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☆ Marvel visual effects workers unanimously vote to unionize
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Marvel Studio’s VFX workers unanimously voted to unionize with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, marking the first time visual effects workers have unionized with IATSE, the union announced Wednesday. A still from Marvel Studios' Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, which kicked off phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel StudiosThe National Labor Relations Board oversaw the election, and the count was held Tuesday after the Marvel employees first filed for this election on August 7. Though this union only includes Marvel’s in-house VFX workers, its parent company Disney’s visual effects crews filed for their own election to unionize with the NLRB, and backed by IATSE, at the end of August. Now, the Marvel VFX workers will engage in collective bargaining negotiations with their employer to draft a contract.

Persons: Mark Patch, IATSE, “, Aladdin ”, ” Sarah Kazuko Chow Organizations: New, New York CNN, Marvel, International Alliance, IATSE, Marvel Studios, National Labor Relations Board, “, NLRB, Walt Disney Pictures, “ Pirates, ”, Disney’s, Writers Guild of America, SAG, CNN Locations: New York, Caribbean

☆ Grindr loses about half its workers after trying to make them come back to the office
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The dating app told employees to start working from an office 2 days a week or lose their jobs. The Communication Workers of America union said about 80 of its 178 workers rejected the RTO order. Last month the LGBTQ+ dating app told employees to starting work in the office two days a week from October or face dismissal after August 31. A representative for Grindr told Bloomberg the union claims were without merit and that it was "returning to the office in a hybrid model in October." Google has been telling employees to show up at the office three days a week since April 2022, and Meta followed suit in June.

Persons: Grindr, Grindr didn't, Meta Organizations: Communication Workers of America, Service, Communications Workers, America, Bloomberg, United, CWA, National Labor Relations Board, Wired, Tiga Acquisition Corp, Beijing Kunlun Tech, Vicente, Meta, Google Locations: Wall, Silicon, Chicago , Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay, Beijing Kunlun, Delaware

☆ Dating app Grindr loses nearly half its staff after trying to force a return to office
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —LGBTQ dating app Grindr ended its remote work policies and forced employees to relocate. The CWA also said the return-to-work policy was retaliatory and in response to a union drive at the company. Just two weeks prior to Grindr’s policy change, a majority of employees filed to organize a union. “Rather than recognize the union, the company issued a new return-to-office policy requiring staff to relocate or quit,” the CWA said in a statement. Seventy-one percent of employers that are mandating their on-site work policy reported difficulty retaining workers, according to the survey.

Persons: Grindr, “, ”, Andy Jassy, unaddressed Organizations: New, New York CNN, Communications Workers of America, CWA, Washington D.C, Grindr, National Labor Relations Board, Conference, Labor, Amazon, Meta, Business Locations: New York, — New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington

☆ GM offers 10% wage hike in UAW contract talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The new GM logo is seen on the facade of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 16, 2021. Last week, Ford said it had offered a 9% wage increase through 2027 and 6% lump sump payments, much less than the 46% wage hike being sought by the union. GM said the wage hike is the largest proposed since 1999. GM said that under its offer, current temporary employees will receive a 20% increase to $20 per hour wage and it would shorten the time it takes to get to the maximum wage rate for permanent employees. The union's demands include a 20% immediate wage increase followed by four 5% annual wage hikes, defined-benefit pensions for all workers, 32-hour work weeks and additional cost of living hikes.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, David Shepardson, Nick Zieminski Organizations: General Motors, REUTERS, General, United Auto Workers, GM, Chrysler, UAW, National Labor Relations Board, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, U.S

☆ UAW makes contract counteroffer to Ford; Stellantis to make offer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Last week, Ford said it had offered a 9% wage increase through 2027, much less than the 46% wage hike being sought by the union. Stellantis said Wednesday it intends to give the UAW a counter offer on the union's economic demands by the end of the week. The UAW declined to comment on its proposal it made to Ford. Ford said Wednesday it continues to negotiate with the UAW but declined to comment on the details of the talks. Ford said it would boost starting pay for temporary workers to $20 an hour, up 20%, and offer permanent employees $12,000 in cost-of-living adjustments over the contract.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Ford, Stellantis, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Ford, REUTERS, United Auto Workers, Wednesday, Ford Motor, Chrysler, Detroit Three, UAW, General Motors, Reuters, National Labor Relations Board, GM, U.S, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S

