THE MORNING READ: It’s a “Movement Moment” In the U.S.
THE MORNING READ: It’s a “Movement Moment” In the U.S.
“An uptick in private sector strikes at companies like John Deere, Kellogg’s, and Nabisco last fall — termed “Striketober” — indicated renewed willingness by workers to participate in workplace actions. Stephanie Luce, a professor of labor studies at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies observed, “As someone who’s studied labor issues for the last 30 years or so, I’ve never seen anything like it in terms of the level of interest and excitement from people who want to fight back at the workplace.”
“And workers are organizing new unions at an unprecedented number of companies. The NLRB is overwhelmed with petitions for union representation elections.[2] Amazon and Starbucks workers have upended the old common sense for how to organize unions.[3] Now is the time for union leaders to retool their organizing tactics to fit a moment when — finally — workers are leading the way.[4][5]”
“UPS Teamster Anthony Rosario, a member of New York Local 804 said, “When Amazon workers see us fighting for a good contract [at UPS], they will have a better understanding of what the labor movement is. And when we win a good contract, we’re helping them too. By taking on UPS, Teamsters will be setting the standard for the entire warehouse and delivery sector. We can show the world what a labor movement really looks like!”
