Category Archives: labor issues

More than 20 Million Jobs Lost in April as ~15% Unemployed

Employment fell sharply in all major industry sectors. There were  particularly heavy job losses in leisure and hospitality where the spread was initially ignored as Washington slept – until people, now former customers stopped traveling or died. This was out of self-preservation as the corpses mounted in non-living color on the news and in statistical counts. It was also the result of some Democratically-controlled states where shelter in place was imposed out of concern for the health of residents and not for the health of the increasingly infected Trump reelection campaign. Continue reading

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Global Unions Want COVID-19 Dubbed Occupational Disease

The global union movement says workers need official recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease. Such recognition would ensure the right to worker representation and occupational safety and health (OSH) rights and the application of agreed measures to reduce risk. These rights include the right to refuse to work under unsafe working conditions. This also ensures employers are responsible and liable and that negligent employers are subject to the application of penalties. Continue reading

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TravelCenters of America Lays Off  More than 3000

Most were involved in the restaurants at the truck stops. All furloughed employees currently enrolled in TA’s benefits programs will continue to be eligible for health care coverage based on their plan. Continue reading

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Unions, FCA Sign Agreement on Workplace Health and Safety

The guidelines established focused on “rigorous implementation of government directives aimed at combating the spread of the Covid-19 virus and application of best practices implemented by the Group at its sites around the world.” This presumably applies to the United States where the ‘Do Nothing’ Trump Administration claims that this is a job for the states, not National leadership. Continue reading

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Teamsters, CtW Investment Group Demand Amazon Reveal Workplace Safety Record

The request comes after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) allowed Amazon to exclude a shareholder proposal that the two investors had filed to be voted on at the online retailer’s annual meeting of shareholders, scheduled for May 27. It’s the latest example of government agencies suppressing democracy under the current administration. The investors are appealing the SEC’s staff decision to the full Commission today. Continue reading

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UAW Pressure: Ford Further Postpones NA Production Restart

In a duh statement Ford said: “Ford and autoworkers’ unions – especially the UAW – are working closely on initiatives to keep the workforce safe, including upgrading social distancing guidelines, requiring the workers to self-certify daily that they are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms – and more.” Continue reading

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Italian Metalworkers Strike to Halt Non-Essential Production

It is  AutoInformed’s view a clear demonstration of strong support for union appeals both in Lombardy and at the national level, demanding the closing of all non-essential production activities. Continue reading

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FCA Expands Coronavirus Relief – 1 Million Meals for Kids

FCA said publicly yesterday its plants across the U.S. and Canada, as well as headquarters operations and construction projects, are to remain closed only until 14 April, dependent upon the various states’ stay-in-place orders and the readiness of each facility to return to production. (FCA to Restart of North American Operations?) The UAW is apparently not pleased with the decision that threatens the health and safety of its members. (UAW Balks at Reopening Workplaces) Continue reading

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FCA to Restart of North American Operations?

Note the irony of an Italian owned company where COVID-19 is raging unabated, assuming a business as usual approach to the global pandemic where the untied sates is now leading in the rate of diagnosis of the virus. Continue reading

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UAW Balks at Reopening Workplaces

“The only guideline in a boardroom should be management asking themselves, “Would I send my family — my own son or daughter — into that plant and be 100% certain they are safe?” – UAW President Rory L. Gamble Continue reading

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Ford Motor Company Stops South American Production

Effective from 23 March in Brazil and 25 March in Argentina, this action “adjusts the production volumes to the lower consumer demand due to this unprecedented situation.” Continue reading

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Ford Stops North American Production

The UAW had urged immediate closings this past weekend, but Ford executives refused to do so during the formation of a Coronavirus Task Force along General Motors and Fiat Chrysler management. Continue reading

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COVID-19: UAW, GM, Ford, FCA to Improve Protection for Manufacturing and Warehouse Workers

In a joint statement, GM, Ford and FCA said, “This is a fluid and unprecedented situation, and the task force will move quickly to build on the wide-ranging preventive measures we have put in place. We are all coming together to help keep our workforces safe and healthy.” Continue reading

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Volkswagen Condemns USWNT Exploitation of Women

USSF President Carlos Cordeiro’s weak and mild expression of regret on Wednesday night came after The Coca-Cola Co. lambasted the federation for supporting lesser pay for its female stars. Coca-Cola called the federation’s assertion in documents filed earlier this week “unacceptable and offensive.” Continue reading

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Fasten Your Seat Belt – General Motors Files RICO Lawsuit Against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

In GM’s view FCA was the sponsor of “pervasive wrongdoing, paying millions of dollars in bribes to obtain benefits, concessions, and advantages in the negotiation, implementation, and administration of labor agreements over time.” Continue reading

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