State of the Unions

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October 2008
- Details of Palin's Union Membership Prove Elusive
  
  Las Vegas Sun | Oct 7, 08 2:45 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - John McCain described Sarah Palin as a former union member when introducing his running mate in August, but was she? The Las Vegas Sun has been trying to find conclusive proof, but so far Palin’s union experience remains unclear. McCain officials were initially unresponsive, while her Alaskan office said: “I don’t believe the governor has ever been a member of a union.” More »
- Bollywood Strike Over; Talent Prevails
  
  BBC | Oct 3, 08 6:20 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The 2-day-old strike involving almost 150,000 Bollywood film workers has been settled, the BBC reports. Producers agreed to abide by an agreement that limits filming sessions to 12 hours and provides generous compensation and timely payment. "The strike is over and tomorrow we will resume work," the head of the producers' association told AFP. More »
September 2008
- Sides Dig In Despite Boeing Strike Costs
  
  Seattle Times | Sep 29, 08 1:35 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Machinists employed by Boeing have been on strike for more than 3 weeks, with no end in sight; analysts say if the stoppage reaches a month, it could cost the aircraft maker $1.3 billion, the Seattle Times reports. The union sees its position as good, given Boeing’s huge backlog of orders, but a downturn in the airline industry could put workers on shaky ground. More »
- Calif. Guards Vow to Recall Governator
  
  Sacramento Bee | Sep 8, 08 6:41 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A union of angry California peace officers vowed today to recall Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Sacramento Bee reports. The guards have struggled with the Governator over pay and prison policies, and lost patience this summer when he cut salaries to minimum wage. “It's gone beyond professional,” union spokesman Lance Corcoran said. “It’s gotten to personal.” More »
August 2008
- Boeing Union Slams Offer, Urges Workers to Strike
  
  Seattle Post-Intelligencer | Aug 29, 08 9:21 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Boeing union leaders are urging members to turn down the company’s latest offer and go on strike, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. Union chiefs have also filed a charge of unfair labor practice against management for "direct dealing with our members." Machinists plan to vote on Boeing's offer Wednesday and will need a two-thirds majority ballot to walk off the job. More »
- Verizon, Unions Reach Deal
  
  Wall Street Journal | Aug 11, 08 6:38 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Verizon Communications and two labor unions representing 65,000 workers struck a 3-year deal yesterday, staving off a strike set for today, reports the Wall Street Journal. The contract, which replaces one that expired Aug. 2, adds 2,500 union jobs and protects the health benefits of current union members and retirees. More »
- SEIU Local Paid Big Bucks to Relatives' Firm
  
  Los Angeles Times | Aug 9, 08 7:05 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - California's biggest union local has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on companies owned by its president's relatives, the Los Angeles Times reports. The SEIU local for low-wage caregivers, and a related charity, paid six figures to a video company run by the wife and mother-in-law of union President Tyrone Freeman. He defends the expenses, which include nearly $300,000 on a golf tournament and $10,000 on a celebrity cigar lounge. More »
July 2008
- Actors Guild Suffers Blow as Smaller Union OKs Contract
  
  Los Angeles Times | Jul 9, 08 9:19 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Despite a campaign by the larger Screen Actors Guild to convince them otherwise, members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists yesterday approved a new contract with Hollywood studios, the Los Angeles Times reports. The ratification is seen as signaling weak support for an actors strike as SAG continues negotiations on its own deal with studios. More »
- Actors Won't Strike—Yet
  
  E! Online | Jul 1, 08 8:19 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The contract between the Screen Actors Guild and Hollywood studios expired early today—but SAG has decided to let members keep working for the time being, E! Online reports. The two sides are scheduled to reconvene tomorrow. The Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers made it what it called a “final offer” last night, but SAG officials were skeptical. More »
June 2008
- Hollywood Strike Talk Might Be Just an Act
  
  Variety | Jun 5, 08 3:56 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Uncertainty still reigns in Hollywood as the largest actors union, the Screen Actors Guild, faces a pair of tough choices, Variety reports. SAG could try to sabotage a deal reached by the smaller American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and it will need to get its members to authorize a strike if its contract with studios expires June 30 without a new agreement. More »
May 2008
- US, UK Workers to Create First Trans-Atlantic Union
  
  Wall Street Journal | May 24, 08 10:07 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Workers from the US and UK are close to joining forces in what would be the first trans-Atlantic labor union, the Wall Street Journal reports. United Steelworkers is in talks with Britain’s Unite to create a 3-million-member group that would act as a single union in the US, Canada, Britain, and Ireland, fighting for workers’ interests amid multi-national companies. More »
- Big Unions Cut Secret Deals With Employers
  
  Wall Street Journal | May 10, 08 6:25 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Two of America's biggest unions have made secret deals with major employers that let the companies choose where workers can organize and how many of them can do so, the Wall Street Journal reports. The unions, SEIU and Unite Here, say the confidential agreements have gotten more workers into unions, and they defend not letting their members know about them. More »
- Teamsters, Obama Deny Quid Pro Quo
  
  Wall Street Journal | May 5, 08 1:37 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Before winning the Teamsters’ endorsement, Barack Obama said he’d support ending government oversight of the union, an unusual stance for a presidential candidate, reports the Wall Street Journal . An independent board has policed the historically organized-crime-influenced Teamsters since 1992; Bill Clinton, John Kerry, and Al Gore left the matter to the Justice Department. More »
- Dockworkers Strike Against Iraq War
  
  Los Angeles Times | May 1, 08 4:25 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - In an action their union says is a protest against the war in Iraq, dockworkers from Washington to Southern California have taken May Day off, crippling West Coast port traffic, the Los Angeles Times reports. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, whose contract is up in 2 months, was ordered by an arbitrator to show up today. More »
April 2008
- Writers Strike Fallout Lingers Behind the Scenes
  
  Los Angeles Times | Apr 28, 08 3:57 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Even though the writers’ strike ended 2 month ago, TV production crew members are still working less than usual and feeling the financial burn, the LA Times reports. The networks took a cautious approach after the strike, putting many shows on hold until next season and ordering fewer episodes of those that returned. Location permits are down 43% from last year. More »
- BP Strike Shuts Down Top UK Oil Refinery
  
  Associated Press | Apr 27, 08 1:27 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Britain is facing an oil pinch after workers walked off a Scottish oil refinery today over pension issues, the AP reports. The 48-hour BP strike will halt 700,000 barrels of UK oil a day, nearly one-third of its North Sea supply. But 10 Downing St. is urging drivers not to hoard gas. "There is plenty of petrol and diesel in Scotland to meet demand during this time," one official said. More »
- Strike Keeps Le Monde Off Newsstands
  
  Times (UK) | Apr 15, 08 6:19 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Le Monde was absent from French streets today for the first time in more than 30 years as staff went on strike at the debt-ridden newspaper. In the ongoing battle over the future of the prestigious evening title, which saw the editor-in-chief pushed out, management is now trying to eliminate 130 jobs, or 25% of journalists. That was too much for staff, who walked off, reports the Times of London. More »