Subject: The Old Union-Repelling Strategies Must Give Way to A New Arsenal: LRI INK

May 12, 2022

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The Old Union-Repelling Strategies Must Give Way to A New Arsenal

by Kimberly Ricci

Less than a year ago, few people would have predicted that Starbucks would soon spring a leak-turned-flood of union organizing activity. This coffee giant is now the center of a movement that has spread to other industries, due in part to (as we recently discussed) how unions now wield a new toolbox of organizing strategies. Starbucks will soon find itself in a place where no employer wants to be: having to tie up time and resources bargaining with the union.

 

Unions recently set their sights upon so-called “progressive” employers like Apple and Starbucks, the latter of which is stocked to the brim with younger workers who aren’t yet privy to the corruption and manipulative tactics of unions. And although Starbucks provides liberal benefits (including college tuition for even part-time workers), something about the new organization strategies leads employees to believe that they’ll still receive more from representation. And that’s why Apple workers, despite the company’s “woke” policies and relatively cushy starting pay, began to huddle and demand more, too.


At the same time, union membership continues to dwindle, and their desperation to collect more dues translates into those aggressive new organizing missions, bolstered by the most union-friendly NLRB and White House administration in history. Speaking of President Biden, he recently extended a few union handshakes at his home base:

  • Union members from Paizo (a role-playing game company) traveled to the White House, where they enjoyed an Oval Office meeting with not only Biden but also Vice President Kamala Harris and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh.

  • Amazon Labor Union President Christian Smalls spoke before the Senate amid increased union activity at the online retailer’s warehouses. Amazon workers did vote against union representation at a second New York location, but workers at a Montreal warehouse are beginning to sign cards. Meanwhile, new analysis shows that a voter-turnout issue could be key for future Amazon votes.

 

In other words, unions are going in hard (with full White House support), and employers must match that effort to repel them. Since we led with the Starbucks discussion, here are some updates on that situation and a rundown of other organizing updates:

  • As it currently stands, at least 250 Starbucks cafes (of 9,000+ total) filed union petitions, which yielded about 50 union wins so far. The NLRB also recently slapped the company with a wide-ranging complaint filled with 200+ alleged violations of the NLRA. In the process, the NLRB is demanding back pay for six Starbucks employees allegedly fired for organizing, and Starbucks workers in Massachusetts waged a strike in solidarity with those fired workers. CEO Howard Schultz hopes to stem the tide by promising amped-up benefits (better sick leave, etc.) and pay raises only for workers at non-unionized stores.

  • At Apple retail stores, a rumored organizing trend turned out to be true. In early June, Atlanta store workers will take up the company’s first vote for or against CWA representation with a second Apple store (up in Maryland) following suit.

 

Some organizing odds and ends: 

  • The restaurant industry is traditionally difficult to organize, largely due to high turnover among employees. However, workers at Philadelphia coffee shops and eateries (of nearly every variety) find themselves wooed by Workers United in increasing numbers. Small business owners continue to feel out the situation with the possibility that the entire Philly restaurant world could soon transform.

  • Bookstore workers, largely in California and Oregon locations, are increasingly voting for representation by United Food and Commercial Workers and Industrial Workers of the World. Museum security guards in Seattle want to unionize in search of retirement pay and other benefits. And an Oregon-based village of tiny houses (for the homeless) saw workers organize over safety concerns and pay.

 

Workers are frustrated, and can you blame them? Inflation, war in Europe, and CoVid is not yet a thing of the past - they are looking for stability, control, voice! Unions are using this wedge to pry open new opportunities. LRI is focused on being in front of these challenges. The best defense is the powerful offense of strong relationships with your younger (and older!) work force. If you want to talk offense give us a call.  800-888-9115.

Save the date!  Another virtual Approachable Leadership open enrollment workshop is on the way.  

The three sessions for the workshop are June 28, 29, and 30, starting at 1pm CST each day. 

 

If you’ve hosted the workshop over the last year or so and have new leaders who have not yet experienced the workshop, this is a great opportunity for them to catch up. The cost is $249 per leader. 

If you are considering introducing this Workshop to your team for the first time and would like to give it a test run, please email Stephanie for a complimentary seat. We would love to see you there!

 

Here’s the link for new leaders to enroll: Click Here, and here’s Stephanie’s email:  somalley@lrionline.com

Links

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Union Bailout

 

Business Leaders Make Push To Veto Captive Audience Bill

https://lri.link/3wdjBlz

 

Biden Meets With Labor Organizer At Amazon After Senate Hearing

https://lri.link/3M3iU4R

 

NLRB's 'Whore Board' Decision Faces D.C. Cir. Judge's Skepticism

https://lri.link/3ylb6HM

 

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Union Organizing

 

Employees Everywhere Are Organizing. Here's Why It’s Happening Now

https://lri.link/3PmqU3d

 

Employees Who Crossed King Soopers Picket Lines Now Face Fines From Union

https://lri.link/3L0ye0Z

 

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Healthcare

 

Hundreds Of Cedars-Sinai Workers Go On Strike

https://lri.link/3N029HZ

 

2000 Cedars-Sinai Service Workers Planning To Strike

https://lri.link/3slmuPR

 

'A Longstanding Crisis': California Workers Fight To Reform Nursing Homes

https://lri.link/3P8FpHy

    

Workers at 2 NEPA nursing homes walk picket line

https://lri.link/3FxyOlF

 

92% Of Health Workers Experienced Or Witnessed Workplace Violence Last Month

https://lri.link/3FtNPVq

 

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Media

 

The Buzzfeed News Union’s Contract Specifies Protections Against ‘'Haunted' Office

https://lri.link/3L1hHcZ

 

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Manufacturing

 

UAW Continues Aggressive Pattern With A New Strike 

https://lri.link/3spuX4O

 

Union Expects CNH Strike To Last Up To Six Months 

https://lri.link/3yrCi7Q

 

Teamsters Members Say Wage Dispute At Heart Of Strike Against King's Ready-Mix

https://lri.link/3yqpqi4

 

FireKing Workers Begin Strike At New Albany Company

https://lri.link/3KY3QUY

 

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Education

 

48,000 Academic Workers Across University Of California Rise In Unison For Equitable Workplaces

https://lri.link/3M305in

 

Student Workers At Washington State University Push To Unionize

https://lri.link/3N8ntv3

 

NLRB Rejects Petition Seeking to Decertify Harvard Security Guards' Union, Prompting Appeal

https://lri.link/3w0QXoV

 

Santa Clara University's lecturers and adjunct faculty members have petitioned to hold a union vote

https://lri.link/3N3MOGh

 

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Minimum Rising

 

UAW helping Michigan petition drive to get $15 minimum wage on ballot

https://lri.link/3vX5D8f

About Labor Relations INK

Labor Relations INK is published weekly and is edited by Labor Relations Institute, Inc. Feel free to pass this newsletter on to anyone you think might enjoy it. New subscribers can sign up by visiting here.


If you use content from this newsletter please attribute it to Labor Relations Institute and include our website: http://www.LRIonline.com 


Contributing editors for this issue: Phillip Wilson, Greg Kittinger, and Kimberly Ricci 


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About Labor Relations Institute

LRI exists to help our clients thrive and become extraordinary workplaces. We improve the lives of working people by strengthening relationships with their leaders and each other. For over 41 years LRI has led the labor and employee relations industry, driven by our core values and our proven process, the LRI Way.

 

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