Last Week in Southern Labor: 5/30 – 6/14

Jacob Morrison

Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from May 30 to June 13

Sorry I didn’t get last week in southern labor out last week yall – time got away from me. So this is a two week round-up. I’ll take this time at the top to remind readers that we would love to hear what’s going on in your union! Especially if you’re in the south. You know this, and we know this, but every single day workers are winning grievances, getting coworkers their jobs back, getting backpay, and putting the boss in their place. Most workers in this country never get to experience that kind of power, and amplifying those stories is a big part of why we do this show. So if you have union news that you’d like to see included in our newsletter, or if you think it’d make a good short interview on the show, please reach out to us at TVLR.FM/Contact. 

All information on Florida’s public sector union elections comes from McKenna Schueler’s monthly round up of Florida union news. You can check it out on her website, caringclassrevolt.substack.com, where you can get more information about Florida labor as well as exclusive details about union elections referenced here.

New Campaigns

  • 70 workers at Waste Management of North Carolina in Gastonia, NC filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 71
  • 10 workers at Marmac Fire and Safety in Joplin, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Road Sprinklerfitters Local 669
  • 25 workers at BDT Beverage in Nashville, TN filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1995
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the UFCW Local 455 as the union representing 550 workers at Wayne Sanderson Farms in Hammond, LA
  • 84 workers at REM Services and Transdev as joint employers in Houston, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 988
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 99 as the union representing 8 workers at Sofitel Washington in Washington, DC 
  • 6 workers at the Memphis Symphony Orchestra in Memphis, TN filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 69
  • 200 workers at Nichiha USA in Macon, GA filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) 
  • 16 workers at Starbucks in Ridgeland, MS filed a petition to hold a union election with Starbucks Workers United.
  • 56 workers at Jefferson County Schools in Monticello, FL have filed a petition to unionize with the Jefferson County Education Association
  • 23 communications operators and cops at the Alachua Police Department in Alachua, FL filed a petition to unionize with the Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA)
  • 346 cops at the State Department of Management Services in Tallahassee, FL have filed a petition to unionize with the Florida PBA
  • 130 cops at the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office in Vero Beach, FL have filed a petition to unionize with the Palm Beach County PBA
  • 24 firefighters at Lynn Haven Fire & Emergency Services in Lynn Haven, FL have filed a petition to unionize with the Lynn Haven Professional Fire Fighters, Local 5513 of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
  • 21 cops at the city of Belleair, FL have filed a petition to unionize with the Sun Coast PBA
  • 53 firefighters and other workers in two different bargaining units at the Panama City Beach Fire Department filed a petition to unionize with the Panama City Beach Firefighters Association, Local 5471 of the IAFF

