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WGA Statement on Paramount-WBD Merger Pause
NEW YORK, July 30 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Writers Guild of America East issued the following news release:
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WGA Statement on Paramount-WBD Merger Pause
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LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK (July 24, 2026)-The following is a statement from the Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America East, jointly the WGA, on securing a pause in the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger:
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery today agreed to what the state Attorneys General and the WGA both sought from the court: the merger will be put on hold pending the outcome of the states' and the
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NEW YORK, July 30 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Writers Guild of America East issued the following news release:
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WGA Statement on Paramount-WBD Merger Pause
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LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK (July 24, 2026)-The following is a statement from the Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America East, jointly the WGA, on securing a pause in the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger:
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery today agreed to what the state Attorneys General and the WGA both sought from the court: the merger will be put on hold pending the outcome of the states' and theWGA's cases or until June 1, 2027, whichever comes first. It remains our view that this merger is unlawful, and we will continue the fight to block it.
About the Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) are labor unions of writers working in motion pictures, television, news, podcasts, and online media. The Guilds negotiate and administer contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of their members; conduct programs, seminars, and events on issues of interest to writers; and present writers' views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America West, visit www.wga.org. For more information on the Writers Guild of America East, visit www.wgaeast.org.
About Cuneo Gilbert Flannery & LaDuca, LLP
Cuneo Gilbert Flannery & LaDuca, LLP has been serving clients in complex civil litigation in practice areas ranging from antitrust law and class actions to government and legislative advocacy with a team of proven lawyers since 1988. With 35+ years of experience, CGFL believes it is the only law firm of our size equally at home on Capitol Hill, in a political debate, a state trial, or an appellate court. Learn more about the firm: www.cuneolaw.com.
About Shinder Cantor Lerner LLP
SCL is a national antitrust litigation boutique with an established track record of success litigating and advising on high-stakes bet-the-industry matters on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants nationwide. With offices in New York and Washington, Shinder Cantor Lerner focuses on antitrust law. Learn more: scl-llp.com.
About Platkin LLP
Platkin LLP is a mission-driven law firm founded by former New Jersey Attorney General (AG) Matthew Platkin and a talented team of litigators from the AG's office. From lawsuits that demand accountability at the highest levels to cases that ensure the public's safety, protect consumers, and uphold the foundations of our democracy, Platkin doesn't just win, they set legal precedents to protect the public for generations to come.
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Original text here: https://www.wgaeast.org/wga-statement-on-paramount-wbd-merger-pause/
Largest Federal Employee Union Announces Slate of Virginia Endorsements Ahead of Aug. 4 Primary
WASHINGTON, July 30 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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Largest Federal Employee Union Announces Slate of Virginia Endorsements Ahead of Aug. 4 Primary
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AFGE says endorsed candidates will stand up for working families
WASHINGTON -The American Federation of Government Employees today announced a slate of endorsed candidates for election to Congress representing Virginia in the 2026 elections. The statewide primary is Aug. 4, and general election is Nov. 3.
The endorsed candidates are incumbent U.S. Sen. Mark
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WASHINGTON, July 30 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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Largest Federal Employee Union Announces Slate of Virginia Endorsements Ahead of Aug. 4 Primary
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AFGE says endorsed candidates will stand up for working families
WASHINGTON -The American Federation of Government Employees today announced a slate of endorsed candidates for election to Congress representing Virginia in the 2026 elections. The statewide primary is Aug. 4, and general election is Nov. 3.
The endorsed candidates are incumbent U.S. Sen. MarkWarner; incumbent U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott (3rd District), Jennifer McClellan (4th District), Eugene Vindman (7th District), Don Beyer (8th District), Suhas Subramanyam (10th District), and James Walkinshaw (11th District); and candidates Shannon Taylor (1st District) and Elaine Luria (2nd District).
These endorsements reaffirm AFGE's commitment to electing leaders who will protect federal employees, strengthen collective bargaining rights, defend public services, and stand up for working families.
"Federal employees dedicate their careers to serving the American people, often under challenging circumstances," AFGE District 14 National Vice President Ottis Johnson Jr. said. "These candidates have demonstrated a commitment to protecting the federal workforce, defending collective bargaining rights, and ensuring that the public servants who keep our nation running are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve."
