OCTOBER 2023 UNIONIZED WORKERS ARE TAKING ON BIG CORPORATIONS AND WINNING BETTER PAY AND BENEFITS The summer of 2023 saw unionized workers making tremendous progress across industries and around the country—winning better pay, fairer benefits, and safety and security on the job. Here’s a brief look at some of the biggest news. You can always find links to full articles at our website, www.inunionusa.com.
HISTORIC PROGRESS FOR AMERICAN WORKERS AT UPS A new agreement between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and UPS represents historic progress for American workers. The deal also has major ramifications for workers exercising their right to bargain for fair wages and benefits with corporations like Amazon and others. As IBT General President Sean O’Brien said, “We’ve changed the game, battling it out day and night to make sure our members won an agreement that pays strong wages, rewards their labor, and doesn’t require a single concession. This contract sets a new standard in the labor movement and raises the bar for all workers.” Sources: AP News, 8/22/2023; IBT Press Release, 7/25/2023
Michigan UAW Workers Strike for Fair Contracts At the time this issue was printed, UAW had launched a historic strike against the Big 3 automakers to demand a fair contract with better wages, benefits, and work schedules. This is the first strike to target all three companies at the same time. Members are demanding fair and livable wages for their work, an end to the two-tier system that pays newer employees worse than older ones, paid time off, and a four-day work week. Sources: WXYZ Detroit, 9/15/2023; The Washington Post, 9/14/2023
MICHIGAN
Real People. Real Stories about America’s Economic Recovery. The American economy has been on a rollercoaster ride these last few years. The pandemic really shook us up, but workers across the country are regaining their footing, in part thanks to policies from the Biden Administration and pro-worker members of Congress. Here’s a look at what we’re hearing from working people: Susan R., Retired Michigander and Cervical Cancer Survivor The Inflation Reduction Act has eliminated copays for vaccines for Medicare recipients, enabling seniors like Susan to afford long-awaited vaccinations. As a senior on a fixed income, the $400 copay for the shingles vaccine had been cost prohibitive. “But I was relieved to see I could get it at no cost after the Inflation Reduction Act passed. It’s been a major blessing to get the shingles vaccine with no copay; this is a life-changing policy.” Source: CAP Action Qiana M., Apprentice Electrician with IBEW Local 665 After 20 years in pharmacy management, Qiana pursued an electrical union apprenticeship in 2021 to secure a future with better pay and retirement benefits. Thanks to funding from the Inflation Reduction Act for apprenticeships, middle-class careers like Qiana’s are more accessible. Qiana also credits the legislation for clean-energy incentives that are creating more jobs in the electrical field. “The Act provides incentives for rewiring your home... it’s an amazing opportunity for electricians like me,” says Qiana. Source: CAP Action Darren R., Co-founder and CEO of JustAir After moving to Southwest Detroit, which contains some of the most polluted ZIP codes in the country, Darren developed asthma and was motivated to create air-quality monitoring systems. He applauds the funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce pollution in communities like his. “The Inflation Reduction Act investment to reduce emissions in industrial zones near neighborhoods like mine is so important,” says Darren. The Act could prevent 4,500 premature deaths and marks a critical step in prioritizing communities that have been overburdened by pollution. Source: CAP Action
Progress for Michiganders It’s been just over a year since President Biden proposed, passed, and signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law, and many Michiganders are experiencing the benefits. While there’s still a long way to go to decrease the effects of inflation and increase wages, middle-class families across the state are seeing cost savings on goods, the creation of good-paying jobs, and record investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy.
Top 3 Michigan Benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act: 1. Job Creation According to the non-partisan BlueGreen Alliance, the IRA could bring over 167,000 good-paying jobs to Michigan, including:
• 97,362 jobs from investments in clean energy • 45,551 jobs from investments in infrastructure and clean manufacturing • 12,227 jobs from investments in clean transportation • 9,632 jobs from lands and agriculture program investments • 2,336 jobs from investments in environmental justice and community resilience BlueGreen Alliance, accessed 9/10/2023
2. Lower Prescription Drug and Health Care Costs Michiganders, particularly seniors on a fixed income, have seen big savings on health care and prescription drugs from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act:
Want to learn more about how to access these cost-saving programs? Visit rewiringamerica.org/app/ira-calculator to see how much you can save and what programs are available in your community. Some of these programs could help save your family thousands of dollars.
• Created a $2,000 annual cap on what seniors have to pay for prescription drugs from their pharmacy • Capped the cost of insulin at $35 for a month’s supply for Medicare recipients The Gander, 8/17/2023
3. Lower Energy Costs The IRA includes many cost-saving benefits for middle-class families:
• Tax credits covering 30% of the cost to install solar panels and battery systems so homeowners can save money by storing and reusing energy from solar sources • Rebates that can cover 50-100% of the cost to install new electric appliances, including super-efficient heat pumps, water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves, and ovens • Tax credits covering 30% of the costs of community solar projects—owned by local businesses that sign up families to save on their electric bills Axios, 8/11/2022; Consumer Reports, 8/12/2022; Green Business Network, 2/16/2023; energy.gov, updated 3/2023
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STRETCHING YOUR DOLLAR AS INFLATION COOLS As the U.S. continues to get inflation under control, many Michiganders are looking for ways to save money and make smart decisions with their resources. Here are some tips from organizations allied with working families.
Get grocery items for half the price. Flashfood is a relatively new app that works with grocery stores to offer deals of up to 50% off items that are nearing their sell-by date. Pay for the items through the app and pick them up at a designated zone in stores including Giant, Stop & Shop, and Tops. Learn more at flashfood.com.
Flashfood
Save money on everyday needs. WMPerks is a totally free discount program for WorkMoney members—and membership is completely free. Through WMPerks you can find and download coupons for stores, gas stations, hotels, and more, all in your area. Save cash and get what you need at the same time—learn more at workmoney.org/wmperks.
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