☆ Auto workers union strike looms with less than two weeks to deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In contrast, when UPS was faced with a possible August 1 strike, the company and the Teamsters union both repeatedly said they were close to a deal. Those two sides eventually averted a strike with a deal overwhelmingly approved by the membership. No predictions a deal is closeThe current contracts between the United Auto Workers union and the three automakers all expire at 11:59 pm on September 14, raising the possibility of one or more strike on September 15. The move had relatively limited legal significance since the National Labor Relations Board won’t rule on it before the September 15 strike deadline. A summer of strikesDespite the deal that averted a strike at UPS, this has been a summer of strikes.

Persons: Joe Biden, I’m, ” Biden, Spokespeople, Stellantis –, Shawn Fain, “, ” Fain, ”, Gerald Johnson, Fain, Biden, he’s, hasn’t, Wheaton, ’, –, Betsy Klein Organizations: New, New York CNN, Labor, –, Motors, Ford, CNN, UPS, Teamsters, United Auto Workers, UAW, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, National Labor Relations Board, GM, ”, Guild of America, SAG, Cornell University, Cornell University’s Industrial, Labor Relations Locations: New York, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Wheaton

☆ Biden says he thinks US auto workers' strike unlikely to happen
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A United Auto Workers union member holds a sign outside Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, to mark the beginning of contract negotiations in Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S. July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPHILADELPHIA, Sept 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that he did not think workers at the nation's three large automakers were likely to go on strike, despite a looming contract deadline later this month. KEY QUOTE"I'm not worried about a strike," the Democratic president said on Monday as he arrived in Philadelphia ahead of a speech for the U.S. Labor Day holiday. THE TAKELate last month, the United Auto Workers union said its members voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike at the Detroit Three automakers if agreement is not reached before the current four-year contract expires on Sept. 14. * The UAW staged a 42-day strike against GM in 2019 before reaching a new contract.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Joe Biden, I'm, Shawn Fain, Trevor Hunnicutt, Kanishka Singh, Jasper Ward, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: United Auto Workers, Sterling Heights Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, U.S, Labor, Detroit Three, UAW, National Labor Relations Board, Motors, Chrysler, Ford Motor, GM, Thomson Locations: Sterling Heights, Sterling Heights , Michigan, U.S, Philadelphia, Detroit

☆ Why auto worker strikes against GM, Ford and Stellantis seem inevitable
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Unlike prior union leaders, Fain is attempting to negotiate with all three automakers at once, refusing to select a "target" company to focus on while extending deals at the others. He's also been far more confrontational with the automakers compared to previous union leaders, at times launching personal attacks on executives. "I think there's a reasonable chance they strike Stellantis first and then give a couple more days for Ford and GM to give a better offer." The union could use that work stoppage as a warning to GM and Ford to finalize their deals, he said. United Auto Workers members on strike picket outside General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant on Sept. 25, 2019 in Detroit.

Persons: Michael Wayland, Shawn Fain, He's, he's, Fain, —, Wheaton, Biden, Gene Sperling, Morgan Stanley, That's, aren't, I've, Dennis Devaney, Clark Organizations: United Auto Workers, CNBC DETROIT – United Auto Workers, Detroit, General Motors, Ford Motor, GM, National Labor Relations Board, UAW, Worker Institute, Cornell University, Ford, White, Wall, Industry, NLRB, Hamtramck Assembly, CNBC Locations: Detroit, Stellantis, U.S, Hamtramck

☆ UAW files unfair labor practice charges against GM, Stellantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Both GM and Stellantis denied the unfair labor charges. Fain said the Detroit automakers want the ability to close U.S. auto plants and move them to low-wage countries, adding that threats by the automakers to close U.S. plants are "economic terrorism." The current four-year labor agreements covering 146,000 workers at the Detroit Three automakers expire on Sept. 14. Stellantis said it was shocked by the UAW claims "that we have not bargained in good faith. Stellantis also said it was disappointed that Fain "is more focused on filing frivolous legal charges than on actual bargaining."

