Michelle Berger is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary: UAW and Ford near a deal, SAG-AFTRA negotiations with the studios resume, and the AFL-CIO rates new Speaker Johnson poorly.
The UAW and Ford reached a tentative contract agreement last night. The tentative contract include a 25s percent wage increase over the life of the contract, with additional cost-of living adjustments that are said to ultimately increase total wages about 30 percent over the life of the contract. The UAW initially demand a 40 percent wage increase over four years. UAW President Shawn Fain announced that the contract also eliminates lower-pay tiers for workers in parts of Ford’s operations. Lowest-paid temporary workers are receiving a 150% raise. It remains to be seen whether Ford agreed to allow unionization at its EV battery factories (GM has been said to have agreed to a similar term). With striking Ford workers instructed to go back to work, the tentative agreement is expected to pressure GM and Stellantis to conform to similar terms. If the UAW and the Big Three can reach agreements, it will end the UAW’s first-ever simultaneously strike against all three automakers. Earlier this week, the UAW expanded its strike against GM with 5,000 workers walking out of one of its most profitable plants. The strike has lasted for 41 days. UAW’s membership must vote to ratify or reject the tentative agreement.
In Hollywood, the actors’ strike against the studios has lasted for 103 days. There, too, some signs point toward progress. SAG-AFTRA and the studios are set to resume negotiations today. However, the largest point of contention remains how to split revenue from streaming. SAG-AFTRA initially requested 2% of all streaming revenue for its actors. Other key demands have been related to the proliferation of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry.
As of yesterday, Congress has a new Speaker of the House. Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana had a perfect track record of voting against working people in 2022, according to the AFL-CIO’s tracker. The continuing resolution that is currently funding the United States government runs out on November 17th, at which point the government will shut down unless Congress can pass spending legislation by then to avert that outcome.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
June 20
Three state bills challenge Garmon preemption; Wisconsin passes a bill establishing portable benefits for gig workers; and a sharp increase in workplace ICE raids contribute to a nationwide labor shortage.
June 19
Report finds retaliatory action by UAW President; Senators question Trump's EEOC pick; California considers new bill to address federal labor law failures.
June 18
Companies dispute NLRB regional directors' authority to make rulings while the Board lacks a quorum; the Department of Justice loses 4,500 employees to the Trump Administration's buyout offers; and a judge dismisses Columbia faculty's lawsuit over the institution's funding cuts.
June 17
NLRB finds a reporter's online criticism of the Washington Post was not protected activity under federal labor law; top union leaders leave the Democratic National Committee amid internal strife; Uber reaches a labor peace agreement with Chicago drivers.
June 16
California considers bill requiring human operators inside autonomous delivery vehicles; Eighth Circuit considers challenge to Minnesota misclassification law and whether "having a family to support" is a gendered comment.
June 15
ICE holds back on some work site raids as unions mobilize; a Maryland judge approves a $400M settlement for poultry processing workers in an antitrust case; and an OMB directive pushes federal agencies to use union PLAs.