All articles tagged with #strike authorization
Unionized support and technical staff at UVM Medical Center have authorized a strike after 82% of voters approved the action. The unions, representing 3,300 workers, seek better staffing protections and faster wage increases, while the hospital cites financial losses and proposes a three-year contract. No strike has been called yet, as both sides attempt to reach a final agreement.
SEIU Local 1000, which represents about 100,000 California state employees across nine bargaining units, announced a strike-authorization vote as negotiations with the Newsom administration over pay (a 20% raise over three years), telework benefits (including $25 commuting stipends), and health coverage stall. The union accuses the state of bargaining in bad faith, and a yes vote would empower leadership to call a strike if talks don’t improve. A previous authorization in 2016 preceded a near-walkout, and a 2023 CAPS-UAW strike showed the potential impact. While tentative agreements have been reached on 13 issues, no final deal exists, and legislative action remains pending.
Seattle Public Schools warn of roughly a $100 million budget shortfall as the Seattle Education Association votes 91% to authorize a strike over pay, benefits and special education. The district, which has proposed cost-saving measures including closures that were abandoned, says it is financially strained but remains willing to offer retroactive pay if a new contract is reached. Enrollment has fallen about 5,000 since 2019 as negotiations continue.
Musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra unanimously authorized the first strike in the ensemble’s history as contract talks stall ahead of an August 23 deadline, with leadership’s decisions cited as eroding trust; negotiations will continue through the weekend.
A union representing 30,000 healthcare professionals at Kaiser Permanente has authorized a strike due to unresolved staffing and pay issues, criticizing the organization's stagnant wages and large financial reserves, and highlighting the broader national movement among healthcare workers for better conditions.
Philadelphia teachers have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if negotiations with the school district do not reach an agreement by August, amid ongoing disputes over working conditions, salaries, and school funding. The union emphasizes the need for better pay, smaller class sizes, and improved resources, while the district faces significant budget shortfalls and funding challenges. Negotiations are ongoing, but the strike authorization marks a significant show of union strength after over two decades.
Pierce County grocery workers represented by UFCW Local 367 have authorized a potential strike against Kroger brands Fred Meyer and QFC, as well as Albertsons and Safeway, due to disputes over unfair labor practices and negotiations for a new contract. No strike date has been set, and both sides remain engaged in negotiations.
Writers at Sesame Workshop have unanimously authorized a strike if a deal isn't reached by Friday when their current contract expires. The Writers Guild of America stated that the writers are committed to their work and are seeking annual raises, improvements to residuals, and union coverage for animation and social media segments. Sesame Workshop expressed hope for an agreement and emphasized the writers' importance to their creative team. If a strike occurs, picketing will begin on April 24 outside Sesame Workshop's offices in New York City.
Kroger workers at 38 stores in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio have voted to reject the company's contract proposal and authorize a strike due to inadequate wage increases and unacceptable increases to health care costs. The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 Union's bargaining committee can call a strike at any time, and the union will hold rallies to announce next steps for a potential work stoppage. The union has agreed to reconvene contract negotiations with Kroger at the request of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and Sen. Joe Manchin, and will spend the next week recruiting and training union members as picket captains.
Union members at Marathon Petroleum's Detroit refinery have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike amid negotiations for compensation increases and improved schedules. The Teamsters' contract with Marathon expired on Jan. 31 and covers 273 workers, including board operators, chemists, field operators, laboratory technicians, electricians, and mechanics. The union is seeking fair compensation for their essential work, while Marathon Petroleum asserts its commitment to bargaining in good faith and ensuring the safe operation of the refinery.
Unionized flight attendants at Alaska Airlines have voted to authorize a potential strike for the first time in three decades, as thousands of cabin crew across three unions picketed for higher pay. The vote doesn't mean a strike is imminent, and the company has been offering pay raises and negotiating with a mediator. The move reflects broader demands by labor unions for higher pay as the majority of U.S. cabin crew are in contract talks, with some flight attendants not having had a pay raise in five years.
Alaska Airlines flight attendants have voted to authorize a strike for the first time in over 30 years, citing a lack of progress in negotiations for a new contract after nearly a decade. The flight attendants argue that while the airline has provided substantial pay increases to pilots, it has failed to offer livable wages to some of its attendants. The vote does not guarantee a strike, but it escalates the ongoing dispute, with the union representing the attendants following a strategy known as CHAOS, which involves unannounced strikes on random flights. The last time Alaska Air flight attendants went on strike was in 1993.
Teamsters union members at Anheuser-Busch's 12 U.S. breweries have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a potential strike, citing the need for improved wages, job protection, and secure benefits. The current agreement expires on February 29. The strike threat comes after the beermaker's parent company, AB InBev, faced a conservative-led Bud Light boycott, impacting its revenue and stock price. Strike authorization votes are common during contract negotiations and may not necessarily result in a strike.
About 5,000 Teamsters working at Anheuser-Busch have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if a new contract cannot be reached before the current one expires on February 29. The union members, who represent more than a quarter of Anheuser-Busch's US workforce, are seeking a contract that rewards and recognizes their hard work. Strike authorization votes are common in labor negotiations, but most contracts are negotiated without a strike. Strikes have become more common in the last year, with unions finding success in negotiations. Anheuser-Busch has faced challenges, including a drop in sales and a controversy over a social media promotion, leading to layoffs.
The Teamsters union has announced that its members, who work at Anheuser-Busch breweries in the U.S., have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a potential strike if a new labor contract is not reached early next year. The union is seeking higher wages, job protection, and secure benefits. The current contract expires on February 29, 2024. The union and Anheuser-Busch have reached tentative agreements on some issues but have not negotiated on job security since mid-November. The union criticized the company for prioritizing stock buybacks over protecting jobs. Anheuser-Busch has not yet commented on the strike authorization.