The reasons that workers choose third-party representation are highly nuanced. Still, salts and other activists convince some employees that unions can better serve their interests than their employers.
Unions today leave no industry unturned while aggressively organizing by making bold promises. Employees are often disappointed when these promises go unfulfilled when the reality of collective bargaining sets in.
It may seem like Big Labor is riding some momentum right now. Yet once workers grow acquainted with the reality of union representation, like Teamsters chief Sean O’Brien power-walking away from a member calling out his two-faced ways, perhaps we will see fewer petitions for union votes.
That day is not today, but until then, much value can be found in observing what these workers are asking unions to do for them:
Mercedes-Benz employees in Alabama: 5000+ workers will vote from May 13-17 on whether to join the UAW. The union is telling workers to expect better work-life balance, a more consistent work schedule, significant raises, an end to the two-tiered wage system, and better health-care benefits. It will be interesting to see if Mercedes workers will buy these promises.
The symbolic nature of this election is enormous to the UAW, more so even than the UAW’s recent victory at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There is a lot at stake here, which we covered yesterday. Fain badly wants this jewel in his tainted crown. Now, we wait for the Friday vote count.
Starbucks and the mass negotiations with 400 stores: The coffeehouse giant recently began negotiating with 425+ stores in a group session, which 150 lottery-selected barista representatives attended, intending to achieve a framework for individual cafe bargaining. Baristas have asked Workers United to secure a higher base pay of $20 per hour, annual 5% raises and COLA boosts, more generous 401(k) plans, full-time status at 32+ hours, and “100% employer-paid” healthcare premiums with “co-pays capped at $10.”
If that sounds like a lot, the union website has even more information about workers desiring improved safety protocols, transgender health care, and company support of social justice causes. Workers United has been breathlessly providing updates, and mass negotiations will resume in late May.
Then there’s Boeing, which is in contract renewal negotiations for Puget Sound region workers represented by two unions:
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM): The contract expires September 12, and the union and company are bargaining for the first time since 2008, when workers went on strike for 58 days. This time, 33,200 workers are asking the union to secure 40% raises, better health benefits, less mandatory overtime, restoration of pension plans, and the promise that Puget Sound workers will build the next Boeing plane.
International Association of Fire Fighters: Negotiations have collapsed after the union continued to demand wage increases of $21,000 annually on top of the group’s average salary of $91,000. The company has locked out the firefighters for the time being.
These unions could very well strong-arm companies into financially unsustainable union contracts that could cause considerable job losses. At that point, UAW President Shawn Fain and other union presidents might be too busy rubbing rock-star elbows to care.
