NJ Rail Workers Agree To End Strike After Weekend Of Commuter Chaos
'Breathing a collective sigh of relief'
New York to free prisoners over staffing crisis — 'large number' of inmates may qualify
New York is preparing to release prison inmates, citing a severe staffing shortage following a corrections officer strike.
A Monday memo from Department of Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III directed prison leaders to identify inmates for early release to address the "current staffing crisis."
'In the litany of dumb ideas I've seen over the years, this one takes the cake as it's a recipe for disaster for public safety.'
Those eligible for release must "meet the statutory requirements," he wrote. Those who have committed violent felony offenses or sex offenses will not qualify. Eligible inmates must have an "identified approved residence" and only have up to 110 days left on their sentences.
Martuscello stated that he expects a "large number" of New York inmates to qualify for the state's early release.
"Due to the large number of individuals who are potentially eligible, we will issue multiple approval lists on an ongoing basis," he wrote. "The individual will be directed to report to their assigned parole officers for an initial intake within 24 hours of their transition to the outcount."
The announcement comes on the heels of thousands of prison guards participating in a 22-day strike that began in mid-February and ended last month when the guards' union reached a deal with the state.
Martuscello called the work stoppage "illegal," stating that termination letters were sent to more than 2,000 corrections officers who had refused to return to work after the agreement was reached.
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) called in National Guard troops to provide support amid the staffing crisis.
Republican state lawmakers urged the governor to rehire the fired prison guards instead of releasing inmates.
State Sen. Jim Tedisco (R) stated that he thought the announcement was "an April Fools' joke."
"In the litany of dumb ideas I've seen over the years, this one takes the cake as it's a recipe for disaster for public safety," Tedisco wrote. "And what an insult to crime victims by chopping 110 days off the sentences of these inmates."
"What on earth is this governor doing?" he continued. "We don't have an on-time state budget, so she's clearly not appropriately focusing on getting that part of her job done."
State Sen. George Borrello (R) called the move "yet another example of the staggering mismanagement and neglect" of public safety by the governor.
A spokesperson for Hochul responded to Martuscello's decision to release inmates, stating the governor's "top priority is the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers."
"The governor is aware of Commissioner Martuscello's memo and supports his efforts to safely address staffing shortages and personnel concerns," the spokesperson told the Times Union.
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Amazon workers go on strike — union blames company's 'insatiable greed' for potential delivery delays
Workers at seven Amazon facilities across the United States went on strike early Thursday morning.
The walk-off, occurring during peak holiday shopping season and just days before Christmas, was intended to push Amazon into contract negotiations with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. However, the company does not recognize the employees' affiliation with the union.
'The Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them.'
The union claims it represents roughly 10,000 workers at 10 of the company's facilities. Employees at seven facilities — including those in Illinois, Georgia, New York, and three California locations — walked off the job.
Workers at other Amazon locations are also prepared to join the strike, Fox Business reported.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters called it the "largest" strike against Amazon, warning that it could cause delivery delays for customers.
The union's general president, Sean O'Brien, stated Wednesday evening, "If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon's insatiable greed."
"We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it. This strike is on them," he added.
The union provided Amazon with a deadline of December 15 to begin negotiation talks.
Reuters reported that Amazon is unlikely to initiate discussions over concerns that it will lead to additional actions by the union.
The company is not concerned that the walk-off will impact delivery times through the holidays. The union represents roughly 1% of Amazon's workforce.
Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, told Fox Business, "For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public — claiming that they represent 'thousands of Amazon employees and drivers.' They don't, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative."
"The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union," she added.
Kara Deniz, a Teamsters spokesperson, responded to Amazon's statement, claiming the company is "gaslighting the American public with their false narratives."
"The truth is, over 20 bargaining units, representing nearly 9,000 employees, have successfully organized because for many years the company has exploited and abused workers, and these workers are fed up and fighting back," Deniz stated.
