Labor News & Commentary December 10, 2023 temporary subcontracted workers to in-unit Microsoft employees

[Omaha Steve]

https://onlabor.org/december-10-2023/

By Will Ebeler

Will Ebeler is a student at Harvard Law School.

In this weekend’s news and commentary, Southern California hotel workers reach tentative deal with four Hilton hotels; Amazon workers accuse the company of more union-busting; and Microsoft agrees to convert temporary subcontracted workers to in-unit Microsoft employees.

Over the weekend, Unite Here Local 11 announced that it had reached tentative agreements with four Hilton hotels throughout Southern California. The agreements will cover about 1800 workers across the four hotels. The union will release specific details of the agreements if they are ratified, but has said the agreements will raise wages, strengthen pensions, and improve healthcare. The union represents more than 15,000 housekeepers, cooks, dishwashers, servers, and front desk workers in roughly 60 hotels in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Since their previous contracts expired on June 30 of this year, the union has reached tentative agreements with nine hotels. However, the union hopes the coming holidays and Hollywood awards season will help pressure the companies to settle negotiations. As John discussed last week, hotels have been accused of exploiting unhoused migrants, including migrant children, to replace striking workers, and last week California Democrats in the House sent a letter to the Department of Labor and FEMA requesting that the agencies investigate the hotels.

Workers and organizers at Amazon are accusing the company of retaliating against union organizers. Amazon fired Connor Spence, a co-founder of Amazon Labor Union, on November 29. The company has claimed Spence violated a company policy restricting access of off-duty workers to facilities. The National Labor Relations Board has alleged that this policy violates federal labor law and is seeking to have it overturned. In October, Spence led an employee walkout at Amazon’s Staten Island facility to push for higher pay and an end to discrimination against pregnant workers. He has said he helped plan for the walkout by visiting the site while off duty.

FULL story at link above.