Posts tagged health care
Lawmakers Will Consider Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers
February 3, 2025 // Senate Bill 916, written at the request of the AFL-CIO of Oregon, would amend current Oregon law, which deems strikers ineligible for unemployment. The bill has not yet been scheduled for a hearing but has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Labor and Business. Given that the committee’s chair, state Sen. Kathleen Taylor (D-Portland), is one of the bill’s chief sponsors, it is highly likely to get an airing. It doesn’t hurt that the labor group that requested the bill, the AFL-CIO, represents 288 unions, which in turn represent more than 300,000 Oregon workers.
Providence health care strike reaches third week with no resolution
January 29, 2025 // The union added that there has been “zero movement” on critical issues like wages and health benefits where discussions have occurred. Providence said that the union’s proposals “are not financially sustainable.” The Renton, Washington-based health system added that its negotiators are working closely with federal mediators to negotiate with the union and that it expects “a lengthy walkout.” Providence largely refrained from negotiating before and during the early days of the strike, citing the need to prioritize stabilizing operations to keep hospitals running.
How lavish benefits pushed by NY teachers’ unions ramped up school spending — to highest in nation at $36K per kid: reports
January 21, 2025 // Empire State teachers were the second-highest compensated in the US during 2024, raking in an average of $92,696, according to a National Education Association study. And their generous pay has only increased from the 2020-2021 school year, when New York teachers’ $87,738 was the highest average pay in the nation, the Empire Center for Public Policy found. Employee benefits at that time were between 200% and 250% higher than the national average, according to the report from the Albany-based government watchdog group.
Monterey Bay Aquarium employees to unionize, public input wanted for Highway 9 improvement project near Felton
January 16, 2025 // ...employees at the Monterey Bay Aquarium have announced plans to unionize
Detroit refinery union workers, Marathon Petroleum reach 7-year agreement, ending 3-month strike
December 17, 2024 // DETROIT: Contract talks started in December 2023. Around 270 union members went on strike on Sept. 4. It was the first time in 30 years that workers with Local 283 had gone on strike. The Detroit facility refines 140,000 barrels of oil per day.
UNIONIZED GUARDS STRIKE AT SEATTLE ART MUSEUM
December 13, 2024 // Among the concessions sought by SAM VSO, which represents roughly sixty-five employees, are higher hourly wages, better health care benefits, the restoration of retirement benefits that were cut as the Covid-19 pandemic raged, and a union security clause, which would mandate all department employees to join the union and pay dues, thus ensuring the future of the union and protecting against union-busting efforts.
Striking San Francisco hotel workers urge J.P. Morgan health conference attendees to stay away
December 12, 2024 // Housekeepers, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders and other members of the union, Unite Here Local 2, are reaching out to attendees of the invitation-only J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference to be held Jan. 13-16 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. The conference is billed as a global symposium that includes health and technology industry leaders and members of the investment community. Union spokesperson Ted Waechter said 10,000 people took part in the conference last year.
Labor official: Logan Regional Medical Center joining USW will bring wanted change for employees
December 2, 2024 // USW represents over 850,000 workers who are employed in many different occupations, ranging from metals to pulp and paper and have now been growing their numbers in health care, higher education, public sector, tech and the service industries.
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.
Oregon’s largest union rejoins labor federation AFL-CIO after two decades
November 29, 2024 // Nationally, SEIU and the Teamsters union split from AFL-CIO in 2005, citing disagreements over how to stem the decline in union membership and the AFL-CIO’s focus on national politics over labor organizing. The Oregon affiliate, SEIU 503, followed its national organization. SEIU members spent the past year, following 2023′s “summer of strikes,” talking about what they wanted out of the labor movement, which has grown and seen workers emboldened by a tight labor market push for higher wages and better benefits. One key theme was that they wanted to be in solidarity with other workers, SEIU 503 Executive Director Melissa Unger said.