Starbucks has agreed to pay approximately $35 million to over 15,000 New York City workers to settle claims related to unstable schedules and arbitrary hour cuts. The company will also pay $3.4 million in civil penalties and must comply with the city’s Fair Workweek law moving forward. Investigations, launched in 2022 due to numerous worker complaints, revealed that most employees faced irregular schedules and reduced hours, hindering their ability to plan. This settlement also includes reinstatement opportunities for employees laid off during recent store closures.
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As Amazon prepares for a major shopping event, a global coalition of unions, tech workers, and human rights groups is organizing strikes and protests in over 30 countries as part of the “Make Amazon Pay” campaign. The campaign accuses Amazon of exacerbating inequality, undermining democratic rights, and contributing to environmental harm. This year’s demonstrations will address the company’s expanding influence, including its involvement in logistics, cloud services, and political lobbying, while highlighting issues such as harsh working conditions and environmental impacts. Protests are planned worldwide, and the campaign demands that Amazon fairly compensate workers, pay taxes, and address the environmental damage caused by its operations.
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In solidarity with nearly 10,000 striking city workers, LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan announced they would not perform at the Wawa Welcome America Festival in Philadelphia. LL Cool J cited the importance of not crossing a picket line and supporting the workers’ fight for a living wage, while Sullivan expressed her support for the striking workers. The strike, now in its fourth day, has led to accumulating trash and required some Medical Examiner’s Office staff to return to work due to a growing backlog. Negotiations between the city and the union, District Council 33, continue, with the city offering a contract that the union argues does not provide adequate wage increases.
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The arrest of David Huerta, president of SEIU-USWW and SEIU California, by ICE has galvanized California’s diverse union movement. Huerta’s arrest, marked by alleged excessive force, has ignited widespread outrage and solidarity among unions across the state and nationally. This incident follows a pattern of escalating immigration raids and has spurred a renewed commitment to action against mass deportations, transforming a previously cautious approach into a powerful show of unified resistance. The outpouring of support underscores the deep ties between unions and immigrant communities in California and promises significant future mobilization.
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Chiquita Brands terminated all striking daily workers in Panama after over three weeks of nationwide protests against social security reforms. The company cited significant financial losses, estimated at $75 million, resulting from the strike, which President Mulino deemed illegal. The president blamed union leader Francisco Smith for the disruptions in Bocas del Toro province. The ongoing protests, encompassing various sectors, oppose government-mandated changes intended to stabilize the social security system.
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Late Thursday, President Trump issued an executive order eliminating collective bargaining rights for approximately 700,000 federal union workers across numerous departments, citing national security concerns and claiming union opposition to his agenda. This action, utilizing a loophole in the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, represents the most significant attack on federal worker unions in US history. Major unions, including the AFGE and AFSCME, have denounced the order as illegal and vowed immediate legal action. The White House justified the move by alleging that certain federal unions have engaged in actions against the administration.
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Bernie Sanders is investigating Trump’s purging of labor officials, a move that highlights the stark contrast between Sanders’ proactive approach and the perceived inaction of other Democratic politicians. This investigation underscores a growing concern about the erosion of worker protections and the potential for systematic undermining of labor rights.
The scale and speed of Trump’s actions raise serious questions about the effectiveness of existing investigative mechanisms. Concerns are expressed that investigations, even if launched, may not be swift enough to counteract the damage already done or to prevent further transgressions. The urgency of the situation is palpable.
Many feel that Sanders is virtually alone among prominent politicians in actively confronting Trump’s actions, leading to frustration and a sense that the Democratic party as a whole is failing to adequately address these critical issues.… Continue reading
Amazon will close all seven of its Quebec facilities within the next two months, resulting in the layoff of nearly 2,000 employees. The company claims this decision, impacting its only unionized Canadian workforce, is a cost-saving measure related to a shift back to a third-party delivery model. However, the timing, coinciding with recent unionization efforts at a Laval warehouse, has sparked controversy and accusations of anti-union tactics. The Quebec government has pledged support for affected workers, while the union strongly condemns the closure.
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Amazon will close seven Quebec sites, impacting nearly 1800 employees, and shifting to a third-party delivery model similar to its pre-2020 system. The company cites a review of operations and claims the decision is unrelated to recent unionization efforts at a Laval warehouse, despite speculation linking the two. Amazon is offering affected workers severance packages including up to 14 weeks of salary and transition support. Intelcom, an existing Amazon subcontractor, is reportedly poised to assume some of the vacated roles.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood