Connect with us

Delaware

Wells Fargo branch workers seek union in Wilmington

Published

on

Wells Fargo branch workers seek union in Wilmington


Workers at this Wells Fargo bank branch could become the first to unionize in Delaware under a new proposal. | DBT PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS

WILMINGTON – Workers at a Wells Fargo bank branch in the Wilmington suburbs have filed for a union election, which would make the handful of workers the first in the state if the effort is successful.

Bankers and tellers at the Fairfax branch off U.S. Route 202 filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board on Jan. 3, seeking to join the Communications Workers of America’s Wells Fargo Workers United (WFWU). They also sent a letter to Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf and management, expressing concerns with understaffing, a lack of compensation and the importance of having a collective voice.

Advertisement

The move comes weeks after Wells Fargo branch workers voted to form a union in Albuquerque, N.M., becoming the first workers to unionize at a major U.S. bank. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the country per deposits.

“Wells Fargo workers’ historic union vote in Albuquerque created a ripple effect of worker solidarity nationwide, and we are excited to join them, becoming the first Wells Fargo workers in Delaware to petition for a seat at the table at one of largest banks in the country. With a union, we will have the power to negotiate fair working conditions that allow us to better serve our customers and our communities,” Scott Keehn, senior premier banker at the Fairfax branch, said in a statement.

In a statement, Wells Fargo said it “respected our employees’ rights to vote for union representation,” but also didn’t think it served in their best interest.

“We continue to believe our employees are best served by working directly with the company and its leadership,” the bank said.

The fight over unionization at Wells Fargo, which also includes two other branches in Florida and California, is growing more contentious. The WFWU has argued that Wells Fargo has disseminated anti-union materials and brought union-busting representatives to branches facing a vote. Wells Fargo call center workers in Oregon and Utah have also filed Unfair Labor Practice charges with the NLRB after bank leaders reportedly tore down posters regarding the right to organize. More than over 1,000 workers have now signed a WFWU support pledge in recent weeks.

Advertisement

Wells Fargo workers along with the Committee for Better Banks, an advocacy group for frontline bank employees, helped to ring the bell on the 2016 scandal over fraudulent customer account creation that led to a $3 billion settlement by Wells Fargo with the government.

“Like so many of their colleagues nationwide, Wells Fargo workers at the Fairfax branch in Delaware are stressed out and tired of their concerns being ignored and given lip service. By moving forward with a union election, they’re telling Wells Fargo that they’ve had enough, and it’s time they have a seat at the table,” Committee for Better Banks Organizing Director Nick Weiner said in a statement. “This election filing marks another critical moment for the WFWU campaign and is proof that Wells Fargo workers’ historic organizing momentum is just getting started. We’re incredibly proud of the Delaware-based Wells Fargo workers for standing up for each other, their families and their customers and continuing to drive change from the bottom-up at one of the country’s most scandal-ridden banks.”


Advertisement



Source link

Delaware

Local police departments earn state accreditation

Published

on

Local police departments earn state accreditation


The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission recently announced that the Dewey Beach Police Department and Rehoboth Beach Police Department have both earned state accreditation from the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission.

As part of the rigorous process, a team of DPAC assessors ensured all accreditation standards were met by completing comprehensive, on-site inspections of each agency, reviewing their policies and procedures for compliance, and conducting interviews with department members. 

“This milestone represents a significant step forward for public safety in Delaware. The initial state accreditation of these police agencies reflects a strong commitment to professionalism, accountability and excellence in law enforcement. I commend each department for their dedication to serving their communities with integrity and for upholding the highest standards,” said Joshua Bushweller, Department of Safety and Homeland Security secretary and DPAC chair.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Delaware

DDA inducts three Delaware Century Farms – 47abc

Published

on

DDA inducts three Delaware Century Farms – 47abc


Dover, Del. – Three farms, one from each of Delaware’s counties, were inducted into the Century Farm Program by the state Department of Agriculture on Thursday at the Delaware Agricultural Museum.

Each of the family farms has been owned and operated for at least a century. Each received a sign for their farms, an engraved plate and legislative tributes.

In addition to Secretary of Agriculture, Don Clifton, and Deputy Secretary Jimmy Kroon, state Senators David Wilson (R – District 18) and Kyra Hoffner (D – District 14) were also in attendance.

Wright Family Farms are located in Harrington in Kent County. In 1919, the farm was purchased by William Wright. Over a century later, William’s grandson, Ronald, is the owner and his great-grandson, Greg, said he hopes to continue the family legacy by buying the farm from his father. 

Advertisement

Although the event celebrated each family for their hard work and resilience, it also highlighted the challenges farmers have to surmount to stay in business today, let alone for a hundred years.

“The price of equipment, the price of fertilizer, the price of seed, everything is just gone up,” Greg said. “So, you know, everything’s going up that we gotta purchase just to stay in business.”

Clifton, Kroon and Wilson also echoed difficulties in balancing the need to preserve agricultural land with the need to develop housing and sustainable energy projects like solar power.

“I know housing is very important, and we want people to always have good housing, but at some point, I think you’re going to saturate the area with more houses than you have food to feed these people,” Wilson said.

Kroon also said there are difficulties in keeping future generations motivated to stay in farming.

Advertisement

“When you think about it in the context of multi-generational farm families, there’s a real long-term challenge where a new generation may think twice about whether they want to keep farming if it’s always a struggle,” he said.

Clifton said farming has always been a challenging way of life, but it has been so since time immemorial.

“These families, their experience shows that they have an appreciation for the way of life and perseverance and that’s to be honored and emulated to the greatest extent possible,” he said.

Greg said he hopes to pass down the way of life so that his family legacy can live on for another hundred years, as well as for other families.

“A hundred years as the same family tilling the land, that’s, you know, that’s an honor right there,” Greg said. “And I hope that more farmers who are close to 100 years old will be doing the same thing. You know, keep it in the family.”

Advertisement

 





Source link

Continue Reading

Delaware

Investigation underway after man’s body pulled from Delaware River

Published

on

Investigation underway after man’s body pulled from Delaware River


An investigation is underway after police said a man’s body was pulled from the Delaware River in South Philadelphia.

According to police, around 9 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, emergency responders pulled an unidentified man from the Delaware River, near the Navy Yard. Medic’s pronounced the man dead at 9:11 a.m.

Léelo en español aquí.

SkyForce10 flew above as police and other first responders were on the scene.

Advertisement

NBC10

NBC10

Police are working to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify the man.

This is a developing story; check back here for updates.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending