Labor Union Blog

Five workers were trapped inside a Palisades Nuclear Plant containment area on Wednesday of last week. They were inspecting the containment area while the plant was in shutdown mode, and were trapped when an emergency hatch malfunctioned. The workers were trapped for 90 minutes but were released when a sixth employee entered the area. According to plant officials, there was no radiation overexposure. As a result of the incident, federal regulators are launching an investigation to review how it happened and what type of planning is involved at the plant in case there are similar situations.

Five workers were trapped inside a Palisades Nuclear Plant containment area on Wednesday of last week. They were trapped inside the area for 90 minutes while the plant was in shutdown and an emergency hatch malfunctioned. The workers were released when a sixth employee entered the area. There was no radiation overexposure. As a result, federal regulators are launching an investigation of the incident to review how it happened and what type of planning is involved at the plant for similar situations.

The National Labor Relations Board agreed last week with a ruling that Stanford University’s hospitals could stop recognizing the Service Employees International Union Local 715. The hospital chose to stop recognition of the union on July 29, as the SEIU began moves to absorb all health care workers in California under the United Healthcare Workers umbrella by the year 2010. The hospital employees plan to hold a new vote for union representation which the union believes it will win.

The National Labor Relations Board agreed with a ruling that Stanford University’s hospitals could stop recognizing the Service Employees International union Local 715. The hospital chose to stop recognition of the union on July 29 as the SEIU began moves to absorb all health care workers in California under the United Healthcare Workers umbrella by the year 2010. The hospital employees plan to hold a new vote for union representation which the union believes it will win.

Lede: A New York law bans non-compete clauses in broadcast contracts. Doug Cunningham has more.

On the heels of a California State Supreme Court ruling banning employer-imposed non-compete clauses, New York state is banning the clauses by law in broadcast contracts. Governor David Paterson has signed the “Broadcast Employees Freedom To Work Act”. The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists says this law will keep trusted broadcasters, including journalists, in their home towns. The New York State AFL-CIO joined AFTRA in a push to get the new law passed in New York. Creating laws banning these non-compete contract provisions is a priority for AFTRA nationwide. Broadcast employers often impose these clauses on employees to keep them from going on the air at a competing station in the same market – often for a year or more after they leave the original station. Non-compete clauses have already been banned in Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Arizona, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Lede: A New York law bans non-compete clauses in broadcast contracts. Doug Cunningham has more.

On the heels of a California State Supreme Court ruling banning employer-imposed non-compete clauses, New York state is banning the clauses by law in broadcast contracts. Governor David Paterson has signed the “Broadcast Employees Freedom To Work Act”. The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists says this law will keep trusted broadcasters, including journalists, in their home towns. The New York State AFL-CIO joined AFTRA in a push to get the new law passed. Creating laws banning these non-compete contract provisions is a priority for AFTRA nationwide. Broadcast employers often impose these clauses on employees to keep them from going on the air at a competing station in the same market – often for a year or more after they leave the original station. Non-compete clauses have already been banned in Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Arizona, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Qwest Communications workers in 13 states have authorized their union to call a strike if necessary once the contract expires at the start of next week. Ninety-three percent of 20,000 workers gave the strike authorization to the Communications Workers of America, District 7 negotiating body. The union represents workers throughout the nation west of the Mississippi, including Denver, Colorado, where the company is based. The main issues on the table are job quality and healthcare and retirement security. The union will have extra leverage if a strike becomes necessary, because the contract expires one week before the Democratic National Convention is scheduled to take place in Denver.

Qwest Communications workers in 13 states have authorized their union to call a strike if necessary once the contract expires at the start of next week. Ninety three percent of 20,000 workers gave the strike authorization to the Communications Workers of America District 7 negotiating body. The union represents workers throughout the nation west of the Mississippi including Denver Colorado, where the company is based. The main issues on the table are job quality and healthcare and retirement security. The union has extra leverage if a strike becomes necessary because the contract expires one week before the Democratic National Convention is scheduled to take place in Denver.