Last Week in Southern Labor: 7/19 – 7/26

Jacob Morrison

Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from June 12th to July 19th:

New Campaigns

  • 400 workers in 1 bargaining unit are involved in a raid campaign, 334 workers across 8 bargaining units began new union campaigns, and 10 workers in 1 bargaining unit are in a new decertification election 
  • The United Football Players Association is attempting to raid 400 workers (football players) at United Football League Enterprises in Arlington, TX who are currently represented by the United Steelworkers. Longtime listeners may remember the controversy around this, but to recap in brief, the USW organized USFL players and failed to organize XFL players, but now represent all the players post merger. The USW did this campaign with the United Football Players Association, which was not a union at the time, and the UFPA feels like they did not understand all the ramifications of organizing under the auspices of the USW, and publicly declared their intention to seek to take over representation from the USW. Here, t hey are making good on that promise. 
  • The employer filed a petition after a majority of the workers at Spec’s Family Partners in Dallas, TX demonstrated support for unionization with the Teamsters Local 745
  • 51 workers at the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) in Washington, DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the Washington Baltimore NewsGuild (WBNG CWA Local 32035)
  • 8 workers at American Electric Power in San Angelo, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
  • 12 workers at Consolidated Waste Services in Fajardo, PR filed a petition to hold a union election with the Central General de Trabajadores
  • 31 workers at the Kroger Fulfillment Center in Forest Park, GA filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 528
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to hold decertify the Communication Workers of America (CWA) as the union representing 10 workers at AT&T Mobility in Houston, TX
  • 48 workers at Environmental Air Systems in High Point, NC filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) Local 421
  • 9 workers at Veterans Enterprise Technology Solutions in Saint Louis, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 42
  • 60 workers at Blackfish Federal in St Louis, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with LIUNA Local 42
  • The employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 115 workers at MBM Logistics in Orlando, FL demonstrated support for unionization with the Teamsters Labor 385

Campaign Updates

  • Workers organizing with the Teamsters at Amazon’s largest airhub in Northern Kentucky went on a one day strike last week in protest of the company’s illegal union busting. This Amazon airhub is just across the street from a recently Teamsters unionized DHL facility, and workers from DHL have been critical in supporting the Amazon campaign

Election Results

  • 96 workers in 6 bargaining units are newly unionized, 172 workers in 5 units voted against unionization, and 1 unit of 33 workers withdrew their petition
  • 18 workers at Starbucks in Roswell, GA voted 12 to 2 in favor of unionization with Starbucks Workers United, as did 17 workers at a Starbucks in Alpharetta, GA (unanimously)
  • 48 workers at Hendersonville Community Cooperative in Hendersonville, NC voted 33 to 8 in favor of unionization with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1996
  • 21 workers at Point Broadband Fiber Holding in Bristol, VA voted 5 to 16 against unionization with IBEW Local 934
  • 7 workers at Southwestern Electric Power Company voted 2 to 4 against unionization with IBEW Local 386
  • 94 workers at Lufkin US Acquisition Company in Claremore, OK voted 26 to 63 against unionization with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
  • 7 workers at Sinclair Television in Arlington, VA voted 6 to 1 in favor of unionization with the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET-CWA)
  • 2 workers at Jones, Lang, LaSalle Americas in Washington DC voted 1 to 0 in favor of unionization with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 99
  • 3 workers at Spectrum Management in Washington DC voted 1 to 1 in a union election with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 99, and ties go to the employer
  • 63 workers at Emporia Rehabilitation and Health Center in Emporia, VA voted 33 to 3 in a decertification election to keep Workers United as their union
  • 4 workers at Valero Refining Company in Memphis, TN voted unanimously in favor of unionization with the United Steel Workers (USW) 
  • 47 workers at Rainbow Blossom in Louisville, KY voted 15 to 25 against unionization with the UFCW Local 227
  • 31 workers at SYGMA Network in Pryor, OK withdrew their petition for a union election with LIUNA Local 107

