now playing Fed official on recession talk: When we look at the data, I feel relieved Now playing Inflation is cooling but prices are still painfully high Now playing 'It didn't get worse': Romans breaks down key inflation data Now playing Online shopping prices are starting to ease. Here's why that's significant Getty Images Now playing Here's how the Inflation Reduction Act could affect you Now playing Former WH economist assesses economy's direction following July jobs report Now playing July jobs report doubles expectations New York CNN Business — Workers at an Home Depot store in Philadelphia have filed to have a vote to be represented by a union. The store, at 4640 Roosevelt Blvd. in Philadelphia, has about 275 employees, according to the filing by an independent union, Home Depot Workers United, which is seeking the vote. Vincent Quile, the lead organizer of the group, said he was inspired to seek union representation by successful union representation votes at an Amazon distribution center in Staten Island, New York, the first union win at the online retailing giant, and more than 200 successful votes at various Starbucks locations nationwide. Quile, 27, who works in the store’s receiving department and had been on staff for five-and-a-half years, said he’s not sure of the store’s exact headcount and he believes there are numerous empty positions. “It’s one of the main reasons we’re doing this. Everyone there is so overworked,” said Quiles when asked about the motIvation behind the vote. “It’s pay, but it’s also staffing, it’s proper training, working environment.” If this effort is successful it would be the first Home Depot store where all its hoursly workers were represented by a union. Home Depot issued a statement saying it will work with the union vote process, but that it doesn’t support the union’s organizing efforts. “We look forward to talking with our associates about their concerns,” said the statement. “Our open-door policy is designed to assure all associates that they can bring concerns directly to leadership, and we have a track record of working successfully with our associates to resolve them. We do not believe unionization is the best solution for our associates.” There has been a surge in union organizing votes so far this year, according to data from the National Labor Relations Board, which oversees most organizing efforts in the private sector. Between January through July of this year there were 826 union elections, up 45% from the number held in the same period of 2021, according to a CNN analysis of data from the NLRB. And the 70% success rate by unions in those votes is far better than the 42% success rate in the first seven months of 2021. But only 41,000 potential union members were eligible to vote in the 2022 elections. Even if the unions had won all those votes — NLRB data don’t break down how many workers worked at each company holding a vote — it would be a small fraction of the more than 100 million workers at US businesses who don’t belong to a union, according to Labor Department statistics. Despite high profile wins by workers at Starbucks and Amazon, the retail sector still has a below-average percentage of workers who belong to unions. Only 4.4% of retail workers are members of a union, according to Labor Department data, compared to 6.1% of private sector workers overall, and 10.3% of all US workers. Nearly half of US union members work in various levels of government, not businesses. There are more than five times as many private sector workers than there are workers in the public sector. | Labor Activism |
CNN — You probably associate Labor Day with sales, family barbecues and the unofficial end of summer. For most Americans, the long weekend is a much-needed opportunity to reconnect with friends and family and provides a last hurrah before the start of fall. But Monday’s holiday holds a much deeper meaning, rooted in the 19th century fight for fair working conditions. Labor Day was originally designed to honor workers as part of the American organized labor movement. Labor Day was first celebrated unofficially by labor activists and individual states in the late 1800s, according to the US Department of Labor. New York was the first state to introduce a bill recognizing Labor Day, but Oregon was the first to actually codify it into law in 1887. Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York had followed suit by the end of 1887. Joshua Freeman, a labor historian and professor emeritus at the City University of New York, tells CNN that the holiday developed as unions were beginning to strengthen again after the 1870s recession. In New York City, two events converged that contributed to the formation of Labor Day, Freeman says. First, the now-defunct Central Labor Union was formed as a “umbrella body” for unions across trades and ethnic groups. Additionally, the Knights of Labor, then the largest national labor convention, held a convention in the city, complete with a large parade. But the parade fell on a Tuesday at the start of September – and many workers were unable to attend. The convention was a huge success, and unions around the country started holding their own labor celebrations at the start of September, usually on the first Monday of the month. At the beginning, “it was a somewhat daring move to participate, because you could get yourself fired,” Freedman said. But over time, states began to recognize the holiday, and it became more common for employers to give their employees the day off. It wasn’t until June 28, 1894 that Congress passed an act naming the first day of September a legal holiday called Labor Day. Freeman says that earlier that year, President Grover Cleveland sent in the military to squash the Pullman railway strike. Cleveland pushed through legislation to recognize Labor Day just days after the strike ended, in a “gesture towards organized labor,” Freeman said. At the time Labor Day was formed, unions were fighting for “very specific improvements in their working conditions,” Freeman said. Workers were fighting hard for the eight-hour work day most workers enjoy today. And Labor Day was an opportunity for them to come together to discuss their priorities – and for the country to acknowledge the contributions workers make to society. But there was also a more radical political thread to the Labor Day celebration, Freeman says. The Knights of Labor were exploring the idea that “what we call the capitalist or industrial system was fundamentally exploitative,” he said. “It introduced kind of inequities and inequalities, not just in wealth, but also in power. So they wanted a greater say in society for working people.” “Back when Labor Day began, there were a lot of voices that were fundamentally challenging this emerging system,” Freeman added. Labor leaders at the time advocated for alternatives to the “capitalist wage system,” like collective ownership of corporations or socialism. Over time, the radical politics around Labor Day became tempered. Around the world, most countries honor workers with a holiday called May Day, celebrated on May 1, which also has its origins in the late 19th century and the fight for the eight-hour work day. For a long time, Freeman says, Americans celebrated both May Day and Labor Day. But eventually, Labor Day began to be seen as the more “moderate” of the two holidays, in comparison to May Day, which was originally established by the Marxist International Socialist Congress. “By the turn of the 20th century, calls for transforming American life, they pretty much disappear from Labor Day,” Freeman said. “As more and more employers began to give all their workers the day off, it became less associated specifically with unions.” After World War II, Labor Day celebrations had a brief revival, especially in cities like Detroit and New York City. But by the 60s and 70s, they had tapered off again. “I think most people just think of as the end of summer holiday,” Freeman said. “It’s not really associated with its origins that much.” You might have heard the outdated rule that you shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day. But don’t worry: There’s no fashion police out there waiting to see if you don a white shirt in September. And the idea actually has a pretty problematic origin. The rule was one of many 19th century style customs used to distinguish the upper and middle classes, according to Valerie Steele, a fashion historian and director of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “As you got more and more sort of ordinary people, whether middle class or lower middle class, being able to have enough money to try to dress fashionably, then there become more rules so that the more upper class people can say ‘yes, but you’re doing it wrong,’” Steele told CNN. White was tied to summer vacations – a privilege only few could afford. Labor Day represented the “reentry” into city life and the retirement of white summer clothes after a summer of leisure for the upper classes, Steele says. But the arbitrary rule all but disappeared during the 1970s, Steele says. The 1960s “Youthquake” allowed young people to challenge old stylistic norms, including the Labor Day rule. “It was part of a much wider anti-fashion movement,” said Steele. | Labor Activism |
Jamelle BouieSept. 13, 2022Credit...Boston Globe / Getty ImagesAs a nation, the United States is committed to a creed of free market capitalism. But this belies a heritage of egalitarianism and economic equality in American political thought. Among the oldest and most potent strains of American thinking about democracy is the belief that free government cannot exist in tandem with mass immiseration and gross disparities of wealth and status.I gestured toward this idea last week when I wrote that today’s opponents of democracy are driven by an opposition to the “more equitable distribution of wealth and status, which a robust democracy — and only a robust democracy — makes possible.” Here, with a little more space and time, I want to show my work.As the historian Daniel R. Mandell notes in “The Lost Tradition of Economic Equality in America, 1600-1870,” there were versions of this belief about self-government and economic equality in circulation in New England as early as the 17th century. But it came to fruition with the movement for Anglo-American independence in the mid-18th century.Mandell finds a number of voices who articulated this view during and after the American Revolution.“To maintain the freedom of elections,” a New Jersey Presbyterian minister wrote in 1780, “there should, as much as possible, be an equality among the people of the land.” In 1784, Kentucky settlers petitioning the Confederation Congress for statehood asserted that “It is a well-known truth that the riches and strength of a free Country does not consist in Property being vested in a few Individuals, but the more general[ly] it is distributed, the more it promotes industry, population, and frugality, and even morality.”As ardent republicans, the authors of the Constitution were also attuned to the link between self-government and economic equality, even as they resisted the “leveling” tendencies of more radical revolutionaries in Pennsylvania, western Massachusetts and other areas.“The republican conception of liberty was not noninterference but non-domination — freedom from both private and public overlords,” Joseph Fishkin and William E. Forbath write in “The Anti-Oligarchy Constitution: Restructuring the Economic Foundations of American Democracy.” This republican brand of freedom, they continue, required material independence: “Either a want of ample resources for ordinary citizens at the base of society or a permanent concentration of wealth at the top would doom it.”This insight is what inspired figures as otherwise opposed as John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to make similar observations about the need to keep inequality in check.“The balance of power in a society,” Adams wrote in a 1776 letter,accompanies the balance of property in land. The only possible way, then, of preserving the balance of power on the side of equal liberty and public virtue, is to make the acquisition of land easy to every member of society; to make a division of land into small quantities, so that the multitude may be possessed of landed estates. If the multitude is possessed of the balance of real estate, the multitude will take care of the liberty, virtue, and interest of the multitude, in all acts of government.“Whenever there is in any country, uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right,” Jefferson wrote in a 1785 letter to James Madison. “The earth is given as a common stock for man to labor and live on. If, for the encouragement of industry we must allow it to be appropriated, we must take care that other employment be furnished to those excluded from the appropriation.” The small landowners, he continued, “are the most precious part of a state.”You can see this sentiment play out throughout the 19th century, as conflicts over land, labor and the concentration of wealth took center stage in American politics. “The Democracy” (as they liked to style themselves) of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren saw itself as the keeper of the democratic flame against the winds of concentrated political and economic power.“It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes,” Jackson wrote, when he vetoed the 1832 recharter of the Bank of the United States. To oppose the bank was, for Van Buren, to defend “the vital principle — the sovereignty of the popular will — which lies at the foundation of free government.”The political conflict over slavery in the 1840s and 1850s was also as much about the corrosive effect of concentrated wealth and power on free government as it was about the morality of slavery. “There are certain elements of the security, welfare, and greatness of nations, which we all admit or ought to admit, and recognize as essential; and these are the security of natural rights, the diffusion of knowledge, and the freedom of industry,” William Seward declared on the Senate floor in 1850. “Slavery is incompatible with all of these; and, just in proportion to the extent that it prevails and controls in any republican state, just to that extent it subverts the principle of democracy, and converts the state into an aristocracy or a despotism.”Wherever you look in U.S. history, you see Americans grappling with the connection between equality, inequality and democracy. Crucially, many of those Americans have struggled to make democracy itself a tool for the more equitable distribution of wealth and status. As the historian Lawrence Goodwyn recounts in “The Populist Moment: A Short History of the Agrarian Revolt in America,” “A large number of people in the United States discovered that the economic premises of their society were working against them” and so they tried “through democratic politics to bring the corporate state under popular control” and use its power to bring a measure of equality to their lives.There are many other Americans — some famous, some less so — who have made this connection between democracy and economic inequality. Key to their thinking is the idea that democracy is more than just a set of rules, institutions and procedures: It is a way of life all on its own, one that informs the shape of our society as much as it does the structure of our government. And at its most robust — much to the chagrin of the keepers and defenders of wealth and privilege — democracy holds the promise of a more egalitarian world.Or, as the philosopher and social critic John Dewey observed in the eve of the Second World War: “To get rid of the habit of thinking of democracy as something institutional and external and to acquire the habit of treating it as a way of personal life is to realize that democracy is a moral ideal and so far as it becomes a fact is a moral fact. It is to realize that democracy is a reality only as it is indeed a commonplace of living.” | Labor Activism |
HOUSTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said a 10-month lockout of workers at an Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) refinery in Texas was an "unlawful" effort to remove the United Steelworkers union (USW) representing the workers, according to a complaint issued on Monday.The NLRB asked an administrative law judge to issue back pay, among other remedies, to the more than 600 workers locked out of their jobs at Exxon's Beaumont, Texas, refinery and lube oil plant between May 2021 and March 2022.A hearing on the complaint and proposed remedies is scheduled for January in Houston. Union refinery workers with at least four years experience nationally make over $41 per hour on average. The back pay could cost Exxon tens of millions of dollars.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"Exxon Mobil acted in accordance with the law at all times," spokesperson Julie King said in a statement.Exxon issued messages to the locked-out workers promising they could return to their jobs if they voted to decertify USW local 13-243 as their representative, the NLRB said."If (Exxon’s) lockout had been lawful, by its conduct (seeking decertification), the lockout was converted to an unlawful one," the NLRB said.Decertification would have removed the union from representing the workers in the refinery. However, workers voted on March 14 to keep USW local 13-243 as their representative.Exxon "provided more than ministerial aid to efforts of employees in their attempts to decertify" the union, according to the NLRB notice.Bryan Gross, a USW International representative, said the board's complaint was welcome news for workers locked out by Exxon."We're glad the board saw what we saw," Gross said on Monday. "We stood by our members."Exxon has said it began the lockout in response to a strike notice issued by the union during negotiations in January 2021 for a new contract. A lockout was necessary to prevent potential disruption to the 369,024 barrel-per-day (bpd) processing facility.The refinery, Exxon's third largest in the United States by capacity, remained in operation throughout the lockout with replacements hired locally or transferred in from other Exxon plants.The NLRB said the use of replacements was "inherently destructive of the rights guaranteed employees" by federal law.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Erwin Seba;
Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Labor Activism |
WASHINGTON — On July 12, a dozen unions representing 115,000 freight railroad workers voted to strike over pay and labor conditions, a move that would disrupt supply chains and imperil travel, since Amtrak shares track with freight carriers in much of the country.In stepped President Biden, once known as “Amtrak Joe” for his practice of riding the train between Washington, D.C., where he served as a U.S. senator for more than three decades, and his home in Delaware. Throughout his career, he had also been a supporter of labor unions, an alliance that helped carry him into the White House.Now he was facing the first railroad strike since 1992, at a time when multiple economic crises – flight delays, shortages, inflation – were besieging his administration. A shutdown of freight rail was suddenly a disaster at once unthinkable and real.US President Joe Biden meets with the negotiators of the railway labor agreement in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, September 15, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)On July 15, Biden appointed an emergency board, which would have 30 days to come up with a deal between railroad owners and workers. That was followed by another 30 day period during which the two parties would negotiate over the board’s proposal. But as the deadline of Sept. 15 neared, the parties remained at loggerheads.A strike now appeared not only likely but inevitable. In preparation, Amtrak on Wednesday canceled long-distance trains. A fresh round of supply chain disruptions loomed.And then, in the early morning hours of Thursday, weeks of frustration and disagreement yielded an unlikely outcome: a deal. In a 5 a.m. statement, the White House announced a “tentative agreement” that will give rail workers 24% pay raises over the next several years, $5,000 bonuses, as well as a modest sick leave allowance.“This is a big win for America,” Biden said in Rose Garden remarks on Thursday morning, as the White House basked in the relief of last-minute success.The agreement was the product of a furious effort by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to convince the railroads and their employees to come to a consensus for the sake of the nation’s economic recovery.A White House official described Biden as “engaged and briefed throughout” the negotiations, which were led by Walsh. Commencing on Wednesday, those talks would last for 20 hours, well beyond the proverbial 11th hour.Amtrak trains travel through Washington, DC, on September 15, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)As those talks launched, Biden headed to Detroit for the city’s annual automotive trade show. In his remarks there, he said nothing about the impending strike. It also went unmentioned in his speech at a Democratic fundraiser in Detroit later that same afternoon.Meanwhile, administration officials continued their feverish negotiations. Buttigieg – himself a new Michigander – was also in Detroit, though he spent most of his time at the auto show on “dozens of dozens of phone calls” related to the railroad strike, according to a senior administration official. The official described those calls as “intense.”The full-court press for a deal intensified when Biden called into the negotiations around 9 p.m. “He pushed the negotiators once again to recognize the harm that would hit families, farmers and businesses if there was a shutdown. The economic impacts could have been significant,” the White House official told Yahoo News, describing Biden’s involvement as “crucial.”Though caricatured by conservative media as absent-minded, Biden is, in fact, a micromanager who relies on a small circle of advisers and has high regard for his own views, forged during a half-century in Washington. But his involvement has sometimes proved counterproductive, as during last year’s protracted and unfruitful negotiations over Build Back Better, his social spending plan.This time was different. “Things were looking up around midnight,” with the scope of the deal coming into focus between the hours of 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., according to the senior administration official.“They earned and deserve these benefits,” Biden said on Thursday morning of the rail workers. “This agreement is validation that unions and management can work together—can work together– for the benefit of everyone.” | Labor Activism |
Fox News has reportedly paid a roughly $15 million settlement to former host Melissa Francis, who filed a complaint with New York state’s labor board accusing the media company of paying her less than her male colleagues. The Washington Post reported that Fox News agreed to the settlement, citing documents the newspaper had obtained and reviewed. The news network, in a statement to The Hill, said it has “undergone a comprehensive overhaul of its entire workplace culture,” including in areas that promoted women. “We parted ways with Melissa Francis over a year and a half ago and her allegations were entirely without merit. We have also fully cooperated with the New York State Department of Labor’s investigation and look forward to the completion of this matter,” the statement read. Francis is a former actress who appeared in “Little House on the Prairie,” before earning an economics degree and working for CNBC. She later worked for Fox News from 2012 to October 2020, co-hosting popular shows like “Outnumbered” and “After The Bell.” She filed her complaint against Fox with the New York State Department of Labor shortly before her firing, accusing the media company of enforcing gender pay disparities. In December, it was reported the state’s labor department was investigating Fox for the ex-host’s claims of bias and unequal pay. Fox News has grappled with gender bias and sexual harassment claims since the scandal with Roger Ailes, the company’s former CEO who resigned in 2016 amid sexual harassment claims. Fox paid a $20 million settlement to ex-host Gretchen Carlson in 2016, who had filed a sexual harassment claim against the company and the late Ailes. Tags Fox News Melissa Francis | Labor Activism |
On the ClockOn the Clock is Motherboard's reporting on the organized labor movement, gig work, automation, and the future of work.Last week, AlumaSafway, a Canadian scaffolding company, sent workers a memo demanding they accept "voluntary" overtime shifts or face termination, a hiring ban, legal action, and possible fines or jail time.According to the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB), on August 22 an anonymous letter was shared among scaffolders at a Suncor Inc. site in Alberta, Canada, that asked workers to "collectively refuse to work overtime shifts for the purpose of compelling incentives from the Employer, including improvements in compensation or working conditions.” Suncor is one of Canada's largest fossil fuel companies.According to the board, this resulted in no workers taking on overtime shifts. Ultimately, it decided that the action was illegal under the province's labour laws, which rule out strikes that occur while a collective bargaining agreement is in force and before a vote has been taken. "The Board finds the Employees' concerted refusal to accept overtime shifts for the purpose of compelling the Employer to agree to terms and conditions of employment, which constitutes a refusal to work, to be an illegal strike," it said in its decision. The board noted that it would file its decision with the Alberta courts, which would make it enforceable as a court order, and violating it would "result in civil or criminal penalties including contempt of court."The union's collective bargaining agreement states that overtime is strictly voluntary, except for when there are not enough volunteers to complete a job. After the letter encouraging employees to not work overtime was circulated, AlumaSafway scaffold workers began refusing to work overtime shifts at the Suncor site. The company filed a complaint with the labour board on August 24. The situation went viral on the r/antiwork subreddit; a poster there, who claimed to be a worker's child, posted a letter sent by AlumaSafway to workers after the ALRB's ruling. In that letter, which is signed by two AlumaSafway managers, the company warned that it's "been patient and given your union an opportunity to convince you that this coordinated refusal constitutes an illegal strike, and that you may face consequences as a result. Obviously, this has not worked." Motherboard has not independently verified the letter; however, its contents refer to the ALRB ruling, which is hosted on the ALRB's official website. The two people who signed the letter do indeed work for AlumaSafway, according to their social media profiles and the company's website. AlumaSafway went on to warn that violation of this order could include consequences such as "discipline or termination of employment" along with a hiring ban "for those who continue to engage in illegal activity." AlumaSafway also threatened legal action "for all damages caused by the illegal strike" which could make workers "personally liable for added production costs, penalties owing to Owner or, even the loss of the contract with our client." In the worst case, contempt of court proceedings could open up "the possibility of fines and even potentially jail," the company's letter stated.The letter closed with a plea from the company: “We do not want to impose any of the consequences set out above. This memo is intended to cause you to change your behaviour by impressing upon you the seriousness of this matter, including the consequences that you may suffer if the strike continues."Sadly, there may not be much room for scaffold workers to continue their refusal to accept overtime shifts in the sweltering heat. The collective bargaining agreement that represents AlumaSafway scaffolders, negotiated by the Labourers' International Union of North America, Local 506, requires workers give up the right to strike so long as the agreement is in effect in accordance with provincial law.The ALRB, AlumaSafway, and Local 506 all did not respond to Motherboard’s request for comment.ORIGINAL REPORTING ON EVERYTHING THAT MATTERS IN YOUR INBOX.By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. | Labor Activism |
Whenever Noah McCool pitches his co-workers at their Apple store in Nashville, Tenn., on why they should form a union, he focuses on the money. He tells them how much the average Apple store has brought in per worker historically — in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, he says — and then notes that many of the store workers’ annual salaries hover around $46,000, an amount calculated from the company’s new minimum wage.“It’s a compelling argument for organizing,” said McCool, 24, a store specialist. “People are immediately like, ‘You’re right. We should be getting paid more.’” Discussions like these are happening at Apple stores around the U.S., from New York to Kentucky, as a national wave of organizing sparked by the pandemic has come to one of the world’s most valuable companies.This week, workers at an Apple store in Towson, Maryland, will become the first at the company to vote on whether to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union. The count began June 15 and the result is scheduled to be made public on Saturday. While many Apple workers acknowledge that the company offers above average wages for the typically low-paying retail sector and benefits like health care and parental leave that set it apart from other competitors, they still question whether they are getting paid fairly.The company doesn’t release its average pay for retail workers, but it recently announced its minimum wage will rise to $22 an hour in July — roughly in line with the mean hourly wage for electronics retail workers, which was $20.85 in 2021, according to federal data. A dozen employees, 10 current and two former, said in interviews for this story that questions about pay were driving the organizing efforts. Those questions center on equity, transparency and whether profits at what recently was the world’s first $3 trillion company were being shared evenly with its frontline workers.“We just went through a pandemic that incredibly, disproportionately affected the poorest communities and minority communities. And in that same amount of time, the wealthiest individuals in America added a whole another trillion dollars to their wealth,” said Derrick Bowles, 37, an Apple worker in Atlanta who is helping to organize the Cumberland Mall store. “We got to see ourselves going back to work having to wear masks and stand behind Plexiglas while we talk to customers and stuff, while our VPs and CEOs got to safely and securely work from home.”Historically, unions provided a pathway to the middle class for many Americans. But as unions have shrunk in number over the last half-century, academics see another phenomenon, tracing the sharp rise in income inequality to their decline. “The historical evidence suggests that unions help reduce income inequality,” said Henry Farber, an economics professor at Princeton, who was the lead author of a recent study that found that the growth of unions in the aftermath of the Great Depression resulted in significant declines in income inequality. “The evidence also suggests that unions raise wages for less skilled workers, people at the bottom of income distribution more than people at the top, so they have a natural equalizing effect.”Organizing at Apple, which employs some 65,000 retail workers, is unlikely to make a dent in that on a wide scale. But at a tech company with such a large international profile, a union victory at Apple could ring particularly loud. Paying for itCompensation at Apple has long been a hot topic, as the company has had the world’s highest market value for much of the past decade. During the pandemic, the company’s value surged even further, as it became the first $3 trillion company at the end of 2021. That’s triple the figure from as recently as 2018. Its revenue has also soared, to $365 billion at the end of its 2021 fiscal year, up from $274 billion the year before, according to its financial statements. An aerial view of Apple Park in Cupertino, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2021.Tayfun CoÅkun / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images fileBut though wages have increased steadily at Apple, they have not been rising at that same pace. Its minimum wage — $46,000 a year on a full-time schedule — has gone up 45% since 2018, according to statements the company gave news outlets.Some workers have begun to create spreadsheets to anonymously share salaries with co-workers. But those efforts have occasionally caused friction. Former software engineer Cher Scarlett resigned in 2021 after creating such a survey for Apple’s corporate employees. She said her spreadsheet received more than 3,000 salary entries from her colleagues and demonstrated evidence of gender pay gaps on some teams. Scarlett currently has a pending complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in which she alleges the company squashed her push for salary transparency, for which workers have legal protection. Her complaint claims that leadership at the company “engaged in coercive and suppressive activity that has enabled abuse” of workers organizing around issues like pay. It also says the company prevented her and a colleague from creating a public channel on Slack to discuss pay equity.“What they were trying to do was stop us from organizing around any issue,” Scarlett said. “Pay is the biggest reflection of how people are treated in a workplace.” Apple declined to comment on Scarlett’s allegations or case, but said it had “achieved and maintained” gender pay equity for its employees worldwide since 2017. “In the U.S., we have also achieved pay equity with respect to race and ethnicity — as well as pay equity at the intersections of race and ethnicity with gender,” the company said in a statement distributed by spokesman Josh Lipton.For its retail workers, another informal salary spreadsheet has been circulating since April, after a former manager at the Apple store in Brooklyn, New York, Sidney Lo, created one that went viral on LinkedIn.Lo said he started the sheet because as a manager who was involved in hiring, he saw firsthand how the company’s pay system created inequities, like paying a new hire just as much as a longtime employee. “The structures created a lot of inequality,” he said. “What I took away from my time at Apple doing salaries was the fair market rate often did not match the changing environment like it should have been. … You’re losing to inflation, cost of living increases, the market changing, and the only way you would know is through pay transparency.”Another statement sent by Lipton said that the company deeply valued its workers. “We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits for full time and part time employees, including health care, tuition reimbursement, new parental leave, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits,” the statement said.A larger sliceThe Communications Workers of America, the union with which Apple store workers in Atlanta, Louisville, Nashville, New York and other cities are organizing, estimates that the company’s revenue per retail employee ranges from between $545,000 and $610,000, based on a review of its financial statements. Many workers are talking about the statistic — and using it to argue that they deserve to earn more. “To me that pay thing is all over the place, like, doesn’t seem like it matters, how long have you been with a job, it doesn’t matter what your skill set is,” said Tiawana Dugger, 24, who makes about $26 an hour at the Apple store in Towson. Employees who are working to unionize the Grand Central station store in New York have asked for a minimum wage of $30 an hour. Tiawana Dugger, 24, who makes about $26 an hour at the Apple store in Towson, Maryland. Valerie Plesch for NBC NewsJay Hedgspeth, 20, a student and worker who is leading a union drive at an Apple store in Louisville, Kentucky, says he struggles to pay his bills on the $20 an hour he currently makes at the company working 20 to 30 hours a week. Hedgspeth supplements his Apple income with revenue from streaming games on Twitch, where he said he spends about 10 to 15 hours a week, and from an additional five or more hours a week he puts in at a production company. Despite all that, he still finds it hard to keep up with his regular expenses, which are about $1,650 a month for his tuition and housing, another $400 a month for his car and insurance, and other costs like food and recreation, he said. The $2 an hour minimum wage increase, which goes into effect next month, will help cover the increased cost of gas, he said, but not much else. He said a company like Apple should share more of its wealth.“Especially compared to the vast majority of other companies, Apple is almost uniquely poised to be able to actually do something about it,” he said, citing the fact that the company spent $85 billion on stock buybacks last year, which works out to be roughly $500,000 for every one of the 154,000 people who work for Apple worldwide. “We think that asking for transparency around pay inequality, and cost of living adjustments in real living wages isn’t that crazy of a thing to ask. It increasingly feels like there’s two Apples. There’s the corporate side in Cupertino, and then there’s the retail Apple.” | Labor Activism |
U.S. August 22, 2022 / 11:20 AM / CBS/AP Full interview: Miguel Cardona on "Face the Nation" Full interview: Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" 10:11 Teachers for Columbus City Schools, Ohio's largest school district, have voted to go on strike and will be walking picket lines Monday, two days before classes are scheduled to resume. More than 94% of the Columbus Education Association's members voted to reject the school board's final offer late Sunday, the Ohio Education Association said.The union represents more than 4,000 teachers, librarians, nurses and other employees."This strike is about our students who deserve a commitment to modern schools with heating and air conditioning, smaller class sizes, and a well-rounded curriculum that includes art, music and P.E.," the union said in a statement. The school board said its offer put children first. "We offered a generous compensation package for teachers and provisions that would have a positive impact on classrooms," the board said in a statement. A Nordecke capo holds a sign in support of Columbus teachers in a match between the Columbus Crew and Atlanta United on August 21, 2022, at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. Graham Stokes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther called for the union and school board to keep bargaining. "The CEA and the school district must return to the table and get our kids back in the classroom. A responsible solution is within reach, but only if negotiations restart now," the mayor said in a statement.The district of some 47,000 students has said it plans to start the school year with remote learning on Wednesday if the strike continues. Some parents said that option was ineffective during the pandemic.On CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona didn't address the negotiations in Columbus, but he said teachers in general should be paid more."In the last 25 years, when you adjust for inflation, teachers have made only $29 more than they did 25 years ago," Cardona said. "We need to do better there." In: labor union strike Education Ohio Teacher Strike Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Labor Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The Minneapolis teachers union defended a controversial policy regarding race-based layoffs after fierce backlash, arguing that the criticism is being ginned up by the "right wing."The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Minneapolis public schools agreed to a plan that allows for the firing of teachers based on race if the district decides staff layoffs are necessary, regardless of seniority. The policy was agreed to last Spring to settle a two-week teacher strike. It read that starting this school year, "if excessing a teacher who is a member of a population underrepresented among licensed teachers in the site, the district shall excess the next least senior teacher, who is not a member of an underrepresented population."The policy was blasted on Twitter as being "illegal" and a "gross violation" of the Constitution. But the union leadership has begun to push back.TEACHERS UNION AGREEMENT STIPULATING WHITE TEACHERS BE LAID OFF FIRST CRITICIZED: ‘CONSTITUTIONALLY SUSPECT’"The same people who want to take down teachers unions and blame seniority are now defending it for White people," Greta Callahan, president of the teachers unit at the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, said, according to the Associated Press. "This is all made up by the right wing now. And we could not be more proud of this language." Minneapolis school teachers hold placards during the strike in front of the Justice Page Middle school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States on March 8, 2022. (Photo by Kerem Yucel/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) ((Photo by Kerem Yucel/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images))MINNEAPOLIS TEACHERS UNION AGREEMENT PROTECTING MINORITIES FROM LAYOFFS FACES OUTCRY ON TWITTER: ‘ILLEGAL’The purpose of the policy, according to the agreement, is to make up for "past discrimination" by the district, which "disproportionately impacted the hiring of underrepresented teachers in the District, as compared to the relevant labor market and the community, and resulted in a lack of diversity of teachers."Callahan and Vice President Marcia Howard also went on GMA3 to address the controversy, not only defending the policy but saying it "doesn't go far enough.""We need to retain our educators, especially those who are underrepresented," Callahan said. "And this language does one tiny, miniscule step towards that, but doesn't solve the real crisis we're in right now."Asked why the clause, which was settled months ago, is getting so much attention now, Howard said the timing was "very suspect," blasting media for running with the "non-story." "Now it's coming out because some third-rate, off brand, Breitbart Minnesotan website decided to put it out there, and the MAGA media picked it up," she charged. "And they were waiting for mainstream media to run with this story. It's a non-story." Classroom with empty wooden desks. (iStock) (iStock)EDUCATION SEC. CARDONA SLAMS LACK OF ‘RESPECT’ FOR TEACHERS WHO ‘BENT OVER BACKWARDS’ DURING PANDEMICHoward, who is African-American, noted that in her years of teaching, for many of her students she was the only educator they had who "looked like me.""The part that is the issue is that our students deserve to have intellectualism in academia, be represented by people that are underrepresented, African-Americans, indigenous folks, people of color," she continued. "They need to. And in order for us to get a foothold, we needed to put something in place to recruit and retain them."She added that there was no risk of layoffs, noting they are actually experiencing a teacher shortage. Teachers from the Earth School speak out on issues related to lack of COVID testing outside P.S. 64, Dec. 21, 2021, in New York. In a reversal, New York Mayor Eric Adams is considering a remote option for schools. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman, File) (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman, File)Asked if the union was concerned how litigation could impact their plans, Callahan responded that their priority is "what's best for students.""No, that is not one of my concerns at all whatsoever, and we welcome any challenge to it," she said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPCritics continue to blast the policy as illegal."If you’re a Minneapolis teacher laid off out of seniority order or merit basis because of your race, call a lawyer – it’s illegal to do this!" Harmeet Dhillon, CEO and founder of the Center for American Liberty and a trial lawyer at Dhillon Law Group in San Francisco, recently tweeted. Cortney O'Brien is an Editor at Fox News. Twitter: @obrienc2 | Labor Activism |
With a big win in California, REI's new union is going coast-to-coast.Anthony Behar/SIPA/AP Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.Some people hike from coast to coast. Others unionize. In Berkeley, California, trailblazing workers at Recreational Equipment, Inc.—the leading retailer for people who like to touch grass—voted Thursday to join the United Food and Commercial Workers’ 30,000-strong Local 5, breaking 56-38 in favor. The victory makes them the second REI branch to organize, following in the footsteps of workers at the company’s Manhattan flagship store, which unionized in March.
