AFL-CIO Daily Briefs: Shuler; NWSLPA; Actors’ Equity;CNA NNU; HFIU and CSEA

Message from President Liz Shuler

• The landmark equal pay agreement between U.S. Soccer, the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) Players Association and the U.S. National Soccer Team Players Association makes international history, will impact generations to come and shows the power of a union contract.
• This incredible collective bargaining agreement made it across the finish line, thanks to leadership from USWNT Players Association President Becky Sauerbrunn and all the brave players who fought for this for so long both on and off the field.
• Congratulations to all! #ItsAboutTime.

NWSLPA's Burke Speaks Out on Protecting Mental Health

The NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) secured its first-ever collective bargaining agreement with the premier soccer league last year. Negotiations took place while professional athletes were alleging coaches had engaged in sexual abuse and there was a renewed focus on players' mental health. The union won significant mental health protections in its contract, including up to six months of paid mental health leave for its members.

"If you have a mental health diagnosis from a licensed professional, it shouldn't be treated any differently than the diagnosis you get from a physical injury," NWSLPA Executive Director Meghann Burke said about the negotiations. "We didn't have to, at the bargaining table, tell horror stories and case studies. I think we understand what we're all talking about here."

Equity Secures Release from NDAs for Members Who Worked Under Scott Rudin

Actors' Equity Association (Equity) reached an agreement with The Broadway League that releases its members from nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) that prohibited them from speaking about workplace abuses by producer Scott Rudin. Equity first called for this change when the producer was accused by former assistants last year of abusive workplace behavior, and it became clear that NDAs were preventing far more workers from speaking out. The League also agreed that going forward, its producers will only use nondisclosure language in contracts or riders in limited, approved circumstances.

"As new shows develop, we understand that sometimes NDAs are necessary to protect these works in progress," said Al Vincent Jr., executive director of Equity. "However, NDAs may not and will not be used to protect anyone from the consequences of their own bad behavior. This settlement is a major step in ensuring they will not be used in that way again." Read more in The New York Times.

RNs Condemn Seton for Closing Units that Serve Vulnerable Elderly Populations

Members of the California Nurses Association/NNU (CNA/NNU) at AHMC Seton Medical Center (Seton) held a rally last week to express their concerns about the abrupt closure of two hospital units that serve vulnerable elderly patients across Northern California and to make the public aware of persistent patient safety issues.

"While management has publicly called us heroes, they continually fail to adequately address the ongoing needs of the frontline staff," said Osha Atogwe, a registered nurse at Seton. "We need the hospital to value our work and to address our concerns." RNs noted that management's failure to staff appropriately or provide nurses with much-needed resources have led to more than 65 nurses leaving Seton within the past two years.

HFIU Local 36 Wins Wage Increases for Members in Oregon, Washington

Members of Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU) Local 36 in Oregon and southwest Washington recently secured two contracts that will provide significant hourly wage increases throughout the life of the agreements. Local 36's journeymen insulators will see their wages increase by a total of $10 an hour in the next four years. Members of the union who work as firestoppers will have their hourly wages increased by $8.50 over the coming three years.

The new contracts also provide higher employer contributions to health and pension benefits, increased per diem and new protections against hiring nonunion labor. Local 36 Business Manager Walt Caudle told the Northwest Labor Press that these gains are a result of the union's long-term organizing success in Oregon and Washington's insulation trade.

CSEA Celebrates Classified School Employee Week

California officially recognizes the important contributions of classified school employees every year during Classified School Employee Week, the third week in May. This year, the California School Employees Association (CSEA) is honoring classified employees with a week of celebrations May 15-21 under the banner of "We Are Classified! We Bring It Every Day!" CSEA President Shane Dishman expressed gratitude to his fellow members: "Thank you for the inspiring work you do every day which drives our upward growth and momentum."

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