Latest news with #laborunion
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
NYC transit union threatens to sue GOP mayoral hopeful Curtis Sliwa over ‘defamatory' comments
The politically influential Transport Workers Union is threatening to sue Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa over 'defamatory and false' comments he recently made about the labor group. In a letter sent to Sliwa on Monday, John Samuelsen, the TWU's international president, wrote that the mayoral hopeful engaged in the remarks during a July 24 rally at City Hall organized by NYCLASS, a group advocating for a ban on horse-carriage rides in Central Park. Samuelsen, whose union represents horse carriage riders, wrote he came across Sliwa's speech in a video of the gathering posted on YouTube. 'In this video, you say, 'There is money under the table to the TWU leadership.' This statement is false and defamatory. The statement asserts bribery and/or corruption,' Samuelsen wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Daily News. 'By this letter, I demand that you issue a written retraction of the statement and offer an apology to the members of the TWU whose leadership you have slandered and defamed,' the union big continued. 'If you choose not to act honorably by retracting the false statement, we will commence legal action against you for your actions forthwith. We will seek damages commensurate with the harm done to my reputation and to the reputation of the TWU.' Sliwa, the Guardian Angels founder who has made animal welfare a big component of his mayoral campaign, rejected Samuelsen's demand, saying his remarks amounted to 'First Amendment protected speech.' 'I offered my opinion on an area of concern for New Yorkers regarding the horse carriage industry and the TWU,' he said. 'My statement was generic and not individual specific. I believe Mr. Samuelsen and the TWU have other things to focus on.' In response, Samuelsen told The News that Sliwa's comments aren't 'protected by the Constitution and he will pay for it.' In addition to horse carriage riders, Samuelsen's union represents tens of thousands of MTA workers. His union hasn't endorsed anyone in the 2025 mayoral race, but Samuelsen did appear at a June 14 rally for Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral nominee, where he praised Mamdani's proposal to make public buses free in the city. The horse carriage industry has long been a source of controversy in New York, with animal rights activists condemning the practice as inhumane, while TWU and other supporters of workers say banning it would destroy livelihoods. The union has also maintained reforms can be taken to ensure the safety of the horses. Last week's City Hall rally was held to call on the City Council to adopt a bill that would ban the local horse carriage industry. The rally came days after a Manhattan jury acquitted a horse carriage rider who was indicted in 2023 on animal abuse charges for allegedly forcing his horse, Ryder, to work in scorching summer temperatures. As the Republican candidate, Sliwa faces long odds in November's mayoral election, given the city's heavily Democratic electorate. Sliwa, who also ran for mayor in 2021, has been especially upbeat about his prospects this year, though, as the field is more crowded than in a typical local election year. In addition to Mamdani on the Democratic line and Sliwa on the GOP line, Mayor Adams, Andrew Cuomo and Jim Walden are running as independents in November's contest, creating a vote-splitting scenario Sliwa hopes might benefit him. Solve the daily Crossword
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Safeway and Vons Workers Temporarily Extend Strike Deadline As Negotiations Continue
CONCORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 26, 2025-- Following five months of stalled contract negotiations, UFCW 8-Golden State, along with UFCW Locals 5 and 648, announced a temporary extension of the strike deadline after the Federal Mediator overseeing talks recommended additional time for bargaining. Union negotiators agreed to delay the strike, originally set to begin at midnight, citing incremental progress toward a tentative agreement members can review and vote on. 'This recognition of our pressure and member solidarity is working,' said UFCW 8-Golden State President Jacques Loveall, UFCW Local 5 President John Frahm, and UFCW Local 648 President Dan Larson in a joint statement. 'Our members remain mobilized and ready, but as long as talks are advancing toward a fair deal, we will continue to bargain in good faith.' While negotiations are ongoing, approximately 25,000 grocery workers from the Grapevine to the Oregon border remain poised to take action if talks collapse. UFCW 8-Golden State members in Kern, Inyo, and Mono Counties, covered under a separate but expired agreement, are participating in joint bargaining efforts and stand ready to strike as well. Union priorities in these negotiations include: Despite repeated union efforts, the employer's failure to resolve these core concerns has already led to overwhelming strike authorization votes. Message to the Community 'We are deeply grateful for the support from our communities,' the presidents added. 