Here’s what workers in the Southern U.S. and the Colonies were up to from September 29-October 6:
The employer filed for a union election after 5 workers at Union Oil & Gas in Charleston, WV showed majority support for unionization with the United Steel Workers International Union (USW)
The National Right to Work Foundation filed a decertification petition on behalf of anti-union workers at Starbucks in Nichols Hills, OK, seeking to the representation of the 27 workers there by Starbucks Workers United
The employer filed for a union election after 2 workers at Teavee Oil & Gas in Winfield, WV showed majority for unionization with the USW
19 workers at Starbucks in Midwest City, OK filed for a union election with Starbucks Workers United
20 workers at Starbucks in Houston, TX filed for a union election with Starbucks Workers United
19 Workers at Rising for Justice in Washington DC filed for a union election with the Washington – Baltimore News Guild Local 32035
40 workers at Rainbow Blossom in Louisville, KY filed for a union election with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 227
The employer filed for a union election after 104 workers at Overseas Shipping Group in Tampa, FL showed majority support for unionization with the International Organization of Masters, Maters, and Pilots
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ filed a petition to amend the certification of their unit at Clean Team Janitorial Services in Washington DC, meaning they are wanting to either add or subtract from the bargaining unit, but I’m not sure which
Anti-union employees at Fiat Products in Somerset, KY filed a decertification petition to end the representation of the 26 employees there by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 651
24 workers at Durham School Services in Memphis, TN filed for a union election with the Teamsters Local 667
100 workers at KDXH Media in Saint Louis, MO withdrew their petition for union election with the independent League of Associate Members of KDXH
A decertification petition was pulled at Missouri Red Quarries in Ironton, MO, so the Laborers International Union of North America Missouri and Kansas Laborers Council will continue to represent the 7 employees there
121 workers at Unity Health Care in Washington DC withdrew their petition for union election with the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, and shortly after filed another petition for union election but with a smaller unit of 50
The NLRB threw out a decertification petition filed by anti-union workers at Starbucks in Tallahassee, FL, so the 25 workers there will remain a part of Starbucks Workers United
5 workers at Trident Military Services in Lackland AFB, TX voted in favor of unionization with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) 4 to 1
86 workers at Corsair Memory in Duluth, GA voted against unionization with the Teamsters Local 728, 32 to 46
A federal court in Seattle has ruled that Starbucks Corp. must comply with a U.S. Department of Labor administrative subpoena that seeks documents needed in an investigation by the department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards into money spent by the company related to worker organizing campaigns. The court has given the company 14 days to provide the documents.
The American Prospect reported on more changes to the pay of Rural Letter Carriers, with this change to the pay structure seeming to be snapping some of the major payt cuts back – one carrier told the Prospect that he originally lost $15,000 per year after the implementation of the new system, and he got $6,000 back with this new update
Firefighters with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 87 in Jackson, MS won an $8,000 to $10,000 raise after more than two decades without a significant wage increase, according to the local president.
Atlanta Publics Schools announced a $1,000 bonus for district custodians last week
After a 6 day strike by sanitation workers in Durham, NC – members of UE Local 150 – they won $6.5 million dollars in bonuses to ALL city workers. The union was asking for a $5,000 bonus to all, but the city only gave that to workers making under $42,800 per year, decreasing the amount the more income you made. The union will continue to fight for to ensure everyone gets the full amount.
The Alabama Board of Nursing projects that 39,000 experienced nurses will leave the profession in the next five years, just in Alabama. They estimate this would double the amount of nurse vacancies to 14,000 from the current 7,000 by 2027. Alabama nurses are paid the second lowest median salary in the country. Of Alabama’s 84,000 nurses, 58,000 have a second job, and 37,000 of those spenc at least 32 hours a week at the second job.
4,000 UAW members in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Maryland have a tentative agreement with Mack Trucks. The union says more details will come as members begin the ratification process
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.
Florida became the 16th state in 2 years to propose weakening child labor laws, with lawmakers there proposing to eliminate all guidelines on hours that 16 and 17 year olds can work.
The Speaker of Alabama’s House of Representatives is convening a committee of lawmakers to study Alabama’s low labor force participation rate, reportedly with solutions being considered like extending childcare, higher wages, addressing housing concerns, and more expansive mental health services. This is coming from a Republican, so color me skeptical, but if anything like that comes from this it’ll be a big win.
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