The Valley Labor Report

Last Week in Southern Labor: 3/29 - 4/5

Updated On: Apr 15, 2024

By JACOB MORRISON | April 9, 2024

Here’s what workers in the US South and the colonies were up to from March 29th to April 5th:

NEW CAMPAIGNS

226 workers at the District of Columbia International School (a charter school in DC) have filed a petition to hold a union election with the DC local of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
600 workers at Hearthside Food Solutions in London, KY filed a petition to hold a union election with the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 57
26 workers at Jewish Family Services in St Louis, MO filed a petition to hold a union election with Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 6400
101 workers at Austin Pets Alive in Austin, TX filed a petition to hold a union election with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
291 workers at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA filed a petition to hold a union election with Workers United
53 workers with Miami City Ballet in Miami Beach, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the American Guild of Musical Artists
3 security guards at Kerberos International in Arlington, VA filed a petition to hold a union election with the Security, Police, and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA) in what appears to be a raid of another guard union
3 security guards at Maxsent in Arlington, VA filed a petition to hold a union election with the SPFPA
59 workers at Livingston Place at Southern Avenue in Washington, DC filed a petition to hold a union election with 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
20 workers at Akima Systems Engineering in Panama City Beach, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the IAMAW
25 workers at Liberty Communications of Puerto Rico in San Juan, PR filed a petition to hold a union election with the CWA
15 security guards at Allied Universal in Tampa, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the SPFPA
30 workers at the Hospital Motropolitano de Cabo Rojo in Cabo Rojo, PR filed a petition to hold a union election with the Unidad Laboral De Enfermeras(os) y Empleados De La Salud (ULEES) (or Labor Unit of Nurses and Health Employees)
10 security guards at Martinez and Company in Tampa, FL filed a petition to hold a union election with the SPFPA
Workers likely pushed by their employer filed a petition to decertify Laborer Local 12 as the union representing 14 workers at the Rogers Group in Hopkinsville, KY
The employer filed a petition to hold a union election after a majority of the 16 workers at Starbucks in Springfield, VA demonstrated support for unionization with Starbucks Workers United
204 workers at Capital City Public Charter School in Washington DC filed a petition to hold a union election with the DC local of AFT
140 workers at Radial in Locust Grove, LA filed a petition to hold a union election with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Southeast Council

CAMPAIGN UPDATES

Republican politicians in Tennessee are urging Volkswagen workers to vote no in their union election with the UAW, scheduled for April 17 to 19.
5200 workers at Mercedes Benz in Vance, AL filed a petition to hold a union election with the United Auto Workers, less than 3 weeks after Volkswagen workers filed and less than three months after the Alabama workers began their public campaign

ELECTION RESULTS

1 worker at All Point Logistics withdrew the petition for union election with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2088 after just filing the petition last week
16 workers at Arrow’s Edge in Cherry Point, NC withdrew their petition for a union election with the IAMAW
7 workers at ESG Operations in Ft Benning, GA withdrew their petition for a union election with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 926
20 workers at Crescent Paper Tube Company in Lewisport, KY voted 16 to 4 in favor of unionization with the United Steel Workers (USW)
14 workers at Starbucks in Little Rock, AR voted 12 to 2 in favor of unionization with Starbucks Workers United
21 workers at Starbucks in Sulphur, LA voted unanimously in favor of unionization with Starbucks Workers United
34 workers at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Washington DC voted 12 to 16 against unionization with the Washington Baltimore NewsGuild Local 32035
161 workers at Transdev in Arlington, VA voted 103 to 1 in favor of unionization with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689

SETTLEMENTS, GRIEVANCES, & UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES

Last week, workers filed unfair labor practice charges against Mercedes, this week, they filed charges against them in Germany as well, alleging their anti-union tactics violate German law

STRIKES & BARGAINING

UAW President Shawn Fain kicked off negotiations with Daimler, where the UAW has 7,000 members across three southern states, at a big rally in North Carolina last week, hitting many similar notes to the ones he was hitting during the Big 3 contract negotiations.
The United Campus Workers of South Carolina, representing workers at University of South Carolina, held a rally to demand higher wages, with a petition signed by 1,000 folks.

POLITICS & LEGISLATION

Kansas City residents voted overwhelmingly against giving billions of dollars to the Kansas City Royals to build a new stadium after the developers refused to agree to a community benefits agreement that would’ve ensured local hiring, high wages, etc., in the construction of the stadium. The vote no campaign, led by workers and tenant groups, was outspent by the developers 50 to 1.
The Biden Federal Railroad Administration announced a new rule to mandate a minimum of two person crews on on the rails, a longtime demand of rail workers and their unions
The bill loosening child labor laws in Alabama passed with almost unanimous support, including from House Democrats, including the newly elected Huntsville Democrat Marilyn Lands, despite her having voiced opposition to the bill on this show before her election.
Alabama politicians launched another volley of attacks against the UAW last week, including Mike Rogers, Gary Palmer, and Kay Ivey, ostensibly incensed that Shawn Fain hit back against their smears on the union and Alabama workers
The Alabama Senate bill that would remove incentives from companies that voluntarily recognize their workers union passed through committee on a party line vote, it is on the Senate floor Tuesday.

INTERNAL UNION AFFAIRS

UNITE HERE international president D Taylor is stepping down after what has been by all accounts a successful presidency, adding over 100,000 new members during his tenure in mostly right to work states

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