Union Members Help Keep Daimler Plant Open—and More Bargaining News   by Belinda Boyce, Jul 26, 2010

Share

Union members negotiate a contract that keeps an Oregon Daimler Trucks plant from closing, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,300 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.

SETTLEMENTS
Multiple, Daimler Trucks North America: Good news in Portland, Ore., where a Daimler Trucks North America plant slated for closure will remain open after union members ratified new three-year contracts with the company. Most of the nearly 700 workers are members of Machinists (IAM) Local 1005, and others are represented by Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 1094, Teamsters Local 305 and SEIU Local 49.

USW, Vale Inco: Some 3,000 United Steelworkers (USW) members at Vale Inco in Canada approved a five-year contract, ending a yearlong strike, one of the longest in Canadian history.

ALPA, Jazz Air: Pilots at Canadian airline Jazz Air ratified a new six-year contract. The 1,500 pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots (ALPA).

USW, AK Steel: Members of USW Local 1865 in Ashland, Ky., ratified a three-year contract extension July 9 at AK Steel. The 750 workers covered by the contract will receive annual lump sum payments of $1,500, and the hourly wage will be increased by $1 in September of this year.

UWUA, DTE Energy: Members of Utility Workers (UWUA) Local 223 in Michigan ratified a new three-year contract with DTE Energy. The contract covers nearly 4,000 workers.

IUOE, Mid-American Regional Bargaining Association: Members of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150 in Chicago ratified a new three-year agreement last week.

ALPA, Spirit Airlines: Pilots at Spirit Airlines last week ratified a new five-year contract, which includes raises for the 500 members of ALPA. The contract came after four years of negotiations and a five-day strike last month.

USW, Alcan Aluminum: Members of USW Local 5668 ratified a two-year contract with Alcan Aluminum in Ravenswood, W.Va. The contract maintains current health care benefits and provides the 700 workers with annual $0.35/hour wage increases.

UFCW, Shaw’s: A four-month strike by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) warehouse workers at Shaw’s in New England ended with a settlement July 8. More than 300 workers fought to save their benefits and pay with the support of the AFL-CIO and Teamsters.

UFCW, Multiple Supermarkets: The BNA Daily Labor Report (subscription required) reported that members of UFCW Local 1500 in New York ratified 39-month contracts with King Kullen, Pathmark and Stop & Shop supermarkets. The 16,000 workers will receive weekly wage increases of between $60 and $110 over the term and will maintain their current health care co-pay of $20.

NEGOTIATIONS
UNITEHERE!, Hyatt: The same day thousands of hotel workers protested Hyatt hotels around the country, members of UNITEHERE! Local 483 in Monterey and Carmel, Calif., reached a tentative agreement with the company. No details of the deal covering 400 workers at two properties have been released.

MNA-NNU, North Adams Regional Hospital: In Massachusetts, North Adams MNA-NNU nurses voted to authorize a strike if necessary.  Management is demanding the union agree to a gag order provision that would not permit nurses to speak out about patient care, working conditions and staffing.

WORK STOPPAGES
IAM, Pratt & Whitney The IAM earlier this month won a significant court battle to save 1,000 Pratt & Whitney jobs in Connecticut. The long fight to save the jobs will soon move to the bargaining table. The IAM contract expires Dec. 5.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only.  As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.

47Share

by Mike Hall, Jul 19, 2010

Here’s some advice for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his Republican colleagues whose obstruction-at-any-price strategy has cost more than 2 million long-term jobless workers their unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.

It’s time to stop holding workers laid off in this recession hostage to Washington politics.  It’s time to do what’s right—not for the next election but for the middle  class.

Those words from President Obama today came a little more than 24 hours before the U.S. Senate once again tries to break the Republican blockade on extending the long-term UI that expired June 1 because Republicans filibustered against the bill. Pointing to their preference for helping out the wealthy and Wall Street over extending a hand to working families, Obama says “after years of championing policies that turned a record surplus into a massive deficit,” the Republicans

who didn’t have any problem spending hundreds of  billions of dollars on tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are now saying we shouldn’t offer relief to the middle class.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says “the Party of No”

has been the “Party of No Leadership” on the economy. Just look at its record: When Republicans were in charge, they put special interests and big corporations ahead of the middle class, driving our economy into a ditch. Now, they are protecting tax breaks for CEOs who outsource jobs while blocking policies that actually create jobs, like tax cuts for small businesses and a safety net for workers hurt by Republicans’ job-killing policies.

