Last Month in Southern Labor: 5/22 – 6/26

Jacob Morrison

Every week in the south, workers organize new unions, they bargain for new contracts, they fight for good legislation and against bad legislation, and they put the boss in their place. These are some of the stories we could find from May 22nd to June 26th: this is Last MONTH in Southern Labor

New Campaigns

1,271 workers in 38 bargaining units have gone public with their union campaigns, and 220 workers in 4 bargaining units are trying to decertify their unions

  • 19 workers at Starbucks Corporation in Suffolk, VA filed a petition to hold a union election with Starbucks Workers United, as did 23 workers at a location in Navarre, FL, 19 more in Little Rock, AR, 12 at another Little Rock location, 1 in Bowling Green, KY, 15 in Falls Church, VA, and 25 in Nashville, TN
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 320 as the union representing 19 workers at Skyworks in Decatur, AL
    • For more information on this case, check out our interview with the IUOE Business Manager Cory Kuykendall on our youtube channel. The employer has really run a significant anti-union campaign and burned probably north of a hundred thousand dollars on union busters. The friends of the show at LaborLab filed a complaint against SkyWorks at the OLMS for unreported persuader activity
  • 66 workers at MV Transportation, Inc. in Cary, NC filed a petition to hold a union election with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 1328 
  • 90 workers at Vision Quest Solutions Inc. in Washington, DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Union Security Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA)
  • 27 workers at Nexstar Media Group, Inc. WDCW-TV/WDVM-TV in Washington, DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET-CWA) Local 31
  • The Employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 9 workers at Build A Bear Workshop, Inc. in Collierville, TN demonstrated support for unionization with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1529 
  • The Employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 16 workers at PNGI Charles Town Gaming, LLC in Charles Town, WV demonstrated support for unionization with the International Brotherhood of Service Workers (IBSW) Local 947 (never heard of this union, but they are an AFL-CIO affiliate!)
  • 120 workers at Westport Axel Co., LLC in Cloverdale, VA filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 171 
  • The Employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 48 workers at Georgia Power Company in Atlanta, GA demonstrated support for unionization with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 84
    • There is another petition for workers at the same company, to unionize with the same union, in the same jobs, and at the same locations, but for some reason with a different case file. Seems like its the same election, but if anyone has another idea of what’s going on please let me know. Here’s the file
  • 30 workers at GF Saint Mary, LLC in Saint Louis, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the (UFCW) Local 655
  • 81 workers at One Corps, Inc. in San Juan, PR filed a petition to hold a union election with the SPFPA
  • 15 workers at Rusk County Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Henderson, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the IBEW LOCAL 66 and 738 
  • 16 workers at Pye-Barker Fire & Safety in Schertz, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA)’s Road Sprinkler Fitters Local 669
  • 37 workers at Mid-South Electric Cooperative Association in Navasota, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the IBEW Local 6
  • 20 workers at Jacobus Energy, LLC in Peachtree Corners, GA filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 728
  • 9 workers at Watson Clinic LLP in Lakeland, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the UFCW Local 1625 
  • The Employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 11 workers at Texas Public Radio in San Antonio, TX demonstrated support for unionization with the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)
    • There is, strangely, also a decertification petition that was filed (with the help of the National Right to Work Foundation) around the same time, for the same group of workers, at the same location, against SAG-AFTRA.
  • 11 workers at IMI KENTUCKY, LLC in Bardstown, KY filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 89
  • 7 workers at Amentum Services, Inc. in Houston, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the UFCW Local 1996 as the union representing 13 workers at Kaiser Permanente in Duluth, GA
  • 2 workers at Kentucky Power in Ashland, KY filed a petition to hold a union election with the IBEW Local 978
  • 47 security guards at Centerra Group, LLC in New Orleans, LA filed a petition to hold a union election with the United States Court Security Officers
  • 28 workers at Green Energy Origin Tennessee, LLC in Memphis, TN filed a petition to hold a union election with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM)
  • 34 workers at Worlds of Fun LLC in Kansas City, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 31
  • 145 workers at Swaybox Studios, Inc. in New Orleans, LA filed a petition to hold a union election with IATSE
  • 70 workers at Quikrete Construction Materials, LLC in Newberry, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Steel Workers (USW)
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the Central South Carpenters Regional Council as the union representing 48 workers at Midwest Drywall Co., Inc. in Oklahoma City, OK
  • 8 workers at DHL Network Operations (USA), Inc. in Miami, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 769
  • 26 workers at Proficient Auto Transport, LLC in Saint Louis, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with the Teamsters Local 604
  • Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) as the union representing 140 workers at BWXT Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. (BWXT NOG) in Lynchburg, VA
  • 15 workers at the Boca Grande Fire Department in Boca Grande, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the Southwest Florida Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Local 1826 (IAFF)

