Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where Payday just released a multi-media story on the Brazilian community, which has grown 70% in Pittsburgh in the last decade, helping to revitalize the Mon Valley.
(WATCH: Brazilian Immigrants Celebrate Festa Junina in Pittsburgh’s Battered Mon Valley)
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Maine Dem Governor Bucks Unions
One of the reasons why organized labor was eager to back Graham Platner in his primary run for Senate against retiring Maine Governor Janet Mills is that unions have had a difficult relationship with Mills.
More than a year after their contract expired, 9,000 workers say that their contract talks remain at a “standstill” on negotiating over wages, which workers say remain far below private sector standards.
“The state of Maine should be setting the standard for what a living wage looks like,” said Maine Service Employees Administration union president Mark Brunton. “Instead it’s racing to the bottom.”
For more, check out Maine Morning Star.
Newsom Fights Union on Return-to-Office Mandate
In California, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is also fighting unions over a controversial “return-to-work” that requires all workers to return to office. The measure is being pushed primarily by Sacramento business leaders, who say the “return-to-office” mandate is needed to revive downtown Sacramento.
“The idea that state workers are responsible to provide profit for downtown business owners in this modern age of telework is just kind of crazy," said Forrest Hansen, a scientist with the California Department of Water Resources. "It works. We don't need to be in the office for four days a week or the whole week to work collaboratively."
GM Replaces 1,000 Workers with 50 Robots
Finally, at GM’s Hamtramck facility in Detroit, management has replaced 1,000 workers with 50 robots called “cobots” or collaborative robots. From Geek Spin:
At Factory Zero, the cobots are now bolting body panels onto vehicles as they move down the assembly line, working alongside the people who haven’t been laid off, as per AutoBlog.
GM, however, has been careful in its framing. The company insists the machines are not replacing workers but are instead helping the plant stay competitive while improving safety and ergonomics for the remaining workers.
“We’ve been installing cobots across our manufacturing footprint as part of a broader push to bring more advanced technology into our operations,” company spokesman Kevin Kelly explained to Crain’s Detroit Business. “At Factory ZERO, we are implementing them alongside our team, helping improve safety and ergonomics, while keeping our operations flexible and competitive,” he added.
For more, check out Geek Spin.
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- Thousands of federal workers in Europe stripped of union rights
- Apple closes 1st unionized Towson store, faces lawsuit Over layoffs
- More than 8,000 IAFF members have gained bargaining rights in the South over the last three years
- Starbucks union wins 700th NLRB election
- Unions are rare in California wine, but the industry crisis has pushed these workers to organize
- Hunger strike at Delaney Hall ends after retaliation, activists say, as ICE denies misconduct
- Finally, Hyundai union in Korea set to leverage strike against Atlas robot deployment
Alright folks, that’s all for today. Keep sending tips, comments, and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