McConnell told reporters today that he will again lead a filibuster against the jobless benefits extension. But with the swearing in of Carte Goodwin, who was appointed to fill the seat of the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) until a special election is held, Democratic leaders believe they can reach the 60 votes needed to beat McConnell’s obstruction. The U.S. House is then expected to quickly approve the bill and send it to Obama.

by James Parks, Jun 20, 2010

Share

For the first time in more than three decades, the Labor Heritage Foundation took the Great Labor Arts Exchange on the road. This year the Exchange brought its special blend of culture and the arts to Detroit June 18-21. AFSCME Local 25 is hosting the Great Labor Arts Exchange at its offices, 600 West Lafayette in Detroit.

For four days, some 100 union and social justice activists are participating in programs that combine union mobilization and outreach with songs, skits, art, poetry, theater, posters, cartoons and film. For three decades, the Great Labor Arts Exchange has celebrated the rich cultural heritage of working people and served as a forum that brings together talented labor artists, activists, cultural workers, educators and students.

Labor Heritage Foundation Chairwoman Elise Bryant says the Great Labor Arts Exchange reflects the important role that art plays in the union movement.

Art displays the heart, soul and passion for equality and justice in the union movement. Union members learned long ago that life is more than work. We not only need bread, we need roses, too. Every successful progressive movement in the United States has been led by song. But we’re not just focusing on the past. We’re also introducing the new artists who are producing art for the union, peace and justice movements.

Participants also are joining workshops that examine strategies for combining art with organizing and taking part in discussions on “Song Writing,” “Business 101 for Artists,” “The Power of the Spoken Word-Theatre, Poetry, and Performance” and “Using YouTube, Internet, and Online Networking Sites to Get Your Message Out.

At the “Links On a Chain = Solidarity Forever! Concert” on June 20, Jerry Gray, founder of The Travellers, a Canadian folk group, will receive the Joe Hill Award, which honors leaders and artists who have contributed to the successful integration of arts and culture in the labor movement.

The Arts Exchange is being held in advance of the U.S. Social Forum, which begins June 22 in Detroit. Many of the artists at the Arts Exchange also will participate in the Social Forum.

Help the Union Label and Service Trades Department in our push to reach 1,000 fans. The UL&STD currently has 901 fans on facebook and is hoping to reach 1,000 by the end of the month. Join your union brothers and sisters as well as those who care about the working class on the UL&STD facebook page. Our facebook page is a great place to interact with other union members, like minded individuals and find news and information that is important to you. If you haven't already, join us today on Facebook.

Share

Mark Todd and Kimberly Munley

by James Parks, May 22, 2010

Three union members—two police officers and a veteran voice actor—received prestigious national awards for outstanding service in recent days.

Tonight, veteran voice actor Sheldon Smith will receive the Howard Keel award, presented by the Screen Actors (SAG). A long-time member of SAG and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (AFTRA), Smith is an award-winning actor/narrator and perhaps the best-known voice of Republican media campaigns in America.

Senior Sgt. Mark Todd and Sgt. Kimberly Munley, members of AFGE Local 1920, received the Top Cop Award from the National Association of Police Organizations. They heroically shot the gunman and protected the public during a bloody rampage at Fort Hood Army base in Texas last November.

Munley and Todd were among the 26 winners of the award who attended a White House ceremony with President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder last week. The Top Cops Award program honors America’s outstanding law enforcement officers, highlighting those who have made a significant contribution to our country above and beyond the call of duty.

AFGE President John Gage said:

We hope this recognition educates the public on the ways they are served by their government. Kim and Mark are shining examples of the millions of public sector workers who have dedicated their careers to making America work.

SAG President Ken Howard will present tonight’s award to Smith as part of the union’s annual regional branch division board meeting. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka will address the board meeting this morning. Smith serves as a member of SAG’s National Financial Core Task Force, and has a passion for organizing. For the past several years, he has presented a popular workshop nationwide which teaches members how to convert non-union work into union jobs.

Smith says:

I am honored and humbled by this recognition. To me, it reflects the gratitude I have for my membership in the Guild and in AFTRA. Being a union member has afforded me professional opportunities I would not otherwise have enjoyed and my earned union benefits have allowed me to be a full-time working actor with a long and rewarding career.

SAG Vice President David Hartley-Margolin adds:

Sheldon has lent his time, energy, intellect and considerable talent to an extraordinary number of efforts that have benefited not only Washington-Baltimore members, but members across the country. Sheldon’s service has been tireless, staggering, and offered for years without regard for recognition, making him more than deserving of this distinguished award.

Named for legendary actor-singer and former SAG President Howard Keel, the award is annually presented to persons who make a significant contribution to the promotion of SAG and the welfare and benefit of members in their local branch, or nationally.