Last Week in Southern Labor: 9/5 – 9/12

Jacob Morrison

Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from Friday, September 5, to Friday, September 12

New Campaigns

  • 14 workers at Spec’s & Spirits & Finer Food in Temple, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters
  • 33 workers at Prestressed Casting Co in Springfield, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 245
  • 650 workers at St Joseph Health in Bryan, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with National Nurses United (NNU)
  • 3 workers at EMCOR Government Services in Washington, DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 99
  • 26 workers at Starbucks in West Palm Beach, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with Starbucks Workers United, as did 21 more at a location in Bowling Green, KY
  • 2 workers at Momentive Performance Materials in Friendly, WV filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC – UFCW) Local 698C
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 455 as the union representing 550 workers at Wayne Sanderson Farms in Hammond, LA
  • 21 workers at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in Washington, DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1200
  • 47 workers at Dollar & Thrifty in Orlando, FL filed a petition to decertify the United Service Workers Union (USWU) Local 74 (they’re affiliated with that weird International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades – IUJAT)
  • The Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) is attempting to raid a unit of 21 guards at Metro Special Police Department in Washington, DC who are currently represented by the National Capital Union for Security Officers (NCUFSO)

Election Results

  • 13 workers at Custom Fabrication in Philpot, KY voted 3 to 10 against unionization with the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters
  • 31 workers at GM Culinary in Austin, TX voted 21 to 10 in favor of unionization with UNITE HERE Local 23
  • 14 workers at Starbucks in Nashville, TN withdrew their petition for a union election with Starbucks Workers United
  • 41 workers at GFL Plant Services in Houston, TX voted 22 to 19 in favor of unionization with IBEW Local 988
  • 8 workers at Velocity Electric and Automation in Grain Valley, MO voted 4 to 3 in favor of unionization with IBEW Local 124
  • 18 workers at Puerto Rico Energy in San Juan, PR voted to maintain their unionization with the Congress of Industrial Unions of Puerto Rico in a decertification election 9 (for the Congress of Industrial Unions) to 2 (for the Teamsters) to 4 (for no union)
  • 4 workers at UFCW Local 540 in Dallas, TX withdrew their petition for a union election with the federation of Agents and International Representatives (FAIR)
  • The International Guards Union of America withdrew their attempt to raid a unit of 21 security guards at Paragon Systems in Washington DC who are currently represented by the United Government Security Officers of America 
  • Workers for the Ft. Bend Transit Authority in Rosenburg, TX voted in favor of unionization with the Transport Workers Union (TWU)

Grievances, Unfair Labor Practices, & Court Cases

  • The recent immigration raids at the Hyundai facility in Georgia have brought attention to their poor employment practices generally, and how 3 workers have died in the buildout of the factory already. The UAW and the Korean Metal Workers Union (which represents Hyundai workers in South Korea) released a joint statement, saying in part: “Capital crosses borders to exploit labor. The state, having abandoned its obligation to protect human rights, seems now obsessed with “hunting down workers.” At this moment, international solidarity among labor unions is more urgent than ever. KMWU and UAW will take the lead and respond together to defend the rights of workers around the world.”

Strikes & Bargaining

  • GM is laying off 700 workers at its Spring Hill, TN plant, which is unionized with the UAW Local 1853. The local union president told media that these layoffs are temporary though as they retool the plant for different vehicles, and that thanks to their union contract, they will still be getting paid a portion of their salary while they are laid off
  • Machinist Union members at Boeing in St Louis, MO voted to reject a tentative agreement with the company, continuing the strike. Members say that the deal didn’t include enough. 3,200 workers are on strike and Boeing says they are going to start hiring permanent replacements, but striking workers aren’t worried because they say no one is inside the plant to train the scabs. Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley sided with the striking workers, saying management needs to “suck it up” and give the workers what they’re asking for
  • Workers at Invest in Louisiana – unionized with the NewsGuild CWA – ratified a new union contract that includes raises, 12 weeks of parental leave, and more
  • Workers at Greyhound nationwide – unionized with the International Association of Machinists (IAM) ratified a new union contract that includes raises and more paid time off, among other things, according to the union

Political & Legislative

  • A Tennessee think tank released a report showing that costs are still rising faster than wages for most Tennesseans, that tax incentives are hurting municipal budgets, and housing costs are skyrocketing
  • More news on living conditions in the south: Oxfam released a report on the best and worst states to be a worker based on wage, worker protection, and right to organize policies
  • A Florida city council person filed a disclosure indicating that he has been union busting on the side. Florida reporter McKenna Schueler pointed out multiple inconsistencies in his filings and the fact that he filed months late – a violation of the law
  • The TVA is proposing new gas turbines in South Memphis – union members spoke in support of the proposal at a recent public comment section and environmental activists spoke out against
  • Some unions have responded to the assassination of Charlie Kirk – Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO, said in part: “The labor movement has a long and storied history of promoting nonviolent activism to effect change. In these troubling times, we urge all leaders across the ideological spectrum to join us in unequivocally defending the protection of freedom of speech without the threat of violence and hate that divides working people.”
  • National Nurses United (NNU) – which represents nurses at some VA facilities – held rallies across the country last week protesting short staffing at VA facilities following an OIG report that stated that 139 facilities are short staffed
  • The Atlanta Labor Council endorsed DSA member Kelsea Bond for city council
  • North Carolina Governor Josh Stein spoke to the NC AFLCIO at their convention, highlighting his support for more affordable housing, investments in education, and greater access to child care.