Last Week in Southern Labor: 5/16 - 5/24

Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from May 16th to May 24th

New Campaigns

42 workers at JB Speed Art Museum in Louisville, KY filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Auto Workers (UAW)
27 workers at UNFI Natural Foods in Pompano Beach, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 769
6 workers at AVI Systems in Maplewood, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1
17 workers at Skyworks Equipment Rental in Decatur, AL filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 320
Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the Utility Workers of America (UWUA) Local 304 as the union representing 160 workers at First Energy in Haywood, WV
73 workers at Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School in Washington, DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the District of Columbia Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff, AFT Local 1927
The United Federation of LEOs – PBA is attempting to raid a unit of 138 security guards at Paragon Systems in Norfolk, VA who are currently represented by the Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA)
Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1000 as the union representing 20 workers at Natural Grocers in Norman, OK

Election Results

14 workers at CenterPoint Energy Resources Corporation in Texas City, TX voted 11 to 2 in favor of decertifying the United Steel Workers (USW) Local 13-1 as their union
11 workers at Dairy Farms of America Distributor South in Goldsboro, NC voted 7 to 4 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 391
15 workers at Advanced Disposal Services Solid Waste Southeast in Albany, GA voted 10 to 5 in a decertification election in favor of retaining their union – the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 515
20 workers at Starbucks in Huntsville, AL voted 8 to 2 in favor of unionization with Starbucks Workers United
29 workers at ProKel Mobility in Jacksonville, FL voted 6 to 18 against unionization with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
91 workers at United Natural Foods in Lancaster, TX voted 68 to 14 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 745
25 workers at BDT Beverage in Nashville, TN withdrew their petition for a union election with the UFCW Local 1995
The petition to decertify IUOE Local 465 as the union representing 75 workers at MH Shared Services in Jacksonville, NC has been withdrawn
3 workers at Cap Transfers in Kansas City, MO withdrew their petition for a union election with IUOE Local 101
The Regional Director for the NLRB closed an election petition case for 45 workers at SP Plus Corporation in Kenner, LA with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1535

Grievances, Unfair Labor Practices, & Court Cases

A federal judge in Kentucky dismissed a case brought by th eUS Treasury Department to invalidate a collective bargaining agreement with the National Treasury Employee Unions (NTEU) to comply with Trump’s executive order. While on its face, this is a good ruling, the judge said in the decision that the dismissal was only based on standing, because nothing had been done to impede the Department’s implementation of the executive order yet, and “Had Treasury filed suit in response to an invasion or threatened invasion of its sovereign right to enforce [Trump’s order], a different result likely would have been reached”
The Supreme Court issued a ruling allowing the firing of Gwynne Wilcoz of the National Labor Relations Board (the body responsible for enforcing labor law in the private sector) and Cathy Harris of Merit Systems Protection Board (the body responsible for overseeing disciplinary cases within the federal government) to maintain while the case continues, also saying that the Trump administration is likely to win with the court on the merits, previewing the overturning of 90 years of precedent with Humphrey’s Executor, which will eliminate Congress’ ability to establish independent agencies. Matt Breunig has a good summary of everything here. The AFL-CIO released a statement saying the ruling was a “slap in the face” of every worker in this country
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) released a statement applauding the preliminary injunction issued against the Trump administration’s attempts to eliminate the Department of Education
The Supreme Court declined to allow Oklahoma to set up publicly funded religious school, to the applause of the AFT
The Trump Justice Department reached a deal with Boeing that would allow the company to avoid criminal penalties for alleging misleading safety regulators about the problems that led to the crash that killed hundreds of people. Under the agreement, the company would have to invest $1.1B, including $445M to the victims families
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is calling on the Department of Justice or the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the manufacturers of fire trucks, pointing to consolidation in the industry that they say has allowed the manufacturers to charge exorbitant prices – now as much as $2M for one truck
A district court ordered the rehiring of 35 previously fired employees at the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The National Federation of Federal Employees, which represents the workers, applauded the decision