"No matter how massive Amazon's corporate PR machine is, they cannot fool the American public into believing drivers delivering Amazon packages in Amazon-branded vans don't actually work for Amazon," she continued. "No one believes this nonsense. Amazon needs to stop avoiding their legal obligation to these workers and get to the bargaining table now."
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Dockworkers support historic strike as union apparently rejects nearly 50% wage increases over 7 years
Unionized dockworkers halted operations at the 36 East Coast and Gulf Coast ports and took to the picket lines early Tuesday morning as a result of failed negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance.
Port workers told Fox Business they are prepared to continue the work stoppage until their union is able to negotiate a more favorable contract. The six-year agreement between the two parties expired Monday evening.
The walkout is the first launched by the ILA, which represents 85,000 longshoremen, since 1977.
The ILA is demanding wage increases for its members and job security by banning the automation of cranes, gates, and container-moving trucks used to load and unload freight.
The USMX claimed it made an offer to the ILA on Monday that would have raised wages by nearly 50% over the duration of the contract. The offer also reportedly would have tripled employer retirement plan contributions, provided better health care plans, and retained existing language about automation.
In a Monday statement, the USMX said, "In the last 24 hours, the USMX and ILA have traded counter offers related to wages. The USMX increased our offer and has also requested an extension of the current Master Contract, now that both sides have moved off their previous positions. We are hopeful that this could allow us to fully resume collective bargaining around the other outstanding issues – in an effort to reach an agreement."
Fox Business reported that the ILA rejected the offer and announced it would be moving forward with its plan to strike.
Last week, the USMX reportedly filed an unfair labor complaint against the ILA, claiming that the union was breaking labor laws by refusing to participate in negotiations. The ILA called the move a "publicity stunt."
In a Monday statement, the ILA accused the USMX of "block[ing] the path toward a settlement on a new Master Contract by refusing ILA's demands for a fair and decent contract" and said it "seems intent on causing a strike at all ports from Maine to Texas beginning in almost 12 hours."
ILA President Harold Daggett told Fox Business that the parties' initial negotiations "didn't work out" but that the union is "always willing to sit down when the right number is hit."
"Right now, everything is off the table," he told the news outlet. "Nobody's talking right now. We got Congress trying to bring them to the table. And that's where we are right now."
The union's decision to push forward with the strike has raised concerns about the potential economic impact. The 45,000 dockworkers participating in the walkout manage approximately half of all goods shipped in and out of the country. Jason Fisk, CEO of Los Angeles-based SalSon Logistics, estimated that the work stoppage could cost $3.7 billion per day.
Joe Mosquera, a dockworker in New Jersey, told Fox Business from the picket line on Tuesday, "I started 27 years ago and my wages increased only $25 over the 27 years."
"So to me, I believe that we've taken less than we've deserved in the past. So now it's time," Mosquera stated. "We are just looking to be paid fairly and for the goods we take care of every day. And we did not stop during COVID, and we don't want to stop right now."
"We are willing to go back as soon as they decide that they'll give us a fair contract," he continued. "What's fair is whatever my union president is willing to negotiate to. But to be lowballed, he's not going to agree to that."
From the picket line in New Orleans, the ILA's local chapter told WVUE-DT, "Due to corporate greed, employers refused to compensate the ILA's members fairly."
"The ILA is fighting for respect, appreciation, and fairness in a world in which corporations are dead set on replacing hardworking people with automation. Employers push automation under the guise of safety, but it is really about cutting labor costs to increase their already exceptionally high profits," the chapter said.
Boise Butler, president of ILA Local 1291 in Philadelphia, made similar remarks to KYW-TV, stating, "Automation puts us all out of work."
"This industry controls so much of the economy. It's unbelievable. We may be small in stature ... but what we control as far as the economy is concerned, it's untouchable," Butler continued. "We're not going anywhere until we get what we deserve."