Election Results

  • 11 workers at Starbucks in Richmond, VA voted 10 to 1 in favor of unionization with Starbucks Workers United, as did 19 at another location in Richmond, VA (voting 15 to 3), another 18 in Richmond, KY (voting 14 to 4), and 11 in Kansas City, MO (voting 7 to 2).  Nationwide, the union won it’s 600th union victory last week
  • 66 workers at Jupiter Aluminum Corporation in Wellsburg, WV voted 33 to 27 in favor of unionization with the United Steel Workers (USW)
  • 5 workers at David Taylor Ellisville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Ellisville, MO voted 3 to 0 in favor of unionization with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) District 9
  • The NLRB closed a case before 15 workers at Swire Properties in Miami, FL voted on whether or not to unionize with IUOE Local 30  
  • 8 workers at the Georgia Budget and Policy Center filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 728, but withdrew the petition in the same week – hopefully this means they were voluntarily recognized. Would love if someone who had insight on that campaign let us know
  • Workers at the Arkansas & Missouri railroad voted in favor of unionization with the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers Union’s Transportation Division (SMART-TD)
  • Workers withdrew a petition to decertify UFCW Local 655 as the union representing 17 workers at Goodwill in St Louis, MO 
  • 185 workers at UNFI in Pompano Beach, FL voted in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 769
  • A decertification petition was withdrawn at Signcrafters in St Louis, MO – the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 will still represent the 4 workers there
  • Following a decertification petition being filed, UFCW Local 1000 disclaimed interest in representing 20 workers at Vitamin Cottage Natural Foods Markets in Norman, OK – so the union was decertified
  • Two different units of tech workers at the Washington Post in Washington, DC both voted to unionize with the News Guild CWA- in one unit 76 workers voted 46 to 8 in favor, and the other 227 workers voted 125 to 30 in favor 
  • 2,875 workers employed by St. Lucie Public Schools in Port St. Lucie, FL voted 619 to 10 in favor of recertifying the Education Association of St. Lucie as their union 
  • 5 firefighters at the Naples Fire Department in Naples, FL voted 5 to 0 in favor of unionizing with the Professional Firefighters of Naples 
  • 14 cops at the Mascotte Police Department in Mascotte, FL unanimously voted 14 to 0 in favor of unionizing with the Florida PBA
  • 1,033 workers at the school district of Indian River County in Vero Beach, FL voted 439 to 18 in favor of recertifying the Indian River County Education Association as their union
  • 1,650 workers at the Osceola County school district in Kissimmee, FL voted 315 to 14 in favor of recertifying the Osceola County Education Association as their union, out of 1,650 eligible voters.
  • 2,201 workers at the Lake County school district in Tavares, FL voted 275 to 45 in favor of recertifying the Service Employees International Union-Florida Public Sector Union (SEIU-FPSU) as their union
  • 2,985 workers in another bargaining unit at Lake County Schools in Tavares, FL voted 709 to 37 in favor of recertifying the Lake County Education Association as their union
  • 1,992 workers at the St. Johns County school district in St. Augustine, FL voted 353 to 25 in favor of recertifying the St. Johns Educational Support Professional Association as their union
  • 1,999 workers at the Clay County school district in Green Cove Springs, FL voted 431 to 35 in favor of recertifying the Clay Educational Staff Professional Association as their union
  • 697 workers at the Walton County school district in Defuniak Springs, FL voted 243 to 4 in favor of recertifying Walton County Support Professionals as their union
  • 163 workers at the Gilchrist County school district in Trenton, FL voted 85 to 11 in favor of recertifying Gilchrist Employees United as their union
