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 23
Employers increasingly shift health care costs onto workers and NYC proposes placing restrictions on fully automated customer service.
October 22
SCOTUS declines Wilcox appeal; Penn State research assistants win bargaining rights; SEIU sued over military leave firing.
October 21
DOL withdraws tipped-worker rule; Instacart settles hiring-bias claims; Phillips 66 locks out New Jersey refinery workers.
October 20
Korean unions oppose labor exemption bill; Portland city workers prepare for strike; UPenn grad student union looks to dismiss university filing
October 19
FDA reverses course on policy prohibiting off-duty union activity; FAA and NATCA reach deal to secure pay increase for air traffic controllers.
October 18
Federal judge again halts cancellation of the Bureau of Prisons’ CBA; tabletop gaming workers face roadblocks in union recognition.