As the ongoing nationwide Starbucks campaign simmers in frustration amid stalled contract developments, experts have mulled over the current state of organizing. Our own Phil Wilson previously detailed the lack of true union popularity in the U.S. as well as the full context of statistics that point towards record-low union density in 2022, rather than the rosier portrait painted by the media.
Surprisingly enough, the left-leaning NPR also recently took a hard look at numbers, which reveal, “[W]e’re hardly witnessing a rejuvenated movement strong enough to dramatically reverse unions’ long-run decline.” The outlet further concedes that although NLRB petitions increased 53% in 2022 versus 2021, “[T]hat’s hardly a game changer.”
Phil also previously analyzed traditional vs. independent/grassroots unions to provide context on whether the Starbucks organizing movement would continue to influence workers in other sectors, and whether these workers would align with established unions or go their own way, lie workers at Trader Joe’s chose to do.
Bloomberg Law similarly wonders whether independent unions can continue to stand on their own, and the outlet’s conclusion hinges upon whether these unions can produce results at the bargaining table. If that fails to happen – and as Phil pointed out, today’s workers don’t possess a great deal of patience – the independent organizing trend could very well go out of vogue. Will traditional unions then attempt to pick up those workers? Only time will tell.
A few notable organizing stories from this month:
- Apple Store employees in Glasgow, Scotland formed the first U.K.-based union of Apple retail employees. This move follows the unionization of two U.S.-based Apple stores in Maryland and Oklahoma with further efforts pending.
- The Amazon Air Hub near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is seeing union organizers begin a card-collection campaign in conjunction with the ongoing effort by Amazon Labor Union, which still struggles to gain momentum after losses at multiple warehouses.
- Madison Sourdough Workers filed a petition for a union vote, which could end with dozens of workers at the popular Wisconsin bakery joining the UFCW.
- The first group of Senate staffers to unionize formally joined the Congressional Workers Union via Democrat Ed Markey’s office. He has applauded their efforts as the CWU continues to organize on Capitol Hill.
