Featured Stories
QVC Group Hosts Vote YES to Unionizing With SAG-AFTRA
LOS ANGELES, California, July 24 -- The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) issued the following news release on July 23, 2026:
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QVC Group Hosts Vote YES to Unionizing with SAG-AFTRA
QVC Group hosts which includes hosts on QVC, HSN and Omni Channel have voted to join SAG-AFTRA in a National Labor Relations Board vote which was tallied earlier today. The final vote was 80% in favor of unionizing with SAG-AFTRA.
SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said, "QVC Group hosts are dedicated professionals who have played a key role in making QVC Group
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LOS ANGELES, California, July 24 -- The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) issued the following news release on July 23, 2026:
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QVC Group Hosts Vote YES to Unionizing with SAG-AFTRA
QVC Group hosts which includes hosts on QVC, HSN and Omni Channel have voted to join SAG-AFTRA in a National Labor Relations Board vote which was tallied earlier today. The final vote was 80% in favor of unionizing with SAG-AFTRA.
SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said, "QVC Group hosts are dedicated professionals who have played a key role in making QVC Groupa leader in the live, social shopping industry. Like everyone, QVC, HSN and Omni Channel employees deserve fair compensation, AI protections and a stronger voice in decisions that affect their work. All of SAG-AFTRA's 160,000 members are proud of these individuals for bravely exercising their right to unionize, and we stand with them as they begin bargaining for their first contract."
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said, "The strong show of support for unionizing reflects QVC, HSN and Omni Channel hosts' professionalism and resolve to improve their workplace and build a better future for themselves and their colleagues. SAG-AFTRA anticipates good faith bargaining and a spirit of collaboration and respect from QVC Group as their employees begin the process of achieving a contract they deserve."
On June 15, the hosts presented a petition to QVC Inc. management to voluntarily recognize the union based on demonstrated supermajority support. The petition stated concerns about artificial intelligence, particularly the use of their image, voice and likeness without informed consent or fair compensation as key reasons for the employee's decision to engage in collective bargaining. Greater transparency and equity in compensation, clearer standards for career advancement, a stronger voice in decisions affecting their work and greater job security were additional issues QVC and Omni Channel hosts wanted to address.
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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/qvc-group-hosts-vote-yes-unionizing-sag-aftra
[Category: Union]
AFL-CIO Supports UNITE HERE Boycott of Montgomery County Conference Center Over Anti-Worker Actions
WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The AFL-CIO issued the following statement by President Liz Shuler:
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AFL-CIO Supports UNITE HERE Boycott of Montgomery County Conference Center Over Anti-Worker Actions
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement in support of UNITE HERE Local 25's boycott of the Montgomery County Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland:
The AFL-CIO is proud to endorse UNITE HERE's boycott of the Montgomery County Conference Center where workers are being denied a fair union organizing process.
We applaud the Maryland state legislators, along with the countless local,
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WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The AFL-CIO issued the following statement by President Liz Shuler:
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AFL-CIO Supports UNITE HERE Boycott of Montgomery County Conference Center Over Anti-Worker Actions
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement in support of UNITE HERE Local 25's boycott of the Montgomery County Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland:
The AFL-CIO is proud to endorse UNITE HERE's boycott of the Montgomery County Conference Center where workers are being denied a fair union organizing process.
We applaud the Maryland state legislators, along with the countless local,state and national elected officials who have pledged their support, and we urge others to follow their lead.
We also encourage our partners and allies to join the federation and stand with workers by moving their meetings and conferences elsewhere, just as the Iota Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee and the Committee for Montgomery have already done.
Working people win when we stand together, and we will continue to stand with Local 25 members for as long as it takes.
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Original text here: https://aflcio.org/press/releases/afl-cio-supports-unite-here-boycott-montgomery-county-conference-center-over-anti
[Category: Union]
Penske Teamsters Ratify Southcentral and Southeastern Regional Agreements
WASHINGTON, July 23 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Penske Teamsters Ratify Southcentral and Southeastern Regional Agreements
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Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: MDrumm@teamster.org
(WASHINGTON) - Members of Teamsters Locals 79, 512, 528, 541, 618, and 769 at Penske have voted to ratify the Southcentral and Southeastern Regional Master Agreements. The new four-year contracts include 15 percent general wage increases, additional employer contributions to the Teamsters 401(k), no increase in health
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WASHINGTON, July 23 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Penske Teamsters Ratify Southcentral and Southeastern Regional Agreements
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Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: MDrumm@teamster.org
(WASHINGTON) - Members of Teamsters Locals 79, 512, 528, 541, 618, and 769 at Penske have voted to ratify the Southcentral and Southeastern Regional Master Agreements. The new four-year contracts include 15 percent general wage increases, additional employer contributions to the Teamsters 401(k), no increase in healthcare costs for the first two and a half years, and an extra paid holiday.
