Machinists Sue S.C. Gov. Haley for Opposing Unions—and More Bargaining News
The Machinists union is suing South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for remarks she made about keeping unions out of a Boeing plant, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,300 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
LEGAL ACTION
IAM, Boeing: The Machinists (IAM) is suing South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for remarks she made last month about keeping unions out of the Boeing Co. plant in North Charleston. IAM, which represents Boeing workers in other states, says it’s trying to protect the constitutional rights of South Carolina workers.
New Jersey Health Professionals Ratify Contract—and More Bargaining News
Health professionals at Meadowlands (N.J.) Hospital ratify a contract—and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,300 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
SETTLEMENTS
HPAE-AFT, MHA: Members of Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE-AFT) Local 5147 in New Jersey ratified a five-year contract with MHA, the potential new owner of Meadowlands Hospital. The new contract extends the deal in place with current hospital owner Liberty Health Systems.
Social Media: New Tools Aid in Organizing
They’re tweeting in Northern California about the Employee Free Choice Act, sharing about health care reform on Facebook in Montana and posting organizing messages on My Space for workers in York, Pa.
Across the country, union members are using the new social media to mobilize workers and share information.
Steve Selby, an Electrical Workers (IBEW) organizer in York, Pa., knows the value of social media. He urgently needed to reach 300 workers at a local Comcast office. Rather than standing outside the office and handing out a flier with different information each day, Selby taught himself how to set up a MySpace account. He handed out one flier directing workers to his MySpace page, where he shared information the workers needed to know.
Veterans Council Is Newest Constituency Group
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Recognizing the service of the millions of veterans in the union movement, the AFL-CIO today voted to add the Union Veterans Council as the seventh AFL-CIO constituency group.
American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) President Thomas Lee, a Marine Corps veteran, said the establishment of the constituency group will bring together union members who are veterans to speak out on veterans issues and support the appointment of labor-friendly veterans to government agencies.
J. David Cox, secretary-treasurer of AFGE and a former VA nurse, said we owe our freedoms to those veterans who protected our freedoms.
