The Weekly Download

“In this edition of The Power Hour, Burnes Center for Social Change Senior Fellow Seth Harris is joined by Risa Lieberwitz, a Professor of Labor and Employment Law in the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR); and Diana Reddy, an Assistant Professor in UC Berkeley's School of Law; to discuss changes and infringement's on democracy taking place in labor unions, universities in the U.S., recent Supreme Court decisions, and more.”

“In the early months of 2020, queer Starbucks baristas brewed a plan to challenge their low wages and workplace discrimination. I first learned about the campaign while attending a national LGBTQ+ advocacy meeting where a group of these workers previewed their organizing agenda. Sitting in a dim hotel conference room, I listened to the baristas share their experiences, which mixed episodes of humiliation and financial hardship—a trans worker’s “dead name” (pre-transition name) that reappeared on each week’s work calendar; a work calendar that never listed one worker’s name (dead or chosen) enough times to keep their name on an apartment lease. Many of the workers shared their disillusionment with a company that had portrayed itself as corporate America’s trans rights vanguardist. In fact, Starbucks had just released its #whatsyourname advertising campaign, which featured trans and gender-diverse customers asking to have their chosen names scribbled onto coffee cups."

“Things have been looking up for the labor movement these days. More workers are trying to unionize their workplaces. Employees have been going on strike in numbers not seen in years. And unions have been notching some major organizing breakthroughs, including in the anti-union South. So what could undermine this hopeful moment for organized labor as it tries to rebuild after decades of decline? Another Donald Trump presidency. As a protectionist, Trump could end up pursuing trade policies that benefit certain unions and their members. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, has at least visited a picket line in his short Senate career. And Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, who addressed the Republican National Convention on Monday night, seems to think Trump is open to hearing ideas from labor leaders like himself. But anyone who thinks Trump wouldn’t be hostile to unions should review the actions of his first stint in the White House.”

“It’s not every day that you see a teamster walk a tightrope, but on Monday night, Sean O’Brien, president of the mighty Teamsters union, was doing just that at the Republican National Convention. On one hand, O’Brien was seeking to cozy up to Donald Trump, eager to stay on his good side in case he wins the presidency in November. But on the other hand, O’Brien gave a speech that was no doubt anathema to many Republican bigwigs and business donors: He said that far too many greedy corporations exploit their workers and that America’s laws make it far too difficult for workers to unionize and get contracts that lift their pay and benefits.”

“In an executive action announced July 1, President Joe Biden extended overtime protections to one million workers and has pledged to continue to further expand the safeguards if reelected. The new overtime protections stem from a rule finalized in April in a section of the Fair Labor Standards Act based on an updated Department of Labor (DOL) calculation. Now, workers making less than $43,888 a year are eligible for extra pay when they work long hours, putting more money in their pockets.”

“Earlier this month, the Biden administration announced a new rule that, if finalized, would become the first federal regulation specifically designed to protect workers from extreme heat both indoors and outdoors. It would trigger requirements for access to drinking water and rest breaks when the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit. At 90 degrees, it would mandate 15-minute breaks every two hours and require employers to monitor for signs of heat illness.”

“Two major shifts are occurring in U.S. workers’ attitudes toward labor unions: the rise of workers who are interested in, but unsure about, unions and an emerging generation gap between younger and older workers.”

“On June 10, workers at the Planned Parenthood health center in Kalamazoo, Mich., made history by joining UFCW Local 951 and becoming the first Planned Parenthood unit in Michigan to unionize. The eight workers at the health center are employed as medical assistants. The workers at the health center initially came together to remove an abusive manager from their location and realized the power of collective bargaining. The workers were also concerned about improving the workplace for themselves and their co-workers, as well as improving health care for their patients.”

“Workers at Jewish Family Services (JFS) have voted overwhelmingly to join Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6400 Missouri-Kansas, which includes the recently merged CWA 6355 and CWA 6400, as Jewish Family Services Workers United. After months of organizing, and despite sustained union avoidance tactics resulting in numerous Unfair Labor Practice charges against JFS management, the professional and non-professional bargaining units voted nine-to-seven and six-to-four to join CWA.”

“Journalists at Utah’s Salt Lake Tribune announced they are forming a union to ensure The Tribune remains Utah’s independent voice. In a mission statement announcing the union, the Salt Lake News Guild, journalists note that ensuring a workplace with fair wages and working conditions will allow workers a voice in the future of their nonprofit newsroom.”

