Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from November 22 to November 29
New Campaigns
32 workers for the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) at the union’s headquarters in Dallas, TX, filed a petition to hold a union election with the SWAPA Staff Association
90 workers at Hoeganaes in Gallatin, TN filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Steel Workers (USW)
265 detention and transportation officers at Asset Protection & Security Services in El Paso, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 745
The employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 175 workers at Highline Warren in Glen Dale, WV demonstrated support for unionization with the Teamsters Local 697
55 workers at Breakthru Beverage Group in Miramar, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 769
Workers likely pushed by their employer – and with help from the National Right to Work Foundation – filed a petition to decertify the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 132 as the union representing 6 workers at Martin Marietta Materials in Institute, WV
3 workers at Rental Supply District 1 in Ashland, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with IUOE Local 513
Amazon Drivers at DGT8 in Atlanta announced their unionization last week with a march on the boss
Election Results
23 workers at The Line DC withdrew their petition for a union election with UNITE HERE Local 25
18 workers at Starbucks in Baton Rouge, LA voted unanimously in favor of unionization with Starbucks Workers United
16 workers at CoMo Rocks in Columbia, MO withdrew their petition for a union election with the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 955
24 workers at Pro-Tec Fire Services in San Antonio, TX voted unanimously in favor of unionization with the Kelly Airfield Professional Firefighters Local I-107
21 workers at Tractor Supply Company in Columbia, TN voted 12 to 8 in favor of unionization with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1995
Settlements, Grievances, & Unfair Labor Practices
A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) judge ruled that Exxon’s nearly 2 year lockout of workers during contract negotiations from 2021-2022 was legal, agreeing with the company that the lockout was to pressure members of the USW to accept a deal (which is legal), rather than attempting to oust the union (which is illegal), despite internal Exxon documents which were reviewed by Reuters but excluded from the NLRB’s review which showed that, at the very least, encouraging workers to decertify the union was a contemplated and welcome outcome of the lockout, rather than simple negotiating tactics.
Strikes & Bargaining
The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) announced that their members voted to ratify a new tentative agreement with BNSF, the latest in a string of individual contracts that the rail carriers are making with rail unions, a departure from the previous round of bargaining where there was at least a veneer of a united front from rail labor. The agreement provides for a 3.5% wage increase per year over the next 5 years.
Service workers at Charlotte International Airport in North Carolina went on a 24 hour strike, demanding higher wages and better working conditions. They currently make between 12 and 19/hr
More Perfect Union has a really good video out about “revolting” letter carriers in the wake of a tentative agreement many are saying is not enough
Political & Legislative
The US Postal Service is now arguing that the current make-whole remedies pursued by the NLRB is unconstitutional
McKenna Shueler for the Orlando Weekly reports that experts anticipate Trump to roll back Biden administration attempts to protect workers from extreme heat
Railroad Workers United, a cross craft caucus of union railroad workers, is expressing concern about Trump’s nomination of Sean Duffy to head the Transportation Department. Duffy, they say, “consistently opposed measures beneficial to labor rights and worker protections [during his tenure in Congress]. His voting record includes opposition to increasing the federal minimum wage, enhancing workplace safety regulations, and expanding collective bargaining rights. Duffy’s alignment with corporate interests over worker welfare suggests a potential continuation of policies that may undermine the rights and well-being of rail workers. His lack of direct experience in transportation policy further exacerbates concerns about his ability to effectively address the complex challenges facing the rail industry.”
Trump has tapped Russ Vought to head the Office of Management and Budget, which manages a significant portion of the executive branch’s responsibilities. Vought was an author of Project 2025, which is surprising given Trump’s complete disavowal of the project!
On his way out the door of the Social Security Administration, Commissioner Martin O’Malley is touting significant improvement in customer service and employee morale at the agency, citing the following numbers, and all this despite the agency being at its lowest staffing level in 50 years
average wait times on the agency’s 1-800 number fell from more than 40 minutes last November to 12.8 minutes last month
the ratio of people receiving retirement, survivor or Medicare benefits within two weeks of applying hit a four-year high
the time it takes to receive a disability hearing has fallen from 368 days last November to 280 days last month
50% increase in employee survey participation, and a 3-point increase in its employee engagement index