Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where Payday is preparing for the arrival of Brazilian videographer Fernando Calvacanti.
We have covered all kinds of crazy stuff in Brazil over the years and I'm so excited to host him for the next month in Pittsburgh. (See our video “Carnaval’s Street Vendors Face Violence from the Police”)
Payday Happy Hour at Trace Brewing’s New Location in Uptown
Mark your calendars cuz next Wednesday we will be doing a happy hour at Trace Brewing’s brand new location in Uptown on Forbes Avenue starting at 5 pm.
Swing through next Wednesday at 5 PM. It’s right in front of the main bus stop on Forbes on the corner of Forbes & Miltenberg. (Address is 1738 Forbes Ave).
Kamala MIA as Boeing Seeks $15 Billion to Break the Strike
The Boeing strike is set to enter its second month next week with more than 33,000 workers in the largest ongoing strike in the United States.
By all indications, it appears that Boeing is digging in for a long strike. Earlier this week, Boeing withdrew its wage offer and even canceled all future negotiations in a hardball tactic designed to intimidate the union.
However, Boeing has taken some hits as well. They have already lost $1 billion. Now, S&P has put them on notice that their credit will likely be downgraded.
In an attempt to shore up finances, Boeing is seeking to raise $15 billion through selling an equity stake. Their stock sits at a 52 week low.
“This financial strain is compounded by the potential for a credit rating downgrade from agencies like S&P, which have already placed Boeing’s debt on watch,” Jon Morgan, CEO of business consultancy Venture Smarter, told Fortune. “Considering these factors, an equity offering seems a plausible step for Boeing to shore up its finances. The company needs to ensure it has sufficient liquidity to deal with the ongoing labor disputes and maintain its operations.”
Boeing Announced 17,000 Layoffs in Scare Tactic
Earlier today, Boeing announced that they would lay off 17,000 workers in an attempt to reduce costs and restructure their company, a move that may be intended to intimidate striking workers, who are seeking a 40% wage increase.
At a time, when Boeing is bleeding cash, it appears that the Biden-Harris Administration has yet to apply heavy pressure. While the White House has called for Boeing to negotiate and cut a fair deal, so far they have yet to threaten to take away Boeing’s more than $15 billion in federal contracts awarded last year.
During the “Stand Up Strike” against the Big Three, President Biden became the first American president to walk a picket line. However, so far, both President Biden and Vice President Harris have been “missing in action” on the Boeing picket line.
At a time, when the campaign is stressing that the Biden-Harris administration was the most pro-union Administration ever, it appears strange that Kamala is missing from the picket line so far.
The Harris-Walz campaign could not be reached for comment about when they intend to walk the picket line at Boeing. Payday will update when we learn more.
California Firefighters Consider Bucking National & Endorsing Kamala
Earlier this week, the national firefighters union upset many by refusing to endorse Kamala Harris. Now, California firefighters are debating whether or not to buck their national leadership.
From POLITICO:
“He would rather watch our state burn in the name of his political games than to send help if he were to become president again,” CPF President Brian Rice said at the time.
Amid a national union identity crisis, California firefighters’ endorsement could theoretically help sway undecided voters in swing states, especially Western states that look to California as a firefighting model. Firefighters unions are the most popular in the country, according to an August YouGov poll.
“There is no question from all the opinion research I’ve ever seen that one of the most valuable enforcements a candidate can get is a firefighter’s endorsement, and the reason is because everyone loves and respects firefighters,” said Darry Sragow, a longtime California campaign consultant.”
DC Homelessness Workers Unionize
In Washington D.C, security officers at a homeless shelter are fighting an attempt to block their successful union vote by their third- party employer, USP Holdings. Street Sense Media, which is run by unhoused or formerly unhoused people, has the story:
“One of Onunaku’s biggest concerns is the lack of safety equipment and staff training. He noted that at a site like 801 East, security officers are working with residents who may have significant needs, as well as risk factors like drug use and mental illness. He told Street Sense USP does not give officers safety vests, which police and security officers commonly wear to protect their torso and vital organs in emergency situations. Nor do they provide officers with pepper spray, something Onunaku sees as necessary for self-defense, given officers don’t carry any other weapons.
Onunaku and Danielle Campbell, another officer at the shelter, also told Street Sense they were frustrated by the lack of training they received for the role — since working at a shelter is different from being a security officer at a federal office building, for example.
“We bring people back to life,” Onunaku said, referring to the many times he has had to use Narcan (a drug that is administered to reverse opioid overdoses) on residents. But Onunaku hasn’t always known how to administer Narcan — it’s something he learned on the job from other officers.”
For more, check out Street Sense Media.
Atlanta Opera Workers Fight Union Busting
In Atlanta, workers at the Atlanta Opera are protesting union busting by the prestigious opera that is now openly boasting in news articles that they are union busting.
“The Atlanta Opera administration has consistently demonstrated an anti-worker stance, shown through substandard compensation and a refusal to respect their employees' rights. Their track record speaks volumes—from ignoring the hair and makeup workers’ vote to unionize to their current exploitative treatment of the orchestra,” said the American Guild of Musical Artists.
“Now, they’ve said the quiet part out loud,” said the union in a release. “Recently published remarks from management openly boast about playing hardball with unions while willfully failing to recognize that, in the performing arts, to be anti-union is to be anti-artist.”
For more, check out the American Guild of Musical Artists
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- Chemical leak at Houston-area plant kills 2 workers
- Wells Fargo workers claim layoffs sought to disrupt union effort
- Gender equity among trades workers is increasing, but there's a long way to go
- San Diego hotel workers and Hilton agree on contract, ending 38-day strike
- Martha's Vineyard nurses threaten strike at Island hospital
- USAID global health contractors move to unionize
- One year of strike action for a fair agreement for Caterpillar Mexico workers
- Finally, in Turkey, miners dismissed for unionizing march barefoot to parliament
Alright folks, that’s all for today. Keep sending tips, story ideas, recipes & movie recommendations to melk@paydayreport.com
Donate to help us cover unions in the Rust Belt during the 2024 Election. Please, if you can, sign up as one of our 774 recurring donors today. Thanks again for all the support.
Love & Solidarity,
Melk