  • 191 workers in another bargaining unit at the Gilchrist County school district in Trenton, FL voted 135 to 1 in favor of recertifying Gilchrist Employees United as their union
  • 1,951 workers at Santa Rosa County District Schools in Milton, FL voted 371 to 19 in favor of recertifying Santa Rosa Professional Educators as their union.
  • 4,124 workers at the Osceola County School District in Kissimmee, FL voted 890 to 16 in favor of recertifying the Osceola County Education Association as their union
  • 1,650 workers in another bargaining unit at the Osceola County School District in Kissimmee, FL also voted 315 to 14 in favor of recertifying the Osceola County Education Association as their union
  • 2,320 workers at Pinellas County Schools in Largo, FL voted 212 to 28 in favor of recertifying SEIU-FPSU as their union
  • 1,706 workers at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL voted 645 to 19 in favor of recertifying the United Faculty of Florida as their union
  • 1,616 workers at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL voted 553 to 26 in favor of recertifying United Faculty of Florida as their union
  • 924 workers at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL voted 251 to 7 in favor of recertifying United Faculty of Florida as their union
  • 2,126 workers at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL voted 654 to 32 in favor of recertifying United Faculty of Florida as their union
  • 268 workers at St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, FL voted 176 to 35 in favor of recertifying United Faculty of Florida as their union
  • 4,955 workers at Brevard County Public Schools in Viera, FL voted 2,830 to 38 in favor of recertifying the Brevard Federation of Teachers as their union
  • 4,215 workers at Volusia County Schools in DeLand, FL voted 1417 to 48 in favor of recertifying Volusia United Educators as their union
  • 866 workers at Escambia County Public Schools in Pensacola, FL voted 191 to 13 in favor of recertifying the Union of Escambia Staff Professionals as their union
  • 13,919 workers at Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, FL voted 3,857 to 66 in favor of recertifying the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association as their union
  • 2,277 workers at Leon County Public Schools in Tallahassee, FL voted 560 to 10 in favor of recertifying the Leon Classroom Teachers Association as their union
  • 13,079 workers at Palm Beach County School District in West Palm Beach, FL voted 5,268 to 69 in favor of recertifying the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association as their union
  • 3,007 workers at Broward County Public Schools in Fort Lauderdale, FL voted 1031 to 13 in favor of recertifying the Broward Teachers Union as their union
  • 57 workers at Franklin County School District in Eastpoint, FL voted 21 to 0 in favor of recertifying the Franklin County Teachers Association as their union
  • 141 workers at the Jacksonville Aviation Authority in Jacksonville, FL voted 45 to 24 in favor of recertifying the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police as their union
  • 911 workers at Hillsborough County in Tampa, FL voted 355 to 14 in favor of recertifying Hillsborough County Florida Employees (Local 167 of the American Federation of State, Municipal and County Employees (AFSCME) Florida) as their union
  • Since 2023, McKenna Schueler reports for the Orlando Weekly that 69,000 Florida public sector workers have lost their union and any rights or benefits that came with their union contract, due to an anti-union law passed that year. However, the Florida Education Association says that the people they represent have not been affected because they have all voted to stick with the union, an incredible feat to not lose a single bargaining unit in the face of this onslaught that was specifically targeted at the teachers union.

