Last Week in Southern Labor: 12/12 – 1/9

Jacob Morrison

Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to during the weeks between Friday, December 12, and Friday, January 9

We’ve got a big round-up this week and lots of interesting stuff. Thanks so much for subscribing! If you haven’t yet, share the newsletter around to your fellow union members so they can keep up with Southern labor news too. 

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

  • Workers at several Starbucks locations filed petitions to hold a union election with Starbucks Workers United. These union filings came as workers filed a total of 19 such petitions across 15 states in a single day in December:
    • 20 workers in Houston, TX 
    • 15 workers in Greenville, SC
    • 21 workers at a location in Springfield, MO
    • 13 workers in Blytheville, AR 
    • 22 workers in Radcliff, KY
    • 14 workers in Reston, VA
    • 17 workers in McLean, VA
  • 23 workers at Guitar Center in Bartlett, TN filed a petition to hold a union election with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union
  • The employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 117 workers at Albertsons in Sherman, TX demonstrated support for unionization with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)
  • 73 workers at Metro Park Warehouses in Kansas City, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 838
  • 8 workers at Mission Conversion Service Alliance in Kevil, KY filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Steel Workers (USW)
  • 6 workers at UPS in Dallas, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 745
  • 9 workers at Daimler Truck in Jacksonville, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Auto Workers (UAW) 
  • 17 workers at RE Global in Ft Stewart, GA filed a petition to hold a union election with the Industrial Technical and Professional Employees Union (ITPEU-OPEIU) Local 4873
  • 4 workers at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the District of Columbia’s Nurses Association
  • 53 workers at Sonaca in St Charles, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) 
  • 525 security guards at Paragon Professional Services in El Paso, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with Federal Contract Guards of America
  • 37 workers at American Chemical Society in Washington, DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the Washington Baltimore News Guild Local 32035
  •  64 workers at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Washington DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the IBT Staff Council
  • 1 worker at the Associated Press in San Juan, PR filed a petition to hold a union election with the News Guild Local 31222
  • 2 workers at Hertz Corporation in Florissant, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 618
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer – and with the help of the National Right to Work Foundation – filed a petition to decertify the National Union of Nuclear Security Officers as the union representing 250 security guards at Southern Nuclear Operating Company in Waynesboro, GA. Interestingly, the Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) appear to have taken the opportunity to attempt to raid the unit, and will be on the ballot as well
  • 10 workers at Concessions International St Croix in Christiansted, Virgin Islands, filed a petition to hold a union election with the Virgin Island Workers Union

