Rising interest rates, stubborn inflation and international strife are weighing down the economy while strong employment numbers and a rising stock market counterbalance that effect.On Thursday, the The UAW said around 8,700 members working at Ford's truck plant in Louisville, Ky., its biggest in the world, would walk off the job late Wednesday amid a failure to make progress in the union's ongoing pay and pensions negotiations.
Last week, more than 75,000 employees of Kaiser Permanente — the largest healthcare operator in the country which operates a hospital network with over 300,000 personnel across 39 hospitals —also recently walked off the job, but returned after coming to labor peace, but now Hollywood actors are also striking and studios announced this week that they've suspended contract negotiations.
Hormel workers new contract provides wage increases of $3 to $6 per hour, doubles bereavement leave, protects healthcare coverage and increases both pension and 401k contributions. “Our members who work at Hormel Foods locations in Minnesota, Georgia, Wisconsin and Iowa voted today to ratify a contract that includes the largest wage increase in the company's history,"UFCW International President Mark Perrone."In addition to gaining hourly wage increases of $3-$6 an hour, the new contract nearly doubles bereavement leave, protects healthcare coverage, and increases both pension and 401k benefits.