Today, the AFL-CIO and GBAO released a nationwide poll of registered voters that found more than three-quarters of Americans support workers’ efforts to organize a union at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama.

The findings come days after voting closed in the organizing drive and demonstrate a significant rise in public support. In February, Data for Progress found that 69% of likely voters supported the unionization effort.

Today, the New York legislature passed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), which would legalize adult-use cannabis in New York. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents workers in the medical cannabis industry across New York State. Stuart Appelbaum, President of the RWDSU and John Durso, President of Local 338 RWDSU issued the following statements…

RWDSU members in Salem, Ohio, have ratified a new four-year contract that brings numerous improvements and protects the health insurance plan. The progression has been greatly decreased from five years to only 18 months, meaning members can reach the full pay rate three and a half years earlier. There are annual wage raises in the contract, and a shift differential that will bring an extra $.25 an hour for the second shift and an extra $1.50 per hour for the third. Newly added benefits include a longevity raise for senior employees, and an extra week of paid vacation for all members. Maintenance workers will earn more money after completing training classes, and there are increases in the company 401K match and an extra $150 shoe allowance for warehouse workers.

The RWDSU membership at Bloomsburg Care & Rehabilitation Center in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania keeps growing, thanks to word of mouth and the hard work of RWDSU organizers. The maintenance unit at the facility joined RWDSU Local 262 in January, after seeing the difference union membership has made in the lives of the Certified Nursing Assistants there after they joined in 2019. Workers saw the difference the union made during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the RWDSU ensuring workers received hazard pay and proper PPE and bringing them a voice on the job. The maintenance workers saw the difference and wanted to become a part of the union.