talia soglin

Jewel-Osco pharmacy division argues National Labor Relations Act unconstitutional The company joins a lengthy and growing list of employers including SpaceX, Amazon, Trader Joe’s, the University of Southern California, dating app Grindr and Oak Brook-based hot dog empire Portill…

Jewel-Osco pharmacy division argues (via outside counsel Littler Mendelson) that the NLRA is unconstitutional

Follows similar arguments made by employers including: SpaceX, Amazon, Trader Joe's, USC, Grindr, Portillo's, etc etc etc

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/23/j...

disappointing and will have serious consequences for Chicago. sadly unsurprising coming from the ethically-challenged folk at Alden Global Capital

How a Teamster Leader’s Flirtations With Trump Have Divided the Union

Context on that piece:

www.nytimes.com/2024/07/11/u...

O'Brien on O'Neill Burke: “There’s a pandemic in politics these days…it’s called lie-abetes”

Also, "We are gonna fight and make her an example not just in Chicago, nationwide. If you’re a politician and you don’t support working people, we are gonna fund campaigns to put you out of office”

In Illinois, Democrats tout pro-labor bona fides, but sometimes push back when their staffs seek unions Advocates say the hesitation of bosses to recognize unions is the unwillingness of even self-professed pro-labor employers to give up control over their staff.

Teamsters from around the country, including Sean O'Brien, were in downtown Chicago today demanding union recognition for Cook County prosecutors. Context: Eileen O'Neill Burke made a campaign pledge to recognize a prosecutors' union, but has not done so:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/16/i...

The Department of Labor sent a memo to staffers today warning them against speaking to the media: "Individuals who disclose confidential information or engage in unauthorized communications with the media may face serious legal consequences—including potential criminal penalties"

In Illinois, Democrats tout pro-labor bona fides, but sometimes push back when their staffs seek unions Advocates say the hesitation of bosses to recognize unions is the unwillingness of even self-professed pro-labor employers to give up control over their staff.

Dems support labor, but unionization efforts in public offices are facing pushback, incl. from State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke, who said during the campaign she'd be "honored" to be part of the union effort. Glad @taliasoglin.bsky.social dug in: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/16/i...

In Illinois, Democrats tout pro-labor bona fides, but sometimes push back when their staffs seek unions Advocates say the hesitation of bosses to recognize unions is the unwillingness of even self-professed pro-labor employers to give up control over their staff.

In Illinois, public employees sometimes find that their employers' enthusiasm for labor doesn't extend to their own efforts to unionize:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/16/i...

“Per population, the death toll of Palestinian journalists is roughly equivalent to the killing of 8,500 U.S. newsroom employees.”

watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/p...

Tony’s workers vote overwhelmingly against joining grocery union When the ballots were counted Friday, the workers had voted 1,115-605 against unionization, according to the National Labor Relations Board. Voter turnout was about 94%.

Really big loss for UFCW in Chicago this week — Tony’s workers voted 1,115 to 605 against unionizing

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/28/t...

2,400 grocery workers to decide whether Tony’s Fresh Market will go union The union election will be one of the largest held in the U.S. private sector so far this year.

One of the biggest union elections so far this year is taking place in Chicago this week:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/25/2...

This appears to be a somewhat symbolic move to punish sanctuary cities. Former SBA regional administrator Geri Aglipay told me she worries it will send a message that the SBA doesn't support immigrants. But for now, this move alone shouldn't impede access to SBA services in state

Confusion swirls after Small Business Administration says it will move Chicago regional office over sanctuary city policies Confusion began when the agency announced it would relocate six regional offices throughout the country because they are in cities that “do not comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforc…

In federal agency chaos news, the SBA is moving *an* office out of Chicago, but the agency does *not* appear to have any plans to move its district office out of the city — that's where small business owners go to get help with loans, etc

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/07/s...

Cook County housing authority union workers say they struggle to afford rent, mortgage payments Housing Authority of Cook County employees say the workloads are tough and wages are low, causing many union employees to leave the agency, one that is deemed “troubled” by HUD.

Housing specialists working for the Cook County housing authority don't make enough money to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Cook County, by Lizzie Kane:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/25/c...

Grocery workers union seeks inroads at Tony’s Fresh Market UFCW Local 881 already represents thousands of grocery workers at Jewel-Osco and Mariano’s grocery stores throughout the Chicago area.

UFCW is trying to organize grocery workers at Tony's Fresh Market, which was bought by private equity three years ago — if they win these elections, this would add 2,400 Chicago area grocery workers to the union's membership:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/25/g...

