All articles tagged with #seiu
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is broadening Friday’s economic blackout in Minnesota against ICE operations into a nationwide action, with planned protests in several major U.S. cities as labor and faith groups express solidarity over immigration enforcement and related concerns; Minnesota AFL-CIO endorsed the day of action and dozens of local workplaces plan to close while communities call for ICE to stand down.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vowed to block a proposed 2026 ballot measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on residents worth more than $1 billion, arguing it would hurt the state's economy and push investments out of California. The measure, backed by SEIU, faces opposition from tech moguls and business groups who warn it could drive the ultra-wealthy to relocate. Signature threshold to qualify remains 900,000, and the issue has emerged as a political flashpoint as billionaires react and lawmakers mobilize against the plan.
California's new law mandating a $20 hourly minimum wage at quick-service restaurants has led to higher prices, job cuts, and shuttered businesses, despite warnings from business owners and trade groups. The compromise law eliminated joint employer liability but still poses challenges for small business owners. The Biden Administration's NLRB is pursuing a similar joint employer policy at the national level, and small business owners in California are facing an unfriendly climate, leading to job losses and business relocations. Politicians, influenced by labor unions, are pushing for even higher minimum wages, but voters are starting to push back against these policies.
The Senate confirmed Nicole Berner, a longtime union lawyer and former Planned Parenthood litigator, as a federal judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. Berner's confirmation is a win for progressives and diversity in the judiciary, as she will be the third openly lesbian judge on a U.S. appeals court. Her background in labor law and reproductive rights cases, as well as her personal experience as a litigant in an LGBTQ rights case in Israel, make her a significant addition to the court.
Non-disclosure agreements were used in the negotiations of California's fast food minimum wage law, preventing the public and industry from knowing the details of the discussions. The powerful Service Employees International Union (SEIU) reportedly directed all parties involved to sign these agreements, including representatives from major fast food corporations. Governor Gavin Newsom's office stated that he did not sign an NDA or direct anyone to do so. The use of NDAs in legislative negotiations has raised concerns about transparency and disclosure in the lawmaking process.
Fast-food workers in California are forming a new union, affiliated with the Service Employees International Union, to advocate for improved pay and working conditions. The union aims to represent workers at major chains like McDonald’s and Subway, with priorities including raising the minimum wage, protecting workers from unjust firing, and ensuring adequate scheduling. The union faces challenges in growing its ranks, but has already secured a minimum wage increase to $20 an hour for some 500,000 fast-food workers in the state.
Republicans grilled Nicole Berner, a nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, during her confirmation hearing over her past statements against right-to-work laws and her support for Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Berner, the general counsel for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), faced questions about her response to sexual harassment allegations within the SEIU and her advocacy work on behalf of the union. Republicans accused her of dodging their questions and raised concerns about her views on worker representation and unionizing incarcerated workers. Berner defended her past statements as an advocate and emphasized that her role as a judge would be different.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that will raise the minimum wage for health care workers in the state to $25 per hour. The wage increase aims to address the workforce shortage in the health care sector, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. The governor's office was not directly involved in the negotiations between hospitals, clinics, and unions, but labor leaders have praised the decision. The bill also includes provisions to preempt any local ordinances and halt a ballot initiative seeking dialysis industry regulation. The estimated cost of the wage increase is over $1 billion per year.
Hundreds of janitors and supporters marched from the Sony lot to Amazon Studios to support striking Hollywood writers and protest alleged layoffs at major entertainment companies during the ongoing work stoppage. About 50 janitors have been laid off since the work stoppage began on May 2, while others have seen their hours cut. The cuts have occurred across all major studios, according to the union, though it name-checks Paramount and Radford Studio Center in particular.
Resident physicians at Mass General Brigham have voted to unionize, with 75% of those who voted supporting the move. The new bargaining unit will represent around 2,500 resident physicians and fellows across several of the system's hospitals. Residents are seeking better pay, benefits, and working conditions to accommodate their tough schedules and help them afford the cost of living in Boston. The Committee of Interns and Residents, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, has been adding members at hospitals across the country. The election results must be certified by the National Labor Relations Board before union leaders can start polling members on their concerns and take those issues to the bargaining table.
Los Angeles Unified School District workers have approved a labor deal that includes a 30% wage increase for workers who earn an average of $25,000 a year, a $1,000 bonus for those who worked during the pandemic, and expanded family health care benefits. The contract still needs to be approved by the school district's Board of Education. Thousands of workers went on strike last month to demand better pay and increased staffing for bus drivers, cafeteria workers, teachers' aides, and other employees represented by the union. The school district serves more than half a million students in the area.
Los Angeles Unified School District workers have approved a labor deal that would increase wages by 30% for workers who are paid an average of $25,000 a year, the Local 99 chapter of the Service Employees International Union said. The contract still needs to be approved by the school district’s Board of Education. Thousands of workers backed by teachers went on strike last month and rallied outside the school district’s headquarters in downtown Los Angeles amid stalled contract talks.
Over 99% of the roughly 30,000 members of the Service Employees International Union Local 99 approved a "historic" labor agreement with the Los Angeles Unified School District, which includes a 30% pay raise, bonus payments, retroactive pay, and fully paid health benefits. The deal also provides health benefits for part-time employees, increased hours and pay for paraprofessionals, and invests $3 million in an Education and Professional Development Fund for SEIU members. The LAUSD Board of Education is expected to approve the agreement at its next regular board meeting on April 18.
The Los Angeles Unified School District and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have reached a tentative deal following a three-day strike by custodians, cafeteria workers, and special education aides. The deal includes a 30% wage increase, retroactive pay, and fully-paid health care benefits for certain workers and their families. The agreement will now go to union members for approval. The strike ended on Thursday with a huge rally at the Los Angeles State Historic Park.
The three-day strike by members of the Service Employees International Union Local 99, which represents roughly 30,000 LAUSD service workers, ended with no new contract, but the union and district will resume talks. The union is demanding a 30% salary boost, as well as an additional $2 an hour over the next four years and increased work hours for part-time workers. The LAUSD has countered with an offer of a 23% raise, plus a 3% cash in hand bonus and a $20 an hour minimum wage. The strike was supported by the United Teachers Los Angeles union, which is engaged in labor talks of its own with the district.