NLRB files complaint against strip club over alleged violations
A union representing strippers at a topless bar in Los Angeles have filed suit with the NLRB, alleging that the club violated the terms of an 2023 agreement after the dancers won the right the unionize. The complaint alleges that Star Garden failed to uphold the settlement by dramatically altering the way the business was run, including reducing its hours, inflating drink prices, and adopting a no-cash policy. The union regards these actions as an attempt to weaken the dancers' position in advance of contract negotiations. Lawyers for the club counter that the dancers have proved insubordinate since the agreement in an attempt to closing the business. The NLRB is seeking to force Star Garden to comply with the terms of the 2023 settlement, as well as provide compensation for the dancers' lost income.
See Suhaunna Hussain, "After unionized strippers accused club owner of violating deal, federal labor board intervenes", Los Angeles Times, March 27, 2024
NLRB ruling regarding truck surveillance struck down on appeal
The DC Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an NLRB ruling that stated a produce company truck driver's rights were violated when he was warned not to cover a surveillance camera in his truck. The driver had contended, and the NLRB agreed, that the admonishment was due to his pro-union position with regards to the Stern Produce Company. The court found however that the company was unambiguous in it's stated policy that the cameras were required to be turned on "at all times", and called the NLRB's reasoning "nonsense".
See Daniel Wiessner, "NLRB ruling on worker camera surveillance was 'nonsense,' DC Circuit says", Reuters, March 27, 2024
Striking doctors in Kenya demand higher pay, better working conditions, and collective bargaining agreement
Doctors in Kenya protested in Nairobi, the capital city, to demand for increased wages and better working conditions. Hundreds of doctors around the country have been on strike for the past week and will continue to strike until their demands are met. Midway through last week doctors stopped providing emergency service care at public hospitals, and this has greatly decreased access to medical care. Protestors state that the Kenyan government agreed to collectively bargain in 2017 with doctors after strike action lasted for one hundred days. The strike significantly disrupted healthcare in the country, and individuals died during the strike action because they were not able to receive medical care. The health minister of Kenya is seeking to recruit new doctors to replace the doctors who are on strike, but protestors state that hiring doctors will not fix the working conditions and other issues that exist at hospitals.
See Brian Inganga, "Hundreds of Kenyan doctors protest in the streets as national strike enters second week", AP News, March 26, 2024
Many pharmacists are beginning to seek union representation after The Pharmacy Guild recently formed
A growing number of pharmacists around the country are seeking to unionize due to working conditions and staff shortages. Workers at various retail pharmacies around the United States are petitioning for a union election, and are seeking union representation from The Pharmacy Guild. The Pharmacy Guild is a group that was recently formed by pharmacists and is supported by the IAM Healthcare union. The guild is focused on unionizing pharmacists at CVS and Walgreens. A major CVS pharmacy in Las Vegas, Omnicare, has filed for union representation. The pharmacy employs around thirty pharmacists and other staff, and the location fills medications for nursing homes around Nevada. Pharmacists state that these major corporations do not understand the large amounts of pressure that pharmacists face to meet company performance targets, and the guild will allow the voice of pharmacists to be heard.
See Emily Le Coz, "Pharmacy unionizing efforts build momentum as a CVS Omnicare in Las Vegas seeks to join", USA Today, March 26, 2024
Long Beach Post employees hit with layoffs, bargaining unit claims layoffs are due to union organization efforts
Numerous employees at the Long Beach Post were given layoff notices late last week. The Long Beach Media Guild, a group that represents Long Beach Post employees in support of union organization efforts, states that over half of the group’s members were laid off. The layoffs will affect nine employees in the bargaining unit, and the employees not affected by the layoffs will continue strike action. Long Beach Post employees began strike action last week after employees made it known that they were seeking union representation and asked for the Long Beach Journalism Initiative, the parent nonprofit organization of the Long Beach Post, to voluntarily recognize the union. The employees are seeking representation from the Media Guild of the West. The group stated that it would file a claim against the organization, claiming that the layoffs were a violation of labor laws. The Long Beach Journalism Initiative has stated that the cuts are solely due to financial reasons, as the Long Beach Post recently became a nonprofit organization.
