Luke Hinrichs is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentaries, Tribune journalists ratify first union contract with Alden Global Capital; and Nurses at two of New Jersey’s largest hospitals ratify new labor agreements as a strike remains imminent at a third health care center where negotiations are ongoing.
After years of negotiations between Alden Global Capital (Alden) and NewsGuild-CWA union journalists at eight Tribune publications, the journalists voted to ratify their first contract. The two-year contract guarantees raises, protects the 401k match benefits, and increases job security among other key provisions. Alden’s reputation as a “vulture” hedge fund raised concern for union members in Tribune Publishing newsrooms when the fund acquired the Tribune Publishing newspaper chain in 2021. The contract comes after Tribune journalists engaged in a 24-hour strike in February of this year—the largest coordinated action the unionized journalists have taken against Alden Global Capital. Newsrooms covered by the contract include: Orlando Sentinel, Tidewater (The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press, The Virginia Gazette, and Tidewater Review), Morning Call, Suburban Chicago Tribune (The Beacon-News, The Courier-News, The Naperville Sun, and The Daily Southtown), Design and Production Studios, Hartford Courant, and Tribune Content Agency.
Contracts for 1,500 nurses at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, 800 nurses at Englewood Health in Englewood, and 750 nurses at Palisades Medical Center (part of Hackensack Meridian Health) in North Bergen expired at the end of May 2024. The nurses, members of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union, voted last week to authorize a strike action if their new contracts do not include specific nurse-to-patient ratios. As of June 6, 2024, nurses at Cooper University and Englewood Hospital have ratified new labor deals guaranteeing improved staff-to-patient ratios. The health care workers’ negotiations with Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center are ongoing as a strike is already authorized if a deal cannot be reached.
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June 25
Supreme Court grants petition to hear a case on the scope of ADA standing; Texas federal district court blocks DOL rule expanding wage requirements for construction contractors, and South Korean Hyundai workers authorize strike.
June 24
Workers across the country face extreme heat exposure with minimal government protections; Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2 reaches a tentative agreement with Con Edison narrowly avoiding a strike; the Tenth Circuit grants a continuation of a freeze on a wage increase for some federal contractors
June 23
Teamsters president will speak at RNC; Supreme Court weighs in on overtime exemptions; Honda faces ULP allegations.
June 21
The Amazon Labor Union voted to affiliate with the Teamsters; a Pennsylvania jury was unable to decide Uber Black drivers are employees; a recent article questioned the legality of southern governors’ anti-union activities.
June 20
NLRB issues Cemex order requiring casinos to recognize union; Amazon fined nearly $6 million for violating California’s Warehouse Quotas law; Waffle House commits to raise wages after pressure from labor advocates.
June 18
EEOC regulations requiring abortion accommodations survive; Bird Union seeks first contract; NLRB applies standard for when misconduct loses protection of Section 7.