A Say Over the Future: The Working People Weekly List

Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here's the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.

Omni Providence Workers Ratify New Union Contract: "UNITE HERE Local 26 said workers at the Omni Providence Hotel ratified a new union contract on Sept. 24. The union said that negotiations on a new contract began after the previous expired on Jan. 31, and that workers voted to authorize a strike on Aug. 7. The new contract includes wage increases and more affordable healthcare."

Apple Store Workers in Oklahoma City Ratify First Union Contract: "U.S. retail workers at the Oklahoma City Apple store in Penn Square Mall have successfully ratified their first collectively bargained contract. The union workers are part of Communications Workers of America (CWA), operating as Apple Retail Union-CWA Local 6016. The ratified three-year contract promises up to an 11.5% wage increase up to 2027, alongside provisions for worker involvement in scheduling and guaranteed paid time off for voting."

Project 2025's Plan to Gut Civil Service with Mass Firings: 'It's Like the Bad Old Days of King Henry VIII': "Even as Donald Trump seeks to disavow Project 2025, he and the rightwing effort's authors have voiced similarly hostile plans for the U.S.'s 2 million-plus federal employees-to replace many of them with political appointees. These plans are stirring alarm among federal employees, with many warning that 'politicizing' the civil service will hurt not just them, but also millions of Americans across the US by undermining how well the U.S. government provides services and enforces regulations that protect the public."

Congress Passes Bill to Avert a Shutdown Before the Election, Sending It to Biden: "Congress overwhelmingly passed a funding bill Wednesday to avert a government shutdown next week after House Republicans removed a proposal demanded by Donald Trump that would require Americans nationwide to show proof of citizenship to register to vote. The Senate voted 78-18 Wednesday evening, shortly after the House passed the same measure on a 341-82, with all opposition in both chambers coming from Republicans."

Labor Wants-and Gets-A Say Over the Future: "The AFL-CIO's Technology Institute will announce today an ongoing collaboration with the NSF, in which the two groups will explore how labor can consult on the foundation's cutting-edge research projects."

Wesleyan Graduate Students Vote for Union Membership: "Graduate student workers and Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTA) at the University will cast their ballot in a vote to join the Office & Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153 on Thursday, Sept. 26. The vote comes after months of organizing and internal discussions within the Wesleyan Graduate Labor Union (WesGLU). WesGLU first announced their intention to unionize last April, and subsequently entered into negotiations with the University. Those negotiations ended earlier this semester, when the administration refused to voluntarily recognize the union. WesGLU leadership determined that the University's decision was a departure from the status quo, and that it was not in line with the good faith labor relations expected by some organizers."

Federal Funds, Clean Energy Projects Boost Maine Union Workforce: "Union workers in Maine say federal funds are helping fuel the state's clean energy transition and offering incentives for young people to stick around. Skilled trade workers are in high demand as the state aims to install 275,000 heating pumps by 2027 and construct numerous offshore wind projects. Kim Tobias, an electrician and member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1253, said learning a trade nearly tripled her income and she is encouraging her own daughters to do the same. 'With apprenticeships and with the union jobs that are going to be here, it's a good way for people to be able to afford to stay here,' Tobias pointed out. Tobias noted young people are motivated to help fight climate change and the Inflation Reduction Act is helping create not just jobs, but well-paying careers. The state aims to double its clean energy workforce to 30,000 by 2030."

Guitar Center Workers in Six Locations, Including Illinois, Ratify New Contract: "Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU-UFCW) members at six Guitar Center locations in Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada and New York have ratified a new three-year contract. The agreement includes multiple meaningful wins for staff, like an increased minimum wage rate for every position-which will continue to go up every year throughout the life of the contract-and an additional seniority wage adjustment for more tenured workers."

Redmond: Labor Has 'the Responsibility to Lead' the Fight for Democracy: "AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond is repeating a somber warning to workers, union and non-union alike: This November's election is not just about the presidency, but about democracy. Redmond told a panel discussion at the Labor Department on September 17, the anniversary of the founders' signing the Constitution, that organized labor must lead the fight to preserve the republic. 'Unions thrive in democratic countries and in countries where you have democratic principles. They don't survive in autocracies and dictatorships,' Redmond declared. 'So we have the responsibility to fight for democracy and it should be the responsibility of the entire labor movement to lead that fight.'"

Culinary Union Celebrates the End of Its Longest Campaign: "Culinary Union secretary-treasurer Ted Pappageorge said at an event Thursday to mark the signing of the contract that he had faith that the Venetian would one day be a union property. 'I can tell you that I knew one day we would be doing that, but honestly, we didn't know when,' he said. 'We have a fighting spirit at the Culinary and Bartenders union here in Las Vegas, and we look at time maybe a little differently than some organizations do.'"