Labor & Employment Law

12,000 Minnesota Nurses May Strike?and More Bargaining News

By Belinda Boyce

Some 12,000 Minnesota nurses contemplate striking, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,200 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.

NEGOTIATIONS
MNA-NNU, 14 Twin Cities hospitals: 12,000 nurses in Minnesota are contemplating a strike, which would be the largest nurses strike in U.S. history. The Minnesota Nurses Association-National Nurses United (MNA-NNU) has been in talks with 14 Twin Cities hospitals for months, but the union says the hospitals are using the weak economy as an excuse to make cuts that would ultimately hurt patients. The nurses will vote on May 19 whether to strike.

Multiple, State of New York: Today, leaders of the New York State Legislature will likely approve Gov. David Paterson’s emergency spending bill, which includes the furlough of 100,000 state workers to begin May 17. Lawmakers do not have the authority to amend emergency budget bills, and a rejection of the bill would result in a government shutdown. However, AFSCME is prepared to sue the state and argue the furloughs are illegal; a position supported by both the state Senate conference leader and Assembly speaker.

TWU, American Airlines: After years of bargaining, more than 11,000 mechanics and related workers at American Airlines reached a tentative three-year contract with the airline. The agreement came two months after the Transport Workers (TWU) requested the National Mediation Board (NMB) declare an impasse, but federal mediators denied the request and directed the two sides to continue bargaining. Some highlights of the pact include a 6 percent wage increase over the term, preserved medical benefits for current retirees and workers older than 50 and a move to a defined-benefit contribution 401(k) plan for new hires. TWU reached two more similar tentative agreements with the airline: one covering nearly 3,000 workers in the Materials Logistics Specialist work group and another covering about 90 workers in the maintenance control technician work group.

AFSCME, Jackson Memorial Hospital: The 5,000 AFSCME members at Miami’s cash-strapped Jackson Memorial Hospital re-ratified pay cuts of 5 percent, after some members said they were uninformed during the first vote.

Multiple, State of New Jersey: Union leaders in New Jersey are slamming Gov. Chris Christie’s latest attack on public-sector workers for pushing legislation that would impose a permanent 2.5 percent cap on annual raises, increase the retirement age and allow municipalities to opt out of the civil service system. The largest public-sector union in New Jersey, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), said the ability to opt out of the civil service system will promote “political patronage and corruption.”

WORK STOPPAGES
IAM, Delta: The NMB is investigating a complaint filed by the Machinists (IAM) District 143 that Delta Air Lines illegally interfered in a representation election of 91 flight simulator technicians, held after Delta and Northwest merged. The complaint comes as other Delta workers await the decision of the NMB to change the union election rules to make the system fairer for workers.

ILWU, Rio Tinto: The nearly 600 borax miners locked out by Rio Tinto in Boron, Calif., remain united despite the lockout entering its 15th week. The members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 30 have lost paychecks and health insurance but continue to demand a fair contract and good jobs. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor is accepting donations in support of the locked-out miners and their families.

Ironworkers, Central Illinois Builders Association: 350 members of Ironworkers Local 46 in Illinois returned to work Friday after a weeklong strike over wage increases. Local 46 and the Central Illinois Builders Association will resume negotiations today.

UNITEHERE!, Castlewood Country Club: Five locked-out country club workers in Pleasanton, Calif., began a three-day hunger strike outside the Castlewood Country Club on Friday, hoping to draw attention to their fight as families celebrated Mother’s Day over the weekend. The country club locked out 61 members of UNITEHERE! Local 2850 on Feb. 25.

UFCW, Shaw’s Supermarkets: Striking warehouse workers at Shaw’s Supermarkets in Methuen, Mass., were outraged last week after the company rejected their latest offer and instead proposed a more regressive contract than its previous two offers. The 310 workers are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 791, which has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging the company is bargaining in bad faith.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only.  As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on May 10, 2010 (boomark / email).