REI’s management likes to invoke the company’s progressive credentials, especially by emphasizing that the company is a “cooperative”—a “different kind of company,” as they put it. But as I’ve reported before, REI isn’t a worker co-op, where staff get a decisive stake in ownership, pay, and benefits:
Emphasizing the word “co-op” is a clever rhetorical move on REI’s part: For many of us, the term evokes farmers’ markets and stands run by barefoot hippies. We’re probably thinking of worker co-ops, which are slowly becoming more popular throughout America—and REI probably knows the phrase has an appealing ring for outdoorsy, left-leaning consumers. In a worker co-op, the workers own the business, typically sharing profits in ways the worker-owners have reached consensus on.
That’s not what REI does. REI is a consumer co-op: a buyers’ club meant to give bulk discounts and better deals to customers. Technically, the consumers own the company, buying in with a $20 lifetime membership that includes benefits like an annual dividend on future purchases, exclusive sales, and the ability to vote for their board of directors.
The “Greenvests”, as REI’s workers call themselves, are pushing the company to establish a culture they say is more in line with the progressive values it preaches. “We want to be a part of developing the agreements that impact every aspect of our working lives,” the Berkeley union’s organizing committee wrote to store management in a letter signed by 12 employees. “We don’t just want to be heard—we want to be active stewards of our store alongside you.”
The Berkeley store is significant for the company. Opened in 1975, it was REI’s first store outside the Seattle area. It’s huge, boasting nearly as many staff as the SoHo REI that unionized earlier this year. Now, its workers see an opportunity to pitch their tents under clearer skies: they’ve alleged understaffing, overwork, and racist behavior by some managers. Workers said that a meeting they believed would address their concerns about racism turned out to be a captive-audience anti-union lecture, according to Liberation News.
Meanwhile, the slick anti-union messaging faced by New York REI staff made its way across the country. Union members argue that the “progressive” giant’s language crosses the line—federal labor law mandates “neutral and objective” phrasing in employers’ please-don’t-unionize leaflets—and that managers spread anti-union misinformation in a string of one-on-one surprise meetings.
If you’ve followed the company’s union fights, you might not be surprised. Last time around, senior executives hosted a now-notorious podcast—workers alleged union-busting then, too, but at least management acknowledged that it was taking place on Indigenous land.
“REI believes in the right of every employee to vote for or against union representation,” the company wrote in an email. “We fully supported the vote process in Berkeley and will continue to support our employees going forward.”
And that’s exactly what their employees seem to be doing, perhaps dragging their bosses by the hiking boots. | Labor Activism |
InequalityEssential WorkersAfter Amazon workers in Germany began striking, the company expanded eastward, where looser labor laws brought record productivity.Posted 2 hours ago POZNAN, Poland — The first full-day strike at an Amazon warehouse was on May 14, 2013. Seven hundred workers in all picketed outside three facilities in Germany, the company’s biggest market outside the US. Carrying banners reading “Today we fight for RESPECT,” they demanded higher wages, more permanent rather than short-term contracts, and an end to productivity quotas.A third of the workforce was off the job at the three centrally located fulfillment centers — a surge of collective action Amazon had never before faced anywhere. “It felt like a historic day,” said Andreas Gangl, who started at Amazon’s warehouse in Bad Hersfeld, Germany, in 2008 and worked in the returns department. “I think it was the best day in the world.”Amazon, which has consistently opposed unionization efforts throughout its history, appeared to be reeling. The strikers, who had unionized two years earlier under their country’s robust labor laws, won significant concessions: Hourly wages rose from 9.83 euros to 11.62. The company decreased its reliance on temp agency employees, by the union’s estimate, from around 75% of the workforce to 25%, supplanted by employees with full company benefits and longer entry-level contracts. And Amazon agreed to stop firing workers for failing to meet productivity quotas in all three striking warehouses.But the retail giant had another plan brewing. Two months after the first German strike, Amazon announced that it would expand into central Europe for the first time. Over the next eight years, the company opened 12 fulfillment centers across neighboring Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia. More than 30,000 workers in those three countries now pump out products for Western European customers for less than half the wages of their German counterparts, and with none of the labor protections the Germans had just won. “Why do they build warehouses in Poland? Because it’s not Germany.” A BuzzFeed News investigation based on documents and dozens of interviews has found that working conditions at Amazon facilities in central Europe resemble a pressure cauldron where staff often work past the point of exhaustion to meet ever-increasing quotas to avoid termination. Polish government inspectors have found that workers were under more physical strain than legally acceptable. Internal data showed production expectations rising every week for at least a third of warehouse jobs. Staffers in three central European facilities told BuzzFeed News they regularly witnessed colleagues fainting from exhaustion. Four employees said they were reprimanded for trying to organize or advocate for better working conditions. One former HR officer in Szczecin, Poland, said he fired hundreds of people in the course of one year, including some for using more than three sick days in one month.“Why do they build warehouses in Poland?” the HR officer said. “Because it’s not Germany.”The expansion across central Europe was unprecedented. For years, Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia were the only countries with Amazon warehouses but no Amazon website — and though a Polish site went up in 2021, the other two nations still have none. For the first time, the company entered countries solely for their labor, without an interest in their consumer markets.The plan paid off. Within a year, the warehouses in Poland became the corporation’s most productive in the world, delivering hundreds of thousands of packages every day to Germany and other Western European countries. The strategy’s success reflected a model Amazon has honed for years; the company had developed its highest volume fulfillment centers by exploiting weak enforcement mechanisms in countries with labor standards similar to the place where Amazon first rose to dominance, the US.In Poland, Amazon is able to run an operation “more close to what the US is doing,” said a former senior manager in Poland who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. Amazon’s most productive warehouses had long been in the US; as the company expanded through Poland and across central Europe, it exported efficiency tactics honed under American labor laws.Many workers in those countries welcomed the Amazon fulfillment centers, which are among the biggest warehouses in central Europe, with a forest of yellow shelves boasting the company's unparalleled inventory and a state-of-the-art cafeteria featuring big-screen TVs, video game consoles, and colorful chairs. For a generation of workers who grew up after the Cold War, Amazon’s arrival was emblematic of a new stage in their countries’ transition from the former East Bloc communism to Western-style capitalism. Amazon pays higher than minimum wage in each country, offers to cover up to 95% of schooling or vocational programs for employees with more than a year on the job, and provides bus service even more than 100 miles away — free in Poland and Czechia, 24 euros a month in Slovakia. More than a dozen central European workers who spoke to BuzzFeed News expressed pride at being a part of one of the most successful companies in the world. “For me, this is America,” said a worker in Poznan who requested anonymity because they feared losing their job. “This is America in Poland.”As in America, in Poland Amazon benefits not just from looser workplace requirements, but lesser consequences for breaking labor laws. Judges in at least three cases in 2018 and 2019 ruled that the company used wrongful firing practices, though under Polish law local judgments can influence future lawsuits but not force a change in business practices. From 2014 to 2018, according to a BuzzFeed News review of Polish court documents, the inspectorate observed 117 violations on 12 of its visits to Poland warehouses and issued fines totaling $4,609 — equivalent to less than six months of wages for its lowest-paid employees.“In 30 years, I’ve never seen a company that has avoided regulations as effectively as Amazon,” said Jarosław Łucka, a former corporate compliance director who was commissioned by a Polish court to inspect the Poznan facility in 2018. “They don’t care about the law here. They’re willing to just pay the fines.”In response to a list of questions for this story, Amazon spokesperson Stephan Eichenseher said that the company selects fulfillment center locations “based on multiple factors such as transport infrastructure, the local labor market, business needs and construction timelines.” He disputed allegations that the company has mistreated employees in central Europe. “It’s in our interest to create the best working conditions and retain the best talent,” he said. “While we always strive to do our best for our employees and our customers, we know we always have more work to do. It is our priority to always be fully compliant with all applicable labor laws, and if something isn’t, then we investigate and act immediately.”In the US in recent months, Amazon workers have begun breaking through the company’s efforts to prevent unions: A facility in New York voted to unionize in April, and two other facilities are contesting close losses by filing charges with the National Labor Relations Board accusing the corporation of violating labor laws. Peter Endig / Picture Alliance / DPA / Picture Alliance via Getty Images Demonstrators display a banner at a rally of Amazon workers in Leipzig, Germany, on Sept. 28, 2019. Workers organizing in Poland, though, have continued to hit walls that their counterparts in Western Europe have been able to bypass, according to union representatives and five employees. As unionizing efforts in America have gained steam over the past three years, managers in Poznan “started to act more and more aggressive toward us,” said Magda Malinowska, a union organizer who began working at the Poznan facility in 2014. “Managers tell us that those they find out are in the union will get the worst jobs on the floor. Many people are scared to join.”Though she had been part of organizing efforts for nearly eight years without suffering any repercussions, Malinowska said she suddenly sensed a target on her back in the months after the pandemic started, with managers reprimanding her for spreading union information while she was on the clock. When a coworker died during a night shift in September, Malinowska said, she stepped outside the building to call the union’s lawyer. Her managers accused her of taking photos of paramedics transporting the body into an ambulance, which they called a violation of company policy. Eichenseher, the Amazon spokesperson, declined to specify what policy Malinowska violated but said that she “refused to follow appropriate social behavior,” describing the incident as “an unacceptable and disrespectful action.”Two months later, Malinowska received notice that she was fired. Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty Images Amazon Prime logo is seen on cardboard packages in a shop in Krakow, Poland. Shortly after Amazon opened a fulfillment center in Poznan, Poland, in 2014, a group of its senior managers traveled to the US to tour the company’s most productive warehouses, in Tennessee and Delaware.“We were there to see how they did it,” said a senior manager on the trip who requested anonymity to preserve his relationship with the company.Unlike in Germany, where any group of at least 10 employees can form a union and hold a legal strike, in Poland more than half of a workplace, regardless of union membership, must approve. While individual fulfillment centers in Germany and elsewhere in Europe are registered as stand-alone entities, the nine warehouses in Poland collectively exist by law as a single workplace, which means any strike would require approval from at least 9,000 employees across all the country’s facilities.In Germany — where companies with at least 2,000 workers must apportion half of their board of director seats to nonmanagement employees, giving rank-and-file workers an equal say in warehouse policies — none of Amazon’s 15 facilities employs more than 1,800 people. Similar “codetermination” laws apply to Amazon warehouses across Western Europe, where only one fulfillment center employs more than 3,000 people, a contrast to central European countries where even the biggest companies don’t have to grant employees more than a third of board seats. In Poznan, as well as in Wrocław and Prague, each fulfillment center employs around 7,000 workers during peak weeks — a scale matched by its US facilities.With the American-like size came an onslaught of orders and pressure to clear them as quickly as the facilities across the ocean did. As he observed the US warehouses, the senior manager was impressed by how much bigger they were than those in Germany, with rows of long packing stations and multistory “picking-towers,” the library of shelves holding thousands of assorted products. He took notes on how the Americans kept the flow steady. Upon returning to Poznan, he installed a longer chute for outgoing parcels and a manual address-stamping station.The equipment upgrades in Poznan were completed in time for the 2014 pre-Christmas rush. In a conference call with top Amazon officials, including Steve Harman, the director of European operations, a senior operator at the warehouse remarked that he believed Poznan could break the productivity record set in the US, according to the former senior manager from Poland, who was on the call. The top officials agreed. When the peak period hit, the senior manager said, Amazon’s upper management in Europe redirected more orders than usual to Poland to see how much its fulfillment centers could process at full capacity. “They wanted this win,” the senior manager said.The Poznan warehouse shipped 1.02 million packages in 24 hours at its highest point that winter, the first in Europe to hit seven figures in a day and just short of the Delaware record of 1.1 million, according to the former senior manager. The following December, with orders again funneled to Poland fulfillment centers, the Poznan warehouse exceeded the American mark, a record that lasted three days before the Wrocław facility surpassed it. “We smashed it,” said another former manager, who was based at the Wrocław facility.For their efforts, the workers at the record-breaking facilities were rewarded with Amazon-branded T-shirts.“The worst days were when we have to hit a record,” Malinowska said. Managers pushed them harder, she said, by raising voices and reminding them their jobs were on the line. “For us, it’s hell.” Michal Fludra / NurPhoto via Getty Images An Amazon job advertisement is seen in Poznan, Poland, in September 2020. As strikes swept Western Europe in 2015, Poznan and Wrocław picked up the slack. Anticipating work stoppages in Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain during the mid-July Prime Day peak, managers in Poznan announced a mandatory hour of overtime for all employees. In an act of solidarity with the strikers, a group of Poznan workers organized a brief slowdown. For the 11th hour of their shift, they placed only a single item — rather than several to a dozen — into each bin that left their station, triggering backlogs on the conveyer belts that carried items to the packing area. The slowdown caused a 30% dip in processing speed, the former senior manager said.Amazon’s system is tightly monitored, with items scanned by employees at every stage, and it didn’t take long for managers to identify 16 people linked to the single-item bins. All were fired or signed mutual termination agreements, according to the facility’s union stewards.“There are situations in which we do not see the possibility of further cooperation with the employee,” Amazon spokesperson Eichenseher said in response to a question about the incident. “In this case we have no choice but to exercise the right to terminate the employment contract.”At least two sued the company for wrongful termination but lost. Polish law wasn’t on their side.As is the case at Amazon warehouses everywhere, the company’s management in Poland, Slovakia, and Czechia rely on a constant stream of new workers to cycle in.To fill its new operations in the region, Amazon recruited far beyond the cities closest to the facilities, running promotional campaigns in towns within a 100-mile radius. Daniela, who lives around 30 miles from the warehouse in Slovakia, learned about the job from a man handing out flyers at a bus station. Henryk, who lives in Lobez, around 55 miles from the Szczecin facility, heard about the job from a neighbor. Kate, who lives about 50 miles from the Prague warehouse, saw an ad online. One worker in Prague and another in Szczecin had been living in Ukraine when they came across a posting on Facebook from a temp agency. Others saw ads on buses and billboards. The former HR officer in Szczecin said he found on the bottom of a stack of cash he’d withdrawn from an ATM a slip of paper announcing openings at the city’s new facility.Gabriel, a 57-year-old who got a job at the Slovakia facility, lives in Nové Zámky, a rural village where job options are more limited than in bigger cities like Bratislava. He worked in the returns department, where workers unpack boxes, inspect items for damage, then sort them based on whether they can be resold.Though he performed the same duties that Gangl did in Germany, he was unaware that he worked under different conditions than his counterparts to the west. While Gangl and his returns teammates in Bad Hersfeld sit in chairs while working their eight hours, Gabriel and colleagues in Bratislava stood through their 10-hour shifts. While Gangl no longer had to meet productivity requirements, Gabriel struggled to make his quotas.“Everything was about productivity,” he said. “It was hard for me. It was all so stressful, working under that kind of pressure.” “Maybe if I was 100% healthy, I would be able to hang on at Amazon.” Gabriel hoped to keep the job as long as he could, but to do that he had to raise his numbers. He remembers Oct. 22, 2017, his 19th day as an Amazon employee, as being a particularly stressful shift. A manager, bearing a stack of papers listing the required numbers, “kept coming back to us to check how are we meeting the productivity targets,” he said. “All the time.” And so Gabriel moved faster, unpacking the boxes arriving on a conveyer belt and placing the items inside into bins nearby, three or four times each minute.Halfway into his shift, Gabriel started to feel “really sick,” he said. He was dizzy, lightheaded, and suddenly fatigued. He felt a pain in his chest. He said he went to the infirmary, but there was no medic in that night, so he described his symptoms to a manager and an HR rep, who gave him coffee. “I suppose they were concerned to some extent, but it felt inadequate,” he said.The fatigue and pain only increased as he sat there. He told them that he wanted to go to the hospital. They called him a cab. “As soon as we step into the emergency room, I passed out, and the doctors had to resuscitate me,” he said. “Then they told me I had a heart attack and that I literally came there at the last minute.” A coworker and a union representative corroborated his account.He was off his feet for five months. Then he returned to his job at the Amazon warehouse. “And again, I ended up in the hospital,” he said. It wasn’t a heart attack this time, merely a bout of exhaustion. He left the job after that and now works as a security guard for less pay than what he made at Amazon. “Maybe if I was 100% healthy,” he said, “I would be able to hang on at Amazon.” Kacper Pempel / Reuters A worker packs products at an Amazon Fulfillment Center in Wroclaw, Poland. The quotas are announced every fourth Wednesday. Minimum rates are set each week based on the 80th percentile of performers the previous week; in other words, the bottom fifth of workers had to increase their productivity to avoid a reprimand, which is called “feedback” in company language. As the employee handbook warned, a worker would be recommended for termination if they received six feedbacks in a year.During one 12-week stretch, from March 7 to May 30, 2018, according to internal rate sheets reviewed by BuzzFeed News, hourly processing quotas increased for 37 of 93 jobs in the Poznan warehouses, including from 104 items to 116 for small-/medium-item packers, 107 to 120 for small-item pickers, 269 to 322 for small-item stowers, and 472 to 500 for sorters on the rebin team. Minimum rates decreased for only four jobs.“Like most companies, we have performance expectations for every Amazonian — whether they’re a corporate employee or fulfillment center associate — and we measure actual performance against those expectations,” Eichenseher said. “The vast majority of our employees easily achieve their goals.”From the start, Amazon workers in Poland have to compete with their colleagues to hold onto their jobs. Applicants searching for entry-level associate jobs in Poznan or Wrocław on Amazon’s website are redirected to temp agencies, which supply the company with workers who start on one-month contracts. In Poland, 39% of “low-status” workers are employed through temp agencies, triple the rate in Germany. Temp workers who complete three straight one-month subcontracts, the maximum under Polish law, get a chance at a full-time one-year contract with health insurance and other company benefits, as long as they make it through a three-month trial period during which Amazon can legally fire them for any reason. Those retained at the end of their one-year contract graduate to a permanent contract, which offers more protection from termination, as required under European Union regulations limiting the use of fixed-term staffing.Experienced associates on permanent contracts learn to keep a pace that just barely hits the week’s quota to help minimize its growth. Some hold informal competitions over who can get closest to the minimum rate without going under, two workers said. But those on short-term contracts, who make up more than half of the Poznan warehouse’s staff some months, don’t know what rate they need to hit to get rehired when their end date comes — only that Amazon will retain an undefined number of the top performers among them, based on the latest shipping projections.“I try to work at 150% rate because I know they won’t prolong my contract if I don’t,” said one Poznan worker on a short-term contract who declined to be named because she feared losing her job for speaking publicly. “They really wear us down.”In 2018, the country’s National Labor Inspectorate, known by its Polish acronym PIP, ordered a test to measure the energy expended by Amazon workers. Officials from PIP’s Work Environment Research Section in Gdańsk arrived in Poznan on June 20; over two days, they hooked up workers at five stations to a device called a MWE-1 meter, a rubber mask attached to a tubular machine that measures breathing to calculate the kilocalories burned during a shift. Similar tests were scheduled at other facilities across the country. In all, the agency aimed to measure energy levels of 11 different Amazon warehouse jobs.Jobs that burn at least 1,500 kcal in men or 1,000 in women are classified as “heavy” and require certain conditions under Polish labor laws: Night shifts can’t be longer than eight hours, employers need to provide at least one free meal, and workers must have at least 11 hours of rest time between shifts. Amazon claimed, based on its own measurements, that none of its jobs were heavy.By the time of the inspectorate’s June 2018 examination, Amazon’s Poznan and Wrocław warehouses had already undergone at least one energy measurement each, on court orders tied to wrongful termination complaints. Conducted by Envilab, a private research laboratory, the tests determined that 18 of the 20 jobs measured in Wrocław on April 27, 2015, and nine of the 36 jobs measured in Poznan on April 12, 2018, were classified as heavy. A woman in the rebin department in Poznan expended 1,068 kcals, a man in the Wrocław stow department 1,986, and associates on the sort team in both warehouses more than 1,600. By law, the findings could be used as evidence in individual court cases but not for any wider enforcement against the company’s practices.The inspectorate’s test found even higher levels. Of the 11 jobs assessed, seven were classified as heavy, which the agency said “exceeded permissible standards” for a 10-hour night shift. A rebin worker clocked 2,087 kcals, a packer 3,056.Danuta Rutkowska, a spokesperson for the National Labor Inspectorate, told BuzzFeed News that “representatives of Amazon show willingness to cooperate,” but that the agency has no evidence that the company has addressed the energy expenditure issue. “This problem remains in the sphere of further interest of PIP,” Rutkowska said.Amazon presented a different view of the inspectorate’s findings. “We disagree with the assessment by PIP,” spokesperson Eichenseher said. “As of today, there are no workplaces where the energy expenditure has been exceeded.” Kacper Pempel / Reuters A man walks at an Amazon Fulfilment Center in Wroclaw, Poland. When it was time to terminate workers, the HR officer at the Szczecin warehouse would break the news to each of them in a small, barren room on the ground floor. The process played out the same at Amazon warehouses across central Europe. At the Bratislava warehouse in Slovakia, workers call the small windowless room on the ground floor “samotka,” the Slovak word for a solitary confinement prison cell.The HR rep would slide a sheet of paper across the table and tell the employee that it was probably best if they signed it. The document stated that the parting was mutual — a voluntary resignation, not a firing, and therefore not subject to a severance payment, notice period, or legal challenge.“We were pushing people to sign the mutual agreement,” he said.By signing, the employee would remain in good standing with Amazon and could apply for a job again after three months; their work certificate, a résumélike report card that follows workers in most blue-collar industries in central Europe, would show that they left on their own accord and hadn’t been dismissed for performance or disciplinary reasons. Many cried in the room, he said. One man threatened to kill him. “Did I feel guilty? Yes. There were many cases that I felt guilty,” the HR rep said. “The job killed a lot of humanity in me.”The HR officer said he had no say in who got fired. Terminations and contract renewals are dictated by an algorithm that measures only productivity rates and absences. Near the end of each month, he and other managers consulted a spreadsheet listing names and statistics. Those highlighted in green were safe; those in red would lose their jobs. “We had older people, 60 years old or more, who hit good rates and were trying their best and wanted to work, but it was just physically impossible for them to make the same numbers as younger people.” Over his first year in Szczecin, the HR officer estimates that he terminated 350 workers. He fired workers who used more than six days of sick leave in three months or three in one month. He fired anyone who accrued three unexcused absences over any stretch. He fired workers for missing their quotas six times in a year or four weeks in a row, even if they were consistently reaching 90% to 99% of the mark.“We had older people, 60 years old or more, who hit good rates and were trying their best and wanted to work, but it was just physically impossible for them to make the same numbers as younger people,” said the former HR rep, who requested anonymity to preserve his professional relationship with the company. “I was never proud of this.”He said that he had asked workers to read the documents but didn’t explicitly tell them what legal rights they were signing away. Union stewards in Poland, Slovakia, and Czechia described receiving phone calls from freshly fired workers hoping to reverse their dismissal or collect a severance payment, only to find out there was nothing they could do. “People mostly don’t know their rights, and Amazon exploits that,” said Ivo Mayer, chair of the ZO OSPO union, which represents around 100 Amazon workers in Czechia.In response to questions for this story, Amazon defended its termination policies. “We would never end someone’s employment without a clear and valid reason,” spokesperson Eichenseher said.At least three workers in Poland who didn’t sign mutual agreements have sued Amazon for wrongful termination and won. In the case of Joanna Piotrowska, a Poznan associate who was fired in 2016 after her fourth unexcused absence in 10 months, a judge found that Amazon’s decision “does not constitute a valid reason for termination of the employment contract” because the company couldn’t prove that her absences had created additional costs to its business, according to the court ruling. Amazon was ordered to pay her $1,241 and give her her job back. In the case of Agnieszka Kukułka, a Poznan worker who was fired in 2017 after a manager caught her passing out union pamphlets, a judge ruled that the termination be reversed because Amazon had falsely claimed that her actions had created a safety hazard. After Maciej Gorajski, a packer in Poznan, was fired in 2016 for failing to hit productivity quotas, a judge ruled that Amazon’s practice of terminating employees for not hitting ever-increasing standards determined by the performance of other people “should be considered unlawful” because it is designed to ensure the slowest workers are regularly fired based on constantly changing expectations.“It is already assumed,” Judge Michał Włodarczak wrote, “that not all employees will reach the ceiling calculated using such a method and serve to eliminate the least efficient people. With such a structure, it is not possible for all employees to achieve a minimum that is not known to the employee.” The policy, Włodarczak stated, was “an example” of an employer who cared “only for profit.” Mariusz Burcz / Alamy Stock Photo An Amazon logistics center near Szczecin in Poland On his fourth shift at Amazon’s warehouse in Szczecin, Poland, Stanisław Jankowski was working slower than usual. He was 69 years old and he was falling behind. Jankowski had been hired just eight days earlier, according to Eichenseher, the Amazon spokesperson.Two Amazon managers who reviewed security footage from that night in February 2018 said that Jankowski appeared increasingly lethargic throughout the night shift, and that his supervisor approached him at least three times to encourage him to work faster.The Szczecin warehouse stood as Amazon’s most technologically advanced warehouse in Europe when it opened in 2017, the biggest one on the continent to be fitted with a robotics unit that sped up the shipping process, increased storage capacity by 50%, and eliminated the most notorious task in the company’s logistics operation — instead of workers walking 10 to 15 miles a day to pick items from shelves, the 3,000 robots would bring the shelves to them. In its announcements unveiling the new warehouse, the company presented it as a glimpse into a future where production goals and working conditions were aligned, but workers in Szczecin soon found that wasn’t the case.Jankowski worked as a picker, spending his shifts in what employees call “the cage” because of the steel fencing that isolates workers in a station about the size of a motel bathroom. With a computer monitor in front of him and yellow shelves rolling up to the cage, he reached up or crouched down for an item, recorded its barcode with a handheld scanner, then turned and placed it in one of the black bins on a rolling belt beneath the computer, a cycle of movements he repeated hundreds of times through his 10.5-hour shift, only interrupted by two 15-minute breaks and a 30-minute lunch. “It’s just so tiring, extremely strenuous,” said a picker in Szczecin who requested anonymity because they feared losing their job.After his shift ended at 4 a.m., Jankowski marched to the locker room alongside dozens of other associates, one face among many. As those around him stripped off their work vests, grabbed their phones from their lockers, and made their way out toward the buses in the parking lot, Jankowski sat on the wooden bench and leaned forward with his face in his hands, the two managers who viewed the footage told BuzzFeed News. Within minutes, the room had emptied except for him. Suddenly, he collapsed to his side and tumbled to the ground.A loss prevention staffer found him lying on the ground of the locker room at around 4:30 a.m. Paramedics took him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. After the medical examiner ruled that the death was due to heart failure, the local prosecutor’s office closed the case, concluding that the death was accidental, clearing Amazon of criminal liability.In the years since, at least two other Amazon workers in Poland, both in Poznan, have died while on the clock. In both cases, prosecutors also ruled the deaths accidental.On the day of Jankowski’s death, managers informed workers of the incident, and the company provided grief counselors. There would be no memorial at the facility. The work continued.A few days later, his wife and eldest daughter arrived at the warehouse to pick up his belongings from his locker. A senior manager and the HR chief greeted them in the lobby, expressing their condolences. They were met with anger, according to a witness to the encounter.“You killed our father!” Jankowski’s daughter said to the Amazon officials, who responded with stunned silence.The women tearfully entered the locker room, gathered his cellphone and keys, and then made their way back to their car for the long drive home.One afternoon more than a year later, dozens of workers crowded under an awning in front of the Szczecin warehouse, smoking cigarettes before their shift. Few had been on the job long enough to remember the day Jankowski died. None knew his last name, which town he was from, or even what he looked like, but as one worker put it, “Everybody knows what happened to him.”In interviews with BuzzFeed News, neither the HR rep in Szczecin who hired Jankowski nor the senior manager who oversaw his department could recall any interactions with him. “These people become anonymous,” the HR rep said. “They’re just numbers.” ●Marcin Krasnowolski, Lukáš Onderčanin, Nina Sobotovičová, and Jakub Palata contributed report | Labor Activism |
Starbucks management is reportedly planning to deny new paid leave benefits to unionized workers, another wrinkle in the company's aggressive and unlawful campaign to stamp out organizing momentum nationwide.According to an internal memo obtained by More Perfect Union, Starbucks is set to announce Monday that it is ending Covid-19 sick pay benefits that offered employees two five-day rounds of paid leave per quarter if they contracted the virus or were exposed to it.The memo adds that Starbucks intends to unveil new paid leave benefits that include "faster sick time accrual." However, the document states specifically that the company will attempt to exclude unionized workers from the new benefits, citing federal labor law requiring management to bargain with unions over any changes to wages, benefits, and working conditions.Starbucks, currently led by billionaire CEO Howard Schultz, insists it is barred by federal law from "making or announcing unilateral changes," even as it unilaterally moves to end Covid-19 benefits for both unionized and nonunion employees."The memo suggests that Starbucks is legally permitted to unilaterally strip unionized stores of the current Covid leave benefits, but banned from implementing the new benefits in those stores," More Perfect Union notes.Starbucks Workers United, the group leading the organizing campaign that has racked up more than 220 union wins across the U.S. since December, immediately slammed the memo as further evidence that company management "has no regard for the law.""We are demanding that Starbucks bargain over their attempts to end Covid pay and benefits," the group wrote on Twitter. "Interesting how Starbucks claims to not legally be able to give us new benefits in THE SAME letter they unilaterally take away benefits.""If Starbucks actually believed they couldn't give union stores new benefits unilaterally, they wouldn't be unilaterally stripping us of our benefits now," Starbucks Workers United continued. "Their goal is to retaliate against and punish union stores."Starbucks' latest anti-union move comes as the company is facing a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) complaint for illegally denying unionized workers wage and benefit boosts that it provided to nonunion employees. A hearing in the case is scheduled for October 25.Bloomberg Law reported earlier this month that "Workers United International President Lynne Fox sent a letter to Starbucks on behalf of union stores waiving their right to bargain over the pay and benefit changes, and calling for the company to provide them to union stores as well."Robert Giolito, an attorney who represents Starbucks Workers United in California and Arizona, told the outlet that "Schultz's stated reason for not affording wage increases and benefits to union stores was wiped out once the union presented its waiver.""The minute the union gave the waiver, he can give those wages and benefits," Giolito added. "But if he did that, it would undercut the entire motivation of this policy, which is to discourage unionization."The coffee giant's plan for new sick leave benefits was reported just days after the Biden White House facilitated a deal between rail carriers and unions that—at least temporarily—averted a nationwide railroad strike. At the center of the yearslong labor dispute was paid sick leave, which—unlike other wealthy countries—the U.S. government doesn't guarantee to workers."This, as much as anything that has been written, emphasizes the need for the U.S. to guarantee sick workers some form of paid sick days and paid medical and family leave legislation," Eileen Appelbaum, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, said in a statement last week. | Labor Activism |
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.Leah Millis | ReutersSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wearing a mask that read "Cancel student debt," called on the labor movement on Wednesday to join him in his fight to get President Joe Biden to forgive $50,000 in federal student loan debt per borrower.During the roundtable with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and union leaders including Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, Schumer said there was a false narrative about who student debt cancellation would benefit."Let's dispel one awful myth right here: This is not a problem that concerns the wealthy or the Ivy League," Schumer said. "All of these fat cats, and people who never want to see help for working people and poor people come up with these myths."It's affecting working-class people," he added.More from Personal Finance:Inflation forces older Americans to make tough financial choicesRecord inflation threatens retirees the most, say advisorsTips for staying on track with retirement, near-term goalsThe senator was addressing the arguments made by those who oppose canceling student debt on the grounds that college graduates are privileged thanks to their education and higher earnings.Schumer also appeared to be speaking directly to President Biden, who has repeatedly framed canceling student debt as a handout to the well-off.In a 2021 interview with The New York Times columnist David Brooks, Biden said "The idea that you go to Penn and you're paying a total of 70,000 bucks a year and the public should pay for that? I don't agree."Those comments echoed earlier ones he made at a CNN town hall, where he said it didn't make sense to cancel the loans "for people who have gone to Harvard and Yale and Penn."The fact that Biden has brought up Ivy League schools when asked about forgiveness has caused frustration among borrowers and advocates, who say it's a myth that people with student debt — particularly those struggling with it — have the benefit of a prestigious education behind them.Indeed, just 0.3% of federal student borrowers attended Ivy League colleges, according to estimations provided to CNBC by higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. The largest share of borrowers by far — 49% — came from public colleges.Another quarter of borrowers attended for-profit schools, which have come under fire for misleading students about programs and career outcomes, as well as for preying on veterans and people of color. Nearly half of those who take out student loans at these schools end up defaulting.Most recently, the White House was reported to be leaning toward a cancellation plan of $10,000 per borrower, yet it's under pressure to go further.The NAACP has been vocal about how $10,000 would be insufficient relief for Black student loan borrowers, who carry an average balance more than $50,000 a few years after graduating.Wisdom Cole, national director of the NAACP's youth and college division, recently posted on Twitter that nixing just $10,000 would be "a slap in the face."Meanwhile, the Biden administration is also grappling with the fact that the idea of student debt forgiveness infuriates many Americans, including those who never borrowed for their education or went to college. Some Republicans have said they would try to block an effort by the president to cancel the debt.On Wednesday, Schumer called on the labor movement to make student debt cancellation an issue that resonates "from one end of America to the other.""We've met with President Biden on numerous occasions; his mind is open to this," Schumer said to the union leaders. "Let us fight and persist until we succeed in canceling $50,000 in student debt for America." | Labor Activism |
Farm workers clear out hosing which was used to irrigate an okra field on July 13, 2022 near Coachella, California.Mario Tama/Getty Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.In the fertile plains of Washington State’s Yakima Valley, maximum summer temperatures typically approach 90° F, meaning sweaty, potentially dangerous work for the people who harvest the region’s bounty: 77 percent of US-grown hops, a huge portion of our apples, and plenty of pears and cherries as well. But for the last two years, fierce heat waves have descended, making an uncomfortable job even more punishing. Starting on July 16, Yakima experienced eight straight days of triple-digit temperatures, peaking at a demonic 108° F, reached both on July 28 and July 29.