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Stellantis, Shawn Fain, Fain, Ford, Gerald Johnson, Johnson, David Shepardson, Chris Reese, Leslie Adler Organizations: General Motors, REUTERS, United Auto Workers, National Labor Relations, Chrysler, Ford, Reuters, Detroit automakers, Tesla, Detroit, UAW, U.S, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, U.S

☆ UAW files unfair labor practice against GM, Stellantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 31 (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers union said on Thursday it filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against General Motors (GM.N) and Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLAM.MI), saying they have refused to bargain in good faith. Both GM and Stellantis denied the unfair labor charges. The current four-year labor agreements covering 146,000 workers at the Detroit Three automakers expire on Sept. 14. Stellantis said it was shocked by the UAW claims "that we have not bargained in good faith. GM manufacturing chief Gerald Johnson said the company strongly refuted the unfair labor charge.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Stellantis, Shawn Fain, Fain, Ford, Gerald Johnson, Johnson, David Shepardson, Chris Reese, Leslie Adler Organizations: Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle, REUTERS, United Auto Workers, National Labor Relations, General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, UAW, Detroit automakers, Tesla, Detroit, U.S, Thomson Locations: Dearborn , Michigan, U.S

☆ Conferences Are Changing. The Sport Is, Too.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Billy Witz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When the college football season kicks off in earnest this Labor Day weekend, it will be a test to keep an eye on the ball. The focus for a few days may be on blocking, tackling and quick-trigger assessments of who’s up and who’s down, but then what in a sport that is on the cusp of unprecedented upheaval? Consider what college football will look like in a year. Texas and Oklahoma, anchors of the Big 12 Conference, will be in the Southeastern Conference. And after this season, the College Football Playoff will balloon from four teams to 12.

Organizations: Labor, Big, Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast, Stanford, College Football, National Labor Relations Board Locations: Texas, Oklahoma, California, Berkeley, Duke, North Carolina

☆ UAW president says union has filed unfair labor practice charges against GM, Stellantis over contract talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

DETROIT — United Auto Workers has filed unfair labor practice charges against automakers General Motors and Stellantis to the National Labor Relations Board for not bargaining with the union in good faith or a timely manner, UAW President Shawn Fain said Thursday night. The union did not file a complaint against Ford Motor , as Fain said the company responded to the UAW's demands with a counterproposal he heavily criticized. "GM and Stellantis' willful refusal to bargain in good faith is not only insulting and counterproductive, it's also illegal," Fain said during a Facebook Live. "That's why today, our union filed unfair labor practice charges, or ULPs, against both GM and Stellantis with the National Labor Relations Board." Regarding Ford's recent proposal, Fain called it "concessionary."

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, Stellantis, it's, Fain's, Ford, Jim Farley, Farley Organizations: DETROIT, United Auto Workers, General Motors, National Labor Relations Board, Ford Motor, GM, NLRB, —, Ford

☆ Union alleges GM, Stellantis not bargaining in good faith
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The complaint accuses the automakers of not bargaining in good faith by not providing any response to the union’s economic demands at the bargaining table. Both GM and Stellantis, which makes vehicles under the Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler brands, deny the union’s charge that they are not bargaining in good faith. “We have been hyper-focused on negotiating directly and in good faith with the UAW and are making progress. It said it would pay workers far more than employees at the nonunion US auto plants operated by Tesla and foreign automakers. There are 145,000 UAW members at the nation’s three unionized automakers.