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Impending port strike threatens economic turmoil as union demands higher wages, automation ban
The International Longshoremen's Association, a union representing 85,000 dockworkers, is gearing up for strikes at the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports beginning on October 1 if it is unable to secure an agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance by Monday evening.
The union is demanding higher wages and a ban on the automation of cranes, gates, and container-moving trucks that are used to load and unload freight, according to the Associated Press.
'Prices are going to go to the moon.'
The ILA stated that the USMX has "block[ed] the path toward a settlement on a new Master Contract by refusing ILA's demands for a fair and decent contract and seems intent on causing a strike at all ports from Maine to Texas beginning in almost 12 hours."
In a Monday update, ILA wrote, "The Ocean Carriers represented by USMX want to enjoy rich billion-dollar profits that they are making in 2024, while they offer ILA Longshore Workers an unacceptable wage package that we reject."
"ILA longshore workers deserve to be compensated for the important work they do keeping American commerce moving and growing. It's disgraceful that most of these foreign-owned shipping companies are engaged in a 'Make and Take' operation: They want to make their billion-dollar profits at United States ports, and off the backs of American ILA longshore workers, and take those earnings out of this country and into the pockets of foreign conglomerates. Meanwhile, ILA dedicated longshore workers continue to be crippled by inflation due to USMX's unfair wage packages," the union stated.
The impending strike would see 45,000 dockworkers walk off the jobs at 36 ports, which manage approximately half of all goods shipped in and out of the country. A potential prolonged strike could have a massive economic impact.
Jason Fisk, CEO of Los Angeles-based SalSon Logistics, told the New York Post that the work stoppage could cost $3.7 billion per day.
Ted Jenkin, a business consultant and co-founder of Atlanta-based oXYGen Financial, told the Post, "The biggest concern will be if there is any type of prolonged strike and how that could affect the supply of goods and the prices for holiday season."
"A prolonged strike will absolutely force companies to pay shippers for the delays making goods much more costly and make them arrive late for the high point of the holiday season," Jenkin noted. "A few days won't be that significant because big retail chains have been preparing for a strike for months, but a month would be a devastating blow for holiday time."
The strike, scheduled for 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, is expected to impact goods, including bananas, clothing, furniture, and European beers and cars.
Meanwhile, U.S. shoppers told Fox Business that they are gearing up for the forthcoming strike by stocking up on essential items but noted that increased costs will make purchasing additional needed goods difficult.
"The prices are already so high, I feel, because of the current administration, and I think it's just going to get worse," one shopper told the news outlet.
"It's hard to be able to make ends meet as it is. It's going to be even worse," another individual said.
Gristedes and D'Agostino Supermarkets chairman and CEO John Catsimatidis warned that the strike would prompt supermarket prices to "go up higher than ever."
"Prices are going to go to the moon," he told Fox Business.
The USMX did not respond to a request for comment from the AP.
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NEW ‘Sara Gonzales Unfiltered’: Taylor Swift, Biden’s border war, and more trending political topics
If you enjoyed watching Sara Gonzales on "The News and Why It Matters," just wait until you see her new show, “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered,” which just launched this past Monday on BlazeTV.
This rebrand will have all the same raw and real political analysis of America’s most pressing topics but with more of Sara’s fabulous biting sarcasm and less filter.
“What better time to launch a new series, especially when the country is engaged in a full-on constitutional crisis at our southern border with the possibility of an armed conflict?” she says.
Tune in Monday-Friday at 7 p.m. ET or on demand at blazetv.com to hear your favorite spicy Latina unpack topics such as the border crisis, the relentless LGBTQ+ agenda, DEI madness, and the endless list of lies the government continues to feed us.
In Sara’s most recent episode, she tackles Taylor Swift’s potential role in the upcoming election, Biden’s intentionally orchestrated border catastrophe, and the escalating tensions in the Middle East, among other topics.
Check it out below.
Want more from Sara Gonzales?
To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred take to news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
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