The Boston is one of the latest to see the Starbucks workers’ drive to unionize. Two of the latest Starbucks union wins are in the area, one in Coolidge Corner and the other in Alston. They are the first two Starbucks stores in Massachusetts to vote union, and the vote was unanimous in both, 14-0 in Brookline and 16-0 in Allston.
In the wake of a stream of workers organizing among themselves to form independent unions and win elections at Starbucks and Amazon, the concern has arisen among labor activists about the need to provide expert and experienced help to them as they enter into contract negotiations with employers. Multi-million and billion dollar corporations like Starbucks, Google, and Amazon have high-priced lawyers at the bargaining table. They need to be matched with experienced negotiators pushing for the interests of the workers.
That is why a new call is being sounded by labor activists for established unions to recognize the potential these self-organized unions have for the revitalizing the union movement and donate their help for the next stage, delivering union victories at the bargaining table. A number of unions, like the teamsters new president, Sean O’Brien, have responded and offered help.
With a vote for union recognition coming up April 25 at the second Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, NY, workers there are furious at the dirty tactics the company is using. ”They’re really fighting us and they’re playing dirty,” said Madeline Wesley, treasurer of the Amazon Labor Union and a worker at LDJ5, the facility where the vote is scheduled.
She accused the management of condoning bigotry, spreading racist lies about Chris Smalls, the Black ALU president, and sexist lies about her with homophobic slurs. They also blamed her for the suicide of another worker.
The company has reportedly filled the warehouse with “consultants” from other places to spy and intimidate workers into voting against the union. It spent $4.3 million last year for these union busting consultants to employ tactics of all sorts to prevent unionization.
Amazon led the field last year in the number of workers injured on the job, accounting for nearly half of all injuries in the warehouse industry. Some 6.8 percent of Amazon warehouse workers sustained injuries, compared with 3.3 percent at other company’s warehouses.
While a majority of members of Congress are millionaires their staff members – the people who actually do the work of putting together legislation, meet with constituents, and run their offices – are working often 60 to 70 hours a week at poverty level wages. They work in Washington but can’t afford to live there because of the high cost of living in the city. The wage level is very low because Congress is exempt from labor law, a situation Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Andy Levin have introduced legislation aimed at fixing.
The result has been that staff members usually come from wealthy families who support them or go on food stamps. It has also resulted in a high turnover of staffers who go on to jobs as corporate lobbyists.
Now there is a union organizing campaign underway to gain bargaining rights for Congressional employees. As one observer put it, “A Congress made up of millionaires, staffed by children of the wealthy who are working to become corporate lobbyists will never represent the American people’s interests. Allowing Congressional workers to form unions will provide a level playing field and let true public servants get to work in Washington DC.”
More Perfect Union, 4/15
Fordham U. Grad Workers Vote for Union
In another action of graduate school workers, the workers art New York’s Fordham University voted 229-to-15 to form a union affiliated with the Communication Workers of America. The vote on April 7th is the latest at colleges and universities around the country (for detailed stories about similar union drives at other schools, see the Labor News page on this website.)
In Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 265 workers at the Vollrath plant, went out on strike April 4 after new contract talks fell through. The workers are members of Local 1472 of the United Auto Workers union. The main issue is the union demand that the company end its two-tier wage system and institute one uniform wage system. The vote to strike was approved by a membership vote of 74 percent in favor.
Labor union activity appears to be spreading among Kindergatden through 12th grade educators and school staff members across the country. Among the latest cities reporting strikes, strike preparations, and union pushbacks in school systems are: Sacramento (California), St. Louis (Missouri), Dickinson, (N. Dakota), Rochester (New York), Lawrence (Kansas) and Elk Grove (California).
Two Boston Starbucks Vote to Unionize
The Boston is one of the latest to see the Starbucks workers’ drive to unionize. Two of the latest Starbucks union wins are in the area, one in Coolidge Corner and the other in Alston. They are the first two Starbucks stores in Massachusetts to vote union, and the vote was unanimous in both, 14-0 in Brookline and 16-0 in Allston.