Election Results

  • 23,965 workers at Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Miami, FL voted 4,625 to 502 in favor of recertifying th eUnited Teachers of Dade (UTD) as their union. UTD is one of the largest teachers union locals in the South
  • 13,056 workers at Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, FL voted 3,270 to 70 in favor of recertifying the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association as their union
  • 183 workers for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits at 5 facilities across Louisiana voted in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Locals 270 and 568
  • 311 workers at United Natural Foods in Lancaster, TX voted 107 to 97 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 745 (it was interesting to see the tweet from the Teamsters International account on this, they described the results as an “overwhelming” victory – not how I would describe it. In a more sober comment from the union though, they noted that 3,500 workers at the company have joined the union since 2022, bringing the number of workers they represent to 5,500)
  • 300 workers at Genesis Logistics in Stafford, VA voted “overwhelmingly” according to the union in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 639 in a card check election
  • 57 workers at Pine Hill Rehabilitation and Wellness in Birmingham, AL voted 4 to 26 against unionization with RWDSU
  • 74 workers at MBM Logistics in Orlando, FL voted 49 to 25 to maintain unionization with the Teamsters Local 385 in a decertification election
  • 139 workers at Heatec in Chattanooga, TN voted 43 to 84 against unionization with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB)
  • 99 workers at First Student (a school bus driving company) in Grandview, MO voted 43 to 25 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 838
  • 7 workers at SRM Concrete in Glasgow, KY voted 6 to 1 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 89. In a press release, the union called out the companies illegal union busting tactics including retaliating against pro union employees, and noted that they have filed several unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board
  • Workers at Climate Pros in TX voted in favor of unionization with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) Local 100
  • 81 workers at MV Transportation in Port St Lucie, FL voted in favor of unionization with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1577
  • 4 workers at EMCOR in Winchester, VA voted in favor of unionization with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 99
  • 28 workers at ABM Building Services in Alexandria, VA voted 11 to 16 against unionization with UA Local 602
  • 7 workers at Windstream Kentucky East in Calvert City, KY voted 6 to 0 in favor of unionization with IBEW Local 463
  • 8 workers at EML in Washington, DC voted 8 to 0 in favor of unionization with IUOE Local 99
  • 19 workers at Mygrant Glass Company in Little Rock, AR voted 1 to 7 against unionization with a union called “B062 United”
  • 18 workers at Republic National Distributing Company in Chesapeake, VA voted 7 to 11 against unionization with the Liquor and Wine Sales Representatives Union Local 3 
  • 16 workers at Honey Bucket in McDonough, GA voted 7 to 9 against unionization with the Teamsters Local 728
  • 12 workers at Luminant Generation Company in Tatum, TX voted 2 to 10 against unionization with IBEW Local 2337
  • 19 workers at Cummins in Miami Lakes, FL voted 9 to 0 in favor of maintaining unionization with the Teamsters Local 769 in a decertification election (how’d that even reach an election I wonder)
  • 46 workers at TalentBurst in Christiansburg, VA voted 33 to 4 in favor of unionization with the USW
  • 16 workers at Starbucks in Brentwood, MO voted 3 to 7 against unionization with Starbucks Workers United 
  • 5 workers at Sunbelt Rentals in Jefferson City, MO voted 4 to 1 in favor of unionization with IUOE Local 513
  • 2 workers at Action Facilities Management in Arlington, VA voted 1 to 0 in favor of unionization with IUOE Local 99
  • 9 workers at Rabroker Air Conditioning in Hewitt, TX voted 2 to 5 against unionization with UA Local 529
  • 144 workers at Bacardi in Jacksonville, FL voted 34 to 101 against unionization with the Teamsters Local 947
  • 34 workers at Prestressed Casting Company in Springfield, MO voted 6 to 14 against unionization with the Teamsters Local 245
  • No workers voted among the 3 bargaining unit at EMCOR Government Services in Washington, DC, so IUOE Local 99 lost the election
  • 9 workers at Jewish Family Services in St Louis, MO voted 7 to 2 in favor of unionization with CWA Local 6400
  • 31 workers at Waste Connections of Missouri in Richwoods, MO voted 9 to 20 against unionization with the Teamsters Local 610
  • Several groups of workers withdrew election petitions over this period:
    • 2 workers at AORS21 LLC in Wheeling, WV with the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE) 
    • Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the IAMAW District Lodge 9 as the union representing the 8 workers at Reliable Lexus in Springfield, MO – and then withdrew the petition
    • 7 workers at Amentum in Laredo, TX with IAMAW 
    • 500 workers at the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild CWA Local 32035, and then withdrew their petition. They filed their petition on the December 2nd and withdrew on the 16th. Then, on January 8th, CWA puts out a press release announcing that they had secured a supermajority of cards signed, but management refused voluntary recognition, so now workers are “gearing up” for an NLRB election
    • 8 workers at RMC in Perryville, MO with the Teamsters Local 600, and 10 at a location in Saint Genevieve, MO with the same union
    • 25 workers at Spire Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS with IBEW Local 605
  • The Regional Director closed a union election petition without an election for a group of 39 workers at Charter Communications in Florence, KY who had sought to unionize with IBEW Local 369
  • For the rest of Florida’s public sector organizing updates, subscribe to caringclassrevolt.substack.com

Grievances, Unfair Labor Practices, & Court Cases

  • Texas Teachers are standing up for free speech. Their union – the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) filed a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency and its commissioner, Mike Morath, challenging what the union calls “unlawful investigations into educators’ protected First Amendment activity in the days following last September’s assassination of Charlie Kirk”

Strikes & Bargaining

  • Journalists at the South Florida Sun Sentinel – unionized with the Sun Sentinel Guild (CWA Local 3108) – voted unanimously in favor of ratifying their first union contract. This contract is the first union contract in the Sentinel’s 115 year history. It includes across the board raises for the first time in 10 years, a $1,500 signing bonus, and protections against job losses from AI
  • The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) has been able to protect flight attendants pay and benefits as Spirit heads into bankruptcy. The union was able to forge an agreement to shield those things from the courts, management, and financiers. In a statement, the Spirit AFA Master Executive Council voiced optimism, saying, “We showed the company we will NEVER be silent. Hold your head high. You showed up, you spoke up, and you refused to be ignored. We have faced challenges before, and we will overcome this too, as we have in the past.”
  • As journalists at the Austin American-Statesman negotiate their new contract, they are requesting reader support through a petition calling on management to commit to fair, sustainable pay, set clear limits on the use of AI, and improve retirement and leave benefits. 
  • Houston Public Media has a new article about all the wins that UNITE HERE Local 23 has secured in their city over the last year
  • In mid-December, technicians who had sought to unionize with the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE) on the set of a drama about the gun crisis in America titled “The Gun on Second Street” in Wheeling, WV walked off set in a strike – saying that the production had refused to recognize their union or engage in talks. The production is independent, has a contract with SAG-AFTRA, but no other entertainment unions. Interestingly, Eric Swalwell is the Executive Producer, the union says he has been notified of the issues on set, and has not commented on the matter publicly.  
  • 1,600 workers in Glendale, KY at the BlueOval site – who recently voted to unionize with the UAW – are being laid off now according to the company as a result of the Trump administration’s rolling back on investments in EVs. This comes as Ford dissolves its joint venture with Korea’s SK On and pulls back more generally from EVs
  • The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement expired on January 9th, and leaders of the player’s union are saying they are “frustrated” with the pace of negotiations. As the deadline came and went, there isn’t clear reporting on whether or not a strike or lockout is likely. 
  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it would eliminate collective bargaining agreements with 47,000 TSA agents. The union, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) notes that since the implementation of the contract the workforce has been more stable and happy with the job, and that this move will deteriorate working conditions. The union plans to challenge the move in court