“It’s the final day for Amazon’s 48-hour Prime Day sale, in which the multinational e-commerce corporation offers a wide range of discounts to its endless catalog of products, from $24 Hydro Flask tumblers to $80 Beats earbuds. It’s a barrage of deals that few can refuse, made even sweeter by Amazon’s same-day, one-day, or two-day delivery service. Unsurprisingly, it’s an incredibly profitable day for Amazon. Last Prime Day, the company saw $12.7 billion in sales and over 375 million items purchased, the largest numbers it’s seen since Prime Day launched nearly 10 years ago in 2015. Adobe Analytics, an organization that studies e-commerce data, predicted that this year’s sale will be another record-breaker, with a forecast of $14 billion dollars in sales. But Amazon’s self-proclaimed customer celebration comes at a cost. While Prime members can purchase goods with the ease of a few clicks year-round, getting those millions of products to arrive at their doorsteps in just a day or two is far more intensive — and even dangerous, as research and investigations into the company show — for the warehouse workers and delivery drivers that Amazon employs and relies on. The speed and scale is worse on Prime Day, when even more consumers are buying things.”

“Two sets of unfair labor practice proceedings against SpaceX are on hold, as two Fifth Circuit courts have issued preliminary injunctions against the NLRB pending the outcome of the company’s constitutional challenges to the agency.”

“As Central Florida receives warnings for dangerously high temperatures outdoors, local workers at Disney World say their employer isn’t taking their health and safety seriously, just days after two live performers passed out on the job. Denys Ortega, a business agent for the Teamsters Local 385, told Orlando Weekly two performers at Disney’s Beauty & the Beast show at Hollywood Studios actually fainted the weekend before last, as the company lagged to fix a broken air conditioning system in a room that performers occupy prior to entering the outdoor stage.”

"Workers from various service industry sectors across Atlanta, Charleston, South Carolina, and Durham, North Carolina, united in a set of simultaneous rallies last month to address the escalating challenge of extreme heat in their workplaces. This coordinated effort, organized by the Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW), aimed to highlight the hazardous conditions faced by employees as temperatures soar to unprecedented levels this summer."

“Boeing's (BA.N) Washington state factory workers will vote on Wednesday on whether to give their union a strike mandate as they seek a 40% raise in their first full negotiation with the planemaker in 16 years. Many of the estimated 30,000 workers who build Boeing's 737 MAX and other jets will rally in support of a mandate at Seattle's T-Mobile Park, although they cannot strike before their contract expires on Sept. 12. While the vote is considered procedural, the union is kicking off the 12 p.m. PDT event with fanfare, including an earlier convoy of workers on 800 motorcycles.”

“On the morning of Thursday, June 20, unionized nurses at Ascension St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore held a rally outside the hospital to raise awareness of their efforts to secure a first contract and to show management that they’re not backing down from their core demands for safe staffing and an operational model that puts patients and patient care first. ​“St. Agnes nurses are calling on Ascension to accept their proposals to improve safe staffing and, subsequently, nurse retention,” a press release from National Nurses Organizing Committee/​National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) stated. ​“Nearly 20 percent of nurses at St. Agnes began employment at the hospital after January 1 of this year. Meanwhile, just over a third of nurses have more than four years of experience at the hospital… The Catholic hospital system is one of the largest in the country with 140 hospitals in 19 states and also one of the wealthiest, with cash reserves, an investment company, and a private equity operation worth billions of dollars — and, because of its nonprofit status, is exempt from paying federal taxes.” In this on-the-ground episode, we take you to the NNOC/NNU picket line and speak with Nicki Horvat, an RN in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit at Ascension St. Agnes and member of the bargaining team, about what she and her coworkers are fighting for.”

“Over 100 members of UFCW Local 1189 who work at Green Thumb Industries (GTI) and RISE dispensaries at seven locations throughout Minnesota ratified their first union contract on May 8. These workers joined our union family in March of 2023 because they were concerned about insufficient hours and wages, as well as issues revolving around seniority and promotions, and their first contract addresses those issues.”

“Unionized journalists at Lifehacker, Mashable, and PCMag – who were  prepared to walk out for the duration of Amazon’s July Prime Day Event, July 16 and 17 –  have reached a tentative three-year contract deal with parent company Ziff Davis that lifts guaranteed wages by up to 3 percent and includes industry-leading AI protections. Union ratification of the agreement will take place on July 24.”

“Two years have passed since workers at the Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) location in SoHo in New York City voted to form the first union in the outdoor equipment retailer’s history. Since then, workers at nine other locations across the country have unionized. They all remain without a contract. Workers say the goal is to hammer out a deal with the company by the end of the year for workers at the 10 unionized stores across the country.”

“Mason Plumlee was elected today as the Secretary-Treasurer of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) by the NBPA Board of Player Representatives. Plumlee, a longtime Player Representative, replaces Harrison Barnes, who served as Secretary-Treasurer on the NBPA Executive Committee since 2021. Plumlee will begin his three-year term immediately.”