WASHINGTON, DC– Workers across the country have stood up in the past month to fight for better wages and working conditions.
Gawker Writers Vote to Form Union: Today, more than 100 employees of Gawker Media joined the Writers Guild of America. Writers cited wages and ensuring a stronger voice in the workplace as a reason to unionize.
Cities and States Make Raising Wages Gains: As the ‘raising wages’ agenda takes hold nationwide, Californiaand Delawareboth took steps to raise their minimum wage. Meanwhile, proposals have been put forward in Tacoma, WA, St. Louis, MO, and Kansas City, MO, to raise their minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Georgetown University Workers Vote to Join UNITE HERE!: Last month, Aramark food and beverage workers at Georgetown University voted to join UNITE HERE! Local 23. The local of over 200 employees is currently fighting for improved health insurance, a 40-hour work week, and immigrant worker protections.
California Phlebotomists Vote to Join Union: Last month, phlebotomists (blood work technicians) at LabCorp in Southern California voted to join UFCW Locals 1167 and 1428, citing a need for better wages, working conditions, and safety measures.
New York Healthcare Workers Win Organizing Fight: Support workers at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare have voted to join fellow healthcare workers as members of CWA Local 1126 late last month. The workers, including housekeepers and laundry staff, will join 12,000 healthcare workers represented by CWA in upstate New York.
Missouri Fire Fighters win Big with Union Vote: Last month, fire fighters and engineers in Branson, MO voted to have a voice in their workplace by joining IAFF Local 152. The first responders won in spite of an aggressive effort by local officials to prevent workers from organizing.
Michigan Workers Win New Contract, Wage Gains: Last month, slaughterhouse and meatpacking workers at UFCW Local 951 in Plainwell, MI ratified a new contact that includes significant wage gains, better access to healthcare, and greater overtime benefits.
NYC Manicurists Earn Critical Protections in Workplace: Last week, New York announced that nail salons are required to post a newly formed ‘manicurists’ bill of rights’, which describes wage information and other rights for workers. The announcement followed a recent report by the New York Times highlighting poor pay and working conditions in nail salons.
Oregon Hospital Workers Win Landmark Organizing Battle: Earlier this week, approximately 1,100 workers at Peacehealth’s Sacred Heart Medical Centers in Oregon voted to join a union. The staff, ranging from doctors and nurses to pharmacists and janitorial staff, cited working conditions and benefits as a reason to organize.
Contact: Anthony DeAngelo (202) 637-5018