See Christi Carras, "Long Beach Post staffers laid off after moving to unionize and going on strike", Los Angeles Times, March 26, 2024
South Korea is threatening to suspend medical licenses of striking junior doctors and residents
Junior doctors and residents in South Korea have been on strike for weeks, and the South Korean government has stated that it will begin to suspend medical licenses in response to the strike. Around twelve thousand junior doctors and residents have been on strike in response to the government’s announcement that the enrollment quota for doctors in South Korea will increase by one thousand. Doctors have expressed opposition to this decision, claiming that the change will negatively affect the quality of healthcare because universities cannot abruptly teach a large increase in medical students. The government set a February 29th deadline for junior doctors and residents to return to work, and the individuals who defied the deadline will receive suspension of their license. The minimum suspension is three months, and the country can give out longer suspension periods and other consequences if deemed necessary. Many senior doctors at major hospitals have stated that they will resign to express solidarity for the junior doctors and residents on strike, and this could disrupt healthcare in South Korea even further.
See Hyung-Jin Kim, "Why are striking doctors in South Korea facing license suspensions and what’s next?", AP News, March 25, 2024
The environment at Game Developers Conference is tense due to recent layoffs and industry changes
The annual Game Developers Conference takes place in San Francisco, and the atmosphere at this year's conference is grim. Widespread layoffs have affected the gaming industry in recent years, and more than ten thousand workers lost their jobs in 2023. Both major technology companies and small video game publishers have cut jobs, and notable layoffs have occurred at Microsoft and Sony in the last two months. The conference provided adjustments and accommodations to attendees who were recently affected by layoffs,lowered ticket costs, and developed a job board for employers and potential employees to connect. The environment of the gaming industry is also worsening due to the recent increase in anti-woke views in the gaming world. These views are increasing harassment and decreasing safety and diversity in the industry. Individuals sharing these frustrations at the Game Developers Conference gathered together in a park outside of the conference to have a group scream.
See Kari Paul, "Layoffs and AI sour annual Game Developers Conference: ‘The vibe is rancid’", The Guardian, March 25, 2024
Berea College students file for union representation
Student workers at Berea College, a private liberal arts college in Kentucky, are seeking union representation and have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board. The student workers are organizing with the Communications Workers of America union, and if union organization efforts succeed the union will be named the United Student Workers of Berea-CWA. The college is a work college that requires students to work on the college campus as a part of the curriculum. Workers are looking to unionize for various reasons, such as higher wages that allow students to afford necessary goods and services, and have financial security after they graduate from Berea College. Student employees are also seeking the implementation of a formal process to handle issues in the workplace, training programs, opportunities to develop leadership and professional skills, and other various accommodations.
See Shepherd Snyder, "Berea College students file to organize labor union for undergraduate workers", WEKU NPR, March 25, 2024
Boston University graduate employees plan to take strike action next week
Graduate workers at Boston University are set to strike on Monday. Workers voted in favor of strike authorization earlier this week. Boston University graduate workers are represented by the Service Employees International Union, and the union stated that the Boston University administration has failed to meet its demands. The union is seeking higher pay and improved benefits for workers. The union also claimed that the university has the ability to pay workers more due to high levels of tuition and a sizable endowment. Graduate workers currently earn an annual stipend ranging from $27,000 to $40,000. Negotiations between the two parties started eight months ago, and the parties have met numerous times to try to agree on a new tentative contract.
See Julia Yohe, "BU grad workers vote to strike Monday", NBC 10 Boston, March 22, 2024
Tight budgets for Washington D.C. public schools could lead to layoffs and cuts in services
School districts in Washington D.C. are facing very tight budgets in the coming years, due to large increases in inflation and a significant loss in federal aid. Increases in labor costs and resource costs are also an issue. The mayor of Washington D.C. is requesting additional funding for public schools from the local government. Even if the funding request is approved, it is highly likely that certain services will be cut. There is also a probability that various employees will be laid off. The mayor’s budget for the next year will be focused on improvements in downtown Washington D.C., public schools, public health and safety, and the metro transit system. The budget includes money for building a new Advanced Technical Center in the Washington D.C. area, which educates high school students on specific professional skills.
See Mark Segraves, "‘Very sober budget': Cuts, layoffs in DCPS possible despite increased local funding", NBC 4 Washington, March 22, 2024
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