Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from September 13 to September 20
New Campaigns
- 359 workers across 14 units are in new union campaigns, and 119 workers in 1 units are in new decertification drives
- A security guard has filed a petition to decertify the Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) as the union representing 52 security guards at the Environmental Protective Agency in Durham, NC
- 23 workers at Tractor Supply in Columbia, TN filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1995
- 19 workers at Spiral Diner and Bakery in Fort Worth, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with Spiral Workers United (unclear if they are affiliated with Workers United)
- 15 workers at Penhall Company in Austell, GA filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 926
- 27 workers at Hinchcliff Acquisitions in Hendricks, WV filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 175
- 7 workers at Ferguson Enterprises in Riviera Beach, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) Local 630
- 1 worker at South Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation in Somerset, KY filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2100
- 85 workers at Forvia – a parts manufacturer – in Arlington, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Auto Workers (UAW)
- 4 workers at American Electric Power (AEP) Texas in Zapata, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the IBEW Local 738
- 20 workers at the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Florida Woodmont in Tamarac, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) East
- 12 workers at Gulf States Fire Protection in Houston, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the UA’s Road Sprinkler Fitter Local 669
- 20 workers at South Florida Public Media Group in Miami, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with SAG-AFTRA
- 5 workers at Coca Cola Consolidated in Mount Clare, WV filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 175
- Workers likely pushed by their employer – with the help of the National Right to Work Foundation – filed a petition to decertify the United Steel Workers (USW) as the union representing 67 workers at National Gypsum in Pryor, OK
- 55 workers at Aqua Chem in Knoxville, TN filed a petition to hold a union election with UA Local 102
- 66 workers at Mersen USA GSTNA Corp in Columbia, TN filed a petition to hold a union election with the Industrial Division of the Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA)
Campaign Updates
- Still in the early stages of their organizing campaign in Hearthside Food Solutions (HFS) bakery in London, KY, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) released a statement yesterday alleging that the company has fired a leader in the union campaign – Ben Nolan – for union activities and that the union has filed charges against the company for illegal retaliation and will do everything they can to see Nolan reinstated and for the workers to have a chance at a fair union election
- Workers at the Monongalia County Assessor in Monongalia, WV will finally get a union election with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) – to take place on September 26 – after months of stalling by the employer
- Maximus call center workers in Mississippi are continuing to fight for a union, and highlight how their campaign has already benefited workers: Since beginning to organize for a union in 2017, Maximus workers have seen a reduction in their healthcare deductibles from $4,000 to $1,800, and an increase in their starting wages from $9 an hour to $17.20.
Election Results
- 65 workers in 3 units are newly unionized, 11 workers in 2 units withdrew their petition for union elections, 146 workers in 2 units are no longer in an active desert campaign, and 26 security guards switched representation
- 2 sets of workers withdrew their petitions for a union election:
- 9 guards at Hana Technologies in Washington, DC, having previously filed with the Federal Contract Guards of America (FCGOA)
- 2 workers at AB Car Rental Services in Louisville, KY with the Teamsters Local 89
- 2 sets of workers withdrew their decertification petitions, meaning the unions remain:
- 98 workers at AT&T Mobility in Metairie, LA who are part of CWA
- 48 workers at AT&T Mobility in Ridgeland, MS who are part of CWA
- 40 workers at AEP Texas in Laredo, TX voted in favor of unionization with IBEW Local 738
- 16 workers at Live Nation Worldwide in Aberdeen, KY voted 8 to 0 in favor of unionization with the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 17
- 9 workers at BFS Group in Shelbyville, KY voted 5 to 4 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 89
- 26 security guards at KR Contracting in Sterling, VA voted 10 to 0 in favor of leaving their current union – Union Rights for Security Officers (URSO) in favor of FCGOA
Settlements, Grievances, & Unfair Labor Practices
ALdotcom has a report out on an Alabama principal who was fired, allegedly for being gay, and how she is fighting to get her job back
Strikes & Bargaining
- Members of the San Antonio Professional Fire Fighters Association (an IAFF affiliate) voted to accept a new contract with the city that includes a 21.3% raise over 3 years with a 97% approval
- After a 2 week strike against JTRAN – a bus company in Jackson, MS – the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1208 got a tentative agreement and workers ratified it
- GE workers in Louisville, KY, unionized with IUE CWA Local 761, held a rally last week ahead of their upcoming contract expirations
- Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has heard the criticism coming from all sectors of stakeholders in the company, from the workers and from the dealers, and has said, no, you’re all wrong, in a statement last week
- We’re barely more than a week away from an east coast longshore strike that could have an economic impact of nearly $4B per day, with neither side giving in. While the White House could invoke Taft Hartley to stop the strike, they were unequivocal when asked about it, saying: we’ve never invoked Taft-Hartley to break a strike and are not considering doing so now
- A shuttered Canton, NC mill may have a new owner soon. It’s unclear at this point where that leaves the union that previously represented workers at the plant – if they will automatically represent workers at a new mill or if they would have to organize from scratch
- The month long strike of 17,000 CWA members in the south against AT&T has ended with a tentative agreement that raises wages by 19% over 5 years, adds MLK Day as a paid holiday, and adds 5 sick days. Members will now vote on whether or not to accept the deal
- The UAW began bargaining with Volkswagen in Chattanooga, TN last week
Political & Legislative
- Freddy Brewster has a new piece in the Lever detailing how JD Vance is spearheading a lawsuit aimed at further weakening existing campaign finance laws
- Elon Musk is attempting to build the world’s largest supercomputer in largely black West Memphis, TN. These supercomputers and AI powering facilities have significant levels of pollution, and apparently Musk’s team has not even met with the city council about mitigation of the pollution, much less community groups. The facility has also installed gas generators without a permit, among other grievances from the community outlined in a recent NPR report
- A Trump judge in Texas has granted an injunction in favor of a company arguing that the NLRB is unconstitutional
- As we head towards another potential government shutdown, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is calling on Congress to no do that
- The AFL-CIO has applauded the Fed for finally cutting interest rates
- Even as incomes in Huntsville, AL increase, the poverty rate is staying the same
- ALdotcom has a new report about how the records of Alabama’s police officers are uniquely secret
- Sam’s Club, which employs some 100,000 workers is raising their minimum starting pay to $16/hr, up from $15
- Several unions representing workers in the arts launched a policy agenda aimed at reimagining public support for the arts
- Huntsville’s unions endorsed Michelle Watkins for City Council and Patricia King for School Board in Huntsville – both women are union members