Last Week in Southern Labor: 7/4 – 7/11

Jacob Morrison

Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from July 4 to July 11

New Campaigns

  • 7 workers at Velocity Electric and Automation in Grain Valley, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 124
  • 6 security guards at MTAC in Lorton, VA filed a petition to hold a union election with Union Rights for Security Officers (URSO)
  • 5 workers at Aetos Systems in Merritt Island, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with IBEW Local 2088
  • 7 workers at Engineering Support Personnel in Naval Air Station, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) 
  • Some security guards among the 25 at Walden Security in Chattanooga, TN filed a petition to hold a decertification election with URSO
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer 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 
  • 37 workers at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA filed a petition to hold a union election with Workers United
  • 12 security guards at Triple Canopy, a Constellis Company in Herndon, VA filed a petition to hold a union election with Protective Service Officers United
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer, and with help from the National Right to Work Foundation, filed a petition to decertify the Teamsters Local 385 as the union representing 40 workers at Imperial Dade in Orlando, FL 
  • 6 workers at Equipment Share in Grain Valley, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 101-S

Campaign Updates

  • Navistar / International Motors in Huntsville, after workers submitted a petition to hold a union election, offered up similar arguments that SpaceX and others have put forward saying that Regional Directors of the NLRB don’t have the authority to hold elections when the board is without a quorum. The regional director rejected that argument and scheduled the election for August 7.

Election Results

  • 9 workers at Amentum in Corpus Christi, TX withdrew their petition for a union election with the IAMAW
  • 17 workers at Starbucks in Ridgeland, MS voted 14 to 0 in favor of unionization with Starbucks Workers United, as did 19 at another location in Chapel Hill, NC (voting 14 to 1)
  • 20 workers at UNFI in Pompano Beach, FL voted 15 to 4 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 769
  • 21 workers at High Profile Columbia in Columbia, MO withdrew their petition for a union election with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 655
  • 741 workers at Brillient Corporation in Lees Summit, MO voted 236 to 395 against unionization with the IAMAW Local 778

Grievances, Unfair Labor Practices, & Court Cases

  • The Supreme Court granted a stay which will allow the Trump administration to move forward with some of its layoffs while the case is decided on the merits. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), said in a statement, “This decision does not change the simple and clear fact that reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution. While we are disappointed in this decision, we will continue to fight on behalf of the communities we represent and argue this case to protect critical public services that we rely on to stay safe and healthy.” The AFLCIO also condemned the decision, as did other federal employee unions. 
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is retaliating against workers who are speaking out about the potential dangers of the administration’s approach.

Strikes & Bargaining

  • Meanwhile, the Veterans Affairs Department announced that it is scrapping its proposal to fire 80,000 workers. AFGE celebrated the move, saying that “because AFGE members across the country raised our voices, built coalitions, and took action, that plan was stopped in its tracks.”
  • The Teamsters have begun and expanded a strike against Republic Waste Services nationwide, including in Georgia. The union now says 2,000 of its members are on strike nationwide. The Teamsters represent nearly 8,000 workers at Republic Waste Services. The union says the company provoked the strike by not settling a fair contract with its members
  • Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien also held a town hall where he addressed UPS members regarding the company’s proposed buy out plans. The union holds that the plan is a violation of the collective bargaining agreement because of the company’s agreement to create, not cut, tens of thousands of jobs. While the union fights the plan, the union is encouraging members to reject the buyout plan, tell management to take a hike, and to file a grievance over the roll out of this plan
  • Workers at GE Aerospace, unionized with the IUE-CWA, ratified a new 4 year contract that includes a 17% raise over the life of the contract, along with pension and 401k protections, improved leave policies, and more
  • 95% of members at the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) ratified their new contract with the postal service, voting 34,867 for and 1,863 against. As a reminder, the contract looks pretty similar to the NALC contract in terms of wages, but job protections are much better, with everyone hired before September 2024 being protected from any layoffs, and maintaining a full COLA. 
  • RWDSU/UFCW members who work at Borden Dairy plants in Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tenn., recently ratified a new contract. The union says that the three-year contract includes the highest ever wage increases at the dairy, front loaded, and two additional annual paid holidays 
  • Forbes has a story out about AI and misinformation among flight attendants as members of the AFA vote on the new contract with United Airlines. The article points to several purported criticisms of the contract that are either completely made up or exactly the opposite of the truth 
  • The Teamsters are calling Allegiant Airlines frivolous spending as the company continues to refuse to negotiate in good faith.

Political & Legislative

  • Missouri’s governor signed into law the repeal of paid sick leave that was approved by nearly 60% of the voting public, as well as the connecting of the minimum wage to inflation. 
  • The Alabama Reflector has a report out on how hospitals are scrambling to cover coming funding losses from the Medicaid cuts
  • The American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) released a statement condemning the Trump administration’s withholding of billions of dollars of approved funds for schools across the country. They say that “With just weeks before students return to classrooms, school districts and state education agencies are finalizing their plans for the new school year. This abrupt and unexplained funding delay has thrown those preparations and their budgets into disarray. Districts are being forced to slash programs, freeze contracts, and halt hiring. School leaders now face the impossible task of opening schools without knowing whether the federal funds they relied on will arrive—or when.”
  • The Guardian has new reporting detailing how some employers of undocumented immigrants have cut pay for their workers following Trump’s ramping up of immigration raids, because it has given them increased leverage over their workers
  • The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) responded to the confirmation of the new head of the FAA, saying in part: “We appreciate that his stated priority will be to support the Administration’s plan to modernize our antiquated air traffic control system… We have concerns about his past efforts to lower pilot training requirements, and we will continue to bring the line pilot’s perspective to any discussions about changing these life-saving measures and hold him to his word that safety is his top priority. Maintaining rigorous training requirements and keeping two pilots on the flight deck at all times remain top priorities for ALPA.”

Internal Union Affairs

  • The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has controversially launched a National Academy for AI Instruction with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic
  • The NFL Players Association appears to have had a strange confidential agreement with management. ESPN has the reporting. 
  • The UAW announced the signing of a historic agreement with the Korean Metal Workers Union. The South’s own Region 8 Director Tim Smith was one of the representatives for the UAW during the trip.