Posts tagged cost of living
Unionized Blue Bottle Coffee baristas walk out for nearly eight minutes, demand fair wages, working hours
January 29, 2025 // Saturday’s walkout at the Newbury Street location, in addition to the Chestnut Hill and Kendall Square locations, came in response to the company’s failure to guarantee working hours and tip differentials to subsidize thinly-spread tip pools amongst additional baristas.
California fast food restaurant owners warn that hiking $20 minimum wage will ‘cripple’ them
January 8, 2025 // The council, which consists of 10 members appointed by the governor, is empowered to raise the minimum wage by up to 3.5% — or the annual rate of inflation each year — beginning Jan. 1 of this year. The union representing fast food workers has accused restaurant owners of cutting employee hours in response to the wage increase — all but offsetting the hike in wages.
Heal thyself? Hundreds of NYC Health + Hospitals doctors could strike this month in union battle for higher wages
January 6, 2025 // Nearly 1,000 doctors at four NYC Health + Hospitals (NYC H+H) facilities are ready to go on strike this month if their contract demands are not met, the Doctors Council-Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced on Thursday.
Shawn Fain was Kamala Harris’ most forceful union backer. It could cost him his job
December 30, 2024 // United Auto Workers union President Shawn Fain was one of the most prominent union leaders backing Vice President Kamala Harris in this year’s US presidential election and one of the harshest critics of Donald Trump while on the campaign trail. And because of that, he’ll have a powerful enemy when Trump takes back the White House on January 20.
Unionized Women & Infants Hospital workers prepare to launch strike Dec. 12
December 2, 2024 // The hospital highlighted its “generous proposal,” crafted over two months’ worth of “good faith” negotiations, according to a hospital press release. The current offer includes a $19 million wage and pension package over three years. That package would sport a minimum 5.5% wage increase for union employees, with some receiving higher bonuses, as well as low-cost health plans for workers. A strike, however, would cost the hospital at least $9 million just to continue operations as normal, and striking workers would not be paid for any shifts missed, Sullivan said.
Seattle Art Museum security staff goes on strike
December 2, 2024 // About two dozen picketing security staffers — or Visitor Service Officers — and supporters shouted slogans and handed out flyers as downtown tourists looked on, visitors entered the museum and passing vehicles honked. “After more than two years of unsuccessful negotiations, SAM VSO Union workers are striking now until the board and museum leadership recognize their needs and offer a fair contract,” the flyer reads.
New Seasons workers to strike before Thanksgiving, urge community to boycott stores
November 25, 2024 // More than 1,100 workers represented by New Seasons Labor Union have been bargaining for an agreement with the company, but Union representatives say the company is "not offering a viable path forward with negotiations." The union claims the most recent proposal included an increase of 25 cents to the starting wage, decreases to higher-paid union workers, a reduction in holiday pay, and an increase in the eligibility minimum for benefits and PTO from 24 to 30 hours a week.
Thousands of UC patient care, service workers to strike Wednesday, Thursday
November 21, 2024 // "The University's proposals include $700 million in economic increases for AFSCME members and a direct response to what AFSCME had asked for — the greater of a $25 an hour minimum wage or a 5% across-the-board raise," according to the UC. "Our proposals would increase AFSCME members' pay by an average 26% over the five-year contract. We have also proposed $75 or $100 monthly credits for AFSCME members to offset employee premium increases." University officials said the union in May stopped responding to or acknowledging the university's proposals and declared an impasse
San Francisco luxury hotel employees join worker’s strike
October 22, 2024 // This is the fifth major hotel to join the strike, including Grand Hyatt San Francisco Union Square, Hilton San Francisco Union Square, San Francisco Marriott Union Square and Westin St. Francis. The union said almost 2,000 San Francisco hotel workers have joined the strike. The employees include housekeepers, bellhops, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders and other positions.
Strike ends as union at Textron Aviation in Wichita approves new contract
October 22, 2024 // A simple majority of the roughly 5,000 workers represented by the union was needed to approve the contract. The union did not immediately release results of the vote, which was held Saturday and Sunday at its headquarters in south Wichita. "We know aircraft in Wichita," Clint Shockley, the business representative for the union, said in a statement. "We also know family, survival, and our members' rooted values here. Local 774 members have shown that through collective action and won."