Posts tagged health care

    Grad student union to negotiate new contract next month

    April 15, 2026 // The union said that in negotiations, it will “fight against dangerous assaults” on members’ academic freedom and ability to protest on campus. In its bargaining goals, GSOC emphasized protecting international and noncitizen student workers in the wake of the Trump administration’s threats to revoke students’ visas and crack down on political speech on college campuses. In bargaining sessions, the committee also plans to urge NYU to expand members’ current health care plan to include “high-quality” dental and vision care. While the current contract does not detail members’ vision care plan, it states that the university must reimburse out-of-pocket medical and dental care expenses. GSOC said earlier this month that NYU reimbursed graduate student workers $60,000 in health care backpay after it “miscalculated” how much they were owed.

    Commentary: A teacher strike would hurt kids, but LAUSD can’t afford to give in to the union’s demands

    April 13, 2026 // The bottom line is that LAUSD can’t afford the union’s demands. A lengthy teachers’ strike would harm students, but giving in to UTLA risks weakening the district’s ability to serve those students for years to come. For their part, teachers and other union employees could come to regret whatever concessions UTLA manages to squeeze out of the district. LAUSD has already approved a plan to lay off 3,200 employees, and they’ll need to cut more if UTLA gets its way.

    Federal Crackdown Nets 8 Arrests in Southern California Health Care Fraud Schemes

    April 8, 2026 // Federal officials have arrested 8 people in the Los Angeles area for their alleged involvement in various health care fraud schemes totaling $50 million. The cases include fraudulent billing for hospice services, defrauding a labor union's health plans, and forging immigration medical documents.

    UAW strike in Findlay enters day 10 as company allegedly seeks replacement workers

    April 4, 2026 // Despite the strain, union members say they are prepared to continue the strike indefinitely. Workers are receiving $500 per week in strike pay, and the international union is covering health benefits, according to McDonald. He also warned that broader impacts could emerge soon. The Findlay facility produces union-made PTFE seals used across the U.S. auto industry, and McDonald said existing supplies could run low as early as next week.

    As Michigan’s childcare costs rise, workers debate risks of unionizing

    March 31, 2026 // Instead of childcare workers unionizing against owners, the model most commonly seen in childcare unions across the country is owners unionizing against their state, as Henderson is advocating for — specifically, childcare owners who receive state reimbursement payments for care they provide low-income families and therefore can be considered state employees. The purpose is to get more robust and permanent public dollars through contract negotiation to fund things providers say they can’t currently afford because of limits on their revenue, like higher wages, insurance benefits, and overall more stability for the struggling industry. Critics of this model say childcare providers shouldn't be considered public employees just because they receive payments from the state or put in a position where they may feel they have to pay union dues. They also say the fractured layout of the industry doesn't lend itself well to unionization and could create division among already under-resourced owners and staff.

    NYC faces possible strike by 34,000 doormen, building workers

    March 28, 2026 // Property owners are alerting occupants of 3,500 co-ops, condos and apartment buildings across the five boroughs that services will decrease if a work suspension begins on April 21. That’s the day after the four-year-old contract expires for nearly 34,000 doormen, porters and maintenance workers. If there’s a strike, residents will need to wear badges to enter buildings, non-emergency renovation work will stop and moving in or out of the buildings will halt,

    Teamsters terminate agreement, strike at Smurfit Westrock site set for closure

    March 26, 2026 // The company says the union terminated the two parties’ labor agreement at the Wakefield, Massachusetts, corrugated converting plant.

    Union for First Student authorizes strike if no deal is reached on contract negotiations by March 31

    March 26, 2026 // The union for First Student has authorized a strike for drivers and employees if contract negotiations fail. The Teamsters union represents more than 17,000 workers nationwide, including bus drivers in New Hampshire.

    JBS workers confirm March 16 strike at Greeley meat processing plant over labor practices

    March 10, 2026 // Workers at the largest meat supplier in the world will strike at its Greeley plant, according to the workers' union, which said 99% of workers at the plant approved the strike over "poverty-level" wages.

    10,000 Corewell nurses to vote on strike authorization amid first contract negotiations

    March 3, 2026 // "Last week, the Teamsters added an additional $62 million in proposals on top of their previous $2 billion earlier proposals. This is not good faith bargaining. We cannot reach an agreement if the Teamsters’ proposals keep going up without discussion about actual priorities. Any talk of a strike authorization is premature as negotiations are still ongoing." What's next: Voting begins at 9 a.m. Monday and will remain open until results are announced on March 17.