Andrew Lanier

lefty politics, old cars, music

[Jacobin @jacobin]

Socialist Pete Seeger, widely acknowledged to be one of America’s greatest folk singers, was born on this day in 1919.

[Teamsters Local 70 @local_70]

SAN FRANCISCO) – In a major win for Amazon Teamsters, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Region 20 issued a complaint against the company over its illegal refusal to bargain. The federal agency is seeking a bargaining order to force the company to the negotiating table.

[More Perfect Union @MorePerfectUS]

Oregon and Washington are considering laws to give striking workers unemployment benefits.

Oregon’s bill would make it the first state to provide pay for picketing public employees.

Washington’s would pay striking workers for 12 weeks, starting after two weeks on the line.

[Teamsters @Teamsters]

COSTCO TEAMSTERS OVERWHELINGLY VOTE TO AUTHORIZE STRIKE

Costco Teamsters nationwide have voted by an overwhelming 85 percent margin to authorize a strike. The vote is a direct result of the company’s continued failure to bargain constructively and refusal to present a fair contract offer that reflects the company's record-breaking profits. The Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement, covering more than 18,000 Costco workers, expires on January 31.

Last week, hundreds of Costco Teamsters nationwide organized practice pickets in preparation for a potential strike. On Tuesday, Teamsters in Hayward, Calif., and Sumner, Wash., held practice picket actions. On Wednesday, Costco Teamsters held a practice picket and rally on Long Island. By Thursday, hundreds more in Southern California joined the mobilization effort with a large practice picket in San Diego.

“Our members have spoken loud and clear — Costco must deliver a fair contract, or they’ll be held accountable,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “From day one, we’ve told Costco that our members won’t work a day past January 31 without a historic, industry-leading agreement. Costco’s greedy executives have less than two weeks to do the right thing. If they refuse, they’ll have no one to blame but themselves when our members go on strike.”

[Philly AFL-CIO @PhillyAFLCIO]

No

https://t.co/THx8NxtAaf

[Teamsters for a Democratic Union @TeamsterRnF]

'Tis the Season to Organize Amazon 🎄🌟🎅💫 https://t.co/9U2WBGWXDx

[Teamsters @Teamsters]

BREAKING: A majority of Amazon workers at the trillion-dollar company’s largest air hub on the West Coast have now joined the Teamsters.

Air hub workers marched on the boss today at KSBD in San Bernardino, Calif., to demand that Amazon recognize their union and deliver a Teamsters contract.

[📕 @SwampCommunist]

Kinda nuts that car crash victims just donate those hearts for free and then they charge you a mortgage for it

[Teamsters @Teamsters]

TEAMSTERS TELL AMAZON:
AGREE TO BARGAINING DATES BY DEC. 15

On behalf of thousands of Amazon delivery drivers and warehouse workers who have already organized for Teamsters representation nationwide, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters today gave the e-commerce giant a deadline of Dec. 15 to follow the law and agree to bargaining dates for a union contract.

“The Teamsters are done asking nicely for Amazon to stop breaking the law. Amazon must commit to come to the table and bargain a Teamsters contract with its workers — or face the consequences of its inaction,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Thousands of Amazon workers around the country have courageously united to take on one of the world’s most abusiveemployers. Amazon has a legal obligation to recognize the Teamsters and to start negotiating. Time has run out for this trillion-dollar company. We will protect our members at all costs, and we are prepared to come after Amazon with the full force of the Teamsters Union if and when necessary to get the contract workers have earned.”

Fed up with low wages, disrespect, and illegal union busting, Amazon workers from California to New York, Illinois, Georgia, and beyond have demanded Teamsters recognition and union protections. Despite an historic organizing wave over the past two years, Amazon has continuously failed to meet its legal obligations to bargain with thousands of drivers and workers inside warehouses and fulfillment centers over its industry-worst working conditions.