Persons: Shawn Fain, ” Fain, Todd Vachon, there’s, ”, Vachon, “ It’s, “ Stellantis, Fain’s, Fain, ” Gerald Johnson, ” Johnson, “, Ford Organizations: New, New York CNN — United Auto Workers, General Motors, Motors, Stellantis, CNN, Facebook, YouTube, National Labor Relations Board, Rutgers University, “, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, UAW, Ford, Tesla, GM Locations: New York

☆ Chipotle is paying $322,400 to settle allegations its DC locations let minors work more than 48 hours a week
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Chipotle is paying more than $300,000 to settle allegations of child labor in Washington, D.C.D.C. alleges Chipotle let minors work over 48 hours a week and more than six straight days a week. Chipotle denies the allegations, but will adopt policies to comply with child labor laws as part of a settlement. Schwalb's office began the investigation in May 2022 after seeing reports alleging Chipotle violated child labor laws in other jurisdictions, according to the release. The investigation identified more than 800 potential violations of the district's child labor laws dating back to April 2020. Chipotle was previously accused of child labor law violations in Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Persons: Chipotle, Brian L, Schwalb, Laurie Schalow Organizations: Service, Washington , D.C, Washington, New Jersey Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board Locations: Washington ,, Wall, Silicon, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Augusta , Maine

☆ Walt Disney Pictures VFX workers file for unionization with backing of IATSE
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

More than 80% of Walt Disney Picture’s 18 in-house VFX crewmembers signed their authorization cards, IATSE said in a release. While the Marvel Studios VFX unionization effort is set to count votes on September 12, workers at Puerto Rico-based Gladius Studios also voted unanimously to unionize earlier this month. The unionizing VFX workers are behind some of Walt Disney Pictures’ biggest hits, IATSE said, including the live-action adaptations of “Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”If the elections turns out in favor of unionizing, IATSE said the studio is obligated to hold good-faith negotiations. CNN has reached out to the Walt Disney Company for comment. VFX jobs have historically not been represented by unions, even though a wide range of positions from production design to lighting and props have fallen under IATSE.

Persons: Walt Disney, IATSE, “, ” IATSE, Aladdin ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Labor Relations Board, International Alliance, Walt, Walt Disney Picture’s, Marvel Studios, Gladius Studios, Writers Guild of America, SAG, Walt Disney Pictures, “ Pirates, CNN, Walt Disney Company Locations: New York, unionize, Hollywood, Puerto Rico, Caribbean

☆ It's getting easier for workers to unionize. One simple chart shows the new steps.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Bosses will sometimes use the period before a union election to dissuade workers from unionizing. But if those tactics are illegal and compromise an election, workers will now automatically get their union. Firms have utilized the period between workers announcing their intent to unionize and when a formal union election takes place to dissuade workers from voting in favor of unionizing. But now, should any of those tactics end up being illegal and compromising an election, workers will get their union anyway. "This isn't a fringe ruling, this is a big ruling," Groshen said.

Persons: Erica Groshen, Jennifer Abruzzo, Groshen Organizations: NLRB, Service, National Labor Relations Board, Workers, Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations Locations: unionizing, Wall, Silicon

☆ Cornell University ended its partnership with Starbucks after students claimed the coffee company engaged in union busting. The move could be a major step for unionization efforts, labor experts say.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

So they need to think of other ways to generate pressure," Kallas told Insider. "This shows what students and Starbucks workers demanding accountability can look like," Brisack told Insider. Union organizers across these stores, many of whom were also Cornell students, said the closures constituted an act of union-busting. Sara Trilling, president of Starbucks North America, said Starbucks later closed the remaining Ithaca stores in an ongoing effort to "transform our store portfolio." Evan Sunshine, a Cornell student who worked at two different Ithaca Starbucks locations until each one closed, said Cornell's decision is a step in the right direction.

Persons: unionize, Danielle Donovan, Andrew Trull, Trull, Johnnie Kallas, they've, Kallas, Jaz Brisack, Brisack, Nick Wilson, Sara Trilling, Evan Sunshine, I'm, Cornell Organizations: Cornell University, Labor, Starbucks, Service, Privacy Policy Cornell University, Starbucks Workers United, Cornell, Cornell University's Labor, Workers United, Starbucks Workers, Union, National Labor Relations Board, Sunshine Locations: Ithaca , New York, Wall, Silicon, United States, Ithaca, Cornell's, Starbucks North America

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoCompanies Starbucks Corp FollowAug 8 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday rejected Starbucks Corp's (SBUX.O) challenge to a ruling requiring the coffee chain to rehire seven employees at a Memphis, Tennessee, store who were allegedly fired for supporting a union. Circuit Court of Appeals is the first from an appeals court involving a nationwide campaign that has seen workers at more than 300 Starbucks locations vote to unionize. "Fear of retaliation will exist unless the Memphis Seven, apparently terminated for their union support, are reinstated," Circuit Judge Danny Boggs wrote for the court. Starbucks and the labor board, which had sought the order reinstating the workers, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. More than 600 complaints have been filed with the labor board accusing Starbucks of illegal labor practices such as firing union supporters, spying on workers and closing stores during labor campaigns.

