Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from November 1 to November 8
New Campaigns
The employer filed a petition for a union election after a majority of the 148 workers at First Student (a school bus driving company) in Zachary, LA demonstrated support for unionization with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1546
10 workers at Compass Connections (a social work nonprofit) in Los Fresnos, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 657
4 workers at Palm Garden of Port St Lucie (a rehab facility) in Port St Lucie, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
7 workers at the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (a utility provider) in Lawton, OK filed a petition to hold a union election with an unnammed union in the NLRB’s system
7 workers at Hilton Hotels DC National Mall in Washington, DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 99
18 workers at Starbucks in Baton Rouge, LA filed a petition to hold a union election with Starbucks Workers United, as did 16 workers at a Springfield, MO location
64 workers at Evergreen Shipping Agency in Dallas, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 63
14 workers at Hospital General Castaner in Lares, PR filed a petition to hold a union election with the Union General de Trabajadores Local 1199 (an SEIU affiliate)
Campaign Updates
A judge has ordered a third election at the Bessemer, Alabama Amazon warehouse due to company violations of the law, but both the union and the company are appealing the decision, with the company lying and saying they didn’t break the law and the union saying that without stronger remedies, simply mandating a third election isn’t enough
Election Results
16 workers at Olson Brothers Pro-Vac in Manassas, VA withdrew their petition for a union election with IUOE Local 77
25 workers at United Cleanup Oak Ridge in Oak Ridge, TN voted 22 to 3 in favor of unionization with the Atomic Trades and Labor Council of the UFCW
15 workers at Nail City Painting in Wheeling, WV voted 12 to 0 in favor of unionization with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 53
21 workers at Frontier Strategies in San Antonio, TX voted 10 to 5 in favor of unionization with the Industrial Technical and Professional Employees Local 4873 (an OPEIU affiliate)
15 workers at Penhall Company in Austell, GA voted 11 to 4 in favor of unionization with the IUOE Local 926
9 workers at Gulf States Fire Protection in Houston, TX voted 9 to 0 in favor of unionization with the Road Sprinkler Fitters Local 669 (a UA affiliate)
60 workers at the SYGMA network in Kansas City, MO voted 35 to 16 in favor of unionization with the the Teamsters Local 955
Settlements, Grievances, & Unfair Labor Practices
The NLRB is alleging Dallas Black Dance Theater violated federal labor law by maintaining unlawful work rules, threatening workers with discharge if they unionized, decreasing the length of the main dancers’ summer contracts by approximately two weeks (and then promising to restore it) in retaliation for union activity and to discourage union activity, and is seeking, among other remedies, making whole the unlawfully terminated workers for backpay, search-for-work expenses, and any financial harms they have received as a result of being unlawfully terminated. She also seeks training for managers and supervisors and employees on employee rights, rescinding the unlawful work rules, notice postings, and letters of apology.
Strikes & Bargaining
27,000 educators and support staff who recently unionized with Fairfax Education Unions have a tentative agreement that the unions say “would allow for region-leading employee compensation via salary and step increases, additional educator planning time and continuation of an eight-hour teacher contract for special education teachers.” and more
Members of UE Local 123 in Verona, VA working for Daiken held a public protest against alleged violations of the contract, specifically withholding raises
Political & Legislative
A new report from the Department of Labor shows that nearly $70B has been approved for 98 multiemployer pension plans whose 1.2M+ participants faced reductions in retirement benefits averaging 41 percent
Despite the largest ever mobilization by the labor movement on behalf of a presidential candidate – and despite the fact that union members are the only demographic which did not move toward Trump in this election, Donald Trump won re-election to the presidency. Many national labor leaders responded, emphasizing the importance of the labor movement in the coming years in protecting the rights of working people as they will undoubtedly come under assault.
Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO President said, “This result is a blow for every worker who depends on our elected leaders to fight for our jobs, our unions and our contracts… Now we are faced with the reality of a second Donald Trump term. The Project 2025 agenda promises to dismantle labor unions because we are a pillar of democracy and a check on power. We’ve seen assaults on our fundamental rights before. In the days, months, and years ahead, labor’s task will be to defend working people when it happens again.”
IATSE President Matthew Loeb said, “The next four years will be about defending against political attempts to dismantle the rights won over the last century, as well as defending against attempts to further slant the economy towards billionaires and international corporations at the expense of working class Americans… If we can’t depend on our nation’s laws to ensure workers have access to fair pay, sustainable benefits, and workplace protections — then we must enshrine them in our contracts.. Solidarity is our only path forward.”
AFGE President Everett Kelley said, “Federal employees are sworn to uphold the law and the Constitution, and they will continue to do their jobs regardless of who sits in the White House… But… our union will not stand by and let any political leader – regardless of their political affiliation – run roughshod over the Constitution and our laws. During President Trump’s first term, his administration attempted to gut many of our negotiated union contracts, downsize and relocate federal agencies at great disruption and cost to taxpayers, and replace tens of thousands of non-partisan civil servants with political appointees who would blindly do his bidding. Federal and D.C. government employees should be able to do their jobs without political interference, without violating their Constitutional oath, and without breaking the law – and as their elected representative, we will do everything in our power to make sure that’s possible.
UAW President Shawn Fain said, “It’s time for Washington, DC to put up or shut up, no matter the party, no matter the candidate. Will our government stand with the working class, or keep doing the bidding of the billionaires? That’s the question we face today. And that’s the question we’ll face tomorrow. The answer lies with us. No matter who’s in office. If that’s the question you’re asking today, no matter who you voted for, sign up and join us at solidarity.uaw.org
The UE said, “This election has demonstrated, once again, that the current two-party system is incapable of uniting working people around a vision for progress. We reiterate the position taken by UE’s General Executive Board in September: “Working people need an independent political organization to fight for our interests against the corrupt two-party system, and we call upon our locals and members, the rest of the labor movement, and our allies in other social movements to get serious about building a true political alternative, a labor party that can unite and speak for the working class.
Nationwide, it’s untrue that we saw a real decrease in voter turnout, and in many swing states there was a higher turnout, but in Alabama we did in fact see a marked decrease in voter turnout – 58.5% voted, the lowest in 30 years.
North Carolina members of National Nurses United celebrated Josh Stein’s win of the gubernatorial race over self proclaimed black nazi Mark Robinson, mentioning in their statement how as Attorney General, “he sued HCA for violating the asset purchase agreement it made when it acquired Mission Health in 2019, a move that was applauded by Mission Hospital RNs in Asheville.”
Alabama elected another Democrat to Congress as a result of federal court mandated redistricting – Shomari Figures
Despite Democrats shellacking nationwide, left wing or liberal ballot measures won overwhelmingly, enshrining abortion rights into the state constitution, passing minimum wage increases and mandatory paid vacation time.
In Nashville, TN, the Transit Improvement Referendum overwhelmingly passed to fund Nashville’s “Choose How You Move” $3.1 billion transit plan. The half-cent sales tax increase will expand transit service and job opportunities for Local 1235-Nashville, TN, members.
Florida education unions won a small fight – courts have said that the new Florida law banning dues deductions can’t nullify existing contracts, but that in future contracts such an agreement can’t be made.
