Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · 3d

In Little Village, workers have been on strike for immigration protections at Mauser Packaging Solutions for the last four months. Now, the company says it's closing the plant down:

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/06/m...

Mauser plans to close Little Village plant amid monthslong strike

The Mauser workers have been striking for improved working conditions and contract language that would protect them from workplace immigration raids.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Reposted by talia soglin

Caroline Kubzansky @ckubzansky.bsky.social · 20d

Broadview, 8:40 a.m.

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Jun 23

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...

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…

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Jun 13

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

ctguild.bsky.social @ctguild.bsky.social · Jun 12

This is the official bsky account for the Chicago Tribune Guild. We learned today that @chicagotribune.com is offering buyouts to our journalists. This move by Alden Global Capital, our rapacious ownership group, shows a total lack of vision and respect for the newsroom and the city we serve. (1/5)

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · May 20

Context on that piece:

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

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

www.nytimes.com

talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · May 20

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”

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · May 20

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...

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.

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Apr 21

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"

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Reposted by talia soglin

A.D. Quig @adquig.bsky.social · Apr 16

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.

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Apr 16

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...

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.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Reposted by talia soglin

suhauna hussain @suhauna.bsky.social · Apr 1

“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...

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Mar 28

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...

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%.

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Mar 25

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

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

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.

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Mar 7

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

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Mar 7

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...

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…

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Feb 25

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...

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.

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Feb 25

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...

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.

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Feb 19

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...

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.

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Feb 11

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)

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.

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Feb 7

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

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.

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Jan 31

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...

www.chicagotribune.com

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Reposted by talia soglin

Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · Jan 6

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...

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.

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Dec 11

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/

Workers Owed Wages

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

webapps.dol.gov

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Dec 9

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...

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…

www.chicagotribune.com

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talia soglin @taliasoglin.bsky.social · Dec 6

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...

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…

www.chicagotribune.com

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