As the minutes ticked past 5 p.m. on June 1, a crowd of about 50 Moog employees and their supporters gathered in the outdoor area of nearby Archetype Brewing North with banners and signs. The occasion: the launch of a campaign for Moog workers to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 238.
As WNC heads into yet another year of economic uncertainty, Xpress asked regional business leaders, government figures and laborers about their takeaways from 2021 in the world of work.
For women expecting to deliver babies this spring and summer, the coronavirus pandemic has radically reshaped much of the experience of pregnancy and birth. From online prenatal visits to limitations on the number of people who can be present at the birth to uncertainty about the medical implications of the virus for moms and babies, parents and health care providers are figuring it out as they go along.
Yes, they’re striking for an increase in wages, but it’s not just about that, and the issue goes beyond conditions at fast-food chains.
Report shines light on Asheville’s housing problems, possible solutions.
National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint alleging that Mountain Xpress unfairly terminated Max Cooper last October and threatened other employees with termination if they raised concerns. Xpress denies these allegations.
Asheville Police Department Lt. Mark Byrd, claiming the city of Asheville’s management and the APD’s leadership retaliated and discriminated against him on a number of occasions, including when his wife filed a sexual harassment suit, filed a lawsuit in federal court Jan. 21.
Last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors released an in-depth report examining the hunger and homelessness situations in 25 cities across the country, including Asheville. The report found that the city has serious issues with low wages, unaffordable housing, poverty, and the number of domestic violence survivors who end up homeless. Increases in homelessness are modest, but more families are homeless. The report also highlighted some local organizations doing “exemplary” work on the issues but predicted that coming social service cuts could make the situations on both fronts more dire.
Gov. Pat McCrory spoke to the Council of Independent Business Owners this afternoon, asserting he was “stepping on some toes” to lower taxes and make the state run more like a business.
It is ironic that President Barack Obama chose Asheville, both as a vacation spot and as a place for economic speeches of late, given what I have to say. But I don’t wish to speak to those in power, beg them for an audience, change or hope. I’d like to address Asheville’s working people, its poor and the powerless.
While the Asheville metropolitan area added jobs in November, unemployment rose as well, according to figures released by the state’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division.
Unemployment in the Asheville area dropped to 7.1 percent — among the lowest in the state — in September, as the government, educational, and health sectors gained jobs.
Despite job losses in the public sector, unemployment declined in the Asheville metropolitan area in July, part of an overall downward trend over the past year.
A protest by Asheville Mutual Aid over working conditions at Eddie Spaghetti resulted in confrontation today when cook Sasha Jenkinson grabbed the demonstrators’ signs and called them idiots, recorded in a short YouTube video by one of the protesters.
Sitel has reached a settlement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on charges that it violated workers’ rights at its Asheville call center. While the company admits no wrongdoing, it does agree to meet many of the union’s demands, including posting notices of workers’ rights at its facility and changing its social media and solicitation policies.
Sitel Chief Human Resources Officer Michael Wellman responds to Xpress’ Aug. 1 cover story on the union drive at the Asheville call center (“Unprecedented”). In this interview, Wellman discusses the company’s stance on the issues of wages, working conditions and unions.
Coming off this week’s cover story on the union organizing drive at the Sitel call center, this is a discussion thread for any topic related to jobs, wages, and working conditions in Asheville.
Editor’s note: This article resulted from reporter David Forbes’ five-month investigation. During that time, he tried various means to get Sitel’s side of the story, including dozens of phone calls to different divisions of the company. At press time, Sitel still had not responded in any way; lacking that input, Xpress resorted to culling whatever […]
The Asheville metropolitan area gained 2,400 jobs in May, but unemployment ticked slightly upward, rising from 7.4 to 7.6 percent.
Around 100 people showed up for a May Day rally this afternoon in Pack Square. Protesters focused better rights for workers, free education and opposed deportation of undocumented immigrants, among other issues. Police presence was light and the event remained peaceful. Photos by Max Cooper.
