Unions
Here's a look at documents from unions
Featured Stories
Update on Blue Cross Blue Shield and Mount Sinai + New Health Plan Offerings for Surgery and Physical Therapy
NEW YORK, Jan. 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Writers Guild of America East issued the following news release:
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Update on Blue Cross Blue Shield and Mount Sinai + New Health Plan Offerings for Surgery and Physical Therapy
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Update on the interruption in Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem coverage Mount Sinai.
For those of you who may be in the New York area, we are monitoring the dispute between Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem and Mount Sinai. Staff from the Health Plan are in regular contact with Anthem about the status of negotiations. At the moment, we are hopeful that the parties will
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NEW YORK, Jan. 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Writers Guild of America East issued the following news release:
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Update on Blue Cross Blue Shield and Mount Sinai + New Health Plan Offerings for Surgery and Physical Therapy
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Update on the interruption in Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem coverage Mount Sinai.
For those of you who may be in the New York area, we are monitoring the dispute between Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem and Mount Sinai. Staff from the Health Plan are in regular contact with Anthem about the status of negotiations. At the moment, we are hopeful that the parties willcome to a quick resolution that causes minimal disruption for plan participants. PWGA participants can find more information on the Mount Sinai - BCBS Anthem participant coverage status here. We will share more information as we have it.
Lantern and Hinge Health offer new options for medical care with cost savings to plan participants.
Two new health care program offerings are now available through the PWGA Health Plan as of January 1, 2026: Lantern, for surgery, and Hinge Health, for physical therapy.
Lantern gives participants access to no-cost surgical procedures through a curated network of vetted surgeons. Covered surgeries include: joint replacement, spine, bariatric, orthopedic, gynecology, cardiac, ENT, gastroenterology, general, urology, and spine and orthopedic injections. Lantern provides a Care Advocate to help guide participants through their medical procedures, and also covers some travel expenses.
Hinge Health Care provides virtual physical therapy using personalized, expert-developed exercise therapy sessions, and physical therapy plans for pain relief. Sessions are available through a mobile app that uses motion-capture and are overseen by trained therapists. These therapies are no-cost to the participant and don't require a doctor's referral.
These programs provide several advantages. For participants, they increase choice, are less expensive, and can be more convenient. They also save money for the Health Plan without sacrificing quality, supporting the overall sustainability of the healthcare writers have fought for, at a time when medical cost increases far exceed inflation.
Utilizing these programs is entirely voluntary; plan participants and their dependents can continue to utilize the providers currently available through the PWGA. Note that these programs are not available to certified retirees whose primary coverage is Medicare.
Learn more about Lantern and Hinge Health Care options or contact the PWGA Participant services for guidance at 818-846-1015 or 800-227-7863.
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Original text here: https://www.wgaeast.org/update-on-blue-cross-blue-shield-and-mount-sinai-new-health-plan-offerings-for-surgery-and-physical-therapy/
UAW Statement on Conn-Selmer Announcement to Close U.S. Facility
DETROIT, Michigan, Jan. 9 -- The United Automobile Workers issued the following news on Jan.7, 2026:
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UAW Statement on Conn-Selmer Announcement to Close U.S. Facility
Today, Conn-Selmer, the last USA-made brass instrument manufacturer, informed workers that it is shutting down its Eastlake, Ohio facility to officially ship Ohio operations overseas to China. It means decades of an Ohio mainstay and hundreds of good, union jobs are on the chopping block so that billionaires can reap even more profits.
Conn-Selmer is owned by hedge fund billionaire and Trump ally John Paulson who clearly
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DETROIT, Michigan, Jan. 9 -- The United Automobile Workers issued the following news on Jan.7, 2026:
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UAW Statement on Conn-Selmer Announcement to Close U.S. Facility
Today, Conn-Selmer, the last USA-made brass instrument manufacturer, informed workers that it is shutting down its Eastlake, Ohio facility to officially ship Ohio operations overseas to China. It means decades of an Ohio mainstay and hundreds of good, union jobs are on the chopping block so that billionaires can reap even more profits.
Conn-Selmer is owned by hedge fund billionaire and Trump ally John Paulson who clearlycares more about raking in more cash instead of preserving an American institution. It's an interesting choice to make at a time when politicians across the country, including the President, are calling on corporations to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.
Across Ohio, in blue-collar town after blue-collar town, you can still see the scars left from the devastating effects of free trade. Conn-Selmer is the latest to choose profits for a handful of executives over people.