"Penske doesn't run without the hard work of our members," said Rocco Calo, Director of the Teamsters Industrial Trades Division. "This contract not only recognizes the importance of Teamsters at Penske but incentivizes other Penske workers nationwide to get what they deserve and join the Teamsters. We are proud to have secured such strong agreements for Penske Teamsters in the Southern Region."
In addition to the gains made in the regional master agreements, local unions are also covered by supplemental agreements which include compensation and work rules specific to their location. Local 618 voted to reject their local addendum and will return to the bargaining table in August.
"This new contract is a big win for us and our families," said Chad Patton, a Penske Teamster and Local 79 steward in Florida. "For the next four years we obtained regular pay increases, kept our health insurance affordable, and added a new paid holiday. In today's economy it's unheard of. This is a huge win for us, and as Teamsters, we are committed to building a stronger future together."
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 Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/07/penske-teamsters-ratify-southcentral-and-southeastern-regional-agreements/
National Education Union: NFER Report Shows Link Between Wellbeing and School Absence Rates
LONDON, England, July 23 (TNSxrep) -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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NFER report shows link between wellbeing and school absence rates
Commenting on new research from NFER suggesting a link between deteriorating pupil wellbeing and rates of persistent school absence, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Getting pupil wellbeing and engagement right is essential to the government's White Paper proposals and its reforms to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A more inclusive
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LONDON, England, July 23 (TNSxrep) -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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NFER report shows link between wellbeing and school absence rates
Commenting on new research from NFER suggesting a link between deteriorating pupil wellbeing and rates of persistent school absence, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Getting pupil wellbeing and engagement right is essential to the government's White Paper proposals and its reforms to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A more inclusivemainstream depends on pupils feeling safe and supported. Yet pupils with an education, health and care plan are twice as likely to be persistently absent as their peers, a gap the report does not address.
"Pupils in the study said the academic and social pressures of school harmed their wellbeing, and identified bullying - including online bullying - as a factor in absence. OECD data show pupils in England report more bullying than the international average. The message is clear: schools must listen to pupils and act on their concerns, including on curriculum and testing pressures.
"The report calls for properly resourced services to work alongside schools. We agree. The Experts at Hand initiative needs more money and child and adolescent mental health services are at breaking point. The effect of the under-16 social media ban must also be monitored.
"The new Secretary of State must connect attendance policy, SEND reform and investment in young people's mental health, so that every pupil belongs in a safe and supportive school and the decline in wellbeing is reversed."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/nfer-report-shows-link-between-wellbeing-and-school-absence-rates?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
UAW Statement on Markup of the Connected Vehicle Security Act
DETROIT, Michigan, July 22 [Category: Union] -- The United Automobile Workers posted the following news:
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UAW Statement on Markup of the Connected Vehicle Security Act
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Our national and economic security depends on a strong U.S. auto industry. For generations, the American Dream has been built on good union auto jobs that enabled working families to buy a home, raise children, retire with dignity, and create a better future for the working class.
If we are serious about rebuilding American manufacturing and restoring that promise, we cannot continue offshoring our factories, outsourcing
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DETROIT, Michigan, July 22 [Category: Union] -- The United Automobile Workers posted the following news:
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UAW Statement on Markup of the Connected Vehicle Security Act
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Our national and economic security depends on a strong U.S. auto industry. For generations, the American Dream has been built on good union auto jobs that enabled working families to buy a home, raise children, retire with dignity, and create a better future for the working class.
If we are serious about rebuilding American manufacturing and restoring that promise, we cannot continue offshoring our factories, outsourcingour jobs, or fueling a global race to the bottom in pursuit of short-term corporate profits.
Today's action by the Senate Commerce Committee marks an important step toward protecting American manufacturing and preserving the American Dream. The UAW applauds every member of the committee who voted to advance a strong version of the bill, and we thank the bill's sponsors, Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin, for their leadership.
