Posts tagged health care

    Op-ed: Democrats and Republicans agree: The clocks are ticking on union contracts

    September 29, 2025 // Despite these clear benefits, the process of reaching a first contract can often drag on for well over a year. Unions are met with delay and silence while trying to negotiate. According to Bloomberg Law, it takes an average of 458 days for workers and employers to reach a contract after a union is formed. And that’s after workers have already won a union election — a process that is too often met with stiff resistance or outright union-busting.

    VW’s 20% Raise And Bonus Offer Could Make or Break US Union Deal

    September 23, 2025 // That’s clear today as Volkswagen recently took the unusual step of publicly addressing their “final contract offer to the UAW.” In a brief statement, the company said negotiations have been going on for nearly a year and their latest offer will be their last.

    Labor unions, faculty associations sue Trump administration over demands to UCLA

    September 17, 2025 // UCLA would also be expected to make a statement that it no longer recognizes the identities of transgender individuals, end gender-affirming care for minors at its medical facilities, offer female-only housing and “make clear through the statement and on its website that it does not welcome transgender people on sports teams,” as part of the deal, according to the LA Times. Diego Emilio Bollo, the president of the Undergraduate Students Association Council, said he believes the federal government is withholding the funds in an attempt to coerce the university to compromise its values – including those of academic freedom, free speech and equity. He added that USAC is “incredibly thankful and in support” of the lawsuit.

    UAW workers reach tentative deal with GE Aerospace at Ohio, Kentucky plants

    September 15, 2025 // The tentative agreement covers a five-year term and secures strong job security protections for both Erlanger and Evendale locations, including minimum headcount and new work, the statement said. On Friday, the UAW said in an X post that members will vote on ratification on September 19. Until then, all picket lines will continue.

    ‘We got to stand together’ | Picketers mark first day of UAW strike at GE Aerospace

    August 29, 2025 // Workers threatened to strike against a proposed nearly 40% health care cost increase while demanding better job security and time off. As of Wednesday morning, UAW told us that GE countered with a 31% health care cost increase. However, the union said that's not good enough.

    Op-ed: A GOP-Teamsters Alliance Makes No Sense

    August 24, 2025 // Republicans getting on board with these ideas aren’t just awkward—they’re incoherent. There’s little evidence that endorsements from Teamsters executives move the needle in general elections, for parties or for candidates. Can Republicans credibly argue that filling the Teamsters’ coffers (and campaign-donation kitty) will result in the sort of political realignment some hope for, or even a lasting political windfall? The only guaranteed outcome is more power for the Teamsters and other unions over U.S. labor relations. If these overtures to the Teamsters backfire, Republicans can’t say they weren’t warned. As one GOP politician running for Missouri attorney general tweeted in 2015, after labor-aligned Republicans derailed state right-to-work legislation, “time for an end to union-backed candidates in GOP.”

    MINNESOTA: Union representing U of M service workers files strike notice

    August 10, 2025 // "The University is not immune to those challenges. The University has plans in place should a strike occur and is fully committed to minimizing any disruption this action might cause for our students, faculty, staff, and community." If workers walk off the job, enhanced strike benefits were approved by the union, including $1,000 a week, which reportedly exceeds the weekly pay of some workers across the university system.

    VA severs ties with most federal unions, terminating worker contracts

    August 7, 2025 // Veterans Affairs leaders on Wednesday announced plans to terminate nearly all of its collective bargaining contracts with federal unions, upending employment agreements for hundreds of thousands of department workers. The move affects members of the American Federation of Government Employees, the AFL-CIO (AFGE), the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

    House food service workers, Democrats stage boycott in fight to keep union jobs

    July 24, 2025 // Congressional Labor Caucus co-chairs Reps. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) joined food service employees in front of the Capitol building after final votes Thursday to protest the new vendors’ delay in recognizing the Unite Here Local 23 bargaining unit’s existing agreement. Union members are asking lawmakers, staff and Capitol visitors to boycott six of the new venues: Starbucks, Pakistani food restaurant CHA Street Food, Jimmy John’s, Common Grounds, Java House and PX Tacos.

    Hearing | Freedom to Work: Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers

    July 17, 2025 // Patrice Onwuka, director of Independent Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity, will testify before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). In a hearing titled “Freedom to Work: Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers,” Onwuka will discuss portable benefits and supporting America’s independent contractor and freelance workforce.