Hotel robots | IAM leads on climate | disabled workers

Thursday, December 5, 2024

STRIKES

► From NPR — LISTEN: What a difference a one-day strike makes — From retail to fast food to nursing, one-day strikes have been a growing trend over the last decade. But what makes one-day strikes more or less effective than longer strikes? Do they achieve the same goals? On today’s show, what do short strikes say about union power in the US and what can you accomplish with only 24 hours on the picket line.

LOCAL

► From Cascade PBS — Spokane doesn’t want feds to truck nuclear waste through the city — The 2,000-gallon transport is scheduled for spring 2025, and will be in two 1,000-gallon  shipments of liquid wastes from Hanford through Spokane to Energy Solution’s disposal site in Clive, Utah, and Waste Control Specialists’ site in Andrews County, Texas. They will be trucked, using federal interstate highways. There is no outer belt highway around Spokane; Interstate 90 goes right through Washington’s second largest city.

► From the Tri-City Herald — Judge slashes $237M jury award for Eastern WA worker for discrimination, retaliation — An Eastern Washington U.S. District judge has cut $198 million off a jury’s award to a former United Parcel Service driver for racial discrimination. Former UPS driver Tahvio Gratton argued that he was fired in retaliation after he filed complaints. Judge Thomas Rice let stand the remainder of the jury award, $39.6 million for Gratton, who is Black. The remaining money was for the emotional distress the Yakima man suffered. Now [UPS] plans to ask the court to overturn the $39.6 million portion of the jury verdict and to request a new trial, the company said.

► From the Seattle Times — Can Idaho doctors refer patients to other states for abortions? Federal judges weigh in — The federal court also upheld an injunction barring [Idaho AG] Labrador or Idaho prosecutors from pressing charges against doctors who refer their patients to other states for the procedure. It was the second ruling of the week issued by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Idaho abortion lawsuits. The panel Tuesday also ruled mostly in favor of Idaho’s law that bars adults from transporting minors out of state for the procedure. [Planned Parenthood] filed the lawsuit days after Labrador sent a letter to state Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, stating Idaho doctors could face prosecution for referring patients out-of-state for abortions.

AEROSPACE

► From KCCI — Allegiant pilots threaten strike if contract negotiations with airline reach an impasse — The pilots, represented by their union, have been in negotiations for nearly four years, including two years under federal mediation. Des Moines-based Allegiant pilot Tyler Heavey emphasized the pilots’ demands…”Recently, we had a strike authorization vote, in which 97% of the pilots voted in favor,” Heavey stated. “Everything we’re asking for is in line with everyone in our industry. It’s not just compensation. It’s work rules, it’s retirement and disability.”

► From the AP — On its way out, the Biden administration renews a push for airline-consumer protections — The Biden administration said Thursday it will take steps toward requiring airlines to pay cash compensation and cover lodging and meals for passengers who are stranded when an airline causes flights to be canceled or changed. Such a rule would go far beyond the current requirement for airlines to pay ticket refunds. It would make U.S. policy more closely resemble airline consumer protections in Europe.

CONTRACT FIGHTS

► From Hotel Dive — Today’s hospitality union battle is over wages. The next one might be about tech. — In recent years, the pace at which hospitality-related technologies are being developed and adopted has evolved rapidly. According to an October 2023 study from JLL, hotel operators cited technology upgrades as a top priority for 2024. For robots in hospitality, specifically, the global market is projected to reach $2.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 21.5% from 2023 to 2030, according to Research and Markets.

► From KVAL — Nurses, doctors may strike at multiple Providence hospitals, clinics — Multiple bargaining units at seven Providence hospitals and six clinics have voted to allow the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) to declare a strike, if necessary, to reach satisfactory contract agreements with one of Oregon’s largest healthcare networks. ONA says the sheer number of Providence bargaining units voting to allow a strike on the heels of a Providence nurse strike at six clinics in June speaks to the workplace conditions the Healthcare group is offering.

► From Bloomberg — US Port Employers Call Automation ‘Core’ Priority in Labor Talks — Container lines and operators of US East and Gulf Coast port terminals said they won’t continue bargaining with union dockworkers on a new six-year contract if it means giving up their right to invest in semi-automated cargo handling equipment. With six weeks to go before the extension expires, the two sides have no formal talks scheduled, a USMX spokesperson told Bloomberg News on Tuesday.

