The Weekly Download

“In this BREAKING NEWS BLOGCAST, Burnes Center for Social Change Senior Fellow Seth Harris is joined by Hannah Garden-Monheit, Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Office of Policy Planning, to discuss the FTC's new rule prohibiting employers from imposing non-compete agreements on their employees. Harris and Garden-Monheit explain the legal reasoning behind the rule and explore how the ban will improve competition in labor markets across the economy. Tune in for expert analysis on the FTC's authority to issue labor regulations, the expected legal challenges the rule must overcome, and how the ban on non-compete agreements will increase worker power across the nation.”

“In this International Labour Organization webinar, economists Janine Berg and Pawel Gmyrek present the findings of their report "Generative AI and jobs: A global analysis of potential effects on job quantity and quality." Listen to these experts discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on worker power, explore how tools like GPT-4 can be responsibly integrated into the workplace, and respond to questions from a live audience.”

“A new federal rule to expand overtime protections to millions of workers now excluded under current law has been finalized, the Biden administration said Tuesday. The Labor Department’s regulation would ensure that salaried workers who earn less than $58,656 per year would automatically be entitled to overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week, starting in 2025. What’s known as the ‘overtime salary threshold’ would then be updated every three years, starting in 2027, to account for inflation. The agency estimated that the change would extend the overtime law’s coverage to an additional four million workers, meaning they couldn’t be forced to work extra hours without their employers paying a premium.”

“According to preliminary returns, workers in the Volkswagen manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee voted overwhelmingly on April 17, 18, and 19 to be represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) in a historic election result with important implications for those workers and their families, the city of Chattanooga, the state of Tennessee, the labor movement, and the auto industry.  Early returns suggest the union won the election by a roughly 3-to-1 margin.”

“After decades of poor working conditions and low pay, unpredictable mass layoffs are causing employees across the video game industry to turn to unions for security and stability. ‘Downsizing’ is nothing new to tech workers. Tech companies are notorious for blindsiding their workers with massive cuts to their staff. In 2023, an estimated 9,000 video game employees lost their jobs even as companies reveled in years of increased sales due to the pandemic.”

“On the night of Friday, April 19, the United Auto Workers (UAW) announced the results of its National Labor Relations Board election at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Workers there voted 73 percent in favor of joining the UAW — a historic victory for the union after two failed drives there, in 2014 and 2019.”

“Today, 32BJ SEIU and SEIU Virginia 512 members announce the launch of the SEIU Virginia State Council, to win good union jobs for all working families across the Commonwealth. Under the new structure, members and not-yet-union workers will come together to organize, mobilize, elect champions, and hold corporations and elected officials accountable. The SEIU Virginia State Council’s two locals represent over 11,000 members across the commonwealth, including frontline home care workers, janitors, airport workers, county and city employees, security officers, and more. 32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President Jaime Contreras will serve as Chair of the State Council, and SEIU Virginia 512 President LaNoral Thomas will serve as Treasurer. David Broder will serve as the SEIU Virginia State Council’s Executive Director.”

“On April 3, workers at the Barnes & Noble store in El Cerrito, Calif., took a significant step towards ensuring their rights and representation in the workplace by organizing with UFCW Local 5. The decision to unionize comes as a result of dedicated Barnes & Noble employees in El Cerrito standing in solidarity to demand a safe working environment, better wages, guaranteed hours, and a voice on the job. By affiliating with UFCW Local 5, these workers recognize that collective bargaining power will enable them to negotiate fair wages, improved working conditions, and greater job security.”

“Staff at Jewish Family Services in St. Louis (JFS) are organizing with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6400 as Jewish Family Services Workers United, citing high turnover and a toxic work environment at the social services nonprofit. ‘Myself and others that are part of the union drive think JFS is a great agency that does a lot of important work in the community… but we just don’t feel like the care extends to us as workers,’ said Kelly Baker, a member of JFS Workers United (JFSWU).”

”On Thursday, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that it is seeking an injunction pursuant to Section 10(j) of the National Labor Relations Act against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for dozens of ongoing unfair labor practice violations of federal law, 18 months after workers struck to compel the newspaper to follow the law and provide health insurance to workers.”

“Starbucks and the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency charged with protecting workers’ rights, will battle each other before the Supreme Court Tuesday, in one of numerous cases now pending in which major employers are questioning the NLRB’s powers and even its right to exist. The NLRB under the labor-friendly Biden administration has been overseeing a period of significantly more organizing and strike activities by the nation’s unions. Some high-profile companies are complaining that the agency is abusing its powers. The companies are asking federal courts, often with conservative, pro-business judges, to stop the agency from standing behind the more activist unions now making their lives more difficult.”

