Judge Rules That Movie Studio Should Have Been Paying Interns

A Federal District Court judge in Manhattan ruled on Tuesday that Fox Searchlight Pictures had violated federal and New York minimum wage laws by not paying production interns, a case that could upend the long-held practice of the film industry and other businesses that rely heavily on unpaid internships.

In the decision, Judge William H. Pauley III ruled that Fox Searchlight should have paid two interns on the movie “Black Swan,” because they were essentially regular employees.

The judge noted that these internships did not foster an educational environment and that the studio received the benefits of the work. The case could have broad implications. Young people have flocked to internships, especially against the backdrop of a weak job market.

Employment experts estimate that undergraduates work in more than one million internships a year, an estimated half of which are unpaid, according to Intern Bridge, a research firm.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/business/judge-rules-for-interns-who-sued-fox-searchlight.html?_r=2&

Nurses union ratifies 2 labor pacts

The Massachusetts Nurses Association has ratified new labor contracts with Quincy Medical Center and the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

Unionized nurses, who mounted a 24-hour strike at the Quincy hospital April 11 to dramatize their complaints about staffing levels, ratified a one-year agreement with the hospital, union officials said Wednesday. The hospital is owned by Boston-based Steward Health Care System, which operates 11 for-profit hospitals in Eastern Massachusetts.

Union leaders said nurses at the Memorial/Hahnemann campus of UMass Medical Center had earlier ratified a new three-year contract.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/06/12/massachusetts-nurses-union-okays-contracts-quincy-worcester-hospitals/P3U73EAq6I7xLOhQg85cNP/story.html

Talks between Patriot Coal, UMWA break off

The potential of a strike against Patriot Coal Corp. appeared to loom larger after talks between the company and the United Mine Workers of America came to an abrupt end this week. The union blamed company negotiators on Wednesday for breaking off negotiations; the company said that claim was wrong.

Patriot and the union continued negotiations into this week even after a May 29 court order approving the company’s request to make deep cuts in benefits for 23,000 union retirees and dependents and implement changes to the labor contract for thousands of current employees.

The company, based in Creve Coeur, has insisted that it needs $150 million in union concessions to emerge from bankruptcy. And unless the company could negotiate a deal with the union to achieve the savings, it would make the changes allowed by the court.

UMWA officials issued a statement on Wednesday saying they were notified that the company intends to impose the court-approved wage and benefit plans as soon as possible, on July 1, after company negotiators “walked out” of talks with the union on Tuesday and cancelled negotiations scheduled for the rest of this week and early next week.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/patriot-coal-walks-out-of-talks-with-miners-union/article_4ef90748-7423-5f3f-b0f2-64524911ecb9.html

The company needs Union concessions to emerge from bankruptcy, but somehow the Executives don't have to take a hit and the court approved their pay.

Thrift store workers join retail union

Workers at Unique Thrift in Kingsbridge voted to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union on June 7.

A day after holding a vigil outside the store on June 6, workers voted 36 to 22 in favor of joining RWDSU and according to the union, will have a bargaining unit of 64 employees. A group of workers approached the powerful union because they say they are paid low wages, receive no paid sick days, minimal vacation time and are verbally abused by managers at the store.

Unlike many other well-known thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army that are non-profit charitable organizations, Unique Thrift, located at 218 W. 234th St., is a for-profit thrift store owned by Apogee Retail. The company, which owns a chain of 30 locations, buys household items donated to the Lupus Foundation, a charitable organization that raises funds to help those affected by Lupus. A portion of the sale proceeds go to support the Lupus Foundation, according to its website, though it is unclear how much.

“People think that it’s contributing to the Lupus Foundation,” said RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum. “They don’t realize it’s a business. People are making money from the business and people who work there are trying to support themselves and their families. It’s not a charity.”


http://riverdalepress.com/stories/Thrift-store-workers-join-retail-union,52596?content_source=&category_id=4&search_filter=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=&town_id=

CEO Pay Graphics

In the past few decades, CEO pay has skyrocketed while the average worker’s pay has stagnated despite increases in productivity. Multinational corporations park their profits overseas and shirk their responsibilities as taxpayers. The middle class is dwindling and more and more working people are living hand-to-mouth. Learn more about the pervasive inequality in the United States and spread the word.

http://www.aflcio.org/Corporate-Watch/CEO-Pay-and-You

Metro Workers Authorize Strike; Next Step Mediation

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI)– Metro Transit Union members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike Tuesday

Ninety percent of the members who voted agreed to the move.

The main sticking point, Metro wants to end pensions for all new workers and instead offer a 401k.

Some workers say they haven’t received a pay increase since 2008.

http://kplr11.com/2013/06/11/metro-workers-authorize-strike-next-step-mediation/

Writers Guild of America, East, Shares 101 Best-Written TV Series

The Writers Guild of America, East, (WGAE) shares the top 101 best-written TV series.

1. The Sopranos

2. Seinfeld

3. The Twilight Zone

4. All in the Family

5. MASH

6. The Mary Tyler Moore Show

7. Mad Men

8. Cheers

9. The Wire

10. The West Wing

See the rest on the WGAE website.

So what do you think?


http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Other-News/Writers-Guild-of-America-East-Shares-101-Best-Written-TV-Series

June 12: National Peanut Butter Cookie Day

June 10: National Iced Tea Day

June 9: National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day