Under emergency rules for outside labor adopted during a record-smashing summer-2021 heat wave and reinstated this year, when the temperature hits 89° F, Washington employers have to provide workers with a paid 10-minute break, in full shade with the opportunity to sit, every two hours; and enough “‘suitably cool’ water to allow workers to drink at least one quart each per hour.” These measures have helped keep workers safe, but aren’t quite enough, says Yakima-based Adriana Cruz, an organizer at the Fair Work Center, a Washington group that defends workers in low-wage sectors like agriculture and food service.
When I caught up with her in late July, she had just met with several apple pickers. To avoid extreme heat and interruptions from required breaks, the workers told her, farm managers have pushed harvest shifts into the early hours, starting around 4:30 a.m and ending late morning, when the temperature approaches the 89° F threshold. Even so, things can get perilously hot. One reason is that the Washington rules don’t account for humidity, which typically isn’t a concern in semi-arid Yakima. “But because of the heat, [growers] need to be watering orchids pretty frequently,” says Cruz. Irrigated ground in 80°-plus weather can create pockets of humidity that make people working outside feel much hotter. One apple-orchard picker told Cruz that her crew stopped working at noon last week, with the temperature over 90° and irrigation-related humidity building. “She told me it was a horrible feeling, because she was nauseous, dizzy, and having trouble breathing,” Cruz says. On top of the sweltering weather, pickers have to climb a ladder to reach the apples, and “even the actual ladder gets really hot, and it’s really hard to touch it without burning yourself in these temperatures.”
Yakima’s harvesters have it better than their outdoor-toiling peers in most of the United States. As the climate warms, the frequency of US heat waves has nearly tripled since the 1960s, and they’ve also gotten more severe and longer-lasting. People who make their living outdoors have paid a severe price. Back in 2008, the US Centers for Disease Control calculated that crop workers die from heat stress at 20 times the rate of non-farm employees. A 2021 analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by National Public Radio and Columbia Journalism Investigations found that heat-related fatalities among US workers have doubled since the early 1990s.
And it’s only going to get worse. In a 2020 paper, University of Washington researchers calculated that the average number of “days spent working in unsafe conditions” due to excessive heat will likely double by mid-century, and triple by the end of it. Yet Washington is one of just four states with specific rules to protect workers from dangerous heat, along with California, Oregon, and Minnesota. Legislatures in Nevada, Maryland, and Colorado have passed laws requiring state agencies to develop heat standards for workers, but they haven’t come into effect yet. And no federal standards on working in the heat exists.
Under federal labor law, employers are required to “assure safe and healthful working conditions” on the job. The agency that exists within the Department of Labor to enforce that standard, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, occasionally rolls out rules designed to protect workers from specific threats that might otherwise fall through the cracks. Back in 1983, for example, OSHA introduced rules requiring employers to train and inform workers about how to avoid exposure to toxic chemicals on the job. Last June, OSHA released emergency rules designed to protect healthcare workers from Covid-19—a move the Trump Administration’s labor department had refused to make despite severe pressure from worker advocates.
Last September, in the wake of the hottest US summer on record, OSHA initiated a rulemaking process to develop a workplace heat standard that could ultimately bring the rest of the United States in line with Washington and its west coast peers in requiring paid, shaded breaks, and access to cool drinking water when temperatures hit hazardous levels. In its announcement, OSHA stressed that humidity should be accounted for in setting the threshold. But the federal process grinds at a slow pace. A 2012 US Government Accountability Office study found that the time between initiation and fruition for new safety and health standards averages seven years—and can take as long as 19 years.
Given the present and growing menace of heat stress for workers, that’s too little, too late, say many advocates. In a report released in June, the progressive advocacy group Public Citizen urged the Biden OSHA to release emergency rules to protect workers “while it continues the slow process of proposing and finalizing a permanent standard.”
But the conservative turn of federal courts in recent years, including most spectacularly the US Supreme Court, makes such a move is vulnerable to legal challenge. “I think the current judiciary would not permit OSHA to issue an emergency standard for heat,” David Michaels, OSHA administrator under former President Barack Obama and current George Washington University professor, told Mother Jones. “A heat standard is clearly a high priority for OSHA, but the standard- setting process is broken, so unless Congress intervenes and passes legislation that lets OSHA move faster, it will take several years for the agency to issue a standard.”
In 2021, a group of senators including Sherrod Brown (D.-Ohio), Elizabeth Warren (D.-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I.-Vermont), and Corey Booker (D.-N.J.) co-sponsored a bill that would require OSHA to enact a “final standard on prevention of occupational exposure to excessive heat” within 3.5 years of its being signed into law. They called the bill the “Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act,” named after a California farmworker who died of heat stroke in 2004 “after picking grapes for 10 straight hours in 105 degree temperatures.” Instead of calling an ambulance, the bill’s text adds, “his employer told his son to drive Mr. Valdivia home. On his way home, he started foaming at the mouth and died.”
As the summer of 2022 swelters on, Sen. Brown staged a press conference promoting the bill on July 20, declaring that, “We know too many workers still work in dangerous conditions, putting their health and safety on the line every day to provide for their families. There’s not much dignity in a job where you fear for your health or your life.” The House version of the bill advanced through the House Education and Labor Committee on July 27. Yet it remains stuck in the Senate, unlikely to get a vote, much less achieve the 60-vote threshold required to overcome the filibuster, given that no Republican senators signed on as sponsors. “Unfortunately, Republican senators haven’t shown any interest in joining us yet,” Sen. Brown wrote in an emailed statement. “I’ll continue to work with my colleagues to find a path forward for pro-worker legislation like the Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act.”
Meanwhile, in the first week of August, most of the country languishes under a heat index (a measure that combines heat and humidity) that requires “extreme caution” to remain safe while being outside. A lot of people will continue making their living relatively unbothered, cooled indoors by air conditioning. Others don’t have that option. | Labor Activism |
The Facts Inside Our Reporter’s Notebook The top four public labor unions in the U.S. lost more than 200,000 members since the Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that government employees could not be forced to pay a union to keep their job, a new report shows that.
The Commonwealth Foundation released the report, which found that the top four public labor unions – AFT, AFSCME, NEA, and SEIU – lost nearly 219,000 members altogether since the Janus v. AFSCME ruling.
“The Janus decision to end forced unionism for government workers accelerated a long-term decline in membership,” the report said. “In response, government unions are conducting aggressive campaigns to unionize new workers with recent successes in Virginia and Colorado.”
The loss of members, though, has not been as drastic as was predicted by some when the Supreme Court first issued the ruling in 2018.
“I think there were some groups on both sides who expected more,” said Nathan Benefield, senior vice president at the Commonwealth Foundation. “I think our predictions were more cautious. We did this in Michigan … but it took several years to educate people before we saw big changes in membership…”
Those successes for unions have come in part because of unions’ lobbying efforts at the state level in response to the court decision. For example, unions got a ban on collective bargaining lifted in Virginia, which has led to local governments around the state unionizing. In Colorado, unions formalized collective bargaining for some workers. In other states, unions have suffered policy losses.
“You can see some significant shifts happening in individual states,” said Elizabeth Stelle, director of policy analysis for the Commonwealth Foundation.
Other groups say unions have doubled down recruitment but some of their tactics have backfired. Max Nelsen, director of labor policy at the Freedom Foundation, said unions “have pulled out all the stops to institute other coercive and deceptive dues collection practices, even going so far as to forge employees’ signatures on union membership forms.
“Unions and their political allies in government have responded furiously to the Supreme Court’s landmark workers’ rights ruling in Janus v. AFSCME,” Nelsen said. “Unfortunately for them, we know from our daily interactions with public employees that people are consistently infuriated by unions’ heavy-handed and unethical practices and, as the data shows, it's costing them members. It would be better for everyone if government unions moderated and sought to persuade employees to join voluntarily on the merits, but they’ve shown that they’re just too ideologically leftist and too wedded to power politics to change willingly.”
Another key criticism of unions has been their habit of favoring Democratic policies and politicians. Critics say that makes their collection of dues and efforts to grow their membership inherently political.
“Union dues are implicitly political because they can fund ideologically partisan issues and independent expenditure committees, or SuperPACs,” the Commonwealth Foundation said. “Four states prohibit unions from using taxpayer-funded government payroll systems to collect political contributions or funds for use on political purposes.”
The report also graded states based on their union policies, with right-leaning policies receiving higher grades. Multiple states saw significant changes in recent years.
“Three states experienced major grade changes since our 2019 report. Virginia dropped from ‘A+’ to ‘C’ for instituting collective bargaining, while Arkansas jumped from ‘C’ to ‘A+’ for banning it,” the report said. “Missouri’s comprehensive labor reforms were officially struck down, moving the state back down from “B” to ‘C.’” | Labor Activism |
POZNAN, Poland — The first full-day strike at an Amazon warehouse was on May 14, 2013. Seven hundred workers in all picketed outside three facilities in Germany, the company’s biggest market outside the US. Carrying banners reading “Today we fight for RESPECT,” they demanded higher wages, more permanent rather than short-term contracts, and an end to productivity quotas.A third of the workforce was off the job at the three centrally located fulfillment centers — a surge of collective action Amazon had never before faced anywhere. “It felt like a historic day,” said Andreas Gangl, who started at Amazon’s warehouse in Bad Hersfeld, Germany, in 2008 and worked in the returns department. “I think it was the best day in the world.”Amazon, which has consistently opposed unionization efforts throughout its history, appeared to be reeling. The strikers, who had unionized two years earlier under their country’s robust labor laws, won significant concessions: Hourly wages rose from 9.83 euros to 11.62. The company decreased its reliance on temp agency employees, by the union’s estimate, from around 75% of the workforce to 25%, supplanted by employees with full company benefits and longer entry-level contracts. And Amazon agreed to stop firing workers for failing to meet productivity quotas in all three striking warehouses.But the retail giant had another plan brewing. Two months after the first German strike, Amazon announced that it would expand into central Europe for the first time. Over the next eight years, the company opened 12 fulfillment centers across neighboring Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia. More than 30,000 workers in those three countries now pump out products for Western European customers for less than half the wages of their German counterparts, and with none of the labor protections the Germans had just won. “Why do they build warehouses in Poland? Because it’s not Germany.” A BuzzFeed News investigation based on documents and dozens of interviews has found that working conditions at Amazon facilities in central Europe resemble a pressure cauldron where staff often work past the point of exhaustion to meet ever-increasing quotas to avoid termination. Polish government inspectors have found that workers were under more physical strain than legally acceptable. Internal data showed production expectations rising every week for at least a third of warehouse jobs. Staffers in three central European facilities told BuzzFeed News they regularly witnessed colleagues fainting from exhaustion. Four employees said they were reprimanded for trying to organize or advocate for better working conditions. One former HR officer in Szczecin, Poland, said he fired hundreds of people in the course of one year, including some for using more than three sick days in one month.“Why do they build warehouses in Poland?” the HR officer said. “Because it’s not Germany.”The expansion across central Europe was unprecedented. For years, Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia were the only countries with Amazon warehouses but no Amazon website — and though a Polish site went up in 2021, the other two nations still have none. For the first time, the company entered countries solely for their labor, without an interest in their consumer markets.The plan paid off. Within a year, the warehouses in Poland became the corporation’s most productive in the world, delivering hundreds of thousands of packages every day to Germany and other Western European countries. The strategy’s success reflected a model Amazon has honed for years; the company had developed its highest volume fulfillment centers by exploiting weak enforcement mechanisms in countries with labor standards similar to the place where Amazon first rose to dominance, the US.In Poland, Amazon is able to run an operation “more close to what the US is doing,” said a former senior manager in Poland who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. Amazon’s most productive warehouses had long been in the US; as the company expanded through Poland and across central Europe, it exported efficiency tactics honed under American labor laws.Many workers in those countries welcomed the Amazon fulfillment centers, which are among the biggest warehouses in central Europe, with a forest of yellow shelves boasting the company's unparalleled inventory and a state-of-the-art cafeteria featuring big-screen TVs, video game consoles, and colorful chairs. For a generation of workers who grew up after the Cold War, Amazon’s arrival was emblematic of a new stage in their countries’ transition from the former East Bloc communism to Western-style capitalism. Amazon pays higher than minimum wage in each country, offers to cover up to 95% of schooling or vocational programs for employees with more than a year on the job, and provides bus service even more than 100 miles away — free in Poland and Czechia, 24 euros a month in Slovakia. More than a dozen central European workers who spoke to BuzzFeed News expressed pride at being a part of one of the most successful companies in the world. “For me, this is America,” said a worker in Poznan who requested anonymity because they feared losing their job. “This is America in Poland.”As in America, in Poland Amazon benefits not just from looser workplace requirements, but lesser consequences for breaking labor laws. Judges in at least three cases in 2018 and 2019 ruled that the company used wrongful firing practices, though under Polish law local judgments can influence future lawsuits but not force a change in business practices. From 2014 to 2018, according to a BuzzFeed News review of Polish court documents, the inspectorate observed 117 violations on 12 of its visits to Poland warehouses and issued fines totaling $4,609 — equivalent to less than six months of wages for its lowest-paid employees.“In 30 years, I’ve never seen a company that has avoided regulations as effectively as Amazon,” said Jarosław Łucka, a former corporate compliance director who was commissioned by a Polish court to inspect the Poznan facility in 2018. “They don’t care about the law here. They’re willing to just pay the fines.”In response to a list of questions for this story, Amazon spokesperson Stephan Eichenseher said that the company selects fulfillment center locations “based on multiple factors such as transport infrastructure, the local labor market, business needs and construction timelines.” He disputed allegations that the company has mistreated employees in central Europe. “It’s in our interest to create the best working conditions and retain the best talent,” he said. “While we always strive to do our best for our employees and our customers, we know we always have more work to do. It is our priority to always be fully compliant with all applicable labor laws, and if something isn’t, then we investigate and act immediately.”In the US in recent months, Amazon workers have begun breaking through the company’s efforts to prevent unions: A facility in New York voted to unionize in April, and two other facilities are contesting close losses by filing charges with the National Labor Relations Board accusing the corporation of violating labor laws. Workers organizing in Poland, though, have continued to hit walls that their counterparts in Western Europe have been able to bypass, according to union representatives and five employees. As unionizing efforts in America have gained steam over the past three years, managers in Poznan “started to act more and more aggressive toward us,” said Magda Malinowska, a union organizer who began working at the Poznan facility in 2014. “Managers tell us that those they find out are in the union will get the worst jobs on the floor. Many people are scared to join.”Though she had been part of organizing efforts for nearly eight years without suffering any repercussions, Malinowska said she suddenly sensed a target on her back in the months after the pandemic started, with managers reprimanding her for spreading union information while she was on the clock. When a coworker died during a night shift in September, Malinowska said, she stepped outside the building to call the union’s lawyer. Her managers accused her of taking photos of paramedics transporting the body into an ambulance, which they called a violation of company policy. Eichenseher, the Amazon spokesperson, declined to specify what policy Malinowska violated but said that she “refused to follow appropriate social behavior,” describing the incident as “an unacceptable and disrespectful action.”Two months later, Malinowska received notice that she was fired. Shortly after Amazon opened a fulfillment center in Poznan, Poland, in 2014, a group of its senior managers traveled to the US to tour the company’s most productive warehouses, in Tennessee and Delaware.“We were there to see how they did it,” said a senior manager on the trip who requested anonymity to preserve his relationship with the company.Unlike in Germany, where any group of at least 10 employees can form a union and hold a legal strike, in Poland more than half of a workplace, regardless of union membership, must approve. While individual fulfillment centers in Germany and elsewhere in Europe are registered as stand-alone entities, the ten warehouses in Poland collectively exist by law as a single workplace, which means any strike would require approval from at least 10,000 employees across all the country’s facilities.In Germany — where companies with at least 2,000 workers must apportion half of their board of director seats to nonmanagement employees, giving rank-and-file workers an equal say in warehouse policies — none of Amazon’s 15 facilities employs more than 1,800 people. Similar “codetermination” laws apply to Amazon warehouses across Western Europe, where only one fulfillment center employs more than 3,000 people, a contrast to central European countries where even the biggest companies don’t have to grant employees more than a third of board seats. In Poznan, as well as in Wrocław and Prague, each fulfillment center employs around 7,000 workers during peak weeks — a scale matched by its US facilities.With the American-like size came an onslaught of orders and pressure to clear them as quickly as the facilities across the ocean did. As he observed the US warehouses, the senior manager was impressed by how much bigger they were than those in Germany, with rows of long packing stations and multistory “picking-towers,” the library of shelves holding thousands of assorted products. He took notes on how the Americans kept the flow steady. Upon returning to Poznan, he installed a longer chute for outgoing parcels and a manual address-stamping station.The equipment upgrades in Poznan were completed in time for the 2014 pre-Christmas rush. In a conference call with top Amazon officials, including Steve Harman, the director of European operations, a senior operator at the warehouse remarked that he believed Poznan could break the productivity record set in the US, according to the former senior manager from Poland, who was on the call. The top officials agreed. When the peak period hit, the senior manager said, Amazon’s upper management in Europe redirected more orders than usual to Poland to see how much its fulfillment centers could process at full capacity. “They wanted this win,” the senior manager said.The Poznan warehouse shipped 1.02 million packages in 24 hours at its highest point that winter, the first in Europe to hit seven figures in a day and just short of the Delaware record of 1.1 million, according to the former senior manager. The following December, with orders again funneled to Poland fulfillment centers, the Poznan warehouse exceeded the American mark, a record that lasted three days before the Wrocław facility surpassed it. “We smashed it,” said another former manager, who was based at the Wrocław facility.For their efforts, the workers at the record-breaking facilities were rewarded with Amazon-branded T-shirts.“The worst days were when we have to hit a record,” Malinowska said. Managers pushed them harder, she said, by raising voices and reminding them their jobs were on the line. “For us, it’s hell.” As strikes swept Western Europe in 2015, Poznan and Wrocław picked up the slack. Anticipating work stoppages in Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain during the mid-July Prime Day peak, managers in Poznan announced a mandatory hour of overtime for all employees. In an act of solidarity with the strikers, a group of Poznan workers organized a brief slowdown. For the 11th hour of their shift, they placed only a single item — rather than several to a dozen — into each bin that left their station, triggering backlogs on the conveyer belts that carried items to the packing area. The slowdown caused a 30% dip in processing speed, the former senior manager said.Amazon’s system is tightly monitored, with items scanned by employees at every stage, and it didn’t take long for managers to identify 16 people linked to the single-item bins. All were fired or signed mutual termination agreements, according to the facility’s union stewards.“There are situations in which we do not see the possibility of further cooperation with the employee,” Amazon spokesperson Eichenseher said in response to a question about the incident. “In this case we have no choice but to exercise the right to terminate the employment contract.”At least two sued the company for wrongful termination but lost. Polish law wasn’t on their side.As is the case at Amazon warehouses everywhere, the company’s management in Poland, Slovakia, and Czechia rely on a constant stream of new workers to cycle in.To fill its new operations in the region, Amazon recruited far beyond the cities closest to the facilities, running promotional campaigns in towns within a 100-mile radius. Daniela, who lives around 30 miles from the warehouse in Slovakia, learned about the job from a man handing out flyers at a bus station. Henryk, who lives in Lobez, around 55 miles from the Szczecin facility, heard about the job from a neighbor. Kate, who lives about 50 miles from the Prague warehouse, saw an ad online. One worker in Prague and another in Szczecin had been living in Ukraine when they came across a posting on Facebook from a temp agency. Others saw ads on buses and billboards. The former HR officer in Szczecin said he found on the bottom of a stack of cash he’d withdrawn from an ATM a slip of paper announcing openings at the city’s new facility.Gabriel, a 57-year-old who got a job at the Slovakia facility, lives in Nové Zámky, a rural village where job options are more limited than in bigger cities like Bratislava. He worked in the returns department, where workers unpack boxes, inspect items for damage, then sort them based on whether they can be resold.Though he performed the same duties that Gangl did in Germany, he was unaware that he worked under different conditions than his counterparts to the west. While Gangl and his returns teammates in Bad Hersfeld sit in chairs while working their eight hours, Gabriel and colleagues in Bratislava stood through their 10-hour shifts. While Gangl no longer had to meet productivity requirements, Gabriel struggled to make his quotas.“Everything was about productivity,” he said. “It was hard for me. It was all so stressful, working under that kind of pressure.” “Maybe if I was 100% healthy, I would be able to hang on at Amazon.” Gabriel hoped to keep the job as long as he could, but to do that he had to raise his numbers. He remembers Oct. 22, 2017, his 19th day as an Amazon employee, as being a particularly stressful shift. A manager, bearing a stack of papers listing the required numbers, “kept coming back to us to check how are we meeting the productivity targets,” he said. “All the time.” And so Gabriel moved faster, unpacking the boxes arriving on a conveyer belt and placing the items inside into bins nearby, three or four times each minute.Halfway into his shift, Gabriel started to feel “really sick,” he said. He was dizzy, lightheaded, and suddenly fatigued. He felt a pain in his chest. He said he went to the infirmary, but there was no medic in that night, so he described his symptoms to a manager and an HR rep, who gave him coffee. “I suppose they were concerned to some extent, but it felt inadequate,” he said.The fatigue and pain only increased as he sat there. He told them that he wanted to go to the hospital. They called him a cab. “As soon as we step into the emergency room, I passed out, and the doctors had to resuscitate me,” he said. “Then they told me I had a heart attack and that I literally came there at the last minute.” A coworker and a union representative corroborated his account.He was off his feet for five months. Then he returned to his job at the Amazon warehouse. “And again, I ended up in the hospital,” he said. It wasn’t a heart attack this time, merely a bout of exhaustion. He left the job after that and now works as a security guard for less pay than what he made at Amazon. “Maybe if I was 100% healthy,” he said, “I would be able to hang on at Amazon.” The quotas are announced every fourth Wednesday. Minimum rates are set each week based on the 80th percentile of performers the previous week; in other words, the bottom fifth of workers had to increase their productivity to avoid a reprimand, which is called “feedback” in company language. As the employee handbook warned, a worker would be recommended for termination if they received six feedbacks in a year.During one 12-week stretch, from March 7 to May 30, 2018, according to internal rate sheets reviewed by BuzzFeed News, hourly processing quotas increased for 37 of 93 jobs in the Poznan warehouses, including from 104 items to 116 for small-/medium-item packers, 107 to 120 for small-item pickers, 269 to 322 for small-item stowers, and 472 to 500 for sorters on the rebin team. Minimum rates decreased for only four jobs.“Like most companies, we have performance expectations for every Amazonian — whether they’re a corporate employee or fulfillment center associate — and we measure actual performance against those expectations,” Eichenseher said. “The vast majority of our employees easily achieve their goals.”From the start, Amazon workers in Poland have to compete with their colleagues to hold onto their jobs. Applicants searching for entry-level associate jobs in Poznan or Wrocław on Amazon’s website are redirected to temp agencies, which supply the company with workers who start on one-month contracts. In Poland, 39% of “low-status” workers are employed through temp agencies, triple the rate in Germany. Temp workers who complete three straight one-month subcontracts, the maximum under Polish law, get a chance at a full-time one-year contract with health insurance and other company benefits, as long as they make it through a three-month trial period during which Amazon can legally fire them for any reason. Those retained at the end of their one-year contract graduate to a permanent contract, which offers more protection from termination, as required under European Union regulations limiting the use of fixed-term staffing.Experienced associates on permanent contracts learn to keep a pace that just barely hits the week’s quota to help minimize its growth. Some hold informal competitions over who can get closest to the minimum rate without going under, two workers said. But those on short-term contracts, who make up more than half of the Poznan warehouse’s staff some months, don’t know what rate they need to hit to get rehired when their end date comes — only that Amazon will retain an undefined number of the top performers among them, based on the latest shipping projections.“I try to work at 150% rate because I know they won’t prolong my contract if I don’t,” said one Poznan worker on a short-term contract who declined to be named because she feared losing her job for speaking publicly. “They really wear us down.”In 2018, the country’s National Labor Inspectorate, known by its Polish acronym PIP, ordered a test to measure the energy expended by Amazon workers. Officials from PIP’s Work Environment Research Section in Gdańsk arrived in Poznan on June 20; over two days, they hooked up workers at five stations to a device called a MWE-1 meter, a rubber mask attached to a tubular machine that measures breathing to calculate the kilocalories burned during a shift. Similar tests were scheduled at other facilities across the country. In all, the agency aimed to measure energy levels of 11 different Amazon warehouse jobs.Jobs that burn at least 1,500 kcal in men or 1,000 in women are classified as “heavy” and require certain conditions under Polish labor laws: Night shifts can’t be longer than eight hours, employers need to provide at least one free meal, and workers must have at least 11 hours of rest time between shifts. Amazon claimed, based on its own measurements, that none of its jobs were heavy.By the time of the inspectorate’s June 2018 examination, Amazon’s Poznan and Wrocław warehouses had already undergone at least one energy measurement each, on court orders tied to wrongful termination complaints. Conducted by Envilab, a private research laboratory, the tests determined that 18 of the 20 jobs measured in Wrocław on April 27, 2015, and nine of the 36 jobs measured in Poznan on April 12, 2018, were classified as heavy. A woman in the rebin department in Poznan expended 1,068 kcals, a man in the Wrocław stow department 1,986, and associates on the sort team in both warehouses more than 1,600. By law, the findings could be used as evidence in individual court cases but not for any wider enforcement against the company’s practices.The inspectorate’s test found even higher levels. Of the 11 jobs assessed, seven were classified as heavy, which the agency said “exceeded permissible standards” for a 10-hour night shift. A rebin worker clocked 2,087 kcals, a packer 3,056.Danuta Rutkowska, a spokesperson for the National Labor Inspectorate, told BuzzFeed News that “representatives of Amazon show willingness to cooperate,” but that the agency has no evidence that the company has addressed the energy expenditure issue. “This problem remains in the sphere of further interest of PIP,” Rutkowska said.Amazon presented a different view of the inspectorate’s findings. “We disagree with the assessment by PIP,” spokesperson Eichenseher said. “As of today, there are no workplaces where the energy expenditure has been exceeded.” When it was time to terminate workers, the HR officer at the Szczecin warehouse would break the news to each of them in a small, barren room on the ground floor. The process played out the same at Amazon warehouses across central Europe. At the Bratislava warehouse in Slovakia, workers call the small windowless room on the ground floor “samotka,” the Slovak word for a solitary confinement prison cell.The HR rep would slide a sheet of paper across the table and tell the employee that it was probably best if they signed it. The document stated that the parting was mutual — a voluntary resignation, not a firing, and therefore not subject to a severance payment, notice period, or legal challenge.