“A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday rejected Starbucks' (SBUX.O), opens new tab claims that an election won by a union at the coffee company's flagship Seattle store was invalid because it was held via mail ballot during the COVID-19 pandemic. A three-judge 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld a National Labor Relations Board decision that said the company, which is facing a nationwide union organizing campaign, must recognize and bargain with the store's union, which represents nearly 100 workers.”

“The peace coalition No Tech for Apartheid accused Google of a "flagrant act of retaliation" late Wednesday night as the Silicon Valley giant announced it had fired 28 workers over protests against its cloud services contract with the Israeli government.”

“After months of organizing that culminated with a protest rally outside their school on April 16, staff and parents at PS 157 in the Bronx have spurred the Department of Education and NYPD to take immediate action to improve safety outside the Melrose school.”

“Writers Guild of America members employed by Sesame Workshop have struck a tentative contract deal with management, averting a strike after negotiations stalled over compensation and union representation for the nonprofit organization’s animation and social media staff. The bargaining unit of 35 — which includes the “Sesame Street” writing staff — and Sesame Workshop settled on a new five-year contract Friday, the day their previous agreement expired. The new deal includes jurisdiction and minimum rates for animation and new media programs, protections against artificial intelligence, paid parental leave benefits and improvements to streaming residuals, according to the WGA.”

“A tentative agreement was reached in Brainerd Monday, April 22, between United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663, Quisberg’s and Miner’s grocery food stores in Brainerd, Baxter, Crosby and Pequot Lakes. Union members were informed of the tentative agreement and were learning more about it, Jessica Hayssen, Communications and Legislative/political director, UFCW Union Local 663, stated in an email update. Hayssen stated members-only informational meetings are set for Sunday, April 28, with a vote scheduled for May 2. More details are expected in the days ahead.”

“General Motors Aramark workers have won a historic tentative agreement that will set the pattern and raise the standard for all UAW GM members in sanitation. In a new video, Mike Booth, UAW Vice President and Director of the GM Department, shares some of the record gains contained in the deal and the strategy behind winning the agreement.  Under the tentative agreement, Aramark workers will receive raises of up to 43% over the life of the proposed three-year deal. The UAW was also able to reduce the time it takes a worker to reach the top wage rate. Previously, it could take years for a worker to reach that mark. Under the proposed agreement, it would take a worker just ninety days.”

“Grant-Illini teachers are offering to extend their contract in order to help out the troubled school district’s financial plan. The members of IFT Local 6600 issued a statement April 11 announcing they will take every action they can to “‘fight for more opportunities for students and the district’s accountability to the community.’”

“Over 40 workers at Madison Sourdough Co. in Madison, Wis., who are members of UFCW Local 1473, ratified a first union contract on March 7 that raises wages and improves benefits. The workers, who joined our union in April of 2023, are employed as bakers, baristas, dishwashers, cooks, and delivery drivers at the bakery, cafe, mill and patisserie.”

“When the UAW won the historic union election at Volkswagen in Chattanooga this past Friday, it did something that many labor experts said couldn’t be done. For decades, unions have been told, “You can’t win in the South.” For decades, they’ve also been told that it’s next to impossible to unionize factory workers because they’re so terrified that their factories will close and move south of the border or overseas if they unionize.”

“President Claude Cummings Jr. led a CWA delegation to South Africa this week for the Information, Communications, Technology, and Related Services (ICTS) UNI Global Conference. The conference, held every four years, was attended by approximately 200 participants from unions representing workers in telecommunications and technology from all over the world. During the conference, CWA leaders had the opportunity to learn from other unions about their struggles, deepen relationships with key partner unions from around the world, and highlight our tech organizing successes.”

“The uptick in high-profile strikes in recent years has been heartening. But sustaining and expanding the gains won by that militancy will require careful strategizing and deep political engagement that starts with but goes beyond the shop floor."

“The mines of the Mesabi Iron Range gleam red under the light covering of snow that remains after a historically warm winter in northern Minnesota. Hibbing, a mining town of around 16 thousand people, bustles with industry. And in any town with working people, you’ll find the working people who make all other industries possible: the childcare workers….[Amanda] Maass spoke with Workday Magazine about her experiences living and working in greater Minnesota, the shift to a more rural life, and what she wants to see changed for childcare workers and the families they take care of.“

“The Power At Work Blog proudly announces that it will co-present two films at the DC Labor FilmFest: “The Old Oak” on May 1st at 7pm, and a 25th-anniversary screening of the 1999 comedy “Office Space” on May 22 at 7pm. Both films will be screened at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.  Burnes Center Senior Fellow Seth Harris will participate in the presentation of both films.”