AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka delivered a speech today stating that labor is not ready to endorse a candidate for the 2016 presidential election, a message that has been characterized as a “memo to Hillary” by Politico. Trumka said that working men and women are looking for a candidate that can deliver on the “American Promise,” and that they “will not settle for less” than a candidate who meets this standard. “Standing with working people once in a while won’t work. Candidates can’t hedge bets any longer.” Despite this strong rhetoric, according to Politico, “Trumka and organized labor will probably have little choice but to get on board the Clinton bandwagon.”
Workers marched in Raleigh, North Carolina today calling for improved worker safety precautions, WNCN reports. The march, organized by AFL-CIO, comes one month after three workers were killed, and a fourth injured, in a scaffolding collapse. According to WNCN, the AFL-CIO has said that the recent fatal accidents are an indicator that state officials have done a poor job responding to worker safety issues. The union also says that the state has done a “poor job” reporting work-related deaths in the state. While the state cites 33 deaths in 2013, the “Bureau of Labor Statistics cites 104 workers were killed on the job in 2013 in North Carolina.”
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October 13
Texas hotel workers ratify a contract; Pope Leo visits labor leaders; Kaiser lays off over two hundred workers.
October 12
The Trump Administration fires thousands of federal workers; AFGE files a supplemental motion to pause the Administration’s mass firings; Democratic legislators harden their resolve during the government shutdown.
October 10
California bans algorithmic price-fixing; New York City Council passes pay transparency bills; and FEMA questions staff who signed a whistleblowing letter.
October 9
Equity and the Broadway League resume talks amid a looming strike; federal judge lets alcoholism ADA suit proceed; Philadelphia agrees to pay $40,000 to resolve a First Amendment retaliation case.
October 8
In today’s news and commentary, the Trump administration threatens no back pay for furloughed federal workers; the Second Circuit denies a request from the NFL for an en banc review in the Brian Flores case; and Governor Gavin Newsom signs an agreement to create a pathway for unionization for Uber and Lyft drivers.
October 7
The Supreme Court kicks off its latest term, granting and declining certiorari in several labor-related cases.