Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, Donald Trump plans to meet with the Teamsters, UPS announces layoffs, and the United Auto Workers (UAW) continues its campaign to organize non-union autoworkers.
Trump will meet with Teamsters this afternoon in an effort to decrease Biden’s union backing. Teamsters workers and the former president will participate in a roundtable discussion of issues critical to workers in Midwestern swing states. President Biden’s support from union leadership, however, remains strong, with endorsements from the AFL-CIO and UAW President Shawn Fain.
UPS announced yesterday that it would cut 12,000 jobs, in part citing higher union labor costs. These cuts represent less than 3% of the company’s workforce and include only non-union workers. In July, the UPS signed a contract with the Teamsters to push pay for full-time drivers up to $49 per hour. Despite these pay increases, the company reported $24.92 billion in fourth quarter revenue in 2023.
The UAW announced on Monday that 10,000 non-union autoworkers have signed UAW cards since the union ratified its contract with Big Three automakers. The UAW estimates that it will need to reach around 150,000 people in its organizing campaign to bring in non-union workers. “These workers are standing up for themselves, for their families, and for their communities,” said UAW president Shawn Fain of these newly organized workers.
Daily News & Commentary
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August 30
Worker interviews raise concerns about the enforcement of California’s new indoor heat protections; SAG-AFTRA celebrates the progress of an AI regulation bill in California; preventable trench collapses threaten worker safety.
August 29
Federal labor and antitrust agencies enter agreement to collaborate on merger investigations; United Airlines Flight Attendants vote 99.99% for strike authorization; and Cornell and UAW reach tentative agreement on new labor contract.
August 28
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found merit to allegations that Chipotle Mexican Grill violated federal labor law, over 4,000 Fred Meyers workers began a strike in Portland, Oregon, and unionized software workers filed a labor complaint against Activision Blizzard and Microsoft.
August 26
NLRB bids adieu to consent orders; New research on teachers' strikes; 5th Circuit vacates DOL rule.
August 23
NLRB: Amazon is joint employer of drivers; UAW threatens Stellantis strike; Canada intervenes in railway labor dispute.
August 22
Dartmouth College players union files an unfair labor charge and two prominent Canadian Railways are planning to institute worker lockouts.