Election Results

1,402 workers in 26 bargaining units voted in favor of unionization, 1,163 workers in 10 bargaining units voted against unionization, 974 workers in 9 bargaining units withdrew their petition for a union election, 5 workers in 2 bargaining units did NOT decertify their union, and 263 workers in 2 bargaining units did. Additionally, 19,424 workers in 14 bargaining units in Florida’s public sector voted by 97% to recertify their unions. Despite this, under a new Florida law that takes effect today, NONE of those workers would have been able to keep their union

  • 728 workers at House of Raeford Farms, Inc. in Vienna, GA voted 239 to 397 against unionization with the UFCW Local 1996 
  • 49 workers at Central Alabama Electric Cooperative in Prattville, AL voted 23 to 17 in favor of unionization with the IBEW Local 443 
  • 343 workers at Schnellecke Logistics USA, LLC in Chattanooga, TN voted 187 to 91 in favor of unionization with the United Auto Workers (UAW)
  • 134 workers at the city of Titusville in Titusville, FL voted 79 to 12 in favor of unionization with the IBEW Local 606
  • Workers at Pasco County Schools in Land O’Lakes, FL voted 1,625 to 29 in favor of recertifying the United School Employees of Pasco as their union
  • 1 worker at ENFRA Solutions in Nashville, TN withdrew their petition with the UA Local 572 
  • 400 workers at Corning Optical Communications, LLC in Winston-Salem, NC withdrew their petition with the USW
  • 3 workers at Neal R Gross in Washington, DC withdrew their decertification petition, he IAMAW continues to represent them
  • 47 workers at Centerra Group, a Constellis Company in New Orleans, LA withdrew their petition with the United States Court Security Officers 
  • 4 workers at Street Legal in Fort Benning, GA withdrew their petition with the IUOE Local 926
  • 2 workers at British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in Washington, DC withdrew their petition with the IBEW Local 1200 
  • 105 workers at Astec Industries in Chattanooga, TN withdrew their petition with the IAMAW
  • The NLRB Regional Director closed a decertification petition against the Communication Workers of America (CWA) at Prime Communications Retail in Opelika, AL – the union still represents the 2 workers there
  • 400 workers at Garda World in El Paso, TX withdrew their petition with the SPFPA
  • 19 workers at Tyson Chicken Incorporated in Hope, AR voted against unionization with the UFCW Local 2008 
  • 18 workers at Fairbanks Morse, LLC in Houston, TX voted 7 to 9 against unionization with the IBB
  • 101 workers at Arcwood Environmental-Joplin Inc. in Carthage, MO voted 28 to 65 against unionization with the IAMAW
  • 37 workers at Tyson Chicken Incorporated in Fulton, AR voted against unionization with the UFCW Local 2008
  • 5 workers at El Paso Electric Company in El Paso, TX voted 5 to 0 in favor of unionization with the IBEW Local 960
  • 37 workers at Vestis Services, LLC in Tyler, TX voted 18 to 18 against unionization with the Teamsters Local Union 745
  • 10 workers at American Electric Power in Hurricane, WV voted 10 to 0 in favor of unionization with the IBEW Local 978
  • 4 workers at Shamrock Environmental Corporation in Oxford, GA voted 3 to 1 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 728
  • 5 workers at GHD Services Inc. in Calvert City, KY withdrew their petition with the IUOE Local 181
  • 8 workers at Tanner Industries, Inc. in Apopka, FL voted in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 385
  • 17 workers at Greif-Silsbee in Silsbee, TX voted 5 to 9 against unionization with the Printing, Packaging & Production Workers Union of North America (PPPWU-IAM) Local 527M 
  • 25 workers at Novel LLC in Memphis, TN voted 12 to 4 in favor of unionization with the CWA
  • 36 workers at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, TX voted 24 to 0 in favor of unionization with the CWA 
  • 20 workers at Xcel Energy in Amarillo, TX voted 16 to 2 in favor of unionization with the IBEW Local 602
  • 13 workers at First Student, Inc. in Scott City, MO voted 9 to 0 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 600
  • 49 workers at Legends Global in Florence, SC voted in favor of unionization with IATSE Local 333 
  • 9 workers at ADC LTD NM in Doral, FL voted in favor of unionization with the Federal Contract Guards of America (FCGOA) 
  • 18 workers at Starbucks Corporation in Muscle Shoals, AL voted 13 to 1 in favor of unionization with Starbucks Workers United
  • 14 workers at Waste Management Of Kentucky LLC in Louisville, KY voted 5 to 8 in favor of decertifying the Teamsters Local 783
  • 37 workers at Pacific Rail Services in Wilmer, TX voted 24 to 6 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 745 
  • 30 workers at Blank Street, Inc. in Washington, DC voted 12 to 0 in favor of unionization with Workers United 
  • 6 workers at EMCOR Government Services, Inc. in Washington, DC voted 3 to 0 in favor of unionization with the IUOE Local 99
  • 83 workers at Tri-County Electric Cooperative in Azle, TX voted 43 to 33 in favor of unionization with the IBEW LOCAL 66
  • 18 workers at Massage Envy in Stockbridge, GA voted 11 to 6 in favor of unionization with the PPPWU-IAM Local 527M 
  • 16 workers at Volvo Group North America, LLC in Justin, TX voted 9 to 10 against unionization with the Teamsters Local 767 
  • 221 workers at HR Bristol, LLC in Bristol, VA voted 108 to 65 in favor of unionization with the Teamsters Local 519 
  • 10 workers at The Hertz Corporation in El Paso, TX withdrew their petition with the Teamsters Local 745 
  • 23 workers at 3Fifteen Primo Cannabis in Valley Park, MO voted 7 to 8 against unionization with the UFCW Local 655 
  • 28 workers at NewsNation in Washington, DC voted 17 to 8 in favor of unionization with the IBEW Local 1200
  • 167 workers at Riverwood Center, LLC in Jacksonville, FL voted 55 to 58 against unionization with the Independent Association of Public and Private Employees (IAPPE)
  • 16 workers at Beleaf Medical, LLC in Saint Louis, MO voted in favor of unionization with the UFCW Local 655

