Jun
2016 7
2016 7
Building Trades Protest Unmet Local Hiring Mandates at Tesla Shareholders’ Meeting
Outside a recent Tesla shareholders meeting, members of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada (BCTCNN) rallied against what they view as unfair hiring practices at the company’s gigafactory in Sparks, NV. Inside, investors representing the union’s pension fund greeted Tesla CEO Elon Musk with a letter…
Jun
2016 2
2016 2
Man Loses Both Legs at War, Runs Marathon 9 Months Later, Begins Union Apprenticeship
The Huffington Post recently featured the amazing story of 26-year-old Matias Ferreira, who lost both of his legs five years ago in Afghanistan. He has miraculously settled into a successful civilian life with help from the Helmets to Hardhats program. The man who went from not being able to walk to being able to [&hellip…;
Jun
2016 1
2016 1
Verizon Employees Head Back to Work, Prepare to Ratify Contract Viewed as Major Victory
The contentious Verizon strike carried out by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has ended with both sides declaring victories on key points. 40,000 workers returned to their jobs yesterday as a result. The four-year contract was agreed to in principle on Friday and…
May
2016 27
2016 27
$717M of Infrastructure Work Will Be Covered by Massive New PLA at Long Beach Ports
The Port of Long Beach Harbor Commission has announced a major labor deal which will guarantee jobs for local workers, disadvantaged residents, and veterans on an estimated $717 million in port infrastructure projects over the next five years. The Project Labor Agreement (PLA) was agreed to by the Harbor Commission and the Los…
May
2016 27
2016 27
Million-Dollar Prevailing Wage Underpayment Scheme Busted Up by Feds in Chicago Burbs
A suburban Chicago contractor is facing federal charges for failing to pay $1.5 million in prevailing wages to union workers on public works projects between 2008 and 2013. For his part of the scheme, Joseph Lampignano, owner of co-owner of A Lamp Concrete Contractors Inc., faces one count of mail fraud and up to 20 [&hellip…;
May
2016 20
2016 20
10,000 Rally Against IL Gov’s Anti-Union Agenda; Study Reveals Boost in State’s Union Membership
An estimated crowd of 10,000 labor supporters rallied in the streets of downtown Springfield on Wednesday to protest Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s anti-worker “Turnaround Agenda.” The activists called on the governor to pass a budget following an 11-month impasse. The rally came just days after Rauner vetoed a bill that would…
May
2016 19
2016 19
State AFL-CIO Awards $590,000 of Scholarship Money to Children of Union Members in MA
In a post titled “You Won’t Read About This!,” United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 12 business manager, Harry Bretty, highlights the 58th Annual Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Breakfast, at which almost $590,000 in scholarships were awarded to the children of union members. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO website…
May
2016 19
2016 19
In Verizon Strike Twist, CWA Discovers Extent of Co’s Underhanded Filipino Offshoring Operation
Amidst an extended contract dispute with Verizon in the U.S., the Communications Workers of America (CWA) has uncovered a massive Filipino offshoring operation being run by the company. CWA was previously aware of the operation’s existence, but a four-day tour of the Philippines by Verizon representatives who are on strike showed that…
May
2016 17
2016 17
CA Offers Amnesty to Port Trucking Co’s Who Misclassify Workers; International Activism Against the Practice Grows
The Office of California Labor Commissioner Julie Su has announced an amnesty program for drayage trucking companies that misclassify their drivers as independent contractors. The program extends through the end of 2016 and allows companies to avoid liability if they reclassify their drivers as employees. Known as the Motor Carrier…
May
2016 13
2016 13
“It Was Terrific for All of Us”: Women Build Nations Conference Sets Record with 1500 Attendees
A record 1,500 tradeswomen attended the Women Build Nations Conference in Chicago, representing 40 U.S. states, Canada, Nigeria, and the Philippines. The event, hosted by North America’s Building Trades Unions and the Chicago Women in Trades, had previously been held in California. Tradewomen shared their stories, met their peers,…
May
2016 13
2016 13
PLA Signed for New L.A. Soccer Stadium; 1200 Jobs Expected During Construction
The Los Angeles City Council has approved a privately funded, 22,000 seat, $250 million soccer-specific stadium to house Major League Soccer’s expansion Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). The project will be the biggest and most expensive soccer-only project in MLS history. As part of their plan, LAFC announced a Project Labor Agreement…
May
2016 11
2016 11
NLRB Says T-Mobile’s “Mandatory Positivity” Rule is Illegal; Employee Handbook Stifles Organizing
It’s official. You can’t be forced to like your job. That has been established by a April 29th ruling by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in a charge brought forward by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) against T-Mobile and its affiliate, Metro PCS. The specific charge was against parts of the employee [&hellip…;