Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where we are working on some inspiring big projects. Big thanks to everyone who helped us raise enough to support hiring a part-time community engagement editor.
Help Cover Fighting Back Against ICE Raids in the Rust Belt
While there has been a lot of coverage of how people are fighting back against ICE raids in major coastal cities, there has been a lot less on how people are fighting back against ICE raids in the Rust Belt.
At Payday Report, we have been extensively covering this subject, and we hope to continue doing so.
Volkswagen Chattanooga Furloughs 160 Workers As Contract Talks Drag On
Now, Volkswagen has announced that it intends to furlough over 160 workers involved in the production of the electric ID.4. Some analysts have cited tariff costs as part of the reason that Volkswagen is laying off workers.
"Volkswagen is having a very hard time absorbing that additional cost, and one of the ways of managing that is to furlough some workers until we see if those policies are actually going to stick," University of Tennessee-Chattanooga professor Claudia Kramer told WRCB.
Key Kentucky Battery Plant Vote Comes Down to 41 Disputed Ballots
For months, the UAW protested how the Trump NLRB delayed a union vote for 1,000 workers at electric battery plant BlueOvalSK, a joint venture of Ford and SK in Kentucky. The UAW says that the delays gave the company enough time to run a sophisticated anti-union campaign that played on anxieties that workers had about Trump cutting electric battery subsidies.
Last week, the UAW won a union vote at the BlueOvalSK plant by a margin of 11 votes out of over 1,000 union ballots cast.
Now, the UAW election hinges on how the Trump National Labor Relations Board decides to rule on 41 disputed ballots. The UAW says the opposition from Trump is making it difficult to unionize.
"They're trying to break the backs of unions and labor -- labor unions and labor unionists -- and those who want to be represented in the workplace," Louisville AFL-CIO President told WHAS. "We clearly won. We shouldn't have been going through this process."
Boeing Cuts Striking Boeing Fighter Workers ' Health Insurance
As a strike of over 3,200 Boeing fighter jet workers enters its 2nd month, Boeing has decided to play hardball by cutting off health insurance to the strikers. The union and the company have not met since August 25th, and the company says there are no immediate plans for contract talks.
"The discussions have been about more of everything, more in all areas, and I don't see that as viable," Boeing spokesperson Dan Gillian told St. Louis Public Radio. "The offer we have on the table remains available for union consideration."
For more, check out St. Louis Public Radio.
GE Aerospace Strike Talks Appear Stalled
In Cincinnati, a strike of more than 600 GE Aerospace workers has entered its second month. Workers cite a lack of paid sick and medical leave as the key issue.
Chris Tibbs, a 14-year veteran of GE Aerospace, says that when he had stage 4 colon cancer, he could not afford to take the needed time off.
"I worked through my chemo. I only took enough days off for me to actually get the treatment," Tibbs told WLWT.
Wildland Firefighters Put Into an ICE Ambush
Last week, ICE arrested two wildland firefighters while they were responding to a fire in Washington State. Now, many believe that the fire service intentionally sent the workers into an ambush. From Washington State Standard:
"There's really no way [the wildfire management team] could not have been involved," said Riva Duncan, a former wildland fire chief who served more than 30 years with the U.S. Forest Service. "We're all talking about it. People are wondering if they go on a fire with this team, if that could happen to them."
Since the incident became public, the wildfire world has been abuzz with anger at that team — California Interagency Incident Management Team 7. Made up of federal, state, and local fire professionals, the team was assigned to oversee the response to the Bear Gulch fire, which had burned 9,000 acres in and around Olympic National Park in Washington state.
One firefighter who was present at the raid said he is convinced that Team 7 leaders sent their crews into a trap.
"I felt beyond betrayed," said the firefighter, who requested anonymity to protect his career. "What they did was messed up. They'd been talking in their briefings about building relationships and trust. For them to say that and then go do this is mind-boggling. It boiled my blood."
For more, check out the Washington State-Standard.
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- ICE fears contribute to the construction labor shortage in WA
- "It's really empowering': Unionized Magee-Women's Hospital nurses lead Pittsburgh's Labor Day parade
- An in-depth analysis of how federal union contract changes have affected workers
- British Parliament security staff go on strike
- French strike cuts electricity production
- Finally, Hyundai Motor Union launches strikes in South Korea over wages and working hours
Alright folks, that's all for today. Keep sending tips, story ideas, comments and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
Thanks again for the support,
Melk