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, see the full list of last month’s Florida public sector union elections, as well as exclusive details about union elections referenced here.

Grievances, Unfair Labor Practices, & Court Cases

  • Workers at three Hearst newspapers – including two in Texas (the Austin American-Statesman and the Dallas Morning News – have filed unfair labor practice charges against the papers. The workers, through their union, the NewsGuild, say that management at all three papers have “illegally withheld information from unions, refused to bargain in good faith, and retaliated against employees for exercising their legal right to organize.” 
  • The Supreme Court is allowing Trump to revoke TPS for Haitians – the AFL-CIO condemned the ruling. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler had this to say: By allowing the Trump administration to disregard the law, the court has put the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers at risk. TPS holders from Haiti, Syria and other countries came here fleeing danger, instability and crisis. They have built lives here, joined unions, and become integral to our workplaces and economy. Let’s be clear about who pays the price for this decision: working people. It’s not just wrong—it is a recipe for economic disaster that will create chaos in workplaces, disrupt key industries, and make it easier for bad bosses to exploit fear and drive down workplace standards and conditions for everyone. The Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda seeks to pit working people against each other—but the labor movement rejects that politics of fear. Congress must act immediately to protect TPS holders and stabilize our workforce by creating a broad and swift pathway to citizenship for those whose labor helps our country to prosper. We will keep fighting alongside immigrant workers and their families, because an injury to one is an injury to all.”

