Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from August 23 to August 30:
New Campaigns
- 876 workers across 12 bargaining units are in new union campaigns (with the Teamsters showing out this week and covering over half of those workers) and 163 workers across 2 bargaining units are in new decertification elections
- 160 security guards at Centerra in McAllen, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA)
- 4 workers at Cummins Sales and Service in Jeffersontown, KY filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 89
- 94 workers at HMS Ferries Puerto Rico in Ceiba, PR filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
- The employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 217 workers at UNFI Natural Foods in Atlanta, GA demonstrated support for unionization with the Teamsters Local 728
- 40 workers at AEP in Laredo, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 728
- 46 workers at the Texas Freedom Network in Austin, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with United Professional Organizers (UPO)
- 20 workers at Didlake in Virginia Beach, VA filed a petition to hold a union election with the Public Service Employees Union Local 572 (an affiliate of LIUNA)
- Workers likely pushed by the employer filed a petition to decertify the Communication Workers of America (CWA) as the union representing 98 workers at AT&T Mobility in Metairie, LA
- Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the Teamsters Local 886 as the union representing 65 workers at PepsiCo in Tulsa, OK
- The employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 11 workers at PULAU Corporation in Fort Hood, TX demonstrated support for unionization with IAMAW
- 75 workers at Sapporo Stone Brewing in Richmond, VA filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 322
- 69 workers at Parsec in Jacksonville, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 512
- The employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 65 workers at Imperial in Tulsa, OK demonstrated support for unionization with the Teamsters Local 886
- 73 workers at Stone Brewing in Richmond, VA are demanding recognition of their organization with Teamsters Local 322
Campaign Updates
- The Transport Workers Union (TWU), which is organizing workers at Brightline, released an anti-union bingo card in response to what they called “brightlies” (the company’s anti-union email that went out to the workers in Florida)
- After workers at Sixt Rent a Car in Orlando, FL voted against unionization with the Teamsters Local 769, Mckenna Schueler uncovered that the company had hired anti-union consultants at a rate of $425/hr + travel expenses
- A Guardian report finds that now 38% of graduate workers are in unions
Election Results
- At least 263 workers across 6 bargaining units are newly unionized, and 1 decertification petition was withdrawn
- The decertification petition covering 2 workers at Eco Services Operation Corp in Houston, TX has been withdrawn – United Steel Workers (USW) Local 227 remains the representative
- 22 workers at Starbucks in Arlington, TX voted 16 to 2 in favor of unionization with Starbucks Workers United
- 125 workers at Specs Family Partners in Dallas, TX voted 78 to 30 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 745
- 48 workers at Environmental Air Systems in High Point, NC voted 28 to 15 in favor of unionization with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) Local 421
- 38 workers at Hyatt in Arlington, VA voted 24 to 11 in favor of unionization with UNITE HERE Local 25
- 30 workers at Kentucky Power in Pikeville, KY voted 20 to 9 in favor of unionization with the IBEW Local 978
- The Federation of American Scientists voluntarily recognized the International Association of Machinists (IAM) as the union representing their workers – it is unclear how many are in the bargaining unit
Settlements, Grievances, & Unfair Labor Practices
- A UMWA official has been charged with allegedly bombing a pipeline owned by Warrior Met Coal during the long strike in Brookwood
- A worker was killed in a deadly tire explosion at the Atlanta airport last week, the International Association of Machinists, which represents 100,000 workers in the airline industry, released a statement calling on Delta and the relevant authorities to quickly launch a thorough investigation
- Teamsters Local 667 in Texas continues to rally for UPS to begin making good on its promise to deliver trucks with AC
- The NFL Players union is suing DraftKings for allegedly violating an agreement it made with the union on Name, Image, and Likeness rights
- Union staff at the developer of Call of Duty filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge (ULP) against Activision and Microsoft for bargaining in bad faith
Strikes & Bargaining
- Rideshare drivers in Nashville, TN – organizing with the Tennessee Drivers Union – conducted a one day strike on Friday, demanding to negotiate with Uber, Lyft, and the city of Nashville over things like pay, hours, and regulations around rideshare services
- The Bessemer City Schools have officially been taken over by the state. The Central Alabama Federation of Teachers is continuing to raise concerns about inaccuracies in the pay schedule
- The Teamsters continue to profile their rank and file bargaining committee at United Airlines
- The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) in San Antonio, TX reached a 3 year tentative agreement that includes 21.3% raises over the contract’s term. The contract still needs to be approved by the union’s membership and the city council. This will be the members first opportunity to vote on a new contract in 15 years
- A new report by the Economic Policy Institute finds that the pay gap between private sector and public sector workers has increased to 17.6%, compared with a pre-pandemic pay gap of 13.9%. Public sector workers in states with stronger collective bargaining rights are less far behind their private sector counterparts
- 8,000 workers employed by Gate Gourmet at 30 airports ratified a new 5 year agreement that includes raising the minimum wage to $17/hr. The agreement covers employees who are members of UNITE HERE, the Teamsters, BCTGM, and RWDSU
Political & Legislative
- McKenna Schueler has a new piece out in the Orlando Weekly juxtaposing Florida’s lack of a Department of Labor, and the lack of OSHA protections for state employees, and the attack on public sector unions, with the Republicans pro-worker rhetoric
- Nursing home workers in West Palm Beach, FL voted to authorize a strike over Labor Day weekend, but a strike was ultimately averted after progress was made at the bargaining table
- Michael Sainato has a piece in the Guardian surveying the corporate policies of the companies with the lowest paid US workers, showing how they are focused on their own short term windfalls over worker well being
- Georgia’s Republican attorney general was part of a lawsuit against the Biden administration that has now blocked recent regulatory changes from the Department of Labor meant to protect farm workers. AG Carr specifically derided the rules as “pro-union”
- Unions continue to poll well, with disapproval hitting a 57 year low
- Local news in Huntsville covered the increase in union density in Alabama, interviewing yours truly as a “labor expert”
- The Houston Federation of Teachers is decrying the first year of the state’s takeover of local schools, highlighting struggling AC systems, 150+ grievances (up from 20 in recent years), and nearly half of teachers leaving the district
- Alabama is reportedly considering how to deliver traditional workplace benefits to gig workers (will believe it when I see it)Internal Union Affairs
- Both party’s VP nominees spoke at the International Association of Fire Fighters convention last week, with JD Vance getting booed and Tim Walz getting applause
- After multiple officials have been convicted of embezzlement, some local members of the International Association of Boilermakers told the Kansas City Star that they would like to see one member one vote for top offices
- The West Virginia Education Association and the West Virginia Federation of Teachers are reporting progress on merger talks