The committee recognized that America needs an auto industry that invests in American workers-not one that rewards dependence on China, whose industrial strategy has leveraged Western brands to expand its market influence while advancing a business model built on low wages and weak labor standards. As the legislation continues to advance, we reiterate our opposition to carve-outs for all multinational corporations. No company should get special treatment. If they want to benefit from policies that strengthen American manufacturing, they should meet the same standards as everyone else.
This legislation will help ensure that the next generation of auto investment creates good union jobs, strengthens communities, reinforces America's manufacturing base, and keeps the future of auto production here in the United States.
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Original text here: https://uaw.org/uaw-statement-on-markup-of-the-connected-vehicle-security-act/
NFFE and IAM Union Defeat Attempt to Permanently Strip Defense Department Workers of Collective Bargaining Rights
WASHINGTON, July 22 [Category: Union] -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
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NFFE and IAM Union Defeat Attempt to Permanently Strip Defense Department Workers of Collective Bargaining Rights
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Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) celebrates a critical legislative win, as strong NFFE and IAM Union advocacy helped defeat an anti-worker amendment to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have statutorily stripped collective bargaining protections from Department of Defense (DoD) civilian
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WASHINGTON, July 22 [Category: Union] -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
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NFFE and IAM Union Defeat Attempt to Permanently Strip Defense Department Workers of Collective Bargaining Rights
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Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) celebrates a critical legislative win, as strong NFFE and IAM Union advocacy helped defeat an anti-worker amendment to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have statutorily stripped collective bargaining protections from Department of Defense (DoD) civilianemployees.
The amendment, offered by U.S. Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO), sought to codify President Trump's March 2025 anti-union executive order that eliminated collective bargaining rights for many federal workers, including Department of Defense employees. An amendment to protect this longstanding right was previously introduced in the House Armed Services Committee by U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and was passed with bipartisan support into the committee-passed version of NDAA.
Yesterday, NFFE penned a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives, urging them to reject the Onder amendment. It was pulled from the House NDAA shortly thereafter. Further, the letter asks House members to vote against an amendment offered by Rep. Grothman (R-WI), which aims to cut the DoD civilian workforce by 200,000 positions.
"For decades, workers at the Department of Defense have had the right to unionize, and employees exercising that right has never been detrimental to U.S. national security," said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. "The Trump administration unilaterally and illegally stripping collective bargaining rights from DoD workers only serves to weaken morale, harm recruitment and retention, and reduce accountability - jeopardizing our national security and the critical mission of the agency. NFFE is pleased this was not codified in the House NDAA, however, we must ensure the Grothman amendment is defeated as well. The DoD cannot feasibly achieve its mission if additional personnel are cut, at a time when the agency is already understaffed and strained to its limits."
*As of Thursday, July 23, the Grothman amendment has also been defeated.
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Original text here: https://www.nffe.org/nffe_news/nffe-and-iam-union-defeat-attempt-to-permanently-strip-defense-department-workers-of-collective-bargaining-rights/
NEU Comment on New Education Secretary, Lucy Powell
LONDON, England, July 22 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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NEU comment on new Education Secretary, Lucy Powell
Commenting on the appointment of Lucy Powell as secretary of state for education Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Lucy Powell's experience as shadow education secretary should put her in good stead and ensure that she can hit the ground running. There is much to do and no time to waste.
"Schools have been told for too long to do more with less. They are now being asked to
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LONDON, England, July 22 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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NEU comment on new Education Secretary, Lucy Powell
Commenting on the appointment of Lucy Powell as secretary of state for education Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Lucy Powell's experience as shadow education secretary should put her in good stead and ensure that she can hit the ground running. There is much to do and no time to waste.
"Schools have been told for too long to do more with less. They are now being asked tofind almost half a billion pounds they do not have to plug the funding gap in the government's teacher pay offer. The NEU is preparing a formal ballot on this issue, and it is not too late for government to change course. It should accept that it was wrong to have ever suggested there are 'efficiencies' to be made in school budgets when the education system is on its knees.
"Bridget Phillipson was hampered from the start by a wider government policy of continuity austerity that has alienated voters and stagnated services. Now is the opportunity for a step change that parents, schools, teachers and support staff can recognise as a break with the past.
"Reset must mean more than a change of faces. It must also mean a change of direction."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/neu-comment-new-education-secretary-lucy-powell?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
