2023 brings new organizing, and expired contracts
|
For the first Picket Line of 2023, we have a freewheeling roundup of organizing efforts already underway this year and some fights ahead.
The UC strike has inspired waves of workers across the country. Northwestern University graduate students just voted 1,644 to 114 to unionize with NUGW-UE, an eye-popping margin. Organizing in conjunction with Northwestern, University of Chicago graduate workers will take their vote beginning January 31 after a 15-year fight to unionize, hoping to bargain together. In California, CalTech and USC graduate students are organizing, too.
This year, major contracts are up for UPS Teamsters, UAW autoworkers at the Big Three, and USPS urban letter carriers in the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). Contracts for West Coast port workers with ILWU and Los Angeles teachers have already expired. Will workers successfully defeat two-tier wage systems? And what will happen with first contract fights at REI, Amazon, and Trader Joe’s? Read a great preview of the year ahead in Labor Notes.
Also, new U.S. union membership numbers just came out. They’re dismal. California is among the only states to add union members to its ranks. Still, union assets have increased substantially since 2010. Should the biggest internationals be funneling more money toward organizing instead of building their coffers?
Plus, a bombshell NYT investigation revealed that the notorious National Restaurant Association receives much of its funding from restaurant worker wages, requiring them to pay for food safety courses run by an NRA-owned company. They’ve taken $25 million from workers for these courses since 2010.
|
|
|
Sutter Alta Bates nurses striking in the rain in Berkeley in December. Photo: Bonnie Castillo on Twitter
|
Around town:
- In Berkeley, Sutter Alta Bates nurses revolted against union CNA and hospital leadership, voting down a tentative agreement and going on strike from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1. Labor Notes reports nurse leaders have accused union staffers of colluding with management and trying to force through a bad agreement.
- Teachers in Richmond are holding a rally on January 25 after taking a resounding 97% strike vote last year (Here’s a flyer). Mediation conversations are not going well, union members say, and the sticking points include salary and the implementation of a state grant. “If an agreement is not reached, a strike could occur in late February or early March,” Lake Elementary teacher Eric Swabeck writes.
- Oakland teachers represented by OEA are negotiating for a new contract this year and reflecting on the 2019 strike. They’ve issued bargaining demands, including smaller class sizes, fully staffed schools, visual arts programs, and better working conditions in special education, along with a pay increase to bring their salaries up to the median level for teachers in Alameda County. They plan to speak out at a school board meeting February 8, in person at 1050 2nd Ave in Oakland and online.
|
How ‘historic’ UC strikes could ignite a new labor movement in California
Ryan Kost, SF Chronicle, 12-13-2022
Federal Labor Board Accuses Bay Area Starbucks of Threatening Unionizing Workers
The NLRB filed a complaint against Starbucks for threatening workers in the East Bay, at a store in San Pablo.
Kevin Truong, SF Standard, 01-18-2023
Video: Interviews with CNA Sutter Alta Bates Nurses at January 1st Strike Rally
Nurses are facing understaffing and overwork.
Steve Zeltzer, Work Week Radio, 1-1-2023
Six takeaways for Californians after the UC graduate student worker strike
Represents ways in which the outcome of the strike was less than fully satisfactory.
Michail Zinshtein, Cal Matters, 1-6-2023
Lowell teachers stage ‘sickout,’ protest persistent payroll problems
The fight over payroll in SFUSD just goes on and on.
Marcus White, SF Chronicle, 12-7-2022
Alta Bates Nurses Revolt
The nurses defied both bosses and union staff and leaders to vote no on a Tentative Agreement.
Sarah Hughes, Labor Notes, 12-21-2022
Cal State teaching assistants and other student employees could follow UC to a strike
Student workers at Cal State repped by UAW might strike over similar issues as UC
Ashley A Smith, EdSource, 1-5-2023
SF tried to further damage cab drivers who are already suffering
Tim Redmond, 48 Hills, 1-5-2023
|
Peet’s workers in Davis just voted 14-1 to form the first Peet’s union, with solidarity from Starbucks Workers United organizers. Photo: Peet’s United on Instagram
|
Success of UC strike is seen as catalyst
Good summary of impact of UC strike statewide and nationally.
Teresa Watanabe, LA Times, 1-2-2023
Exclusive: California union president threatened staff and stole records, report finds
Leader of major SEIU local reported to have threatened staff and stolen records.
Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 1-6-2023
Cal State teaching assistants and other student employees could follow UC to a strike
California State University teaching assistants and other student employees moving towards strike, in wake of actions on UC campuses.
Ashley A. Smith, EdSource, 1-5-2023
Peet’s Coffee Workers Are Following Starbucks Workers’ Lead in Organizing Unions
So far, workers at Peet’s shops in Davis and Los Altos have filed, and Davis workers just won their union 14-1.
Faith Bennett, Jacobin, 1-13-2023
Game Changer: NLRB’s Los Angeles Office Says Student Athletes Can Unionize
It’s not a final nor national ruling, but the L.A. decision says USC, Pac-12 schools, and the NCAA are “violating labor law by failing to treat student basketball and football players as employees.”
JD Supra, 12-22-2022
|
U.S. and International Worker News
|
Northwestern University Graduate Student Workers Won a Union Last Week
Eskil Elling, Audrey Nicolaides, Kitty Yang, Jacobin, 01-2023
The Supreme Court Could Gut the Right to Strike
Glacier Northwest Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters will determine whether losses companies suffer during strikes must be repaid by unions.
C.M. Lewis and Kate Bronfenbrenner, In These Times, 1-13-2023
Teacher and cousin of Black Lives Matter founder ‘Tased to death’ by LAPD
Anderson taught 10th graders at a charter school in D.C. and previously taught in Los Angeles.
Yahoo News, 1-13-2023
Rail Workers Oust Union President Who Backed Labor Deal
More Perfect Union, 12-13-2022
Blame Rail Unions’ leadership, not Biden, for Failure to Get Paid Sick Days
The author points to the poor leadership of the rail unions as the primary reason for the unions’ failure to get paid sick days, not Joe Biden. He says blaming Biden diverts attention from the real problem, weak unions with no stomach for militance. He also proposes that all twelve rail unions affiliate with the Teamsters (two are already affiliated) to give them the power they need. A unique perspective.
Carey Dahl, Stansbury Forum, 12-07-2022
Art staff joining unions across the country
Workers in art institutions, art schools and art museums are joining unions in droves.
Karen K. Ho, Art News, 12-30-2022
From Behind Bars, Incarcerated Workers Are Unionizing, Striking
Hunter Southall, On Labor Newsletter, 12-28-2022
Biggest Contracts Expiring in 2023
First contract fights and struggles for renewed contracts listed for 2023, including many against two-tier systems.
Dan DiMaggio, Labor Notes, 12-31-2022
In These Times’ labor highlights of 2022
Editors, In These Times, 12-30-2022
Mexican Labor’s New Deal and the Promise of North American Worker Solidarity
New opportunities for U.S.-Mexico labor solidarity
Jeffrey Hermanson, New Labor Forum, 1-9-2023
Iranian Labor Unions Have Led Inspiring Solidarity Strikes Amid the Uprising
Frieda Afari, Truthout, 1-19-2023
Antitrust regulators propose banning noncompete clauses for workers
The FTC thinks the move would help put $300 billion back in U.S. workers’ pockets each year. But top Democrats and Republicans have it out for FTC chair Lina Khan.
Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post
|
|
|
Education, Events, & History
|
|
Sign up for Labor Education classes on both sides of the Bay! 🛠📚
Are you looking for opportunities to build your organizing skills? Knowledge of union and community resistance in the 21st Century? The lessons of labor history? In Spring 2023, both City College of San Francisco and Laney College offer courses ideal for honing skills and filling the holes in your labor education.
At CCSF, learn the basics of strategic organizing in the ‘Organizing for Justice‘ course starting 1/31, as well as gain inspiration from the struggles of those who came before us in ‘California Labor History‘ (starts 2/2) and ‘Who Built America’. See CCSF’s course offerings here. In Oakland, ‘Economics for Community & Labor Leadership‘ will help you navigate confusing jargon and double speak necessary to organize for a better world. Visit the Peralta Class Search and choose the “Labor Studies” subject area. Enrollment open now. All classes are remote except California Labor History (in person at CCSF Mission Campus). For more info on California Labor History, contact Fred Glass – fglasscft@gmail.com or 510-579-3343. All other classes, James Tracy – jrtracy@ccsf.edu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Picket Line 
Leave a comment