Unions
Here's a look at documents from unions
Featured Stories
Teamsters Union Issues Statement Ahead of Surface Transportation Bill Markup
WASHINGTON, May 20 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters Union Issues Statement Ahead of Surface Transportation Bill Markup
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(WASHINGTON) - The five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, known as the BUILD America 250 Act, would impact rank-and-file Teamsters nationwide throughout the transportation sector. Ahead of the legislation's markup in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO-6 th District) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA-2 nd District), Teamsters
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WASHINGTON, May 20 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters Union Issues Statement Ahead of Surface Transportation Bill Markup
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(WASHINGTON) - The five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, known as the BUILD America 250 Act, would impact rank-and-file Teamsters nationwide throughout the transportation sector. Ahead of the legislation's markup in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO-6 th District) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA-2 nd District), TeamstersGeneral President Sean M. O'Brien issued the following statement.
"The Teamsters Union commends the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for addressing many of the Teamsters' priority issues in this legislation, including expanding CDL training, establishing an autonomous vehicle framework for state and local governments to build upon, creating groundbreaking mandates for physical barriers on transit buses to protect drivers, and putting the final nail in the coffin for Chinese-owned manufacturers trying to destroy the livelihoods of Teamsters who build transit buses.
"The Teamsters support efforts to improve the federal permitting process to make sure investments turn into real construction jobs. Our union also appreciates the bill's focus on improving roadway safety protections for construction workers.
"While the bill includes positive provisions to protect working people, several critical issues need to be resolved. The final version of the bill must include the Railway Safety Act and other rail safety provisions and be free of any amendments that would dangerously increase the maximum weight of trucks on our nation's roads.
"The Teamsters are proud to be the largest and strongest union representing transportation workers in America. We will continue to put the American worker and the safety and livelihoods of our 1.3 million members first as this important legislation makes its way through Congress."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/05/teamsters-union-issues-statement-ahead-of-surface-transportation-bill-markup/
Teamsters Applaud Supreme Court Ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport
WASHINGTON, May 20 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters Applaud Supreme Court Ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport
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Teamsters applaud the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC., a landmark decision that strengthens accountability for trucking and delivery companies that rely on third-party contractors.
In its opinion, the Court ruled that trucking and delivery companies can be held liable for damages when third-party contractors they hire cause injuries or deaths.
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WASHINGTON, May 20 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters Applaud Supreme Court Ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport
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Teamsters applaud the U.S. Supreme Court's unanimous ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC., a landmark decision that strengthens accountability for trucking and delivery companies that rely on third-party contractors.
In its opinion, the Court ruled that trucking and delivery companies can be held liable for damages when third-party contractors they hire cause injuries or deaths.The decision makes clear that the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) does not shield companies from safety-related lawsuits because they outsource transportation work.
"Until now, Amazon, FedEx, and other bad employers have been able to outsource their legal obligations to third parties because of a loophole in federal law," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "The Teamsters commend the Court for this decision, which will force the largest logistics employers in the country to finally prioritize worker and motorist safety over profits."
This ruling could empower states and local governments to take action against unsafe delivery practices, particularly in last-mile delivery. Amazon relies on its "Delivery Service Partner" network of third-party contractors to evade responsibility to workers and public safety, while distancing from liability due to unsafe working conditions.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/05/teamsters-applaud-supreme-court-ruling-in-montgomery-v-caribe-transport/
Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television & Radio Artists: TAKE IT DOWN Act Notice-and-Removal Obligations Now Effective
LOS ANGELES, California, May 20 -- The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) issued the following news release:
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TAKE IT DOWN Act Notice-and-Removal Obligations Now Effective
SAG-AFTRA and Partners Unite to Continue the Fight Against Nonconsensual Digital Replication and Urge Passage of the NO FAKES Act
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With the TAKE IT DOWN Act's notice-and-removal protections now in effect, SAG-AFTRA, American Medical Association, Artist Rights Alliance, Association of Talent Agents, Black Music Action Coalition, Center for Countering Digital Hate, Creative
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LOS ANGELES, California, May 20 -- The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) issued the following news release:
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TAKE IT DOWN Act Notice-and-Removal Obligations Now Effective
SAG-AFTRA and Partners Unite to Continue the Fight Against Nonconsensual Digital Replication and Urge Passage of the NO FAKES Act
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With the TAKE IT DOWN Act's notice-and-removal protections now in effect, SAG-AFTRA, American Medical Association, Artist Rights Alliance, Association of Talent Agents, Black Music Action Coalition, Center for Countering Digital Hate, CreativeArtists Agency, Deep Media, Human Artistry Campaign, Loti AI, Motion Picture Association, Music Artists Coalition, National Association of Voice Actors, Recording Industry Association of America, Songwriters of North America, Surreal AI, SuperBam, Survivors & Tech Solving Image Based Sexual Abuse, United Talent Agency, Vermillio and William Morris Endeavor, have united to celebrate this critical milestone in the fight against nonconsensual digital replication and to urge Congress to continue its work.