You better believe the UAW members who built these instruments for years and established the world-renowned brand reputation are already gearing up for a big fight to keep these jobs in Ohio. This is not just about the future of this company - it's about the future of our community.
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Original text here: https://uaw.org/uaw-statement-on-conn-selmer-announcement-to-close-u-s-facility/
[Category: Union]
Registered nurses of California Nurses Association strongly object to and call for corrections to major flaws in state's proposal to set staffing ratios for acute psychiatric hospitals
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Jan. 9 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Registered nurses of California Nurses Association strongly object to and call for corrections to major flaws in state's proposal to set staffing ratios for acute psychiatric hospitals
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The registered nurses of California Nurses Association (CNA), the union that spearheaded our state's historic, first-in-the-nation safe RN-to-patient ratios standard for hospitals, strongly object to major flaws in the state's latest proposal to set similar ratios in acute psychiatric hospitals
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Jan. 9 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Registered nurses of California Nurses Association strongly object to and call for corrections to major flaws in state's proposal to set staffing ratios for acute psychiatric hospitals
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The registered nurses of California Nurses Association (CNA), the union that spearheaded our state's historic, first-in-the-nation safe RN-to-patient ratios standard for hospitals, strongly object to major flaws in the state's latest proposal to set similar ratios in acute psychiatric hospitals(APHs) and are calling for corrections to the proposal to establish real, meaningful ratios that all patients deserve. CNA nurses have been advocating for the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to protect nurses and patients in APHs with the same safe RN-to-patient ratios protections as general acute-care hospitals. ( CNA written comment submissions here. )
Through this proposal, the state is attempting to fulfill the original requirements of A.B. 394 (Kuehl, 1999), the law that CNA nurses fought for more than a decade to win so that patients could get safe, quality care and nurses could provide safe, quality care.
But CDPH's proposed APH staffing regulations are riddled with major problems and loopholes that make the recommended ratios essentially worthless. Even worse, the draft APH ratios as written threaten and undermine the legitimacy of the stronger RN ratios standards already in place for general acute-care hospitals.
Currently, in general acute-care hospitals, only registered nurses count toward the ratios, and pediatric units must be staffed at or better than one nurse for every four children. Instead of using the same safe staffing standard that patients receive in general acute-care hospitals, CDPH is proposing that in APH facilities, up to half the personnel used to count staffing can be licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) or psych techs, and that only one nurse is needed for every FIVE children. While nurses wholeheartedly agree that LVNs and psych techs are important members of the care team, they cannot substitute for the education, judgment, and skills of registered nurses.
As recognized in California's safe patient staffing ratios legislation over 25 years ago, nurse staffing ratios must be based on a registered nurse's ongoing and comprehensive assessment of a patient's care needs. Under state law, only RNs can assume legal responsibility for the comprehensive assessment and care plan of patients. But CDPH's draft proposal undermines the registered nurses' role in caring for acute psychiatric patients. By allowing non-RNs to be counted toward APH ratios, the proposed staffing numbers are deceptive and misleading. In reality, under the draft proposal, an RN could be responsible for up to 24 patients in a 12-hour shift or 16 patients in an 8-hour shift, which translates into 30 minutes per patient for the entire shift. That time is insufficient to provide initial and ongoing observation and assessment of patients, as well as nursing care, and makes the proposed APH staffing ratios meaningless.
Hospitalized patients deserve the same standard of care no matter what kind of facility they are in, but the state is proposing an inferior staffing standard for acute psychiatric hospitals compared to general acute-care hospitals, and that's unacceptable to CNA nurses. Hospital employers will want to apply the proposed inferior standard across the industry.
As the San Francisco Chronicle investigative series showed, insufficient staffing is severely hurting and even leading to the death of psychiatric patients. Meaningful staffing reforms are desperately needed in APHs to prevent further harm. But under this current draft proposal, the state is caving in to the hospital industry and money-driven psych hospitals that want to keep their profit margins higher by keeping staffing costs low at the expense of patient safety. The proposal as written does not set safe standards, but makes the situation even worse by undermining existing general acute-care hospital ratios.
In addition to proposing a lesser standard, the state has also omitted important language in these draft regulations that further undermines the role of RNs in overseeing patient care. Key language in existing RN ratios for general acute-care hospitals affirms the role of RNs in providing ongoing care to patients and determining safe staffing levels. But the draft APH regulations' proposed use of multidisciplinary staffing committees to determine additional staffing for an APH patient could mean that non-RNs are overriding RN assessments of needed staffing levels. There's no reason for this besides creating loopholes for employers to evade safe staffing.
