unions
Latest
Microsoft agrees to union contract terms involving the use of AI
Microsoft and the Communications Workers of America union have reached an agreement regarding the use of AI with regard to employee rights. This is the first US instance of collective bargaining in Microsoft’s history.
Apple reportedly won't challenge historic Maryland store unionization vote
Apple will reportedly not challenge the recent vote by employees at its Towson Town Center retail location in Maryland to unionize.
Apple attempts to appease union efforts with scheduling improvements
The company is offering even more concessions to retail workers since raising pay.
A pregnant worker and labor activist says Amazon made her pick up trash alone
Two Amazon warehouse employees have accused the company of retaliating against them for their efforts to organize workers at a warehouse in Liverpool, New York.
New York AG's lawsuit again Amazon dismissed by appeals court
The lawsuit claimed that Amazon violated healthy and safety measures and retaliated against workers.
Hitting the Books: Dodge, Detroit and the Revolutionary Union Movement of 1968
In the excerpt below from Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor, journalist Kim Kelly recalls the wildcat strikes across the American auto industry in 1967, coinciding with the emergence of DRUM, the Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement.
Hyundai's electrified Genesis GV70 will be its first EV manufactured in the US
Hyundai will manufacture EVs in the US starting in December this year with the electrified Genesis GV70 crossover model.
Amazon is planning to appeal Staten Island union’s victory
Workers last week voted to form the company’s first US union.
Vodeo becomes the first unionized games studio in North America
Vodeo Games, which was founded this year by Threes designer Ashley Vollmer, has successfully unionized with CODE-CWA.
Recommended Reading: Breaking down 'Zack Snyder’s Justice League'
Recommended Reading highlights the week's best long-form writing on technology and more.
Google union files first complaint over alleged labor abuses
The Alphabet Workers Union says Google contract workers were banned from discussing pay, allegedly violating US labor law.
Elon Musk may have violated US labor laws during tweet storm
When Elon Musk had a twitter meltdown a few days ago in response to bad press about Tesla factory safety, he may have actually said something illegal. According to Bloomberg, the United Auto Workers union is asking a federal labor board to investigate a tweet by Musk that could be interpreted as threatening to take away stock options if employees join a union. It's illegal for an employer to threaten retaliation for organizing.
Seattle votes to let Lyft and Uber drivers unionize
The Seattle City Council's voted unanimously (9 - 0) that drivers for Lyft and Uber can form unions. The decision is much more complex than the drivers simply being able to organize and collectively bargain for better wages or benefits, though. The ruling is actually illegal, but it's up to a federal court to rule against it for the law to be reversed. The Seattle Times editorial board writes that the decision breaking national anti-trust laws was something that city officials knew about when voting during tonight's lame duck session, while The New York Times acknowledges that the decision is something that's likely to be challenged in court.
Bernie Sanders joins Verizon union workers' picket in NYC
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders put his campaign where his mouth is on Monday when he spoke at a picket line with Verizon union workers in New York City. Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers organized the picket, which aims to bolster support for 40,000 Verizon employees nationwide as they continue a months-long contract battle with the communication giant. In June, Verizon proposed a new union contract, but CWA takes issue with some of its key points, including suggested pay increases, the structure of pension benefits, health care contributions, whether Verizon can contract out or offshore union jobs, and employees' vacation time. The union also criticizes Verizon for failing to implement its FiOS service in promised regions.
Apple Store employee moves to create a union
The employee who formed the Apple Retail Workers Union in May has revealed himself to be Cory Moll, a part-time employee at a San Francisco Apple store. Moll told Reuters that he decided to go public with his union stance in order to encourage other like-minded employees to come forward. In order to unionize, a majority of workers need to support the idea before a union can be formed. Moll says there's currently less than 50 percent interest in most of Apple's stores, "...but as people talk about it, we could get close in a couple of stores." Apple confirmed to Reuters that Moll has been an employee for four years. He makes US$14 an hour at the San Francisco store where he works. The San Francisco minimum wage is $9.92 per hour. In addition to a website, Moll has set up a Twitter account and Facebook page to rally others to his cause.
Group looking to form Apple Retail Workers Union
Today, we received an email from an organization calling itself the Apple Retail Workers Union. The organization is trying to garner enough support among Apple retail employees to unionize. From the email: On May 19, 2001, Apple opened the doors to its first retail stores. It encouraged people to "shop different." Ten years later, the people of Apple are coming together to "work different." We are launching today to get fellow employees, shoppers, and the world know that we work in one of the most demanding retail environments while suffering through unfair treatment and compensation among many other various issues. We deserve better. Our time has come. This campaign is by and for the workers of Apple's retail stores in the United States. A spokesperson for the ARWU told Macworld that employees from "some stores in the Pacific Northwest may be talking amongst themselves" about forming a union, and that "an attempt at [the] Alderwood store... is the closest anyone has come to collective action" at Apple's retail stores. The spokesman, who wished to remain anonymous, works at an Apple store "in the Bay area" and said the "unfair treatment" it cited in its email "included break schedules, training opportunities, the selection and hiring process for internal candidates for open positions, and wages," according to Macworld. With all the demonizing of unions going on right now, it's probably not the best time for the fledgling ARWU to attempt this, but hey, at least they're giving it a go in the Pacific Northwest first and not in more hostile places, such as Wisconsin.
The Perfect Ten: Predictions for The Old Republic
I'm going to share with you a deep secret about the Massively staff: Pretty much all of us hate Larry. Oh, as a person he's likable enough, and he showers regularly, so no complaints there. He even saved the President's dog once and earned the Merit of Patriotic Pooches. Women swoon at his feet, and men occasionally throw their billfolds at him just so that he can afford to live the luxurious lifestyle that he obviously deserves. No, we hate him for a different reason entirely. You see, Larry gets the privilege and honor of being the Star Wars: The Old Republic reporter in these here parts, which has earned him no end of envy from the rest of us. Whenever we're all talking about TOR, Shawn will come in the room and tell all of us to cut it out -- except Larry. "Larry, it's your job to talk about The Old Republic. Keep on truckin', pal! You're the best!" And then Larry sticks his tongue out at us and makes pretend lightsaber noises for an hour or so while we grit our teeth. But then I remembered: I have a top ten column! In which I can talk about anything! And if that subject so happened to be TOR, then for one glorious week I could actually talk about BioWare's upcoming MMO without fear of reprisal from upper management! So today is all about my predictions for The Old Republic. Nine of them will come true; one will not. Have fun guessing which one!
Mobiles blamed for cyberbullying, dubbed 'offensive weapons'
As if the UK didn't have enough gadget-related mischievousness going on, here's another liter of fuel for the perpetual fire. NASUWT -- that's the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers for those out of the loop -- is suggesting that mobile phones be classified as "potentially offensive weapons" and banned from school premises, all because a select few students found it necessary to use their handset to engage in "cyberbullying." Apparently, some students have used the camera function in their phones to snap pictures of their instructor, only to then post said images on "rating websites that can damage teachers' self esteem and careers." Sheesh, first iPods, now mobiles -- what are kids to do? Study?[Image courtesy of Textually]
