Union Pacific railroad's quarterly profit falls 19% as volumes slow and costs remain high
Union Pacific's third-quarter profit fell 19% as the railroad hauled about 3% fewer shipments and costs remained high, but the average speed of its trains improved 5% as new CEO Jim Vena began to tweak the operations.
Additional 7K UAW workers hit picket line outside GMโs Lansing Assembly Plant
The UAW union expanded its 14-day strike against two of the Detroit Big Three automakers. The union is now asking for an additional 7,000 members at Ford's assembly plant in Chicago and a General Motors factory in Lansing.
Bosnia: Protest over draft law to recriminalize defamation
Dozens of journalists and rights activists have protested outside parliament in Bosniaโs Serb-run part as lawmakers debated whether to advance a contested law which critics say would restrict freedom of expression and silence critical media.
Germany sees calls for quick decisions on new government
Pressure is growing for a quick start to talks on Germanyโs next government as newly elected lawmakers hold their first meetings and tensions simmer in outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkelโs bloc, which declined to its worst-ever result in the country's election.
Uncertain start to post-Merkel era after close German vote
The party that narrowly beat outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkelโs bloc is pushing for a quick agreement on a coalition government, but Europeโs biggest economy could still be in for weeks of uncertainty after an election that failed to set a clear direction.
Locked out stagehands protest outside Metropolitan Opera
Locked out stagehands of the Metropolitan Opera protested the company amid a crowd of about 1,000 that rallied outside Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, criticizing the company for constructing sets for three of next seasonโs new productions at nonunion shops.
Flying the flag: UK govt tells ministries to wave Union Jack
FILE - In this file photo dated Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, a British Union flag flies atop the Houses of Parliament in London, on the morning after the U.K. fully left the European Union. The British government said Wednesday March 24, 2021, the national flag should be flown every day on all public buildings, the latest move in an increasing embrace of the Union flag. Flying the national flag is less common in the United Kingdom than in some other countries, such as the United States. The red, white and blue Union flag combines the emblems of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which make up the United Kingdom along with Wales. Under the new rules, any government building wishing to fly the European Union flag will need special permission.
Uber to give UK drivers minimum wage, pension, holiday pay
Uber is giving its U.K. drivers the minimum wage, pensions and holiday pay, following a recent court ruling that said they should be classified as workers and entitled to such benefits, the company announced Tuesday, March 16, 2021. And they said the company can't decide by itself the expense base for calculating the minimum wage, which should be based on a collective agreement. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)LONDON โ Uber is giving its U.K. drivers the minimum wage, pensions and holiday pay, following a recent court ruling that said they should be classified as workers and entitled to such benefits. The ride hailing giant's announcement Tuesday comes after it lost an appeal last month at the U.K. Supreme Court following a yearslong court battle. And they said the company can't decide by itself the expense base for calculating the minimum wage, which should be based on a collective agreement.
Judge says railroad talks should be included in lawsuits
FILE- In this July 31, 2018, file photo a Union Pacific train travels through Union, Neb. โ A federal judge has ruled that the details of conversations between the nation's four largest railroads should be included in lawsuits challenging billions of dollars of charges the railroads imposed in the past. The lawsuits say the railroads conspired to boost prices starting in 2003 by imposing coordinated fuel surcharges and pocketing billions of dollars in profits. In the lawsuits, the railroads have argued that their fuel surcharges were legal and were simply designed to recover the skyrocketing cost of fuel at the time. Union Pacific, which is based in Omaha, Nebraska, plans to continue โvigorously defending itself against the allegations in these lawsuits,โ spokeswoman Elizabeth Graham said.
Res Wings history: Ted Lindsay spearheads formation of NHLPA on Feb. 11, 1957
DETROIT โ On Feb. 11, 1957, Detroit Red Wings forward Ted Lindsay and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Doug Harvey put their on-ice rivalry aside and teamed up to lead the charge in forming a players union. But Sid Abel, Lindsayโs old linemate, took over as Red Wings coach in 1964. He rejoined the Red Wings as No. Lindsay had 14 goals and 14 assists that year, and Campbell apologized after the Red Wings won the season championship. We are comforted in knowing that the Ted Lindsay legacy will forever be a part of history and are so proud of the many lives he helped change for the better through his tireless humanitarian work.
Red Wings history: Ted Lindsay spearheads formation of NHLPA on Feb. 11, 1957
DETROIT โ On Feb. 11, 1957, Detroit Red Wings forward Ted Lindsay and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Doug Harvey put their on-ice rivalry aside and teamed up to lead the charge in forming a players union. But Sid Abel, Lindsayโs old linemate, took over as Red Wings coach in 1964. He rejoined the Red Wings as No. Lindsay had 14 goals and 14 assists that year, and Campbell apologized after the Red Wings won the season championship. We are comforted in knowing that the Ted Lindsay legacy will forever be a part of history and are so proud of the many lives he helped change for the better through his tireless humanitarian work.
