Posts tagged benefits
Unionized Microsoft Developers Authorize Strike After Failing To Reach A Deal After Two Years Of Negotiations
April 4, 2025 // "We’re not afraid to use our union power to ensure that we can keep making great games," said Skylar Hinnat, a quality assurance tester and member of ZeniMax Workers United-CWA. Hinnat continued, "All of us want to be working. We hope that Microsoft will allow us to do so with dignity and fairness to all by securing a first contract with our union." Some of the key issues the ZWU-CWA is bargaining over are expanding remote work options, better pay, workplace improvements, and mandating that Microsoft inform the union of any intentions it may have to outsource quality assurance work to a third party.
Tony’s Fresh Market workers vote against unionizing
April 1, 2025 // A large majority of workers at Tony’s Fresh Market voted against unionizing last week, dealing a major blow to organizers and Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers, the union that sought to represent them. Nearly 2,000 workers at 21 Tony’s stores in Chicago and the suburbs were eligible to vote Mar. 25-27. Out of 1,720 ballots counted, 605 voted for unionizing while 1,115 voted against, according to results filed with the National Labor Relations Board.
What was the impact of AB5 on California’s marginalized communities?
March 31, 2025 // Esther Hermida, a representative of the American Alliance of Professional Translators and Interpreters (AAPTI) testified about AB5’s impact on thousands of citizens in her industry comprised of 75 percent women. One professional translator, Ildiko Santana, reported she started her small business in 2000 as an immigrant and woman of color. She lost all 50 clients and all her income in 2020 when AB5 went into effect.
Los Angeles museum workers pushing to unionize
March 27, 2025 // Workers at Los Angeles County's Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits Tuesday announced efforts to unionize, citing what they call a need for better wages, safer working conditions and increased diversity. The Natural History Museum & Tar Pits Workers Union would represent almost 300 workers and include performers, engineers, educators, guest relations associates and more, according to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 36.
REI withheld pay from union workers, national labor board says
March 24, 2025 // 11 REI stores have unionized since 2022 in a contentious organizing battle that’s shaken the Washington-based outdoor co-op’s progressive reputation. None of the unions have yet secured a contract. Union organizers recently tried to nominate pro-labor candidates to the co-op’s board of directors for this year’s board election, but the board did not nominate either of them for a membership vote. The complaint filed Thursday alleges that REI violated several aspects of the National Labor Relations Act by refusing to bargain in good faith and withholding annual pay raises and bonuses at stores that voted to unionize. This was done at least since February 2024 to “discourage employees” from engaging in union activity, the complaint said. The complaint lists nine stores across the country where benefits were allegedly withheld, including the REI in Bellingham, the only Washington store that has voted to unionize.
Construction groups decry PRO Act’s reintroduction
March 13, 2025 // “The reintroduction of the PRO Act displays continued disregard for the livelihoods of small business owners, employees and independent contractors,” said Swearingen. “While Congress has long rejected the PRO Act and its provisions, these legislators continue to pursue failed policies and attack business models and fundamental freedoms that have fueled entrepreneurship, job creation and opportunity for the American worker.”
VTA workers injured in traffic incident on 1st day of strike that shut down bus, light rail service
March 11, 2025 // VTA is offering the union a 9.3% increase over the next three years, while the ATU workers are demanding a 19.1% increase over three years. ATU is asking for more, including special protections for arbitration guarantees.
Baton Rouge bus worker strike begins, will go on ‘as long as it takes,’ union says
March 5, 2025 // Union leaders said they were happy with the strike turnout so far. The effect on CATS' ability to maintain service is already evident, they said. "They don't run efficiently when they're fully staffed," Shavez Smith, vice president for ATU Local 1546, said. "We knew this was gonna take a big hit."
White Coats Take a Cue From Blue Collars
February 26, 2025 // Harking back to the emergence of physician unions, we're seeing a resurgence of interest among resident physicians in hospitals across the country. To varying degrees, U.S. hospitals still require resident physicians to work long, irregular hours (in some cases as many as 80 hours a week). In combination with other adverse workplace issues, this has led to house staff dissatisfaction with the status quo and, ultimately, to unionization.
Opinion: Utah is leading the nation by prioritizing worker freedom
February 21, 2025 // Despite the rhetoric, government unions will still exist in Utah and public employees can still choose to join them. Workers who agree with union spending can support their unions wholeheartedly, while those who do not are free to decline membership and can negotiate their job requirements directly with their employer. The difference now is that these unions will no longer have a monopoly in representing public employees, including Utah public employees who did not want the representation in the first place.