Union Transit Drivers in Austin Area Wear 'Black Eyes' to Signal Fight for Fair Contract
Hat tip to members of the Amalgamated Transit Union who work at a contractor for Capital Metro, the Austin-area transit system, as they wore mock "black eyes" today to call attention to contract talks. We stand in solidarity with ATU Local 1091.
KXAN posted a report on the action:
"This is a 'Black Eye' campaign to show that we've been getting punched in the face by MV Transportation and Capital Metro," said Brent Payne, the local president of the Amalgamated Transit Union. The ATU is the largest labor union representing bus and other transit workers.
CapMetro says it is aware of the public display by its bus drivers. It involves either black bandages or makeup underneath the drivers' eyes.
CapMetro says almost all of its workers from its east Austin garage are wearing the eye black and that about 90% of its drivers from its north Austin garage are wearing it.
Currently there is no impact on passengers, but that could change if the drivers strike. No strike would happen until next week at the earliest. ATU is in contract negotiations with Dallas-based MV Transportation.
'We're All Gonna Stick Together': Texas Observer Captures Tenacity of ASARCO Strikers in Amarillo
Reporter Gus Bova of the Texas Observer posted an excellent update on the ASARCO strike and its impact on Amarillo working people.
Bova captures the nuts and bolts in the union quest for a fair contract, but even better, offers snapshots into the real struggle ASARCO employees whose determination on the picket line after more than four months should make all of us proud. - Read the Article
AT&T Mobility Workers Authorize Strike as CWA Negotiates Toward Deadline
Communications Workers of America District 6 reports the union's AT&T Mobility contract expires today and CWA members have authorized a strike in the event talks fail.
A strike authorization vote does not mean a strike will occur, but it does mean working people at AT&T are weighing all strategies and taking the deadline very seriously.
Via CWA:
AT&T Southwest Mobility workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America, today authorized a strike, with a vote supported by 98% of workers. The strike authorization comes as CWA's contract with AT&T, covering more than 8,000 Southwest Mobility workers, is set to expire on Friday, February 21, 2020.
AT&T workers and union members will continue to work with their current contract in place until Friday, as CWA continues negotiations with AT&T. - Read Article
Kickstarter Workers Vote to Form First Union in Tech Industry
Employees at crowdfunding platform Kickstarter voted Tuesday to form a union, the first of its kind in the technology industry, after an 18-month battle with the company’s management.
Kickstarter United will now be formally recognized by the management after a vote held by the National Labor Relations Board, in which workers voted 36 to 47 in favor of unionizing. It is the first union comprised of white-collar, full-time employees in the technology industry.- Read More
Only a minor hit in 1965, "Voice Your Choice" is nonetheless one of the sweetest-sounding numbers of its era, with high and honeyed harmonies over a soft soul groove. Shocker, the choice in question isn't being made for public office -- the singers just want to be one girl's stated preference -- but if you need something a little lower-key to calm your frayed nerves today, this song'll go down as smooth as a victory scotch. GO VOTE! VOTE UNION!
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