All articles tagged with #labor issues
Miguel Marchese, a bartender at Hazie’s in Hayes Valley, was fired after a viral video showed him defending staff from aggressive customers, with the restaurant citing insurance risks and social media comments as reasons. The incident has highlighted ongoing management issues, including wage and tip theft investigations and disputes over medical reimbursement accounts, amid community support for the staff.
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have held preliminary talks about the sport's economic structure, signaling the start of discussions that could lead to a lockout if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached before the current one expires in December 2026. The talks are mostly symbolic at this stage, with substantive negotiations expected to begin next spring, amid ongoing disagreements over issues like salary caps.
American Airlines is facing significant challenges, including labor disputes with pilots and flight attendants, executive pay controversies, and strategic missteps in sales channels. The airline's profitability heavily relies on its loyalty program, while its core operations struggle to turn a profit. Recent management changes and strategic reversals have added to the turmoil, raising questions about the airline's future stability and ability to improve customer and employee satisfaction.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty, a member of the MLB Players Association's executive subcommittee, discussed the recent meeting that raised the idea of replacing the union's deputy director. The meeting aimed to prepare for the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations as the current CBA expires in December 2026. Flaherty emphasized the importance of player involvement and continuous discussions leading up to the negotiations, expressing concerns about the state of the game under the current CBA, particularly regarding free agency and team spending. The meeting also saw discussions about potential changes in union leadership, with supporters of a former MLBPA lawyer criticizing the effectiveness of the current leadership.
All employees at a Dollar General store in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, quit simultaneously, citing low pay, overwork, and a lack of appreciation. The store was closed for about three hours before a new staff was brought in. The former general manager and staff members had already lined up new jobs and expressed frustration over the company's food donation policy, which they felt was wasteful. Dollar General stated its commitment to providing a supportive work environment for its employees and following Feeding America donation guidelines.
A coalition of labor unions has criticized Starbucks' handling of labor issues, claiming that the company's board has failed to address critical human capital management issues, resulting in reputational risk and negative impacts on shareholder value. Starbucks has defended its board and highlighted its efforts to address labor concerns, including appointing a new CEO and adding new board members. Despite some stores voting to unionize, the company continues to face challenges in its labor relations as it seeks to improve employee and customer experiences.
Baristas from 21 Starbucks stores across 14 states have announced plans to unionize, demanding higher wages, fair scheduling, improved benefits, and a safe workplace. This move comes as part of a larger campaign by Workers United, with roughly 400 Starbucks stores having already formed unions. The company has faced accusations of illegal actions against union supporters, and the union is pushing for a nationwide collective bargaining agreement. The baristas are seeking a minimum pay of $20 per hour, annual raises of 5%, and guaranteed hours, among other proposals, while Starbucks has been accused of withholding benefits from unionized stores.
Alphabet has terminated its contract with Appen, an Australian AI data firm that helped train Google's chatbot Bard and other AI products, impacting at least two thousand subcontracted workers. Appen, which has struggled with declining revenue and stock prices, has had conflicts with Google in the past over labor issues. The company will now focus on managing costs and turning the business around after the termination of the Google contract.
Walgreens, facing financial pressures and labor issues, has announced the cancellation of corporate bonuses for its staff and significant reductions in bonuses for store and pharmacy managers. The decision comes as the company deals with disappointing earnings and ongoing walkouts by pharmacy staff demanding improved working conditions. Walgreens' fiscal problems include mounting debt, budget cuts, theft, leadership turnover, and understaffing. The cancellation of bonuses is unrelated to labor matters, according to the company. The move follows a credit rating downgrade and a decline in Walgreens' stock price. CVS, another major drugstore chain, is also facing worker unrest and a decline in its stock price.
President Biden is facing pressure from Democratic lawmakers to join striking United Auto Workers (UAW) on the picket line, as former President Donald Trump plans to visit a strike site in Detroit. Democrats want Biden to highlight the party's support for working people and labor issues. While Biden has backed the UAW strike and called on automakers to improve wage proposals, he has not indicated whether he will visit the picket line. UAW leadership has expressed a desire for a presidential visit. Some Democrats believe Biden's presence would demonstrate solidarity and advocate for economic justice, while conservatives argue that the president should remain neutral in private disputes.
Greek ferry crews have announced a 24-hour strike on September 13th, citing safety and labor concerns following the death of a passenger who was pushed into the sea by a crew member. The strike is expected to cause disruptions to travel to Greece's popular island destinations. The PNO union, which called for the strike, highlighted the improper implementation of laws and regulations on shipping and harbor safety, overworked crew members, and unreasonable ferry sailing schedules as severe safety concerns. An investigation is underway into the incident, and two senior Piraeus port police officers have been suspended.
The price war triggered by Tesla in China's auto industry has led to millions of auto workers and suppliers feeling the impact, with cuts in bonuses, overtime, and wages. The price war has forced carmakers to reduce costs, leading to production cuts, factory closures, and penny-pinching on various expenses. The industry's distress is hitting living standards and consumer confidence, potentially becoming a drag on economic growth. China's auto sector, despite having huge production capacity, is facing stagnant domestic demand and pressure on household incomes. Auto suppliers are also facing pressure to reduce costs, negotiate lower prices, and cut prices for automakers.
Chris Keyser, co-chair of the Writers Guild of America negotiating committee, emphasized the importance of resolving key issues in the ongoing writers strike, including pay erosion, abuse of screenwriters, and the failure to protect Appendix A writers in the move to streaming. Keyser stated that the AMPTP is currently "wrestling amongst themselves" and ramping up their public relations, but acknowledged that they will eventually have to offer more than usual due to the strike. The strike has reached its four-month mark, with no recent communication between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
United Airlines has agreed in principle to raise pilot pay by up to 40% after reaching an agreement with the pilots' union, addressing ongoing labor issues in the sector.
Union Pacific has paused rail shipments of exports and empty containers destined for the Port of Los Angeles due to ongoing West Coast port labor issues. This move reflects the supply chain issues that have arisen, as shippers can find other ports to send goods rather than have them sit for extended periods of time in containers before reaching their intended destinations. Negotiations between the ILWU longshoremen union and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) continue to go on as scheduled this week, with the subject of wages still being hammered out.