Hundreds of workers employed at Waste Management throughout Orange County, Cal. have won significant wage and pension, and healthcare increases after ratifying a groundbreaking contract. The workers are members of Local 396 of the Teamsters Union.
Sanitation workers have worked hard throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, up to 14 hours a day in order to ensure that communities are kept clean and safe. The pandemic has also drastically exposed the impact that low wages have had on the transportation industry. Sanitation companies throughout the United States including Waste Management are facing a shortage of drivers and are realizing that in order to retain qualified workers, they must increase wages and benefits, noted a statement from the union. Workers are seizing on this opportunity to gain contract improvements that will allow them to provide a better life for themselves and their families.
Contract highlights include drivers receiving an immediate $2.23 raise in hourly pay, double-time pay after 12 hours of service, and full maintenance of healthcare benefits with no increased cost to workers.
Teamsters Local 396 currently represents over 3,000 sanitation workers throughout Southern California. “The courage demonstrated by this group of essential workers who organized to win this contract is admirable, declared Ron Herrera, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 396, “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the press has written about the importance of essential workers, but Corporate America still insisted on low wages. Our members stood strong and won major raises that will continue to lift standards in an industry that has historically exploited Latino immigrant workers.” The grit and tenacity of these members, noted Herrera, is what made this victory possible.
After years of failed negotiations, Flight Attendants at Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, are currently taking a strike authorization vote that would allow them to go on strike at any moment if the company continues to refuse to reach a fair contract. Piedmont Flight Attendants, members of the Communications Workers of America, helped keep the carrier flying through the COVID-19 pandemic and have been on the frontlines of dealing with difficult flying conditions. However, management’s latest proposal includes only tiny raises with significant healthcare cost increases meaning many Flight Attendants would take home less tomorrow than they do today.
The AFL-CIO Executive Council on September 17 chose Liz Shuler, formerly secretary-treasurer, to become president of the national federation. The first woman to head the AFL-CIO, she will fill out the remainder of the term of President Richard Trumka, who died unexpectedly in July. The labor federation will choose a permanent president at its summer 2022 national convention. Shuler has indicated that she will run for the position.
The executive council also elected United Steelworkers International Vice President Fred Redmond to succeed Shuler as secretary-treasurer. He is the first African American to hold the post. Both he and Shuler reflect the changing nature of the labor movement which increasingly consists of women and non-white workers.
https://www.spotlightonlabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/icon.png500500Paul Beckerhttps://www.spotlightonlabor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/spotlight_logo_.pngPaul Becker2021-09-23 18:00:262021-09-24 14:31:44Shuler to Head AFL-CIO
CALIFORNIA SANITATION WORKERS RATIFY “GROUNDBREAKING” UNION CONTRACT
Labor BriefsHundreds of workers employed at Waste Management throughout Orange County, Cal. have won significant wage and pension, and healthcare increases after ratifying a groundbreaking contract. The workers are members of Local 396 of the Teamsters Union.
Sanitation workers have worked hard throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, up to 14 hours a day in order to ensure that communities are kept clean and safe. The pandemic has also drastically exposed the impact that low wages have had on the transportation industry. Sanitation companies throughout the United States including Waste Management are facing a shortage of drivers and are realizing that in order to retain qualified workers, they must increase wages and benefits, noted a statement from the union. Workers are seizing on this opportunity to gain contract improvements that will allow them to provide a better life for themselves and their families.
Contract highlights include drivers receiving an immediate $2.23 raise in hourly pay, double-time pay after 12 hours of service, and full maintenance of healthcare benefits with no increased cost to workers.
Teamsters Local 396 currently represents over 3,000 sanitation workers throughout Southern California. “The courage demonstrated by this group of essential workers who organized to win this contract is admirable, declared Ron Herrera, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 396, “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the press has written about the importance of essential workers, but Corporate America still insisted on low wages. Our members stood strong and won major raises that will continue to lift standards in an industry that has historically exploited Latino immigrant workers.” The grit and tenacity of these members, noted Herrera, is what made this victory possible.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters publication, 10/18
Piedmont Flight Attendants Take Strike Vote
Labor BriefsAfter years of failed negotiations, Flight Attendants at Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, are currently taking a strike authorization vote that would allow them to go on strike at any moment if the company continues to refuse to reach a fair contract. Piedmont Flight Attendants, members of the Communications Workers of America, helped keep the carrier flying through the COVID-19 pandemic and have been on the frontlines of dealing with difficult flying conditions. However, management’s latest proposal includes only tiny raises with significant healthcare cost increases meaning many Flight Attendants would take home less tomorrow than they do today.
https://cwa-union.org/news/e-newsletter/2021-10-14
Shuler to Head AFL-CIO
Labor BriefsThe AFL-CIO Executive Council on September 17 chose Liz Shuler, formerly secretary-treasurer, to become president of the national federation. The first woman to head the AFL-CIO, she will fill out the remainder of the term of President Richard Trumka, who died unexpectedly in July. The labor federation will choose a permanent president at its summer 2022 national convention. Shuler has indicated that she will run for the position.
The executive council also elected United Steelworkers International Vice President Fred Redmond to succeed Shuler as secretary-treasurer. He is the first African American to hold the post. Both he and Shuler reflect the changing nature of the labor movement which increasingly consists of women and non-white workers.