"AFGE members know firsthand the importance of having elected leaders who value public service and understand the vital role federal employees play in every community," AFGE District 4 National Vice President Christine Surrette said. "We are proud to support this outstanding group of candidates who will fight for workers' rights, protect earned benefits, and strengthen the services Americans rely on every day."
AFGE's endorsed candidates have consistently demonstrated a commitment to organized labor, working families, and protecting the federal workforce. The union looks forward to working alongside these candidates throughout the 2026 election cycle to ensure that the voices of federal employees are heard in Congress.
About 235,500 federal employees live in Virginia - caring for veterans, supporting the military, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. District 4 represents about 43,000 employees in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, while District 14 represents nearly 70,000 workers in the Washington metropolitan area and Europe.
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Original text here: https://www.afge.org/link/af0d675680a643e2b794a6f69974a7aa.aspx
Republic Services Teamsters Unanimously Authorize Strike
WASHINGTON, July 29 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Republic Services Teamsters Unanimously Authorize Strike
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Press Contact: Trish Muir Phone: (520) 246-9592 Email: trish.muir@teamsterslocal104.com
(BUCKEYE, Ariz.) - Republic Services workers represented by Teamsters Local 104 have unanimously voted to authorize a strike.
The group joined the Teamsters early this year to bargain for a first contract that guarantees them respect on the job. Shortly after their strike authorization, they were also forced to file an unfair
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WASHINGTON, July 29 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Republic Services Teamsters Unanimously Authorize Strike
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Press Contact: Trish Muir Phone: (520) 246-9592 Email: trish.muir@teamsterslocal104.com
(BUCKEYE, Ariz.) - Republic Services workers represented by Teamsters Local 104 have unanimously voted to authorize a strike.
The group joined the Teamsters early this year to bargain for a first contract that guarantees them respect on the job. Shortly after their strike authorization, they were also forced to file an unfairlabor practice charge against the company.
"We unionized with the Teamsters because this company refused to give us the respect we deserve," said Daniel Freitag, a steward and two-year Republic worker. "Treatment from management has only gotten worse as we've tried to bargain in good faith for a first agreement. It's unacceptable. If they want a fight, they're moving in the right direction."
These Teamsters operate Republic's Buckeye Landfill, located just outside the multibillion-dollar waste hauler's corporate headquarters in Phoenix. Their facility serves a range of municipalities, including Maricopa and Buckeye.
"Our members will not stand for Republic's bullying and mismanagement," said Karla Schumann, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 104 and Teamsters International Vice President for the Western Region. "These workers want nothing more than to clock in and be treated and compensated fairly. They will not settle for anything less. They've made that clear with this unanimous strike authorization vote. The ball is in Republic's court."
Last year, Republic forced hundreds of rank-and-file Teamsters across the country on strike. Republic has admitted that its management-induced work stoppage cost the company's shareholders $50 million.
"These courageous workers do not stand alone. The entire 1.3 million-member Teamsters Union is behind them 100 percent," said Victor Mineros, Director of the Teamsters Solid Waste and Recycling Division. "We hoped Republic learned its lesson last year. But if they want to try their luck against the Teamsters again, they know where to find us."
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/2026/07/republic-services-teamsters-unanimously-authorize-strike/
National Education Union: Changes to Technical Education are Welcome But Require Proper Investment
LONDON, England, July 29 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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Changes to technical education are welcome but require proper investment
Commenting on the announcement of plans to launch new technical education pathways, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Andy Burnham's first announcement should have been that he will end austerity in education. These proposed changes to technical education are welcome, but they will hit the skids unless there is sufficient investment in schools.
"Support
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LONDON, England, July 29 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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Changes to technical education are welcome but require proper investment
Commenting on the announcement of plans to launch new technical education pathways, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Andy Burnham's first announcement should have been that he will end austerity in education. These proposed changes to technical education are welcome, but they will hit the skids unless there is sufficient investment in schools.
"Supportand investment for schools, colleges and young people must come first. The FE sector is severely underfunded and the government have not fully funded teacher pay for next year. Where will the teachers, lecturers and physical infrastructure to support these new routes come from without proper funding?
"Schools are being forced to find pound sterling460 million in cuts collectively this academic year. After years of underfunding, asking schools to keep doing more with less is simply not sustainable. This is the approach that cost Keir Starmer and Bridget Phillipson the confidence of the profession. If we are serious about raising standards and giving every child the education they deserve, funding must come first.
