Striketober returns | LiUNA maternity leave | NO on I-2117

Thursday, October 3, 2024

MACHINISTS STRIKE at BOEING

► From the NW Labor Press — Boeing strike continues — Since the strike began Sept. 13, the two sides have met twice for mediated talks, on Sept. 18 and 27. But no further negotiations were scheduled when this issue went to press Oct. 1. The last time Machinists struck Boeing, in 2008, it lasted for 57 days. “There’s no way they’re gonna wait us out,” Bryant said. “We’re gonna be here as long as it takes. We’ve got plenty of support for a long time.”

► From Reuters — Striking Boeing union asks CEO to ‘truly engage’ after workers’ health coverage cut — “It’s time for the new CEO to truly engage at the proposal-based level and to take the reins from his subordinates who are fumbling critical decisions like this one,” said Brian Bryant, president of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and Aerospace Workers, which represents the striking workers. “There is no reason the health benefits question could not have been punted on to allow more time for negotiations at the table,” Bryant added in a statement.

STRIKES

► From the NW Labor Press — At Bigfoot, Teamsters strike to save their pension — After receiving a proposal to replace their pension with a 401(k), roughly 240 Teamsters have been on strike since Sept. 19 at Bigfoot Beverages. Based in Eugene, the company distributes craft beer, wine, soft drinks, and other beverages in Central Oregon, the Southern Willamette Valley, and the Oregon Coast.

► From Quartz — Kamala Harris joined Biden in backing the dockworkers’ strike at major U.S. ports — In addition to Harris, the longshoremen have been backed by President Joe Biden and Labor Secretary Julie Su, who called for the parties to get back to the negotiating table and give workers the “benefits they deserve.” Several labor unions — from the Teamsters to the United Auto Workers to the Association of Flight Attendants — have also endorsed the ILA’s strike. “My Administration will be monitoring for any price gouging activity that benefits foreign ocean carriers, including those on the USMX board,” Biden said Tuesday.

► From Reuters — US port workers union backed by White House in strike –“They made incredible profits, over 800% profit since the pandemic, and the owners are making tens of millions of dollars from this,” Biden told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s time for them to sit at the table and get this strike done.” Economists have said the strike will not initially raise consumer prices as companies accelerated shipments in recent months for key goods.

► From WISN — Miller Brewing Co. faces strike: Union demands fair labor agreement — Union members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers began a strike Wednesday at Miller Brewing Co., demanding a fair labor agreement. IAM rejected the company’s offer in order to strike saying, “The company’s economic offer fails to keep up with inflation, does not match wages of other trades at Molson Coors, and other area benchmarks.”

LOCAL

► From the Washington State Standard — State workplace inspectors will have access to immigration detention center in Tacoma — Labor and Industries officials attempted to inspect the detention center twice in December 2023 and were denied access. On the second occasion, they had a search warrant issued by Pierce County Superior Court but were still turned away. “It’s good for workers that the court confirmed our ability to keep Washingtonians safe on the job, regardless of where they work,” Ross said.

► From the Seattle Times — Seattle superintendent gets raise, new contract amid budget challenges — Critics say giving Jones such a hefty pay raise now appears “out of touch,” especially as the district faces an estimated $94 million budget deficit next year. Jones said that SPS may ask some employees to forgo cost-of-living adjustments, not fill vacant positions and possibly cut more staff at the central administrative office. But School Board President Liza Rankin, who negotiated the new agreement, said the compensation increase was in line with the cost-of-living adjustment that other district employees received and that the board was able to get favorable terms in the deal, including a consistent way to evaluate and monitor the superintendent’s progress on the board’s goals.

► From the Spokesman Review — Washington officials say 100% of state agency fleets will be electric by 2040. Here’s how it’s going so far: — The state’s goal is to swap at least 40% of its light-duty fleet vehicles such as sedans, SUVs and light trucks for battery-electric vehicles by 2025. By 2030, the state plans to have 75% of its light-duty fleet vehicles running on battery-electric power. And by 2035, the target is for 100% of light-duty fleets to be electric vehicles.

► From the Seattle Times — Virginia Mason Medical Center to close downtown Seattle birth center — “WSNA is concerned with the impact on the community and how the closing of the birthing center will affect expecting families,” the state nurses union said in a statement. “The hospital has expressed its hope that these families will be able to seek care elsewhere, but it is clear that there is no real plan.”

► From the Tri-City Herald — DOE top cleanup official talks Hanford nuclear site plans — The Department of Energy is on track to start treating radioactive waste at the massive Hanford vitrification plant in less than a year, says the new DOE head of environmental cleanup. Candice Robertson, who became senior adviser for environmental management in mid June, spent Thursday and Friday in Richland and at the Hanford site, where about 13,000 people work.