“We were pushing people to sign the mutual agreement,” he said.By signing, the employee would remain in good standing with Amazon and could apply for a job again after three months; their work certificate, a résumélike report card that follows workers in most blue-collar industries in central Europe, would show that they left on their own accord and hadn’t been dismissed for performance or disciplinary reasons. Many cried in the room, he said. One man threatened to kill him. “Did I feel guilty? Yes. There were many cases that I felt guilty,” the HR rep said. “The job killed a lot of humanity in me.”The HR officer said he had no say in who got fired. Terminations and contract renewals are dictated by an algorithm that measures only productivity rates and absences. Near the end of each month, he and other managers consulted a spreadsheet listing names and statistics. Those highlighted in green were safe; those in red would lose their jobs. “We had older people, 60 years old or more, who hit good rates and were trying their best and wanted to work, but it was just physically impossible for them to make the same numbers as younger people.” Over his first year in Szczecin, the HR officer estimates that he terminated 350 workers. He fired workers who used more than six days of sick leave in three months or three in one month. He fired anyone who accrued three unexcused absences over any stretch. He fired workers for missing their quotas six times in a year or four weeks in a row, even if they were consistently reaching 90% to 99% of the mark.“We had older people, 60 years old or more, who hit good rates and were trying their best and wanted to work, but it was just physically impossible for them to make the same numbers as younger people,” said the former HR rep, who requested anonymity to preserve his professional relationship with the company. “I was never proud of this.”He said that he had asked workers to read the documents but didn’t explicitly tell them what legal rights they were signing away. Union stewards in Poland, Slovakia, and Czechia described receiving phone calls from freshly fired workers hoping to reverse their dismissal or collect a severance payment, only to find out there was nothing they could do. “People mostly don’t know their rights, and Amazon exploits that,” said Ivo Mayer, chair of the ZO OSPO union, which represents around 100 Amazon workers in Czechia.In response to questions for this story, Amazon defended its termination policies. “We would never end someone’s employment without a clear and valid reason,” spokesperson Eichenseher said.At least three workers in Poland who didn’t sign mutual agreements have sued Amazon for wrongful termination and won. In the case of Joanna Piotrowska, a Poznan associate who was fired in 2016 after her fourth unexcused absence in 10 months, a judge found that Amazon’s decision “does not constitute a valid reason for termination of the employment contract” because the company couldn’t prove that her absences had created additional costs to its business, according to the court ruling. Amazon was ordered to pay her $1,241 and give her her job back. In the case of Agnieszka Kukułka, a Poznan worker who was fired in 2017 after a manager caught her passing out union pamphlets, a judge ruled that the termination be reversed because Amazon had falsely claimed that her actions had created a safety hazard. After Maciej Gorajski, a packer in Poznan, was fired in 2016 for failing to hit productivity quotas, a judge ruled that Amazon’s practice of terminating employees for not hitting ever-increasing standards determined by the performance of other people “should be considered unlawful” because it is designed to ensure the slowest workers are regularly fired based on constantly changing expectations.“It is already assumed,” Judge Michał Włodarczak wrote, “that not all employees will reach the ceiling calculated using such a method and serve to eliminate the least efficient people. With such a structure, it is not possible for all employees to achieve a minimum that is not known to the employee.” The policy, Włodarczak stated, was “an example” of an employer who cared “only for profit.” On his fourth shift at Amazon’s warehouse in Szczecin, Poland, Stanisław Jankowski was working slower than usual. He was 69 years old and he was falling behind. Jankowski had been hired just eight days earlier, according to Eichenseher, the Amazon spokesperson.Two Amazon managers who reviewed security footage from that night in February 2018 said that Jankowski appeared increasingly lethargic throughout the night shift, and that his supervisor approached him at least three times to encourage him to work faster.The Szczecin warehouse stood as Amazon’s most technologically advanced warehouse in Europe when it opened in 2017, the biggest one on the continent to be fitted with a robotics unit that sped up the shipping process, increased storage capacity by 50%, and eliminated the most notorious task in the company’s logistics operation — instead of workers walking 10 to 15 miles a day to pick items from shelves, the 3,000 robots would bring the shelves to them. In its announcements unveiling the new warehouse, the company presented it as a glimpse into a future where production goals and working conditions were aligned, but workers in Szczecin soon found that wasn’t the case.Jankowski worked as a picker, spending his shifts in what employees call “the cage” because of the steel fencing that isolates workers in a station about the size of a motel bathroom. With a computer monitor in front of him and yellow shelves rolling up to the cage, he reached up or crouched down for an item, recorded its barcode with a handheld scanner, then turned and placed it in one of the black bins on a rolling belt beneath the computer, a cycle of movements he repeated hundreds of times through his 10.5-hour shift, only interrupted by two 15-minute breaks and a 30-minute lunch. “It’s just so tiring, extremely strenuous,” said a picker in Szczecin who requested anonymity because they feared losing their job.After his shift ended at 4 a.m., Jankowski marched to the locker room alongside dozens of other associates, one face among many. As those around him stripped off their work vests, grabbed their phones from their lockers, and made their way out toward the buses in the parking lot, Jankowski sat on the wooden bench and leaned forward with his face in his hands, the two managers who viewed the footage told BuzzFeed News. Within minutes, the room had emptied except for him. Suddenly, he collapsed to his side and tumbled to the ground.A loss prevention staffer found him lying on the ground of the locker room at around 4:30 a.m. Paramedics took him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. After the medical examiner ruled that the death was due to heart failure, the local prosecutor’s office closed the case, concluding that the death was accidental, clearing Amazon of criminal liability.In the years since, at least two other Amazon workers in Poland, both in Poznan, have died while on the clock. In both cases, prosecutors also ruled the deaths accidental.On the day of Jankowski’s death, managers informed workers of the incident, and the company provided grief counselors. There would be no memorial at the facility. The work continued.A few days later, his wife and eldest daughter arrived at the warehouse to pick up his belongings from his locker. A senior manager and the HR chief greeted them in the lobby, expressing their condolences. They were met with anger, according to a witness to the encounter.“You killed our father!” Jankowski’s daughter said to the Amazon officials, who responded with stunned silence.The women tearfully entered the locker room, gathered his cellphone and keys, and then made their way back to their car for the long drive home.One afternoon more than a year later, dozens of workers crowded under an awning in front of the Szczecin warehouse, smoking cigarettes before their shift. Few had been on the job long enough to remember the day Jankowski died. None knew his last name, which town he was from, or even what he looked like, but as one worker put it, “Everybody knows what happened to him.”In interviews with BuzzFeed News, neither the HR rep in Szczecin who hired Jankowski nor the senior manager who oversaw his department could recall any interactions with him. “These people become anonymous,” the HR rep said. “They’re just numbers.” ●Marcin Krasnowolski, Lukáš Onderčanin, Nina Sobotovičová, and Jakub Palata contributed reporting to this story. incomingYour weekday morning guide to breaking news, cultural analysis, and everything in between | Labor Activism |
Kaja Sokola was a shy teen from Wroclaw, Poland, when she received news that changed her life: modeling agents saw her photo during an open casting call, and they wanted her to walk at a show in Warsaw.Sokola had done one or two walks in a dress or skirt, but the show was mostly underwear. She was 14.“Being a 14-year-old girl, walking in a push-up bra and tiny underwear, in crowds of 40-plus men and women, and clapping and looking at us as if it is all normal, [it] seems like a horror movie right now,” she said. “It was ‘normal’ back then and it still is right now, I think, unfortunately.”Soon thereafter, Sokola was thrown into an industry known for worker abuses that range from age-inappropriate assignments – at 15, she was photographed in a completely see-through blouse – to financial exploitation and sex trafficking.“On so many levels, from emotional to physical to financial, fashion has been abusing models for years and years and years,” said Sokola, who is among the many women to have accused convicted sex-criminal Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct.Sokola, who now works as a clinical psychologist, is also among the former and present models advocating for the Fashion Workers Act, a proposed New York state law that seeks to prevent abuses by instituting labor protections. The bill, which aims to protect everyone from models to makeup artists, was introduced in spring 2022 and will once again be considered in the 2023 legislative session, which starts in January.Renewed attention toward this bill comes at a pivotal moment in the #MeToo movement. Weinstein and actor Danny Masterson will soon be tried on rape charges in Los Angeles court and Kevin Spacey’s sexual abuse civil trial began on Thursday in Manhattan.These high-profile trials suggest that the movement has not slowed since its inception five years ago. The increasing attention to models’ rights suggests that #MeToo is expanding beyond the entertainment world into other industries where power imbalances – be they economic or gender-based – can set the stage for abuse.“It truly is an outgrowth of advocacy on the part of survivors of sexual abuse,” said the New York state senator Brad Hoylman, who is sponsoring the bill. “They were engaged with the Child Victims Act, and then the Adult Survivors Act.“This collective of survivors, most of whom are younger women, have banded together and helped write this bill, so that the next generation of creatives and fashion workers don’t endure the same.”Under the Fashion Workers Act, management agencies would have to compensate models within 45 days after completing a job, and provide them copies of their work contracts. If management companies receive royalties for a model or creative whom they no longer represent, the agency would have to notify them.Management commissions would also be capped at 20% – and they would also be prohibited from pocketing onerous signing fees and above-market rent at agency accommodations. Proponents contend that if models and other industry creatives actually get paid, they are far less vulnerable to exploitation: a paycheck can buy a plane ticket away from a dangerous situation, or cover rent for a safe, stable home.There has been some opposition to the bill; non-model management trade groups, such as the Artist Management Association and American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) contend that it could have damaging financial ramifications. The AAAA notes that agencies act as a “middleman” between those whom they represent and brands; if these brands don’t pay management on time, then agencies would have to cover their clients’ fees.The model Carré Otis said she has experienced the exploitation that comes with dependency on agents. In August 2021, Otis filed a lawsuit alleging that Gérald Marie, the former modeling agency boss, repeatedly raped her at his Paris home when she was 17 years old.Carré Otis speaking during a press conference in Paris after filing a criminal complaint in New York last month against Gerald Marie. Photograph: Aurelia Moussly/AFPTV/AFP/Getty Images“When I got to Paris, France, my passport was taken away. I didn’t have the ability to actually leave and was in a further vulnerable place, because I didn’t have finances to help me leave,” said Otis, who is one of the main advocates of the Fashion Workers Act. “I was completely indebted to my agent, who was actually a known perpetrator at the time.”In a statement to the Guardian, Marie’s lawyer said that he “categorically denies” these allegations, calling them “false and defamatory”.Sara Ziff, founder and executive director of the Model Alliance, described how girls and young women in the industry confront an “alien world” where agencies’ financial power can control nearly all aspects of their lives.“Imagine you are an immigrant young woman who’s signed with a modeling agency in New York: when the agency sponsors your work visa, you’re only allowed to work through the agency,” Ziff said. “You cannot book any other jobs and yet, the agency claims they don’t have any obligation to book you jobs.”The model might even live at an agency-owned apartment – where 11 models might cram into a two-bedroom flat, paying $2,000 each for a bunk bed – and receive a pitiful allowance from the agency. “Often, these teenage girls who are trying to be models are thousands of dollars in debt, and the only way they can eat or afford to do anything is to go to these dinners with businessmen,” Ziff said.Ziff said the alliance has routinely heard about agencies planning these meetings, “which are sort of presented as a business opportunity, but ended up being something very different”. Said Ziff: “It is no coincidence that Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Cosby, Peter Nygaard solicited girls through model management agencies.”Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, who is also leading the charge for legislative change, said that many models’ backgrounds heighten the power balance still more.“A lot of models, when they start this job, they believe it’s beautiful, and it’s something that they want to do so much that they will not even think of what actually our rights are based on the fact that we’re workers,” said Gutierrez, who has also accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct and will testify in his upcoming trial. “Some of them come from very poor countries, and they don’t know better,” she said. “I just feel like they target a lot of these young women and young guys.” | Labor Activism |
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A railroad strike or lockout could cost the U.S. economy $2 billion per day in output, threaten supplies of food and fuel, and stoke already red-hot inflation, according to an industry report released on Thursday.President Joe Biden this summer appointed a presidential emergency board (PEB) to break a labor negotiation impasse between major U.S. railroads and the unions representing 115,000 of their workers.Those groups have until just after midnight on Sept. 16 to reach a deal based on the board's recommendations. Failure to do so will open the door to labor or management-led work stoppages - as well as Congressional intervention.The economic impact report issued by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) warned that pulling the brakes at Union Pacific, Berkshire Hathaway's BNSF, CSX and other freight railroads could disrupt shipments of wheat and other grains during the critical harvest season, upend coal deliveries to power plants, exacerbate vehicle and auto part shortages, and strand e-commerce packages handled by United Parcel Service and other shippers.Diverting shipments to over-the-road transportation would require an additional 467,000 long-haul trucks per day, exceeding availability, AAR said.The AAR report landed a day after the National Mediation Board hosted a meeting with railroads, unions, and U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh with the aim of averting work stoppages that could pile extra costs on consumers just weeks before midterm Congressional elections that could change the fortunes of Biden's Democratic party.Unions and freight railroads have so far reached tentative agreements covering 21,000 workers represented by five of the 12 unions involved in the talks. Those employees could refuse to cross picket lines if the two sides don't forge deals to cover all of the workers.“A nationwide rail work stoppage would result in an unnecessary $2 billion daily economic hit,” said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies. "Should negotiations fail and result in a work stoppage, Congress must act to implement the PEB recommendations."(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by David Gregorio) | Labor Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Nationwide worker efforts to form unions in various sectors have made their way to a Los Angeles area topless bar where a group of exotic dancers have filed paperwork attempting to unionize.On Thursday, the majority of the 30 strippers employed at Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood, California filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a vote to be represented by the Actors’ Equity Association, Deadline reported.If the employees are successful and election results are certified by the board, they would become the first strippers in the United States to be represented by a union, according to Deadline.Actors’ Equity is a national labor union that speaks for more than 51,00 actors and stage managers working in live theater.TEACHERS UNION AGREEMENT STIPULATING WHITE TEACHERS BE LAID OFF FIRST CRITICIZED: 'CONSTITUTIONALLY SUSPECT' Exotic dancer performs at Florida strip club (Getty Images)"Strippers are live entertainers, and while some aspects of their job are unique, they have much in common with other Equity members who dance for a living," Actors’ Equity President Kate Shindle told Deadline. "In my conversations with them, these dancers reported consistent compensation issues — including significant wage theft — along with health and safety risks and violations. They want health insurance and other benefits, like workers’ compensation."Shindle added that the dancers "need protection from sexual harassment, discrimination and unjust terminations."AFT UNION PROMOTES METHOD FOR TEACHERS TO HELP KIDS CHANGE THEIR PRONOUNS WITHOUT PARENTS KNOWING"We applaud their efforts to seize their collective power and unionize, like so many others across the country who are fed up with toxic workplaces," Shindle said. "When they approached us for support, we did what unions should do: We said yes." Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood, California (Google Earth)The effort to unionize began in March when club security guards allegedly failed to protect dancers from unruly customers which prompted dancers and activists to picket outside the club to speak out against unsafe working conditions, Deadline reported."We like what we do," Velveeta, a Star Garden dancer, told the outlet. "We would like our jobs even more if we had basic worker protections. We’re like so many other workers who have learned that it’s not a choice between suffering abuse or quitting. With a union, together, we can make needed improvements to our workplace."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPStrippers have pushed for union protection in the past, Deadline reported, including dancers at San Francisco's Lusty Lady club who unionized in 1996 with the Service Employees International Union until the club closed in 2013.Star Garden did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Andrew Mark Miller is a writer at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com. | Labor Activism |
The Queensland government should introduce free nursing and midwifery degrees to combat critical staff shortages, the state’s Greens have said.The party said their ‘nursebacker’ plan would attract nurses to the public health system and retain workers experiencing burnout and exhaustion.The proposal comes after the Victorian Labor government announced free university degrees and training for nurses and midwives last month as part of a $270m package.As part of the Queensland Greens proposal, full scholarships would be offered for Tafe and university students enrolling in nursing and midwifery degrees approved by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) for the next three years, starting from 2023.This would include scholarships covering the cost for those re-entering the workforce and courses that further nursing careers such as postgraduate studies in specialist areas like intensive care, cancer care and paediatrics.The Greens have also called for the government to pay Queensland nurses and midwives a $5,000 retention and workforce re-entry payment this year and next year. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning The South Brisbane Greens MP, Amy MacMahon, said droves of nurses were leaving the state’s public health system, with hospitals struggling to find workers to replace them.“By waiving university and Tafe fees for nursing and midwifery courses and covering the costs of requalifying or furthering a nursing career, we can get new nurses into the system and get former nurses back to work,” she said.“Nurses and healthcare staff have told us they are burnt out, underpaid and suffering – and when nurses suffer, patients suffer too.“It’s time our state implements a plan to tackle the nursing workforce crisis.”Under the previously announced five-year Victorian program, all new domestic students enrolling in a professional-entry nursing and midwifery course in 2023 and 2024 will receive a scholarship of up to $16,500 to cover course costs.Scholarships of $10,000 on average will be handed to postgraduate nurses completing studies in specialist areas.The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU) had pushed for the state to implement a similar package, with fears Victoria’s announcement could encourage students to move interstate.“The QNMU has repeatedly called for long-term nursing and midwifery workforce planning in Queensland and nationally,” the union’s secretary, Beth Mohle, said.“If the Queensland government were to waive fees, this would likely assist with workforce growth and the retention of students and future nurses and midwives who might consider moving, studying and working interstate.”The state’s health minister, Yvette D’Ath, said Queensland “provides a range of incentives to attract and retain nurses in rural and remote areas”.She said these include free or subsidised accommodation, an allowance of up to $2,500 in professional development and bonus payments based on length of service.“We are hiring an additional 770 nursing graduates a year for the next two years, on top of our existing annual intake, as well as an additional 100 clinical facilitators each year for the next two years,” D’Ath said.The minister said the upcoming Queensland Health workforce summit would examine new ways to increase staff levels, develop more First Nations health workers and adapt to new models of care to achieve a sustainable workforce. | Labor Activism |
U.S. September 13, 2022 / 12:34 AM / AP Seattle Public Schools said late Monday it had reached a tentative agreement with the union for teachers who went on strike last week over issues like pay and classroom support.Earlier Monday the district had cancelled classes Tuesday, the fifth school day that students have missed since the strike began Sept. 7. That was supposed to be the first day for approximately 49,000 students in the district.In a statement, the district said it would on Tuesday announce an update on when classes would begin. SPS and SEA bargaining teams have come to a tentative agreement. We will share an update on the start of school tomorrow afternoon. We look forward to welcoming students and staff for the 2022-23 school year. pic.twitter.com/izWOhA9JQx— Seattle Public Schools (@SeaPubSchools) September 13, 2022 Striking teachers say their main concern is educational and emotional help for students, especially those with special needs or learning difficulties. Meeka DiLorenzo's 15-year-old son is a sophomore at Ingraham High School in Seattle. She was disappointed at the proposals put forward by district."Maybe it's because of COVID — parents have a newfound appreciation for what teachers go through," said DiLorenzo, who is a cellist in the Seattle Symphony. Because her son is old enough to stay home alone, DiLorenzo hasn't had to scramble for childcare like parents of younger kids. Both she and her son have at times joined teachers to walk the picket lines."I would like to see the district listen to educators about what they need in the classroom - I would like to see mental health supports in place, in the form of counselors, social workers, nurses," she said.Problems the schools were dealing with before the COVID pandemic became exacerbated when students returned after pandemic-related closures last year, she said. Her son noticed the difference on the first day of school in the fall of 2021."It was a lot of instability and chaos," she said. This year, he's not really looking forward to going back to school, but DiLorenzo is worried about the implications of delaying the opening of schools."For me, the mental health implications of keeping schools closed have a specific impact for teenagers," she said. Teachers from Seattle Public Schools picket outside Roosevelt High School on what was supposed to be the first day of classes, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Seattle. Jason Redmond / AP In Seattle, the school district had offered pay raises of an additional 1% above the 5.5% cost-of-living increase set by state lawmakers — far less than the union says it wants — plus one-time bonuses for certain teachers, including $2,000 for third-year Seattle teachers earning an English language or dual-language endorsement.Teachers in the city have seen healthy raises since their last strike in 2015, with many making more than $100,000, thanks largely to a new state education funding model. The union has said it is primarily focused on winning raises for its lower-paid members, including instructional assistants and front office staff. Paraeducators in Seattle Public Schools start at $19 an hour — nowhere near enough to afford to live in the city, many say.The union says it is opposing the district's efforts to eliminate staffing ratios for special education students.District officials said they were bargaining in good faith and have offered competitive pay and incentive options. One issue for Seattle Public Schools is declining enrollment. Projections show Washington state's largest school district losing several thousand students over the next few years, which officials say translates into significant budget deficits.Districts around the country have faced labor challenges as the pandemic put extraordinary stress on teachers and students. Teachers in Minneapolis, Chicago and Sacramento walked out earlier this year before securing new contracts.Heather Larson lives in Snoqualmie, Washington, but her 16-year-old child attends Interagency High School in the Seattle district because it is the only one in the region for minors that are in recovery from addiction."Getting them back to school is crucial," Larson said about her child. "One of the harder things for kids with substance abuse disorders is the need to keep it consistent."She's got a flexible job, where she can work from home some days, but on other days her child has had to go to work with her and sit in her office."I'm all for the teachers fighting for what they need," Larson said. In: Seattle Teacher Strike Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Labor Activism |
Western Australia’s multibillion-dollar mining industry has failed to protect women from predatory sexual behaviour, an inquiry has found.A committee chaired by the Liberal MP Libby Mettam delivered its findings on Thursday after almost a year of investigations, launched after a number of women came forward to police detailing claims of sexual assaults at major WA mines.Mettam told WA’s parliament she was shocked and appalled at the scale of the problem, saying victims had faced targeted violence, stalking, grooming and threats to their livelihoods.And she warned the industry needed to do more to force perpetrators out after hearing evidence some had merely changed work sites or gained re-employment within the sector.“It is completely inexcusable and simply shocking that this could be taking place in the 21st century in one of the state’s most lucrative industries,” she said.“This represents a failure of the industry to protect its workers and raises real questions about why the government was not better across this safety issue.”The committee has recommended the mining sector should explore options for a register of sexual offenders which could resemble a working with children card.It also recommends the establishment of a government forum to hear, document and acknowledge the experiences of victims.This process could explore opportunities for redress such as formal apologies and appropriate compensation.The Labor backbencher and committee member Mark Folkard told parliament in an emotional speech he believed this should take the form of a royal commission.“I am of the belief we have serious sexual predators hidden within the sector. They have been there for many years and still go unchallenged,” he said. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Sign up to receive the top stories from Guardian Australia every morningThe report criticised the performance of WA’s mining safety regulator, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.While DMIRS said it had only received 22 reports of sexual assaults on mine sites over seven years, WA police reported having investigated 23 incidents in just two years.“It is difficult to believe the regulator could have accepted this level of reporting as reflecting the true situation on the ground,” Mettam said.The inquiry found DMIRS should overhaul its practices and implement an effective and comprehensive data management system.Mettam paid tribute to the bravery of victims who had disclosed their experiences.One woman was told by her supervisor after a near-miss incident while driving a haul truck that he would make the investigation disappear if she had sex with him.She was told she would have to “get on her knees if she wanted to get her shirt”, meaning a permanent job with the mining company.Another woman was knocked unconscious in her donga and woke to find her jeans and underpants around her ankles.Quick GuideHow to get the latest news from Guardian AustraliaShowPhotograph: Tim Robberts/Stone RFThe inquiry heard evidence of women being stalked and hassled with provocative photo requests.Pilbara mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue Metals Group were among the companies to publicly front the committee.All three confirmed they had sacked workers over assaults and harassment.They have since rolled out safety measures including tougher alcohol limits, enhanced reporting mechanisms and better CCTV and lighting.Just days prior to the report, Gina Rinehart-owned Roy Hill confirmed it had received a report of a woman being sexually assaulted by a fellow contractor at one of its sites.A report by the Human Rights Commission in 2020 found 74% of women in mining had experienced harassment in the previous five years.The Minerals Council of Australia said the industry was committed to eliminating sexual harassment and would continue to progress further safeguards. | Labor Activism |
A cargo ship is seen at the port of Oakland as independent truck driver continue protesting against California's new law known as AB5, in Oakland, California, U.S., July 22, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos BarriaRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comJuly 23 (Reuters) - Independent truckers who have been protesting at California's busy Oakland seaport over the past week against a new state law known as the "gig-worker" law took a break on Saturday, when the port business slowed to a crawl.But some truckers said protests may resume on Monday when normal port traffic is scheduled."Protests are scheduled for Monday to Friday, as the port also does not have any major operations scheduled through the weekend," Bill Aboudi, owner of a trucking company and supporter of the protests, told Reuters.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe Port of Oakland's four marine terminals do not have scheduled operating hours on Saturday and the truck gates, too remain shut, Oakland Port's spokesperson confirmed to Reuters.However, Oakland Port spokesperson also said operation of the terminals is leased out to companies that schedule their operations and may have been carrying out some shipping operations on Saturday morning.Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT) is the largest, handling about 70% of the port's cargo. It is operated by SSA Marine, who did not immediately respond to Reuters request for a comment, outside of business hours."If the protests will resume or not on Monday, that shall be determined on Monday only as the truckers are in active talks with the concerned authorities," Aboudi said.Operations at the Northern California port ground to a near standstill last week after protesters used pickets and tractor-trailers to block terminal gates. Work on ships and docks slowed after cargo flows stopped and hundreds of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) members declined to cross blockade lines for safety reasons.The Port of Oakland is a key hub for California's $20 billion-plus agriculture exports, which include almonds, dairy products and wine. The eighth-busiest U.S. container seaport, which also handles imports like coffee, electronics and manhole covers, was already working to clear a pandemic-fueled cargo backup before the trucker protests began.Independent truck drivers are opposed to California's labor law formally known as AB5. It would make it harder for companies to classify workers as independent contractors.Truckers say the law will require them to spend thousands of dollars on insurance and equipment rentals like chassis to remain independent."AB5 is everything that obstructs a small truck business owner's ambition to live the 'American Dream,'" Aboudi said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Rachna Dhanrajani in Bengaluru and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; editing by Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Labor Activism |
