SCAB UNION

Teamsters report first major GOP donation in years, surprising Republicans

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• Emma Loop
• Noah Bressner  
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  Updated Feb 22, 2024 -Politics & Policy

Former President Trump after meeting with leaders of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at their headquarters on Jan. 31. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Teamsters union reports max donation of $45,000 to the RNC after meeting with Trump

Teamsters rep says $45K donation has been approved and will be sent soon

One of America's most powerful labor unions has reported its first major donation to Republicans in two decades after meeting with former President Trump last month, but the party has yet to receive the money, sparking confusion.

Why it matters: The Teamsters' $45,000 donation to the Republican National Committee's convention fund, per Federal Election Commission reports, comes as Trump and President Biden vie for blue collar support in key swing states ahead of this year's election.

• The reported contribution is not an endorsement. But it's a powerful statement from a union that's supported every Democratic presidential nominee since Al Gore.
• It represents the Teamsters' first big donation to the RNC since 2004, the Washington Post reports.

Yes, but: The party has neither received a check from the union nor heard anything about the contribution coming, a source familiar with the RNC told Axios.

• In a statement Thursday, the Teamsters said the donation was "issued" last month, and "will be sent soon."
• Asked why the Teamsters reported the donation to the FEC before sending the money, spokesperson Kara Deniz said the union has "a strict internal auditing and reporting process that is followed before any contributions are sent."
• "Like so much in Washington, it takes time to go through the process," Deniz said.

The big picture: The union's PAC made the donation on Jan. 25, according to FEC data.

• Earlier that month, Trump met with Teamsters president Sean O'Brien behind closed doors.
• The former president also participated in a public roundtable meeting with the union on Jan. 31.
• "We had a very strong meeting with the Teamsters," Trump reportedly said at the time, adding that he believes he has a "good shot" at notching the union's endorsement.

Between the lines: Biden, who has long promised to be "the most pro-union President" in U.S. history, has already scored the UAW's endorsement.

As both candidates prepare for a rematch of the 2020 presidential race, support from union members is likely to be vital in states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania that could decide the election.

Reality check: The Teamsters still overwhelmingly give to Democrats.

• O'Brien has said the Biden administration has "been great for unions," per the Post.
• The union's PAC sent a total of $135,000 to the DNC in December, including $45,000 for its convention fund.

The bottom line: Deniz said this year will mark the first time since 2000 that the union will participate in both parties' conventions.

• "In the Teamsters, all our members' voices will be heard, regardless of party," she said.

Go deeper: Private sector unionization rates actually grew in 2023

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from a source saying the RNC has not received the donation, as well as a statement from the Teamsters. It has also been corrected to say the Teamsters PAC sent the DNC $135,000, not $30,000.

San Antonio Express-News and MySA journalists move to unionize

• Megan Stringer   Feb 21, 2024 -

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Employees of the San Antonio Express-News and MySA.com announced their plans to form a union Wednesday.

Why it matters: This is at least the fourth major union drive from Texas journalists so far this year, highlighting their concern about a shrinking and increasingly unstable media landscape.

• Journalists across the country have turned to unions in recent years to try and sustain local news amid cuts in staffing and resources.

Details: Hearst, the parent company of both the Express-News and MySA, declined organizers' request for voluntary recognition Wednesday. The union said it will file for an election with the National Labor Relations Board.

• Organizers plan to advocate for fair wages, competitive benefits and layoff protections, they said in a news release.

By the numbers: The union would represent about 68 journalists across the two newsrooms, per organizers.

• About 68% of those have already signed on to support the union.

What they're saying: "The truth is we've needed union representation at the Express-News for a long time, and we're glad this day has finally arrived," Elaine Ayala, a metro columnist for the Express-News, said in a statement.

• "The news industry is shifting so rapidly that newsrooms are always facing drastic changes to keep up, including layoffs," Steven Santana, a digital reporter at MySA, said in a statement. "That's why forming a union is necessary."
• Many journalists at Express-News and MySA enjoy their job and benefits, organizers said, and want to ensure that continues through any future changes in management and the industry.

The other side: "We look forward to making the case to our employees, on the merits, that it's not in their best interest to unionize the Express-News newsroom," Jeff Johnson, president of Hearst Newspapers, said in a statement.

Mark Medici, Express-News publisher, said the paper increased the salary for entry-level journalists last year to attract and retain talent.

• "Express-News journalists receive annual merit raises, and they have experienced none of the harsh austerity so pervasive in the news industry of late, including furloughs, pay cuts and layoffs," Medici said.

Context: Journalists at the San Antonio Report, Texas Tribune and Houston Landing — all nonprofit newsrooms, unlike the Express-News and MySA — have announced union drives this year.

What we're watching: Heading into 2024, analysts predicted that digital advertising, a key part of newsrooms' success, will only grow in the mid-single digits for the foreseeable future, Axios' Sara Fischer reports.

Disclosure: The writer of this story previously worked at the Express-New

 

Miami janitors could go on strike amid contract negotiations

• Martin Vassolo

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The janitorial workers who keep South Florida's office buildings clean will march to their jobs Wednesday night after deciding whether to authorize a strike.

