All articles tagged with #union
Apple will permanently close three U.S. stores in June, including Towson Town Center in Maryland—the first Apple location in the U.S. unionized—while Trumbull and North County staff will transfer to nearby stores per the union contract; Towson workers may apply for open roles or receive severance if no new store opens within 50 miles within 18 months. IAM CORE says the move could be union-busting and is exploring legal options.
NYU reached a tentative five-year contract with about 950 non-tenure-track faculty represented by CFU-UAW, ending a strike that began earlier this week. The deal includes minimum raises of $14,000 by the next academic year, with 95% of members projected to earn more than $100,000, and 3.5% annual raises retroactive to September 2025. It also addresses salary compression and includes guardrails on AI use and academic freedom, pending ratification by union members.
Starbucks Workers United submitted a comprehensive contract proposal seeking a $17 starting wage, 4% annual raises, and staffing-and-protections measures for baristas, as negotiations resume with in-person bargaining planned for March 30 after stalled talks and holiday strikes; the union represents about 6% of company-owned U.S. locations and the outcome could influence Starbucks's turnaround and shareholder concerns ahead of the March 25 annual meeting.
Ben Diskin, who voiced Mega Man in Mega Man 11, will not return for Mega Man: Dual Override because Capcom would not provide a union contract, despite assurances that his voice wouldn’t be used for AI development. Diskin says he can’t risk the contractless arrangement amid industry volatility and AI concerns, with SAG-AFTRA issues adding to the context as Capcom eyes a 2027 Switch release window.
SAG-AFTRA issued a Do Not Work Order against Capcom's Mega Man: Dual Override after Capcom failed to initiate the signatory process for a unionized cast, prompting Ben Diskin to say he won’t return as Mega Man; Diskin suggests Capcom is avoiding union protections and AI safeguards, with no public Capcom statement yet.
Indie studio Heart Machine has voluntarily recognised a 13-person bargaining unit formed by staff, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The move follows several rounds of layoffs and signals the studio’s intention to negotiate a first contract to protect workers, reflecting growing union activity in the games industry.
Workers at Heart Machine, the indie studio behind Hyper Light Drifter, formed a wall-to-wall union with Communications Workers of America Local 9003 after a supermajority of eligible staff voted in favor; the 13 frontline employees are now represented amid layoffs and staffing cuts in 2024–25.
Amid stalled negotiations ahead of the 2026 season, the USL emailed Championship players with guidance on crossing a potential picket line and resigning from the USL Players’ Association after players authorized a strike. The league says operations can continue under current terms while talks continue, while the USLPA decries the move as union-busting as negotiations, mediated by FMCS, continue.
Breanna Stewart and Kelsey Plum publicly question WNBPA leadership as CBA talks drag on, saying players have had limited involvement and calling for a different dynamic at the negotiating table; the rift comes as the league pitches a larger 2026 cap and a new revenue-sharing framework, with some warning that a prolonged stalemate could hurt the season and the league’s momentum.
The WNBA union president says substantial work remains to ensure the 2026 season starts on time, signaling ongoing negotiations between players and league management.
France’s Ubisoft faces intensified worker backlash after a restructuring plan, with the Solidaires Informatique union organizing a strike and planning further action. The union demands an end to cost-cutting, the preservation of remote work, and meaningful pay rises, arguing management has pushed staff under pressure with under-staffing and a push to full-time office work as Ubisoft seeks to boost AAA performance. The atmosphere, according to the union, is deteriorating, with reports of tears and concerns about potential job losses.
A Glasgow tribunal refused interim relief to 29 Rockstar Games UK staff who say they were fired for trying to unionise, meaning they will continue to be unpaid while a full hearing proceeds. The workers allege their dismissals for union activity followed confidential information concerns tied to a public Discord server; the judge noted it wasn’t clear whether union membership was the main reason for the sacks. A full tribunal will hear evidence later, with the IWGB union claiming the outcome underscores an attempt to crush a union, while Rockstar welcomed the ruling.
An audit reveals that New York City's Employee Health Insurance Stabilization Fund is billions of dollars in debt and recommends dissolving it, citing misuse of funds and insolvency, with ongoing disputes between city officials and unions over its management and purpose.
UK actors' union Equity voted overwhelmingly to refuse digital scanning to protect their likenesses from AI exploitation, signaling potential industrial action and negotiations for new protections amid growing industry concerns about AI's impact on performers' rights.
Voice actors and unions are protesting the increasing use of AI in video game voice work, citing ethical concerns, potential job loss, and a decline in performance quality, despite some studios claiming AI helps with efficiency and cost savings. Unions are advocating for proper consent, remuneration, and regulation to protect actors' rights and the integrity of their craft.