Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, UAW moves for strike votes at three Detroit automakers, and Trader Joe’s workers protest retaliation against organizers.
United Auto Workers urges 150,000 members to authorize a strike at three Detroit automakers, General Motors, Ford Motors, and Stellantis by August 24. This move would enable workers to strike once their contracts expire on September 14. The union reports that talks with all three automakers have not reached agreement on any economic issues. The union has asked for a 40% raise over a four-year contract. “Our priorities are clear, the companies can afford them, and there’s plenty of time for the Big Three to get serious about these negotiations,” the union explained. The three automakers have reported a combined $250 billion in profits over the past ten years.
Trader Joe’s workers rallied outside of the company’s Boston headquarters yesterday to protest firing of union leader Steven Andrade. Andrade had worked for Trader Joe’s for 18 years but was fired in June 2022 after union engagement. Andrade and the union claim this firing was in retaliation for his union support. “If Trader Joe’s wasn’t scared of worker power, they would come to the table and negotiate a fair contract,” one union leader explained.
Daily News & Commentary
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May 12
NJ Transit engineers threaten strike; a court halts Trump's firings; and the pope voices support for workers.
May 9
Philadelphia City Council unanimously passes the POWER Act; thousands of federal worker layoffs at the Department of Interior expected; the University of Oregon student workers union reach a tentative agreement, ending 10-day strike
May 8
Court upholds DOL farmworker protections; Fifth Circuit rejects Amazon appeal; NJTransit navigates negotiations and potential strike.
May 7
U.S. Department of Labor announces termination of mental health and child care benefits for its employees; SEIU pursues challenge of NLRB's 2020 joint employer rule in the D.C. Circuit; Columbia University lays off 180 researchers
May 6
HHS canceled a scheduled bargaining session with the FDA's largest workers union; members of 1199SEIU voted out longtime union president George Gresham in rare leadership upset.
May 5
Unemployment rates for Black women go up under Trump; NLRB argues Amazon lacks standing to challenge captive audience meeting rule; Teamsters use Wilcox's reinstatement orders to argue against injunction.