The Department of Labor has estimated that thousands of workers have already lost access to retraining assistance and other federal resources after a decades-old program aimed at helping those who lose their jobs to globalization and trade expired this month.The program lapsed July 1 and Congress does not appear to have found a clear path to renewing it, as Democrats claim Republicans are blocking efforts to reauthorize it. The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers program, or TAA, provided funding for retraining programs, worker relocation, job-seeking services and more for trade-affected workers. Because Congress allowed the program to expire, any worker who lost their job after July 1 can't apply for or appeal an application for any of those services. The Labor Department estimated that around 4,500 workers have missed out on the programs’ benefits since it lapsed, a number that is expected to quickly grow. "I can tell you that number's just a start," said Brent Parton, acting assistant secretary of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. "We'll be able to see what the numbers will be and the impact of the program overall in the coming weeks and quarters."If a company closes a factory in the U.S. and ships jobs overseas or shuts down a plant because it can find cheaper materials abroad, advocates said this decades-old safety net — that at one time boasted bipartisan support — has been there to help millions of Americans who qualify find new jobs. About 100,000 people sign up for TAA annually, and the Department of Labor said more than 5 million people have used it since its inception in 1974, even though it is a relatively little-known program.Now, it won’t be there to catch those who have lost their post."The people who are being affected now might not even know they're being affected," Rachel Lipson, the co-founder and director of the Project on Workforce at Harvard University, said. Parton said participants in the program tend to have been in their jobs for numerous years. They also tend to be older and educated at a lower level than is typical in the current civilian labor force, which means "they need robust services and benefits to get them back on their feet," Parton said.Over 75% of people who participate in TAA, Parton said, exit the program and find a new job within six months.The roughly 900 workers of a U.S. Steel mill in Granite City, Illinois, who are likely to be out of a job after their 127-year-old steel plant is sold, may have qualified for TAA, but they weren't able to apply for it before July 1. Now, as their union hammers out the details of potential layoffs with U.S. Steel, their options are fewer. Audience members listen as then-President Donald Trump speaks at the U.S. Steel Corp. Granite City Works facility in Granite City, Ill., on July 26, 2018.Daniel Acker / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesDan Simmons has worked at the steel mill for over 40 years, starting right out of high school. He said colleagues with the least amount of time at the mill have been employed there for around eight years. When the plant was idled in 2015, Simmons said many of his co-workers were able to sign up for TAA. They found work elsewhere and didn't return when the plant was restarted. Now, he said, there are plenty of workers at his plant who aren't quite at retirement age but have spent decades at the plant. They have kids in school or college, are facing the challenges of rising inflation and cost of living, and don't know what they'll do next. "We need other career paths and training," he said. "Guys here have done nothing but be steel operators and pour steel, and the skill and training they have is really valuable — but at an integrated steel mill. Where are they going to go get a job at? And one that pays anything like they make today?"A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 2018 found that after 10 years TAA-trained workers earned about $50,000 more than those who did not participate in the program because of higher incomes and greater labor force participation. Roy Houseman, the legislative director for United Steel Workers union, said that he received assistance through the program when the Montana paper mill he worked at closed in 2010. He said it made a significant difference for him and his co-workers at the time and provided them a sense of direction after the sudden job loss.But Houseman has faced opposition in Congress, particularly from Republicans, who question whether it is worth its $500 million to $1 billion price tag. "Republicans are choosing to play games with people's ability to get job training and improve their lives — that's what I'm dealing with," he said, his voice rising. "Sorry, I'm a little livid because I can't get 60 votes, and so I can't get trade adjustment assistance for people."Many Republicans have resisted funding TAA after the program was uncoupled from the Trade Promotion Authority, or TPA, a package of laws that simplified how Congress approves trade agreements. The two had previously been packaged together, but the Biden administration allowed TPA to expire last year, in response to dissatisfaction with American trade deals. The administration has said that it is not inclined to create new pacts and aims to build out manufacturing in the United States. Rep. Kevin Brady, the Republican ranking member of the House Ways and Means committee, said in a statement to NBC News on Friday that "President Biden's moratorium on new trade agreements seems firm." In Republicans' view that "moratorium" has impinged on market exports and throws cold water on the need for TAA. "There would have to be a much stronger ironclad commitment to resuming American leadership in trade to even begin this discussion on extending TAA," he said. "We’re open to creative ideas here, but if we don’t have a serious, significant trade agenda that opens up markets for American workers, TAA doesn’t make much sense.”Democrats have attempted to include the program in various vehicles over the past year. They most recently attempted to attach it to a package aimed at boosting domestic computer chip production, which was slimmed down to pass out of the Senate. TAA was cut in that process.Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Republicans had "stonewalled" a renewal. The chair of the Finance Committee said he plans to use the committee to "continue to make reauthorization and improvement of the program a top priority for Congress — as well as the workers and businesses that stand to gain from a workforce that has the skills needed to succeed.”Another Democrat, Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, said he was deeply disappointed in the program's expiration, especially because he was able to negotiate a short-term extension last year. He accused Republicans of holding TAA hostage.But the path forward still remains unclear and opportunities for this Congress to act are shrinking. Parton said Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and the White House are working together with Congress in hopes of getting the program reauthorized. “On the one hand, no one wants to see that the expiration of the program happened,” he said. But he hoped “that the impact of this is going to create some urgency around getting a deal done.” | Labor Activism |
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball agreed to pay minor-leaguers $185 million to settle a federal lawsuit that has progressed through the courts for eight years without reaching a trial.The settlement, announced May 10, was filed Friday with the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, where Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero is expected to grant his approval.If approved, $120,197,300 will be split among the players, $55.5 million will go the the players’ lawyers, up to $5.5 million will be the reimbursement costs of the suit, $450,000 will be for the costs of administering the settlement, $637,000 will go to incentive awards for the player representatives in the suit, $400,000 for a contingency fund and $2,315,000 for a payment under the California Private Attorney General Act.As part of the settlement, MLB agreed to rescind any prohibitions against teams paying wages to minor-league players outside of the season.The suit was filed in 2014 by first baseman/outfielder Aaron Senne, a 10th-round pick of the Marlins in 2009 who retired in 2013, and two other retired players who had been lower-round selections: Kansas City Royals infielder Michael Liberto and San Francisco Giants pitcher Oliver Odle. They claimed violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and state minimum wage and overtime requirements for a work week they estimated at 50 to 60 hours.Spero wrote in a pretrial ruling in March that minor-leaguers are year-round employees who work during training time and found MLB violated Arizona’s state minimum wage law and was liable for triple damages. Spero also ruled MLB did not comply with California wage-statement requirements, awarding $1,882,650 in penalties.He said minor-leaguers should be paid for travel time to road games in the California League and to practice in Arizona and Florida.In 2017, the players suing were defined as those with minor-league contracts who played in the California League for at least seven straight days starting on Feb. 7, 2010, or Feb. 7, 2011, depending on state or federal claims; those who participated in spring training, extended spring training instructional leagues in Arizona starting Feb. 7, 2011; and those who participated in spring training, extended spring training instructional leagues in Florida starting Feb. 7, 2009. | Labor Activism |
Grassroots Northern Territory Labor members passed a string of motions on the weekend calling for a ban on fracking in the Beetaloo Basin and an end to gas industry subsidies, putting themselves at odds with both the territory and federal Labor governments.The previous federal Coalition government helped speed up gas exploration in the resource-rich Beetaloo Basin, about 500km south-east of Darwin, by handing tens of millions of dollars to fracking companies to incentivise exploration.The incentive scheme was part of its so-called “gas-led recovery”, which was pursued despite fears that exploiting the Beetaloo gas reserves would create a “carbon bomb” and scupper Australia’s chances of meeting the Paris climate targets.The Albanese government supports the development of the basin, as does the NT government, which says Beetaloo’s resources could drive “multibillion-dollar growth in the Territory economy”.Motions put forward during NT Labor’s conference on Saturday included calls for an “immediate ban” to fracking in the NT, a halt to exploration in the Beetaloo Basin, and an end to government subsidies supporting the gas industry.One motion, moved by Young Labor, called for an acknowledgement that the progress of the Beetaloo project was an “indictment of the Territory Labor Party’s morals and is a direct result of capitalistic greed”. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Another motion, moved by the Casuarina branch, said that increasing emissions by developing more fossil fuel deposits, including in the Beetaloo and the Barossa offshore gas fields, was “incompatible with sustaining life as we know it in the NT, Australia and globally”.NT Labor women moved a motion calling for the party to “oppose any further expansion or new development of any fossil fuel resources in the Northern Territory, including the Beetaloo Basin and offshore Barossa gas fields”.Other motions called for the development of a 2030 carbon emissions reduction target and implementation plan, and urged the government to heed a recommendation of the landmark Pepper inquiry into fracking by ensuring no net increase in greenhouse gas emissions occurred.All of the anti-fracking motions were passed with very little opposition, according to multiple sources.“There was no dissent. There was no one who moved motions against them,” one Labor member present at the conference told the Guardian. “That means that people are really concerned about this and they want further action on climate change, they want protection of water, protection of the environment, and they’re concerned we’re not moving quickly enough at this.”Federal Labor has described the gas-led recovery concept as a “fraud” and questioned the need for subsidies for gas infrastructure, but has maintained that gas will play an important role in Australia’s future energy mix.The NT government has expressly ruled out giving subsidies for fracking.But the chief minister, Natasha Fyles, told the Guardian that the government understood the “importance of having jobs for Territorians, development in our regions and ongoing energy security as we transition to renewables”.“We also know that protection of our natural environment is paramount,” she said. “That’s why we put in place robust regulations to protect our environment, and that is why we are implementing all 135 recommendations from the independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing.”The Lock the Gate Alliance national coordinator, Carmel Flint, said it was “heartening to see such strong grassroots support” in NT Labor to end subsidies for fracking in the NT.“This confirms there’s powerful support for the Albanese government to use the upcoming budget in October to slash the wasteful gas subsidies made by Scott Morrison,” Flint said.“It’s abundantly clear from these motions passed at the Territory Labor conference that party members see through the industry’s spin and recognise the threat fracking poses to water, communities and climate.”The NT Labor Environment Action Network convener, Rowan Hayward, congratulated the party on “embracing a stronger commitment to environmental protection and climate action” during its conference. | Labor Activism |
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday blocked a Republican request to force railroad workers and companies to accept the recommendations of a nonpartisan panel to avoid a strike that would impact millions of Americans. Sanders stood up on the floor to block the speedy approval of the resolution — introduced by Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Commission Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) — that would require railroad workers to adopt the outlines of a labor deal. He argued that railroad companies are making huge profits and should start treating their workers more fairly. “The rail industry has seen huge profits in recent years and last year alone made a record breaking $20 billion in profit,” Sanders said. “Last year the CEO of CSX made over $20 million in total compensation while the CEOs of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern made over $40 million each in total compensation.” By contrast, Sanders said that workers in the freight rail industry are “entitled to a grand total of zero sick days.” GOP senators, however, say their resolution would avoid a “disastrous” rail strike, which could freeze rail travel and freight shipment around the country. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) accused Democrats of putting the economy at risk after Sanders blocked the resolution. “Senate Democrats just blocked our bill that would have given railway workers a big raise and prevented a crippling strike and supply chain crisis. If a strike occurs and paralyzes food, fertilizer and energy shipments nationwide, it will be because Democrats blocked this bill,” he tweeted. The Burr-Wicker resolution would adopt the comprehensive recommendations by the Presidential Emergency Board, which Biden created to avert a strike. Those recommendations include significant wage increases retroactive to 2020. Burr noted it would include a 24 percent increase in pay, annual bonuses of $1,000 and additional paid leave. “This is the president’s bipartisan emergency board that he set up that came back with a recommendation to the Biden Administration and said here is the solution to this. It should be adopted,” Burr said. Wicker warned on the Senate floor that a rail strike would hurt the economy and further fuel inflation. “The last thing we need is a shutdown of this nation’s rail service, both passenger and freight. And yet, that is what we are facing in less than a day and a half from this moment, a massive rail strike that will virtually shut down our economy,” he said. A Republican aide said Sanders’s objection makes a strike more likely. “Bernie wants a strike,” the aide said. Local unions would still have to negotiate some of the finer details of labor agreements if the Burr-Wicker resolution were adopted, but the broad outlines of an industry-wide labor deal would be set. Congress has required workers and companies to accept the recommendations of a special emergency labor board recommendations on at least four previous occasions. Burr made that point on the floor Wednesday afternoon. “Congress has intervened 18 times in the past, imposing PEB recommendations in whole or in part four times. If we don’t do it, if we do not force this issue, at 12:01 tomorrow night, the railroads will shut down and the economic impact on the American people is $2 billion a day,” he said. Updated: 5:40 p.m. | Labor Activism |
The Columbus Education Association teachers union ratified a deal with Columbus City Schools in Ohio on Sunday that paved the way for students and teachers to return to classrooms. The teachers union approved the three-year agreement with approximately 71% voting in favor of ratifying, ending a strike that disrupted the first week of the new school year, according to a CBS affiliate in the city. COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS UNION COME TO 'CONCEPTUAL AGREEMENT' The Columbus Education Association celebrated the ratification with a series of tweets touting the benefits of the agreement. When we fight together, we win together! CEA fought for our students alongside our community, CEA won for our students, alongside our community. #ColumbusStudentsDeserve— Columbus Education Association (@ColumbusEA) August 28, 2022 "When we fight together, we win together! CEA fought for our students alongside our community, CEA won for our students, alongside our community," the teachers union tweeted. Some of the points of the agreement the union was touting included climate control for all classrooms, class size cap reductions, a new parental leave program for teachers, and limitations on the number of positions that can be outsourced. Columbus Board of Education President Jennifer Adair issued a statement Sunday evening celebrating the agreement and the return of students to in-person learning. "Months ago, the Columbus City Schools Board of Education entered contract negotiations with the Columbus Education Association (CEA) with one overriding goal: Put children first. I am pleased to say that this new agreement does just that. This is a contract that keeps students at the center of all we do and supports our Board’s educational mission for Columbus City Schools. Together with CEA leadership, we have created an agreement that recognizes the critical role all CEA members play in achieving our mission," Adair said. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Students in the largest school district in Ohio returned to in-person classes with their regular teachers on Monday after starting the school year virtually with substitute teachers last week. The agreement ended the one-week strike, which began at the end of the day on Aug. 21, and the nearly six months of labor negotiations between the school board and the teachers union. | Labor Activism |
Trains in Britain all but ground to a halt Saturday as coordinated strikes by rail workers added to a week of turmoil caused by soaring energy prices and unfunded tax cuts that roiled financial markets.
Only about 11% of train services were expected to operate across the U.K. Saturday, according to Network Rail. Unions said they called the latest in a series of one-day strikes to demand that wage increases keep pace with inflation that is expected to peak at around 11% this month.
Consumers were also hit with a jump in their energy bills Saturday as the fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine pushes gas and electricity prices higher. Household bills are expected to rise by about 20%, even after the government stepped in to cap prices.
Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has been in office less than a month, cited the cost-of-living crisis as the reason she moved swiftly to introduce a controversial economic stimulus program, which includes 45 billion pounds ($48 billion) of unfunded tax cuts.
Concern that the plans would push government debt to unsustainable levels sent the pound tumbling to a record low against the dollar this week and forced the Bank of England to intervene in the bond market.
“We need to get things done in this country more quickly,” Truss said in an unapologetic column for The Sun newspaper published Saturday. “So, I am going to do things differently. It involves difficult decisions and does involve disruption in the short term.”
Many workers aren’t convinced.
Four labor unions have called three, 24-hour strikes over the next eight days, ensuring service disruptions for much of the week.
The timing is of particular concern for runners and fans trying to get to the capital for Sunday’s London Marathon, with is expected to attract 42,000 competitors.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union, said the strikes were designed to target the annual conference of Truss’s Conservative Party, which begins Sunday in Birmingham, England.
“We don’t want to inconvenience the public, and we’re really sorry that that’s happening,’’ Lynch said. “But the government has brought this dispute on. They (put) the challenges down to us, to cut our jobs, to cut our pensions and to cut our wages against inflation.”
Lynch urged Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan to take “urgent steps to allow a negotiated settlement.” The union said the latest figures showed railway bosses benefiting from government tax cuts.
As a result of the strike, there will be no service between London and major cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle Saturday. Lingering disruptions are likely to affect service Sunday morning as well.
Runners and spectators traveling to London for the marathon, which begins at 9:30 a.m., have been warned they are likely to be frustrated by the strike.
“It is particularly disheartening that this weekend’s strike will hit the plans of thousands of runners who have trained for months to take part in the iconic London Marathon,’’ said Daniel Mann, director of industry operations at Rail Delivery Group. “That will also punish the many charities, large and small, who depend on sponsorship money raised by such events to support the most vulnerable in our community.” | Labor Activism |
A Tesla logo is seen in Los Angeles, California U.S. January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSAN FRANCISCO, July 5 (Reuters) - Two laid-off Tesla (TSLA.O) workers filed an emergency motion on Tuesday to stop the electric car maker for allegedly seeking separation agreements for far less severance than legally required.As part of Tesla's ongoing layoffs, it has been asking employees to agree to release it of all claims, in exchange for a severance of just one or two weeks' pay and benefits, the motion filed with a Texas court alleges.This is a small portion of the actual severance of 60 days of pay and benefits that the employees would be entitled to under a labor law - the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, it added.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe two workers were among more than 500 workers laid off at Tesla's gigafactory plant in Sparks, Nevada, in May and June."Employees who have lost their jobs are typically eager to get whatever additional pay that they can get and have no reason to know that they are entitled to more due to Tesla's violations of the WARN Act," the motion said."In short, Tesla hopes to buy off these class members' claims for pennies on the dollar."Tesla did immediately reply to an email seeking comments.The two former employees had also filed a lawsuit in June alleging Tesla violated the law by carrying out a "mass layoff" without providing the required 60-day notice. read more Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk told top managers last month that he had a "super bad feeling" about the economy and that the company needed to cut staff by about 10%. read more Later, the billionaire said the 10% cuts would apply only to salaried workers and that hourly staff numbers were still expected to grow. read more Tesla has shuttered its office in San Mateo, California and laid off roughly 200 employees working on its Autopilot driver-assistant system there. Most of the laid-off people were hourly workers. read more Tesla faces a series of hurdles ranging from production snags to rising inflation that may hit profits, Wall Street analysts said on Tuesday, as it reported a fall in deliveries for the first time in two years. read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Labor Activism |
As a UPS driver of two years standing, Matt Leichenger of Brooklyn, New York, makes 100 to 150 stops a day, delivering anywhere from 150 to more than 300 packages.It is a tough job at the best of times, but in summer, a typical driver is moving hundreds of pounds of cargo and organizing packages in the back of their brown UPS truck, where temperatures soar due to a lack of air conditioning and ventilation.Shifts can last up to 14 hours, and Leichenger has experienced the grueling toll soaring temperatures take on delivery drivers. He recently was denied a request for a fan to be installed in his truck – though a UPS spokesperson said the company provides fans to workers on request.“There’s a period of your day where at every stop you’re stepping into a hellhole. The second you step back there, you just feel all the sweat pouring out of your body,” said Leichenger.The price some workers pay can be a deadly one. In early July in California, UPS driver Esteban Chavez, 24, collapsed and died while working as temperatures rose to the high 90s. A video from a Ring surveillance camera also went viral in July showing a UPS driver collapsing on a porch in excessive heat.With contract negotiations set for next year, Leichenger and other workers represented by the Teamsters union are pushing for air conditioning in vehicles, better heat protection on the job, no more excessive overtime, higher pay for part-time workers, more full-time positions, and eliminating driver-facing surveillance cameras that are being installed in UPS trucks.“We don’t have contractual language that guarantees us air conditioning, but I think this is something the federal government should really be stepping up to implement – not just at UPS, but for workers across every industry where extreme weather conditions are really taking a toll on workers,” Leichenger said.Last week, the Teamsters demanded urgent details from UPS on the companies’ plans, training materials, and assessments on protecting workers from excessive heat. UPS reaped record profits last year, at $12.89bn, and reported $6.8bn for the first two quarters of this year.“People are just dropping weekly here. It’s not something where that one driver in Arizona is going viral,” said Moe Nouhaili, a UPS driver in Las Vegas. “It’s not just the way that UPS is treating workers, it’s also how they’re making us work, expecting us to meet these unrealistic productivity numbers even through the weather.”He said driver routes are determined by software called Orion, which calculates how long a route should take. Drivers face discipline if they exceed that time, despite excessive heat conditions, he said.Raul Medina, a UPS driver in Chicago, said workers, including drivers and warehouse staff, are facing increased pressures over productivity, and have been given larger workloads, all while dealing with increasing temperatures fueled by the climate crisis.“The amount of work we’re doing now has increased. The size and weight of the packages have increased, so we’re actually putting much more of a physical effort into it, along with the heat, and because of global warming, it’s not going to get any cooler. We’re going to see more hot days, and more consecutive hot days,” said Medina.As the climate crisis worsens, workers are increasingly at risk of illness or death due to heat exposure on the job, with high heat index days of above 100F expected to double by mid-century. June 2022 tied with 2020 as the warmest June on record. Through July, numerous US cities experienced record-breaking temperatures and consecutive days of extreme heat amid global summer heatwaves.According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 62 workers died in the US due to extreme temperatures in 2020, though fatalities and injuries from heat exposure are underreported.Elliot Lewis, a driver in New York City, said the back of UPS trucks can reach 130F during hot summer days, and this has resulted in many of his co-workers getting sick.He criticized UPS installing driver-facing surveillance cameras while refusing to install air conditioning. Lewis said the cameras add increased scrutiny to workers already fearful of taking breaks to cool off, get water, or go to the bathroom, as they could be disciplined and risk job termination.“You see a lot of drivers, unfortunately, like at Amazon, peeing in the back of the truck, not drinking enough water, and ending up with heatstroke because they feel that pressure to be working faster,” he added.A spokesperson for UPS characterized the surveillance cameras as a safety precaution and claimed the inward-facing cameras do not record audio or video but act as sensors to monitor for risky behavior.“The data received from forward-facing cameras and inward-facing sensors is used by local UPS management teams to identify risky behaviors and provide in-person coaching and training,” said the spokesperson.The spokesperson did not comment on air conditioning, but cited heat safety training, ventilation integration in vehicles, water and ice, and health and safety committees.“UPS drivers are trained to work outdoors and to manage the effects of hot weather. Preparation, rest, hydration and maintaining good health practices are key to working outdoors. UPS invests more than $260m annually to implement programs focused on safety, including working in hot weather,” they said.“We never want our employees to continue working to the point that they risk their health or work in an unsafe manner.” | Labor Activism |
Workers at Film Forum announced their intention to unionize in April — today's election made it official. Updated, June 17:
Workers at the nonprofit cinema Film Forum in New York City voted unanimously for unionizing in an election held Friday. The union, affiliated with Technical, Office, and Professional Union Local 2110 UAW, will include full- and part-time theater, facilities, administrative, programming, and publicity staff.
The results are expected to be certified by the National Labor Relations Board within a week, at which point the union will begin negotiations with Film Forum management. Workers cited compensation, organizational development, and closing “vastly ranging gaps in employment conditions among staff” as reasons why they organized.
“Working through the ever-changing conditions of a pandemic is not an easy feat. Throughout many industries, workers in hourly or part-time roles, like theater staff, experienced disproportionate job loss. And when doors reopened, theater staff excitedly welcomed the public back to the movies, despite fluctuating COVID surges and variants. Representation from a union ensures safety, security, and equity in the workplace during these uncertain times,” said theater manager Claudia Francois in a release. “The amount of support we’ve received from our regular patrons highlights just how vital the theater staff is to Film Forum.” According to the union, the union eligibility of three employees was challenged as part of the election process; their status will be resolved at a later date.
Previously published, April 25:
Workers at the long-running nonprofit cinema Film Forum in New York City have unionized, and are seeking recognition through a National Labor Relations Board election, they announced on Tuesday.
Organizers say that a “strong supermajority” of the organization’s 50 workers recently signed cards in favor of unionizing. That would give them the ability to seek voluntary recognition from management; they plan instead to move ahead with an election conducted by the NLRB, a not-unusual move among workplaces that are organizing.
Typically an election happens six to eight weeks after workers file for one. The workers’ supermajority offers a sense of confidence that they have a strong chance at voting in favor of the election at the official vote, which requires majority approval.
Founded in 1970 in Greenwich Village, Film Forum offers a robust repertory program as well as hosting premieres of indies, international movies, and arthouse fare. Its four screens boast some 500 seats and it counts 6,500 paying members.
Film Forum describes itself as the only autonomous nonprofit cinema in New York City.
In a release, the staffers said they are seeking “a more equitable, ethical, and sustainable workplace with decisions about employment terms — just hiring practices, health and safety standards for front line staff, a holistic approach to organizational development, fair compensation and workplace rights — negotiated on equal grounds with leadership through a fair contract.” Organized as the Film Forum Union, the group is affiliated with Technical, Office, and Professional Union Local 2110 UAW, which represents cultural and educational workers across New York and New England.
“We’re very excited to have Film Forum staff organizing with our union,” said Maida Rosenstein, Local 2110’s president. “It’s fantastic to see so many workers in arts and culture unionize. Collective bargaining will give workers at Film Forum a voice in their employment conditions. Ultimately, unionizing will make Film Forum a stronger, more sustainable workplace for all.”
The Film Forum effort comes on the heels of another prominent film nonprofit unionization effort by workers at the Los Angeles-based International Documentary Association. The IDA union was voluntarily recognized by management earlier this month.
Locally, staff at several New York cultural organizations have formed unions in recent years, including Film at Lincoln Center and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Unionized workers at Anthology Film Archives went on strike earlier this month as part of demands for higher wages as staff and management iron out a first contract. It also comes amid a wave of organizing this year among workers at Amazon and Starbucks locations across the U.S.
