All articles tagged with #pay and benefits
Teachers unions across California are considering strikes due to ongoing contract disputes over pay, benefits, and classroom conditions, inspired by recent successful strikes and coordinated campaigns, with several districts, including Los Angeles and Sacramento, facing potential walkouts.
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued guidance for its workforce during the 2025 federal shutdown, detailing how employees can stay informed, the impact on pay and duties, available support services, and specific procedures for military and civilian personnel, emphasizing that essential operations will continue while non-essential activities are halted.
Unions representing nearly 64,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers in California, Oregon, and Washington have authorized a strike if a new contract is not reached by September 30. The workers, including nurses and support staff, are demanding better pay and improved staffing levels. In addition to the three states, workers in Colorado have also authorized a strike, and union members in other states may follow suit. The unions are seeking a four-year contract with pay hikes and an annual performance bonus. This strike could potentially be the largest ever health care worker strike in the United States.
School districts across the United States are grappling with a severe shortage of school bus drivers, causing delays and cancellations during the first week back to class. The shortage is attributed to a changing workforce, licensing issues, student behavior problems, and low pay and scheduling obstacles. The industry is transitioning from part-time drivers to young minority males, who often use school bus driving as a stepping stone to better-paying full-time jobs. The average school bus driver earns just over $40,000 per year, and recruiting new drivers has become a significant challenge for school districts. The pandemic provided temporary solutions by utilizing bus drivers for food delivery and remote learning support, but now the competition from companies like Amazon, which offer higher wages, has exacerbated the problem.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has set a deadline of August 24 for its members to vote on authorizing strikes at the Detroit Three automakers if a new contract deal is not reached before the current agreement expires in about 30 days. UAW President Shawn Fain expressed frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, urging members to approve the strike authorization to demonstrate their dissatisfaction. The union is seeking improved pay and benefits, an end to the two-tier pay system, and inclusion of workers at joint-venture battery plants in the contracts. The automakers have emphasized the need for flexibility as the industry shifts to electric vehicles. President Joe Biden has called for a fair agreement before the contracts expire. The chances of a strike are estimated to be greater than 50%.
UPS CEO Carol Tomé announced that drivers at the company will average $170,000 in pay and benefits, including health care and pensions, at the end of a five-year contract with the Teamsters Union. The agreement, which covers around 340,000 workers, is currently being voted on and is expected to be ratified in two weeks. The deal includes a raise for part-time workers to at least $21 an hour and an end to mandatory overtime on drivers' days off. This is the latest example of workers successfully negotiating higher pay in various industries.