Enacted on May 19, 2025, the TAKE IT DOWN Act required covered platforms to establish a process through which an identifiable individual can request removal of a nonconsensual intimate visual depiction. Upon receiving a valid request, the platform must remove the content within 48 hours and make reasonable efforts to identify and remove known identical copies. Those removal obligations became effective today.
Effective enforcement of notice and takedown frameworks depends on the ability to surface violative content as it emerges. While the TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes critical removal obligations, the act of identifying nonconsensual imagery, unauthorized digital replicas and related harms across all layers of the web remains a significant challenge for victims and rightsholders. Advances in AI now make it possible to proactively surface a wide range of harmful content, strengthening the impact of notice-based regimes and reducing the burden on individuals.
This marks an important step forward for victims of nonconsensual intimate imagery and AI-generated sexual deepfakes. However, the harms of nonconsensual digital replication extend far beyond sexualized content.
SAG-AFTRA and partners urge Congress to build on the foundation started by TAKE IT DOWN by passing the NO FAKES Act. The legislation expands the protections against Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII) to include instances of fraud, commercial misappropriation and performance replacement. Under the No Fakes Act, online services receiving qualifying notice must remove or disable access to unauthorized digital replicas as soon as technically and practically feasible, address matching re-uploads and notify right holders and uploaders.
There is a growing group of companies focused on technology solutions for voice and likeness protection and we believe this can be done. NCII detection, monitoring, and takedown systems demonstrate that scalable identification and enforcement of these harms is both technically feasible and already underway.
The urgency to take further action is growing. Unauthorized replicas are being used for scams, exploitation, false endorsements and the replacement of human performance. Every day without effective notice and takedown remedies puts victims, medical professionals, performers, creators and consumers at risk and in danger, particularly when harmful content remains undiscovered and allowed to spread across fragmented online ecosystems.
"Today we celebrate a landmark victory. For the public and for our members at SAG-AFTRA, this is a powerful safeguard against one of the most dangerous threats posed by artificial intelligence. We are grateful to every coalition partner who fought alongside us to reach this moment. As the trillion-dollar tech industry sharpens its attack on consumers, workers and the public at large, we must take the next giant policy leap to protect our lives and our interests. We must immediately pass the No Fakes Act to enshrine into law our individual right to our voice, image and likeness," said SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin.
"The TAKE IT DOWN Act is a crucial first step, but it is only the beginning. Congress must enact the NO FAKES Act to close the gaps that leave performers, creators and all of us vulnerable to fraud, exploitation and unauthorized performance replacement. Every day we delay is another day abusers exploit these loopholes. The time to take the next step is now," said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
"The American Medical Association urges Congress to act quickly to establish strong safeguards against AI-generated impersonations of physicians. This threat is no longer theoretical. Scammers and bad actors currently use deepfake technology to prey on patients, promote dangerous or unproven treatments, and damage physician credibility. Without clear federal protections and accountability, these deceptive and fraudulent practices will continue to erode public confidence in healthcare and put patient safety at risk," said American Medical Association Chief Executive Officer John Whyte, MD, MPH.
"As the helpful tools of the TAKE IT DOWN Act go into effect, we look forward to the next step in the battle against unauthorized deep fakes: enactment of the NO FAKES Act. The Artist Rights Alliance stands ready to fight alongside our partner organizations and Capitol Hill allies for swift passage of NO FAKES, a critical bill that will stop the scourge of exploitative digital replicas and protect individuals from predatory AI practices," said Artist Rights Alliance Executive Director Jen Jacobsen.
"The May 19th effective date for the TAKE IT DOWN Act's notice-and-removal obligations is a landmark victory for the artists our members represent and the integrity of the entertainment industry. For too long, digital predators have used nonconsensual deepfakes to harass and exploit talent, leaving victims with little recourse as their images proliferated across the web. By mandating that platforms remove this harmful content within 48 hours, we are finally putting a stop to the 'delay and devastate' cycle that has traumatized so many. Ultimately, we must continue this momentum to urge passing the federal NO FAKES Act which is so vital for protecting the livelihoods of artist/creators everywhere," said Association of Talent Agents President Stuart K Robinson.
