Posts tagged LGBTQ
Public workers who exercise free speech will be protected under new Colorado law
July 5, 2023 // Queer workers, workers of color, women, mothers, parents — all tend to feel retaliation a lot harder in the workplace. – Jade Kelly, of Communications Workers of America 7799 It follows a change to state law last year that gave employees in large Colorado counties the right to unionize and collectively bargain. That effort initially included a larger portion of public-sector workers, but it was pared down during the legislative process. “It shows testament to workers’ power on the rise,” said Jade Kelly, president of Communications Workers of America 7799, a coalition of several unions across Colorado, about the passage of SB-111. “We were organized, testifying in committees and making sure that workers’ voices were heard at the Capitol in a concentrated, meaningful way.” Queer workers, workers of color, women, mothers, parents — all tend to feel retaliation a lot harder in the workplace. – Jade Kelly, of Communications Workers of America 7799 The bill is personal for Kelly as well. She said that she requested a gender neutral bathroom several years ago at her University of Colorado Boulder job, but she was told that accommodation would be a security threat. Kelly, who is a transgender woman, spoke with her coworkers and they started organizing, only to be told by leadership that the group could be fired for taking action.
Commentary: When Wokeness Implodes: An Irony-Steeped Showdown in Florida, Echoes of Janus v. AFSCME, and a Fresh Start for Florida’s Public Employees
July 3, 2023 // In an environment of “wokeness,” the NEA—one of the largest teachers’ unions in the country—is tasting a bitter concoction of its own brewing, served up by its ideological kin, the Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE). The SPFE has declared a boycott of the NEA’s 2023 Representative Assembly in Orlando, Fla., in response to the NAACP’s travel advisory warning of Florida’s purported hostility toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. This irony-steeped drama unfolds alongside the fifth anniversary of Janus v. AFSCME, a landmark ruling that strengthened public employees’ rights by allowing them the freedom to choose whether to join and pay dues to a union. Federal reports show a drop in the NEA’s membership of more than 200,000 workers (7.6 percent) since the Janus decision. The Freedom Foundation, in that same period, has assisted more than 143,000 government employees in opting out of their unions. This legacy of empowerment starkly contrasts with the NEA’s current predicament, where ideology appears to overshadow dialogue and mutual respect.
Starbucks union says workers at more than 150 stores will strike over Pride decor
June 23, 2023 // Workers United has alleged instances in at least 22 states when workers have not been able to decorate. It says it filed an unfair labor practice charge over the alleged change in policy. The coffee giant said its policy on decorating has not changed and that it unwaveringly supports the LGBTQ+ community.
Starbucks union claims dozens of stores aren’t allowed to decorate for Pride
June 14, 2023 // Some Massachusetts workers were told there weren’t enough labor hours to schedule partners to decorate, the union said. Managers told employees in Maryland some people didn’t feel represented by the “umbrella of pride,” according to the labor group. In Oklahoma, workers were told restrictions on decorating were out of a concern for safety after recent attacks at Target stores, the union said. In late May, Target pulled some of its Pride merchandise, citing threats against its employees. Some of the retailer’s locations in the South also moved Pride collections to less visible areas on the floor. The Washington Post reported Target stores in at least five states were evacuated this weekend after bomb threats.
Colorado teachers union passes resolution declaring capitalism ‘inherently exploits children, public schools’
May 4, 2023 // The Colorado Education Association [CEA] reportedly passed a resolution that declares that "capitalism inherently exploits children, public schools, land, labor, and resources." A final version of the resolution that was passed states that "CEA believes that capitalism requires exploitation of children, public schools, land, labor, and/or resources. Capitalism is in opposition to fully addressing systemic racism (the school to prison pipeline), climate change, patriarchy, (gender and LGBTQ disparities), education inequality, and income inequality. However, a screenshot captures an earlier draft of the resolution that included a call to replace capitalism with a "new equitable economic system."
Member testimonial: Unions are too politicized, should focus on members
December 12, 2022 // “The union picks and chooses political candidates or campaigns to support,” the member told me, “but does not ask members for feedback or advice.” It is important to note that while this AFFT member shares similar political views to the union’s preferred candidates, they still believe the decision to donate to candidates or campaigns should be up to the individual and not the union. Instead, it is the belief of the AFFT member I spoke with that the union should focus on taking care of union workers and refrain from spending dues on politics.
Sparked by Pandemic Stresses, Unionizing Workers Seek Respect and a Place at the Table
August 18, 2022 // Throughout the pandemic, we were called ‘essential workers,’ yet we weren’t given the wages, benefits or respect that being ‘essential’ would denote.” Nick Kalm, John Logan, Labor and Employment Studies Department at San Francisco State University
Starbucks workers in Wichita reject union bid
August 3, 2022 // Workers at the Starbucks near 21st and Amidon in Wichita have voted not unionize. The workers filed for a union vote in May, becoming the first in the city to do so. KMUW reports the workers rejected the bid in a 5-6 vote. Workers at the Wichita Starbucks near 21st and Amidon have begun the process to unionize. Esau Freeman, Barista Maia Cuellar Serafini, Huffington Post,
SPLC union: Civil rights organization’s return-to-office policy shows racial disparity
March 30, 2022 // The union, which has been engaged in collective bargaining with SPLC management for more than a year, said a unit responsible for bringing in revenue primarily made up of Black women was being required to return to work, despite telework opportunities being made available to other employees.