Grievances, Unfair Labor practices, & Court Cases

  • The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) – the largest federal employees union – is hard at work fighting for members in the courts. They released a summary of the 14 lawsuits they have against the Trump administration on behalf of federal workers last week, if you’re a federal employee it’s definitely something you should check out. 
  • The NLRB is saying that Grinder engaged in illegal union busting with its return to office order, saying that the company used that as a fig leaf to get rid of the union, citing as evidence the fact that the contractors who now perform those functions get to work from home

Strikes & Bargaining

  • Trump’s Office of Personnel Management is proposing a new rule that would make it easier to fire federal workers, including for, among many other things, “failing to furnish testimony” or, in laymen’s terms, failure to rat on your coworkers. The Federal Workers Legal Defense Fund opposes the new rule. The Trump administration also wants all new federal employees GS 5 and over to write essays as part of their job application process praising Trump’s policies and explaining how they will further those policies
  • Breakthru Beverage drivers in 5 cities in Florida are on strike over alleged unlawful firings and bad faith bargaining. The drivers are unionized with the Teamsters
  • The American Postal Workers Union reached a tentative agreement with the postal service that maintains their COLA (which none of the other crafts have), along with expanded layoff protections. The raises match the carriers though. The union had a town hall for members to ask questions about the new tentative agreement
  • The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) says their members are fed up with FedEx delaying at the bargaining table. They note that despite the company having enough money to give billions to shareholders in dividends and stock buybacks, having $88B in revenue and $6B in profits, they continue to stall in negotiations that have lasted over 4 years, with the last contract having been ratified back in 2015
  • In April, 2,400 federal employees at the CDC were laid off. Now, the agency is bringing back almost 500 of them, though the agency won’t say why. 
  • The United Auto Workers (UAW) is applauding an announced $4B investment from GM into factories in Michigan, Kansas, and Tennessee, saying that this decision was made in part due to Trump’s tariff actions
  • Pharmacists for CVS in the DC metro area – unionized with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 – ratified a new 4 year collective bargaining agreement last week. The union says the contract includes wage increases ranging from 9 percent to 15 percent over the life of the agreement, a 30-day notification of any store openings or closings, and stronger labor-management cooperation.
  • Lumen Technologies announced its intention to sell its residential fiber network to AT&T. The CWA represents workers at both employers, and has told members that the union will be doing everything it can to keep members informed and will fight to ensure their collective bargaining agreements are respected. Lumen’s contract with the CWA expires on March 28, 2026. 
  • CWA members nationwide ratified a new contract with Avaya – a communications company – that will last for 3 years and includes 100% coverage of annual healthcare premiums, stronger pension protections, and an annual incentive bonus. 
  • In DC, the Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) is replacing a responsible union cleaning contractor (IFS) with an anti-union company, Stockton Maintenance Group. The Northern Virginia Labor Federation has said that this will jeopardize the wages, healthcare, and union protections of more than 60 cleaners who are members of 32BJ SEIU. The labor federation is calling on members of the public to contact David Bidinger at NFCU (email:  david_Bidinger@NavyFederal.org, phone: 571-596-0860) and demand that NFCU keep a responsible contractor at 820 Follin Lane; retain all 61 cleaners with their current wages, benefits and union rights; and stop enabling union-busting and racial disparities
  • Over 90 Albertsons drivers represented by Teamsters Local 745 in Dallas, TX ratified a new four-year collective bargaining agreement. The union says the new contract secures higher wages, a defined benefit pension plan, Teamsters health care, and critical job protections against the threat of autonomous trucks
  • Last week a CWA organizer called in to the program to inform listeners about Ebay and TCGplayer killing hundreds of union jobs in New York by closing an authentication center and leaving town, moving those jobs to a nonunion location in Louisville, KY. Unfortunately, the workers weren’t able to get their jobs back, but the union did secure a severance package that was more than double what was originally offered, with a $1,250 ratification bonus, 20 weeks of severance, 6 months of healthcare, and 7 months of mental healthcare. The agreement was unanimously ratified by the memebrs
  • Thousands of locomotive engineers – members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) at CSX Transportation (CSXT) – have voted to ratify a new contract. The union says the agreement includes raises of 18.77 percent over the life of the agreement and five additional sick days per year, in addition to improved work rules.
  • Staff for Starbucks Workers United unionized themselves last year with the NewsGuild CWA and just ratified a new contract that their union says includes strong job protections, professional development support, successorship language which is rare for staff union contracts, recall rights and annual wage increases of 4%, 3% and 3% for the respective years of the three-year deal.