More than 650 GM temporary employees in the US to become full-time
The U.S. is making General Motors recall and repair nearly 6 million big pickup trucks and SUVs equipped with potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)DETROIT โ On Monday, General Motors announced that more than 650 hourly workers in the United States will transition from temporary to full-time employment this month. The temporary employees who will be impacted work at GM plants and other sites in Michigan, Indiana, Texas and Missouri. โWe are proud to welcome these team members as regular, full-time employees,โ said Phil Kienle, GM vice president of North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations. โUAW members negotiated and ratified a path to seniority status in the 2019 National Negotiations and because of their contract, 650 members will gain seniority status and benefits this month.
CEO of Recycle Ann Arbor discusses plans for new facility
ANN ARBOR โ In mid-November, it was announced that Recycle Ann Arbor received significant investments to rebuild its materials sorting facility that had been closed since 2016. Recycle Ann Arbor came up with the rest in the largest-ever fundraising effort for the 40-year-old organization. CEO of Recycle Ann Arbor, Bryan Ukena, said the new state-of-the-art facility will eliminate the need to send the cityโs recyclables across state lines. Recycle Ann Arbor will be using the shell of that building for its new facility, and will install all new equipment. The land is owned by the city, and Recycle Ann Arbor has a ground lease to lease the land and outer building.
Breakthrough: UK and EU reach post-Brexit trade agreement
It took more than three years of wrangling before Britain left the blocโs political structures last January. If Britain were to quit the EU with no agreement governing trade, the two sides would reinstate tariffs on each other's goods. Even with a trade deal, goods and people will no longer be able to move freely between the U.K. and its continental neighbors without border restrictions. โโAnd the difference that a trade deal makes is not going to be obvious to most people from that,โ he said. ___Follow all AP stories on the Brexit trade talks at https://apnews.com/Brexit
Philly claims Supporters' Shield on final day of MLS season
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)The path to the MLS Cup will go through Philadelphia after the Union wrapped up the Supportersโ Shield and top seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs on the final day of the MLS regular season on Sunday. The snowy victory for Kansas City was part of a wild final day in the Western Conference, with late goals in Los Angeles and Houston shuffling the playoff bracket. LAFC's reward is a trip to defending MLS Cup champion Seattle in a rematch of last year's Western Conference final won by the Sounders on the road. Only Philadelphia and Toronto had a chance to lay claim to the regular-season title entering the final day of the season. The Eastern Conference had a logjam at the bottom of the standings, and the final day ended with both expansion teams claiming playoff spots.
Unifor reaches tentative agreement with General Motors to avoid strike
(Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.) Unifor announced Thursday morning its Master Bargaining Committee reached a tentative agreement for 17,000 members working at General Motors in St. Catharines, Oshawa and Woodstock, Ontario. Uniforโs National President Jerry Dias and bargaining committee representatives will hold a virtual news conference at 10 a.m. to provide more information about the tentative agreement. To watch the news conference click here. Unifor is Canadaโs largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy.
Washtenaw Community College, teachers union agree to contract extensions
ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ Washtenaw Community College and the Washtenaw Community College Education Association (WCCEA) teachers union have agreed to one-year extensions for two current contracts. The extensions delay contract renegotiations for both the WCCEA master agreement and the part-time adjunct teaching contract until 2022 and 2023, respectively. The contract extensions were unanimously ratified by the WCC Board of Trustees at its October meeting last week. In a release from the Ann Arbor college, WCC President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca thanked faculty. Almost 70 percent of union membership voted, according to WCCEA President Dr. Julie Kissel, who said that support was โoverwhelmingly positive.โ
Former Ann Arbor dispensary employees sue, claiming wrongful termination
Three former employees at Om of Medicine have filed wrongful termination claims as their colleagues still working at the dispensary attempt to unionize. Conine, Omโs community outreach coordinator, said that staff were initially told that 4Front would preserve Omโs mission in serving the community, but at some point things began to change. In response, Omโs employees began the effort to unionize with the United Food Workers' cannabis division. The shop abruptly closed for the rest of the day, resulting in a picket by the three women and some current Om employees outside its Main St. location. When A4 reached out to Omโs local management for comment, they said they cannot comment publicly on specific employment and HR matters while legal proceedings are ongoing.
UK, EU inch toward more Brexit talks but hurdles remain
Britains foreign minister says there are only narrow differences remaining in trade talks between the U.K. and the European Union. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON โ Britain and the European Union edged toward resuming their troubled trade talks on Monday, after the bloc's chief negotiator said he was ready to โintensifyโ negotiations on the legal text of an agreement. Britain and the EU have been attempting to strike a new trade deal since the U.K. left the bloc on Jan. 31. He told British businesses to prepare for a no-deal economic break with the EU at the end of the year. The bill soured talks aimed at securing a new trade deal between Britain and the EU.