"Passing the TAKE IT DOWN Act sends an important message that privacy, identity, and human dignity still matter in the digital age. But this moment also exposes how much further we still have to go. The same technology capable of creating opportunity is also being used to exploit people, replicate artists without consent, and profit from deception at scale. We cannot keep reacting after the damage is done. We need laws that match the speed and reality of this moment. That means moving aggressively toward stronger protections for creators, performers, and consumers before the line between what's real and what's manufactured disappears completely," said Black Music Action Coalition Co-Founder, President and CEO Willie "Prophet" Stiggers.
"The TAKE IT DOWN Act is a strong first step in protecting against AI-enabled abuse, but Americans still lack full protection against AI-enabled impersonation and fraud. CCDH research shows Meta is allowing shocking deepfakes of beloved public figures like Oprah to trick seniors into clicking on scams. Not only do individuals deserve to control their own likeness, users should be able to trust the images appearing in their feeds. Congress needs to pass the No FAKES Act to give people meaningful control over their identity and protect consumers from the growing wave of deception," said Center for Countering Digital Hate CEO and Founder Imran Ahmed.
"CAA stands firmly alongside SAG-AFTRA and our industry partners in celebrating the implementation of the TAKE IT DOWN Act's vital protections. This milestone represents a meaningful advancement in safeguarding the rights of artists against the misuse of their identities and bodies of work. However, as technology evolves, so do the threats, and the passage of the NO FAKES Act is essential to address the broader spectrum of consequences caused by nonconsensual digital replication. We urge Congress to move swiftly to put strong protections in place to protect artists from unauthorized use of their image and work," said Creative Artists Agency CEO and Co-Chairman Bryan Lourd.
"Frameworks like the TAKE IT DOWN Act are a massive victory. However, the challenge remains that rightsholders and individuals have to find the violations themselves. This forces performers, creators, and everyday people to repeatedly hunt down their own stolen likenesses - a process many find traumatic and revictimizing. At Deep Media, we focus on proactive detection to stop this cycle. Our AI identifies digital harms automatically, preventing the secondary trauma suffered by victims needing to continuously rediscover their own stolen content. If the NO FAKES Act is going to fulfill its promise, policymakers must pair these powerful legal tools with robust proactive detection infrastructure," said Deep Media Vice President of Product Ally Madrone.
"As creators our voice and likeness are vital parts of our craft, our careers and the foundation on which we connect with others. The direct impact of rising harmful AI deepfakes forces a need to expand guardrails with real solutions, adding to the TAKE IT DOWN Act. That's why the Human Artistry Campaign has long advocated alongside a growing coalition pushing for the NO FAKES Act, which would give all individuals a right to these core qualities only they deserve to have. With bipartisan support in both the Senate and House, we strongly believe this legislation can and should move forward now," said Human Artistry Campaign Senior Advisor Dr. Moiya McTier.
"The TAKE IT DOWN Act was a good start, but it's clear that the threats on digital likeness go much further than its scope and the technology for creating them has improved dramatically since it was passed. We're now at a point where creators, platforms, agencies and policymakers are all starting to recognize the same missing protections. The NO FAKES Act is the crucial next step in creating clear rules and real enforcement that people can rely on when their likeness is used without permission," said Loti AI CEO and Founder Luke Arrigoni.
"The Motion Picture Association continues to support the NO FAKES Act, which thoughtfully establishes federal protections against abusive and deceptive uses of digital replicas while respecting creators' First Amendment rights and freedoms," said Motion Picture Association President and CEO Charlie Rivkin.
"TAKE IT DOWN works. NO FAKES will work too. Let's pass it before another artist wakes up to find their voice for sale without their permission," said Music Artists Coalition Executive Director Ron Gubitz.
"The implementation of the TAKE IT DOWN Act is a major victory and an encouraging sign that Congress is taking the harms of unauthorized AI-generated content seriously. It shows that meaningful protections are possible and that platforms can act quickly when people are being exploited online. For the voice acting community, the NO FAKES Act is the critical next step. NAVA strongly supports passing this legislation that gives performers and everyday individuals the ability to protect their voices, likenesses and identities from unauthorized AI replication. As these technologies rapidly evolve, we need clear federal protections that put consent, transparency and human creativity first," said National Association of Voice Actors President and Co-Founder Tim Friedlander.
