The Unionization of America 2024
Amazon Labor Union
This movement began in 2020 after warehouse workers for the online retailer Amazon started speaking out against workplace conditions, including unrealistic quotas and harsh employee treatment.
ALU founders Chris Smalls and Derrick Palmer’s efforts led to several New York Amazon warehouses pushing for unionization. Since then, the duo’s efforts have led to more United States warehouses seeking unionization. So far, JFK8 in New York is the only unionized Amazon.
Starbucks Workers United
Sparks of a union began in 2020 as the Elmwood Avenue Starbucks in Buffalo, New York, under the leadership of Jaz Brisack. Labor shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the store staff deciding to unionize.
After the Buffalo-area store successfully unionized in 2021, it sparked over 150 stores in the United States to push for unionization. As of August 2023, over 330 stores have organized throughout the U.S. The Lancaster, Pennsylvania store became the latest one to unionize.
Alphabet Workers Union
For years, Google workers across different experience levels have gathered strength in voicing their concerns regarding work conditions and culture. The tech union became official in January 2021, which followed a year of secret organizing.
The AWU is part of an effort by tech industry workers to create a fair and safe work environment in Silicon Valley. The tech workers’ actions inspired companies like NPR and The New York Times to do the same. However, Google workers’ efforts dealt a blow when Google laid off employees, including union members.
Digital Media Unionization
Over the last decade, workers from multiple new media outlets have pushed for unionization. This push started in 2015 after media companies, including The Guardian, Vice, and Salon, voted to unionize.
The press didn’t recognize these efforts until 2020. By that time, multiple outlets like Bustle, People, and Hearst chose to unionize during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of August 2023, over 100 new media outlets have chosen to unionize with or without the support of their respective organizations. Workers at several radio stations and press magnet Conde Nast joined the unionization in 2022.
UPS (Package Division)
UPS has built a strong union over a century among US-based package delivery services. The workers have worked with the Teamsters to negotiate and secure the best contracts. However, in recent months, the expiration of their five-year contract led to a push for more equity, especially for part-time employees and contractors.
After threats of a nationwide strike, employees and the Teamsters reached a deal with UPS to accept their new five-year contract. UPS workers ratified the agreement in an unprecedented vote.
WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes
Multiple unions in Hollywood have safeguards in place for all creatives to thrive. Two of the most prominent organizations — Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) — have worked to make the TV and film industry a level playing field since the 20th century. However, recent developments led the two unions to shut down Hollywood for the foreseeable future.
In 2023, all the Hollywood guilds negotiated their respective contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). While some unions were successful, talks between the organization and WGA fell through in May after disagreements over residuals, work conditions, and AI. That’s when the writers authorized a strike. SAG suffered the same pushback from producers regarding the same issues. So, in July, actors officially went on strike. Since then, there has been speculation about talks between the guilds and AMPTP resuming. The strikes were eventually settled, with the WGA signing its contract on October 9 and SAG-AFTRA signing on December 5.
United Automobile Workers
Since 1935, the UAW has worked consistently to develop innovative partnerships with employers and negotiated industry-leading wages and benefits for its members. However, the union declined after the 1970s following the introduction of automation and globalization. The organization saw a spike following the pandemic. This uptick led to a recent development where the workers and automakers disagreed over contract negotiations.
In 2023, auto workers from the Big 3 — General Motors, Ford Motor, and Stellantis — began renegotiating their contracts. The talks between union leader Shawn Fain and the companies broke down over the issues of tiered employment and contract workers. The process has spawned multiple complaints against the Big 3 to the NLRB. The UAW evenly authorized an official strike with a new contract signed in November 2023. Since January 2024, the union has moved to unite more workers across the United States.
Marvel VFX Union
In light of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, a group of Marvel visual effects professionals unionized after years of working on multiple blockbuster films for a decade. This development came after several Marvel vis effects artists complained about poor working conditions. The group brought up issues, including unrelenting overtime and constantly changing deadlines. Their complaints came on the heels of criticisms from critics and fans about the quality of MCU’s effects.
The artists announced this effort for a vote on August 21, which became a union on September 13. This motion marked the first time visual effects professionals at any major film studio became unionized.
IASTE/Apple TV Visual Workers
More than a year after Marvel visual effects professionals unionized, Apple TV vfx artists chose to union. This development came after several vis effects unions have popped up following the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. The group mentioned the tech streaming platform is a pleasant workplace, but they wanted wages, benefits, and working conditions on par with other VFX groups.
The artists announced this effort for a vote on June 21 before making the action official on August 6. Now, the group joins Marvel/Disney and Avatar visual effects artists in unionizing across major Hollywood studios.
PASS/FAA
The airline industry has been unionized for decades. However, one union has been negotiating with the federal agency for two years. The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) represents aviation safety inspectors and technicians in the FAA. The contentious negotiations between the agency and the union have been documented as the two parties went back and forth over issues like sick leave and telework protections.
The aviation union finally announced on August 5 that they and the FAA had reached a tentative agreement. Now, union members must decide the agreements as PASS goes from airline to airline advocating for the new deal.
SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike
It appeared everything was calm in the media after the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. However, this wasn’t the case, with one sector finally speaking out against the video gaming industry.
Though the acting union reached a deal in 2023, video game performers have been negotiating for better contract terms and conditions. The union negotiated with major gaming studios and companies for over a year. The group’s main issue was the lack of protection against AI as the gaming industry started implementing the new technology. That’s when the performers authorized a strike. It is unclear if or when good-faith negotiations will resume.
United Airlines
The aviation industry is feeling the pressure from its workforce. This time, United Airlines felt the weight as its flight attendants chose to take a stand.
After negotiating in good faith for months, United Airlines stewards chose to go on strike under the guidance of The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA). The group asked for increased salaries, better work pay, flexible schedules, and improved workplace rules. Negotiations reached an impasse, so a strike authorization was voted on. It is still being determined if or when these negotiations will resume.
Originally published at http://adreonpatterson.net on September 5, 2024.