Political & Legislative

  • Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico have announced that they will be having their first debate at the Texas AFL-CIO’s convention in a couple of weeks
  • The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) is applauding the bipartisan introduction of legislation in the US House (one of the authors being Alabama Democrat Shomari Figures): the Bus Operator Safety and Security Act. The ATU says the legislation would “require new federally funded buses to include protective barriers around operator workstations, and is a direct response to an alarming national rise in reported assaults on bus operators and transit.”
  • During his term, Biden issued an executive order requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to give qualified employees the right of first refusal of employment with a successor contract. At the time, the Machinists Union’s International President had this to say: “President Biden’s reinstatement of President Obama’s Executive Order turned back the disastrous policy of President Trump and created clear guidance for employers. President Biden is a champion for working families and continues to put them at the top of his agenda. Thousands of IAM members and other service contract workers can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing their jobs won’t be displaced when government service contracts change hands from one employer to another. Our nation can take great pride in the efficient government procurement and fairness to these workers and their families under Executive Order 14055.” The Trump administration has now revoked that rule and those protections for workers
  • Some politicians don’t want millions of people to lose healthcare on their watch. So after passing a discharge petition to bring the legislation to a vote because the Republican leadership wouldn’t bring it to the floor, the US House voted in favor of a clean extension of the ACA subsidies, the legislation now goes to the Senate, but similar legislation had already failed in that body. The AFL-CIO said in a statement that they “commend the Republican and Democratic leaders who stood with workers and voted to stop this health care price hike.”
  • Unions reacted to the ICE killing of a Minnesota mother last week. The country’s largest nurses union – National Nurses United – said “armed federal agents on our streets and in our communities, not immigrant workers, are the biggest threat to our collective safety” and that “increased militarization of our neighborhoods actively endangers public health.” UNITE HERE, a union of food service and hospitality workers, said this is part of a trend: “This murder is just the latest example of an agency, and an immigration enforcement apparatus in general, that is completely out of control.” They also mentioned that “UNITE HERE members who work at the Minneapolis Airport have been detained by ICE when they showed up to work, despite having work authorizations and valid badges from the TSA.”
  • Unions are reacting to the attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of its President by the US. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) – a global labor federation that traces its roots back to an anti-communist labor formation from the cold war – came out in strong opposition to the move. In their statement, they condemned military intervention, defended sovereignty and self-determination, demanded respect for human rights, and called for peace and dialogue. The Communication Workers of America (CWA) – a US union representing primarily telecommunications and manufacturing workers – also condemned the US’ actions and pointed to affects on working people from the administrations’ policy, pointing out how “the administration’s chaotic Venezuelan policy has undermined an American manufacturing success story when union workers at GE Appliance Park lost their work permits earlier this year.”
  • The worst year for job creation since 2020 – that’s what the latest numbers from Trump’s own labor department shows, and even then, most of those jobs were created before May. Employers added 50,000 jobs in December and 584,000 for the year. In 2024, the last year of Joe Biden’s presidency, employers added more than 2 million jobs. 
  • 3 US House representatives from the South signed on to Pramila Jayapal’s Medicare For All bill, including – interestingly – Shomari Figures of Alabama. He represents a more competitive district and has so far in his tenure tried to lean more towards the center
  • The VA eliminated 35,000 positions last month – mostly eliminating unfilled open positions. This comes after more than 30,000 workers left or were laid off last year. The Washington Post reports that “employees warn that the contraction will add pressure to an already stretched system, contributing to longer wait times for care”
  • North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), condemned Trump’s elimination of off-shore wind projects 
  • A new report indicates that Alabama remains basically the lowest tax state in the country, as well as the most regressive
  • Another one of Donald Trump’s nominees to the TVA – a car salesman who inherited his business from his dad – faced questioning before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Workers last week. He said he believes the TVA is “more appropriate” as a public entity, said he no longer believes Joe Biden stole the 2020 election, and said that sexual assault allegations made against him were to “harass” him. He also expressed strong support for nuclear energy
  • Alabama Power proposed, and now the Public Service Commission has approved, a two year rate freeze. Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth is very upset about Energy Alabama pointing out the potential problems with this, and that Alabamians deserve rate cuts, not just freezes, but instead of explaining why Alabamians don’t deserve rate cuts, he resorts to ad hominem attacks against the group.

Internal Union Affairs

  • The International Association of Machinists (IAM) chartered a new local in Houston, TX – Local 96 – representing skilled locomotive engineers with their Rail Division
  • Leonard Aguilar and Lorraine Montemayor have been sworn in as President and Secretary Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO respectively, after the former President Rick Levy retired