'If talks fail and the company forces a strike, we ask you to honor our picket lines and shop at other Union stores until an agreement is reached. Your solidarity with us strengthens our resolve and brings us closer to justice at work.' If bargaining progress stalls or collapses, updated strike details will be released. View source version on CONTACT: UFCW 8-Golden State President Jacques Loveall [email protected] Local 648 President Dan Larson (415) 861-7840 •[email protected] Local 5 President John Frahm [email protected] Araby (510) 599-0488 •[email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT SUPERMARKET RETAIL LABOR SOURCE: UFCW 8-Golden State Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/26/2025 03:48 AM/DISC: 07/26/2025 03:47 AM
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fenway Park Workers Give Aramark 48-Hour Strike Deadline
Concession workers at Fenway Park could walk off the job during the Boston Red Sox's upcoming series against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Unite Here Local 26 has given food and beverage provider Aramark until 12 p.m. ET on Friday to offer the stadium's hospitality staffers a new contract. Should Aramark miss the deadline, the unionized workers will walk off the job during the three-game set this weekend. More from Buster Posey Bet Big on Rafael Devers. It's Been a Slow Start. Fenway Park Workers Fret Over Aramark's AI-Powered Concessions Fenway Park Concession Workers Approve Strike in 113-Year First The union, which represents concession employees at the stadium as well as other hospitality workers throughout Boston, on June 15 authorized a strike that could be called at any point during the MLB season. At the time, Aramark said it had contingency plans in place should the normal staffers walk off the job. The Red Sox forwarded a request for comment to Aramark, which said it intends 'to keep working with the union toward a settlement that works for everyone. In the event of a strike, we have contingency plans in place to ensure that services are not interrupted.' The most recent bargaining talks took place last Tuesday, though the two sides remain far apart on key issues. In addition to a desire for higher wages, one of the biggest worries for Local 26 is the use of self-service machines that Aramark implemented at Fenway back in 2023. Aramark installed six machines created by Mashgin—two self-checkout units that dispense beer and four self-checkout popcorn stations. Employees are concerned that the machines could make them expendable by minimizing the human interaction they say adds to the experience of making Fenway 'America's most beloved ballpark.' Mashgin's machines are deployed at 20 of the 30 MLB ballparks in addition to at least 120 more sports venues, at least 100 hospitals and more than 3,000 convenience stores. In April, the company said that during the 2024 season, it 'delivered a median transaction time of under 15 seconds across over 3.6 million transactions and $88 million in concession sales.' In a union Zoom call with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) last week, the former presidential candidate highlighted that interaction when talking about a visit to Fenway last year when the Red Sox were taking on the Dodgers. He followed up that Zoom invite with a scathing letter to Aramark CEO John J. Zillmer and Red Sox owner John Henry, calling out the valuations of both the company and team and expressing concern over the AI-powered self-checkout units. 'If Aramark can afford to pay you $18.7 million in compensation and provide nearly $100 million in dividends for your wealthy shareholders,' the senator wrote to Zillmer, 'it can afford to pay all of your workers a living wage and not threaten to take away their jobs and their income with faceless Mashgin touchscreen computers.' Sanders cited the team's valuation, saying that it has gone up by over $4 billion since Henry bought the team in 2002 for $380 million. The Red Sox rank third in Sportico's MLB franchise valuations at $6.03 billion, with a $5.22 billion valuation for the team itself and $810 million for team-related business and real estate, including Fenway Park. Local 26 also appealed to Henry in an open letter emailed to Fenway Sports Group, the Red Sox's holding company, on Tuesday evening, asking for him and leadership at FSG to intervene. 'Mr. Henry, Fenway Park is your house,' the letter said. 