Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, the Amazon Labor Union agrees to affiliate with the Teamsters union, organizers consider partnerships with tenant organizations and expanding political power for workers.
Teamsters President Sean M. O’Brien announced that Amazon workers would consider affiliating with the national union in a meeting no Tuesday. Amazon Labor Union members still must vote to ratify the decision, while Teamsters’ board has already unanimously approved the move. Voting members of Amazon Labor Union include workers at one warehouse location in Staten Island who won a landmark labor victory by organizing their workplace two years ago. Since being certified as a union, has faced growing pains in establishing an organizing strategy and lost two elections at other Amazon warehouses. Amazon Labor Union President Chris Smalls wrote of the new affiliation that his workplace would be joining “with one of the most powerful unions to take on Amazon together.”
Mary Kay Henry, former president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) explains to The Atlantic how unions can expand their influence despite low union density. Despite only 11 percent union density in the U.S., support for unions has surged in recent years. Henry believes that this support can be harnessed to build worker power despite the low percentage of Americans who belong to a union. SEIU’s participation in the historic Fight for $15, which advocated for a $15 minimum wage across the country demonstrated how unions can influence working conditions outside of their membership. The Fight won important victories as Seattle and other cities raised their minimum wage for all workers, not just SEIU members. This same strategy could be used to harness union support outside of their ranks, according to Henry.
Jacobin staff writers consider partnerships between unions and tenant organizations an important step in building working class power. The Chicago Teachers Union included a bargaining proposal for affordable housing, Tacoma, Washington food and commercial workers canvassed for an eviction moratorium, and unions in San Francisco and Minnesota pushed for rent-control. These partnerships demonstrate how labor and housing advocates can successfully join forces.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 26
Prop 22 survives; video game workers take action; NLRB challenged.
July 25
Disney union reaches tentative agreement, FAA agrees to improve worker conditions, and Olympic dancers drop strike notice.
July 24
Unions demand end to military aid for Israel; UAW and Teamsters hold out on Harris endorsement; Judge declines to block FTC ban on non-competes
July 23
NLRB drops appeal of a district court case striking down its joint employer rule; red states challenge EEOC’s pregnancy rule; and the WNBA players’ union taps advisors.
July 22
Unions respond to Biden's exit, many back Harris.
July 19
The Bronx Defenders Union announces a tentative collective bargaining agreement; Amazon workers continue a strike in Skokie; Bangladesh students continue protests over government job quotas.