It’s that time of the week when we look at some of the rapidly developing stories on the weekly Workfront.
UAW holds onto the headlines: As we ended 2023, the UAW had held the headlines for most of the fourth quarter driven by their weeks-long “stand up strike,” the resulting labor agreement with the Big 3, and finally, their announcement of a sweeping new campaign aimed at organizing any and all non-union auto manufacturers operating in the United States. Toyota was the initial target of the campaign, but Volkswagon and Mercedes-Benz have since been drawn into the fray with active card-signing campaigns. They also reached a tentative agreement with Allison Transmission in Indiana, averting what could have been the first significant strike of 2024. Fain also took credit for a pay bump announced at Tesla. Keep an eye on Shawn Fain, as he seems intent on remaining highly active in 2024. We will have a deeper dive into these efforts next week.
SpaceX launches lawsuit aimed at NLRB: SpaceX, under Elon Musk’s leadership, has filed a lawsuit challenging the authority of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The lawsuit claims the NLRB’s in-house courts are unconstitutional and questions the agency’s enforcement power. This action follows a complaint by the NLRB against SpaceX for allegedly firing employees who criticized Musk. SpaceX argues that the NLRB’s structure violates the separation of powers and seeks an injunction to halt the NLRB’s case while constitutional concerns are addressed. The lawsuit could significantly impact the NLRB’s ability to oversee workplace issues if successful. More discussion on that here.
A first contract at Planned Parenthood: 430 Planned Parenthood workers across five Midwestern states and Planned Parenthood North Central States have reached agreement on a first contract. The agreement, which is pending ratification, includes a minimum 11.75% wage increase over three years, with the lowest-paid employees receiving a 17% raise in the first year. The deal also reduces health insurance costs and contains provisions on harassment and racial justice. However, some union leaders expressed disappointment, citing insufficient raises and inadequate contract language on equity and racial justice. First-time CBAs are notoriously difficult to negotiate, often taking more than a year, so this is a notable event.
