Nine hundred nurses at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Magee-Women’s Hospital have voted to unionize after several years of efforts, it as announced this week. The vote for the union was 402-305 and represents a breakthrough in the struggle to unionize one of Pennsylvania’s largest employers.
“My coworkers and I are absolutely overjoyed to finally win a union voice for our patients, our profession, and our community,” Jenna Berry, a registered nurse at the Magee-Womens Cancer Center, said in a statement. “We call on UPMC executives to respect the voice of the clear majority and begin negotiations with us right away.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom July 30 signed a law authorizing the State Labor Commissioner to investigate and issue a citation or file a civil action against any employer found guilty of withholding or taking their workers’ tips. Up until now, employees were only able to pursue lengthy civil court actions to recuperate stolen gratuities even though the California Labor Code declared “[e]very gratuity” to be the “sole property” of the worker who received the tip. The state labor commission’s new enforcement power over tip theft will hopefully deter employers from violating the law and help workers avoid lengthy and draining litigation.
AFL-CIO VIDEOS
Labor BriefsFor some videos on recent labor actions, see the AFL-CIO website by clicking the link below.
AFL-CIO, 8/27
PITTSBURGH NURSES SAY ‘UNION, YES’
Labor BriefsNine hundred nurses at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Magee-Women’s Hospital have voted to unionize after several years of efforts, it as announced this week. The vote for the union was 402-305 and represents a breakthrough in the struggle to unionize one of Pennsylvania’s largest employers.
“My coworkers and I are absolutely overjoyed to finally win a union voice for our patients, our profession, and our community,” Jenna Berry, a registered nurse at the Magee-Womens Cancer Center, said in a statement. “We call on UPMC executives to respect the voice of the clear majority and begin negotiations with us right away.”
Payday Report, 8/27
CALIFORNIA STRENGTHENS RULE PROTECTING WORKER TIPS
Labor BriefsCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom July 30 signed a law authorizing the State Labor Commissioner to investigate and issue a citation or file a civil action against any employer found guilty of withholding or taking their workers’ tips. Up until now, employees were only able to pursue lengthy civil court actions to recuperate stolen gratuities even though the California Labor Code declared “[e]very gratuity” to be the “sole property” of the worker who received the tip. The state labor commission’s new enforcement power over tip theft will hopefully deter employers from violating the law and help workers avoid lengthy and draining litigation.
On Labor, 8/1