AFL-CIO

Employees at Award-Winning New Jersey Cannabis Dispensary Credit Labor Peace Agreement With Smooth and Swift Organizing Campaign

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

Workers at Puffin reached out to Local 360 based on its expertise and prominence in the cannabis industry, and its successful effort to include a Labor Peace Agreement (LPA) mandate as a requirement for any business applying for a cannabis industry license.

Key Points: 
  • Workers at Puffin reached out to Local 360 based on its expertise and prominence in the cannabis industry, and its successful effort to include a Labor Peace Agreement (LPA) mandate as a requirement for any business applying for a cannabis industry license.
  • LPAs kick in whenever a majority of workers express interest in a bona fide labor organization, and stop employers from disrupting efforts by the labor organization to communicate with, attempt to organize and represent their workers.
  • “We’re all invested in the future success of this great, young company, and of this industry,” said Kirsten Bennett, who led the organizing effort at Puffin.
  • “The workers at Puffin are passionate about their jobs, about their customers, and about the broader cannabis business community,” said Pinelli.

FEDERAL CORRECTION OFFICERS CALL ON BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION TO SUPPORT LINE LEVEL PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 11, 2024

THOMSON, Ill., Jan. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 4070 calls upon the Biden-Harris Administration to fulfill their promise to public safety union workers and to affirm their support for the Bureau of Prisons to restore the 25% retention pay cut to line-level workers at FCI Thomson (IL) before it's too late.

Key Points: 
  • BOP Director Peters' has kept the retention pay program for managerial staff, creating an unjust, two-tier system.
  • FCI Thompson (IL) has a current deficit of eighty-one (81) employees, with an additional fifteen (15) forecasted departures in the coming weeks.
  • "The Director has consistently testified to Congress that these retention pay programs are necessary to keep officers and our federal prison system safe.
  • She is a direct appointee of Attorney General Garland, and it is past time for the President and his administration to make good on their commitment to public safety and officer safety for federal career union members serving at FCI Thomson."

NJ Leaf Becomes the Latest Marijuana Company to Organize With UFCW Local 360 in 2023

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Freehold, New Jersey based dispensary NJ Leaf – http://www.njleaf.com – is the newest company to make the choice to organize with UFCW Local 360, a choice that its owner Ritesh Shah fully endorses.

Key Points: 
  • Freehold, New Jersey based dispensary NJ Leaf – http://www.njleaf.com – is the newest company to make the choice to organize with UFCW Local 360, a choice that its owner Ritesh Shah fully endorses.
  • Beyond the local jobs created by NJ Leaf when it opened, the company also made use of union labor during its construction, including electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, and carpenters.
  • “NJ Leaf opened in March, and has proven to be a valuable member of the growing New Jersey cannabis community,” said Hugh Giordano, UFCW Local 360’s director of organizing.
  • That’s why welcoming NJ Leaf to the Local 360 family feels so apt.

Significant Grants From TxDOT Strengthens Port Houston Infrastructure Development

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 10, 2023

Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo announced during the October 24th meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority that Port Houston received nearly $36 million from the Texas Department of Transportation, almost 20% of the $200 million granted to Texas Ports.

Key Points: 
  • Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo announced during the October 24th meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority that Port Houston received nearly $36 million from the Texas Department of Transportation, almost 20% of the $200 million granted to Texas Ports.
  • The funds were awarded through the State Maritime Infrastructure Grant Program, the first in Texas history for port maritime and infrastructure development.
  • Chairman Campo and Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther highlighted the completion of Wharf 6 at the Bayport Container Terminal.
  • During this meeting, the Port Commission authorized more than $100 million in awards supporting the continued growth and development of the port.

AFL-CIO and Microsoft announce new tech-labor partnership on AI and the future of the workforce

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 11, 2023

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and Microsoft Corp. on Monday announced the formation of a new partnership to create an open dialogue to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) must anticipate the needs of workers and include their voices in its development and implementation. This partnership is the first of its kind between a labor organization and a technology company to focus on AI and will deliver on three goals: (1) sharing in-depth information with labor leaders and workers on AI technology trends; (2) incorporating worker perspectives and expertise in the development of AI technology; and (3) helping shape public policy that supports the technology skills and needs of frontline workers.

Key Points: 
  • "This partnership reflects a recognition of the critical role workers play in the development, deployment and regulation of AI and related technologies," said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.
  • "The labor movement looks forward to partnering with Microsoft to expand workers' role in the creation of worker-centered design, workforce training and trustworthy AI practices.
  • "By working directly with labor leaders, we can help ensure that AI serves the country's workers," said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft.
  • That's why Microsoft and the AFL-CIO have created this labor-tech partnership — to ensure workers have a voice in the process and that their needs are understood.

