cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/2336267
Another historic labor action happened from Oct. 4-7 when Kaiser Permanente workers staged a three-day strike. A coalition of unions representing licensed practical nurses, lab technicians and other hospital personnel — 75,000 in all — went up against the hospital corporate giant in what was the largest strike by healthcare workers in U.S. history.
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“Our work powers the educational and research mission of the University, and was instrumental in UMaine receiving the status of an R1 rated research university. In short, UMaine works because we do,” said Em Sowles, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate and research assistant in the physics department. “But for too long, we have struggled with low and inconsistent pay, substandard health benefits and the need for a voice at work. Today we are proud to have formally secured a seat at the table, so we can begin to improve our working lives through legally-enforceable contracts.” (uaw.org)
University of Pennsylvania graduate student workers plan to be unionized soon as the Graduate Employees Together of UPenn (GET-UP), also part of the UAW. Among GET-UP demands — along with a reasonable workload and improved compensation — are freedom from harassment and discrimination in the workplace, protections for international students, and justice for Philadelphians who have long suffered from decisions made by UPenn that lacked any commitment to the well-being of city residents.
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BCBS Michigan reported $360 million profit in 2021 and CEO Daniel Loepp’s 2021 total compensation for exploiting workers and sick people was $15.6 million! The workers are demanding the end of the two-tier pay scale. Under the current contract, a new hire at BCBS Michigan would need to work 22 years before they reached the top of their wage scale.