Here’s what workers in the Southern U.S. and her Colonies were up to from November 17 – November 25:
The employer filed for a union election after a majority of the 237 workers at nursing and rehab center Riverwood Center, LLC in Jacksonville, FL showed support for unionization with the Independent Association of Public and Private Employees
8 workers at the Student Borrower Protection Center in Washington DC filed for a union election with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 39
3 workers at Alliance Mobile in Bristol, VA filed for a union election with the Communication Workers of America (CWA), as did 3 more in Kingsport, TN
241 workers at Costco in Norfolk, VA filed for a union election with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 822
27 workers at Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc in Beckley, WV filed for a union election with the Teamsters Local 175
10 workers at Waxwork Records in Harahan, LA filed for a union election with the Teamsters Local 270
55 workers at Evonik with Little Rock, AR filed for a union election with the United Steel Workers International Union (USW)
48 workers at Kenergy Corporation in Henderson, KY filed for a union election with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1701
Workers who are organizing with the Amazon Labor Union at the company’s biggest air hub – in Northern Kentucky – allege illegal retaliation after 11 pro-union workers were given a final written warning for participating in union tabling – a federally protected activity.
In an unfortunate update to the union campaign of the staff of the Harris County Democratic Party in Texas, the Chair is now challenging the appropriateness of the bargaining unit, a common stalling and suppression tactic.
A petition to decertify Starbucks Workers United as the union representing 20 workers at a location in Roanoke, VA was withdrawn last week – SBWU will continue to represent workers at that location.
27 workers at Science News Media Group in Washington, DC voted 19 to 3 in favor of unionization with the Washington Baltimore NewsGuild Local 32035.
20 workers at Aerostar Airport Holdings in Carolina, PR voted 18 to 0 in favor of unionization with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
Workers at Lush Cosmetics in Lexington, KY voted 6 to 1 in favor of unionization with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 227
29 workers at Durham School Services (a bus transportation company) in Memphis, TN voted 18 to 5 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 667
17 workers at Starbucks in Midwest City, OK voted 13 to 3 in favor of unionization with Starbucks Workers United
82 workers at Controls Southeast in Pineville, NC voted 11 to 66 against unionization with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) Local 421 (ouch)
Workers at Red Label Dispensary withdrew their petition for union election with UFCW Local 1000
Workers at Marshall University in West Virginia announced the formation of the Marshall University Workers Union, affiliated with the West Virginia Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). An organizing representative with the West Virginia IWW said in a statement to The Valley Labor Report that this comes on the heels of the draconian cuts at West Virginia University, leadership at Marshall praising these moves, insurance premium increases for public employees, and recognition of the unreliability of the state’s grievance procedure for public sector workers. One member said regarding the WVU situation: “The way people’s careers for decades were cut with little regard to the impact on the future of WVU… became the gear shift that really got this going.” Workers at Marshall and elsewhere in WV higher education have been inspired by the WVU Campus Workers, who are showing that “they too can organize even without collective bargaining agreement” (which are illegal for West Virginia state employees). A cohort from WVU is supporting the unionization effort. “Huntington is a strong union city” and they are expecting strong support from the community, which relies heavily on Marshall University as its economic engine.
You may have noticed there ware 2 election filings at an “Alliance Mobile” this week. Well, AT&T is outsourcing their brick and mortar retail sites to Alliance in an attempt to get away from unions, specifically the CWA, who represent tens of thousands of their employees nationwide. As you can see, CWA is following them to their outsourcing partner. They’ve already won an election at an Alliance Mobile store in Selma, AL, and they are struggling mightily for a first contract – their first bargaining session is scheduled for next week.
Volkswagen is following the crowd, joining other nonunion auto makers doling out raises after the UAW contract negotiations. They announced an 11% raise effective in December and a compressed progression schedule beginning in February. The Chattanooga plant, where the UAW conducted a failed union drive several years ago, even put out its own promotional video. Nissan did as well, with an announced 10% raise and tier eliminations. These improvements can be taken away at any time, unlike the UAW’s wins at the Big 3 auto makers.
BCTGM members who manufacture soy protein for IFF in Memphis, TN continue the strike they have been on since June.
Anheuser-Busch walked away from contract negotiations with the Teamsters last week as the union asked for assurances that the brewer will maintain operations across its unionized U.S. facilities, refusing to discuss job security protections for workers.
IBEW Local 520 in Texas, Education Austin, and the Austin TX Central Labor Council have joined the growing chorus of unions and organizations of working people calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
The American Postal Workers Union has supported a ceasefire for some time – the National President, Mark Dimondstein, recently wrote a column for The Nation Magazine explaining why he supports a ceasefire and justice for Palestinians as a Jewish labor leader
Alabama’s overall infant mortality reached the lowest point since the state began collecting such data in the 60s. But the infant mortality rate rose for Black Alabamians.
The Tennessee Center for Employee Ownership (TNCEO) hosted an event discussing new legislation that was recently passed in Tennessee that is designed to help offset the cost of setting up an employee-owned company in the state with tax credits. In the next legislative session, State Senator Page Wally will be working to get dedicated funding for this work in the governor’s budget.
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