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UFCW Narrowly Approves New Union President
Last week, UFCW members associated with the reform caucus “Essential Workers for Democracy” protested the 1.2 million-member union's election of their new president by a vote of the executive board.
While the union did not allow a direct vote, reform candidate Todd Crosby lost by three votes to Milton Jones, who won with 28 board members voting for him.
UFCW 3000 President Faye Guethner celebrated the close election as a sign of the growing movement for union democracy within the union.
“So proud of Todd Crosby for forcing a vote at the UFCW International- they tried everything to stop us from getting in the room, including calling the cops,” wrote Guethner on Facebook.
The union reform caucus plans to push for direct union elections at the next UFCW Convention in 2028.
Postal Service Appoints FedEx Board Member as Next Postmaster General
In yet another indication that Trump plans to promote privatization of the postal service, he appointed FedEx Board member David Steiner as the next Postmaster General.
“It begs the question of whether this is a post office that is going to be run for the good of the people of the country,” American Postal Workers Union President Marc Dimondstein said in a statement. “or whether it’s going to be a post office that serves private corporations like FedEx.”
For more, check out New York Times.
Facing Outcry, Trump Reverses Workplace Safety Layoffs
After much public outcry, the Trump Administration announced this week that it would reverse some layoffs at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Interestingly, NIOSH is based in Morgantown, West Virginia, a heavily Republican state.
"My understanding from Secretary Kennedy is that over 100 Morgantown employees will be returning to the job permanently," Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito said in a statement.
Colorado Governor Expected to Veto Pro-Union Measure
In Colorado, the Democratic Governor is expected to veto the Worker Protection Act. The bill would eliminate the threshold that requires unions to have 75% of members vote for closed union shops before they are allowed to negotiate over union security.
However, labor groups say they will fight to have the Worker Protection Act on the ballot in 2026.
“At a moment when the nation has recognized that corporate billionaires are rigging the system against us, Coloradans came together to build solidarity, worker power and a fairer vision for our future,” Kim Cordova, president of UFCW Local 7, said in a statement. “This legislative session was the opportunity Colorado’s labor movement needed to build the power needed to pass pro-worker policies, whether through legislation or at the ballot.”
For more, check out Colorado Newsline
Fenway Park Workers May Strike
Finally, concession workers at Fenway Park may strike.
Most concessions workers at the ballpark make less than $20 an hour, far less than players make at ballparks in cities like Miami and Seattle, where workers have lower wages. Workers are also concerned that self-checkouts may eliminate their jobs.
If authorized, this would be the first strike by Fenway concessions workers in the history of the ballpark.
“Red Sox fans come to Fenway not just to enjoy the games and watch the athletes. They return year after year and they look for the server who gave them great service and made their experience at the ballpark a memorable one. It’s a personal connection,” Carlos Aramayo, president of UNITE HERE Local 26 said in a statement. “These workers should be paid well, in line with the citywide standard, and they should not have to worry about losing their jobs to technology.”
For more, check out Wicked Local.
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- Looming New Jersey Transit strike could impact 350,000 commuters
- Nevada Teachers union looks to lawmakers to allow court-authorized strikes, reform arbitration process
- Video Game Companies remove AI Provision on unlimited digital replicas from ‘Best, Last and Final’ offer to union
- After the 10-day University of Oregon Student Workers Union strike, some student workers spoke out about why they chose or didn’t choose to strike
- Like a growing number of US communities, Torrance County, New Mexico, is convinced its financial survival depends on locking up immigrants.
- Pressure grows on Fifa as reports warn of serious risk to workers amid Saudi World Cup building boom
- Finally, a Swedish dockworkers union leader was fired for speaking out in support of Palestine
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