North Shore Labor Council Monthly Update: April 2024

NEXT NSLC DELEGATE'S MEETING: WEDNESDAY MAY 29 @ 7 PM. There will be no Women's Committee meeting before the NSLC Delegate's meeting. 

North Shore Labor Council is Hiring a Full Time Organizer: View the Job Posting and Apply Here.

THIS WEDNESDAY MAY 1ST, STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY AT LYNN CITY HALL FOR MAY DAY MARCH AND RALLIES
 

LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST: May 10th.

NS Labor Council and NS Building Trades for Affiliates are hosting a breakfast for Stare Reps and Senators, Mayors and City Council members from Lynn, Peabody, Salem and Beverly on MAY 10. The response from elected officials has been great. Delegates are welcome to come and to check in with your union officers to encourage them to attend. Locals can send a one page explanation of their legislative priorities to northshorelaborcouncil@gmail.com by May 6 to be included in booklet. SIGN UP HERE.

NSLC/HAWC TRAINING: May 9th.

The North Shore Labor Council/Women's Committee is excited to announce its new partnership with HAWC and invite you to become an Ambassador! The first training session will be held on May 9th, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the North Shore Labor Council, AFL-CIO, 112 Exchange St., Lynn, MA 01901. As a volunteer, you will join a team of passionate individuals dedicated to raising awareness, providing support, and strengthening HAWC's mission to connect those experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence to safety, health, and freedom.

To become a HAWC Ambassador, you will need to complete assigned training sessions. You will have the opportunity to impact lives, empower others, receive training and development, and enjoy flexibility. SIGN UP TO BE AN AMBASSADOR HERE.

PRE-ORDER NSLC T-SHIRTS AND POLO’S

We will only be ordering pre-ordered shirts so make sure to sign up ASAP! CLICK HERE TO ORDER.Polo’s are $60, T-Shirt’s are $30. If you need help filling our the survey, contact rosisneed@gmail.com.

BU adjunct faculty are making progress towards a tentative agreement

This is the result of grassroots organizing and flexing their power. Hopefully all goes well. However, BU grad students have not! Members of SEIU Local 509 have been on strike since March 25 over BU's refusal to bargain a fair contract. They need our support! Join them on the picket line. Donate to their Strike Fund and support them on social media. BU Graduate Workers Union rank-and-file Support Fund Link

Labor Council shows support during 3 day BU residential workers strike:

Union Organizing Victories

Delegates reported back from the recent Labor Notes conference. 4,500 people attended and the atmosphere was electric. A highlight moment was the announcement of the overwhelming victory at Volkswagen in Tennessee, where union density has now doubled! After two heartbreaking union elections at the Chattanooga plant in 2014 and 2019, over 70% of workers voted yes in a worker-led campaign to unionize the Volkswagen plant with the United Auto Workers. Despite interference from anti-worker politicians, workers in Chattanooga have made history. Keep your eyes out for the UAW election at Mercedes Benz in Alabama in the next few weeks.

Nationally, Starbucks workers also scored a major victory. After a grueling and innovative organizing campaign by Starbucks workers in cities across the country Starbucks Workers United announced they have reached a “constructive path forward…Starbucks will no longer deny benefits and credit card tipping to union members, and will work toward a foundational framework for collective bargaining agreements.” Members are voting in a bargaining committee.  

NLC tribute to Attorney James Carrigan and Annual Fundraising: May 29.

Support the Social Justice Work of the New Lynn Coalition in honoring Jim Carrigan. Jim, a labor lawyer, is a strong advocate for workers rights and a great friend of the Labor Council. He is a long time supporter of unions, community organizations and non profits. He will be recognized for a lifetime of service to Lynn and working people. BUY TICKETS HERE.

LOCAL COMMERCIALS SHOULD USE LOCAL ACTORS
 

SAG-AFTRA is asking for support in the introduction of our recent NSLC-approved resolution to the Salem City Council Thursday May 9th, 7pm @ Salem City Hall (93 Washington Street Salem, MA 01970). The resolution asks that the city strongly encourages businesses with whom they contract, as well as their own departments, to contact local labor unions when engaging actors, artists, and other creative professionals for commercials, public service announcements, and other media endeavors. This will ensure that members of the creative economy enjoy the wages, benefits, and job protections that we are all entitled to. Thank you for your support!

MASSACHUSETTS NURSES ASSOCIATION

Karen Burkart from the MNA reported about the outrageous greed that has led to the gutting of resources in the Steward Hospitals throughout the state.  Rallies were held to call attention to the need for assistance in keeping these hospitals that our communities depend on open.  Stay tuned for future actions and for the upcoming MNA contract campaign at Salem Hospital.

RALLY AGAINST EVICTIONS: TUES APRIL 30TH @ 6 PM.

At the March membership  meeting  tenants at 667-678 Western Ave spoke to us about outrageous rent increases threatened by a  new landlord. These residents are forming a tenants union and organizing to protect their homes. In April we heard they met with the landlord but the landlord walked out. Special thanks to the LTU for lending the space for that initial negotiation. Next the Tenant's Union offered a proposal containing increases for year one and smaller increases for the following two years. The landlord responded by threatening evictions. Isaac Hodes, from Lynn United for Change will keep us posted on future news.

HELP STAMP OUT HUNGER: SAT. MAY 11TH.

Leave non perishable food by your mailbox on Sat May 11th for your letter carrier to pick up. Join volunteers for sorting at Lynn Ladder located at 20 Boston St, Lynn MA. Thanks to National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 7 for this annual drive and their contributions to My Brothers Table.