A labor reporter for the HuffPost, Dave Jamieson, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about a few of his recent articles. One article highlighted a complaint raised by organizers against Waffle House, and the other was about a piece of legislation that would remove state subsidies from companies who voluntarily recognize unions through card checks.
Jamieson recently released an article outlining a complaint from the Union of Southern Service Workers—a Service Employees International Union member— against Waffle House which charges employees for meals whether they take them or not. He talked about the discussions he’s had with employees and how many of the workers don’t eat lunch but still lose upwards of $20 each week while making below minimum wage as a restaurant worker. The workers at the Conyers, Ga. Waffle House featured in the story have gone on strike over the issue.
Another recent article from Jamieson discussed a bill from the Georgia state legislature that would bar companies from receiving state subsidies if they voluntarily recognize a union through card checks. The legislation would force companies to require employees seeking to organize to hold a secret ballot vote. This would allow more opportunities for companies to make further union-busting attempts and make it harder to join a union. Jamieson talked about the potential legality of the bill and how this bill reflects legislation being proposed or passed in several other conservative states.
Finally, Jamieson commented on the use of artificial intelligence at the HuffPost. He said that AI is not currently used in the newsroom, but it is something that their ownership group, Buzzfeed, has discussed. It’s a concern for many journalists, and Jamieson discussed how it could impact the future of original stories if it is not regulated soon.
Listen to the show above to hear more from Jamieson.
America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.
America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, American Alliance for Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North America, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, Survey and Ballot Systems, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.