"Broader options and flexibility for students are in principle a positive step forward, but if the government's plans close doors for young people by narrowing their options at 14 this may place limits on their future opportunities. This will disproportionately hit the most disadvantaged. It is right to focus on improving the escalating NEET issue but education is about more than simply a pipeline to work.
"Young people with SEND are 80 per cent more likely to be NEET and any changes to the curriculum, careers guidance or work experience availability must be inclusive and accessible for all.
"We look forward to working with the new Prime Minister and Secretary of State to help ensure the pitfalls of the past can be avoided."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/changes-technical-education-are-welcome-require-proper-investment?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
NFFE Delivers Payouts to Local 919 Following Successful $5 Million FLSA Settlement
WASHINGTON, July 29 [Category: Union] -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
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NFFE Delivers Payouts to Local 919 Following Successful $5 Million FLSA Settlement
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Earlier this month, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) visited Local 919 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA to deliver payouts to employees following a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) settlement regarding overtime pay for workers at the base's Naval Hospital and Dental Center.
After years of dedicated efforts by your NFFE National and Local 919
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WASHINGTON, July 29 [Category: Union] -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
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NFFE Delivers Payouts to Local 919 Following Successful $5 Million FLSA Settlement
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Earlier this month, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) visited Local 919 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA to deliver payouts to employees following a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) settlement regarding overtime pay for workers at the base's Naval Hospital and Dental Center.
After years of dedicated efforts by your NFFE National and Local 919leadership, and The Law Offices of Snider & Associates, NFFE Local 919 successfully resolved its 2024 Overtime Grievance with the Department of the Navy. As a result, $5 million in damages were recovered on behalf of the bargaining unit.
For many years, management failed to properly designate and compensate certain employees in accordance with applicable overtime compensation laws. Consequently, many bargaining unit members were not fully compensated for overtime work performed. Hundreds of employees who worked between May 5, 2014, and March 13, 2024, benefited from this resolution.
NFFE National President Randy Erwin, Secretary-Treasurer Max Alonzo, and other NFFE National staff were proud to personally deliver settlement checks to Local 919 members, some upwards of $20,000. If you believe you were affected by this settlement and owed backpay, please visit nffe919.org/settlement/ for more information.
"This is an incredible victory for our union and Local 919," said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. "NFFE will always pursue justice when management is not following the law. In this case, we are so proud to have won backpay for our members who rightfully earned those dollars by working overtime and not being properly compensated. This is a true testament to the power of being a NFFE member."
NFFE and Local 919 leadership, both past and present, worked tirelessly over many years to achieve. As we celebrate this important victory, we also recognize it as one of many significant successes achieved by NFFE Local 919 in recent years. We encourage all eligible employees to becoming members of NFFE at nffe.org/e-dues/.
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Original text here: https://www.nffe.org/nffe_news/nffe-delivers-payouts-to-local-919-following-successful-5-million-flsa-settlement/
Grammy-Nominated Musician Jesse Welles Honors Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Workers' Picket Line, Cancels Show: 'Pay a Living Wage or Get Lost'
UPPER MARLBORO, Maryland, July 29 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers issued the following news release:
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Grammy-Nominated Musician Jesse Welles Honors Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Workers' Picket Line, Cancels Show: 'Pay a Living Wage or Get Lost'
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RICHMOND, Va., July 29, 2026 -Members of LGBG Workers United, represented by the IAM Union, launched their second one-day Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike today in protest of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's continued refusal to bargain in good faith over wages in first-contract
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UPPER MARLBORO, Maryland, July 29 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers issued the following news release:
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Grammy-Nominated Musician Jesse Welles Honors Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Workers' Picket Line, Cancels Show: 'Pay a Living Wage or Get Lost'
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RICHMOND, Va., July 29, 2026 -Members of LGBG Workers United, represented by the IAM Union, launched their second one-day Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike today in protest of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's continued refusal to bargain in good faith over wages in first-contractnegotiations.
The IAM Union filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board on April 30, 2026, citing regressive bargaining in wage proposals from Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden during negotiations.
The workers' strike received a major show of solidarity from Grammy-nominated musician Jesse Welles, who was scheduled to perform at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on Wednesday evening. After learning of the strike, Welles announced he would not cross the workers' picket line and had a message for Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden: "Pay a living wage or get lost."
