A Historic Demonstration: The Working People Weekly List

Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.

GM Battery Plant Workers Vote to Unionize with UAW, a Key Win for Labor as Industry Shifts to EVs: “A joint venture battery plant in northeast Ohio overwhelmingly voted in favor of representation with the United Auto Workers, the union said early Friday. The vote was being closely watched as such battery plants are viewed as crucial for automakers to transition from traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines to all-electric cars and trucks. Several other multi-billion dollar plants from GM and other automakers are under construction in the U.S. The UAW reports roughly 98% of votes cast were in favor for the union. The count was 710 votes in support of UAW representation; 16 against; and one was void. The National Labor Relations Board, which was overseeing the election, did not immediately respond for comment.”

Wisconsin AFL-CIO Stands in Solidarity as AFSCME Red Cross Workers in Wisconsin Prepare for Possible Holiday Strike: “‘The Wisconsin labor movement proudly stands in solidarity with AFSCME Locals 1205 and 1558 as they prepare to strike on December 23 if a mutually agreeable contract agreement is not reached before then,’ said Stephanie Bloomingdale, president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. ‘Wisconsin workers who work at the Red Cross staffing blood drives provide an essential service that enhances the health, safety, and well-being of countless communities across our state. Quality wages and a fair union contract help ensure workers are effectively trained and remain in their position to improve over years of service. The men and women of the labor movement stand shoulder to shoulder with Red Cross workers in the fight for a fair contract.’”

New York Times Journalists Stage Historic 24-Hour Strike After Management and Union Fail to Reach Deal: “A 24-hour strike at The New York Times, a historic demonstration in which more than 1,100 employees are expected to participate, began Thursday at midnight, after management and the union representing staffers failed to reach an agreement for a new contract after more than a year and a half of negotiating. The NewsGuild of New York, which represents journalists and other staffers at The Times, said in a statement that the walkout was ‘due to the company’s failure to bargain in good faith, reach a fair contract agreement with the workers, and meet their demands.’”

House Judiciary Committee Approves Bill Requiring Radio Stations to Pay Royalties to Performers: “In a markup session, the House Judiciary Committee has given its approval to a bill that implements a sound recording performance royalty on over-the-air broadcasting, the American Music Fairness Act. If the bipartisan bill were to go through, artists, performers, producers and musicians involved in creating songs would receive royalties when their music plays on U.S. terrestrial radio stations, just as songwriters already do. The American Music Fairness Act is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), the American Federation of Musicians, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange.”

SAG-AFTRA Partners with AFL-CIO on New Health Benefits for Medicare-Eligible Members: “SAG-AFTRA, in partnership with the AFL-CIO, is offering new SAG-AFTRA Senior Benefit Plans for all Medicare-eligible members and their Medicare-eligible spouses/partners, which includes a $0 premium option. The new plans are available to all of SAG-AFTRA’s Medicare-eligible members, regardless of their qualification for the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan. ‘We were determined to create easy, more comprehensive and better-than-ever options for our Medicare-qualified members and we did it,’ SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher and national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a message Tuesday to their members.”

Nickelodeon Production Workers Vote to Unionize with The Animation Guild: “Production workers at Nickelodeon Studios have voted to unionize with The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839. According to the guild, 65% of the studio’s 177 production managers, production coordinators, postproduction assistants, art production coordinators and asset coordinators have signed cards saying they want to be represented by the guild.”

Painters District Council 58 Celebrates the 135th Anniversary of IUPAT: “Painters District Council 58 is celebrating the 135th anniversary of the International Union of the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), formed in 1887, with a trip down memory lane of Council 58’s success over the years. ‘As the union expanded, the idea of the word ‘local’ under the umbrella of a District Council caught on,’ said Joe Mueller, District Council 58 assistant business manager of Missouri. ‘The idea was to provide local and regional union offices so members could attend meetings without having to drive long distances.’”

Unions Bash Senators for Rejecting Paid Sick Leave for Rail Workers: “Labor leaders lashed out Thursday at senators who voted against a proposal to provide rail workers with seven days of paid sick leave. While the Senate overwhelmingly approved a measure to force through a railroad contract that gives workers a 24 percent raise over five years, a proposal to add paid sick days to the deal failed to reach 60 votes. All but six Republicans voted against the measure. ‘While rail workers won significant wage increases and other important gains today, it’s deeply disappointing that 43 senators sided with multibillion-dollar rail corporations to block desperately needed paid sick days,’ AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement.”