By Doug Cunningham and JoAnne Pow!ers
Pro-union workers at T-Mobile attempting to organize are running into anti-union tactics, even though the parent company’s German operations are union. In March a National Labor relations Board judge found T-Mobile guilty of using illegal anti-union policies. The judge ordered T-Mobile to rescind the illegal labor practices affecting 40,000 workers. T-Mobile worker and Communications Workers of America supporter Paul Rose says there are other issues at T-Mobile that are fueling the union effort.
[Paul Rose]: “Your vacation and your sick time is all together. So if you get sick you basically forfeit your vacation. So it makes it impossible to pre-plan a vacation with your family. Also, just disparity in pay.”
—-
In New York City Carwasheros are celebrating the signing into law of historic legislation to regulate car washes and help protect workers. Dozens of car wash workers cheered as elected officials and RWDSU union leader Stuart Appelbaum gathered for Mayor Bill de Blasio’s signing of the law. The Car Wash Accountability Act requires all of New York City’s roughly 200 car washes to be licensed and regulated. It’s designed to prevent wage theft and other labor violations against the mostly immigrant car wash workers.
—-
Millions of U.S. workers not currently eligible for overtime pay will be under a new Obama administration labor rule. It will put more money into the pockets of up to five million workers. Right now salaried workers who make more than $23,660 a year cannot claim overtime pay. The executive order from Obama will increase that threshold to $50,440 a year. Since this change increases worker take home pay rather than cutting it, Republican leaders are against it. Business groups are also against it because instead of putting more earned income in workers pockets, they want to keep that money in their pockets. AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka says the overtime rules change is a critically important step toward raising wages.
—-
With negotiations over a new contract stalled, Bus Drivers and Mechanics in Milwaukee, Wisconsin walked off the job at 3AM Wednesday morning, beginning a three day work stoppage. Transit officials on Friday offered a four-year contract that included a paltry one percent raise in 2017, larger employee contributions to health care premiums, and an increase in hiring of part time workers. Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 voted overwhelmingly Monday to reject the contract. James Macon is president of the union:
[James Macon]: “We believe in family supporting jobs. Why would we agree to them bringing 400 part time workers in with no benefits, and not paying into a pension that will eventually deteriorate ‘cause you don’t have people paying into it, you just have people collecting. These are the main issues.”
The stoppage is expected to affect 150,000 daily riders, plus thousands attending Milwaukee’s Summerfest music festival