Undoubtedly, the healthcare industry still feels the most pain while the world returns to “normal.” Chronic staffing shortages persist, and there is no indication that healthcare will feel relief anytime soon. On this fertile organizing ground, unions have waged the most prolific strikes of this year. Still, union activists have turned their attention to other workers who feel burned by the pandemic.
Workers like grocery store staffers who served amid humanity during a time when many shoppers only left their homes for food runs. Other “essential” workers who kept the global economy rolling at the height of the pandemic include longshore workers, meatpackers, transit workers, and delivery drivers.
The unions representing these economic frontline workers now wish to capitalize upon paying back essential staffers with more than verbal gratitude. In many instances, the timing is also fitting with key contract renewals providing unions the opportunity to negotiate such demands.
We will likely see much more news on this subject. Some unions are honing in on additions to the “hazard pay” already offered to many workers, and they have further been negotiating for “hero bonuses” during dockworker negotiations.
The International Longshore Workers Union recently negotiated a 32% raise in addition to a collective $72 million “hero bonus” to be divided among members. Transport Workers Union of America also held out and won an “essential worker bonus” worth $4,000 apiece for around 40,000 NYC transit workers.
In all likelihood, this theme lurks in ongoing negotiations between UPS and the Teamsters ahead of a July 31 contract expiration date. The union rejected what they alleged was a “disrespectful package” offered by the company. The union gave the company one week for a tentative contract, and workers have already authorized a strike.
Still, don’t take your eyes off healthcare: This week, the biggest RN strike in Texas history began at Austin’s Ascension Seton. Although the strike was meant to only last one day, Ascension informed striking workers that they would be locked out for three additional days. National Nurses United alleged this was an intimidation tactic, but Ascension maintains that the longer duration allowed them to hire temp nurses and fill necessary gaps in care. The strike also counts as the first Texas acute care strike on the books, so unions are ramping up their game as conflict continues.