"The TAKE IT DOWN Act importantly recognized the urgency of removing nonconsensual digital replicas as a vital protection for Americans. We applaud that foundational notion garnering broad support in Congress, from the Administration, creative communities, child protection groups and tech. And now with the same alignment and fervor, it is time to pass the NO FAKES Act. This landmark legislation builds on voice and likeness safeguards against all AI deepfakes and clones while offering real action when those rights are violated, without inhibiting innovation," said Recording Industry Association of America Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier.
"SONA is proud to stand alongside this coalition at a moment of real progress. The TAKE IT DOWN Act lays important groundwork, and the NO FAKES Act is critical to ensure creators have clear, enforceable rights against unauthorized digital replication as these technologies continue to evolve," said Songwriters of North America Attorney, Co-founder and Board Member Dina LaPolt.
"At SuperBam, we've spent nearly a decade protecting creators' intellectual property rights. As AI has rapidly reshaped the media landscape, the tools available to creators and consumers to manage and understand distributed content have failed to keep pace. The TAKE IT DOWN Act is an important first step for copyright and likeness rights holders. Congress must now advance the NO FAKES Act to ensure platforms are accountable in the age of AI," said SuperBam CEO and Founder Rian Bosak.
"The implementation of the TAKE IT DOWN Act marks a critical shift from awareness to enforceable protection. Survivors of image-based sexual abuse should not bear the burden of endlessly tracking and reporting their abuse online. Effective notice-and-removal systems, paired with proactive detection technologies, are essential to preventing ongoing revictimization in the digital age. At STISA, we believe this milestone is an important foundation and urgently needed to address the full spectrum of nonconsensual digital replication," said Survivors & Tech Solving Image Based Sexual Abuse Co-Founder and General Manager Caroline Humer.
"We need to protect our clients' rights, livelihoods and creative identities as AI and digital replication technologies continue to evolve. UTA believes that innovation and consent must go hand in hand. We're proud to stand alongside this coalition in support of the NO FAKES Act, which represents an important step toward establishing meaningful, enforceable protections against exploitation, fraud and the unauthorized use of voices, likenesses and performances," said United Talent Agency CEO David Kramer.
"Right now, AI companies, social media companies, and scammers are profiting from unauthorized use of music artists', creators', and everyday people's voices and faces without authorization or compensation. The NO FAKES Act builds on the TAKE IT DOWN law and establishes what should be obvious: your identity is yours to control. We need nationwide likeness protection that sets the terms for the people, not the platforms," said Vermillio Co-Founder and CEO Dan Neely.
"AI can create incredible opportunities for artists and audiences alike, but protections have to keep pace with the technology. The TAKE IT DOWN Act is essential in protecting our clients and the public from harmful and exploitative content online. The next important step is passing the NO FAKES Act to safeguard our clients' voice, likeness, and identity in the age of AI. We appreciate the bipartisan leadership on these issues and look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers as this conversation moves forward," said William Morris Endeavor Co-Chairman Christian Muirhead.
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About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.
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Original text here: https://www.sagaftra.org/take-it-down-act-notice-and-removal-obligations-now-effective
[Category: Union]
Nurses on Ebola: Trump's CDC is too weak to respond to outbreaks, leaving working people everywhere at risk
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 20 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Nurses on Ebola: Trump's CDC is too weak to respond to outbreaks, leaving working people everywhere at risk
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With a new Ebola outbreak announced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on May 15 and declared an international public health emergency just two days later, on top of the recent Andes hantavirus cruise ship outbreak, National Nurses United (NNU) -the nation's largest union of registered nurses -is sounding the alarm on the Trump administration's bungled response
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 20 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Nurses on Ebola: Trump's CDC is too weak to respond to outbreaks, leaving working people everywhere at risk
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With a new Ebola outbreak announced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on May 15 and declared an international public health emergency just two days later, on top of the recent Andes hantavirus cruise ship outbreak, National Nurses United (NNU) -the nation's largest union of registered nurses -is sounding the alarm on the Trump administration's bungled responseto emerging infectious diseases. Nurses know stopping outbreaks takes strong public health care systems, global cooperation, and support for frontline health care workers. Trump's attacks on all of these have left our country less prepared to respond in this critical moment.