In an Instagram post to his 2.2 million followers, Welles wrote:
"In solidarity with the workers on strike at the botanical garden we are rescheduling our show this evening in Richmond.
"To the fans: we would not want to put you in a position to cross the picket line, we are sorry.
To the Garden: pay a living wage or get lost.
To the workers: never back down.
"We've rescheduled the show for Friday, September 25th at The National. Your tickets from tonight will remain valid for the rescheduled date. For those who cannot make this date, refunds will be available at your original point of purchase."
"We're incredibly grateful to Jesse Welles for standing with working people," said IAM Union Organizer Bridget Fitzgerald. "His decision sends a powerful message that workers fighting for fair wages deserve the community's support. We hope garden leadership hears his message."
The workers are also calling on the public to boycott Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden until a fair agreement is reached. They are asking supporters to refrain from purchasing admission tickets or buying or renewing annual memberships until the garden bargains a contract that provides employees with living wages and the respect they have earned.
This all comes more than a year after workers began negotiating their first union contract following a decisive vote to join the IAM Union in November 2024. Wages remain the primary obstacle to reaching an agreement, with the average bargaining unit employee earning just $17.52 per hour-well below the estimated $25-per-hour living wage for the Richmond area.
More than 50 community members publicly backed workers during the organizing drive, and a recent petition supporting the employees has collected nearly 1,000 signatures from Garden members, volunteers, and local residents, many of whom have pledged to support the workers if the dispute escalated.
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Original text here: https://www.goiam.org/press-releases/grammy-nominated-musician-jesse-welles-honors-lewis-ginter-botanical-garden-workers-picket-line-cancels-show-pay-a-living-wage-or-get-lost/
AFGE Endorses Kentucky's Charles Booker for U.S. Senate and Zach Dembo for U.S. House in November Election
WASHINGTON, July 29 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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AFGE Endorses Kentucky's Charles Booker for U.S. Senate and Zach Dembo for U.S. House in November Election
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AFGE says Booker and Dembo will fight for working people in Congress
INDIANAPOLIS -The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of Charles Booker for election to the U.S. Senate and Zach Dembo for election to the U.S. House representing Kentucky in the 2026 midterm election. The general election is Nov. 3.
A lifelong
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WASHINGTON, July 29 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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AFGE Endorses Kentucky's Charles Booker for U.S. Senate and Zach Dembo for U.S. House in November Election
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AFGE says Booker and Dembo will fight for working people in Congress
INDIANAPOLIS -The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of Charles Booker for election to the U.S. Senate and Zach Dembo for election to the U.S. House representing Kentucky in the 2026 midterm election. The general election is Nov. 3.
A lifelongresident of Louisville's West End, Charles Booker worked for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and West Louisville FoodPort before being elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 2018.
Booker won the Democratic primary in May for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mitch McConnell. He's running for the Senate because it is time to end the status quo in Washington that's left workers behind.
"Charles Booker understands the struggles that workers face. His upbringing and struggles shaped who he is. He understands that unions are the only way workers have a real voice in the workplace," AFGE District 6 National Vice President Arnold Scott said. "Charles is the clear choice to stand with AFGE members and all workers."
A ninth-generation Kentuckian raised in Lexington, Zach Dembo won the Democratic primary in May for an open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the state's 6th Congressional District.
Dembo has dedicated his life to public service and fighting for people - serving as a U.S. Navy Judge Advocate during four years on active duty, as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's policy advisor and legislative director, as a federal prosecutor in D.C. and Lexington, and more. In Congress, he'll fully support the PRO Act, advocate for workplace safety standards, fund apprenticeship programs, protect unemployment benefits, defend the right to collectively bargain, and stand with federal workers.
"Zach Dembo is a lifelong public servant who understands the value of public service. Through his service in the Navy to being a federal prosecutor, he cares about this nation and the public we serve," Scott said. "We need more public servants and veterans in Congress. We look forward to working with Zach to fight for our members."
AFGE previously endorsed Rep. Morgan McGarvey for reelection to his seat representing Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District.
Nearly 35,000 federal workers live in Kentucky - caring for veterans, supporting the military, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents nearly 46,000 federal employees in District 6, which includes Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.
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Original text here: https://www.afge.org/link/3bec16edbf494aef82bd1bee65b0f847.aspx