'We're asking you … to intervene. We're asking you to tell Aramark to bring reasonable proposals to the table that recognize our value and our role in making Fenway thrive.' Because concession work at Fenway is seasonal, the union said a sustained indefinite strike would have presented too many obstacles for members who are part-time workers at the ballpark. There are no definitive dates for the next potential strike if union members are off for the full Dodgers series. The Red Sox have a scheduled off day on Thursday before the Dodgers series opens on Friday. The team will be on the road for a three-game set in Minnesota before opening the month of August with a six-game homestand against Houston and Kansas City. Best of Tennis Prize Money Tracker: Which Player Has Earned the Most in 2025? Browns Officially Get Public Money for New Stadium in Ohio Budget WNBA Franchise Valuations Ranking List: From Golden State to Atlanta
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former NFLPA President JC Tretter Resigns in Latest Union Shakeup
Former NFL Players Association president JC Tretter won't be the union's next executive director. Instead, the candidate to replace Lloyd Howell, who resigned on Thursday, said he's leaving the PA 'in the coming days.' Speaking to CBS Sports, Tretter expressed frustration at recent reporting and criticism of his tenure. The former Packers and Browns center served as NFLPA president from 2020 to 2024, presiding over Howell's hiring by the NFL's representative board in 2023. Following his time atop the organization, Tretter was hired in October to serve as chief strategy officer. More from NFLPA Head Lloyd Howell Resigns After Union Controversies NFLPA Fires Arbitrator Who Ruled on JC Tretter 'Fake Injuries' Case Sporticast 466: The Home Run Derby's Slam Dunk Contest Problem 'I think a lot of the attacks on me came from inside the building over the last six weeks,' Tretter said in his CBS Sports interview. 'And I don't want to walk inside that building anymore.' In June, some players called out union leadership for its handling of a January arbitration ruling that found 'a clear preponderance' of evidence that NFL voices advised teams to avoid giving players guaranteed contracts following Deshaun Watson's unprecedented $230 million deal. The ruling was reportedly kept secret from union membership. The NFLPA has said it will appeal the decision, which found that owners didn't collude to suppress player salaries. 'It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day,' Howell wrote in his resignation statement on the same day that reports emerged of him filing expense reports tied to visits to strip clubs. In the arbitration ruling that was previously kept secret, Tretter was found to have criticized quarterback Russell Wilson for his decision to sign a non-guaranteed contract offer from the Broncos. The NFL also previously won a grievance case against the union after Tretter mentioned the possibility of individual players faking injuries as part of their efforts to negotiate new contracts. On Friday, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported on X that NFL players were sharing a text message that asked, 'When will the players rise up and hold Tretter accountable for all this?' Still, The Athletic reported Friday that Tretter was one of the likely contenders to replace Howell, at least on an interim basis. NBC Sports and the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast have speculated that Tretter might have been scheming to take the top job for some time. According to CBS Sports, former players and longtime union affiliates Don Davis and Zamir Cobb remain candidates for the executive director role. The NFLPA is expected to name a successor in the coming days. The union declined to comment on Tretter's decision. 'I'm not resigning in disgrace,' Tretter said to CBS Sports. 'I'm resigning because this has gone too far for me and my family, and I've sucked it up for six weeks. And I felt like I've been kind of left in the wind taking shots for the best of the organization.' The departures come months after an ESPN report that federal prosecutors were investigating financial deals tied to licensing company OneTeam Partners, which was cofounded by the NFLPA and the MLBPA. Best of Tennis Prize Money Tracker: Which Player Has Earned the Most in 2025? Browns Officially Get Public Money for New Stadium in Ohio Budget WNBA Franchise Valuations Ranking List: From Golden State to Atlanta
Bloomberg
21-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
FlySafair Plans Pilot Lockout Over South African Strike Threat
FlySafair, South Africa's largest airline, will beginning locking out pilots from Tuesday after the employees voted to strike, labor union Solidarity said. The lockout threatens to disrupt the carrier's operations for two weeks, the union said in a statement on Sunday.