NNU issued the following statement:
"Nurses understand the life-or-death importance of prevention, and when it comes to infectious diseases, that means having strong infrastructure in place to rapidly detect and respond to new outbreaks before they are out of control. The Trump administration has purposely taken a sledgehammer to that infrastructure over the past year. Instead of funding a robust web of public health experts, they have stolen from our public health resources to fund tax breaks for billionaires, ICE terror, and warfare abroad, threatening the lives of working people everywhere. As a result, we are only just now learning about hundreds of Ebola cases in the DRC, indicating that the virus has already been spreading for weeks or months before it was detected.
Let us be clear: The CDC under Trump is flying blind, and that is by design. Nurses are appalled that over the past year, the Trump administration has destroyed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and exited the World Health Organization (WHO), dismantling response infrastructure and delaying critical communications and information. Under Trump, cuts to CDC staff have diminished the number of available infectious disease experts and response capacity. In cases like the recent hantavirus outbreak, what little info we have is slow, and often provided by political appointees, given that the actual scientists have been fired or quit. The Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy has never been staffed under the Trump administration, and research into treatments and infectious diseases has been gutted.
Nurses have already lived through one bungled, global health emergency response during the first Trump administration, and we are appalled to know that when it comes to Ebola, hantavirus, or any other infectious disease, the United States under Donald Trump is now even less prepared than in 2020. While the Trump administration has proven again and again that it prioritizes welfare for billionaires, the agency that is supposed to protect working people's health and safety is currently too weakened and sick to function.
Union nurses are public health warriors, who already struck over U.S. hospitals' inadequate 2014 Ebola response, and who saved countless lives with our unrelenting, years-long fight for optimal Covid protections. We will continue monitoring the Ebola outbreak, the recent hantavirus cases, and all infectious disease outbreaks, using what resources we have to keep patients informed. And we will continue fighting for a society that prioritizes people over profit, with Medicare for All and more, because our patients deserve better than to be left in the dark by an administration that values a handful of outrageously wealthy billionaires over the health and safety of everyone we know and love."
National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-on-ebola-trumps-cdc-is-too-weak-to-respond-to-outbreaks-leaving-working-people-at-risk
Cargill Teamsters Demand Employer End Lockout
WASHINGTON, May 20 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Cargill Teamsters Demand Employer End Lockout
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(FORT MORGAN, Colo.) - More than 1,700 Teamsters at Cargill Meat Solutions were locked out this morning after months of fighting for a new collective bargaining agreement. The meat processing giant has refused to offer Teamsters Local 455 members necessary improvements to wages, health care, and safety protections.
"Shame on this company for shutting out our members. Cargill can afford to give these workers a fair deal that
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 20 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Cargill Teamsters Demand Employer End Lockout
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(FORT MORGAN, Colo.) - More than 1,700 Teamsters at Cargill Meat Solutions were locked out this morning after months of fighting for a new collective bargaining agreement. The meat processing giant has refused to offer Teamsters Local 455 members necessary improvements to wages, health care, and safety protections.
"Shame on this company for shutting out our members. Cargill can afford to give these workers a fair deal thatreflects their hard work and dedication," said Dean Modecker, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 455. "This was a disgraceful move by a company that has long taken its workers for granted. We won't stand for it."
Workers at the Cargill facility are critical to processing millions of pounds of beef for American families nationwide. In a town as small and tight knit as Fort Morgan, Cargill Teamsters keep the economy running.
"I've been at Cargill for 33 years and it's really upsetting to see the company be so unreasonable," said Chris Bell, a maintenance worker at Cargill and member of Local 455. "I am just a few months away from retirement, but I want to be out here supporting the younger workers who are fighting for their future. We can't believe this company would stoop to this level. We will be out here every day making our voices heard."
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Teamsters Local 455 represents over 10,000 members in the Rocky Mountains region. For more information, visit teamsterslocal455.org.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/05/cargill-teamsters-demand-employer-end-lockout/
AFT and AAUP: Apollo CEO Using Company Resources to Fund Personal, Political Agenda
WASHINGTON, May 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Teachers issued the following news release:
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AFT and AAUP: Apollo CEO Is Using Company Resources to Fund Personal, Political Agenda
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AFT President Randi Weingarten and American Association of University Professors President Todd Wolfson have written a letter to Apollo Global Management board member and audit committee chair Jessica Bibliowicz to demand that the Apollo board investigate CEO Marc Rowan's personal use of Apollo staff and resources-an apparent breach of company policy-to run a private political campaign
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Teachers issued the following news release:
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AFT and AAUP: Apollo CEO Is Using Company Resources to Fund Personal, Political Agenda
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AFT President Randi Weingarten and American Association of University Professors President Todd Wolfson have written a letter to Apollo Global Management board member and audit committee chair Jessica Bibliowicz to demand that the Apollo board investigate CEO Marc Rowan's personal use of Apollo staff and resources-an apparent breach of company policy-to run a private political campaignattacking America's colleges and universities.
