Labor News

This post originally appeared at the Kentucky State AFL-CIO.
Billy Thompson, Frankfort-based United Steelworkers (USW) District 8 director, has a warning for Kentucky lawmakers who recently voted for a trio of union-busting bills.

"We’re developing a 'Wall of Shame,'" he said. "We’re going to put on it the names of the people who are against Kentucky working families."

Workers at BG&E rallied for a union at Exelon's Baltimore headquarters Tuesday. More than 1400 workers are voting Wednesday and Thursday to organize as IBEW Local 410.

Tuesday's rally included 80 IBEW volunteer organizers, State Rep. Cory McCray - a member of IBEW Local 24 - as well City Council members Ryan Dorsey and John Bullock.

These electricity, gas, distribution and maintenance workers are the front line workers who brave extreme weather conditions to keep the lights and heat on.

On Sunday 1-15-17 the National Nurses United are making what they say is their first stand to resist harmful policies of the new administration in Washington.

It's a national day of action to save health care. NNU Co-President Deborah Burger.

Deborah Burger: "We want to save health care for everyone. We want to expand Medicare and Medicaid. And we want to make sure that the politicians are on notice before they take office that we will not tolerate cuts to any kind of health care."

American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein says the U.S. Postal Service remains threatened by some who want to privatize it. And he says the people have to join the union in fending off privatization so America can retain universal postal service.

Dimondstein says preserving postal service for the American people is not and should not be a partisan political issue.

The U.S. Postal Serice is ending post office services at Staples stores by March.

The American Postal Workers Union protested the program for years as about 500 Staples stores did postal work that post office employees used to provide.

The APWU said the Postal Service was trying to privatize the work using workers with much lower pay and worse benefits.

APWU Presdient Mark Dimondstein says the union stood up against a wrong and won.

The Teamsters are striking the University of California system.

Over 600 skilled trade workers who haven't seen raises in four years began striking Friday January 6th over what they say are numerous violations of state labor law and unfair labor practices.

On Tuesday January 10th administrative, clerical, and support workers at all ten UC campuses - including five medical centers, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab - will be on a system-wide strike.

American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein says he hopes the end of the postal service privatization effort at Staples stores means better postal services for the public going forward. 
"We hope they've learned a lesson that these misguided schemes of doing postal services through private schemes where the issue is whether somebody can make a quick buck rather than providing service - that the post office will be much more open to work with the union and to work with the people of this country to bring them the kind of postal services they need.

Fiat Chrysler's announcement that it's investing a billion dollars in Ohio and Michigan auto plants is being embraced by the United Auto Workers Union.

UAW President Dennis Williams says it shows Fiat Chrysler's commitment to the United States, to UAW members and their employees.

The UAW says the announcement confirms ongoing discussions the UAW has been having with Fiat Chrysler. The union says the investments will benefit UAW members and their families by providing greater job security and a world class manufacturing environment.

The National Law Employment Project says workers in at least 40 cities and states will get raises in 2017. The federal minimum wage is still stuck at $7.25 cents an hour because Republicans in Congress refuse to raise it.

The workers getting raises in cities and states can thank legislatures not controlled by Republicans and ballot measures for their raises.

The biggest minimum wage increase is happening in Arizona where the state minimum wage is going from $8.05 an hour to $10.