Posts tagged union contract
‘Right to work’ in spotlight after Michigan tosses law aside
March 28, 2023 // Liberal opponents of right-to-work laws say they suppress workers by undermining unions. Many progressives cite Martin Luther King, who said, “Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer and there are no civil rights.” A solid body of research shows that states with right-to-work laws are correlated with less pay, worse benefits and more on-the-job injuries. The laws also create what critics often call the “free rider” program, in which certain workers get the advantages of union-negotiated contracts without having to contribute to the union itself. Supporters of Michigan’s right-to-work repeal say it may be difficult to replicate their success elsewhere in the country. Most states with these laws on the books are led by Republicans who support them. Any hopes of a nationwide change are slim given the current makeup of Congress.
Hollywood shows unions how to let workers shine
March 12, 2023 // Entertainment unions such as SAG-AFTRA, on the other hand, set only a salary floor. Many sports unions take a similar approach. Members can expect a minimum salary but, from there, can negotiate higher pay depending upon their unique talents and ability to draw an audience. “Nothing,” the general contract for the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists reads, will prevent a performer from “negotiating and obtaining better conditions and terms of employment” than those in the union contract. In other words, actors are free to compete for the most competitive terms they can get. Some are paid more for being better at their craft, not simply for logging yet another year on the job. Under this model, people of extraordinary talent are not limited by arbitrary pay limits and workers are motivated to continually sharpen their skills. Granted, the model isn’t perfect. In return for representation, Screen Actors Guild members abide by what’s known as Global Rule One: Union actors won’t work on non-union projects.
21 months after unionizing, Tartine workers still don’t have contract
December 23, 2022 // According to Evan McLaughlin, a union organizer and former Tartine employee, what the union hopes to achieve in this long-overdue contract is primarily a scheduled and guaranteed raise for workers. The company, he said, insists on merit-based pay increases. The union has been hoping to reach a partnership with the company, while the company has been very uncooperative, and “decided to fight,” said McLaughlin.
New Poll Shows Strong Support for Michigan’s ‘Right-to-Work’ Law as 10th Anniversary Approaches
December 12, 2022 // An overwhelming majority of Michigan residents approve of the state’s right-to-work law in a new poll commissioned by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Next week will mark the 10-year anniversary of the law’s passage. Right-to-work has strong support across Republicans, Democrats, Independents, men, and women. The support held for every age group and in every region of Michigan. Union household supported the law by a nearly 2-to-1 margin (55% to 28%).
WestRock Paper Mill preparing for lockout
October 7, 2022 // A strike could be on the horizon for workers at one of Russell County’s largest employers. The employees say their issue is not wanting more money, but keeping what they already get
School districts could become dues collectors for employee unions under current legislation
October 3, 2022 // MEA, other unions, could make a collection requirement part of employee contracts Senate Bill 1093, introduced by Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor, on June 23, would undo a 2012 change to Public Act 336 of 1947. The 2012 change prohibits public schools from using taxpayer resources in assisting a labor organization in collecting union dues from its workers. These collections are considered a contribution to “the administration of a labor organization.” The bill would strip this prohibition from state law. Districts would not be required by law to use taxpayer dollars to benefit a union in this way, but they would have to perform this service if they made it part of a collective bargaining contract with the union.
Providence firefighter made $142,000 in overtime, pushed his total pay to $230,000
July 12, 2022 // Many fire departments have a minimum staffing clause in their union contracts. The contracts often require that there must be a minimum number of firefighters on duty and any absences that bring staffing below the minimum must be replaced with overtime. Providence Fire Chief Steven Pare, base pay, Providence
Editorial: Rehiring troubled Lt. raises APD union issues
July 7, 2022 // Once discovered, an APD spokesman said Edison was untruthful about his OT and retaliated against the supervisor who initiated the investigation. Edison did not go quietly as a member of the Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association. He appealed his termination, reached a settlement agreement with the city in May and is now working in APD’s Aviation Department. Chief Harold Medina says Edison “wasn’t exactly breaking the law; he was taking advantage of the CBA.” Union membership does have its privileges. Aviation Department, Chief Harold Medina, City Councilor Louie Sanchez,,
Opinion: Starbucks Workers United Is The Template For Modern Labor Organizing
July 6, 2022 // “We will have the right to negotiate a union contract and have a real voice in setting organization policies, rights on the job, health and safety conditions, protections from unfair firings or unfair discipline, seniority rights, leaves of absence rights, benefits, wages, etc.” Michelle Eisen, Reggie Bores,
‘People are walking off the job’: workers blame American Red Cross for US blood shortage
June 28, 2022 // But workers at the organization say the shortage is being caused by widespread staffing issues. Low pay and understaffing are causing problems, and workers say they often have to turn away donors due to backed-up lines, and that management has not supported workers or donors enough to resolve these issues. A document from a January meeting revealed that a Red Cross senior account manager, Joseph Shockley, told hospital representatives that labor and staffing issues have driven blood supply concerns, cautioning: “We don’t want to drive donors to places that are understaffed that turn donors away – that becomes frustrating to donors.” Joseph Shockley, Darryl Ford, blood drives, coalition of labor unions, Bobbie Terrell,