Through Freedom of Information Act requests and other sources, the AFT has obtained documents revealing Rowan tapped his Apollo executive assistant, his chief of staff and his Apollo email account to wage his political campaign, the so-called Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, which conditions federal research funding on institutions signing a loyalty oath to the Trump administration.
"It is, of course, Rowan's right as an American to hold whatever views he pleases," Weingarten and Wolfson write. "What is not permitted under Apollo's Code of Business Conduct is the use of Apollo's staff and resources to conduct Rowan's campaign."
Apollo's own Code of Business Conduct and Ethics explicitly requires that personnel involved in personal and civic affairs make clear that their views are their own and not those of the firm. Rowan appears to have made no effort to comply.
The AFT and AAUP's 1.8 million members have at least $29 billion in retirement assets invested in Apollo through their pension funds and additional exposure through their funds' public equity allocations. Around 700 AFT members work at Apollo subsidiary Lifepoint Health's healthcare facilities. Additionally, a significant number of universities where AFT members work have invested endowment assets with Apollo.
The letter raises deep concerns about Rowan's backing for the compact, which directly affects 420,000 AFT and AAUP higher education members and their students. It would fundamentally change the purpose of higher education by muzzling academic freedom and freedom of speech on campus by directing public money in ways that violate democracy and stifle innovation. It would reward campuses that toe the party line and punish those that cherish their independence by mandating what can or can't be the subject of critical academic inquiry.
In addition, the compact "would harm LGBTQIA+ students and staff at any university that adopts the compact"-a position difficult to square with Apollo's own stated values, including a 2021 Human Rights Campaign Foundation award naming it one of the "Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality." The compact further bans signatory institutions from considering race as a factor in admissions, which appears to conflict with Apollo's efforts to portray the firm as committed to racial equity through annual spending commitments on diversity initiatives.
The latest revelations come with Rowan's reputation under a cloud and Apollo's share price in decline. In February, the AFT and AAUP demanded the Securities and Exchange Commission investigate apparent inaccuracies in Apollo's official regulatory filings concerning its partners' dealings with dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The Epstein files revealed multiple meetings over several years between Epstein, Rowan and Apollo co-founder Leon Black-including discussions of private tax matters for the founders' family offices. The firm is also at the center of the crisis roiling the private credit industry.
AFT and AAUP members are taking notice. An online petition launched by the AAUP late last week has already generated hundreds of letters calling on California pensions to halt further allocation to Apollo.
The letter closes with a pointed question for the Apollo board: "Has the Apollo board of directors formally endorsed Rowan's campaign and given him express permission, despite the apparent conflict with the firm's own personnel policies, to use Apollo's firm resources to advocate against the interests of educators and public employees?"
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INFODOC: https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2026/Letter_to_Apollo_May_2026_FINAL.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.aft.org/press-release/aft-and-aaup-apollo-ceo-using-company-resources-fund-personal-political-agenda
NALC launches learning management system
WASHINGTON, May 19 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO National Association of Letter Carriers issued the following news:
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NALC launches learning management system
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NALC is excited to announce the launch of a new online learning management system (LMS) designed to deliver training to union representatives and members across the country. As explained in the March edition of The Postal Record, NALC has been developing the LMS in conjunction with Vocalmeet, a company that helps organizations like NALC build online education programs.
In addition to the development of the LMS, NALC has also
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO National Association of Letter Carriers issued the following news:
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NALC launches learning management system
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NALC is excited to announce the launch of a new online learning management system (LMS) designed to deliver training to union representatives and members across the country. As explained in the March edition of The Postal Record, NALC has been developing the LMS in conjunction with Vocalmeet, a company that helps organizations like NALC build online education programs.
In addition to the development of the LMS, NALC has alsobeen working on the creation of a standardized Informal Step A Training program to help shop stewards represent members on the workroom floor. The modules created for this program vary in length from 15 to 60 minutes and cover a variety of subjects NALC members and union representatives will find helpful. These modules include:
* National Agreement modules, which explain the articles of the contract. Some are covered in multiple modules.