Looking ahead, Film Forum Union organizers said they will elect a union negotiating committee that will survey all workers about their bargaining priorities and draw up demands for management. Any contract must be approved by the union membership if and when it is recognized. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. | Labor Activism |
A Chipotle Mexican Grill sign is seen in the Park Slope neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.Michael M. Santiago | Getty ImagesA Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant in Lansing, Michigan, became the chain's first location to vote to unionize.Workers at the store voted 11 to three in favor of unionizing under the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, according to the tally conducted on Thursday. "We're disappointed that the employees at our Lansing, MI restaurant chose to have a third party speak on their behalf because we continue to believe that working directly together is best for our employees," Chipotle spokesperson Laurie Schalow said in a statement to CNBC.The Teamsters Joint Council 43 did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.Chipotle has five business days to file objections to the election. If Chipotle opts not to file any objections, the National Labor Relations Board regional director will certify the results, and the company is required to start bargaining in good faith with the union.The location was the second-ever Chipotle restaurant to file a petition with the NLRB to unionize. In late June, a Chipotle restaurant in Augusta, Maine, became the chain's first outlet to file for a union election, seeking to organize under Chipotle United, which is not affiliated with any larger unions. The company permanently shuttered the location after the petition was filed, citing staffing problems. Chipotle United has filed a complaint with the NLRB, claiming that the move was retaliatory.The win for Chipotle organizers in Michigan comes on the heels of more than 200 Starbucks cafes in the U.S. voting to unionize in the last 10 months. Despite recent high-profile efforts, unions are a rarity in the restaurant industry. Only 1.2% of workers at food and drinking outlets were members of unions last year, which is well below the private-sector unionization rate of 6.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | Labor Activism |
A sign is posted in front of a McDonald's restaurant on April 28, 2022 in San Leandro, California.Justin Sullivan | Getty ImagesThe head of McDonald's U.S. on Wednesday publicly criticized a landmark California bill that would give the state more control over pay for fast-food workers, saying it unfairly targets big chains.The remarks by Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's U.S., come after the California State Senate earlier this week passed a bill that would give a 10-person council the authority to raise the industry's minimum wage to up to $22 an hour for chains with more than 100 locations nationally. California's current wage floor is $15.50 an hour. The council would also have the authority to establish safety conditions.Proponents of the bill say it will empower fast-food workers and help solve industry problems such as unsafe working conditions and wage theft, which can include not paying for employees for overtime. But the FAST Act faces strong opposition from the restaurant industry, which fears the impact on California restaurants and the example it sets for other states."It imposes higher costs on one type of restaurant, while sparing another. That's true even if those two restaurants have the same revenues and the same number of employees," Erlinger wrote in a letter posted to the company's site Wednesday.For example, Erlinger said a McDonald's franchisee with two locations would subject to the bill, since it's part of a large national chain. But he said the owner of 20 restaurants that aren't part of a chain would be exempt."Aggressive wage increases are not bad ... But if it's essential to increase restaurant workers' wages and protect their welfare – and it is – shouldn't all restaurant workers benefit?" Erlinger wrote.It's rare for McDonald's to speak out publicly against state legislation, although the chain was reportedly pushing its franchisees to lobby against the California bill. Nearly 10% of McDonald's U.S. restaurants are located in California, according to Citi Research.McDonald's only operates about 5% of its more than 13,000 U.S. locations. Its franchisees operate the rest, but the chain often lobbies on their behalf. In 2019, McDonald's told the National Restaurant Association it would no longer oppose federal, state or local minimum-wage hikes.Other restaurant companies have been fighting the bill as well. State records show that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Chick-fil-A, Yum Brands and Restaurant Brands International are among the chains that have been spending money to lobby California lawmakers to oppose the legislation.The National Restaurant Association, an industry group, has also spent at least $140,000 to fight the bill, according to California records. The organization's president Michelle Korsmo said in a statement that 45% of California restaurant operators report that business conditions are worse today than they were three months ago."The FAST Act isn't going to achieve its objective of providing a better environment for the workforce, it's going to force the outcomes our communities don't want to see," she said.A stricter version of the FAST Act that would make franchisors like McDonald's liable for their franchisees' labor violations passed California State Assembly. But the number of changes made to the Senate version mean the bill will have be re-voted on in the assembly or reconciled before it can make its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk.Newsom hasn't indicated whether he'll sign or veto the bill, although his Department of Finance opposed the initial version of the bill. | Labor Activism |
Oct 18 (Reuters) - The union seeking to organize an Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) warehouse in upstate New York was losing the election on Tuesday with 300 votes against and 143 votes in favor, with the remaining piles of valid and challenged ballots to count unlikely to tip the result.At ALB1, the retailer's fulfillment center in Castleton-on-Hudson, employees had the chance to decide whether to join the Amazon Labor Union in the company's fourth union election of the year. Led by former Amazon employee Christian Smalls, the ALU by April won a majority vote to form the retailer's first-ever U.S. union, in the New York City borough of Staten Island.It then lost an attempt to unionize a second facility in New York hardly a month later. The longer-established Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union also was unable to organize an Amazon warehouse in Alabama this year, though that result is not yet final.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe ALU is now managing the fourth Amazon union vote count of 2022 after tackling various challenges. It faced some internal dissent and is awaiting certification of its initial Staten Island win, pending a U.S. labor board director's review of objections by Amazon. It cannot collectively bargain until then.Unionizing Amazon has long been a goal for the U.S. labor movement seeking to represent staff at America's second-largest private employer after Walmart Inc (WMT.N) and aiming to stem practices some workers have criticized, such as productivity tracking. A second victory would give the ALU momentum to organize still more facilities.A loss would revive skepticism about whether the ALU can rally workers whose employer has famously discouraged unionization. In the past year Amazon disparaged unions in bathroom signage as well as in workshops it required thousands of employees to attend.Amazon recently raised its U.S. average starting pay for front-line staff as well, to more than $19 per hour from over $18; industrywide, median pay in the warehousing and storage sector was $18.38 as of May 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.The ALU is nonetheless riding a tide of increased union interest among workforces in corporate America after years of decline, bolstered by the pro-labor administration of U.S. President Joe Biden. Just this month, it petitioned to hold a union vote in an Amazon warehouse in Southern California, and it backed a staff protest of work conditions in Staten Island following a fire; Amazon suspended some workers afterward.More than 50% of voting Amazon workers would have to opt to join the ALU for the upstate-New York facility to unionize. It was not clear as of yet how many had voted.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Jeffrey Dastin in Palo Alto, Calif.
Editing by Matthew Lewis and Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Labor Activism |
The National Labor Relations Board says Starbucks is violating U.S. labor law by withholding pay hikes and other benefits from stores that have voted to unionize.
The labor board’s Seattle office filed the complaint late Wednesday against Starbucks. The complaint is based on charges filed by Workers United, the union trying to organize Starbucks’ 9,000 company-owned U.S. stores.
The complaint adds to an already lengthy paper trail in the acrimonious relationship between Starbucks — which opposes unionization — and Workers United. More than 220 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since late last year.
The complain is one of at least 20 that NLRB regional offices have filed against Starbucks alleging unfair labor practices. Starbucks has also filed complaints against the board and the union. Last week, the company asked the NLRB to halt union elections entirely, saying it has evidence that a regional office improperly coordinated with union officials. A decision in that case is pending.
In the case filed Wednesday, the NLRB said Starbucks violated labor law by offering raises and benefits — including increased training, career development opportunities, expanded tipping and even looser dress code policies — only to non-union stores.
READ MORE: Starbucks fights expanding unionization effort at its stores
Starbucks announced the $200 million in added worker pay and benefits in May after a series of meetings with workers around the country. At the time, Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz said U.S. labor law requires union stores to negotiate their own contracts with the company.
“We do not have the same freedom to make these improvements at locations that have a union,” Schultz said in a conference call with investors.
Starbucks reiterated that argument in a statement Thursday.
“Wages and benefits are mandatory subjects of the collective bargaining process,” the company said. It rejects the union’s argument that it could offer the wage and benefit enhancements to unionized stores at any time.
But in its complaint, the NLRB’s regional office said Starbucks’ action violates laws that prohibit interfering with employees’ rights to organize.
The complaint seeks back pay for affected employees. It also would require Schultz to hold an employee meeting and a read a statement explaining workers’ right to organize.
The regional complaint will be heard by an administrative law judge at the NLRB. Once a decision is reached, either side can appeal to the full National Labor Relations Board in Washington. | Labor Activism |
A US judge has ordered Starbucks to reinstate seven employees at a cafe in Memphis, Tennessee who were allegedly fired for supporting a union campaign, as the coffee chain struggles to halt pending nationwide union elections.Sheryl Lipman, the district judge in the city, said the US National Labor Relations Board had provided enough evidence that the dismissals earlier this year were motivated by anti-union feeling. Lipman granted the order pending the outcome of an administrative case before the board.The Memphis store is one of nearly 220 Starbucks cafes in the US to unionise over the last year. Workers at 46 locations have voted against unionising, and dozens of other elections are pending.Starbucks said in a statement on Thursday it disagreed with the ruling and planned to appeal. The company said the workers were fired for violating company safety policies and that it respected the unionisation process.In a statement, NLRB general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo called the decision “a crucial step in ensuring that these workers, and all Starbucks workers, can freely exercise their right to join together to improve their working conditions and form a union”.Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDeskIn May, the NLRB made the rare move of seeking an order in a federal court in the Memphis case, as claims that the workers were unlawfully fired were heard before an administrative judge.The board is considering scores of other complaints alleging Starbucks interfered with workers’ organising rights, including by closing stores and dismissing or disciplining union supporters.In a letter to NLRB officials on Monday, Starbucks accused board staff of improperly aiding the union and asked for elections to be suspended nationwide pending the outcome of an investigation. | Labor Activism |
A Starbucks location in Havertown, Pa., Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Starbucks says it wants to start contract negotiations next month at 238 U.S. stores that have voted to unionize. The Seattle coffee giant said Monday, Sept. 26 it sent letters to stores in 36 states and the District of Columbia offering a three-week window to start negotiations. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Eight Starbucks baristas in Anderson, S.C., on Monday filed a defamation lawsuit against the coffee giant and their store manager, saying they were falsely accused of kidnapping and assault after asking for a raise. The suit, filed in a South Carolina state court, asks for an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages, alleging the store manager and Starbucks defamed the employees by maliciously coordinating to knowingly make false statements to the police and the public about the incident. “Starbucks knew exactly what they were doing when it smeared our reputation, painting us as criminals,” Aneil Tripathi, one of the plaintiffs, said in a statement. “It’s more apparent now than ever that Starbucks will go to any length to smear workers, even going as far as lying to the police and accusing us of crimes we did not commit.” The suit claims the employees presented the manager with a letter asking for wage increases on Aug. 1. The store’s employees had voted to unionize in June. On Aug. 3, after apparently speaking with a Starbucks district manager, the store manager allegedly filed a false police report that lists charges of assault and kidnapping. The police report states the store manager said the employees “would not let her leave until they got a raise. She stated that one employee also assaulted her,” according to the suit. Starbucks Workers United, which represents employees at the Anderson location and dozens of other stores, posted a video on TikTok allegedly showing the manager brushing up against one of the employees, who was stationary, as the manager headed for the exit. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office told The State last month that the department investigated the incident and found “none of the allegations were true.” “The employees did not stop her from leaving and did not put their hands on her, which is what the boss reported had happened,” a department spokesperson told the outlet. “She is the one who initiated any kind of contact when she pushed past one of the employees as she was walking out of the door.” The suit claims the store manager’s statement to police and a public statement published by Starbucks on Aug. 8 were defamatory. “On Monday, August 1, our store manager at I-85 & Clemson Blvd. felt threatened and unsafe as a result of conduct by 11 store partners,” the company’s statement read. “This was the store manager’s first day working at this location. Consistent with our longstanding policy, we opened an investigation and suspended with pay the partners involved in the incident.” The Hill has reached out to a Starbucks spokesperson for comment. The Anderson location is one of more than 200 Starbucks locations nationwide that have unionized since December, after a store in Buffalo became the first of the coffee giant’s U.S. locations to organize. Starbucks has attempted to stymie those unionization efforts, at times leading to battles in court. Starbucks Workers United said the National Labor Relations Board has issued 35 complaints against Starbucks alleging more than 800 violations of federal labor law. | Labor Activism |
McDonald's franchisees unhappy with changes being made to ownership terms are expressing a lack of confidence in the company's CEO and U.S. president, according to a new survey of owners that was viewed by CNBC.The National Owners Association, an independent franchisee advocacy group for McDonald's owners, recently polled its membership on changes being made to franchisee lease terms.The results show an overwhelming majority – 87% – of respondents support calling a vote of "no confidence" on CEO Chris Kempczinski and the company's U.S. president, Joe Erlinger.In addition, nearly 100% feel the company should have collaborated with and consulted owner leaders before announcing changes to the franchise system, and 95% said the company's senior corporate management does not have the best interest of owners in its approach to franchising.The NOA has about 1,000 members, and nearly 700 responded to the poll. McDonald's had more than 2,400 owners as of the end of last year. Franchisees run some 95% of McDonald's locations and are key to the company's operations.NOA didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the survey results.McDonald's alerted owners in late June that beginning in 2023 it would evaluate potential new operators equally, instead of giving preferential treatment to spouses and children of current franchisees.It is also separating the process through which it renews leases, given in 20-year terms, from assessments of whether owners can operate additional restaurants. In a message to owners about some of the changes, viewed by CNBC, the company said, "This change is in keeping with the principle that receiving a new franchise term is earned, not given."The move sent a shock wave through the franchisee community. It came on the heels of plans to roll out a new grading system for restaurants next year that some fear will alienate workers in a time of unprecedented labor challenges. The company has been actively working to recruit new and more diverse owners, underscored in a message to franchisees from Erlinger that was viewed by CNBC."We've been doing a lot of thinking about how we continue to attract and retain the industry's best owner/operators – individuals who represent the diverse communities we serve, bring a growth mindset and focus on executional excellence, while cultivating a positive work environment for restaurant teams," he said.In December, McDonald's pledged to recruit more franchisees from diverse backgrounds, committing $250 million over the next five years to help those candidates finance a franchise. McDonald's declined to comment on the new changes or the survey.McDonald's controls lease terms for owners, and there is speculation among some in the franchisee community that the changes are being made to bring in new owners with higher lease rates than established owners would face.The NOA poll found 83% of respondents said the new rules were a "veiled attempt to raise rents." And 95% said they do not feel valued by corporate considering recent developments. In addition, 71% of respondents said existing or legacy owners should not be treated the same as potential new operators.Other franchisee organizations are also frustrated with the changes.A separate poll from the National Franchisee Leadership Alliance, also viewed by CNBC, showed nearly 100% of its over 400 respondents feel McDonald's Leadership should have collaborated with and consulted with owners before announcing changes. More than 90% said the changes are not supported, and 90% said they felt their business would be negatively impacted by proposed changes.The National Black McDonald's Operators Association also returned a vote of no confidence in CEO Kempczinski, Restaurant Business Online reported in late June.The tensions come at a time when McDonald's U.S. business is strong and franchisee profits have been at record highs. The company topped estimates for earnings and same-store sales last quarter. The stock is down 5% year to date. | Labor Activism |
The labor group behind the first-ever U.S. union at Amazon has thrown its support behind organizing campaigns at two additional warehouses.Amazon Labor Union, the worker-led union behind the victory at an Amazon warehouse in New York City in April, reached agreements to provide organizing and financial assistance for workers trying to unionize warehouses in Albany, NY. and Campbellsville, KY., who will affiliate as formal chapters of the union, ALU President Chris Smalls told ABC News.The development demonstrates the appeal of worker-led union campaigns and raises the possibility that the momentum built by the initial labor victory will foster unionization at other warehouses, experts said.But they cautioned that the size of Amazon warehouses and well-resourced anti-union efforts from the corporation will continue to make the labor campaigns difficult."This shows workers are coming together," said Jordan Flowers, a co-founder of ALU. "These workers want to see a union now, and they're choosing ALU."The two organizing partnerships with ALU were first reported by More Perfect Union.Workers organizing at a third facility in Garner, North Carolina are in discussions with ALU about partnering with the union, Ryan Brown, an Amazon warehouse worker involved in the labor campaign at the facility, told ABC News.A woman works at a packing station at the Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island, New York, Feb. 5, 2019.Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images"We're going to assist them 100%," said Smalls, the ALU president and former Amazon warehouse worker. "Whatever they need: Resources, money, going out there."He acknowledged that the labor campaigns in Albany and Campbellsville remain in the "infancy stage."In a statement to ABC News, Amazon expressed its general opposition to union campaigns."Our employees have the choice of whether or not to join a union. They always have," Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said. "As a company, we don't think unions are the best answer for our employees. Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work."ALU, an independent union initially fueled by fundraising on a GoFundMe page, carried out a monthslong organizing campaign at the 6,000-employee warehouse on Staten Island that proved one of the most significant labor victories in the U.S. in recent decades.After the union victory, Amazon filed objections with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to overturn the outcome, including allegations that NLRB officials showed a favorable bias toward the workers and that union leaders bribed colleagues in an effort to win their support. The ALU has rejected those claims. The NLRB hearings are ongoing.In May, ALU lost a second union election at a neighboring warehouse on Staten Island. The partnerships with workers in Albany and Campbellsville mark the first labor campaigns announced by the ALU since the two union drives on Staten Island.Matt Littrell, a warehouse worker involved in organizing at the warehouse in Campbellsville, told ABC News that employees want the company to address the grueling pace of the work and uncomfortable heat inside the building."The same issues come up time and time again, and they have for many years, yet management is very apathetic toward those," he said.The workers, who began organizing several months ago, were drawn to the worker-led nature of the ALU, he added."We wanted to go with a union made up of workers and people who understand our unique environment," he said.The organizing partnerships with ALU highlight the significance of the union's victory, Rebecca Givan, a labor studies professor at Rutgers University, told ABC News."To prove that success is possible is huge," she said. "The inspiration to stay and organize and fight to improve things is really significant." | Labor Activism |
Oct 18 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) workers rejected organizing a New York state warehouse by a nearly two-to-one margin on Tuesday, handing another defeat to the fledgling labor union that had aimed to build momentum in its cross-country campaign.At ALB1, the retailer's fulfillment center in Castleton-on-Hudson near the state's capital Albany, employees voted 406 to 206 against joining the Amazon Labor Union in the company's fourth such contest of the year. Turnout was more than 64%.Led by former Amazon employee Christian Smalls, the ALU this spring had delivered a first-ever victory for labor groups seeking to unionize Amazon in the United States, winning a vote in New York City at one of the retailer's largest warehouses in the country.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAn array of challenges since have shown that organizing America's second-biggest private employer after Walmart Inc (WMT.N) remains elusive. Unions for years have aimed to stem labor practices pioneered by Amazon that they find deleterious, like extensive vetting of workers' productivity.With Tuesday's loss, Amazon workers have rejected forming unions three times this year, including at a second New York City facility and another in Alabama. The ALU cannot collectively bargain where it won this spring in the borough of Staten Island, either: a U.S. labor board director is reviewing objections to that contest by Amazon before certifying the result.The Alabama election is not yet certified, either.ALU representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Earlier on Tuesday, Smalls wrote on Twitter: "Regardless of todays results taking on a Trillion dollar company can never be a loss for workers. We will continue to empower all workers to give them the right to unionize."Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said, "We’re glad that our team in Albany was able to have their voices heard, and that they chose to keep the direct relationship with Amazon as we think that this is the best arrangement for both our employees and customers."'LESS PREDICTABLE'The pro-labor administration of U.S. President Joe Biden and hundreds of organizing wins at Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) have helped spark the recent union efforts. This month alone, the ALU petitioned to hold a vote in an Amazon warehouse in southern California, where there it will have a rally on Wednesday.But Starbucks organizers have found a model that can be replicated while Amazon workers have not, said John Logan, a professor at San Francisco State University who studies anti-union actions.A mix of national-union affiliation and grassroots support by young, progressive Starbucks workers has powered the coffee-chain campaign, said Logan. Winning at Amazon instead entails gaining traction in far-larger facilities which have employee turnover."Every campaign at Amazon is sort of less predictable," he said. It is "always going to be more difficult to reproduce that organic leadership and set of circumstances that came together at Staten Island" during the pandemic's outset. "But they still can win."The online retailer has deployed a long-successful playbook to discourage unionization. In the past year Amazon disparaged unions in bathroom signage as well as in workshops it required thousands of employees to attend. Its message that Amazon, not unions, could guarantee better wages may have resonated with workers in a turbulent U.S. economy.Amazon recently raised its U.S. average starting pay for front-line staff to more than $19 per hour from over $18, which was the May 2021 median in the warehousing and storage sector.Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, said, "If workers feel they are fairly paid, they are less likely to unionize."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Jeffrey Dastin in Palo Alto, Calif.; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Labor Activism |
Freight railway workers have complained about being constantly on-call practically every day of the week as well as being penalized for taking time off to go to a doctor or dentist appointment.Photo: STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP (Getty Images)Apparently, all it took for unionized freight rail workers to finally force their companies to let them see a doctor without being penalized was to threaten to upend the entire supply chain. In tense, near-day long negotiations, White House and rail company trade groups both announced there is a deal, and all they’re waiting on is ratification from union membership.OffEnglishThough they were granted pay raises in this latest round of contract negotiations, unionized freight rail workers were particularly hung up on rail company’s policies that penalized them for taking medical appointments. Workers had also called for more standardized working hours after years of being forced to be on-call practically all day, any day of the week. Federal law under the Railway Labor Act only guaranteed 10 hours off every 24 hours.Negotiations seemed to break down Wednesday in closed door hearings held at the Department of Labor headquarters in Washington D.C. One relatively small union group, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, voted to reject a tentative agreement they had previously signed with their carrier. Under federal law, the freight worker unions are only allowed to strike after a mandatory “cooling off” period of 60 days of negotiations. Over fears of a massive strike that was set to take place early Friday, the White House apparently went into a frenzy trying to stave off an upending of the entire supply chain.An anonymous Labor Department official cited by The Washington Post said they managed to reach a compromise after nearly 20 hours of negotiations between the two largest rail unions, BLET and SMART Transportation Division and their rail carriers. Apparently the new agreement offers workers voluntary assigned days off and makes changes to out-of-pocket healthcare costs.The Association of American Railroads, a trade group that represents the largest freight railroads in the U.S., reported that three unions representing around 60,000 freight rail workers had reached an agreement but only mentioned a 24% wage increase going through 2024 and an immediate 13.5% raise. Apparently, pay raises are well worth talking about but not the fact that workers were penalized for taking time off to see a doctor.The agreements are still subject to ratification from union membership. Still, Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh also congratulated the two sides on the tentative agreement early Thursday.Before the midnight Friday deadline before the unions enacted strikes, the rail carriers started to stop and reroute certain rail shipments, according to past reports. Amtrak, which operates on some freight lines, also said they would have suspended long-range services. The Wall Street Journal reported that Amtrak plans to restore long-distance train services.Reportedly, President Joe Biden called Walsh and negotiators at 9 p.m. ET when they were still trying to reach an agreement, apparently to help speed things along, according to the WSJ.In a statement, Biden said the tentative agreement reached early Thursday would allow “better pay, improved working conditions, and peace of mind around their health care costs: all hard-earned.”Biden also added that the deal helps “avert the significant damage any shutdown would have brought.” | Labor Activism |
Nearly 60% of Lufthansa flights have been cancelled today. (Photo by Sean Gallup)Getty Images Flying in Europe these days is not for the faint of heart. Three weeks ago, a pilot strike pushed SAS, the flag carrier for Denmark, Sweden and Norway, to file for bankruptcy in the U.S.. By the next morning, SAS had canceled a whopping 78% of its daily volume. Now another European carrier, Lufthansa, has cancelled more than 1,000 flights this week due to more labor unrest. In a series of statements Monday and Tuesday, the German national airline blamed trade union ver.di, saying the “unreasonable” planned strike of 20,000 ground staff is “causing enormous damage,” adding that “this so-called warning strike in the middle of the peak summer travel season is simply no longer proportionate.” Yesterday the German national carrier nixed 28% of its total flights. By Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. ET, Lufthansa had already cancelled 59% of its flights for the day, according to FlightAware tracking data. In total, an estimated 42,000 passengers are affected, Lufthansa said. MORE FROM FORBESWhy 20,000 Delayed Flights A Day Are Not Going Away Anytime SoonBy Suzanne Rowan KelleherThe carrier’s flights inside of Germany are the most affected, with Frankfurt and Munich airports seeing 44% and 34% of flights cancelled, respectively, for the day so far. On Tuesday, airports around the world tallied nearly 22,000 flight delays and 2,800 cancellations, according to FlightAware. Europe isn’t the only place travelers are running into disruptions. In the United States, 16 airports saw at least 20% of Tuesday’s flights delayed. The worst offenders were Miami International Airport and Orlando International Airport, where 48% and 41% of all flights, respectively, departed late. “Unfortunately, the traveling public is going to have to get used to some frustrations and challenges and higher prices for for a while,” Mark Baier, CEO of AviationManuals, a leading provider of aviation development manual services and safety management system software, told Forbes. He noted that most of this summer’s flight disruptions can be to chalked up to “a perfect storm” of equipment and staff shortages.
But labor issues are also part of the story in the United States. This spring and summer has seen pilots engaged in picketing at Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines as unions negotiate for stronger contracts.