CNA is concerned that in CDPH's proposal:
* RNs dangerously can be responsible for up to 24 patients per 12-hour shift or 16 patients per 8-hour shift.
* Half of the staffing ratio count can be filled by non-RNs.
* The proposed rule sets an inferior standard for acute psychiatric hospitals and does not match existing ratios for general acute-care hospitals.
* The proposed rule omits important language assuring that the ratios represent the maximum number of patients a registered nurse can be assigned at one time.
* RNs will have insufficient time to provide ongoing assessments and direct care for patients.
* There is no clear language stating that each patient must be assigned to an RN.
* There is no prohibition on averaging the number of patients or nurses on a unit in a shift to meet the ratios.
* Nurse administrators and managers dangerously can be counted towards the ratios even if they have other administrative duties.
* A multidisciplinary staffing committee without RNs can determine or deny additional staffing needs.
Research has unequivocally concluded that RN-to-patient ratios in California general acute-care hospitals save lives, and they will in acute psychiatric hospitals as well if we establish real standards that ensure there are enough RNs to provide the safe and quality care all patients deserve.
California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/registered-nurses-of-cna-strongly-object-to-state-proposal-on-staffing-ratios-for-acute-psychiatric-hospitals
Fed will resume accepting pennies at commercial coin distribution centers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
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Fed will resume accepting pennies at commercial coin distribution centers
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Starting Jan. 14, the Federal Reserve will resume accepting pennies from credit unions and other financial institutions at commercial coin distribution locations that were previously suspended. Thursday's announcement follows continuous advocacy from America's Credit Unions, the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL), and all state leagues after penny production ended late last year.
The organizations
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
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Fed will resume accepting pennies at commercial coin distribution centers
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Starting Jan. 14, the Federal Reserve will resume accepting pennies from credit unions and other financial institutions at commercial coin distribution locations that were previously suspended. Thursday's announcement follows continuous advocacy from America's Credit Unions, the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL), and all state leagues after penny production ended late last year.
The organizationswrote to Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller and members of Congress last month to address the uncertainty that has followed the end of penny production.
According to the Fed, it will monitor the flow of penny deposits from financial institutions as these changes take effect, and will determine whether subsequent expansion of ordering options for pennies is feasible.
America's Credit Unions, AACUL, and leagues continue to seek clarity on the end of penny production, including a uniform national rounding standard.
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Original text here: https://www.americascreditunions.org/news-media/news/fed-will-resume-accepting-pennies-commercial-coin-distribution-centers
Canadian Labour Congress Applies Sanctions Against Directors Guild of Canada for Raiding Bargaining Rights of the IATSE
NEW YORK, Jan. 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees posted the following news release:
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Canadian Labour Congress Applies Sanctions Against Directors Guild of Canada for Raiding Bargaining Rights of the IATSE
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OTTAWA, ON On December 19 th, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), found the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) guilty of raiding the bargaining rights of AQTIS Local 514 of the IATSE.
Raiding is when one union attempts to organize workers who are already part of another union, rather than unionizing new non-union groups. As a practice,
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NEW YORK, Jan. 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees posted the following news release:
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Canadian Labour Congress Applies Sanctions Against Directors Guild of Canada for Raiding Bargaining Rights of the IATSE
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OTTAWA, ON On December 19 th, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), found the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) guilty of raiding the bargaining rights of AQTIS Local 514 of the IATSE.
Raiding is when one union attempts to organize workers who are already part of another union, rather than unionizing new non-union groups. As a practice,raiding is harmful because it wastes resources, divides workers, weakens solidarity, and only benefits the greedy corporations by creating conflict instead of unity between two unions that should be allies. It is for this reason union federations such as the CLC and the AFL-CIO prohibit affiliated unions from engaging in this activity.
After determining that raiding proceedings were initiated by the DGC in the province of Quebec, the CLC confirmed that first-level sanctions, as provided for under the CLC constitution, will be imposed effective January 1.
As a result, the DGC will lose the right of its representatives to vote on the Canadian Council, the right to participate in Congress committees, access to all Congress services, and the ability to access justification and transfer procedures.
