Posts tagged religion
Trump accelerates push to reward loyalty in federal workforce
June 16, 2025 // Vinnie Vernuccio, president of the Institute for the American Worker and member of the transition team for the labor department in Trump’s first term, said that it is costly and time-consuming to try to fire workers, and a new rule to reclassify policy-related positions would make it easier for the administration to ensure their reforms aren’t hindered. “These career employees could throw sand in the gears for policies they don’t like,” Vernuccio said. Vernuccio added that the rule change would affect only career federal employees in policymaking roles, which OPM has estimated is about 50,000 positions, or about two percent of the Federal civilian workforce. “The sky is not going to fall,” Vernuccio said.
The High-Stakes Battle to Organize Heats Up at Three of D.C.’s Hottest Restaurants
February 28, 2025 // Employees who have stepped forward say that members of Unite Here Local 25, which represents restaurant, hotel, and casino workers in the D.C. area, obtained individual home addresses; have then showed up at their houses at night to demand a union card signature; and even used one’s religion as a ruse to meet. In addition, some employees say that union reps have made them uncomfortable in repeated confrontations outside of work. Eater spoke to five workers at St. Anselm, Le Diplomate, and Pastis, some of whom spoke to the publication under conditions of anonymity, citing fear of retaliation.
New Seasons labor strike enters ninth day amid calls for reinstatement
February 6, 2025 // NSLU has urged a customer boycott until a fair first contract is reached. The union has been negotiating its first contract with New Seasons Market for over two years, and has filed multiple Unfair Labor Practices charges, some of which have been resolved in the union's favor. The Union will hold public collective bargaining sessions, starting Feb. 18
New law bans California companies from forcing employees to meet on politics, religion or union issues
October 4, 2024 // But starting next year, California employers will no longer be able to force employees into so-called “captive audience” meetings about politics, including unions, or religion. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday banning these compulsory meetings. The new law, which was supported mostly by unions, prohibits employers from retaliating against employees when they don’t attend a meeting related to religion or politics, including union organizing.
Ban on ‘captive audience’ meetings, AI regulations among 466 Ill. bills to pass this session
June 4, 2024 // If the “captive audience” bill is signed by the governor, employers would still be allowed to discuss religion and politics with employees, but workers would have the right to skip the meeting, whether on or off the clock, without retaliation. The Illinois AFL-CIO labor organization brought the legislation to state Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, and celebrated its passage as a win for workers. In a news release, Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea said the meetings “are a direct violation of workers’ rights.”
Oregon Education Association Just the Latest Teachers’ Union to Impose Racially Discriminatory Policies
June 15, 2023 // On April 30, OEA’s board of directors discussed a so-called “progressive dues structure for BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color) members,” according to meeting minutes. This scheme would include a “significant discount for educators until the racial breakdown of our membership aligns with the racial breakdown of our student population.”
Video: Face the Facts: Captive Audience Meetings and Pandemic Pay for Frontline Workers
March 16, 2022 // NBC Connecticut's American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) President Ed Hawthorne talks about the deal that's on the table and another measure that's being discussed.