Sherman A1
Sherman A1's JournalInstacart employees in Chicago are the first to unionize in the US
Gig economy workers may have won an important, if conditional, battle in their push for better conditions. Instacart employees in the Chicago suburb of Skokie have voted to unionize through their local branch of United Food and Commercial Workers, giving them more collective bargaining power than they had before. The move only covers 15 staffers who operate at the Mariano's grocery store, but it's the first time Instacart employees have unionized in the US and could affect issues like turnover rates, work pacing and mysterious employee rating algorithms.
In a statement, Instacart said it "will honor" the unionization vote pending certification of the results, and that it intended to negotiate in "good faith" on a collective bargaining agreement. The company added that it "respect[s] our employees' rights to explore unionization."
That last claim doesn't appear to be true based on evidence, however. Motherboard reported that Instacart had high-level managers visit the Mariano's store to distribute anti-union material insisting that unions would hurt pay and "exercise a great deal of control" over staff. If accurate, the approach isn't novel. Tech companies like Google, Uber and Lyft have been accused of anti-union efforts.
This isn't a night-and-day change for Instacart, at least not yet. Only 12,000 of Instacart's 142,000 shoppers are employees capable of unionizing. The rest, like at many other gig economy companies, don't have that status and the bargaining chip it provides. Still, this could spur more employees to consider unions, and that in turn could have a significant impact on Instacart working conditions across the country.
https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/02/instacart-employees-unionize-in-chicago/
Black Pastors Work To Protect Churches From Violence -- In And Outside The Community
New Northside Missionary Baptist Church — a predominantly black Jennings church — is a welcoming space on the inside.
But on the outside, it’s fortified.
Armed security guards monitor the perimeter from the church’s parking lot, while there are several security cameras along the building's exterior.
The Rev. Rodrick Burton has led the congregation for seven years, during which the church lost five members to gun violence.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/black-pastors-work-protect-churches-violence-and-outside-community
Andrew Yang on MSNBC Live w/ Stephanie Ruhle (Jan 15, 2020)
Andrew Yang on MSNBC Live w/ Stephanie Ruhle (Jan 15, 2020)
Andrew Yang: This economy's rules aren't working for us; let's change them
The Freedom Dividend of $1,000 a month, no questions asked, will enable Iowans to expand the businesses and worry less about daily needs.
The American Dream is dying by the numbers.
I’ve seen it in Iowa, where farm bankruptcies have gone up 71% since 2018. Where your water supplies are contaminated. Where opioid deaths have more than tripled since 2005. Where more than one in seven of your children live in poverty, while the state is short 359,000 child care spaces. Where over 55% of your kids leave the state for new opportunities.
I’ve seen it across the country, where 78% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck while 57% can’t afford an unexpected $500 bill.
By the numbers, the economy is not working for us. It’s working for the 91 Fortune 500 companies that paid $0 in federal taxes. It’s working for pharmaceutical companies who rely on taxpayers to fund their research, only to massively overcharge those same taxpayers. It’s working for oil and coal companies, who demand tens of billions of dollars in government subsidies while poisoning our air and water. Most of all, it’s working for politicians in Washington, D.C., who sold out the American people for campaign donations and lobbyist cash.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/caucus/2020/01/09/andrew-yang-democrat-president-iowa-caucus-change-the-rules-economy/2853514001/
Andrew Yang: This economy's rules aren't working for us; let's change them
The Freedom Dividend of $1,000 a month, no questions asked, will enable Iowans to expand the businesses and worry less about daily needs.
The American Dream is dying by the numbers.
I’ve seen it in Iowa, where farm bankruptcies have gone up 71% since 2018. Where your water supplies are contaminated. Where opioid deaths have more than tripled since 2005. Where more than one in seven of your children live in poverty, while the state is short 359,000 child care spaces. Where over 55% of your kids leave the state for new opportunities.
I’ve seen it across the country, where 78% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck while 57% can’t afford an unexpected $500 bill.
By the numbers, the economy is not working for us. It’s working for the 91 Fortune 500 companies that paid $0 in federal taxes. It’s working for pharmaceutical companies who rely on taxpayers to fund their research, only to massively overcharge those same taxpayers. It’s working for oil and coal companies, who demand tens of billions of dollars in government subsidies while poisoning our air and water. Most of all, it’s working for politicians in Washington, D.C., who sold out the American people for campaign donations and lobbyist cash.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/caucus/2020/01/09/andrew-yang-democrat-president-iowa-caucus-change-the-rules-economy/2853514001/
St. Louis City, County Libraries Are Now Officially Fine-Free
Two of the largest library systems in the St. Louis region are axing fines for overdue library materials.
St. Louis County Library and St. Louis Public Library join a trend of major metropolitan library districts across the U.S. — including those of Kansas City, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Chicago — that have eliminated fines for their users in an effort to increase access and equity within the communities they serve.
“We have seen a lot of studies out there that say fines are not the incentive to get people to bring their books back,” said Kristen Sorth, the director of the St. Louis County Library district. “And so, we still want the books back. You just don’t have to come back and pay a fine.”
The policy change does not mean library users are off the hook.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/st-louis-city-county-libraries-are-now-officially-fine-free?
Pier 1 will close up to 450 stores
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/06/business/pier-1-imports-bankruptcy/index.html?New York (CNN Business)Pier 1 Imports will close nearly half of its stores and is reportedly nearing a bankruptcy filing.
The home goods retailer has been struggling for years against rising pressure online and from big-box rivals. Its stock, which was at $300 a share in 2015, is trading at around $5 today.
Pier 1 (PIR) shares tumbled nearly 17% Monday. after Bloomberg reported the news of a potential bankruptcy.
Pier 1 operated 942 stores in the United States and Canada at the end of its latest quarter. It said Monday that it will close up to 450 stores "in order to better align its business with the current operating environment." Pier 1 will also close distribution centers and lay off corporate employees.
Andrew Yang on Iowa Press
Andrew Yang on Iowa Press
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