Why it matters: A strike would impact office buildings from Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami — a total of 59 million square feet of office space maintained by the 1,500 members of the 32BJ Service Employees International Union.

What's happening: The union is negotiating a new four-year contract with South Florida's major cleaning contractors and demanding higher pay, more vacation days and paid time off, and the creation of additional full-time positions for the majority part-time workforce.

• Members will vote Wednesday on whether to authorize a strike, which would give the bargaining committee the ability to call for a work stoppage at any time if negotiations don't progress.
• A mariachi band will provide the soundtrack to the demonstration downtown.

What they're saying: "They are the invisible workforce. The only way they're going to get something is if they organize and if they speak up," the union's Florida district director, Helene O'Brien, tells Axios.

The big picture: Despite a booming commercial office market in Miami, the city ranks last in the nation for janitorial wages among the 10 biggest metropolitan areas, according to a study published by the union.

• Janitors, most of whom are women in their 50s, make an average of $13.32 per hour, the union says.
• "This boom doesn't trickle down," O'Brien says.

Oakland Museum Union Announced Amid a National Wave of Museum Organizing

Olivia Cruz Mayeda
Feb 21, 2024

The Oakland Museum of California’s Oak Street entrance. (Courtesy OMCA)

A group of Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) workers on Wednesday announced plans to form the museum’s first union. Representatives from OMCA Workers United said union membership would consist of approximately 90 workers across the museum, in roles including curation, ticketing and program development.

“We are asking management to join with us in bringing our institution into alignment with our stated values of equity, community, and humanity,” read the union’s statement.

Museum management is currently reviewing the union organizers’ requests, according to a statement from OMCA management provided to KQED.

OMCA Workers United joins a national wave of museum union organizing in the past few years, including at the Whitney Museum and the Guggenheim in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago. In California, workers at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the California Academy of Sciences and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles have all instigated union bargaining efforts. Layoffs in the pandemic era and concerns over structural racism after the murder of George Floyd are often cited as reasons for a greater investment in unions at art institutions.

Linds Young, an OMCA Workers United organizing committee member who develops educational programming for students, said union goals include better wages and affordable healthcare.

“I think something that we’re all learning together is nonprofit life is a little rough sometimes,” Young told KQED over the phone. “We’re looking for folks who work on our front line and in our prep staff to have livable wages — living in the Bay Area is pretty expensive.”

The union also referenced the museum’s new strategic plan, which includes goals to “advance equity, transparency, and anti-racism in internal structures, culture, and practices.” Back in 2020, the museum assembled Anti-Racist Design Teams among staff to assess equity across the organization. Young says the union wants to be included in decision-making and implementation surrounding equity.

“In the wake of protests about the murder of George Floyd, we have gone through a lot of anti-racist design and learning.” Young said. “A lot of us here are just feeling like we need a little bit more transparency in these goals.”

Union organizers tell KQED they are requesting immediate voluntary recognition of the union by OMCA, and hope to hold a union vote by March 13.

 

No Connector service tomorrow as union continues its strike against Transdev

February 25, 2024

The union that represents Fairfax Connector workers has been on strike since Feb. 22 [ATU 689]

Fairfax Connector bus service will remain suspended through Monday, Feb. 26, as the strike by bus drivers remains in effect.

Operating status for the rest of the week (Feb. 27-March 1) will be updated as information becomes available, Fairfax Connector reports.

Connector buses have been out of service since Thursday morning, when Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 began a work stoppage.

Fairfax Connector urges bus riders to use alternative transportation, such as ridesharing, carpooling, Metrobus, Metrorail, Virginia Railway Express, biking, walking, or teleworking. There are more than 4,000 available parking spaces at park-and-ride facilities across Fairfax County with access to express lanes, VRE, and ridesharing. For those who can afford it, there’s also Uber, Lyft, and taxis.

ATU 689 has been in contract negotiations since October with Transdev, the company that operates Connector buses for Fairfax County.

While there has been incremental progress, the union says, “several key issues are still unresolved, including fair sick leave and true retirement security.”

Related story: Fairfax Connector workers on strike

In late December, the union conducted a strike authorization vote, and 99 percent of its members voted in favor of going on strike if the negotiations break down.

The union decided to go on strike “because Transdev dragged its feet through negotiations, refused to fund the contract, and has made insultingly low offers to its own workers.”

“Fairfax County is not a party to labor negotiations between Transdev and labor unions,” the county states. However, ATU 689 complains that “Fairfax County officials have been silent” and refused to take action to get Transdev to the table.

According to ATU 689, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay “repeatedly refused to meet with the union both before and after a strike was called.” Union representatives met with McKay’s staff in late December, warning that “a labor action would be on the table if negotiations dragged on with nothing to show.”

Since then, McKay and his staff ignored outreach efforts by the union, “then claimed they had no idea labor action was coming,” ATU 689 says. “This is disingenuous, as willful ignorance is not a valid excuse to the riding public or the heroes that keep Fairfax Connector running day in and day out.”

