Labor News

After paralyzing operations at the offshore platforms and refineries of Brazil’s troubled National Oil Company Petrobras for the last three days, workers ended a strike Monday.  Members of the Federation of Petroleum Workers walked off the job just before Christmas after rejecting a proposed salary increase that fell short of inflation.  The union is also concerned about a contract changes that could reduce hours for the company’s 85,000 workers.  The strike occurred against the backdrop of a massive corruption scandal in the company, involving price-fixing and kickback

Two million dollars a day.

That's how much Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner wants to fine AFSCME.

Angry that AFSCME Council 31 went to the state courts to block him from imposing labor terms on state workers, Rauner filed an unfair labor practice charge against AFSCME.

The AFL-CIO says here's how NAFTA could be re-written to benefit working people.

The AFL-CIO says NAFTA has destroyed good middle class American jobs, replacing them with exploitive sweatshop jobs in Mexico but it doesn't have to be that way.

To turn NAFTA into a tool to raise wages and working conditions throughout North America, the labor federation offers this basic blue print to change NAFTA. 

On December 22nd hundreds of California Cartage warehouse workers are having a union election. It's bringing temps together with direct hire warehouse workers as these workers stand up for their labor rights.

While they are boldly trying to organize to improve their wages and working conditions, they say their bosses are waging a nasty anti-union campaign.

Eight thousand New York/New Jersey airport workers are voting this week to ratify a brand new union contract as members of 32 BJ SEIU.

This victory came after five years of organizing struggle. Rob Hill is Vice President of 32 BJ SEIU and directs organizing for the union.

[Rob Hill]: "The approach we took was different that what people would see in normal bargaining because these are subcontracted.

Workers at all ten University of California campuses will strike January 6th in solidarity with a UCLA strike in Los Angeles.

The UCLA strike by electricians, elevator mechanics and plumbers will be a four day strike January 6th - 10th.

Teamsters Local 2010 administrative staff will strike at all ten UC campuses to support the UCLA strike.

Teamsters workers say their wages have dropped 24 percent over the past twenty years to the point where 92 percent of them have trouble paying for basics.

The Teamsters have launched the National Unified Committee To Protect Pensions in an effort to focus a strong message on pensions to Washington in the New Year.

The aim is to influence and educate lawmakers about the pensions crisis in America in order to defend pensions for millions of American workers.

A Green Bay Wisconsin meeting was held over the weekend over the weekend where Wisconsin workers joined the committee. The next meeting is set for January 29th.

President-elect Donald Trump selected D-List fast food CEO Andy Puzder to head up the Labor Department. AFL-CIO and other working family advocates condemned the appointment of Puzder, who runs Carl's Jr. and Hardee's.

New Jersey Education Association President Wendell Steinhauer says the quarterly pension payments law signed Thursday is an important step toward greater state responsibility on pensions.

Gov. Chris Christie had repeatedly vetoed the legislation but relented and signed it.

The NJEA says requiring quarterly pension payments ensures greater fiscal responsibility and is a smarter investment strategy.

NBA players may be the most popular union members in America.

And their union- the National Basketball Players Association - has reached an agreement in principle with the NBA on a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement.

Players agreed to a 51 percent share of basketball related income. The new agreement will have to be ratified by the players before it goes into effect.