Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where things have been very busy.
$87 Needed for Payroll Goal
A big thanks to everyone who donated so that we didn’t have to dip into our reserve fund. We are only $87 short of our goal. Help us reach it and stay financially sustainable.
10,000 John Deere Workers Vote Down Company’s Proposal
In Waterloo, Iowa, over 10,000 John Deere workers across Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas voted down the company’s proposal to extend their current contract for two years. The union’s leadership recommended that its members vote down the contract.
UAW President Shawn Fain said that his union is prepared to strike again to get what they deserve.
“While John Deere continues to outsource jobs, 1,600 workers are still laid off. Our members rejected Deere’s offer to extend their contract because they know their worth and what they deserve,” said UAW President Shawn Fain in a statement. “The company failed to make an offer that addressed the issues weighing on the minds of our members, especially job security. We’ll see Deere at the table in 2027.”
With Automakers Depending on Trade, UAW Denounces Trump Tariffs on Canada
In 2025 UAW President Shawn Fain received criticism from Canadian unions when he backed Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
“To see UAW leadership talking about the importance of jobs coming back to the U.S., knowing that Canadian auto workers will be massively impacted, is a betrayal of the solidarity we had as auto unions,” John D’Agnolo, president of Unifor Local 200 which represents 2,000 auto workers at Ford in Windsor, Ontario told the Globe and Mail.
Now, with U.S automakers struggling with the unpredictability of Trump’s tariff edicts, the UAW has come out against Trump’s new proposed tariffs.
“The UAW rejects any escalation on Canada, a country with strong unions and labor standards. If we’re going to increase tariffs anywhere, it should be on countries where automakers continue to offshore jobs because they can pay workers $3 an hour, force them to work in unsafe conditions, and crack down on independent unions.,” said Fain.
Oregon State University Objects to Women’s Basketball Team Unionizing
Under the Biden Administration, many college athletes launched successful union drives. Now, under the Trump Administration, colleges have stepped up their union busting against college athletes.
At Oregon State, administrators are resisting efforts by women’s basketball players to unionize. Now, the athletes are going to the Oregon Employment Relations Board (a body controlled by Democrats) to ask the college to allow them to unionize.
“I wanted to make sure going forward, athletes have a voice in the decisions that impact their lives,” union organizer and former college athlete Mikayla Pivec told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “So that what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
For more, check out Oregon Public Broadcasting.
SAG-AFTRA Mourns Passing of Dolly Parton
Finally, SAG-AFTRA mourns Dolly Parton, who died at age 80 today.
“The passing of Dolly Parton will be deeply felt throughout our membership. Her life and legacy of joy and creativity had an indescribable impact on the world. As a singer, songwriter, performer, business leader and all-around visionary, Dolly Parton’s talent is revered across generations,” said SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin. “Her basic humanity is known to the world and she is simply beloved by countless millions. Personally, from 9 to 5 when she effortlessly advanced the cause of professional women, to her Islands in the Stream collaboration with Kenny Rogers, I’m a true and forever fan. On behalf of SAG-AFTRA and my family, we send thoughts of love and condolence to her family.”
Watch 9 to 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbxUSsFXYo4
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- Autism therapy’s latest labor challenge — unionization
- Ohio immigrant group adds to its list of criminally charged federal agents
- Cleveland Public Library avoids union workers’ strike
- Nearly 25% of U.S. workers are "functionally unemployed," economic analysis finds
- Workers in China worry over being replaced as they adapt to the growing impact of AI on jobs
- Hong Kong Tiananmen activists found guilty of national security charges
- Finally, the LA Public Press has a look at what happened to North Hollywood’s Star Garden, the nation’s only unionized strip club
Alright folks, that’s all for today. Keep sending tips, comments, and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
