That Union Thing
Broadway production assistants are asking the Broadway League to recognize Actors Equity as their bargaining agent.
If the League does not grant voluntary recognition, they will request an election through the National Labor Relations Board. The hourly workers who are part of the stage management team are one of the few groups on Broadway that are not yet represented by a union.
IATSE now officially represents workers at Workinman Interactive, who do work for companies including Mattel, Nickelodeon, and Disney. This is the first time IATSE will represent workers in the video game field.
Microsoft has completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and now those video game employees will be covered by Microsoft's labor neutrality agreement with the Communication Workers of America. Workers will now have a clear path to union representation. In the past two years, Activision Blizzard workers have staged walkouts and protests over discrimination, sexual harassment, and pay equity, all issues that could be addressed with a union contract.
Workers at Kaiser Permanente have ended a three-day strike after reaching agreement on a new contract. Wages will rise 21 percent over the four-year agreement, and there will be a new health care worker minimum wage of $23 per hour, and $25 per hour in California. The company has also committed to addressing staffing shortages.
UFCW workers at the Lipton Tea plant in Virginia have a new agreement. Wages will rise 18 percent over three years. Workers will also receive higher reimbursements for safety gear and an Employee Assistance Program will now be available.
Workers at General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis are on strike. United Auto Workers is staging rolling "stand up strikes." They are asking for a 40 percent pay increase, an end to wage tiers, and a shorter work week. Workers are complaining that there is high turnover because the work is no longer a career, and workers are forced into extensive overtime due to the turnover. Auto worker wages have been stagnant over the past few years as the companies report robust profits.
The UAW has reached a tentative agreement with Ford. Base wages will rise 25 percent through 2028. Wage tiers will be eliminated, so starting workers will see their wages rise 68 percent. There will also be cost-of-living allowances and improvements to retirement benefits.