Strikes & Bargaining

  • Jackson, Mississippi bus drivers voted to go on strike. That’s what their union – the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1208 told Mississippi Today. This comes after the membership unanimously rejected the company’s latest offer. The company – MV Transportation – is contracted to run JTRAN, the city’s transit system. The two sides have been negotiating since early 2024. WAPT reports that drivers are seeking a raise from 23/hr to 26/hr in the first year. Meanwhile, the company is seeking to cut costs by reducing routes and ending Saturday service, on top of not accepting the pay increase. The Jackson Mayor has gotten involved, and hopes to resolve the dispute before Mid-July, when the strike would begin, but he hasn’t said publicly which side he is on or is closer to. Jackson is facing a deficit and the company claims they are losing money. 
  • Workers at Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets – a grocery store in Louisville, KY – just voted to ratify their first collective bargaining agreement nearly three years after they voted to unionize with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 227. The union says that the contract contains “provisions for just-cause disciplinary actions, meaningful arbitration processes, yearly salary increases, holiday pay, and job security assurances.” UFCW Local 227 President Bob Blair said in a statement “This is an important win for Kentucky natural foods workers, and we can’t wait to see our siblings at our other five locations join us.” We look forward to reporting on it when they do 
  • Registered nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital Center held a press conference to highlight critical community and patient safety concerns about management’s planned cuts to postpartum services at their hospital. Hospital leadership confirmed the permanent closure of postpartum unit 5F, which will eliminate 11 vital maternal health beds by July 26, 2026. Of all the babies born in D.C, 1 in 3 is delivered at MWHC. Between 2000 and 2018, all the obstetric programs were shuttered on the east side of the District, leaving none in Wards 5-8. MWHC and Howard University Hospital (HUH) have been the only options on the east side for nearly a decade, with MWHC providing the bulk of care. The union is calling on the hospital to reverse the decision
  • 35 workers at Coca Cola in St. Louis, MO voted by 90% to ratify a new 5 year collective bargaining agreement. Their union – the Teamsters Local 688 – said in a statement that the agreement includes an 18% raise, lowers health care costs, and protects retiree health care. They also doubled their shift differential. 
  • 9,000 workers in 36 states at AT&T Orange Mobility ratified a new 4 year collective bargaining agreement. Their union – the CWA – said the agreement “includes a top-tier benefits package and industry-leading wage increases. Other highlights include new job security provisions, call center scheduling improvements, and more” 
  • 136 workers at MissionWired in Washington DC – a digital marketing and fundraising agency for nonprofits and Democratic campaigns – ratified their first 3 year collective bargaining agreement. Their union – CWA Local 2336 – said the agreement “guarantees annual wage increases and raised salary bands, protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence, remote work arrangements, and compensatory time for holiday and weekend work.” The agreement comes after over two years of bargaining.
  • Workers at Trinity Rail System in Texas ratified a new three year collective bargaining agreement. Their union – the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) – said the agreement “includes wage increases of 15% by June 1, 2029, additional paid time off, and other work rule improvements.” 
  • 50 workers at the Texas Tribune in Austin, TX voted unanimously to ratify their first union contract. Their union – the Texas Tribune Guild (a NewsGuild affiliate) – said the contract establishes a $62,000 minimum wage, 5% in general wage increases, 2% retention raises every three years, and protections against AI. They spent two years at the bargaining table
  • Workers at the ACLU of DC voted to ratify their first union contract. I don’t see a contract length in their announcement, but presumably it’s three years. Their union – the Washington Baltimore NewsGuild – said the contract includes an average 11.5% raise, a $4,000 ratification bonus, a minimum salary of $72,000 (with all current staff members making at least $85,000), 17 holidays, 4 weeks of vacation, 3 weeks of sick leave, 16 weeks of paid parental leave, a 3 month sabbatical after 5 years of service, layoff protections, and more
  • IAM District 141 reached a tentative agreement with United Airlines for the 7 bargaining units it represents. The TAs for each unit are available here, but they don’t have a super quick summary for the changes. Voting concluded and 4 of the units ratified the agreement while 3 did not. The new contract goes into effect for workers who ratified the agreement, while workers who didn’t are being asked to fill out another bargaining survey to identify key issues.  
  • 300 workers at Leonardo DRS in West Plains, MO voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement – ending a lockout. Their union – IAM Local 2782 – said the five year agreement includes 30% in wage increases, minimal insurance cost increases, and more. The lockout lasted nearly a month, during which time they voted down multiple contract offers
  • Workers for the city of Chattanooga – members of SEIU – are pushing back on the mayor’s proposed raise of 3%, asking instead for 5% and a minimum wage of $45,000