The Teamsters’ demand for bargaining emerges amid ongoing worker-led actions. Just this year, Amazon warehouse workers and drivers in San Francisco, Queens, N.Y., Skokie, Ill., Atlanta, Ga., City of Industry, Calif. and Victorville, Calif., have won massive organizing campaigns. They join warehouse workers with ALU-IBT Local 1 in Staten Island, N.Y., who voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with the Teamsters this summer, and Amazon Teamsters in Palmdale, Calif., who have picketed 50 Amazon warehouses nationwide as part of their ongoing strike.

“Amazon is a bully, but the Teamsters know how to deal with bullies,” said Randy Korgan, Teamsters Amazon Division Director and Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 1932. “This growing movement of Amazon workers can count on the muscle and support of more than 1.3 million hardworking Teamsters across North America. If Amazon fails to agree to bargaining dates with the Teamsters by Dec. 15, we are ready to take the fight directly to the company’s doorstep in every state. Amazon workers are going to win, and the company knows it.”

The Teamsters Amazon National Negotiating Committee is finalizing its proposal now for the first Teamsters contract at the company. The national contract proposal is being developed by rank-and-file Amazon Teamsters drivers and warehouse workers from all unionized locations.

The Teamsters Union is calling on all Amazon workers across the country to seize this historic opportunity before the end of the year to show Amazon their power and demand good jobs, fair wages, safe working conditions, and the protections of a strong Teamsters agreement.

“This is our moment,” said Luc Rene, an Amazon Teamster at DBK4 in Queens. “More Amazon workers are joining the movement every single day. If you work at Amazon — as a driver, warehouse worker or in any other capacity — we urge you to get involved in this fight for dignified wages and better careers. Please reach out to the Teamsters today. The real battle is about to kick off.”

[More Perfect Union @MorePerfectUS]

Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut, New York and Missouri has declared it will no longer pay for anesthesia for the full length of some surgeries.

It the procedure goes over a certain time, anesthesia will not be covered for the duration.

https://t.co/Bj6At1nwFt

[More Perfect Union @MorePerfectUS]

BREAKING: 300 Whole Foods workers in Philly are unionizing with @UFCW.

This appears to be the first organizing effort at a Whole Foods store ever, per @UnionElections.

[Teamsters @Teamsters]

On Jan. 31, 2025, the Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement, which protects over 18,000 Costco workers across the country, is set to expire. Costco Teamsters are united in their fight for an industry-leading contract that halts the company’s corporate backslide, secures wages that keep pace with inflation, and paves the way for nonunion Costco workers to join the Teamsters.

Our message to Costco is clear: if you truly consider yourself a “pro-worker” company, prove it at the bargaining table!

Join us on Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. PST for the “Pro-Worker? Prove It” Costco Teamsters Rally in Long Beach, California.

[Dripped Out Trade Unionists @UnionDrip]

The kids are alright

[Labor Notes @labornotes]

Picket line chants of "Hey, hey, ho, ho, UC greed has got to go!" rang out today at UC San Francisco, where 4,000 healthcare, research, and technical workers, members of UPTE-CWA 9119, are on the first day of their Unfair Labor Practice strike [Video: @UPTECWA] 🧵1/3

[Teamsters @Teamsters]

After a prolonged legal battle, UNFI drivers represented by Teamsters Local 853 in Oakland, Calif., have won a $1.3 million back pay award over UNFI’s failure to honor the drivers’ collective bargaining agreement.

“This outcome shows the power of being in a union,” said Ruben Lopez, a UNFI driver and Local 853 shop steward. “Without the Teamsters Union’s support, we’d never have received the $1.3 million that we were rightfully owed.”

[Teamsters Against Trump @TmstrsStopTrump]

Vote for our pensions.
Vote for our health and safety on the job.
Vote for our union rights.
Vote for @KamalaHarris.

[Read Raising Expectations (and Raising Hell) @JPHilllllll]

You’ll be shocked to learn that the “miracle cure” for homelessness is housing and services.

[Dripped Out Trade Unionists @UnionDrip]

Always love seeing this show up again on the timeline. We need to up our game.