Last Week in Southern Labor: 10/6 – 10/13

Here’s what workers in the Southern U.S. and the Colonies were up to from October 6-14:

76 workers at Controls Southeast in Pineville, NC filed for a union election with the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, Welders, and HVAC-R Service Techs (UA) Local 421

The National Right to Work Foundation filed a decertification petition on behalf of anti-union employees at Republic National Distributing Company where the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 988 represents the 62 workers in Houston, TX

750 nurses at Uiversity Medical Center New Orleans in New Orleans, LA filed for a union election with National Nurses United

12 staff at SEIU Texas in Houston, TX filed for a union election with the Teamsters Local 988

10 baristas at Starbucks in Atlanta, GA filed for a union election with Starbucks Workers United

The employer filed a petition challenging the bargaining unit at UPS Richmond Service Center in Richmond, VA, currently represented by the Teamsters Local 592

21 workers at Ready Refresh in Davenport, FL filed for a union election with the Teamsters Local 79

45 workers at Motors and Armatures in Earth City, Mo filed for a union election with the Teamsters Local 688

13 workers at Half Price Books in Kansas City, MO filed for a union election with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 2

Anti union workers at Moundsville Healthcare Center in Moundsville, WV filed a petition to decertify UFCW Local 1776 as the union representing the 34 workers there

Anti-union workers at Daher in Stuart, FL filed a petition to decertify the United Auto Workers International Union Local 2505 as the union representing the 224 workers there

9 workers at Born Electric Company in Imperial, FL filed for a union election with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1

23 workers at Starbucks in Denton, TX filed for a union election with Starbucks Workers United

Anti union workers at Titan America in Fort Lauderdale, FL filed a petition to decertify the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 487 as the union representing the 75 employees there

21 workers at Feast BBQ in Louisville, KY filed for a union election with UFCW Local 227

5 workers at Bimbo Bakeries in Fort Worth, TX filed for a union election with the Bakery Confectionary Tobacco and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) Local 111

5 workers at Union Oil and Gas in Charleston, WV withdrew their petition for a union election with the United Steel Workers International Union (USW)

2 workers at Teavee Oil and Gas in Winfeild, WV withdrew their petition for a union election with the USW

54 security guards at Bering Straits in Washingotn DC withdrew their petition for a union election with the Governed United Security Professionals

41 workers at Rea Magnet Wire Company in Ashland, VA won a union election 20 to 14 with the IBEW Local 666

88 workers at Sysco in Louisville, KY won a union election 60 to 5 with the Teamsters Local 89

Pharmacists at Walgreens across the country walked out for a day last week primarily over staffing concerns

4,000 UAW members at Mack Trucks went on strike last week after voting down a tentative agreement that they said didn’t adequately address tiers, pension issues, and healthcare. 

188 UAW members at ZF Manufacturing, a Mercedes parts manufacturer, are still on strike in Tuscaloosa, Alabama 

Shangrila dispensary workers with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 655 in Columbia, MO are still on strike – they began in May.

Three Brothers Coffee workers with UFCW 1995 in Nashville, TN have been on strike since June

Memphis soy protein production workers with Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) Local 390G have also been on strike since June.

The Italian American Trade Unionists of America put out a statement about Columbus Day last week, saying: We only mention the son of a bitch’s name once a year and it’s when we announce that he’s a son of a bitch on his name day,” Based on his writing and contemporary accounts, Columbus was a greedy, self indulgent strunz, a jerk off that gleefully engaged in the enslavement and genocide of indigenuous people for personal gain and fame. Based on … the organization’s position that Columbus is “a piece of shit” the organization maintains its position that Italian-Americans (as well as indigenous people) deserve a holiday that truly recognizes our heritage and not one that celebrates a jackass.

Did we miss something? Send us your union updates: www.tvlr.fm/contact

Did you receive this from a friend? Click here to subscribe so you don’t miss out!