Power at Work Blogcast #48: Reporting on Worker Power with Alex N. Press and Robert Iafolla
Jun 11, 2024
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Labor journalists Robert Iafolla and Alex N. Press discuss labor law, union organizing, UAW's struggles in the South, and the impact of the upcoming election on worker power and organizing campaigns. They highlight the challenges faced by workers in union organizing, legal constraints on striking, and the rising power of worker strikes in various sectors.
Formal documentation of gains crucial post-campaign for worker protection.
Legal restrictions like Railway Labor Act hinder workers' strike leverage and legislative changes.
Deep dives
The UAW campaign at the Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Facility and the significance of workers' gains
The podcast discusses the UAW's organizing effort at the Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Facility in Alabama, highlighting the 44% vote and workers' victories during the campaign, including the replacement of the CEO and wage raises. The need for workers to secure these gains in writing to prevent their removal post-campaign is emphasized, signaling the ongoing importance of formal documentation for workers' rights.
The impact of legal restrictions on the right to strike and potential shifts in labour relations
The episode delves into the legal restrictions faced by workers, such as the Railway Labor Act and prohibitions on striking for postal workers, leading to prolonged negotiations without the strike leverage. The discussion points to growing frustrations in the labor movement, questioning the potential for organized labor to push for legislative changes to allow these workers the right to strike.
The resurgence of strikes and worker empowerment
The resurgence of strikes in various sectors is explored, challenging the prior belief that the strike weapon was ineffective. Factors contributing to this resurgence include workers' reevaluation of job conditions during the pandemic, shifts in working class power dynamics, and increased political awareness fuelled by campaigns like Bernie Sanders'. The rise in strikes and collective bargaining efforts is seen as a sign of worker empowerment and potential political realignment.
Future narratives and trends in the labor movement
The podcast speculates on upcoming narratives and trends in the labor movement, hesitating to pinpoint specific stories due to the impending presidential election's potential impact on legal and labor spheres. It hints at the evolving strategies of unions like the UAW and current negotiations in industries like Amazon and Starbucks, projecting potential movements towards worker empowerment and political engagement in the second half of 2024 and beyond.
In this blogcast, Burnes Center for Social Change Senior Fellow Seth Harris is joined by two labor journalists to discuss some of the most important stories that affect workers, worker power, collective action, and unions in our country.
Robert Iafolla is a Senior Legal Reporter at Bloomberg Law, where he covers issues related to labor and employment.
Alex N. Press is a staff writer at Jacobin who covers labor organizing, among many other topics.
Their conversation covers the latest developments from the worlds of labor law and union organizing – including the UAW’s recent successes and failures when it comes to organizing auto workers in the South.
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