February 2019 — Workers vote “Union, Yes”. Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 1101 members, who mark New York City streets for utility companies before they dig, recently defeated a nasty, threat filled, union-busting campaign by U.S. Infrastructure Co. (USIC). Members voted overwhelmingly to keep their union. Next? Forcing USIC to pay City Council required “prevailing wages.”
February 2019 — Job safety in South Korea. A hunger strike protesting the death of temporary, outsourced power plant worker Kim Yong-gyun, won improvements in 30-year-old safety rules for all workers in South Korea. The main company is now accountable for accidents to subcontracted workers and Kim’s co-workers are made permanent and employed by a separate public company.
February 2019 — GE factory workers strike. One thousand seven hundred United Electrical (UE) union workers struck for two weeks in February after their Erie, Pennsylvania GE plant was sold to an anti-union firm that demanded massive contract concessions. Back at work on a 90-day contract extension, the union opposes two-tier wage scales, mandatory overtime and use of temporary workers.