► From the Seattle Times — Free COVID, flu tests available in 24/7 kiosks across WA — The initiative, launched by the state Department of Health in collaboration with local health jurisdictions and Tribal Nations, aims to improve public health access by providing the tests, and other health supplies, especially in rural areas and for individuals who are uninsured or underinsured.

AEROSPACE

► From Yahoo — Dockworkers strike could compound supply-chain problems for Boeing and Airbus — Supply-chain disruption has been a major problem for the aviation industry this year due to issues including shortages of materials and skilled labor. Orders were down at July’s Farnborough Airshow as plane makers and airlines alike voiced their frustrations about limited output.

► From Supply Chain Dive — Why FedEx still doesn’t have a new contract with its pilots — “To date, FedEx has made no effort to work collaboratively on the terms of a contract remedy beyond what is required of the NMB, leading to further uncertainty,” said Nieves, chair of the Air Line Pilots Association, International’s FedEx Master Executive Council.

CONTRACT FIGHTS

► From the Washington State Standard — GOP legislative staff OK contract as Democratic employees say no — In separate votes, legislative assistants, policy analysts and communications staff in the House Democratic Caucus and legislative assistants in the Senate Democratic Caucus turned down the agreements. The Washington Public Employees Association represented both units. “When members passed this bill I think they did so with the intention that we’d make some progress here,” Ellison said, referring to the work environment. “I do think (the vote) sends a pretty strong message that the status quo is unacceptable.”

► From the NW Labor Press — Oregon nursing home workers may strike — More than 3,000 nursing home workers across Oregon are operating under expired contracts as of Oct. 1. Workers at Meadow Park Care in St. Helens were first to authorize a strike, with 98% in support. Other nursing and assisted living facilities represented by SEIU Local 503 may follow suit this month. Staffing issues are a key topic in contract negotiations, as well as pay and safety concerns.

ORGANIZING

► From MSN.com — US Labor Board: Apple Is Violating Labor Laws, Preventing New Unions –The board believes Apple is violating workers’ rights by requiring them to abide by certain social media policies and sign prohibitive non-disclosure, confidentiality, and non-compete agreements. It also claims Apple is “interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees” in ways that break federal labor laws.

► From CNBC — 500 Starbucks locations have voted to unionize as labor talks continue — “This milestone is a testament to workers building power from the ground up,” said Lynne Fox, president of Workers United. “Starbucks partners have boldly demanded a voice on the job and with it, strong contracts that ensure respect, living wages, racial and gender equity, fair scheduling and more.”

NATIONAL

► From KCRG — Plastics company was slow to dismiss workers during Helene flooding, causing deaths, employee says — One Impact Plastics employee — Jacob Ingram — said lives could have been saved had employees been allowed to leave the facility sooner. “I didn’t hear anyone say ‘leave’ or nothing like that. I actually asked one of the higher ups,” Ingram said. “They told me ‘No, not yet.’ They have to ask someone before we was able to leave, even though it was already above the doors and the cars and everything else.” At least two of those employees were killed. Another six, and a contractor, are still missing, according to Impact Plastics.

► From the Engineering News-Record — Laborers’ Add Paid Maternity Benefit for Women Union Members — As of Jan. 1, a minimum of 12 weeks of paid maternity leave will be available to members of the Laborers’ International Union of North America’s General President Brent Booker announced Sept. 28 at the Tradeswomen Build Nations conference in New Orleans. “We’re looking to the future and we want all members, including female members, to know that we value them,” he said, noting the benefit of $800 per week.

► From the New York Times — An Exodus of Agents Left the Secret Service Unprepared for 2024 — But agents say one problem underlies all the others: an exodus of the best-trained people. Their departures, partly rooted in longstanding failures by the Secret Service management, have left agents in a kind of permanent state of emergency, lacking the focus, rest and training necessary to do their jobs well, more than two dozen current and former employees told The New York Times.

POLITICS & POLICY

► From the union-busting Columbian — Clark County could lose millions of dollars for projects if voters OK I-2117 to repeal cap-and-invest — Nearly $8 million is at high risk of being lost if the initiative passes, according to Clean and Prosperous Washington, a Washington Business Alliance project. Local organizations receiving funding include Fourth Plain Forward, C-Tran, Clark County, Vancouver Housing Authority and Clark College.

► From the Washington State Standard — Van De Wege resigns WA state senate seat — Democratic state Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, who lost his bid for Washington public lands commissioner in August, resigned from his legislative office Wednesday, three months before the end of his term. “It has been the honor of my life to serve in the Legislature these past 18 years but it is time for me to move on,” he wrote in his resignation letter to Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday.

► From the Olympian — Tumwater City Council votes unanimously to oppose I-2117 — Tumwater City Council voted unanimously this week on a resolution to oppose Initiative No. 2117, stating passage of the measure would undo years of work the city has done to address climate change.

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