Settlements, Grievances, & Unfair Labor Practices

  • SpaceX sought and last week won an injunction from a federal court judge in Texas that prevents the NLRB from processing a common unfair labor practice charge against the company on the grounds that the structure of the NLRB is unconstitutional. As we wait for this case to make it to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and eventually the Supreme Court, many more employers will likely seek similar injunctions
  • The NLRB dropped its case before the 5th circuit attempting to defend its new joint employer standard

Strikes & Bargaining

  • The National Education Association – the country’s largest union – has now locked out its own union staff for the better part of a month, and is threatening to cut off health insurance, something even GM didn’t do during the UAW’s 2019 strike. 
  • As AT&T’s southeastern contract is set to expire, the union representing many of the company’s employees – CWA – put out a report about how poor working conditions are affecting the service AT&T gives its customers
  • The TVA has signed a landmark agreement with the North America Building Trades Unions to improve working conditions on TVA projects
  • IATSE members overwhelmingly ratified the new Hollywood Basic and Areas Standards agreement (this covers workers in the South, like Georgia, too)
  • Macy Stacher at the American Prospect has a piece highlighting southern worker organizing at Waffle House, with a testimony from one 29 year Waffle House worker and organizer with the Union of Southern Service Workers saying that she will see her hourly wage increase from $2.92/hr to $8.45 as a result of the union’s pressure
  • More Perfect Union has a feature about a movement of American and Mexican truckers that went on strike last week in Texas, including an interview from listener and friend of the show Billy Randel!
  • Austin airport workers, organized with UNITE HERE Local 23 are taking a strike vote as their current union contract closes in on the August 8th expiration date. A key demand is a $25/hr minimum wage

Political & Legislative

  • The Teamsters have endorsed the Railroad Safety Act of 2024, which, among other things, mandates a 2 person crew on the rails
  • 7 unions representing approximately half of all US union members have called on the Biden administration to halt all military aid to Israel to force a ceasefire. These unions participated in protests in DC as Netanyahu addressed Congress
  • The black mayor of Newbern, Alabama has finally obtained the keys to the city and the ability to serve as mayor, years after he won his election, after a white minority couped him out of the office
  • Japanese steel company “Nippon” has hired Mike Pompeo to help complete the purchase of US Steel
  • After Biden dropped out and unions quickly coalesced behind Kamala Harris, with her securing endorsements from AFGE, ATU, IATSE, AFT, NNU, SEIU, NABTU, the AFLCIO and more. The UAW has not endorsed Kamala yet
  • Despite the swift endorsements, unions are now privately expressing serious concerns about some potential VP picks. Mark Kelly of Arizona has long been an opponent of the PRO Act (though he’s recently changed his tune), he refused the confirm David Weil to the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division, and he has refused to confirm Julie Su as Secretary of Labor. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania has been a strong proponent of school privatization and a fierce ally of Israel, refusing to call for a ceasefire and attacking students and union members at UPENN as they protected Israel’s assault on Gaza. The top picks from unions are reportedly MN Gov Tim Walz and KY Gov Andy Beshear

Internal Union Affairs

  • General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Sean O’Brien retweeted an article from Senator Josh Hawley saying it is “100% on point.” In this article, Hawley claimed that US companies were increasing profits by outsourcing American jobs to fund trans surgeries and DEI programs. The President of the Teamsters LGBTQ caucus expressed concerns about this to O’Brien, causing O’Brien to respond saying in partv “I am fully committed to fighting for all Teamsters regardless of whether they identify politically as a Democrat or Republican, or their gender, ethnicity, race, or sexual orientation. It is certainly regrettable that my retweet has caused consternation and confusion among members of the LGBTQ+ Caucus… Please be assured I will keep advocating for our LGBTQ+ members as I have from Day One.”

Listener Submissions

  • Friend of the show McKenna Scheuler has begun a newsletter outside of her day job as staff reporter for Orlando Weekly. This newsletter, Caring Class Revolt, will cover labor in Florida. Subscribe! https://caringclassrevolt.substack.com/