Posts tagged work conditions
AFGE Urges Congress to Pass Bill Reinstating Federal Tax Deduction for Union Dues
August 1, 2023 // The Tax Fairness for Workers Act, H.R. 4963, would restore the tax deductibility of union dues for workers and would create an “above the line” deduction for unions so workers can use it even if they don’t itemize. The bill, which currently has 158 co-sponsors, would also help workers by restoring the deduction for unreimbursed employee expenses including job search expenses, travel, out of pocket cost of uniforms and tools, and other costs related to being an employee. AFGE thanks Reps. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., and Donald Norcross, D-N.J., for introducing his important bill. AFGE also thanks Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., for leading the Senate bill, S. 738, which has 39 co-sponsors.
Big Labor Is Getting an Assist From Far-Left Activists | Opinion
August 1, 2023 // From Connecticut to California, these groups are rolling out the pernicious practice of "salting" in the hope of turning employees against their employers. Salting involves paid union organizers applying for jobs and acting as employees of non-union companies. The "salt" then surveils the targeted company, collecting employees' personal information, stirring dissent, isolating non-union employees, and filing unfair labor practice claims. The claims mire employers in frivolous and costly administrative charges.
Terminations and failed union negotiations lead to closures of Nashville coffee shops
July 7, 2023 // The futures of two popular Nashville coffee shops are uncertain as multiple Barista Parlor locations and Three Brothers Coffee remain closed after weeks of failed union negotiation efforts and unexplained terminations. Employees at both companies say baristas have major concerns about the coffee industry in Nashville because of multiple closures, terminations and low or stolen wages. Golden Sound, a Barista Parlor location in the Gulch, closed almost two months ago. Some employees transferred to the Germantown location before all but three staff were fired without warning June 14. A Barista Parlor worker said management attempted to have one-on-one meetings with staff in order to terminate them, but the group demanded to meet together. Three staff members who were not terminated quit in solidarity. The entire staff of the Hillsboro Village location also walked out, citing similar concerns about working conditions, understaffing, wages and job security. Katte Noel, who has worked at Barista Parlor for a year and a half, said workers have experienced hundreds of dollars in wage theft in the last few months. Noel said management has promised to repay those wages but This was in addition to hours being cut and company favorites being given better shift times and assignments, which Noel says puts stress on baristas trying to make ends meet; shorter shifts mean slimmer pay checks.
500 Michigan Medicine workers unionize
June 30, 2023 // About 500 additional workers from Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine have joined the United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals, American Federation of Teachers Local 6739, according to a health system statement shared with Becker's June 28. The workers join a bargaining unit that represents diagnostic technologists. With the additional workers, the bargaining unit now has about 1,400 members. New members seek more input in scheduling, staffing-related working conditions and other workplace issues, Cheryl Bodmer, a surgical technologist at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, said, according to mlive.com.
Amazon Drivers in Union Extend Strike to Second Warehouse
June 26, 2023 // Striking Amazon delivery drivers and dispatchers in Palmdale extended their picket lines to a second warehouse in San Bernardino, according to a statement from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Workers in the union demand Amazon stop its unfair labor practices Growing strike will continue until Amazon reinstates “unlawfully terminated” employees and addresses low pay and dangerous working conditions
Commentary: Public Employees Opt Out of Their Union as Soon as They Know They Can
June 15, 2023 // To the surprise of no one — including, almost certainly, the unions themselves — the results of the media blitz simply confirmed what the Freedom Foundation has known since even before Janus. When public employees know their rights and have confidence that someone has their back, they opt out.
Federal labor regulators say Minneapolis Trader Joe’s illegally removed pro-union literature
June 7, 2023 // Workers from the four stores unionized with Trader Joe’s United continue to negotiate with the company over a first labor contract covering wages, benefits and working conditions. Ryther says discussions have been halting. Workers want to negotiate a single contract across all four stores and do so with a virtual option. The company wants to treat workers at each store as separate bargaining entities and has refused to bargain with a virtual hybrid option, Ryther said. Trader Joe’s United has filed a complaint with the NLRB alleging the company has bargained in bad faith for not coming to the table when union representatives tried to bargain with a virtual option.
Bill that would allow legislative staffers in California to unionize takes major step forward
May 30, 2023 // Currently, the California Legislature is the only branch of state government that does not allow their employees the choice to unionize. The passage of AB 1 marked the first time the California State Assembly approved legislation regarding unionization and collective bargaining for legislative staff after lawmakers rejected similar bills in recent years. "We came together to make bold change in the legislature," McKinnor said. "We see them, and we're with them and we respect them." The organization Govern for California opposed a similar bill in 2022 and argued that there could be conflicts of interest if unions representing staffers were against certain bills, according to a bill analysis from last year. But this time around, the bill analysis for AB 1 showed that there were no groups publicly speaking out against it. And with 42 co-authors from across the aisle, AB 1 has strong bipartisan support.
DC restaurant workers claim attempt to unionize caused popular eatery to close
May 25, 2023 // In a statement to partners at 7News, IHG Hotels & Resorts, the owners of The Wharf’s InterContinental Hotel, announced that it will be parting ways with Moon Rabbit chef Kevin Tien and options are “being explored for a new concept” to replace the restaurant. The closure comes more than a month after the restaurant made Food and Wine’s “10 Best Restaurants in the U.S.”
UCSB dining hall employees campaign to unionize amid poor conditions, low pay, harassment
May 23, 2023 // UCSB Residential Dining operates four dining commons — Carrillo, De La Guerra, Ortega and Portola — that serve over two million meals a year and employ a part-time student staff of under 500. The Nexus spoke to five Student Dining Labor Union (SDLU) organizers, including second-year sociology and history of public policy double major and lead organizer Cole McCarthy and second-year financial math and statistics and data science double major Christopher Pang. The other students spoke on condition of anonymity. The push for unionization quietly began in April 2022 with the meeting of a small cohort of Ortega Dining Commons workers. McCarthy said the effort “developed rapid support” and expanded to the other three dining halls.