Persons: Mike Blake, Danny Boggs, Daniel Wiessner, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Companies Starbucks, Starbucks, Circuit, Memphis Seven, National Labor Relations Board, U.S . Congress, U.S, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Memphis , Tennessee, Ohio, Memphis, United States, Ann Arbor , Michigan, Philadelphia, Seattle, Albany , New York

☆ Striking hotel workers file complaint over alleged violence on picket line
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Cheri Mossburg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Los Angeles CNN —Striking hotel workers in Southern California filed a complaint on Monday with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the hotels were “committing and/or condoning violence” after a fight on the picket line, their union announced. Video shared by Unite Here 11 – a union representing dishwashers, room attendants, bellhops and others – shows a disturbance on a picket line outside a Santa Monica hotel on Saturday. The video shows people in suits scuffling with picketers, but it’s unclear who the people in suits are or what happened before the video started. But Pete Hillan, a spokesperson for the California Hotel and Lodging Association, said that the workers are engaging in “increasingly aggressive actions” while on the picket lines, and accused union representatives of kicking over safety barriers. Since declaring a strike in early July, hotel workers have been demonstrating periodically outside many different Southern California hotels amid demands of increased wages and better benefits.

Persons: bellhops, ”, Pete Hillan, ” Hillan Organizations: Los Angeles CNN —, National Labor Relations Board, Santa Monica Police Department, CNN, ” CNN, California, Lodging Association, “ Locations: Southern California, dishwashers, Santa Monica, Fairmont Miramar

☆ US postal workers say agency's productivity tracking and inconsistent training is life-threatening amid extreme heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The USPS letter carriers who spoke to Insider requested anonymity because they were concerned about possible retaliation. "I've had several days where I'd have to stop and try to cool down," she told Insider. The program is designed to educate letter carriers on the warning signs of heat-related illness and how to stay safe amid high temperatures. This year, the National Associated of Letter Carriers has ordered every local branch to review its training completion records. "This is easily the worst summer yet," the rural letter carrier from Texas told Insider.

Persons: Eugene Gates Jr, Gates, Kimetra Lewis, Eugene Gates , Jr, Albert Ruiz, —, Brian Renfroe, Renfroe, I've, Lewis, Darlene Casey, It's Organizations: Service, US Postal Service, National Association of, Postal, USPS, National Labor Relations Board, South Carolina, National, Carriers, Postal Service, Washington Post, Texas Tribune, Workers Locations: Wall, Silicon, Texas, Dallas , TX, Lakewood, South, South Carolina, United States

☆ Amazon Posts 11% Rise in Revenue as Growth Improves
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( David Streitfeld | More About David Streitfeld | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

July marked two years since Mr. Jassy took over as chief executive from Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder. Amazon flourished during the pandemic, supplying necessities and diversions to millions of suddenly grounded families, and made the reasonable assumption that the boom would last. One of Mr. Bezos’ last major actions before his departure was to add “Strive to be Earth’s best employer” to the company’s leadership principles. Amazon is so large, with over half a trillion dollars in annual revenue, that it is difficult to move the needle much. Then the AWS cloud division provided the torrid growth, and finally advertising pushed the numbers.

