The strike of members of the Hollywood Writers Guild two years ago brought some big gains for writers but has also brought an additional effect. Inspired by the writers, about 22,000 of the entertainment industry’s lowest paid workers have organized, led by the newly-formed Production Assistants United. They include early career workers like production and casting assistants, video game makers, and special effects workers.
The organizing momentum has also expanded into other entertainment industry sectors, such as theater workers, ballet dancers, and even Chippendales dancers.
AFT SUES ADMINISTRATION OVER VIRTUAL SHUTDOWN OF LABOR MEDIATION SERVICE
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and 10 other unions have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in an effort to prevent the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)’s dismantling. FMCS is a federal agency that mediates labor disputes in both public and private sectors and has played a key role in workplace negotiations at companies like Starbucks, Boeing, and Apple. Following the administration’s March 14 executive order, which directed FMCS to significantly downsize, the agency placed 90% of its employees on administrative leave and shut down all of its field offices. The lawsuit alleges that the administration’s actions are unconstitutional and that FMCS’s compliance with the order violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
Adding another item to the attack on workers the Trump administration is dishing out, the US Department .of Agriculture on March 18 issued waivers to rules that limit line speeds in pork and poultry production plants across the country. The faster line speedups cuts down the time workers in these plants have to process the meats and increases the risk of accidents to workers and disease to consumers.
“Increased line speeds will hurt workers – it’s not a maybe, it’s a definite – and increased production speeds will jeopardize the health and safety of every American that eats chicken,” declared Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which represents over 15,000 poultry workers at facilities across the southern United States, as well as meatpacking and processing workers in other parts of the country. “The announcement by the USDA and Secretary Rollins echoes the same lack of consideration they had for our essential food processing workers during the first Trump administration and it will put us all at risk. We rely on the thousands of workers to safely produce the food on our tables every single day, they can’t do that safely at these speeds – we learned that lesson the hard way just five short years ago – let’s not irreparably injure workers to learn what we already know.
“Worker safety must be a priority, and these facilities cannot operate at these speeds without increased staffing, which cannot happen the way they are constructed now. Issuing waivers to a multi-billion dollar industry with no oversight to ensure it’s done safely and properly is a recipe for disaster
“The USDA must make worker safety a priority, not profits.”
WRITERS GUILD 2023 STRIKE INSPIRES OTHERS TO ORGANIZE
Labor BriefsThe strike of members of the Hollywood Writers Guild two years ago brought some big gains for writers but has also brought an additional effect. Inspired by the writers, about 22,000 of the entertainment industry’s lowest paid workers have organized, led by the newly-formed Production Assistants United. They include early career workers like production and casting assistants, video game makers, and special effects workers.
The organizing momentum has also expanded into other entertainment industry sectors, such as theater workers, ballet dancers, and even Chippendales dancers.
Payday Report, 5/2
APRIL BITS AND PIECES
Labor BriefsAFT SUES ADMINISTRATION OVER VIRTUAL SHUTDOWN OF LABOR MEDIATION SERVICE
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and 10 other unions have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in an effort to prevent the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)’s dismantling. FMCS is a federal agency that mediates labor disputes in both public and private sectors and has played a key role in workplace negotiations at companies like Starbucks, Boeing, and Apple. Following the administration’s March 14 executive order, which directed FMCS to significantly downsize, the agency placed 90% of its employees on administrative leave and shut down all of its field offices. The lawsuit alleges that the administration’s actions are unconstitutional and that FMCS’s compliance with the order violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
On Labor, 4/15
MARCH BITS AND PIECES
Labor BriefsUNION HITS SPEEDUP ON POULTRY PRODUCTION LINES
Adding another item to the attack on workers the Trump administration is dishing out, the US Department .of Agriculture on March 18 issued waivers to rules that limit line speeds in pork and poultry production plants across the country. The faster line speedups cuts down the time workers in these plants have to process the meats and increases the risk of accidents to workers and disease to consumers.
“Increased line speeds will hurt workers – it’s not a maybe, it’s a definite – and increased production speeds will jeopardize the health and safety of every American that eats chicken,” declared Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which represents over 15,000 poultry workers at facilities across the southern United States, as well as meatpacking and processing workers in other parts of the country. “The announcement by the USDA and Secretary Rollins echoes the same lack of consideration they had for our essential food processing workers during the first Trump administration and it will put us all at risk. We rely on the thousands of workers to safely produce the food on our tables every single day, they can’t do that safely at these speeds – we learned that lesson the hard way just five short years ago – let’s not irreparably injure workers to learn what we already know.
“Worker safety must be a priority, and these facilities cannot operate at these speeds without increased staffing, which cannot happen the way they are constructed now. Issuing waivers to a multi-billion dollar industry with no oversight to ensure it’s done safely and properly is a recipe for disaster
“The USDA must make worker safety a priority, not profits.”
Labor Start, 3/18