All articles tagged with #picket line
Minnesota doctors and healthcare workers staged their first union-led picket outside Allina Health clinics to protest stalled contract negotiations over administrative workload and staffing, highlighting broader healthcare labor unrest in the region.
The cast of Grey's Anatomy, including Kim Raver, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr., and Sarah Drew, reunited on the SAG-AFTRA picket line in support of the actors' union, which has been on strike for three months. The picket focused on honoring first responders portrayed by actors on screen. The actors' concerns include AI restrictions and the lack of residuals from streaming content. Contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) are ongoing.
The UAW has reported incidents of violence on union picket lines in various locations, including Flint, Center Line, and Marysville. These incidents involve clashes between picketers and individuals attempting to cross the picket line, resulting in injuries and tension. UAW President Shawn Fain blames the automakers for hiring "violent scabs" to break the strike, while Stellantis denies hiring replacement workers and accuses the UAW of escalating the situation with misleading statements. Both sides call for de-escalation and a swift resolution to the strike.
President Biden became the first sitting president to join a picket line, showing support for striking autoworkers in Michigan. He emphasized the importance of unions in building the middle class and called for better wages for the workers. The visit comes ahead of former President Trump's scheduled visit to the same area, highlighting the competition for working-class voters in a key swing state. Biden's clean-energy agenda and Trump's focus on job protection and criticism of Biden's policies are at the center of their competing messages.
Margot Robbie joins the picket line in support of the ongoing strike by SAG-AFTRA against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. She wore an oversize white T-shirt as a minidress, representing SAG-AFTRA, and completed her look with sunglasses, sneakers, and a picket sign. The strike is the first simultaneous strike by actors and screenwriters in over 60 years, with actors demanding better compensation in the streaming era and raising concerns over the use of artificial intelligence that could eliminate jobs.
Salaried workers who are not represented by a union can be required to cross a picket line during a labor strike, and refusing to do so may result in termination. However, if white-collar workers are unionized and have a clause in their contract allowing them to not cross a picket line, they are protected. Companies like Ford Motor Co. have been training salaried workers to assume blue-collar jobs in case of a strike, which some experts believe is a smart strategy, while others argue it can damage the relationship between the company and the union. The decision to cross a picket line is often seen as a matter of solidarity among union members, and refusing to do so can have practical and strategic implications in future labor negotiations.
Salaried workers who are not represented by a union can be required to cross a picket line during a labor strike, and refusing to do so may result in termination. However, if white-collar workers are unionized and have a clause in their contract allowing them to not cross a picket line, they are protected. Companies like Ford Motor Co. have been training salaried workers to assume the jobs of blue-collar workers in case of a strike, which has raised concerns about the impact on worker relationships and product quality. The decision to cross a picket line or not can be complicated for families with both white-collar and blue-collar workers, as it may break solidarity or provide necessary income during a work stoppage. Union members often refuse to cross other picket lines out of solidarity and the hope for reciprocity in future strikes.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike has reached Day 100, with streaming residuals being a major point of contention. The WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have finally met to discuss a potential resolution. Meanwhile, actors and wrestlers have shown support for the strike on the picket lines, including a reunion of Parks and Recreation cast members. The strike has also highlighted labor issues at Netflix and the ongoing filming of Jeopardy! despite the strike. The WGA strike is now one of the longest in history, surpassing 100 days.
On the 100th day of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, writers continue to show their solidarity by picketing at major studios in Los Angeles. Despite the challenges they have faced, including extreme weather conditions, the writers remain resolute in their cause. Regular picketers express gratitude for the support they receive from fellow writers and actors, emphasizing the importance of unity and togetherness. The strike has garnered support from various individuals and committees, including the Latinx Writers Committee and the LGBTQ+ Writers Committee. Negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) continue, with the writers confident in their eventual victory.
Thousands of WGA and SAG-AFTRA members gathered at NBCUniversal's picket line in Los Angeles, celebrating the removal of fencing and the newly paved sidewalk. The massive turnout, one of the largest since the strikes began, was fueled by accusations of malicious tree-trimming and construction interference. The picket line was closed early due to the overwhelming number of participants. The unions have filed complaints against the studio, alleging unsafe conditions and interference with picketing activity. Talks between the WGA and AMPTP were met with mixed feelings, with some seeing it as a positive step and others as a mere distraction.
Wabtec, a locomotive plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) have reached a court-approved consent decree to regulate the conduct of striking employees on the picket lines. The agreement, similar to one reached in 2019, limits the number of picketers at each gate to 10 at a time and prohibits harassment and interference with the company's operations. The consent decree also prohibits physical violence, vandalism, and mass picketing. The enforcement of the decree falls under the responsibility of law enforcement agencies. The strike, which began on June 22, is due to a stalemate over a new labor contract.
Daniel Radcliffe and his girlfriend Erin Darke brought their newborn baby to the Screen Actors Guild picket line in New York City. The couple joined the strike in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA members, who are demanding better pay, working conditions, and provisions on artificial intelligence. Radcliffe expressed his joy about becoming a first-time parent, describing it as the "literal best thing that's ever happened." The strikes by SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America have disrupted Hollywood, with film and television productions shutting down.
Writers Guild of America (WGA) strikers at Universal Studios express frustration over the pruning of trees on the picket line, making it challenging to walk and find shade. Universal claims the annual pruning was done for safety reasons ahead of the high wind season and expresses support for the WGA's right to demonstrate. The WGA is also facing difficulties finding safe places to march due to ongoing construction. SAG-AFTRA is redirecting its members to picket at Warner Bros. and Disney instead. Despite the obstacles, WGA picketers remain determined to continue their strike until a fair deal is reached.
Actress Mandy Moore joined the picket line in Los Angeles to show her support for the joint SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike. She posted pictures on Instagram and defended her fellow union members against critics. This historic strike is the first time in 63 years that writers and actors have gone on strike simultaneously, leading to the shutdown of numerous film and television productions until negotiations are made.
Writers Brian Egeston and Gabriel Alejandro Garza were peacefully protesting on the set of the Starz/Lionsgate series BMF in Atlanta when line producer Ian Woolf allegedly drove his SUV at them "as though it were a weapon and slammed the breaks within six feet of writers." Woolf claimed he was trying to scare them away. Lionsgate has launched an investigation into the incident, and the WGA is working with those involved to hold Woolf accountable.