Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union’s (RWDSU) Local 110, announced that the workers at General Mills’ production facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa may go on Strike as early as next week. At their last negotiations meeting, General Mills presented a “last, best and final” offer to workers. The offer did not include any real protections of a labor contract, and contains no significant raises, no maintenance of benefits over the term of the contract, and no other provisions that would support workers at the facility. The contract also seeks to install unfair scheduling practices, and third-party subcontracting that could move jobs from Cedar Rapids to non-union facilities nearby or abroad.

Today, workers across Housing Works’ New York City locations walked off the job to demand the non-profit hear their workplace concerns. Over 100 workers gathered at Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza to speak out about the working conditions that they face throughout their organization and how they need to see change now. Workers also delivered Unfair Labor Practice charges (ULPs) that they filed this morning with the National Labor Relations Board to their employer (attached). The union has been demanding management sign a neutrality agreement that ensures a fair unionization process free from pressure or coercion of any kind. After the speak-out workers returned to work later that day to make sure their clients’ care was not disrupted.

Today, the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) released a report, “Time Off Task: Pressure, Pain, and Productivity at Amazon” that highlighted the company’s unhealthy workplace practices at their Staten Island, New York facility.

Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), announced that the workers at Valley View Manor Nursing Home (VVM) in Norwich, New York, voted unanimously to approve their first union contract. The negotiations committee worked tirelessly to secure a strong contract that ensures workers’ concerns will be heard. In order for workers to provide the best care for their patients they need to have fair scheduling and to be heard by management when they raise concerns about patient care. This first contract does that and so much more.