UK minister: Door 'still ajar' for post-Brexit talks with EU
Britains foreign minister says there are only narrow differences remaining in trade talks between the U.K. and the European Union. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON โ A senior British official said Sunday the door is โstill ajarโ for post-Brexit talks to continue with the European Union if officials in the bloc change their position on key points. Michael Gove's comments came after Prime Minister Boris Johnsonโs spokesman said Friday that the trade talks are โoverโ unless there is a โfundamentalโ change of position from the EU. With just weeks to go until the end-of-year deadline, Johnson said the U.K. needed to get ready for leaving the EU with no trade deal. โWeโre certainly not saying that if they do change their position we canโt talk to them,โ he told the BBC.
Detroit public schools, teachers union agree to 1-year contract
DETROIT โ The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) Local 231 announced Tuesday they have reached agreement on a one-year successor contract for the 2020-21 academic year. DFT members ratified the agreement on Oct. 5, according to the district. This shall be the only step movement for these unit members during the 2020-2021 school year. All other DFT unit members not on the teacher salary schedule shall receive a base wage increase of 2.74% as of the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. Aug. 28, 2020: DPSCD and Detroit Federation of Teachers reach deal to reopen schools
Ex-UAW president Dennis Williams pleads guilty in embezzlement scheme
Dennis Williams is the latest senior leader at the UAW to plead guilty in the governmentโs investigation of corruption in the unionโs upper ranks. The probe has resulted in the convictions of 11 people, including another former president, Gary Jones, plus a late officialโs spouse. But I deliberately looked away.โMore than $22,000 in union money was used to rent a villa for Williams for a four-month period in 2016-17, the government said. Williams โput his personal and self-interest above that of our members and this union,โ the UAW said Wednesday. Jones, who was president for about 18 months, pleaded guilty in June.
NFLPA asking teams to change all fields to natural grass
The NFL Players Association president cited the leagueโs official injury reports from 2012-2018 to state his case that natural grass fields provide a much lower risk for injuries, compared to artificial surfaces, during practices and games. โAnecdotally, I know how my body responds playing on turf versus grass,โ said Tretter, who graduated from Cornell University. Seventeen NFL teams play their home games on grass, while 15 franchises do so on artificial turf. In his new role, Tretter says lobbying for grass fields will be a key talking point in any labor negotiations with the league. โIf we know grass is significantly more safe than synthetic turf, itโs about continuing to push forward and making it a priority,โ Tretter said.
Gabrielle Union, NBC settle dispute over racism allegations
LOS ANGELES โ Gabrielle Union and NBC said Tuesday that they have settled their differences in their dispute over her firing as a judge on โAmerica's Got Talent,โ which she said was retaliation for her complaints that the show tolerated racism on the set. โWeโve reached an amicable resolution," Union and the network said in a joint statement. "NBC Entertainment appreciates the important concerns raised by Gabrielle Union and remains committed to ensuring an inclusive and supportive working environment where people of all backgrounds are treated with respect.โBoth sides declined further comment, and would not give further details. Variety reported soon after that Union, who is Black, believed she was fired because she had asked NBC and the showโs producers to respond to an environment that tolerated racist jokes and remarks from judges and producers. NBC said the investigation "found an overarching culture of diversity on the show.โ___Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton.
University of Michigan graduate students accept schoolโs latest offer, end strike
ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ Members of the Graduate Employeeโs Organization (GEO) voted Wednesday to accept the University of Michiganโs latest offer regarding issues of mutual concern and end their strike. The university and GEO union announced the strike end Thursday morning. โGEO said its members would return to their duties beginning this morning,โ reads a statement from the university. At our largest general membership meeting to date, 1,074 GEO members voted to accept the universityโs offer, 239 members voted to reject, and 66 abstained. GEO members and supporters now return to our regular work duties.
Union volunteers build new observation deck in Ann Arbor
ANN ARBOR, Mich. โ Volunteers from the Union Sportsmenโs Alliance have constructed a new observational deck on the Washtenaw Community College campus. A 16-foot bench attached to the deck allows users to stop and watch for wildlife. โThis project at WCC is one of perseverance,โ said USA Director of Union Relations Walt Ingram in a release. The deck was assembled as a Union Sportsmenโs Alliance Work Boots in the Ground conservation project. โGetting people in the mechanical trades together to build something for WCCโs biology students and community members to use was an awesome experience,โ said UA Local 190 Training Director Andy Fielder, who led the project.
Canadian auto workers pick Ford as potential strike target
DETROIT The union that represents Canadian auto workers has picked Ford as a potential strike target in contract talks this year. Unifor President Jerry Dias says at a news conference Tuesday that the union wants product commitments for Ford's assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, near Toronto. Dias says Ford hasnt made any future product commitments. In addition to product commitments, the union also will focus on wages and benefits, he said. Ford said in a statement it looks forward to reaching a deal that keeps it competitive and maintains Canadian jobs.