► From Bloomberg Law — Teamsters Hit Costco with Labor Charges for Expelling Union Reps — The International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed unfair labor practice charges against Costco Wholesale Corp., accusing the retailer of trying to disrupt collective bargaining talks. The Teamsters said Wednesday that Costco had expelled union representatives, intimidated workers for wearing Teamsters attire, and tore down union literature. The allegations come as the union is set to restart labor negotiations with Costco next week, after walking away from the table in August when the company refused a voluntary recognition proposal. The national agreement covers 18,000 workers and is set to expire Jan. 31.

► From The Guardian — Forbes employees walk out on ‘30 Under 30’ list release day to protest salaries — The contract the union is aiming for includes a $75,000 wage floor, 8% annual raises and a 15% minimum on promotions. It is also asking for bonus pay for working overtime and on weekends. Forbes management has countered by proposing $60,000 minimum salaries, a 1% annual raise and a 5% minimum increase for promotions.

ORGANIZING

► From the Portland Mercury — Street Roots Staff Announce Intent to Unionize — Staff members at Street Roots, the Portland nonprofit that publishes a weekly newspaper focused on homelessness and social justice issues, announced their plan to unionize with Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7901. According to a union press release, 15 eligible staff members voted unanimously in favor of unionization. They’re hoping to avoid an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), however, and are seeking voluntary recognition from the Street Roots board.

► From WBUR — Ride-hailing drivers in Mass. moving to unionize under new law — Labor organizers say they have the required number of signatures from Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts to take the next step to form a union. Voters approved a ballot initiative giving ride-hail drivers the right to collectively bargain last month. The measure requires a two-step process to organize drivers. After 5% of drivers agree to form a union, an organizing group will be given a full list of active drivers in the state. An exclusive bargaining unit can be established with the support of 25% of all active drivers.

READY FOR A VOICE AT WORK? Get more information about how you can join together with co-workers and negotiate for better wages and working conditions. Or go ahead and contact a union organizer today!

NATIONAL

► From People’s World — Machinists union provides national labor leadership in fighting climate change — According to the IAM, delegates at the 2016 and 2022 national conventions “passed resolutions to spearhead initiatives aimed at transitioning IAM-represented industries toward sustainable practices.” These industries, which range from aerospace and manufacturing to healthcare and federal services, “are among the significant energy consumers and are pivotal to the union’s strategic shift towards environmental stewardship.”

► From the AP — Work-life balance isn’t working for women. Why? — The survey, which also found that working mothers are nearly twice as likely to say they have considered reducing their hours or leaving their job altogether because of child care issues compared to working fathers, also highlights the fallout of the country’s child care crisis weeks ahead of the start of President-elect Donald Trump’s second administration.

POLITICS & POLICY

► From the Spokesman Review — For years, some employers have legally paid disabled workers below minimum wage. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Patty Murray are hopeful a Labor Department proposal will end the practice  — In a statement on Tuesday, Murray said she hopes Trump will uphold the decision, which has bipartisan support but is opposed by some employers who say ending the subminimum wage program would threaten their ability to employ people with disabilities. “It’s unacceptable that, for nearly a century, employers have been permitted to pay disabled workers well below the minimum wage for doing the same work as their nondisabled peers,” Murray said. “The subminimum wage is discrimination, plain and simple – this is about people’s dignity and their ability to earn a living and provide for their families.”

► From the Washington State Standard — Washington secretary of state certifies 2024 election results — Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and Gov. Jay Inslee certified the results on Wednesday — except for a recount of ballots cast in the duel for a state Senate seat in southwest Washington. In that race, Democrat Adrian Cortes edged Republican Brad Benton by 172 votes, a difference of 0.2%. The winner will succeed retiring Republican Sen. Ann Rivers in the 18th Legislative District.

► From the Seattle Times — Jeff Bezos says he is ‘optimistic’ about a new Trump term and can help with cutting regulations — “I’m actually very optimistic this time around,” Bezos said on stage during a wide-ranging interview at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York. “He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help do that, I’m going to help him.”

Editor’s note: billionaire class consciousness at its finest. 

INTERNATIONAL

► From the Richmond News (Vancouver, BC) — Swifties urged by picketing workers to avoid Richmond hotel — “Protesters are urging Swifties to use alternative accommodations to avoid encountering noisy demonstrations, reduced services, and skeletal staffing,” the union, Unite Here, said in a media release. The unionized staff have been on strike for about three and a half years. They went on strike after 143 of their co-workers were laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Stand posts links to local, national and international labor news every weekday morning. Subscribe to get daily news in your inbox.