Political & Legislative

  • Social Security workers are raising the alarm about the state of the agency. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 220 President Jessica LaPointe said in a statement to Congress that the agency is at a 59 year staffing low. She said that “record backlogs, field office closures, reassignments, and deteriorating service are the direct result of chronic underfunding and accelerated workforce reductions.” She called on Congress to pass legislation introduced by Rep. John Larson of Connecticut that would safeguard SSA for current and future generations title Social Security 2100. 
  • The Postal Service is proposing a rule that would eliminate mail in ballots in states that don’t turn over voter rolls to the federal government, even though the constitution explicitly gives states the ability to decide how to run elections, not the federal government – so much for states rights. While a judge has temporarily blocked the rule, postal unions are encouraging members and supporters to make a comment opposing the rule so the administration abandons it altogether
  • The AFL-CIO and Tommy Tuberville are on the same side? At least on this issue, and probably for different reasons. I’m talking about the Protect College Sports Act, which the Sports Council of the AFL-CIO (which represents professional athletes in the NFL, WNBA, and other sports leagues) said wasn’t ready to passed, and that more work needs to be done on. Specifically, they cited concerns that the bill would “further silence college athletes’ voices on the job, undermine their right to collective bargaining to improve their workplace conditions, jeopardize fair compensation and stop states from passing laws that would protect and advance their rights.” Tuberville, meanwhile, says the bill doesn’t do enough to standardize NIL and stabilize the transfer portal system
  • All workers in Virginia now have access to paid sick leave thanks to a new law
  • The Louisville (KY) Labor Report said that three union members won elections: Robert Bell, a Jefferson County Teachers Association (JCTA) member, won his state house election outright as he will not face a Republican in the November general; Kumar Rashad, another JCTA member, advanced in the City Council District 3 race; and Mitra Subedi, an associate teacher in an AFSCME JCPS unit, unseated disgraced incumbent Daniel Grossberg in House District 30. Ryan (the newsletter’s author) credits Bell’s win to organizing by the DSA, and cites the Courier-Journal’s claim that he will be the first socialist in the state house in nearly 150 years. For more information on these elections and more Louisville Labor news, subscribe here
  • North Carolina Republicans are seeking to put right to work in the state’s constitution. Unions in the state, like the IAM, oppose the move

Internal Union Affairs

  • It’s been a big few weeks for conventions! The AFL-CIO had its quadrennial convention and re-elected – without opposition – Liz Shuler and Fred Redmond as President and Secretary-Treasurer. Shuler set a goal to organize 2 million workers in the next five years, and said that they met the last conventions goal of 1 million workers in 10 years already. (For the record, we don’t think that’s true and don’t know where they are getting that number from). They also passed a resolution to honor the Pope, calling for single payer, and supporting immigrant rights. The next week nearly 5,000 union militants from across the country and the globe met at the biannual LaborNotes convention to strategize about how to put the movement back in the Labor Movement. And then, the UAW and the Teamsters both had their constitutional conventions. The Teamsters re-elected Sean O’Brien and Fred Zuckerman without a direct election for the first time in decades because no opposition candidates were able to garner enough support to get on the ballot. Delegates also passed resolutions to organize more workers and fight UPS. At the UAW convention, delegates voted to divest from Israel, to increase their strike fund, and invest more money in organizing. Shawn Fain and his slate of candidates will face opposition in a direct election (the threshold to get on the ballot is lower in the UAW).
  • The 4th of July is coming up, and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) are encouraging folks to celebrate with union made food and drinks! They’ve got a full list on their website, but you could for example have a Ballpark hot dog on Bunny Bread buns, with Heinz ketchup and a Coke with your whole meal provided by union labor
  • The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) partnered with the TVA and Paradigm to establish a first of its kind STEM apprenticeship program – ENVEST Jobs: Empowerment Network for Engineering, Science and Technology Jobs. IFPTE Secretary Treasurer Gay Henson chairs the board, and said this about the program: “this is not only a historic agreement when it comes to bringing apprenticeship programs in STEM fields to fruition, it has huge potential that could result in significant growth among IFPTE’s membership.  We at IFPTE are very excited that we have launched this historic apprenticeship program.” IFPTE has several other representatives on the board 
  • Delegates to a special convention of the the Printing Packaging & Production Workers Union of North America (PPPWU) voted unanimously to affiliate with the International Association of Machinists (IAM). Following the vote of the delegates, members of the union followed their lead and voted in favor of the affiliation, making it official. (hence why I referred to them as the PPPWU-IAM earlier on in the newsletter). This comes after a short stint as an independent union following the 2023 termination of an 18 year affiliation agreement the PPPWU has with the teamsters. This will add 16,000 PPPWU members to the 600,000 member IAM.