* How to Grieve modules, which explain how to take the contractual language and file a successful grievance.
* Grievance Procedure modules, which explain how a steward can use the grievance-arbitration process effectively.
* General Education modules, which include other subjects a shop steward may need to be effective in their job.
The nationwide rollout of the LMS begins May 19 and will continue until every member is able to log in and begin taking these classes. Access to the LMS will be turned on by region based on the following schedule:
* Tuesday, May 19-Regions 4, 11 and 12
* Tuesday, May 26-Regions 6, 8 and 15
* Tuesday, June 2-Regions 2, 5 and 9
* Tuesday, June 9-Regions 1 and 3
* Tuesday, June 16-Regions 7, 10, 13 and 14
Once access to the LMS is added for your region, you can enter by first logging into the Members Only portal of the NALC website. Once you log into Members Only, the LMS is found in the Members Menu. Simply bring up the menu on your device and select "Learning Management System" from the drop-down menu. You will be automatically directed to the LMS website, where you can view all the modules available and begin taking classes.
Starting July 1, NALC will begin adding new modules every two weeks, so members should log in regularly to view the new content.
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Original text here: https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-launches-learning-management-system
Coca-Cola Teamsters Ratify Strong New Agreement
WASHINGTON, May 19 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Coca-Cola Teamsters Ratify Strong New Agreement
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Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: mdrumm@teamster.org
(ST. LOUIS) - A group of over 35 workers at Heartland Coca-Cola have voted by an overwhelming 90 percent margin to ratify a new agreement. The service equipment workers are represented by Teamsters Local 688.
"This new agreement is a big win for these workers," said Jeff Padellaro, Director of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Coca-Cola Teamsters Ratify Strong New Agreement
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Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: mdrumm@teamster.org
(ST. LOUIS) - A group of over 35 workers at Heartland Coca-Cola have voted by an overwhelming 90 percent margin to ratify a new agreement. The service equipment workers are represented by Teamsters Local 688.
"This new agreement is a big win for these workers," said Jeff Padellaro, Director of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference."The strong improvements highlight the power of our members when their solidarity is strong and they're ready to fight. They should be proud of the gains they have won."
The five-year agreement delivers an 18 percent wage increase, lowers health care costs, and protects retiree health care. The contract also ensures that workers receive a doubled shift differential.
"I am proud of the commitment our staff and the rank-and-file negotiating committee put into securing this contract. It was only through their collective voice at the bargaining table that they were able to win this agreement," said Chris Tongay, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 688.
"This is a solid contract that contains the highest annual raises in my 28 years at this company," said Steve Stock, chief shop steward and a service technician at Heartland Coca-Cola. "We knew what we wanted and negotiations were productive and quick. Our nearly unanimous vote shows overwhelming support for this contract that honors our hard work."
Teamsters Local 688 represents workers in the St. Louis area. Their mission is to negotiate member benefits and compensation, oversee workplace safety, and fairly arbitrate disputes in the workplace to maintain member satisfaction.For more information, go to 688online.org.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/05/coca-cola-teamsters-ratify-strong-new-agreement/
BLET Teamsters & Union Coalition Win Historic Strike at LIRR
WASHINGTON, May 19 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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BLET Teamsters & Union Coalition Win Historic Strike at LIRR
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(NEW YORK) - Teamsters with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and their union coalition have reached a tentative agreement with Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to end the carrier's first strike in over three decades. The agreement provides workers with raises that maintain their standard of living while strengthening work rules and improving benefits.
"BLET Teamsters and their brothers
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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BLET Teamsters & Union Coalition Win Historic Strike at LIRR
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(NEW YORK) - Teamsters with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and their union coalition have reached a tentative agreement with Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to end the carrier's first strike in over three decades. The agreement provides workers with raises that maintain their standard of living while strengthening work rules and improving benefits.
"BLET Teamsters and their brothersand sisters across four other unions just showed this entire country what worker solidarity looks like in action," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "These union railroaders made it clear from the start they would not accept a deal that shortchanged them and undercut their standard of living. For three long days they bravely withheld their labor on picket lines across the New York metropolitan area. Every worker in America is reminded of what can be achieved through courage and conviction to fight for a better way of life."
Thousands of workers from five unions were forced to strike by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) refusal to offer them a fair contract. BLET Teamsters and their coalition partners set up picket lines at major LIRR hubs immediately after midnight on Saturday, May 16.
