by May Silverstein, May 5, 2008

UAW members are planning a major rally at Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino this month, and more news from “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 900 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
 
Work Stoppages and Actions
UAW, Foxwoods: The UAW is planning a major rally May 17 at Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino. The event is scheduled for the same day Foxwoods opens its new $700 million MGM Grand hotel expansion with an invitation-only party.  The UAW won an election to represent table game dealers, but the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, which owns the casino, has challenged the election several times, saying federal labor law does not apply to a casino on tribal land.

USW, Latrobe Specialty Steel: Some 350 members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1537 at Latrobe Specialty Steel Co., in Pennsylvania walked off the job, after rejecting a three-year contract proposal. Wages are a central issue.

UAW, Jaquith Industries: A strike by more than two-dozen UAW Local 624 Unit 5 members at Jaquith Industries in Syracuse, N.Y., entered its sixth month, with no  negotiations since February.

IBEW, Verizon Communications: New Jersey Verizon Communications workers, represented by the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 827, rallied outside company offices in Monmouth and Ocean counties to raise attention to upcoming contract talks.  Negotiations commence next month.

Negotiations
SAG, AMPTP: According to recent reports, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the bargaining group for Hollywood’s largest movie and television companies, told the studios not to expect a breakthrough in stalled talks with the Screen Actors (SAG) before their scheduled end on Friday. ”Although both parties have spent considerable time in the negotiating room, we are not yet close to an agreement,” said the message posted on the AMPTP website.

ALPA, Delta Air Lines: Delta Air Lines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots (ALPA), are voting on changes to their contract that would give them pay raises, an equity stake and other benefits in the merger with Northwest Airlines.  Voting will run through May 14.

Settlements
AFSCME, Wisconsin: More than 23,000 Wisconsin state employees, represented by AFSCME, reached a tentative two-year labor contract with the state.  No details were released, pending a May 12 ratification vote. State employees are currently working under terms of a contract that expired July 1, 2007. 

AFTRA, NetCode: Members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have ratified their NetCode contract that covers reality shows, syndicated dramas, daytime serials, game shows, talk shows, variety and musical programs, news, sports and promotional announcements. Most performers will receive a 3.5 percent pay increase retroactive to last November. New provisions also were set up for Internet content. 

USW, International Paper (IP): Members of the USW ratified by 77 percent a new four-year master economic and security agreement with International Paper (IP), covering 32 facilities. Wages will increase 8 percent and the monthly service multiplier for pensions will increase $4 over the life of the master agreement. The contract is a huge victory, as it represents the first master agreement since the strike of 1987, which occurred at a number of domestic plants owned by IP. Workers then were represented by the United Paperworkers International Union (UPIU) that later became part of the USW.

USW, Domtar: Some 4,000 workers at 10 former Weyerhaeuser fine paper plants represented by the USW, reached a tentative umbrella master agreement with the new owners at Domtar. The agreement covers economic and job security issues, including a successorship clause that protects workers’ jobs and contract if a Domtar facility is sold.

AFSCME, Walker Methodist Health Center: Approximately 400 employees of Walker Methodist Health Center in Minneapolis, Minn., won a first contract after five years. Contract highlights include a formal grievance procedure; a labor-management committee that will address staffing, scheduling and other issues; holiday pay and paid breaks and a 1.12 percent wage hike, retroactive to October 2007, with further pay negotiations to come.

AFT-NEA, St. Cloud School District: In Saint Cloud, Minn., teachers, represented jointly by the AFT and the National Education Association (NEA), have a new two-year contract, after 10 months of negotiations, that provides a 4 percent wage increase over term.

NABET-CWA, WSTM-TV: Workers at WSTM-TV in Syracuse, N.Y., represented by the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET) Local 211, an affiliate of CWA, ratified a deal that includes a 2.5 percent pay raise each year for the next five years. 

IAM, US Airways: Some 40 US Airways’ maintenance training instructors, represented by the Machinists District 142, ratified a new contract, which establishes new wages and other improvements and becomes amendable on Dec. 31, 2011.

PASNAP-CNA/NNOC, Community Medical Center: Nurses, who voted for Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals (PASNAP-CNA/NNOC) union representation this past August, ratified a first contract with the largest hospital in Scranton, Pa., Community Medical Center. They will receive between $21 and $29 an hour under the contract.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only.  As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.

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