The Wall Street Journal reports that the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees has converted over 21,000 home healthcare workers to membership status this year. These numbers are part of AFSCME’s larger effort, the 50,000 stronger campaign, to grow its membership. The union surpassed its goal, converting 91,000 represented workers in total to full-fledged members. 900 member volunteers helped the campaign by speaking with workers about the benefits of union membership.
In New York, state officials and the union for Long Island Rail Road employees have reached a deal, averting a strike planned to begin on Sunday. The New York Times reports that under the compromise L.I.R.R. employees will receive a 17% raise over six and a half years. Before the agreement was reached, the New York Times published an analysis of the situation.
In Chicago, popular Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle, announced that she will not run for for mayor. Her decision left an opening for current mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s “biggest scourge,” Chicago Teacher Union’s President Karen Lewis, to challenge him in next year’s race, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Chicago Tribune reports that Lewis is forming an exploratory committee to consider a potential run.
In immigration news, the New York Times reports that the influx of Central American minors crossing the border is overtaking President Obama’s plans for immigration reform. In several towns, federal officials have scrapped proposed shelter sites due to local opposition.
Daily News & Commentary
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November 24
Labor leaders criticize tariffs; White House cancels jobs report; and student organizers launch chaperone program for noncitizens.
November 23
Workers at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority vote to authorize a strike; Washington State legislators consider a bill empowering public employees to bargain over workplace AI implementation; and University of California workers engage in a two-day strike.
November 21
The “Big Three” record labels make a deal with an AI music streaming startup; 30 stores join the now week-old Starbucks Workers United strike; and the Mine Safety and Health Administration draws scrutiny over a recent worker death.
November 20
Law professors file brief in Slaughter; New York appeals court hears arguments about blog post firing; Senate committee delays consideration of NLRB nominee.
November 19
A federal judge blocks the Trump administration’s efforts to cancel the collective bargaining rights of workers at the U.S. Agency for Global Media; Representative Jared Golden secures 218 signatures for a bill that would repeal a Trump administration executive order stripping federal workers of their collective bargaining rights; and Dallas residents sue the City of Dallas in hopes of declaring hundreds of ordinances that ban bias against LGBTQ+ individuals void.
November 18
A federal judge pressed DOJ lawyers to define “illegal” DEI programs; Peco Foods prevails in ERISA challenge over 401(k) forfeitures; D.C. court restores collective bargaining rights for Voice of America workers; Rep. Jared Golden secures House vote on restoring federal workers' union rights.