The battle between workers and employers continues, particularly in the service industry. Here’s some updated news on how it’s all shaking out. 👀
First, the United Auto Workers union said it will expand strikes at General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis plants if no significant progress is made by 10:00 a.m. ET Friday. The strikes currently involve about 12.5% of the UAW’s 146,000 members whose labor contracts expired two weeks ago. ❌
Meanwhile, in a historic move, President Joe Biden joined workers on the picket line this week in support of their call for a 40% pay raise. His appearance was a day before Donald Trump’s visit, highlighting the importance of union support as we head into the 2024 presidential election.
The travel and entertainment industry has seen its fair share of strikes, with pilots recently renegotiating contracts with most major airlines. However, Las Vegas hospitality workers are now permitting their union to call a strike against hotels and casinos as their current five-year agreements expire. Last summer, the casino workers’ union in Atlantic City negotiated the biggest raises they’ve ever had, and Last Vegas workers are hoping to roll the dice and win similar results. 💰
And the unrest among pharmacists nationwide continues, with CVS workers planning more walkouts over working conditions. A shortage of pharmacists and support staff has caused chains like CVS and Walgreens to cut service hours, ask for voluntary pay reductions, place higher expectations on their remaining staff, and even close some stores. After many months of this, CVS pharmacists are pushing back, asking the chains to do more to improve working conditions and compensation.
With the labor market remaining historically strong and more unions winning concessions for their workers, it’s unlikely that this pressure from workers will cease anytime soon. Labor has leverage over capital for the first time in decades, and they’re using it to secure better contracts amid high levels of inflation and economic angst. 🪧