Portside, 4/11
New Independent Unions Need Expert Help
In the wake of a stream of workers organizing among themselves to form independent unions and win elections at Starbucks and Amazon, the concern has arisen among labor activists about the need to provide expert and experienced help to them as they enter into contract negotiations with employers. Multi-million and billion dollar corporations like Starbucks, Google, and Amazon have high-priced lawyers at the bargaining table. They need to be matched with experienced negotiators pushing for the interests of the workers.
That is why a new call is being sounded by labor activists for established unions to recognize the potential these self-organized unions have for the revitalizing the union movement and donate their help for the next stage, delivering union victories at the bargaining table. A number of unions, like the teamsters new president, Sean O’Brien, have responded and offered help.
The American Prospect, 4/11
Amazon Accused of Playing Dirty Pool
With a vote for union recognition coming up April 25 at the second Amazon warehouse on Staten Island, NY, workers there are furious at the dirty tactics the company is using. ”They’re really fighting us and they’re playing dirty,” said Madeline Wesley, treasurer of the Amazon Labor Union and a worker at LDJ5, the facility where the vote is scheduled.
She accused the management of condoning bigotry, spreading racist lies about Chris Smalls, the Black ALU president, and sexist lies about her with homophobic slurs. They also blamed her for the suicide of another worker.
The company has reportedly filled the warehouse with “consultants” from other places to spy and intimidate workers into voting against the union. It spent $4.3 million last year for these union busting consultants to employ tactics of all sorts to prevent unionization.
Amazon led the field last year in the number of workers injured on the job, accounting for nearly half of all injuries in the warehouse industry. Some 6.8 percent of Amazon warehouse workers sustained injuries, compared with 3.3 percent at other company’s warehouses.
Labor Notes, 4/14
New Union Drive Targets Congress Staffers
While a majority of members of Congress are millionaires their staff members – the people who actually do the work of putting together legislation, meet with constituents, and run their offices – are working often 60 to 70 hours a week at poverty level wages. They work in Washington but can’t afford to live there because of the high cost of living in the city. The wage level is very low because Congress is exempt from labor law, a situation Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Andy Levin have introduced legislation aimed at fixing.
The result has been that staff members usually come from wealthy families who support them or go on food stamps. It has also resulted in a high turnover of staffers who go on to jobs as corporate lobbyists.
Now there is a union organizing campaign underway to gain bargaining rights for Congressional employees. As one observer put it, “A Congress made up of millionaires, staffed by children of the wealthy who are working to become corporate lobbyists will never represent the American people’s interests. Allowing Congressional workers to form unions will provide a level playing field and let true public servants get to work in Washington DC.”
More Perfect Union, 4/15
Fordham U. Grad Workers Vote for Union
In another action of graduate school workers, the workers art New York’s Fordham University voted 229-to-15 to form a union affiliated with the Communication Workers of America. The vote on April 7th is the latest at colleges and universities around the country (for detailed stories about similar union drives at other schools, see the Labor News page on this website.)
Bronx Times, 4/8
Sheboygan Auto Workers Strike over Two-Tier Wages
Labor BriefsIn Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 265 workers at the Vollrath plant, went out on strike April 4 after new contract talks fell through. The workers are members of Local 1472 of the United Auto Workers union. The main issue is the union demand that the company end its two-tier wage system and institute one uniform wage system. The vote to strike was approved by a membership vote of 74 percent in favor.
Sheboygan Press, 4/4; Payday Report, 4/6
School Workers Union Actions Spread
Labor BriefsLabor union activity appears to be spreading among Kindergatden through 12th grade educators and school staff members across the country. Among the latest cities reporting strikes, strike preparations, and union pushbacks in school systems are: Sacramento (California), St. Louis (Missouri), Dickinson, (N. Dakota), Rochester (New York), Lawrence (Kansas) and Elk Grove (California).
Who Gets the Bird, 4/4