Persons: Jassy, Jeff Bezos, Bezos, ” Organizations: National Labor Relations, Amazon Locations: Staten Island

☆ Barboncino, a Brooklyn Pizza Restaurant, Becomes a Union Shop
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Christina Morales | More About Christina Morales | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Barboncino, a Neapolitan-style pizza restaurant in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, has become the first unionized pizzeria in New York City after its workers unanimously voted to approve the formation of a union. The restaurant staff began organizing more than a year ago with Workers United, which has also supported the employees who are organizing at Starbucks stores. On May 22, staff asked the pizzeria’s owners to formally recognize the union and filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board. Workers said they’d like higher wages and benefits, including higher minimum starting hourly rates and health care assistance. But they’d also like consistent schedules, protections from unjust disciplinary action and more direct involvement in establishing health and safety protocols.

Persons: Jesse Shapell, Emma Walton, Mr, Shapell, they’d Organizations: Workers United, National Labor Relations Board, Workers Locations: Crown Heights , Brooklyn, New York City

[1/3] Starbucks workers attend a rally as they go on a one-day strike outside a store in Buffalo, New York, U.S., November 17, 2022. REUTERS/Lindsay DeDarioNEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters) - Starbucks (SBUX.O) violated U.S. labor law by firing a Manhattan store supervisor who had organized workers to join a union, a federal labor board judge ruled on Monday. The National Labor Relations Board established "striking and strong evidence of animus" behind Starbucks' termination of Rhythm Heaton as a shift supervisor at its Astor Place store, NLRB Administrative Law Judge Benjamin Green wrote. Green found it "particularly suspicious" that Starbucks would risk violating the law "by discharging an excellent employee at a time when the short-handed Astor Place store was already advertising to hire another shift supervisor." The manager of the Astor Place store testified that he supported the union and considered Heaton an "amazing leader," but cited Heaton's alleged violation of Starbucks' "attendance and punctuality policy" in the termination notice.

Persons: Lindsay DeDario, Rhythm Heaton, Benjamin Green, Green, Astor, Heaton, Heaton's, Jonathan Stempel, Bill Berkrot, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, National Labor Relations Board, Starbucks, Workers, Workers United, Thomson Locations: Buffalo , New York, U.S, Manhattan, Astor, Washington, Seattle, United States, New York

☆ LA officials are investigating NBC Universal for trimming trees that provided shade to striking writers and actors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A row of trimmed trees has become a new flash point in the Hollywood writers' and actors' strike. NBC Universal cut back the trees that had provided shade to picketers outside its Los Angeles site. A Los Angeles official is investigating why NBC Universal trimmed shade-providing trees outside a site being picketed as part of the Hollywood actors' and writers' strike. In an apparent reaction to the furore, LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia, who has strong progressive leanings, tweeted that he would be investigating. "The trimmed trees are LA City managed street trees," he wrote on Tuesday, posting before-and-after images of the trees.

Persons: he's, Chris Stevens, Kenneth Mejia, Nicholas Slayton Organizations: Hollywood, NBC Universal, Los Angeles, NBC, Writers Guild of America, SAG, LA Times, WGA, LA City, — LA City, Department, Public Works, of Street Services, National Labor Relations Board Locations: Los Angeles, LA, —

☆ Striking writers and actors accuse NBCUniversal of blocking picket area
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] SAG-AFTRA actors strike against the Hollywood studios as they join the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on the picket like outside of Netflix offices in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 14, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoLOS ANGELES, July 18 (Reuters) - Hollywood's striking Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA actors' union filed a grievance with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Comcast's (CMCSA.O) NBCUniversal on Tuesday, accusing the company of blocking a picket area. The unions said NBCUniversal infringed its freedom to picket and endangered its members by obstructing a public sidewalk next to the company's studio lot in California with an ongoing construction project. Hollywood actors joined film and television writers on picket lines for the first time in 63 years last week as they demanded higher streaming-era pay and curbs on the use of artificial intelligence. "We strongly believe that the company has fulfilled our legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and we will cooperate with respect to any inquiries by the National Labor Relations Board on this issue," an NBCUniversal spokesperson said.

Persons: Mike Blake, NBCUniversal, picketers, AFTRA, Mrinmay Dey, Baranjot Kaur, Juby Babu, Lisa Richwine, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Leslie Adler, Jamie Freed Organizations: Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Netflix, REUTERS, Guild of America, SAG, National Labor Relations Board, Comcast's, National Labor Relations, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, California, Bengaluru, Los Angeles

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