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By DAVID A. COOK
President
I don’t normally directly address comments made by a candidate or politician unless they are in specific reference to the Labor Movement, but something was said this past weekend that must be commented on, and we should discuss how it does impact your workplace.
At a rally on Saturday, former president Donald Trump said that some immigrants...
On-the-job injuries, low wages are driving force
BY SHERI GASSAWAY
Assistant Editor
Troy, MO – Dawn Ellis, a worker at the Toyota plant here, has been injured twice while on the job. Fed up, she and several of her coworkers are now seeking to unionize with the United Auto Workers (UAW) for good, safe jobs.
Ellis tore her rotator cuff, which is a common...
Leadership
St. Louis Building Trades’ John Stiffler, SEIU Healthcare’s Laura Barrett honored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians
By TIM ROWDEN
Editor-in-Chief
St. Louis – John Stiffler, executive secretary-treasurer of St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council, was honored as Labor Leader of the Year, and Laura Barrett, Missouri campaign coordinator for SEIU Healthcare, was named Civic Leader of the Year at the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) St. Louis Chapter’s 22nd Annual “Hoses, Handcuffs and Hard Hats” Judge...
By TIM ROWDEN
Editor-in-Chief
Chesterfield, MO – Union members, local contractors and Labor allies teamed up to take a swing for the Missouri Works Initiative at its second annual Topgolf Tournament Feb. 29.
Silver sponsors of this year’s tournament included:
Anders CPAs and Advisors.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield/CarelonRx.
IBEW Local 1.
Ironworkers Local 396.
Operating Engineers Local 513.
Labor First.
Laborers...
Political power comes from Labor power, not vice versa.
By HAMILTON NOLAN
In These Times
It’s a presidential election year. Are you happy? Excited? Ha. Of course not. Election years in America are fueled far more by fear and loathing than by any sense of genuine inspiration.
For many of us, political news inspires a vague sense of disgust and a desire to...
Two weeks ago, legislation to raise teacher pay and increase investments in kids and classrooms operating a traditional five-day school week was approved in committee with bipartisan support.
Right now, Missouri has the lowest paid teachers in America. As a result, our state is experiencing a teacher shortage crisis with nearly one out of every 10 courses being taught by...
Shadowed by weekslong gridlock at the beginning, the Senate body is finally debating bills, and I am optimistic for a productive 2024.
Anticipating a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that could restore abortion rights in our state, the majority party has prioritized Senate Joint Resolution 74, Initiative Petition Reform. The goal of the legislation is to make it harder for...
By TIM ROWDEN
Editor-in-Chief
St. Louis — Teamsters working for brewer Anheuser-Busch voted by 86 percent to ratify a new five-year Labor agreement with the company, avoiding a strike, the union said.
The Teamsters had threatened a strike at the brewer’s 12 U.S. plants if an agreement on a new five-year contract wasn’t reached by Feb. 28. Before the deadline, the two...
Clayton, MO – The St. Louis County Council has approved a resolution recognizing Women in Construction Week, which was March 3-9, and presented it to the Missouri Works Initiative (MWI), which runs the St. Louis Building Union Diversity (BUD) program. The six-week BUD program serves as a recruitment tool to encourage more women and minorities to get into the...
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562
Plumbers & Pipefitters 562 tradesman-turned-contractor opens SOTAC Plumbing
By SHERI GASSAWAY
Assistant Editor
Fenton, MO – Cody Sallens, an 18-year member of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, has opened SOTAC Plumbing Services as a tribute to his dad, who was also a member of the union.
SOTAC stands for State of the Art Craftsman, Sallens said. The new business, located in Fenton, specializes in both residential and commercial plumbing.
“My dad,...