In accordance with the CLC constitution, a second level of sanctions will be applied if the DGC fails to cease its raiding activities within three months. If the DGC continues, it will face expulsion from the House of Labour and be vulnerable to any union seeking to attack its bargaining rights anywhere in the country.
"The International will continue to fully support our members and officers of Local 514 against this unprovoked and reckless attack by the DGC" said International President Mathew D. Loeb.
"This situation, which has caused unnecessary stress and uncertainty for our members is regretful and will only cause labour instability in these turbulent times" said Bernard Lariviere, President of AQTIS Local 514 of the IATSE.
According to John Lewis, International Vice President and Director for Canadian Affairs, "The IATSE remains firmly committed to the principles of solidarity, mutual respect, and respect for jurisdiction within the labour movement. We believe these principles are essential to maintaining strong and unified representation for all workers.
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Original text here: https://iatse.net/canadian-labour-congress-applies-sanctions-against-directors-guild-of-canada-for-raiding-bargaining-rights-of-the-iatse/
AFL-CIO: ICE Actions Are Putting Working People in Danger
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO issued the following news release:
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AFL-CIO: ICE Actions Are Putting Working People in Danger
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AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement:
The Trump administration's reckless Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations are trampling on working people's fundamental rights and freedoms: to work with dignity and raise our families without the threat of violence from our government, and to safely return home to our loved ones at the end of the day.
The horrifying acts of this administration's militarized immigration
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO issued the following news release:
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AFL-CIO: ICE Actions Are Putting Working People in Danger
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AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement:
The Trump administration's reckless Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations are trampling on working people's fundamental rights and freedoms: to work with dignity and raise our families without the threat of violence from our government, and to safely return home to our loved ones at the end of the day.
The horrifying acts of this administration's militarized immigrationenforcement in Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and cities across this country are not about safety. They are about power, and they are putting innocent working people in danger.
One in five workers in our country wasn't born here. One in four kids has an immigrant parent. Immigrants are America's workers, vital to the fabric of our communities, our economy and our labor movement. When the Trump administration deports immigrants to inhumane prisons abroad, tries to strip people of their citizenship or other work permits, conducts raids at our worksites, and shoots innocent people who are exercising their constitutionally protected right to peacefully protest, they are targeting workersmany of whom are union members. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.
These harmful, violent federal government actions must end. We demand that ICE immediately stop these dangerous operations and leave our communities and workplaces before even more innocent people are hurt or killed.
The labor movement's guiding principle is solidarity. We'll never be divided by this administration's strategy of fear.
Contact: Steve Smith, 202-637-5018
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Original text here: https://aflcio.org/press/releases/afl-cio-ice-actions-are-putting-working-people-danger
AFL-CIO Stands with WNBPA Members in Fight for a Fair Contract
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO issued the following news release:
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AFL-CIO Stands with WNBPA Members in Fight for a Fair Contract
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As members of the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) escalate their fight for a fair contract, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement:
The nearly 15 million workers of the AFL-CIOincluding 7 million working women across the countrystand in solidarity with our WNBPA family in demanding WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver pay WNBA players what they're owed and negotiate
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO issued the following news release:
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AFL-CIO Stands with WNBPA Members in Fight for a Fair Contract
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As members of the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) escalate their fight for a fair contract, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement:
The nearly 15 million workers of the AFL-CIOincluding 7 million working women across the countrystand in solidarity with our WNBPA family in demanding WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver pay WNBA players what they're owed and negotiatein good faith for a collective bargaining agreement.
The WNBA has exploded in growth in recent years, yet women basketball players continue to be underpaid, undervalued and underestimated. Record-breaking game attendance and sold-out arenas, skyrocketing TV ratings, and a $2.2 billion TV deal aren't because of management. It's the players' labor that makes the game. But team owners continue to ignore player demands, refusing to give these athleteswho are mostly Black womentheir fair share.
After more than a year of negotiations, the league and the teams have put forward proposal after proposal that significantly undervalues players, looks to increase their workload by increasing the number of games and length of a season, and locks the players out of any meaningful career and salary growth. Today, WNBPA members are exercising their power and continuing the fight for the contract they deserve.
Women workers don't back down. Everything we've ever wonevery contract, organizing fight and strike linewas won because we stuck together. America's unions will be in this fight with our WNBPA sisters for as long as it takes to win.
Contact: Mia Jacobs, 202-637-5018
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Original text here: https://aflcio.org/press/releases/afl-cio-stands-wnbpa-members-fight-fair-contract