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Burlington Northern Santa Fe trains make their way through a rail yard in Chicago November 3, 2009. REUTERS/John Gress/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES, Sept 13 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's administration on Tuesday made contingency plans aiming to ensure deliveries of critical goods in the event of a shutdown of the U.S. rail system while pressing railroads and unions to reach a deal to avoid a work stoppage affecting freight and passenger service.The potential shutdown, which could come as early as Friday, could freeze almost 30% of U.S. cargo shipments, stoke inflation, impede supplies of food and fuel, cost the U.S. economy about $2 billion per day and cause transportation woes.Railroads including Union Pacific (UNP.N), Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKa.N) BNSF, CSX (CSX.O) and Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) have until a minute after midnight on Friday to reach tentative deals with three hold-out unions representing about 60,000 workers.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLate Tuesay, a Labor Department spokesperson said Secretary Marty Walsh "will host the rail companies and the unions in Washington" at the department Wednesday morning as the Biden administration continues "sustained engagement and hands-on efforts to encourage the parties to come to a mutually beneficial agreement."If agreements are not reached, there could be union strikes or employer lockouts. But the railroads and unions also could agree to stay at the bargaining table or the Democratic-led U.S. Congress could intervene by extending talks or establishing settlement terms. read more The Biden administration's push comes as food, energy, automotive and retail groups implore Congress to intervene, saying a rail shutdown could threaten everything from global grain supplies to shipments of goods related to Christmas holiday shopping.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration is asking truckers and air shippers to assist should rail service cease and also is considering invoking emergency authorities. Jean-Pierre added that the administration is hosting daily interagency meetings to assess which supply chains and commodities are at highest risk.The White House has told railroads and unions that "a shutdown is unacceptable and will hurt American workers, families and businesses, and they must take action to avert it," a White House official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.One key issue is ensuring "continued distribution of vital hazardous materials that depend on rail transport, such as chlorine for water treatment plants," this official added. Railroads on Monday stopped accepting shipments for hazardous materials such as chlorine and chemicals used in fertilizer so they are not stranded in unsafe locations if rail traffic stops.The U.S. energy sector relies on railroads to move coal, crude oil, ethanol and other products.Some railroads plan to impose additional restrictions that could impact food suppliers and online retailers that use intermodal services that connect ships, trains and trucks. BNSF, which serves the western United States, said it will stop accepting refrigerated intermodal cargo. Norfolk Southern, which serves the eastern United States, said it will stop accepting all intermodal shipments.U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak, which uses tracks maintained by freight railways, is facing growing disruptions. Amtrak said it will cancel trains on seven more long-distance routes on Wednesday after it began canceling trains on four long-distance routes on Tuesday.HIGH STAKESThe stakes are high for Biden, who has vowed to rein in soaring consumer costs ahead of November elections that will determine whether his fellow Democrats maintain control of Congress.Biden appointed an emergency board in July to create a framework for settlement terms.That has not happened since the early 1990s, when Congress sent the parties into final and binding arbitration.Unions in the current talks have been offered significant pay increases. Three of 12 unions, representing about half of the 115,000 workers affected by the negotiations, have yet to sign deals. They are grappling with railroads over working conditions that they have said worsened after the industry slashed its workforce by almost 30% during the past six years.Rail customers have said a shutdown will send them scrambling for alternative transportation and storage for everything from ammonia and fuel to cars and chicken feed.It takes about four trucks to handle cargo in a single rail car. The United States does not have the estimated 467,000 trucks or the necessary labor to support such a shift. Beyond that, some cargo is too heavy or large to travel over the road.A rail work stoppage could strike as U.S. farmers harvest corn, wheat and soybeans for export around the world, according to the National Grain and Feed Association."The economic damages across the food and agricultural supply chain would be swift and severe," the group said.Justin Louchheim, senior director of government affairs at the Fertilizer Institute, which represents companies that rely on ammonia supplies, added: "When you contemplate global food security, I'd say it's a crisis right now."Automakers worry that a disruption could empty dealer showrooms by stranding cars in the wrong places. Toyota (7203.T) said it would have to store vehicles and "many locations would run out of storage within two to four days of production."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by David Shepardson and Lisa Baertlein; Additional reporting by Ben Klayman, Joe White, Laura Sanicola, Stephanie Kelly, Arathy Somasekhar and Tom Polansek; Editing by Will Dunham and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Labor Activism |
NEW YORK, Oct 11 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The road ahead could get even rougher for the champions of the gig economy. President Joe Biden’s administration is seeking to turn some independent contractors into employees. Workers are already scarce, and inflation is squeezing consumers. Higher costs threaten long-awaited earnings at companies like Uber Technologies (UBER.N), Lyft (LYFT.O) and DoorDash (DASH.N).The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday issued a new proposal that provides guidance on classifying workers. The rule could require some companies that rely on independent contractors to treat them as employees, giving them additional benefits, a minimum wage, overtime pay and legal protections.The proposal, which will likely take many months to finalize, would replace a previous rule under former President Donald Trump’s administration that loosened the status of contractors. Lyft said in a blog post it is “just the first step” but that the company would not have to change its business model. DoorDash and Uber issued similar statements.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comNonetheless, even the prospect of a shift spooked investors. Shares of Uber, Lyft and DoorDash were down approximately 7% by noon in New York. That’s on top of a broader sector selloff: This year Uber has shed about 40% of its market capitalization while the equity values of Lyft and DoorDash are down around 70% each.That’s because ridesharing and food-delivery are tough businesses even in good times. Analysts expect Uber, DoorDash and Lyft to earn EBITDA margins of just 5% to 7% of revenue this year, according to Refinitiv. That hard won progress after years of painful losses could go into reverse. Wedbush analysts figure that Uber and Lyft’s costs could spike by 20% to 30% if they have to put workers on the payroll, forcing the companies to hike charges.Casual labor allows the gig-dependent companies to adapt their workforces to peaks and troughs in demand. Maintaining permanent employees could therefore mean higher expenses and slower services in busy times.Gig economy firms are already grappling with the tight U.S. labor market, while the rising cost of goods and services is weighing on budgets. The New York Federal Reserve’s survey of consumers published on Tuesday found that household spending expectations fell sharply in September, posting their largest one month decline since the series’ inception in June 2013. Discretionary spending on items like taxis and takeout food is at risk. A gig worker rule comes at the worst possible time for America’s gig economy.Follow @jennifersaba on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSThe U.S. Department of Labor on Oct. 11 proposed a rule that would make it more difficult for companies to classify some workers as independent contractors. The rule would require companies that rely on so-called gig workers to designate them as employees, making them eligible for more benefits and legal protections.Shares of Uber Technologies, Lyft and DoorDash, which rely on independent contractors, were all down more than 7% by 1630 GMT on Oct. 11.Lyft said in a blog post that the rule proposal is just the first step in what is likely to be a longer process before any rule or final determination is made.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comEditing by Peter Thal Larsen and Amanda GomezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias. | Labor Activism |
Apple discovered that Suyin Electronics, one of its Chinese-based suppliers, relied on child labor on multiple occasions, but still took three years to fully cut ties, The Information reported on Thursday. Ten former members of Apple's supplier responsibility team told The Information the company has refused or has been slow to stop doing business with suppliers that repeatedly violate its labor policies when doing so would hurt its profits. Apple has faced intense criticism recently amid reports that it relies on forced Uyghur labor and protests over poor working conditions and wage theft by workers that make its products. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Apple is back under the spotlight over labor conditions in its supply chain following an explosive report from The Information on Thursday that revealed new details about the company's reluctance to cut ties with suppliers who violate its ethics policies.According to the report, Apple learned in 2013 that Suyin Electronics, a China-based company that (at the time) made parts for its MacBooks, was employing underage workers, and despite telling Suyin to address the issue or risk losing business, Apple discovered additional workers as young as 14 years old during an audit just three months later.But rather than immediately cutting ties with Suyin for violating its supply chain ethics policies — which prohibit child labor and which Apple claims are the "highest standards" — Apple continued to rely on the company for more than three years, according to The Information.Apple did not respond to a request for comment on this story. Suyin could not be reached for comment. Ten former members of Apple's supplier responsibility team told The Information that Suyin wasn't an isolated incident, and that Apple had refused or was slow to stop doing business with suppliers that had repeatedly violated labor laws or failed to improve workplace safety when it would have cut into its profits.Apple similarly refused to cut ties with Biel Crystal, one of its two suppliers of glass iPhone screens — despite a consistently poor workplace safety record, Apple employees' own concerns, and Biel executives explicitly admitting that improving safety wasn't worth it because doing so had actually led to less business from Apple — because cutting ties would have left Apple with less financial leverage over its remaining supplier, Lens Technology, according to The Information.Biel did not respond to a request for comment.In an illustration of just how intertwined Apple has become with unethical labor practices, The Washington Post reported earlier this week that Lens Technology itself relies on forced labor from thousands of Uyghurs that the Chinese government has displaced from their homes in Xinjiang. While US lawmakers have proposed legislation aimed on curbing American companies' ability to use forced Uyghur labor, Apple sought to weaken the bill, The New York Times reported last month. (Apple took issue with that claim, telling The Times that it "did not lobby against" the bill but rather had "constructive discussions" with congressional staffers).Apple has long been criticized over the labor practices of its suppliers, particularly in China but increasingly in other countries including India, where workers at an iPhone factory rioted after accusing management of withholding their pay.In November, Apple was also forced to cut ties with its second-largest iPhone manufacturer, Pegatron, after discovering the company had violated labor laws by relying on "student workers" who were in practice doing work that had nothing to do with their degrees. | Labor Activism |
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has revealed what he believes Australia’s greatest economic opportunity is while speaking at the Albanese Government's Jobs and Skills Summit on Thursday.Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has declared there is "probably no greater economic opportunity" for Australia than reforming the childhood sector to welcome thousands of women currently "locked out" of the workforce.The two-day Job's and Skills Summit to address the nation's labour shortages is also shining a light on ways to ensure women receive equal opportunities and pay in the workforce.Mr Andrews on Thursday said reform to early childhood education would be the "biggest lever we can pull" to get women back to work after having kids.Stream more on politics with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 He claimed the childcare system as it stands "doesn't work" as there is a lack of access which forces mothers to pick up the slack.“This issue and unlocking the amazing potential, the under-utilised potential of women who are, because of a childcare system that doesn’t work and an early childhood education system that has never been expanded to a level it ought be, is perhaps the biggest lever we can pull - the biggest contribution we can make to economic prosperity,” he said.“It also happens to be the right thing to do as well.”The Andrews Government earlier this year committed $9 billion to expand kindergarten programs across Victoria, which includes free kinder from 2023.It will be available for all children aged three and four at participating services in both sessional services and long day care settings – a saving of up to $2,500 per child, every year.A new report released by consulting firm Deloitte found that the state government's free kinder program would increase the workforce by up to 24,800 full-time equivalent jobs.“Currently, lack of access to childcare takes almost 26,600 women entirely out of the workforce in Victoria and costs our economy $1.5 billion per year in lost earnings alone,” Deloitte said.Mr Andrews highlighted key figures from the report, noting women were locked out of the workforce largely due to a lack of access to childcare.“Just in my state there are 26,600 women who are completely locked out of the workforce,” he said.“That costs $1.5 billion each and every year. That’s just in our state.“That’s just those who are completely locked out. Those who can’t work the hours they want to work, well that’s a much bigger group again.“There’s probably no greater economic opportunity for us, as a nation, than getting this right.”Unions have also used the summit to push for urgent reform to industrial relations laws, calling for sector-wide bargaining for early for childhood teachers.The Australian Council of Trade Unions has called on the Fair Work Commission to “proactively tackle gender inequity across all its functions, including stronger Equal Remuneration Order provisions which do not require a male comparator”.One of the biggest spending measures promised by the Albanese Government was on childcare, with Labor pledging to spend about $5.4 billion extra over the course of the next four years.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously said the policy would take pressure off skills shortages, by boosting the workforce and improving the accessibility to childcare for families.Treasurer Jim Chalmers will reveal the outcomes from the summit when he delivers his first budget on October 25.The themes and outcomes of the summit will inform the Employment White Paper, which will help to shape the future of the labour market. | Labor Activism |
More women will be awarded health and medical research grants under a push by the Albanese Government to help drive gender equality in the sector. Labor announced on Wednesday that from next year the National Health and Medical Research Council will be tasked with providing an equal number of its senior investigator grants to men and women. About $370 million is awarded annually through the scheme, with men taking home $95 million more in grants than women between 2019 and 2021, the government said. The 67 per cent extra funding for men during that period came after male researchers received about 35 per cent more grants. Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said the government was "taking action" by introducing the funding target to address the "significant gender gap at the highest career levels of our health and medical research sector".Stream more on politics with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022"This initiative will play a role in driving gender equality at the highest levels of the sector by recognising and rewarding the outstanding work of women in health and medical research," Ms Gallagher said. "These new funding targets will ensure that more women have the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of human health through their research and will inspire a new generation of researchers." Recipients of the grants are eligible for a five-year fellowship and support to carry out their research.The government said targets previously set at junior levels of the grant scheme had been successful in addressing gender inequalities in funding."The changes announced today will provide more encouragement and opportunities for women and non-binary researchers to apply for, and win, these significant grants," NHMRC CEO Professor Anne Kelso said. "With this support, we look forward to seeing better gender diversity at the most senior levels of Australian health and medical research in the years ahead."More than 200 researchers were awarded funding through the 2022 round of the grants. Health Minister Mark Butler said women have been vastly underrepresented at senior leadership levels in the health and medical research field. "The structural barriers that prevent women from contributing fully and advancing careers in medical research are many," Mr Butler said. "A 50:50 funding target for senior researchers will directly tackle this loss of talent and give more women the opportunity to take their research forward for the benefit of us all." | Labor Activism |
MoneyWatch Updated on: October 5, 2022 / 6:13 AM / CBS News Employees say Amazon put health at risk after S.I. warehouse fire Employees say Amazon put health at risk after S.I. warehouse fire 01:55 A still-unrecognized labor union for an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, New York said early Wednesday that 50 workers at the facility were suspended by the online retail giant for staging a walkout after a fire led to unsafe work conditions. About 100 workers staged a march through the warehouse facility Monday night, demanding to be sent home with pay after the fire in a trash compactor just outside. "It's just point-blank an unsafe work environment," JFK8 warehouse employee Leo Shockey told CBS New York after the blaze. He and other employees said the fire left the warehouse too filled with smoke to work safely.In a statement posted to its Twitter page, JFK8's Amazon Labor Union — a grassroots group of former and current workers still battling Amazon's management for formal recognition as a union — said management had suspended "over 50 workers who were involved in last night's walkout." The union called it "clear retaliation" for the action. Unions rise again: Labor collectives vs. Amazon 04:58 "Amazon workers made a collective decision last night to demand that workers get sent home while the smoke cleared," the Amazon Labor Union said, adding that it had also demanded to see a report by the New York Fire Department, which responded to extinguish the fire. The blaze started when a compactor caught fire by a loading dock on Monday afternoon, not long before a shift changeover. Employee Tristian Martinez, who's shift was ending, shot video and told CBS New York he and other members of the day shift were told they could go home at about 5:15 p.m.When night shift employees started to arrive not long after, they said Amazon managers didn't tell them about the fire, which caused no injuries. "There was no message from Amazon whatsoever, so all of us just came to work in an unsafe environment not being told anything," employee Brett Daniels said.Employees claim smoke still lingered inside the facility. An image from video provided to CBS New York by an employee of Amazon's "JFK8" warehouse in Staten Island, New York, shows a fire burning in a trash compactor just outside the facility on October 3, 2022. CBS2 "It started making me feel congested. My head was hurting. It was definitely a lot," Shockey told CBS New York."They didn't show us proof it was safe to work there. They just told us just to work right through it," added Eli Andino. In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson told CBS New York that the fire department had "certified the building is safe and at that point we asked all night shift employees to report to their regularly scheduled shift."Fire officials told CBS New York, however, that while the FDNY had responded to a fire outside the building, it wasn't clear whether the attending team had inspected conditions inside the facility."I don't think it's right that I got paid to leave when it's no more unsafe for them than it was for me," early shift worker Martinez told CBS New York. "It's just because they're losing more money by them missing a 10-hour shift than by me going home two hours early." Amazon fires two employees tied to New York City union effort 04:34 The ordeal comes just a few months after workers at the Staten Island warehouse became the first Amazon employee collective to vote to unionize. Amazon appealed the results of that vote, claiming the election was tainted by the local National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) office. Just weeks ago, in a major victory for the employees' unionization bid, Amazon's management lost a legal challenge with the NRLB to have the results of that vote thrown out, but the Amazon Labor Union still faces a potentially long battle for recognition by America's second-largest employer."We were getting first hand reports of both smoke and water flowing in response to the fire itself," the Amazon Labor Union group said in its early Wednesday morning statement. "When workers demanded the right to speak together as a union, Amazon then increased their intimidation by informing us that key worker leaders have now been suspended for doing exactly what workers voted for, coming together to make a plan that we as frontline workers felt safe on the job. We will not tolerate any unsafe workplace and we will not tolerate intimidation."The Washington Post, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, said the online retailer had confirmed the employee suspensions at the JFK8 facility. The newspaper quoted Amazon spokesman Paul Flanigan as saying that while the company respects its workers' right to protest, it wasn't appropriate for staff to occupy workspaces while they were in use, referring to the employees' march through the warehouse. In: Amazon labor union Jeff Bezos Fire New York Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue | Labor Activism |
The percentage of Americans at private companies who belong to unions has been falling for decades, with a mere 6% of U.S. private-sector employees covered by a union. But a handful of conspicuous wins by labor activists at companies like Starbucks, Chipotle, and Trader Joe’s have some claiming that unions are ripe for a resurgence. More than 70% of Americans polled by Gallup this summer said they supported unions, the highest level in 60 years. And interest is continuing to spread. In September, Home Depot workers in Philadelphia filed a petition for what could become the first store-wide union for that chain. It’s hitting the tech industry, too, with efforts underway for unionization by some workers at both Apple and Google. Filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board requesting a vote on unionization requires signatures from at least 30% of employees at that location. The agency has seen a 58% increase in such petitions in the first three quarters of this year, when compared to the same period in 2021.“The recent unionization efforts are important because they are high-profile brands, and the workers there tend to be younger,” says David Madland, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and author of Re-Union: How Bold Labor Reforms Can Repair, Revitalize, and Reunite the United States. “So, there’s a chance to see what’s coming or that this portends additional unionization efforts as this generation continues to make the workplace something it wants.”While some experts are predicting a large-scale revival of a unionized workforce, others claim that the current model for unionization is outdated and poorly equipped to emancipate the modern, gig-oriented digital workforce. The youngest generation of Americans recognize that the modern workplace needs to change, but it’s unclear whether unionization is the most efficient vehicle for them to realize those changes. Regulatory hurdles“Forming a union is incredibly hard under our current laws and with the way that the current workplace is set up,” Madland says. “The employers have a lot of power to pressure workers not to join a union. The way our union titles the deck toward employers is unique among the rest of the world.”Among the biggest headwinds: under current rules, workers vote to unionize on a workplace-by-workplace basis. While that model worked well for auto workers in the 1950s when there were thousands of employees in any given plant, it’s more challenging for today’s workers who often work at retail or restaurant locations with a few dozen employees at most. (The Staten Island Amazon warehouse which just unionized is an exception, with more than 8,000 employees at that worksite.)Trench warfare“Today it’s trench warfare the whole way, Amazon warehouse by warehouse or Starbucks store by store” says Jon Shelton, associate professor and chair of democracy and justice studies at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and the author of the book Teacher Strike! Public Education and the Making of a New American Political Order. “With each location having to win in the face of all employer resistance.”Even if those workers win, they don’t have the scale that made unions decades ago so formidable to employers. While politicians — democrats in particular — love to tout their dedication to organized labor, they have done little to change current regulations or practices.“There have been some comparisons between today’s movement to the big organizing drives of the 1930s, but it’s a little bit more difficult for organizers today,” Shelton says “Labor law isn’t really behind those organizing now. The wins that we are seeing have been in spite of some pretty significant limits to the labor laws.”Still, experts say that the current administration is the most supportive to unions that they’ve seen in decades. In September, the Department of Labor launched an online toolkit with resources for employees looking into unionization efforts. The ability of workers to successfully unionize has eroded over the past several decades, Shelton says, with power shifting to the employer. While it’s a violation of civil rights law for employers to retaliate against employees who lead union initiatives, for example, there are no teeth to the penalties for doing so.Formal complaints about such actions can take months or years, during which time workers typically find a new job and move on.“The employers know that, so they find trumped up pretexts to fire workers who are organizing,” Shelton says. “Or once workers sign union cards to get through the process of holding an election, the employer pulls out all kinds of stops to prevent them from voting for the union.”Shelton says employers might engage in explicit or implicit threats or hold workplace meetings to present their case against unions without giving the union equal time to make their case. Or, they give raises or other benefits to those workers who opt not to engage in unionization efforts.Solutions abroadAnti-union advocates often argue that the unionization at individual companies will merely undermine the employer’s ability to hire and maintain staff — granting an advantage to non-unionized workplaces.A look at global labor movements reveals some potential solutions. Scandinavia and other European countries, for instance, have sector-wide bargaining models where policies like minimum wage are set across whole sectors. Such an approach in the United States could benefit both employees and employers, Shelton says.“We should be making it easier for every worker in every sector to organize,” Shelton says. “But the management style that so many companies have now is not conducive to it.”There are some signs that such a change could happen here. In California, for example, legislators recently passed a new law that appoints a wage council to determine the base wages and working conditions for the state’s more than 500,000 fast food workers. Screen actors and television writers have also been able to establish industry-wide base salaries and benefits for their members, many of whom work as independent contractors for their employers. While such efforts have advantages—such as greater employee loyalty and lower turnover—for employers, there are also some drawbacks for corporations. “Unions do sometimes reduce corporate profits,” Madland says. “But that’s a good thing overall because it’s making the economy more efficient and helping workers boost their wages.”While Madland and Shelton agree that the smaller-scale efforts at individual stores and locations will likely continue, they also agree that there may need to be structural and regulatory changes before wide-scale unionization efforts gain traction. “Ultimately we need a federal policy change, but that’s hard to achieve with Congress so divided right now,” Madland adds. “A lot will depend on the economy and the next election.”Photo: Welcome to the JungleFollow Welcome to the Jungle on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter to get our latest articles every day! | Labor Activism |
Recent unionization drives at Starbucks and Amazon have lifted morale in the US labor movement, but organizers have yet to transform election victories into material change.Moreover, some union backers such as Will Westlake have paid a price for their activism.Formerly a Starbucks barista in Buffalo, New York, where the initial union votes took place in December 2021, Westlake was fired earlier this month -- ostensibly for not removing a suicide prevention badge from his apron, which he has viewed as an expression of his solidarity with the movement.But Westlake thinks his firing was payback for his union activism."I was number 123" on the list of Starbucks employees to lose their jobs as the campaign has spread to some 250 cafes nationwide, said Westlake.Starbucks declined to comment on allegations from Starbucks Workers United that the company fired workers for union activism.But such reprisals at US companies are "pretty routine in this country," said Ruth Milkman, a sociologist at CUNY in New York.- Young activists -Milkman counts herself among the experts in labor relations who have been surprised at the spread of the union drives to a growing slate of corporations, including Apple, REI, Chipotle and Trader Joe's -- companies that union organizers have not in the past viewed as fertile to their efforts."This was kind of a different moment," said Milkman of a period defined by a labor shortage, the pandemic and "a young labor force frustrated by their limited labor market options."US officials have seen a 53 percent jump in the number of union elections over the last year, according to the National Labor Relations Board.But that increase takes place against the backdrop of a longtime decline in organized labor since the 1980s, with fewer than 10 percent of private-sector employees now unionized.While union backers have won some high-profile election victories over the last year, in many cases, the successful votes have taken place at small establishments, such as an individual Starbucks cafe.What's more, "winning the election is actually the easy part," said Cedric de Leon, a sociologist at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst."The hard part is to negotiate the contract," he said. "And there is nothing the government can really do to force the employers to negotiate in good faith."While two Starbucks cafes in Buffalo voted to unionize last December, the first meeting with management on the contract will take place only this month.The outlook is even murkier at the Staten Island, New York warehouse that in April became the first Amazon site in the United States to unionize.But Amazon is contesting the vote, alleging improprieties.Commenting on a union election now taking place at an upstate New York warehouse, an Amazon spokesman said this week that the company will continue to fight the Staten Island election outcome because "we don't believe it represents what the majority of our team wants."- Culture of intimidation -Under the Biden administration, the NLRB has for its part cracked down on some anti-union conduct by big corporations, as with a complaint earlier this month against Apple after the company prevented the distribution of union fliers in a break room.In August, a US judge ordered Starbucks to reinstate seven employees that the NLRB found were unlawfully fired by the coffee giant.Such moves by companies represent an effort to instill in workers "a culture of fear and intimidation," said de Leon, noting that support from President Joe Biden and other political leaders will not be enough to make real change.But "250 Starbucks going out on a nationwide strike, that could be decisive," he said.The recent wave of union campaigns has come amid a tight labor market in a period of elevated consumer demand. A recession would alter some of those dynamics, although de Leon notes that previous economically weak periods such as the 1930s and 1970s have boosted unions.Westlake said he is determined to hold companies like Starbucks to account."They are hoping that the public won't care enough and that in two or three years, they will be able to fire all the union leaders and crush the union," said Westlake, who has filed a complaint with the NLRB over his dismissal.jum-jmb/to | Labor Activism |
President Biden announced the agreement after negotiations brokered by the labor secretary lasted deep into the night.Credit...Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated PressSept. 15, 2022Updated 9:17 a.m. ETWASHINGTON — Freight rail companies and unions representing tens of thousands of workers reached a tentative agreement to avoid what would have been an economically damaging strike, after all-night talks brokered by Labor Secretary Martin J. Walsh, President Biden said early Thursday morning.The agreement now heads to union members for a ratification vote, which is a standard procedure in labor talks. While the vote is tallied, workers have agreed not to strike.The talks brokered by Mr. Walsh began Wednesday morning and lasted 20 hours. Mr. Biden called in around 9 p.m. Wednesday, a person familiar with the talks said, and he hailed the deal on Thursday in a long statement.“The tentative agreement reached tonight is an important win for our economy and the American people,” Mr. Biden said. “It is a win for tens of thousands of rail workers who worked tirelessly through the pandemic to ensure that America’s families and communities got deliveries of what have kept us going during these difficult years.”The announcement had a swift effect for rail passengers. A day after canceling all long-distance passenger trains to avoid stranding people in the event of a freight rail strike, Amtrak said it was “working to quickly restore canceled trains and reaching out to impacted customers to accommodate on first available departures.” Many of Amtrak’s trains run on tracks operated and maintained by freight carriers.Talks had stalled over a push for companies to improve working conditions, including allowing workers to take unpaid leave to visit physicians. The agreement grants that ability, giving workers one additional paid day off and an ability to attend medical appointments without penalty, labor unions said.“Most importantly, for the first time ever, the agreement provides our members with the ability to take time away from work to attend routine and preventative medical, as well as exemptions from attendance policies for hospitalizations and surgical procedures,” the presidents of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers said in a news release.The presidents, Jeremy Ferguson of the transportation division and Dennis Pierce of the engineers and trainmen, also said the deal will freeze workers’ monthly health care contributions when it expires, ensuring those costs will not increase during the next round of contract negotiations.“These rail workers will get better pay, improved working conditions and peace of mind around their health care costs, all hard-earned,” Mr. Biden said in his early-morning statement. “The agreement is also a victory for railway companies who will be able to retain and recruit more workers for an industry that will continue to be part of the backbone of the American economy for decades to come.”The Association of American Railroads, an industry group, thanked the unions and Biden administration officials — including Mr. Walsh, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack — for helping to bring the deal together.“Thanks to the dedication of all members involved in the collective bargaining process,” the association said in a news release, “these new contracts provide rail employees a 24 percent wage increase during the five-year period from 2020 through 2024, including an immediate payout on average of $11,000 upon ratification.”ImageCredit...Scott Olson/Getty ImagesUnion Pacific, a rail carrier, praised the deal. “We look forward to the unions ratifying these agreements and working with employees as we focus on restoring supply chain fluidity,” the company said in a statement.Mr. Walsh wrote on Twitter that the agreement “balances the needs of workers, businesses, and our nation’s economy.”“Our rail system is integral to our supply chain,” he said in a follow-up tweet, “and a disruption would have had catastrophic impacts on industries, travelers and families across the country.”Mr. Biden and his economic team had increasingly inserted themselves in the talks over the past week, hoping to avoid a work stoppage that would have snarled the distribution of food, chemicals for water treatment plants and other critical goods across the country. Such a stoppage also risked creating shortages on store shelves that could have sent consumer prices soaring, further adding to an inflation rate that reached a four-decade high this summer.Unions and the freight rail industry were negotiating ahead of a Friday deadline, when a federally imposed “cooling-off period” was set to end and workers would have been free to strike if no deal had been reached. That possibility had already shaken both freight and passenger rail companies.Nearly a third of U.S. freight moves by rail, second only to trucking. The Association of American Railroads estimated that a nationwide rail service interruption would have idled more than 7,000 trains daily and cost the economy more than $2 billion a day.Railroads began warning their customers last week that they would prepare for a strike by cutting back some services. Union Pacific, CSX and BNSF all said that they would begin securing hazardous and toxic materials on Monday to try to ensure that dangerous goods would not be left unguarded in the event of a strike. Norfolk Southern closed its gates to shipping containers coming off trucks and ships on Tuesday, and said it planned to begin shutting down its network entirely at midnight on Thursday.Administration officials had begun making contingency plans for trying to minimize disruptions for critical shipments in the event of a strike. Those plans included working with trucking companies, ocean shippers and other alternative forms of transportation to ensure some supplies could still get to their destinations.Niraj Chokshi and Ana Swanson contributed reporting. | Labor Activism |
SummaryBill to block enforcement of some NDAs passes unanimouslyComes after ban on forced arbitration of harassment claims(Reuters) - The U.S. Senate has passed a bill with bipartisan support that would limit the enforcement of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases involving workplace sexual harassment and assault.The Senate approved the bill known as the Speak Out Act late Thursday by voice vote, meaning no formal roll call vote was taken.An estimated one-third of private sector workers in the U.S. have signed agreements not to disclose details of their employment or disparage their employers. The Speak Out Act, which was introduced in the wake of the #MeToo movement, only applies to agreements workers sign before a legal dispute arises.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comThe bill was introduced in July, a few months after Congress passed a bill supported by business groups that bans the enforcement of mandatory arbitration agreements in cases involving sexual harassment and assault. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, signed the bill into law in March.Tens of millions of workers have signed agreements requiring the arbitration of legal disputes, and the new law is one of the most impactful policy changes triggered by the #MeToo movement.Supporters of the Speak Out Act say businesses can use NDAs to prevent victims of harassment and sexual assault from speaking publicly, which allows harassers to continue their illegal conduct. More than a dozen states including California, Washington, and Illinois have adopted laws that limit the enforcement of NDAs.The Speak Out Act was sponsored in the Senate by Democrats Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Republicans Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. A version of the bill was introduced in the House of Representatives with bipartisan support in June.Read more:U.S. Congress passes ban on forced arbitration of worker sex abuse claimsSpeak Out Act, to waive NDAs in sexual harassment cases, advancesRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.Daniel WiessnerThomson ReutersDan Wiessner (@danwiessner) reports on labor and employment and immigration law, including litigation and policy making. He can be reached at daniel.wiessner@thomsonreuters.com. | Labor Activism |
WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden excoriated "MAGA Republicans" and the extreme right on Monday, pitching personal Labor Day appeals to swing-state union members who he hopes will turn out in force for his party in November."The middle class built America," Biden told a workers' gathering at park grounds in Milwaukee. "Everybody knows that. But unions built the middle class."Later Monday, he flew to West Mifflin, outside Pittsburgh - returning to Pennsylvania for the third time in less than a week and just two days after his predecessor, Donald Trump, staged his own rally in the state.The unofficial start of fall, Labor Day also traditionally starts a political busy season where campaigns scramble to excite voters for Election Day on Nov. 8. That's when control of the House and Senate, as well some of the country's top governorships, will be decided.Trump spoke Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre, near Scranton, where Biden was born. The president made his own Wilkes-Barre trip last week to discuss increasing funding for police, to decry GOP criticism of the FBI after the raid on Trump's Florida estate and to argue that new, bipartisan gun measures can help reduce violent crime.Two days after that, Biden went to Independence Hall in Philadelphia for a prime-time address denouncing the "extremism" of Trump's fiercest supporters.Trump has endorsed candidates in key races around the country and Biden is warning that some Republicans now believe so strongly in Trumpism that they are willing to undermine core American values to promote it. The president said Thursday that "blind loyalty to a single leader, and a willingness to engage in political violence, is fatal to democracy."Trump responded during his Saturday rally that Biden is "an enemy of the state." Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel tweeted Monday that Biden "is the most anti-worker president in modern history," noting that high inflation had taken a bite out of American wages, income and savings.During his address in Milwaukee, Biden said "Not every Republican is a MAGA Republican" but singled out those who have taken Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign cry to dangerous or hateful lengths. He highlighted episodes like last year's mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.He said that many in the GOP are "full of anger, violence, hate, division.""But together we can, and we must, choose a different path forward," Biden said. "A future of unity and hope. we're going to choose to build a better America."The crowd jeered loudly as the president repeatedly chided Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin for voting against a Democratic-backed measure meant to lower prescription drug prices. The president also suggested Johnson and other congressional Republicans were willing to undermine Social Security.Unions endorsements helped Biden overcome disastrous early finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire to win the 2020 Democratic primary, and eventually the White House. He has since continued to praise the labor movement as president.Mary Kay Henry, president of the 2 million-member Service Employees International Union, called Biden's championing of unions heading into the midterm elections "critical" and said workers must "mobilize in battlegrounds across the country to ensure that working people turn out.""We're really excited about the president speaking directly to workers about, if he had the opportunity, he'd join a union," Henry said. She added: "This president has signaled which side he's on. And he's on the side of working people. And that matters hugely."In Pennsylvania, Biden addressed members of the United Steelworkers and noted that Trump is a "former, defeated president."Referencing Trump's persistent, false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election, Biden said, "You can't love the country and say how much you love it when you only accept one of two outcomes of an election: Either you won or you were cheated."Both of the perennial presidential battleground states Biden visited Monday may provide key measures of Democrats' strength before November. With inflation still raging and the president's approval ratings slightly better but remaining low, how much Biden can help his party in top races - and how much candidates want him to try - remains to be seen.That was on display in Milwaukee, where Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is trying to unseat incumbent Johnson, but didn't appear with Biden.In the state's other top race, Tim Michels, a construction executive endorsed by Trump, is attempting to deny Democratic Gov. Tony Evers a second term. Evers spoke at the labor event Biden addressed and briefly greeted the president backstage."We have a president who understands the challenges facing working families," Evers told the crowd. He said Biden "hasn't forgotten that working families matter, not just on Labor Day, but every single day of the year."Pennsylvania voters are choosing a new governor, with state Attorney General John Shapiro facing another Trump-endorsed Republican, Doug Mastriano, and a new senator. That race is between Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Trump-backed celebrity heart physician Mehmet Oz. Fetterman spoke with Biden before both gave speeches in West Mifflin.The Pennsylvania and Wisconsin races could decide which party controls the Senate next year, while the winner of each governorship may influence results in 2024s presidential election. The stakes are particularly high given that some Trump-aligned candidates have spread his lies about widespread fraud that did not occur during the 2020 election. Judges, including ones appointed by Trump, dismissed dozens of lawsuits filed after that election, and Trump's own attorney general called the claims bogus.Vice President Kamala Harris paid tribute to organized labor in at breakfast meeting with the Greater Boston Labor Council, declaring "When union wages go up, everybody's wages go up.""When union workplaces are safer everyone is safer," Harris said. "When unions are strong, America is strong."Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. | Labor Activism |
Starting in 2023, employers in California with more than 15 workers will have to disclose salary ranges on their job listings, according to a new law states.Signed by California governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday (Sept. 27), the law not only mandates pay transparency during job hunts but also on the job. All employers in the Golden State will have to provide workers with a pay scale for their current job upon request.The private sector has long kept pay scales hush-hush, likely to avoid an onslaught of lawsuits. But the practice has cost minorities dearly, fanning discrimination for years. While job listing portals like Glassdoor or Indeed include pay estimates for larger companies, exact information has rarely been readily available. The new law will ideally make California’s 200,000 companies with 15-plus employees more equitable. Over on the east coast, New York is also putting a similar pay transparency law into practice come November with the same hope.Quotable“This is a big moment for California workers, especially women and people of color who have long been impacted by systemic inequities that have left them earning far less than their colleagues... As we continue to build a sustainable economy, we must ensure every worker is paid equitably.” —California state senator Monique LimónPay parity in California, by the digits88 cents: how much women make for every dollar men make in California63 cents: how much Black women earn for every dollar a white man makes in California$87 billion: how much women in the state lose to the pay gap every year, according to the national partnership for women and families36%: share of women who were top earners at 100 California companies in 20203%: share of Black folk at the highest end of the pay scale—those making $128,960 or more—in 2020. Hispanic and Latino workers represented just 9% of this group. White people comprised half of the category, and Asians a thirdWith bigger companies come bigger responsibilitiesCompanies with more than 100 employees need to maintain records of wage rates, and they must submit a yearly pay data report broken down by race, sex and ethnicity for each job category on or before the second week of May.A whole bunch of California-headquartered corporate giants have faced pay discrimination lawsuits in the recent past. To name a few from this year:In February, California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing sued Elon Musk’s company Tesla over racism and harassment toward black employees. Tesla countersued in September. (Separately, the electric carmaker moved headquarters to Texas last year, so the new California law doesn’t apply to it.)In June, Mountain View-based Google agreed to pay $118 million to settle a gender discrimination lawsuit.In May, LinkedIn, whose faced scrutiny over roles in San Francisco and Sunnyvale, reached a $1.8 million settlement with the us department of labor for 686 female workers in California.Related stories🍔 California’s “fast food bill” could give service workers more power 🙌 What happens when colleagues know each other’s salaries🗣️10 questions to understand how pay works at your company | Labor Activism |
An aerial view shows the Tesla Fremont Factory in Fremont, California on February 10, 2022.Josh Edelson | AFP | Getty ImagesTesla violated workers' rights when it told employees they couldn't wear shirts with pro-union insignia at the factory, The National Labor Relations Board ruled in a decision out Monday.The NLRB is now mandating that Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker "cease and desist from maintaining and enforcing the overly broad team-wear policy that prohibits production associates from wearing black union shirts."Tesla will also be required to notify current employees that their "team-wear policy" has been rescinded or revised, and provide a copy of any revised policy.The decision contradicts a 2019 ruling over dress code policies at Walmart that allowed the retail titan to limit (but not ban) employees from wearing pro-union insignia at work.Two members of the labor board dissented on the Tesla ruling, while three moved to overrule the prior Walmart decision.The majority wrote, "when an employer interferes in any way with its employees' right to display union insignia, the employer must prove special circumstances that justify its interference." Tesla did not demonstrate special circumstances that justified its policy, the NLRB decided.Tesla had previously argued before the NLRB that its dress code was meant to prevent workers' clothing from "causing mutilations" to the cars or car seats they were building, and to help managers "easily determine that employees are in their assigned work areas," of the company's factory.Former Tesla employees had testified before the NLRB that management at Tesla made them remove teeshirts with United Auto Workers union messages and logos on them, even though they posed no risk of damaging cars or car seats.The UAW and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.Previously, the NLRB ruled that Tesla CEO Elon Musk violated labor laws when he suggested in a tweet that Tesla workers would need to give up their stock options if they unionized. They mandated that he remove the offending tweet, but Musk and Tesla moved to appeal that decision. | Labor Activism |
MoneyWatch August 4, 2022 / 2:52 PM / MoneyWatch Climate change boosts risk of extreme weather Climate change elevating risk of dangerous weather 04:31 When UPS truck driver Dwight started working for the shipping giant in 1998, he complained to his manager about the heat on the job, which was unbearable during long summer shifts. Dwight recalls his manager replying with an expletive: "Look at this f---ing rookie, complaining about the heat!"In the nearly quarter of a century since then, conditions haven't improved for Dwight, who said making deliveries on his New York City route in blazing summer temperatures has sometimes brought him close to heat exhaustion. (Like several drivers interviewed for this story, Dwight declined to give his last name for fear of retaliation by the company.) "There's times where because of the heat, I felt dizzy, had to pull over and get out of my truck," he told CBS MoneyWatch. Heat complaints are widespread among UPS drivers, many of whom say they have even had difficulty getting a fan installed in their trucks, which are not air-conditioned. Now, the labor union representing UPS workers is taking up their cause. In a letter to UPS' vice president of labor relations on Monday, an official with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters demanded information about the company's response to recent heat-related illnesses affecting UPS employees. Included among the slew of documents requested by the union is information on UPS' procedures during a heat advisory; its plans to acclimatize drivers to the heat; the availability of personal protective equipment, first aid kits, water and ice machines; and hazard assessments for all jobs in which workers are at risk of excessive heat. Teamsters are also holding rallies at UPS centers across the nation this week as the union prepares to renegotiate its contract, which expires July 31, 2023. UPS workers protest at facility in Brooklyn, New York, to demand heat protections on July 28, 2022. Teamsters Joint Council 16 "UPS executives sit inside their air-conditioned, C-suite offices all day while UPS Teamsters endure some of the most intense weather conditions imaginable, and this corporation needs to own up for what it is or is not doing to protect these workers," union President Sean O'Brien said in Monday's missive.Heat stroke cases at UPS increase nationwideOfficials at Teamsters Local 804, which represents UPS workers in New York City, expect to push for heat-related work protections in the new labor contract. Chris Williamson, vice president at Teamsters Local 804, based in Long Island City, said he's aware of roughly 15 cases of heat-related sickness among workers, but said the real tally is likely higher because many are afraid to report illnesses. During last month's heat wave, six drivers fell ill on the job, according to local news outlet The City. A seventh driver, Edwin Irizarry, felt sick and experienced a tingling sensation in his arm — a possible symptom of heat exhaustion — while driving his route in lower Manhattan. The driver's manager told him not to call an ambulance, multiple union officials told CBS News and as detailed in their letter to the company. Instead of an ambulance, Irizarry's manager drove him to an urgent care center, which referred Irizarry to a hospital. Once there, his supervisor tried to claim Irizarry's illness wasn't covered by worker's compensation. (A company spokesperson declined to comment on the cases, saying they lack specific information.)Heat-related illnesses threaten UPS workers nationwide. A driver in Scottsdale, Arizona, collapsed while delivering a package on a 110-degree day. (The driver has since recovered and is working again, a UPS spokesperson said.) In June, in Pasadena, California, 24-year old UPS driver Esteban Chavez collapsed and died, with his family blaming his death on the soaring temperatures, according to Los Angeles TV station KTLA. Delivery driver collapses on porch amid hot Arizona weather 00:42 "How many more members have to die before they take it seriously?" Williamson asked. "With global warming, it's getting hotter and hotter. It's ridiculous that this company that makes millions and millions of dollars doesn't want to put AC in the trucks," he said.UPS has said that installing air conditioning in delivery trucks is unfeasible because of the many stops drivers typically make on their routes."Our package delivery vehicles make frequent stops, which requires the engine to be turned off and the doors to be opened and closed, about 130 times a day on average," spokesperson Matthew O'Connor said in a statement. "We have studied heat mitigation with our vehicles and integrated forced air systems with venting to create air flow around the driver and cargo areas. We optimize the roof of vehicles to minimize heat in the cargo area, alongside insulating the roof of the cab. We also offer fans to drivers upon request." A UPS (United Parcel Service) driver in a delivery vehicle on February 1, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Drivers often leave their trucks' sliding doors open to save time while making frequent stops. Getty Images UPS also said it invests more than $260 million per year on safety programs, including training on working in hot weather. "The health and safety of our employees is our highest priority. UPS drivers are trained to work outdoors and to manage the effects of hot weather. Preparation, rest, hydration and maintaining good health practices are key to working outdoors," the company said."You're just a number here"But many of the drivers who spoke with CBS MoneyWatch said managers reprimand them for taking breaks to drink water or cool down, and that getting a fan for their truck is nearly impossible."They tell yo if you don't feel good, if you feel like you're going to pass out, take a minute. But yet the next day they say, 'What were you doing this time [and] this time, when you weren't doing work for 5 minutes?'" said Andrea, a New York-area driver with UPS who said he has been with the company for 14 years. Unrelenting time-keeping by UPS requires drivers to make an average of 17 stops an hour — or roughly one stop every three minutes, according to Julio, a New York-area driver of 18 years. With as many as 300 packages in a single delivery, a shift can stretch into 10, 11 or 12 hours. "It's constantly moving, it's nonstop," he said. "Any little thing you do that's not proper, they pull you in the office. And once you get hurt, forget about it — you're just a number here." Why is @UPS refusing to install fans in our trucks? Drivers are getting heatstroke and dying. UPS refuses to install A/C or fans while putting cameras in trucks. If any customers have concerns, please tell UPS at 1(800)-742-5877. @CarolBTome #NotInOurHouse #SafetyNotSurveillance pic.twitter.com/gyPOFtdumY— Elliot Lewis (@elliotrlewis) July 29, 2022 UPS drivers are sharing photos of trucks where thermometer readings show temperatures of 130 degrees or more, and emphasize that even getting a fan can be an ordeal in New York. One driver recently tweeted a picture of a request to install a fan in his vehicle that was denied, with the note "it's a corporate decision." The driver, Elliot Lewis, said staff in the warehouse where he works, which is not air-conditioned, also requested fans and were told none were available. "This is a billion-dollar logistics company — they could buy a hundred fans at Home Depot tomorrow," he told CBS MoneyWatch.A UPS spokesman said the company is looking into the incident. In addition to providing fans on request, the Teamsters are calling on UPS to offer water in every warehouse and truck and to give drivers cooling neck towels and uniform materials better suited for hot weather. The union is also pushing for drivers to be allowed to work at pace that allows them to take allotted breaks.A company spokesperson said UPS already offers uniforms made of sweat-wicking fabric, as well as cooling towels and "electrolyte replacement" nutrition, such as sports drinks. UPS workers and supporters hold signs demanding air conditioning outside a UPS center in Brooklyn's Canarsie neighborhood on August 3, 2022. Irina Ivanova With summers getting hotter and heat waves becoming more intense thanks to climate change, researchers say heat-related injuries are a major danger. Every year, about 700 people die from heat-related illnesses and about 67,000 visit the emergency room due to heat exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Those who labor outdoors — including delivery workers, construction workers and farm laborers — have 35 times the risk of dying from heat stress as indoor workers, according to one study. Lower-income workers, particularly those who are not U.S. citizens or who don't have access to health insurance, face a greater likelihood of heat-exposure on the job.Despite the growing risks, the federal agency charged with enforcing workplace safety — the Occupational Safety and Health Administration — does not have a workplace standard for heat safety. OSHA has asked for comments as it starts to establish safety rules for extreme heat, but the process could take years before such laws are finalized. In: Heat Wave UPS Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. 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Mackenzie Clifton, the Nintendo worker who filed a labor complaint earlier this year against the gaming giant, is stepping forward by name for the first time in an interview with Axios.Why it matters: The veteran game tester alleges Nintendo and contracting firm Aston Carter had them fired in February because they asked Nintendo management a question about unions.The complaint alleged that the employers had interfered with Clifton’s federally protected rights to discuss unionization without fear of retaliation.What they’re saying: “I hope that sharing this story can get more and more people thinking about how the games industry works and how these companies, that everyone’s come to know and love as providers of fun entertainment, are so much more than that,” Clifton tells Axios.Details: Clifton traces their firing to an online company meeting for hundreds of Nintendo testers in January. During a Q&A portion with Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser, Clifton asked, “What does NoA think about the unionization trend in QA in the games industry as of late?” they told Axios. (The incident, without specifics or names, was first reported by gaming website Kotaku.)Clifton’s question wasn’t addressed in the meeting. But later that day, Clifton says, a supervisor from Aston Carter called them, saying it was a “downer question” and advising them to direct such inquiries to the contracting firm, not Nintendo.Clifton was “baffled and kind of angry.” Less than a month later, Clifton was fired. Nintendo has denied that unions had anything to do with Clifton’s dismissal, instead saying the tester was let go for publicly disclosing “confidential information.” Clifton tells Axios that they had pressed supervisors for proof of a violation and were shown a tweet they posted on Feb. 16, which stated: “in today’s build someone somewhere must have deleted every other texture in the game bc everything is now red. Just like, pure red. it’s very silly.” Clifton says that is misdirection, noting the tweet is vague. It does not clearly identify what Clifton was working on. Nintendo and Aston Carter did not reply to requests for comment about Clifton's account. The NLRB declined to comment on the status of the complaint.The big picture: Current and former contractors for Nintendo of America have said that Nintendo treats them like “second-class citizens.”After Clifton’s NLRB complaint made headlines, dozens spoke out on social media and in the press, saying Nintendo consigns hundreds of crucial workers in its game-testing, customer service and even game-writing teams to precarious and stressful temporary deals. Even some top performers say conversions to full-time status are rare.Amid those remarks have been accusations of workplace misconduct, which Nintendo has internally told its workers it takes seriously, But neither Nintendo nor its contracting firms have spoken publicly about the company’s widespread use of contractors.Two former contractors previously told Axios that in mid-2014 a nascent effort by some Nintendo customer service contractors to unionize fizzled after their management firm caught wind of it (neither Nintendo nor the firm commented on the matter when asked).Clifton got their first contract gig at Nintendo in 2018.“Things were actually very good initially,” they said, citing an early promotion and raise. Best of all, after a manager noticed their skill trouncing coworkers in the Smash Bros. fighting game during breaks, Clifton was shifted to testing the then-forthcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.Clifton worked on Smash for much of the next two years as the game received new post-release content. Co-workers recalled Clifton as one of the best testers on the team, with a sharp eye capable of spotting bugs that others would have missed. Working on Smash Bros. was special, Clifton said, in part because of their connection to the game. They’d experienced bouts of severe depression since college and said campus Smash Bros. tournaments had kept them going.But at Nintendo, they’d become frustrated with their contracts’ forced breaks and the lack of agency as a temporary employee.Clifton hoped thousands of hours of work might get them and their fellow testers added to Smash Bros. Ultimate’s credits. When they heard in 2021 that an effort to do so was refused somewhere up the chain, Clifton was “utterly crushed.” “It drove me to suicidal ideation,” they said.“If all of this work I had done for all of these years meant nothing to these people, that they couldn’t even just modify a text document, why bother?” they remember thinking. Citing a medical emergency, they told their bosses they needed to stop coming to the office.After they left, the game’s credits were eventually updated with their name. And in January 2022 they began a new contract at Nintendo before their firing in February.Clifton’s decision to file a complaint against Nintendo and Aston Carter was “more to show the world and show my former coworkers that something like a union would be not only beneficial but maybe even necessary in the coming years.”As the investigation and talks for a possible settlement ensued, Clifton issued a condition: They wanted a letter of apology, signed by NoA president Bowser.Nintendo countered, Clifton said, with an offer to speak to HR, then offered a neutral letter of reference. The NLRB, which is still handling the complaint, told them a letter wasn’t required as part of a settlement. If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat with someone at 988lifeline.org. En Español.Sign up for the Axios Gaming newsletter here. | Labor Activism |
Topline
Chief executives at S&P 500 companies made 324 times more than the median workers at their companies in 2021 on average, according to an annual report from the U.S.’ largest labor union AFL-CIO released Monday morning, as the gap between compensation of top executives and workers continues to widen. Apple CEO Tim Cook netted nearly $100 million in total compensation last year. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Key Facts The CEO-to-worker pay ratio is the largest since AFL-CIO began tracking the metric in 2018 and up from 299-to-1 in 2020. The highest compensated CEO in 2021 was Expedia CEO Peter Kern at $296.2 million, followed by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy ($212.7 million), Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger ($178.6 million), ServiceNow CEO William McDermott ($165.8 million) and Apple CEO Tim Cook (98.7 million). Jassy’s total 2021 compensation was 6,474 times more than Amazon’s median worker, the highest ratio of any executive, according to the study. An Amazon spokesperson explained to Reuters’ Jassy’s compensation rivaled other leading CEOs and his compensation package was primarily composed of long-term restricted stock awards, mirroring other leaders on AFL-CIO’s list, including Cook, who received $83 million worth of vested stock in his company last year. Key Background
CEO pay has skyrocketed in recent decades: CEO compensation rose 1,322.2% from 1978 to 2020 adjusted for inflation, compared to an 18% increase in worker compensation, according to an Economic Policy Institute analysis released last year. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the gap in compensation, a New York Times study conducted by Equilar last June revealed. The Times survey of the 200 highest-paid CEOs of public companies found CEO compensation increased 14.1% from 2019 to 2020 compared to a 1.9% increase for workers. Elevated consumer prices have largely negated the benefits of accelerated worker wage growth in 2020. Crucial Quote
In a virtual press conference, Fred Redmond, AFL-CIO’s secretary treasurer, characterized the theme of the new report as “greedflation,” a nod to growing executive pay as inflation hovers at its highest level since 1981. Surprising Fact
A similar survey from the Institute for Policy Studies released last month found an even wider gap in compensation between CEOs and median workers, finding CEOs made 670 times more than their median workers in 2021, up from 2020’s 604-to-1 ratio. The study looked at 300 public companies that primarily employ low-wage workers. Further Reading
CEO pay gains far outpace rising wages, says new union report (Reuters)
Gap Between CEO Pay And Worker Pay Continued To Widen During The Pandemic, New Survey Finds (Forbes) | Labor Activism |
Sept 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Labor is expected to unveil a proposed rule in coming weeks that would make it harder for companies to treat workers as independent contractors, potentially upending the gig economy and other industries that rely heavily on contract labor.The line between when a worker is considered a company's employee, who is entitled to various legal protections, or an independent contractor has shifted over the last decade, as businesses have faced an increasing number of lawsuits by workers who claim they were misclassified.WHY IS WORKER CLASSIFICATION IMPORTANT?Most federal and state labor laws, such as those requiring a minimum wage and overtime pay, prohibiting discrimination or protecting the right to unionize, only apply to a company's employees. This makes employees much more expensive for companies to use than independent contractors - up to 30% more, according to some studies.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWorker advocates have said that millions of workers are misclassified as independent contractors and deprived of fair wages, benefits, and basic protections against discrimination and retaliation. Business groups have maintained that independent contracting helps to create jobs and gives workers more flexibility and opportunities to operate their own businesses. read more WHAT IS THE CURRENT LAW?In the final days of the Trump administration last year, the Department of Labor adopted a rule favored by business groups that makes it easier to classify workers as independent contractors under federal wage law. The rule says workers who own their own businesses or have the ability to work for competing companies, such as a driver who works for Uber and Lyft, can be treated as contractors.The Biden administration withdrew the rule, but a federal judge in Texas ruled in March that it had not followed the proper procedure for doing so and reinstated the prior standard.WHAT WILL BE IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RULE?The Labor Department has not revealed any details of the proposal, but is widely expected to restrict independent contracting.The department could model its rule on legal guidance adopted during the Obama administration that said workers are employees when they are economically dependent on a company. Or it could go further and adopt a three-pronged standard known as the "ABC test" that is used in several states including California and Massachusetts. Under that standard, workers are employees unless they own independent businesses, are free from a company's control, and perform work that is outside of a company's usual course of business.WHEN IS THE NEW RULE LIKELY TO COME?The Labor Department in July sent a draft of its proposal to the White House for review, one of the final steps before it is released to the public. The agency must then collect and review public comments, so a final rule likely will not take effect until well into next year.WHICH INDUSTRIES WILL BE AFFECTED MOST?Any change in policy is expected to have a negative impact on an array of industries including retail and manufacturing, but the effect on the explosive growth of the "gig economy," which heavily relies on independent contractors, has received the most attention. Last year, U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh told reuters that many gig workers should be classified as employees.Limiting independent contracting would also have an outsized impact on trucking companies that rely on contractors who own their trucks to meet fluctuations in demand and avoid the costs of maintaining fleets of trucks. Trucking firms raising prices or limiting services could, in turn, place further strain on supply chains that have already been hobbled by the COVID-19 pandemic.Some industries could be spared from the new standard if the Department of Labor includes exemptions to the rule. California and other states exempt many professional occupations, including doctors, lawyers, real estate agents and financial service providers, from strict classification standards.WILL THERE BE LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE RULE?Almost certainly, given the significant impact it will have. Lawsuits targeting the rule could claim that the new definition of "employee" is broader than federal wage law allows or that the Department of Labor did not follow the proper administrative procedures in adopting the rule.Trade groups and individual companies and workers could also bring claims under the U.S. Constitution or argue that the rule conflicts with existing regulations on specific industries. Groups representing trucking companies, gig economy firms and freelance workers have unsuccessfully challenged California's 2019 law adopting the "ABC test."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.Daniel WiessnerThomson ReutersDan Wiessner (@danwiessner) reports on labor and employment and immigration law, including litigation and policy making. He can be reached at daniel.wiessner@thomsonreuters.com. | Labor Activism |
President Joe Biden, a pro-union president, on Labor Day kicks off the unofficial start of the fall campaign season ahead of the midterm elections with two cross-country stops in battleground states.Biden, in what the White House says are official events, will deliver remarks "celebrating Labor Day and the dignity of American workers," in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, after a string of legislative victories and a slight bump in approval ratings.In both swing states, Democrats are facing high-stakes, heavily-funded midterm races.In heading there for Labor Day, Biden is mirroring the strategy of his Democratic predecessors Obama and Clinton.Biden travels first to Milwaukee to speak about 1:00 p.m. at the city's Laborfest, with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers -- up for reelection in November against Republican Tim Michels -- expected to make an appearance.It was unclear whether Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes -- a Democratic Senate hopeful embattled in a tight race against incumbent GOP Sen. Ron Johnson -- would also accompany Biden.Ahead of his visit, Republican National Committee and the Wisconsin Republican Party hosted a Zoom call, slamming the president's Thursday primetime speech in Philadelphia and his recent moves to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt.Johnson was on the Zoom, calling the president "no moderate" and that he has become a "divider-in-chief." Johnson noted that his Democratic opponent has been "in hiding" and that Barnes has not been doing any recent press conferences. One of Barnes' most recent events was a meet and greet with seniors on Aug. 29 on the subject of Social Security and Medicare, in response to recent Johnson comments on potentially cutting those programs.From Milwaukee, Biden travels to Pittsburgh where he is scheduled to make more Labor Day remarks at 5:30 p.m at United Steelworkers of America Local Union 2227 -- the third time the president has visited the commonwealth in one week.Pennsylvania's Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is in a contentious battle for retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey's Senate seat against Trump-endorsed Dr. Mehmet Oz.In a tweet, Fetterman's director of communications said that the candidate will also be marching with Biden -- the first time the candidate has joined the president during his weeklong span of the state -- with plans to discuss marijuana decriminalization."John will be marching in the Labor Day parade in Pittsburgh next week, and he looks forward to talking to the President there about the need to finally decriminalize marijuana," wrote Joe Calvello.Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro is also facing a tight race against Trump-endorsed Republican Doug Mastriano for governor. Shapiro will also march with Biden on Monday, following his appearance with the president at Wilkes University on Tuesday.In Pittsburgh, Shapiro will be "marching with the hardworking men and women of labor on Monday," Manual Bonder, a spokesperson for Shapiro, said in a statement. "As always, we welcome President Biden back to his home state of Pennsylvania."On Thursday in Philadelphia, Biden, in a fiery speech, warned about what he called threats to American democracy, presenting himself and Democrats ahead of the midterms as a clear contrast to Trump and MAGA Republicans.He pummeled Republicans participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection, those who refuse to accept the 2020 election results and want to strip away abortion rights."Too much of what's happening in our country today is not normal," he said. "Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic."Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking at the Greater Boston Labor Council Annual Breakfast on Monday, echoed Biden's remarks Thursday in Philadelphia, criticizing "extremist, so-called leaders" for their attempts to "turn back the clock …To a time before workers had the freedom to organize. To a time before women had the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies. To a time before all Americans had the freedom to vote."--ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler, Molly Nagle, Paulina Tam and Sarah Kolinovsky contributed to this report. | Labor Activism |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! An assistant professor of business at the University of Connecticut has been awarded $736,000 after charging in a 2011 whistleblower lawsuit that he had been fired for complaining about mismanagement at the school.Luke Weinstein will get $736,000 plus attorneys' fees and expenses and will get his job back under the terms of Superior Court Judge Susan Peck's June 30 ruling.Weinstein named UConn and former Dean Paul Christopher Earley in his lawsuit, which made its way through the state and federal court systems for years.UCONN COACH DAN HURLEY TOSSED FOR PUMPING UP CROWDAfter earning a doctorate in marketing and management from UConn, Weinstein was hired in 2007 as an assistant professor and director of the business school's Innovation Accelerator, a training program.He alleged in his lawsuit that Earley eliminated his position after Weinstein complained about possible labor law violations at the accelerator program and raised nepotism concerns involving Earley's wife, Elaine Mosakowski, a tenured business professor.SOUTH CAROLINA TOPS UCONN TO WIN NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP A University of Connecticut teacher involved in whistleblower lawsuit was awarded $736,000. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)Weinstein initially pursued First Amendment claims against UConn, but federal and state courts cited limitations to free speech protections for public employees in siding with the university.Following a bench trial this spring, however, Judge Peck ruled that Weinstein's related whistleblower claim had merit, citing "the inherent fallacies associated with the numerous and shifting reasons" not to reappoint Weinstein for the 2011-12 academic year.STANFORD AND UCONN RENEW INTENSE RIVALRY AT FINAL FOURUConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said in a statement, "The University is disappointed with this decision on the plaintiff’s one remaining claim, particularly given the long procedural history in this matter, which includes dismissal of several other claims asserted by the plaintiff."A spokesperson for the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, which represented UConn and Earley, said the office had no comment. | Labor Activism |
US Markets Loading... H M S Premium An Amazon employee handles packages. THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images This story is available exclusively to Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Amazon is raising starting pay for its 750,000 US warehouse workers to an average $19 an hour. The amount of individual workers' pay bumps varies by location and their tenure at Amazon. Insider reviewed images of new pay schedules from nearly a dozen North American warehouses. Amazon's new warehouse wage hikes will vary widely across its 750,000-strong fulfillment center workforce, and some workers are upset by what they say are relatively meager increases.The $1 billion move takes place against a backdrop of labor activism that has swept through Amazon warehouses. Workers have staged walkouts and protests at nearly a dozen Amazon warehouses this year, with pay raises at the top of their demands.In Garner, North Carolina, where workers at Amazon's RDU1 facility are organizing under the name Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment, the company's new wage increases fall short of what workers have been asking for, said the union's secretary, Tim Platt. The starting wage at that facility rose from $15.50 to $16.00, according to an image of the new pay scale seen by Insider."The raises are a slap in the face," Platt said. Amazon is "failing miserably" at its vision to become Earth's Best Employer, he added.Elsewhere in the country, some other Amazon employees said the wage increases aren't enough to offset rising costs from inflation. "I got a raise today of $0.25, $10 more every week," said one Amazon employee. "What a joke. The headline is Amazon gave us a raise. The reality is $0.25. I live in Arizona where inflation is out of control. That's the story for us today."Another Amazon worker, in Sacramento, said he felt "very disrespected and unappreciated with this new, so-called raise and how the media is making this place out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread." Amazon warehouse employees who spoke to Insider asked not to be identified out of fear that the company would retaliate against them.Amazon has said the wage increases and additional benefits will cost the company nearly $1 billion. Some employees shared details of the pay raises, including images of Amazon's new pay scales from nearly a dozen facilities seen by Insider. Here are some key features of the new plan:Workers with longer tenure at the company will, in general, receive larger pay bumps.In some higher-cost markets, Amazon's starting wages still won't touch $19 an hour. At one warehouse in California's Inland Empire, for instance, the starting wage for new hires is increasing from $17 to $18 an hour.Workers at this facility who have been at the company for a year and a half will see their pay rise from $17.85 to $19.20, an increase of $1.35 an hour.Staff who have been at this warehouse for two years will see their pay increase by $1.50, to $19.60.Work at Amazon? Got a tip? Contact reporter Katherine Long via phone or the encrypted messaging app Signal (+1-206-375-9280) or email (klong@insider.com). Sign up for notifications from Insider! Stay up to date with what you want to know. Subscribe to push notifications Read next Receive a selection of our best stories daily based on your reading preferences. Amazon Labor warehouses More... Read next | Labor Activism |