“Public transportation is a vital public service, and Fairfax Connector needs to be run as such,” the union states. “Having underpaid, overworked, and exploited employees is not a stable foundation upon which we want our county transit system to be built.”

UAW president comes to Chattanooga as union files more complaints against VW

February 25, 2024
by Sam Still and Mike Pare / Staff writers

Staff photo by Olivia Ross / The Chattanooga office of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is pictured Saturday. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain met with local UAW supporters Saturday at IBEW in Chattanooga.


United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain came to Chattanooga on Saturday to visit and plot strategy with Volkswagen workers trying to unionize the company's only U.S. assembly plant.

"Martin Luther King says, 'I have a dream,' and we got a dream, and we're going to get this (the union)," Renee Berry, a VW employee who has been with the company for almost 14 years, said after the meeting, which was closed to the media.

The meeting unfolded at the Chattanooga office of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Aside from a single parked truck displaying an anti-Fain advertisement, no union opponents appeared present. Those leaving the meeting expressed excitement about the unionization effort.

"I saw some faces in there that I wouldn't have otherwise expected to see here, so it was encouraging to me, and now they're going to go back to work and keep talking to fellow co-workers and, hopefully, keep perpetuating the motion," said Isaac Meadows, a UAW volunteer organizing committee member who has worked at VW for about a year.

Meadows, who spoke to the Chattanooga Times Free Press in an interview after the meeting, said it was good of Fain, who has gained national attention since working with the UAW to secure a record agreement with the Big Three automakers in Detroit, to come to Chattanooga and talk to workers directly.

"Like he (Fain) said, he's not the one that's going to win this fight for us; he's merely a figurehead giving us support, but at the end of the day, we're the ones doing the fighting, so I think it was good for them (workers) to hear that," Meadows said.

The union billed the meeting as a "strategy" session with VW employees to organize the local plant and came just after the UAW last week filed three more complaints with the National Labor Relations Board charging unfair labor practices against Volkswagen Group of America, bringing the number to eight since mid-December.

The union alleges VW has improperly made coercive statements, including threats and promises of benefits, and concerted activities of retaliation, discharge or discipline to try to undermine support for the union.

"VW management is trying to intimidate us and does not want us to have a union," Robert Atkins, a Volkswagen worker in the paint department, said in a statement last week regarding the complaints "For example, I talk to my co-workers in the break room about our union. My supervisor found out and told me I was "soliciting," and that if it happened again, I would be disciplined."

Volkswagen spokesperson Michael Lowder denied the unfair labor charges, adding the complaints "are flatly false."

"We support our employees' right to collectively decide the question of union representation and have never and will never retaliate against anyone in any way for expressing their viewpoints," Lowder said in a statement Friday. "What we don't support is misinformation about our company and our workplace in Chattanooga, and we are confident the complaints will ultimately be dismissed. Our employees have a strong voice in the plant, and we are proud of our working environment that provides some of the best paying jobs in the area."

The UAW claims a majority of the union-eligible hourly employees at the Chattanooga plant have signed union authorization forms online.

"I look forward to negotiating improvements to our working conditions," Atkins said.

The Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga employs about 5,500 people, with about 4,100 reportedly eligible for the union, according to Volkswagen.

(READ MORE: VW says workers already have a voice)

The United Auto Workers is committing $40 million through 2026 in new organizing funds to support nonunion autoworkers and battery workers who are organizing across the country, and particularly in the South. The UAW International Executive Board voted Tuesday to commit the funds in response to an explosion in organizing activity among nonunion auto and battery workers, in order to meet the moment and grow the labor movement.

In the next few years, the electric vehicle battery industry is slated to add tens of thousands of jobs across the country, and new standards are being set as the industry comes online, the union said. Those jobs will supplement, and in some cases largely replace, existing powertrain jobs in the auto industry. Through a massive new organizing effort, workers will fight to maintain and raise the standard in the emerging battery industry, according to the union.

Although most VW plants around the world are represented by labor unions and half of the Volkswagen governing council are union members, workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga have twice defeated UAW organizing efforts. In 2014, hourly workers voted 712 to 626 against joining the UAW, and in 2019, workers voted by a 833-776 margin against UAW representation.

But Fain has mounted a more aggressive effort to organizing Volkswagen and other nonunion U.S. auto plants, including Mercedes in Vance, Alabama; Nissan in Smyrna, Tennessee; Toyota in Georgetown, Kentucky; and the Tesla plant in Austin, Texas.

(READ MORE: Tennessee is fastest growing state for labor unions)

The UAW said more than 10,000 autoworkers have already signed their union cards to join the UAW at 14 nonunion automakers from California to South Carolina.

In a previous visit to the Chattanooga VW plant in December, Fain said when the UAW will ask for another vote by employees to align with the UAW was up to workers and how fast they sign more cards.

"At 70%, we'll start pushing for a vote," he said at the time.

According to the National Labor Relations Board, an employer such as Volkswagen can voluntarily recognize a union without an election, typically based on a majority of signed authorization cards.