July 25, 2024 news roundup
Welcome back to The Local, a publication of the NYC-DSA Labor Working Group reporting every two weeks. Send any tips, corrections, and other feedback to thenyclocal@substack.com. In this issue, the Bronx Defenders reach a tentative agreement on the eve of a potential strike, United Airlines flight attendants take up a strike authorization vote, and the International Longshoremen’s Association threatens to shut down all ports on the East and Gulf Coasts this fall.
Organizing
Workers at the Starbucks location at Broadway and Canal vote to join Workers United.
1199SEIU’s Optum Medical Care campaign rolls on as another location in Mount Kisco votes 7-0 to join the union, and a residual unit of nonprofessional workers at the same location also organize for an election.
Physician assistants at Mount Sinai Queens vote 32-2 to join 1199SEIU.
Two more units of workers (dancers and production workers) at New York Live Arts are organizing with the New York Live Arts Union.
UFT petitions to clarify a bargaining unit at the Winchendon School.
Workers at Think Coffee are organizing as Think Coffee Workers United.
Photo Credit: Alexandra Chan
Bargaining & Action
7/9: The Catholic Migration Service Union picketed as they continue to demand a one-year contract with a living wage.
7/11: Over 600 workers at various Amazon facilities across the city signed a petition making the demands for $25/hour starting salary, Juneteenth a holiday, faster conversion time of seasonal workers to full time, and paid time and a half on Prime Day.
7/12: The International Longshoremen’s Association – which represents tens of thousands of dockworkers at all ports along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico – are heading towards a possible strike on October 1 as negotiations over the master agreement with port operators stall.
7/15: Journalists at Lifehacker, Mashable, and PCMag reached a mutual agreement with Ziff Davis that included protections against AI and at least 2.5% yearly salary increases.
7/15: The Columbia University Resident Advisors Collective and Student Workers of Columbia filed an unfair labor practice charge over the mistreatment of workers who’ve protested the school’s crackdown on protests in support of Palestine.
7/16: 28,000 United Airlines flight attendants with AFA-CWA are taking up a strike authorization vote as negotiations with management stall.
7/17: Over 1,000 Lyft and Uber drivers marched onto the Uber headquarters over the company’s practice of locking drivers out of the app due to improvements to worker pay.
7/18: The Bronx Defenders Union, part of UAW Local 2325, reached a tentative agreement with management, with the deal now going back to members.
7/18: PEN America United, part of UAW Region 9A, reached a tentative agreement after nearly two years of bargaining.
7/19: Resident physicians repped by CIR-SEIU rally outside Montefiore Hospital as they bargain for a first contract.
Albany
Transit Workers Union Local 100 and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams filed a lawsuit against Kathy Hochul to prevent the implementation of bus service reductions due to the failure to pass congestion pricing. [The City]
At the same time, TWU Local 100 has donated $18,000 to Hochul’s campaign coffers. [Gothamist]
The Chief Leader profiles Claire Valdez’s history as a worker and union organizer as she enters the home stretch of her run for State Assembly District 37. [The Chief Leader]
City Hall
The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection quarterly report on restaurant delivery workers showed a 64% increase in pay after the implementation of the agency’s minimum wage regulations. [The Chief]
The Cross-Union Retirees Organizing Committee (CROC) canvassed the Prospect Park greenmarket with city council member Shahana Hanif to raise awareness of the city’s continued fight to push retirees into Medicare Advantage. [Work Bites]
Now that the pay floor for delivery workers in New York City has set in, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection finds that delivery workers are making more money and working less. [The Chief Leader]
Miscellaneous
Seven unions representing 6 million workers call on President Biden to halt military aid to Israel – the unions are the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), American Postal Workers Union (APWU), International Union of Painters (IUPAT), National Education Association (NEA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Auto Workers (UAW) and United Electrical Workers (UE). [The Guardian]
Organized labor also rapidly aligns with Kamala Harris’ candidacy at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket – but the Teamsters and UAW hold out for now. [NBC News]
Teamsters international president Sean O’Brien speaks at the Republican National Convention – and draws criticism from his own international’s social media account (which was quickly taken down). [Politico]
There sure was a lot of great international soccer recently – and the European players’ union (along with the European leagues) is suing FIFA over the lack of rest between regular league play and the international tournaments. [Sky News]
Job Listings
The city recently updated its civil service exam schedule for FY 2025 that can be found here.
Education, Apprenticeship & Training Fund Director - IATSE Local 829 (Salary: $90,000 - $110,000)
Communications Specialist - SEIU Local 32BJ (Salary: $75,000 - $79,700)
Organizer - Doctors Council (Salary: $70,000)
A complete list of local union jobs can be found at unionjobs.com, alongside here is the complete list of New York City’s civil service exams. Additionally if you’re interested in taking a job in a strategic industry and want to be connected through the Labor Working Group, check out this form here.