Political & Legislative

  • The DC city council voted to pause a scheduled minimum wage increase for tipped workers that voters had previously voted for in a ballot measure, keeping the tipped minimum wage in the city at $10/hr. The Mayor is proposing rolling back the initiative entirely in the next year’s budget
  • Trump and Musk broke up two weeks ago (although they appear to have mended their relationship). During the breakup, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien took the occasion to show Donald Trump what a good boy he is by attacking Elon Musk and defending Trump. The AFL-CIO on the other hand pointed out that even if Musk really is leaving, he is leaving a lot of damage in his wake and a lot of people behind who will continue to damage federal workers and the public
  • Unions are being public about their opposition to the proposed cuts to the Job Corps program under the DOL – the Painters Union has testimony from one of their apprentices about how important it was to him and helped him turn his life around. 
  • The Department of Energy canceled 24 projects totaling over $3B from its Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations – North America’s Building Trade Unions condemned the move, saying this will put many “hardworking, American blue collar workers” on the “unemployment line instead of job sites.”
  • The Washington Post interviewed dozens of federal workers who explained how new DOGE requirements are making their work les efficient. In one case, a federal employee explained that a process that previously took less than one day now takes a week or more due to having to get so many sign offs from political appointees
  • Jordan Barab, a former OSHA official, reviewed Trump’s proposed budget as it relates to worker safety and health in great detail, if you’re interested in that I recommend reading it at jordanbarab.com/confinedspace. The long and short of it is that Barab says Trump tells workers to drop dead with his budget that cuts OSHA and MSHA. He also reviewed the NIOSH budget proposal here – it is also bad. 
  • Since protests kicked off last week opposing the Trump administration’s immigration policies, several unions and labor federations have weighed in, all on the side of immigrant workers. Unions have been at the center of these protests since the beginning, when SEIU California President David Huerta was arrested for observing ICE. The AFL-CIO immediately demanded he be released, as did the United Farm Workers, UNITE-HERE, the California Teamsters, UAW Region 6, the San Francisco Building Trades, and more. Huerta has been released but he has absurdly been charged with a felony. In footage from the protests, it’s been clear to see deliberate targeting of journalists. The Communication Workers of America (CWA) which represents thousands of journalists in it’s affiliate the NewsGuild, said in a statement that “violent intimidation [of journalists] is unacceptable and threatens one of our most fundamental rights as Americans – the right to a free press.” The United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers (UE) has said that these actions represent “a step towards authoritarianism.” The Texas AFL-CIO is calling for a release of all unjustly detained, an end to the lawless raids, and that immigration proceedings uphold the principles of due process, and that Texans right to assemble is respected. Catholic and Methodist faith leaders in Tennessee have also criticized ICE, saying the organization’s actions are contributing to “widespread fear.” The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) noted in their press release condemning ICE activity and national guard deployment that the US tourism industry stands to lose $21B in 2025 alone due to the Trump administration’s immigration policies
  • As the US Senate continues to consider the reconciliation bill, unions continue to urge rejection. The American Federation of Government Employees points out the negative impacts it would have on federal workers. The Ironworkers Union, IFPTE, LIUNA, and SMART point out the tens of thousands of jobs it would kill. Hell, even Alabama’s mine safety regulators are concerned about the proposed budget cuts. Unions encouraged members to participate in the June 14th No Kings Day demonstrations. Over 2,000 are planned nationwide, including at least 14 in Alabama. 
  • Trump appears to be bending under pressure with respect to his attacks on immigrant workers and community members, saying “changes are coming” in a Truth social post. However, Tom Homan has publicly said that he has received no instructions to change his actions indiscriminately targeting immigrants, and Trump himself appears to be waffling on whether to be as cruel as possible or to be reasonable. Then, on the 14th, reporting came out indicating that ICE had received directions to end most raids – so the pressure is working. 
  • The VA has previously made clear its intentions to cut 15% of its staff – despite the fact that even high level DOGE officials say that is simply not possible – and last week the Government Executive (a news outlet focused on the federal government) uncovered an agreement for the VA to pay the Office of Personnel Management $726,000 to come up with a plan to fire all those folks. Protestors gathered in DC last week with Dropkick Murphys to specifically oppose cuts to the VA
  • The White House released its budget proposal last week, and as expected, it’s terrible. Postal unions are pointing out that if enacted, the budget would eliminate steward time at the post office
  • New guidance from the White House “encourages” – although would not require – federal agencies to use Project Labor Agreements on construction projects. The guidance specifically barred agencies from barring the use of PLAs. The General President of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers Union (SMART) said in a statement: “Although it doesn’t contain the same protections as the Biden administration, this is a step in the right direction… All of us at SMART appreciate and applaud yesterday’s guidance from the White House, and we look forward to keeping this conversation going.”
  • Florida International University (FIU) has said it intends to enter a formal agreement with ICE to allow university police officers to act as immigration officers. The faculty union opposes the move.
  • Over a decade ago, the Obama administration extended minimum wage and overtime rules to cover home healthcare workers. Now, the Trump administration is considering rolling this back, which could potentially mean a pay cut for millions of workers
  • CWA members mobilized heavily to support endorsed candidates in San Antonio’s municipal elections, with their preferred candidates winning in every race they endorsed. 
  • OSHA is holding public hearings on a proposed heat injury rule, and CWA members will be speaking in favor. 
  • The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allotted $42B for broadband expansion in the country, and mandated fair labor practices and workforce development plans. The Trump administration has now removed those requirements. The CWA responded in a statement saying that the “policy change confuses upfront costs with long-term value”
  • The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) is applauding the advancing of legislation that would make it easier for aviation professionals to seek mental health care without jeopardizing their careers
  • Florida’s union firefighters celebrated legislation signed by Desantis last week that will improve fire fighter mental health, remove PFAS from protective gear, and more
  • Alabama’s governor signed into law legislation that will remove sales tax from baby goods and feminine hygiene products – Alabama Arise staffers were able to take part in the signing 
  • Louisiana’s legislative session ended without the legislature passing a proposed bill that would end public sector payroll dues deduction for unions, in a win for the labor movement. However, a bill that would turn many public sector workers in the state to “at will” employees will be put on the ballot in April 2026 for people to vote on

Internal Union Affairs

  • The UE is hosting a webinar with AFA President Sara Nelson, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal that is open to the public about the dangers of Medicare Advantage plans
  • Bernie Sanders held a webinar last week with the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC) about how to form a union. EWOC is continuing with a 4 part training series that you can register for here
  • Chuck Browning, Director of the Ford Department at the UAW, will be retiring at the end of the month, and the UAW has announced that Region 1A Director Laura Dickerson will replace him