All articles tagged with #labor practices
Originally Published 4 months ago — by The Guardian
A year after Brian Niccol became CEO of Starbucks, the company remains at odds with its unionized workers, who have criticized staffing, pay, and working conditions despite union growth and protests. Negotiations for a fair contract have stalled, and workers continue to push for better wages and protections, highlighting a significant ongoing labor dispute.
Originally Published 7 months ago — by Tacoma News Tribune
Pierce County grocery workers represented by UFCW Local 367 have authorized a potential strike against Kroger brands Fred Meyer and QFC, as well as Albertsons and Safeway, due to disputes over unfair labor practices and negotiations for a new contract. No strike date has been set, and both sides remain engaged in negotiations.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Sky News
Striking New York Times tech workers, part of the New York Times Tech Guild, are urging people not to play games like Wordle or use the NYT cooking app as part of their protest against what they claim are unfair labor practices. The guild, which includes over 600 tech workers, began their strike just before the US presidential election, a critical time for the newspaper's data visualizations. They have launched a "strike-friendly" website offering alternative games and recipes. The New York Times expressed disappointment over the strike but is committed to negotiating a fair contract.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NBC News
The New York Times Tech Guild, representing over 600 tech workers, has initiated an unfair labor practice strike, citing management's failure to agree to a fair contract. The strike, which coincides with the presidential election, highlights issues such as pay equity, return-to-office policies, and a "just cause" provision. The NYT expressed disappointment over the timing but stated it has plans to maintain operations. The guild is urging public support by boycotting NYT's digital products during the strike.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Yahoo Finance
A third-party assessment of Starbucks' labor practices has found that the company lacks guidance on disciplining workers and measuring compliance with collective bargaining rights. The assessment, requested by shareholders, did not find evidence of an "antiunion playbook" but attributed missteps in dealing with unionized workers to a lack of preparation and mistakes by inexperienced staff. The report suggests that Starbucks enhance its human-rights commitment and provide clearer behavioral guidance for staff. The assessment also found that discharges at unionized locations occur at the same rate as nonunionized stores but recommends improving the framework and standards for staff discipline. Starbucks' board has expressed its commitment to taking meaningful action in response to the findings.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
Over 1,100 unionized DHL Express workers at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) went on strike, demanding a fair contract and protesting unfair labor practices. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, representing DHL workers, initiated the strike during the busiest time of the year. Negotiations for a first union contract began in July, and the Teamsters have filed multiple unfair labor practice complaints against DHL. The company expressed disappointment and stated that operations ran at full capacity with contingency plans in place. The strike follows a series of labor actions across various industries in 2023.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by KTLA Los Angeles
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is investigating allegations that hotels in L.A. County are hiring unhoused refugees from a shelter on Skid Row to replace striking union workers, particularly in the housekeeping departments. The union representing the striking workers brought the issue to the attention of the District Attorney, citing poor working conditions for the migrants hired. Some refugees confirmed being hired at hotels where workers were striking, with reports of heavy workloads and long hours. The investigation will focus on the alleged employment of unhoused refugees and claims that some were among migrants bussed to L.A. by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Hyperallergic
Influencers' social media content about a brand trip offered by Shein, a Chinese fast fashion retailer, backfired as they faced backlash for promoting a company accused of forced Uyghur labor, human rights violations, and environmental pollution. Memes and TikToks mocking the influencers and Shein's business practices went viral, highlighting the ongoing issues in the fast fashion industry. Despite the controversy, Shein's business is expected to continue as usual, with consumers condemning the company's practices while still purchasing its products.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The New York Times
Fast-fashion retailer Shein flew influencers to China in an attempt to counter allegations of forced labor and poor working conditions. The influencers were supposed to post positive content about the company, but their videos were met with incredulity and backlash on social media. Shein has been forced to issue a statement and conduct a "wellness check" on the influencers. The trip has become a cautionary tale for marketers, highlighting the risks of using influencers to improve a company's reputation. Shein has faced criticism for its labor practices and business model, and the influencer trip has drawn even more attention to these allegations.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by TechCrunch
Shein invited a group of influencers to tour one of its factories in Guangzhou, China, in an attempt to improve its image. However, commenters were quick to point out that the highly curated brand trip did not reflect the reality of Shein factory working conditions. Shein has faced criticism for stealing indie designers' work, violating local labor laws, and exemplifying the worst of fast fashion's environmental impact. The Chinese fast fashion giant did $100 billion in sales in 2022, up from $10 billion in 2020.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Fox Business
Senator Bernie Sanders is launching a Senate investigation into the "dangerous and illegal conditions" at Amazon facilities, claiming that the company made a "calculated decision" to treat workers as "disposable" and "actively harm workers in the name of its bottom line." The investigation highlights the latest effort by the U.S. government to hold Amazon accountable over its labor practices. Sanders called Amazon one of the "most dangerous" places in America to work, detailing monitoring techniques "to pressure and intimidate workers into working as hard and fast as possible" until employees reach "a breaking point."
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CBS News
Senator Bernie Sanders has launched a Senate investigation into Amazon's labor practices, calling conditions at the company's warehouses "dangerous and illegal." The investigation is being spearheaded by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, of which Sanders is chair. The committee has also launched a website where current and former Amazon employees are encouraged to share stories of their workplace experiences while at the company. Amazon has long been criticized for its alleged labor practices, with reports of workers urinating in bottles to avoid taking breaks dating back to 2021.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Washington Post
Senator Bernie Sanders has launched an investigation into Amazon's labor practices, demanding information about injury rates, employee turnover, productivity targets, and adherence to safety recommendations. Sanders has criticized Amazon's attitude towards workers and lack of respect for them, and has previously targeted Starbucks for refusing to bargain a contract with workers who voted to unionize. Amazon has responded that it is reviewing Sanders' letter and has invited him to tour one of its warehouses. Sanders has requested a response from Amazon by July 5.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Guardian US
Workers at the secretive and elite club Bohemian Grove have filed a lawsuit alleging unfair labor practices, including 16-hour workdays without breaks and a failure to pay overtime and minimum wages. The club, which attracts some of the world's most powerful people, has been the subject of fascination and conspiracy theories. The lawsuit seeks class-action status and up to $1.5m in damages from the all-male club. This is not the first time the club has faced such allegations, having paid $7m in a similar case in 2016.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by WGRZ.com
Former Starbucks employees claim that the company fired shift supervisor Alexis Rizzo in retaliation for supporting the union and that she was not the only one facing such retaliation. The company fired Sam Amato and Victoria Conklin for allegedly closing the store lobby without permission and coming to work late, respectively. The former employees describe Starbucks as a hostile work environment and are fighting the company before the National Labor Relations Board. A Federal Labor Judge ordered Starbucks to reinstate several workers that were fired in Buffalo. A Gofundme has been started for Alexis Rizzo to help her financially.