Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where Payday is working on a major investigation.
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East Coast Longshore Union Praises Trump for Winning Strike
For nearly a decade now, Trump has tried to cosplay as a hero of the working class. Now, he is getting assistance in this branding exercise from the right-wing leader of the International Longshoremen’s Association, Harold Daggett.
On Wednesday, Daggett upset many in the labor movement by praising Trump.
“You have proven yourself to be one of the best friends of working men and women in the United States,” said Dagget in a statement. “He’s a hero to our ILA union and members.”
Trump Searching for Health Crisis As Excuse to Close Border
As Payday went to press, the New York Times broke the story that top Trump advisors are searching for a disease that will give them an excuse to close the border with Mexico. From The New York Times:
“Mr. Trump last invoked public health restrictions, known as Title 42, in the early days of the pandemic in 2020, when the coronavirus was tearing across the globe. As he prepares to enter office again, Mr. Trump has no such public health disaster to point to.
Still, his advisers have spent recent months trying to find the right disease to build their case, according to four people familiar with the discussions. They have looked at tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases as options and have asked allies inside the Border Patrol for examples of illnesses that are being detected among migrants.
They also have considered trying to rationalize Title 42 by arguing broadly that migrants at the border come from various countries and may carry unfamiliar disease — an assertion that echoes a racist notion with a long history in the United States that minorities transmit infections. Mr. Trump’s team did not respond to a request for comment.”
For more, check out The New York Times.
LA Wildfires Adds Hurt to Struggling Film Workers
For the past 5 years, film and TV workers in LA have taken some mighty hits with the pandemic shutting down many productions and many workers losing out on work because of the strike. Now, film and TV workers face deep economic pain caused by the wildfires destroying LA.
“So many members of the entertainment community and members of the IA have struggled since COVID,” IATSE union leader Mike Miller, told Hollywood Reporter. “And this is just going to compound those struggles.”
For more, check out Hollywood Reporter.
Costco Walks Away from the Bargaining Table
Finally, Costco has long billed itself as a worker-friendly alternative to Walmart. However, the Teamsters are reporting that Costco has walked away from the bargaining table as their contract expires in less than a month.
“The games Costco is playing at the bargaining table are reckless and shortsighted,” said Tom Erickson, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division in a statement. “Our committee is ready to negotiate every single day. Half-hearted efforts and half-days won’t cut it this close to the contract deadline. It’s time for Costco to get serious and engage in meaningful negotiations.”
For more on the start of bargaining, check out the Teamsters webpage.
News & Links Elsewhere
- The Root’ staffers ordered To write more articles to ‘offset the tragic loss’ of colleague, days after her death.
- Hanford nuclear guards vote down contract proposal. Contractor to order them back to work.
- Firms that donated to Republican Party avoided tariffs in Trump first term – study.
- Public service retirees are demanding that Michigan divest from Israel bonds.
- Company took money from farmworkers’ pay for political donations in SC, feds say.
- Alexandria, Va., administrative and technical workers vote to unionize with AFSCME.
- Migrant workers in Italy face dire conditions, 15 years after Rosarno riots.
- Finally, a new exhibit features photos of Valley migrant laborers, their work and their lives.
Alright folks, that’s all for today. Keep sending tips, story ideas, and comments to melk@paydayreport.com
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Love & Solidarity,
Melk
