Posts tagged wage increase
Baton Rouge bus worker strike begins, will go on ‘as long as it takes,’ union says
March 5, 2025 // Union leaders said they were happy with the strike turnout so far. The effect on CATS' ability to maintain service is already evident, they said. "They don't run efficiently when they're fully staffed," Shavez Smith, vice president for ATU Local 1546, said. "We knew this was gonna take a big hit."
Trump backs dockworkers in fight against automation. The move risks higher prices, experts say
December 14, 2024 // The U.S. Maritime Alliance, or USMX, the organization representing shipping firms in negotiations, said on Thursday that such automation would improve efficiency and increase capacity. Those enhancements would benefit U.S. companies and consumers that depend on goods from abroad, the group added. “We need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” USMX said in a statement.
Seattle Art Museum security staff goes on strike
December 2, 2024 // About two dozen picketing security staffers — or Visitor Service Officers — and supporters shouted slogans and handed out flyers as downtown tourists looked on, visitors entered the museum and passing vehicles honked. “After more than two years of unsuccessful negotiations, SAM VSO Union workers are striking now until the board and museum leadership recognize their needs and offer a fair contract,” the flyer reads.
Boeing workers going on strike after 96% vote for walkout
September 13, 2024 // The deal included a general wage increase of 25%, a $3,000 signing bonus and a pledge to build Boeing's next commercial jet in the Seattle area, provided the program was launched within the four years of the contract. Although IAM leadership recommended last Sunday that its members accept the contract, many workers had responded angrily, arguing for the originally demanded 40% pay rise and lamenting the loss of an annual bonus. "We're going to get back to the table as quickly as we can," Holden told reporters, without saying how long he thought the strike would last or when talks would resume. "This is something that we take one day at a time, one week at a time.” Workers have been protesting all week in Boeing factories in the Seattle area that assemble Boeing's MAX, 777 and 767 jets.
Molson Coors faces PR crossroads amid ongoing strike at Fort Worth brewery
March 2, 2024 // The Fort Worth dispute is not occurring in isolation – it comes amid nationwide labor struggles within the brewing industry. Late yesterday, Anheuser-Busch, the country’s largest beer producer, reached a tentative agreement as a contract for 5,000 Teamsters workers was set to expire.
NYC Commercial Building Workers Authorize Strike
December 22, 2023 // The board is asking workers to kick in on health insurance premiums — a nonstarter according to the union. 32BJ has a self-funded health plan and has worked to keep health insurance costs down. Its members are among the minority of American workers that do not bear any of the cost of their insurance premiums. The board is also proposing a lower pay rate for new hires and other changes it refers to as “enhanced flexibility.” But 32BJ leaders disparage this idea, saying it’s akin to the two-tier wage system auto industry workers overturned this fall.
Vernon, police union reach agreement over contract, ending court dispute
October 28, 2023 // The town and union had previously gone to arbitration with the union over pay and healthcare premiums during which the town failed to submit its final best offers on a wide range of contract issues to the arbitrators in what was called a “scrivener’s error,” resulting in the arbitration panel awarding the union everything it asked for at the time. The town then took the matter to court to overturn the arbitration decision. Vernon argued that because both parties agreed to waive statutory arbitration requirements, it was not required to submit last best offers on issues that were not in dispute. The arbitration panel disagreed with this argument, saying state statute requires that they reach a decision according to the statement of the last best offer and could not consider any offer that wasn’t documented in writing before them. That court case, which had statutory interpretation issues at stake, however, will no longer play out as the town and union appear to have reached an agreement, primarily around pay for officers and maintaining previous contract language around a number of other issues that had been decided by the arbitration panel when there was no final best offer from the town.
Billionaire investor slams President Biden for his UAW union support
October 5, 2023 // Barry Sternlicht, CEO of investment fund Starwood Capital, sees Biden's support of the UAW as counterproductive to his fight against inflation. "The UAW is on strike, they're asking for 40% wage increases. What's wrong with the Biden administration, why is he so unpopular? It's inflation. It's the economy. People have less in their pockets," Sternlicht told CNBC Friday. "But now he is backing unions who are forcing wages up, which is creating the inflation that he has to kill."
Kaiser Permanente workers authorize a strike as contract deadline looms
September 7, 2023 // When it comes to the union's demand for the same wage increase for everyone, Kaiser responded in their statement, "This would not reflect market labor costs and would prevent us from addressing fair market wages." Kaiser is urging employees to reject calls to strike and instead focus on caring for patients. While both sides say they're hopeful a deal on a new contract will be reached before the deadline, if they don't and the union strikes, it's unclear what that would mean for clinics and the patients that rely on them.