© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Teamster member Sergio Martinez yells out throughout a rally outdoors a UPS facility in downtown in Los Angeles, California, U.S. July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake
By Mrinalika Roy
(Reuters) -A good U.S. labor market, the expiry of union contracts and excessive dwelling prices have led to powerful negotiations for pay hikes and advantages, triggering strikes and protests throughout industries.
Practically 444,900 employees have been concerned in work stoppages and strikes via October this 12 months, in keeping with preliminary knowledge from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, placing 2023 on monitor to turning into the busiest 12 months for strikes since 2018.
Listed here are some sectors and corporations that confronted powerful negotiations in 2023:
MEDIA
Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) authorized a brand new three-year contract with main studios on Oct. 9. Movie and tv writers had walked off the job in Could over compensation, staffing and residual funds, amongst different points. They returned to work on Sept. 27 after negotiators reached a tentative settlement.
Hollywood actors reached a tentative settlement with main studios on Nov. 8 to resolve the second of two strikes that rocked the leisure business as writers and performers demanded larger pay within the streaming TV period.
Valued at greater than $1 billion, the three-year contract contains will increase in minimal salaries and a brand new bonus paid by streaming providers, the union mentioned.
AUTOMOTIVE
Normal Motors (NYSE:), Ford (NYSE:) and Chrysler-owner Stellantis (NYSE:) ratified offers with United Auto Staff (UAW) members in November.
The UAW mentioned on Nov. 15 that about 3,900 of its members working at Mack Vans ratified a brand new five-year contract, ending a month-long strike on the Volvo (OTC:) Group-owned firm.
PARCEL DELIVERY
Teamsters union employees at United Parcel Service (NYSE:) ratified a brand new five-year contract in August, a deal that raises pay, eliminates a two-tier wage system for drivers, supplies one other paid vacation and ends pressured extra time.
FedEx (NYSE:) pilots have been concerned in a standoff with the parcel supply agency over wages and legacy pensions. Pilots rejected a tentative deal in July and negotiations are ongoing.
AIRLINES & AEROSPACE FIRMS
Pilots at a number of airways together with American Airways (NASDAQ:), Delta Air Strains (NYSE:), United Airways Holdings (NASDAQ:), Spirit Airways (NYSE:) and Jetblue Airways negotiated new job contracts this 12 months.
Members of some unions just like the Southwest Airways (NYSE:) Pilots Affiliation have voted to authorize a strike if a brand new contract is just not reached.
Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE:) negotiated a brand new contract to finish a strike that led to a week-long work stoppage at its plant in Wichita, Kansas.
MANUFACTURING
U.S. metal producer Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE:) has reached a tentative settlement with the United Steelworkers union on a brand new three-year labor settlement for its Northshore mining operations.
U.S. Metal, which is reviewing a number of proposals starting from partial acquisition to a whole buyout, is embroiled in a tussle with the United Steelworkers union. The corporate’s unionized employees say they basically have the facility to veto any transaction they don’t approve of.
CONSUMER & RETAIL
In Las Vegas, hundreds of employees reached agreements with on line casino operators and resorts Caesars (NASDAQ:) Leisure, MGM Resorts (NYSE:) and Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ:) in November to keep away from strikes that might have crippled tourism within the metropolis.
The Detroit On line casino Council reached a tentative settlement for a brand new contract overlaying 3,700 employees at MGM Grand Detroit operated by MGM Resorts, Hollywood On line casino at Greektown operated by Penn and MotorCity On line casino on Nov. 17.
The Detroit On line casino Council had known as the primary strike in its historical past final month after negotiations that had begun in the summertime didn’t yield a brand new contract.
Greater than 3,000 employees at greater than 150 Starbucks (NASDAQ:) shops within the U.S. held strikes in June, following claims the corporate had banned Pleasure Month decorations at a few of its cafes.
Staff at lots of of Starbucks shops walked off their jobs throughout a key promotional occasion on Nov. 16, demanding improved staffing and schedules.
Hundreds of Los Angeles-area lodge staffers went on a three-day strike in July over improved wages, advantages and dealing circumstances. Union leaders representing the employees have threatened additional walkouts.
HEALTHCARE
Kaiser Permanente’s healthcare employees voted to ratify a brand new contract with the hospital chain on Nov. 9, ending a months-long negotiation that resulted within the largest recorded strike within the U.S. medical sector.
Greater than 7,000 nurses went on a three-day strike in New York Metropolis over staffing ranges and pay hikes in January.
Staff at CVS Well being (NYSE:) and Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:) introduced a three-day walkout from Oct. 30, dubbed “Pharmageddon”, to enhance working circumstances and add extra workers.
CANNABIS
Unions representing hashish employees have additionally elevated strain on firms within the sector this 12 months.
Staff at Inexperienced Thumb Industries (OTC:)’ Chicago-area RISE dispensaries went on a 13-day unfair labor practices (ULP) strike in April, which was the longest ULP strike at a hashish retailer in U.S. historical past.
Labor unions secured new contract agreements at multistate operator-owned hashish dispensaries in Illinois and in New Jersey in July.
ENERGY
Unionized employees at Phillips 66 (NYSE:)’s refinery in Roxana, Illinois, ratified a contract with the refiner in late-stage negotiations, averting a possible strike.
The union had been in talks with the refiner since summer season, when it rejected an organization proposal and sought extra advantages for vacation and trip hours and pay, amongst different enhancements.