Trader Joe’s union notches uncertain win amid backdrop of Trump-era federal labor landscape Trader Joe’s said it plans to appeal the decision, a move that would stall the case indefinitely before the paralyzed National Labor Relations Board.

Trader Joe's United just got a decision in its favor in a contested election in Chicago. But Trader Joe's says it will appeal the order, setting the case up to stall indefinitely in front of the currently paralyzed labor board:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/19/t...

Cook County prosecutors seek to unionize in first major drive in decades A group of assistant state’s attorneys seeks voluntary recognition of a bargaining unit that would represent hundreds of lawyers.

Cook County prosecutors are seeking a union with the Teamsters

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/11/c...

(Cook County PDs are already unionized with AFSCME)

Illinois SEIU passes resolution declaring itself ‘under attack’ by CTU The union has condemned a contract proposal by the teachers union that SEIU said would take jobs from their union and give them to CTU.

Against a backdrop of looming existential threats to both the Department of Education and federal labor law, in Chicago we have this situation:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/07/i...

with @nellsalzman.bsky.social and @royalpratt.bsky.social

RAs at UIC could be among the first unionized undergrads in IL, after a UofC student library worker unit in 2017

Happening as questions remain about whether a new Republican labor board might curtail student workers' right to organize in the private sector

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/30/u...

Johnson administration passes on state funding for publicly owned grocery store The decision to pass on state funding raises questions about the future of the bold proposal the mayor first floated more than a year ago.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration made a big deal about pushing for a city-owned grocery store and said they’d pursue state money for the program. But records dug up by @taliasoglin.bsky.social show they didn’t even apply.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/06/j...

Workers Owed Wages If you think you may be owed back wages collected by the Labor Department, search our database to confirm.

The DOL is trying to return $4.2 million in unpaid wages recovered via minimum wage/overtime investigations to Illinois workers

search by employer here:

webapps.dol.gov/wow/

HelloFresh being investigated for alleged child labor violations at Aurora plant ABC News first reported on the investigation of HelloFresh, citing immigrant rights advocate Cristobal Cavazos of Immigrant Solidarity DuPage, who told the news source that at least six teenagers w…

HelloFresh is under investigation by US DOL for alleged child labor in Aurora, IL. An organizer said teenagers were found working night shifts there

This comes days after Hearthside settled a state child labor investigation in IL (feds still investigating)

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/09/h...

Hearthside, state agree to settle child labor investigation for $4.5 million The Illinois Department of Labor and attorney general’s office opened a joint investigation into Hearthside, which was named in a sweeping New York Times investigation into migrant child labo…

Hearthside has agreed to settle an Illinois child labor probe for $4.5 million, pending approval by a Texas bankruptcy judge. IL AG's office: "children belong in classrooms, not manufacturing facilities"

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/06/h...

Pappas to Preckwinkle jacket hand off moment captured by @briancassella.bsky.social

how Chicago does gift giving: Maria Pappas gave Toni Preckwinkle one of her jackets (of jacket calendar fame). on
@goolsbee.bsky.social's Christmas list? 2% inflation and a renewable membership to the Illinois Mycological Association

gift story gift link:
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/05/i...

SEIU threatens lawsuit over CTU contract negotiations with CPS SEIU 73 is threatening to sue CPS over a CTU proposal that it says would effectively take jobs from SEIU and give them to CTU.

SEIU is threatening to sue CPS over the "existential threat" of a CTU proposal it says would take special ed jobs from SEIU. CTU says its proposal is about putting pressure on the district to fill those jobs

www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/03/s...

w @royalpratt.bsky.social @nellsalzman.bsky.social

SEIU threatens lawsuit over CTU contract negotiations with CPS SEIU 73 is threatening to sue CPS over a CTU proposal that it says would effectively take jobs from SEIU and give them to CTU.

SEIU 73 threatening lawsuit over CTU contract proposal they believe would take special ed jobs away. This union conflict is a big deal with significant potential political fallout short/long-term. Story with @taliasoglin.bsky.social and @nellsalzman.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/03/s...

Reminder that this is tonight! Come thru!

monday! lakeview!

Important context: Johnson admin knew of sexism, verbal abuse complaints many months earlier. We previously reported on 3 workers fired after complaining about mistreatment in August 2023. Story, with @jake-sheridan.bsky.social
and @aliceyin.bsky.social
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/11/26/m...