Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from July 11 to July 18
New Campaigns
50 workers at Peoples Transit in Atlanta, GA filed a petition to hold a union election with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 732
3 workers at Amentum in Corpus Christi, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
100 workers at A National Limousine in Atlanta, GA filed a petition to hold a union election with ATU Local 732
65 workers at Arkema in Axis, AL filed a petition to hold a union election with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU)
8 workers at Loomis in Charleston, WV filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Federation of LEOs – PBA Armored Car Division
18 workers at Univar Solutions in Garland, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 564
21 workers at Fleming Mason Energy Cooperative in Flemingsburg, KY filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2100
7 workers at Velocity Electric and Automation in Grain Valley, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the IBEW Local 124
32 workers at Six Flags Entertainment in Kansas City, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 31
Election Results
2 groups of workers withdrew their petition for a union election last week:
5 workers at Aetos in Merritt Island, FL who had been seeking to unionize with the IBEW Local 2088
37 workers at Tulane in New Orleans, LA who had been seeking to unionize with Workers United
Workers who had previously filed a petition to decertify the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 335 as the union representing 27 workers at American Water MSG in Fort Leonard Wood, MO withdrew their decertification petition
Starbucks workers at two locations voted to unionize with Starbucks Workers United, both in Austin, TX with one group voting 10 to 0 and the other 6 to 3
1,100 workers at 14 US Geological Survey (USGS) locations across the country voted to unionize with the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). The union reports that some units had a 99% yes vote, and more elections are scheduled at other USGS locations
Grievances, Unfair Labor Practices, & Court Cases
Drivers with the zTrip IRIS microtransit program in Kansas City filed a federal class action lawsuit demanding thousands in overtime back pay that drivers had a right to receive but the company never paid them. Low-wage workers with Stand Up KC and members representing faith, labor, and civil rights organizations stood in solidarity with drivers during a press conference announcing the suit
The NLRB reached a settlement agreement with Lowe’s in New Orleans after finding merit in the Unfair Labor Practice charges filed by the union that workers there attempted to organize with. As a result of the settlement, Lowe’s will now pay thousands of dollars in backpay to workers it illegally fired and send a notice to its employees reminding them that it is their right to form a union. Ultimately workers there didn’t win a union, but their campaign did lead to the company raising wages for workers nationwide
Strikes & Bargaining
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) were joined by UNITE HERE Local 23, UAW, Charlotte Metro CLC, the AFL-CIO, and other local coalitions to rally outside Two Wells Fargo Center in Charlotte, N.C., to publicly condemn Wells Fargo for their illegal union-busting tactics and to demand that the company agree to a fair contract with Wells Fargo Workers United-CWA (WFWU-CWA). Recently, Wells Fargo Labor Relations Executive Stan Sherrill has been visiting unionized branches to interrogate union members and to spread misinformation, calling union signage “propaganda” and illegally encouraging workers to file for a decertification petition. CWA has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
200 drivers at Genesis Logistics, a DHL Supply Chain subsidiary, held a practice picket to demand a fair and timely first Teamsters contract. Earlier this year, the group voted by an over 90 percent margin to join the Teamsters. Since then, the company has stalled negotiations and refused to engage seriously. Last week, the drivers voted to authorize a strike in response to management’s delays and illegal anti-union behavior.
UFCW members and officers went on Seth Harris’ Power at Work podcast to discuss how their union was able to get the first new pension in the meatpacking sector in nearly 50 years. They went into a little bit more detail than the officer did on our program, so its worth a listen even if you’ve heard our coverage of it
ATU Local 1546 is Baton Rouge, LA is refusing to sign off on the local transit authority’s safety plan, which is required for the region to get federal transit dollars. The union president says that administrators have allowed a “systemic failure” of safety
APWU President Dimondstein issued a short address to his membership congratulating them on their recently ratified contract
Union nurses in Kansas City are protesting a closure of portions of their hospital
Political & Legislative
LaborLab released a new report detailing how union compliance with reporting requirements continues to increase even as employers and union busters continue to be negligent in their reporting responsibilities
The IAM is renewing its calls for increased protections for airline workers in the wake of a guilty plea from someone who assaulted one of their members – punching them into a state of unconsciousness. Specifically, the union is calling for mandatory federal penalties for assaults on all aviation workers, increased staffing and security in high-risk airport areas, expanded training for de-escalation and reporting, and zero-tolerance policies that are jointly enforced by airlines and federal agencies
There are some great new analysis pieces up on Confined Space – a newsletter about workplace safety and labor issues. Stephen Knight analyzed a recent study that concluded that immigration enforcement undermines worker safety
The Trump administration has fired 17 immigration judges across the country without cause, according to the International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees (IFPTE), the union that represents the judges
The AFLCIO has secured a majority in the House for the Protecting America’s Workforce Act, which would rescind Trump’s illegal executive order rescinding union rights for most federal workers. Now they are calling on congressmembers who cosponsored the legislation to sign what’s called a discharge petition to bring the legislation to the floor for a vote
VA nurses tell reporters that they are skeptical that large scale employee reductions can be carried out without affecting patient care
Internal Union Affairs
The AFLCIO kicked off their bus tour across the country, calling for economic justice. The IAM joined in Charlotte, NC and highlighted their unions fight at the airport there. They stopped in Nashville too, with workers there highlighting the negative impacts of federal funding cuts.
