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 9
DHS proposes a $100k fee for the foreign grad employment program; Trump suspends tech company access to green card program; and private equity perpetuates poor working conditions for home care workers.
October 8
NLRB judge finds UPS unlawfully restricted union insignia; Harvard graduate workers authorize second strike; OSHA orders Union Pacific to pay $300,000 in damages in whistleblower case.
October 7
DOL scraps plan to remove decades-old wage-and-hour guidance from federal regulations; New York enacts personnel records access law; Starbucks loses bid to dismiss Workers United trademark suit.
October 6
Protect College Sports Act dampens athlete unionization outlook; Stanford RA union decides to withdraw petition
October 5
Delaware bans captive audience meetings; EEOC settles remote work national origin discrimination claim; First Circuit stays enforcement order in VA's dispute with AFGE.
October 4
Boston nurses announce open-ended strike; federal judge restores federal prison workers' union protections; St. Louis workers form the first movie theater union in Missouri.