Tampa Contractor Beats the Odds in Making it Big Despite Obstacles Facing Union Contractors in the South

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 24, 2023

The company’s story of beating the odds to make it big is truly inspirational.

Key Points: 
  • The company’s story of beating the odds to make it big is truly inspirational.
  • The owner of the company is a union ironworker from Iron Workers Local 397 in Tampa.
  • In 1995, Bill Morrow bought the company from his previous employer after working 7 years as a union ironworker and 15 years in management.
  • The immense success of Morrow Steel is especially impressive because it is extremely difficult for union contractors to make it in the South, a non-union stronghold.

Dallas Contractor Sets Monumental Record in Safety

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Bosworth has been working tirelessly together with the ironworkers to ensure that the productivity is high, and the incident rates remain low.

Key Points: 
  • Bosworth has been working tirelessly together with the ironworkers to ensure that the productivity is high, and the incident rates remain low.
  • “We believe strongly in preplanning and engineering safety into the building plan to ensure a safe jobsite,” said Vince Bosworth, president and CEO, Bosworth Steel Erectors.
  • “We work with our contractors to ensure that they are successful, profitable and maintain high safety standards,” said Iron Workers General President Eric Dean.
  • Safety training and initiatives are of utmost importance in keeping jobsites safe, but also in increasing productivity, efficiency, and profitability.

Registered Nurses & Health Care Workers Launch Five-Day Strike Against Prime's St. Francis Medical Center Starting on October 9

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, October 8, 2023

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly all essential medical personnel at St. Francis Medical Center will walk out at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, October 9, to join the strike lines against Prime Healthcare (which owns hospitals in fourteen states), where they will march, picket, and chant for five days to protest chronically dangerous short staffing and patient care practices, along with unfair labor practices such as bad faith bargaining, threats, and attacks on workers' rights.

Key Points: 
  • 2017 – 2019 – RN turnover at St. Francis was 24.01%
    2020 – 2022 – RN turnover at St. Francis more than doubled to 50.42%
    The average replacement cost of one RN is $46,000.
  • The striking workers include 600 registered nurses represented by UNAC/UHCP and 900 other health care workers represented by SEIU-UHW: nursing assistants, medical assistants, vocational nurses, emergency room technicians, respiratory therapists, environmental services aides, and more.
  • St. Francis Medical Center is one of the busiest hospitals in Los Angeles County, with the only level II trauma, stroke, and STEMI center for many miles around.
  • Registered Nurses and allied health care workers strike St. Francis Medical Center
    Strikers return to work at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, October 14
    3630 E. Imperial Hwy, Lynwood, CA 90262 Imperial Highway & Martin Luther King, Blvd
    Hundreds of nurses and other health care workers in scrubs, uniforms, union gear, with allies, marching and chanting with picket signs
    Note for morning shows: Nurses will be available for live interviews beginning around 6:30 a.m.

ILA Union Leader Alan A. Robb Appointed Port Houston Commissioner

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 28, 2023

On Tuesday, September 19, the City Council of Pasadena, Texas appointed Mr. Alan A. Robb as Port Commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority to serve on behalf of the city beginning October 1, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • On Tuesday, September 19, the City Council of Pasadena, Texas appointed Mr. Alan A. Robb as Port Commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority to serve on behalf of the city beginning October 1, 2023.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230928898811/en/
    Alan A. Robb has been appointed to serve on the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority, effective October 1.
  • (Photo: Business Wire)
    A respected labor union leader, Mr. Robb is a 47-year International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) veteran.
  • “We sincerely appreciate the service of outgoing Port Commissioner Roy Mease, and we look forward to having Alan Robb join us as a new Port Commissioner,” said Chairman Ric Campo.

STRIKE - RNs and Almost All Health Care Staff to Strike St. Francis Medical Center 10/9 - 10/13

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 28, 2023

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Most of the essential medical personnel at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, California, will go on strike from Monday, October 9 through Friday, October 13. The unions representing 600 registered nurses (UNAC/UHCP) and nearly all the medical support staff—nursing assistants, medical techs, and more (SEIU-UHW)—presented the legally required 10-day notice yesterday informing hospital management and Prime Healthcare, the hospital's owner, of the looming strike.

Key Points: 
  • St. Francis Medical Center is one of the busiest hospitals in Los Angeles County, with the only Level II trauma, stroke, and STEMI (heart attack response) center for many miles around.
  • This is where you will be coming," said Scott Byington, RN, president of the UNAC/UHCP affiliate at St. Francis.
  • Byington is a mobile critical care nurse at St. Francis, which means he's part of a crew that responds to trauma emergencies throughout the hospital.
  • UNAC/UHCP is affiliated with the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.