Strikes & Bargaining

Build a Fighting NALC, the reform caucus of the National Association of Letter Carriers, released a statement on the appointment of David Steiner as the new Postmaster General. They identified Steiner as a Republican donor, Fedex board member, and someone who bragged about his history of union busting. They also point towards actions taken by Amazon and FedEx that may indicate that some private logistics companies are positioning themselves to benefit from a postal service privatization. They conclude by saying “without the Right to Strike, we will continue to fight with one hand tied behind our backs, and will be open to further attacks, whether it’s from the president, congress, corporations, or the Postmaster General” and call on NALC members to join their caucus
90 drivers at Albertsons in Dallas, TX, represented by Teamsters Local 745, voted by 97% to authorize a strike in response to the company’s refusal to offer a fair contract. Workers are demanding fair wages, pensions, and job protections against autonomous trucks
The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) announced the ratification of a first ever national agreement at JBS – a meatpacking company – that the union says will bring significant wage gains, a newly created sick leave program, and the establishment of a pension retirement plan for 26,000 workers at 14 facilities across the country, including in the South in Texas and North Carolina.
The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) announced a tentative agreement with United Airlines covering 28,000 workers nationwide that the union says will deliver 40% total economic improvements in the first year alone. It now goes to local leaders to review, and it will then be sent to members for ratification
2,000 Starbucks workers – including in the South went on strike over the new dress code, saying the company must negotiate over the changes
Workers at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) rallied in DC to make the case for saving the agency in the face of the Trump administration’s attacks. Among the speakers was Dr. Micah Niemier-Walsh, who was recently on The Valley Labor Report
The Teamsters are calling on UPS to speed up its roll-out of vehicles with air conditioning
The University of North Alabama (UNA) is privatizing its custodial staff, which will mean they lose their pension, they will have less time off, lose the time off they had previously accumulated, and have worse health insurance
Fellows at the National Institute of Health (NIH) – unionized as UAW Local 2750 – walked out during an address the the NIH from it’s new head, Jay Bhattacharya. Walker Bragman covered it here

Political & Legislative

Republicans passed a major budget bill in the House that would be devastating for working and poor families in the South. Across the region, it would
- Kick 6.87M people off health insurance
  - This includes 170K in Alabama, 250k in Tennessee, and 260k in Louisiana, where we air
- Kick 4.85M people off of SNAP
  - This includes 165k in Alabama, 160,000 in Tennessee, and 206,000 in Louisiana
- Eliminate 342,000 jobs
  - This includes 8,200 in Alabama, 21,000 in Tennessee, and 27,000 in Louisiana
  - Jacobin has a good piece about how the Building Trades Unions are fighting to maintain the IRA provisions for jobs

In exchange for pushing poor folks further into poverty and eliminating jobs, it will deliver tax cuts to the wealthiest people in America. The bill also preempts states from regulating AI – something that has been particularly attacked by entertainment unions – and attacks federal employee benefits. The attacks on federal workers from the Trump administration have already led to at least one federal worker committing suicide. The bill puts 742 rural hospitals at risk of closure

Teamsters in Texas are calling on the legislature to pass House Bill 4402, which would require trained human operators in any autonomous vehicles. The bill has already passed the House Committee on Transportation
Members of AFSCME Local 1624 were able to the Austin city council to pass AI protections for municipal workers
Global Nurses United – a federation of nurses unions from countries across the world – released a report on the state of nursing globally, pointing to common problems lack understaffing and explaining how collective action by nurses has been the most effective remedy
Members of Congress introduced safe staffing legislation for hospitals that would establish minimum staffing guidelines nationwide, to the applause of National Nurses United (NNU)
The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) issued a statement condemning Trump’s attacks on its members Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift
Jordan Barab, a former OSHA official, testified in a Congressional hearing on OSHA. We reacted to the hearing here, and Barab had some reactions himself here. His deconstruction of the Republicans argument was much more clinical than ours, and is worth a read
Louisiana unions are calling on their members and supporters to call their State Senators and request that they oppose HB 293, which would end paycheck dues deduction for state and municipal workers unions
As Kentucky struggled with severe weather last week, the National Weather Service struggled to staff its operations as a result of DOGE layoffs and separations
The Missouri Governor signaled his intent to sign the repeal of paid sick leave that the voters passed overwhelmingly, spewing propaganda about “liberal groups” from “out of state” while ignoring that Missourians are the ones that voted for the measure
Texas Republicans went backwards on marijuana, increased restrictions on its use
AFGE has made an endorsement in the Virginia Attorney General’s race, supporting Jay Jones