Connect with us

NEWS ROUNDUP

Contract at Hanford | OR healthcare workers strike | UI for strikers

Friday, January 10, 2025

 

STRIKES

► From Oregon Live — Thousands of Providence workers begin largest health care strike in Oregon history — The largest health care strike in Oregon history began early Friday at Providence across the state, as roughly 5,000 frontline health professionals walked off the job. The strike — which includes mostly nurses and 150 doctors and advanced practitioners in addition to thousands of nurses — spans Providence’s eight hospitals in the state.

► From KTNV — Adult entertainers pledge support for Culinary Union strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas — We’ve already seen a comedian cancel a show and lawmakers and the NFL Players Association stand in solidarity with the union. Now, union members are getting support from another group: adult entertainers. The Adult Video News Awards and Expo are set to take place in a few weeks at the property, and some of the adult entertainers are vowing not to go because they don’t want to cross the picket line. Some have even said they might join the picket line.

► From the Pittsburgh Union Progress — At striking Pittsburgh news workers’ hearing, less is more, and there’s more to come — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette workers in four unions have been on strike now for 27 months; the fate of workers in three of those unions was the focus of Wednesday’s hearing at the Joseph F. Weis Jr. U.S. Courthouse. Bissoon is tasked with deciding whether to grant an injunction that would get those employees back to work under a contract that expired in 2017 and force the company to bargain a new agreement in good faith.

 

LOCAL

► From KIRO 7 — Employees report guns, cameras stolen from cars in Auburn Safeway parking lot — “Safeway needs to do more to protect the property of its employees when they are at work. We have called on the company to fully compensate our members for any damages incurred from the recent break-ins and to provide a permanent security presence at the facility parking lot. So far, we have not received a definitive response.” KIRO reached out to Safeway’s media line for a response. When contacted for other stories in the last several months, Safeway’s media voicemail box was full. When that number was called today, it was completely disconnected.

► From Teamsters Local 117:

► From KIRO 7 — Washington fire officials urge residents to prepare as California wildfires rage — “What we’re watching unfold in California, it’s becoming more and more regular up here in Washington state. So, take the lessons learned. Prepare now for what could happen up here in the future.” One other note from officials: no matter how small a fire is, it requires resources that could be taking away from fighting a bigger blaze. Something to keep in mind in a city like Tacoma, whose Fire Department just experienced recent budget cuts.

► From NW Public Broadcasting — Northwest sees a rise in flu-like illnesses — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza-like illnesses reported at outpatient health care facilities were “very high” for Washington state, Idaho and Oregon. Influenza-like viruses typically increase following the holidays and the new year because more people are exposed, meaning that number could still grow. Although the first flu spikes usually happen around November and December, it’s still worth getting vaccinated if you haven’t yet, Woodbury said.

Editor’s note: employers in Washington State are required to provide paid sick leave to their employees.

 

CONTRACT FIGHTS

► From the Tri-City Herald — Locked out guards at Hanford nuclear site reach contract deal on 23.5% pay increase — The Hanford guards will return to work at the Hanford nuclear site 47 days after they were locked out as their contract expired. The union had fought for increased pay due to high inflation since its last contract agreement and as compensation for new and more intrusive federal requirements for Human Responsibility Program certification for those responsible for security of nuclear materials, the union said.

► From Yahoo News — Starbucks Union Files 34 Federal Complaints, Signaling Renewed Hostilities — The complaints were filed with the National Labor Relations Board by Starbucks Workers United, which has organized around 500 of the company’s roughly 10,000 corporate-run US cafes over the past three years. The filings accuse Starbucks of violating federal labor law at stores in 16 states, including by singling out and firing employees over the last several months because of their union activism.

 

ORGANIZING

► From the AFL-CIO:

 

NATIONAL

► From Deadline — Hollywood Labor Leaders At CES Discuss How Their AI Negotiating Strategy Will Ease Members’ “Fear Of Replacement” And The Importance Of Sticking Together — In 2023, both actors and writers made AI protections a key objective in their bargaining, fueled by the introduction of OpenAI’s updated version of ChatGPT, which kicked off debate across society and in business about its impact. The overriding concern in the already-battered entertainment business is that IP could be used to train AI, diluting the value of creative work and compromising the privacy and identity of individual members of the creative community.

 

POLITICS & POLICY

► From NW Public Broadcasting — Lawmakers aim to pass bill so striking workers can access unemployment benefits — That safety net can give workers more power to exercise their rights and negotiate with their employer, said April Sims, president of the Washington State Labor Council. “ This bill would help level the playing field,” Sims said. “It would discourage economic hardships as a bargaining strategy and promote good faith contract negotiations.”

► From the Washington State Standard — Ferguson pitches spending cuts, voices skepticism of ‘wealth tax’ — Washington Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson released his blueprint Thursday for chopping billions in state spending while investing millions in education and public safety in his first term —  without the aid of new taxes. He said he wants to achieve a 6% cut in spending by state agencies and 3% reduction by four-year universities. In the 16-page document detailing his plan, he suggests curbing management staff, limiting equipment purchases and reducing travel.

► From KING 5 — Bob Ferguson vows to make fixing Washington’s ferry system a ‘top priority’ — Washington’s is the biggest ferry system in America. At any given time only about 15 ferries are operating across Puget Sound. To be fully functional Washington needs 11 more to serve an estimated 19 million annual riders. But that won’t happen for years. Half of the fleet is more than 30 years old. Some boats are more than 50 years old. That means ferries increasingly break down, as does the workforce.

Editor’s note: previously at The STAND: Ferries workers fight for fair pay

► From the Washington State Standard — Washington lawmakers revive plan for state cap on rent increases — The bill includes a 7% cap on yearly rent increases for existing tenants, with some exceptions, including buildings operated by nonprofits and residential construction that is 10 years old or less. It also requires landlords to give 180 days notice before an increase of 3% or more and limits some move-in and deposit fees.

► From Roll Call — Trump’s immigration plans could imperil long-term care workforce — Home health aides, personal care aides and certified nursing assistants are considered the backbone of the long-term care workforce, helping people age in their homes and often making up the majority of staff in nursing homes and residential care facilities. There’s already a shortage of workers performing long-term care, and that shortage will worsen in the coming decades.

 

JOLT OF JOY

I’ve been listening to the Peter, Paul and Mary songs I grew up on in the wake of Peter Yarrow’s death this past week. In his memory, sharing one of many times Peter, Paul and Mary used folk music to express solidarity and uplift folks fighting for justice.

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

Related Topics:

CHECK OUT THE UNION DIFFERENCE in Washington: higher wages, affordable health and dental care, job and retirement security.

FIND OUT HOW TO JOIN TOGETHER with your co-workers to negotiate for better wages, benefits, and a voice at work. Or go ahead and contact a union organizer today!