"This victory was won by union members who stood their ground and refused to be pushed around," said Mark Wallace, President of the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference. "Our coalition showed the MTA that railroad workers will fight for the respect, pay, and protections we've earned. Their unity and determination forced this railroad to finally deliver a fair agreement."
"BLET Teamsters and our coalition brothers and sisters made countless sacrifices as we bargained in good faith for a new agreement. After years of negotiations, we've finally received an agreement that reflects the value our members bring to this railroad," said Kevin Sexton, Vice President of the BLET. "It is heartbreaking that the MTA made our communities and our passengers pay the price for their mismanagement. We thank the people of New York for their patience and support."
The coalition spent years bargaining with the MTA for a new agreement. The process included two Presidential Emergency Boards that ruled in favor of the unions. In that time, workers went without raises as inflation ate away their standard of living.
"We are pleased to see this strike come to a close. BLET Teamsters and our coalition did everything in our power to avoid going to the picket line. But the MTA and the LIRR left us with no other option," said Gil Lang, General Chairman of the BLET's LIRR General Committee. "It's hard to describe how proud I am of my brothers and sisters for sticking together to win this fight. Our entire coalition displayed an unmatched level of solidarity. And we now have a fair agreement to show for it."
The LIRR is the busiest commuter railroad in America, with 300,000 daily passengers. The Teamsters represent over 500 of the LIRR's locomotive engineers.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/05/blet-teamsters-union-coalition-win-historic-strike-at-lirr/
Workers' Victory Over Autonomous Vehicles
WASHINGTON, May 18 [Category: Union] -- The Transport Workers Union of America issued the following news release:
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Workers' Victory Over Autonomous Vehicles
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Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill is a Massive Victory for Workers Threatened by Autonomous Vehicle Technology
The bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill introduced by Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rick Larsen (D-WA) is a massive win for workers fighting to preserve jobs and increase safety as autonomous vehicle technology develops beyond robotaxis to transit buses, motorcoaches, school buses and
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 18 [Category: Union] -- The Transport Workers Union of America issued the following news release:
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Workers' Victory Over Autonomous Vehicles
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Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill is a Massive Victory for Workers Threatened by Autonomous Vehicle Technology
The bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill introduced by Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rick Larsen (D-WA) is a massive win for workers fighting to preserve jobs and increase safety as autonomous vehicle technology develops beyond robotaxis to transit buses, motorcoaches, school buses andother commercial vehicles, TWU International President John Samuelsen said today.
This bill would set, for the first time, a national federal standard for such commercial AVs to guarantee they are safe before they are put on our streets. This standard includes human oversight and the ability for humans to intervene, as necessary, to keep these vehicles safe.
"This is a massive win for workers and the riding public," Samuelsen said. "The bill sets critically important guardrails for the next wave of autonomous vehicles and advances our top priorities: protecting the employment of our members and ensuring the Wild West chaos that has occurred with the roll out of robotaxis is not repeated. We've said from the very beginning that technology should assist Bus Operators, not recklessly replace them and throw them into unemployment. This bill is a big step forward in ensuring that people, working men and women, remain central figures in providing public transit and school transportation."
The bill also directs the DOT to establish a second set of operating rules to address safety-related duties performed by Bus Operators other than operating the vehicle. The bill directly requires qualified drivers to operate yellow school buses and hazmat vehicles.
TWU Administrative Vice President Curtis Tate said, "The human component of public transportation cannot be replaced by a robot or algorithm. They do a hell of a lot more than operate buses. They are another set of eyes and ears for law enforcement and medical first responders, assist the disabled boarding and exiting, give directions and much more, including on occasion comforting and aiding pregnant mothers going into labor before reaching the hospital. They are invaluable."
In stark contrast to the great work done to address AV safety, this bill ignores the plummeting safety standards on freight railroads. More than 3 years after the derailment in East Palestine, OH showcased the incredible safety failures in the industry, this bill would do nothing to address the key causes of that accident and thousands of others since.
"Qualified car inspectors, mechanics, engineers, and conductors could prevent deaths on the railroad every day if they had the right safety rules in place," said TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz. "It is shameful that Congress hasn't yet banned maximum inspection times for car inspectors to conduct their work or taken any action to even acknowledge the horrific derailments and accidents happening every day across the country."
As this bill moves through the committee's review process, the TWU will be seeking significant improvements in the rail title to improve rail safety and protect workers on the job.
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Original text here: https://www.twu.org/workers-victory-over-autonomous-vehicles/
