Posts tagged picket line
Organized Labor’s Violent Privilege: The Supreme Court Loophole Shielding Union Officials from Prosecution
May 27, 2026 // Under federal precedent, they can often destroy property, assault workers, threaten communities, and even commit murder with reduced risk of serious prosecution — as long as the acts advance “legitimate union objectives” such as higher wages or work rules. This extraordinary immunity stems primarily from the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 ruling in United States v. Emmons, which gutted key provisions of the Hobbs Act. Combined with practical limitations in the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), it has created a regime where violence during labor disputes is frequently treated differently under the law. The Emmons Decision: A Judicial Loophole In United States v. Emmons, 410 U.S. 396 (1973), three IBEW members were indicted for firing high-powered rifles at utility transformers, draining oil from equipment, and blowing up a substation during a strike. The Supreme Court held that such violence did not constitute “wrongful” extortion under the Hobbs Act (18 U.S.C. § 1951) because the union had a “claim of right” to pursue legitimate bargaining goals.
Hundreds of union workers, supporters join picket line in strike at KC-area ammo plant
April 21, 2026 // Striking workers are walking in four-hour shifts and have been on the line round-the-clock since the strike began. Among the issues workers face, union leaders say, is low pay. Entry level wages range from $20.60 an hour to $21.75.
Teachers email parents demanding they don’t homeschool kids – as San Francisco strike grinds into a third day
February 12, 2026 // And with the strike set to drag into a Wednesday, local parents are now fuming after teachers emailed them and asked them not to encourage any home study. The district — which says it could lose millions in funding each day the strike goes on — offered homework packets that include “five days of independent study work and practice in both English Language Arts and in Math,” according to its website.
Amazon Workers Launch Unionization Campaign With Walkout, Picket Line
December 19, 2025 // According to the company, the average base hourly wage is more than $23 for its U.S. fulfillment and transportation employees with total compensation, which includes benefits, of $30 per hour. The company also said that it would be reducing entry-level healthcare costs and copays in 2026, making healthcare more affordable for its employees and their families. “The fact is we already provide much of what the Teamsters are requesting including safe and inclusive workplaces, competitive pay, health benefits on day one, and opportunities for career growth,”
United Auto Workers Back Hard Rock Casino Rockford Employees Seeking to Unionize
December 9, 2025 // The current push for unionization comes from sportsbook cashiers, dealers, and other staffers, who are trying to follow in the footsteps of slot attendants who successfully joined Teamsters Local 325 with a 98% approval back in February.
More than 1,400 nurses go on strike at 2 USC hospitals in Boyle Heights
November 3, 2025 // Keck Medicine officials said its facilities "will remain open and fully staffed with doctors, nurses and all other clinical professionals" during the strike, "as we continue our commitment to exceptional patient care and safety."
Two years after the UAW strike
September 26, 2025 // Two years ago, tomorrow (September 26, 2023), then-President Joe Biden became the first president to participate in a striking worker picket line. The occasion was the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike against General Motors. Biden addressed the UAW members outside the Willow Run parts center near Detroit, Michigan.
‘We ain’t going away’: Hilton hotel workers extend strike again in wage push
September 21, 2025 // Unionized workers at the Hilton Americas-Houston will extend their strike by another three weeks, buoyed by political support and grassroots donations in their push for a $23 minimum wage. The strike at one of the city’s largest hotels began on Labor Day and was originally set to last 10 days, but workers extended it through Sept. 20 after negotiations stalled. The latest extension slates an Oct. 12 end date, which would bring the strike to a total of 42 days.
UAW workers reach tentative deal with GE Aerospace at Ohio, Kentucky plants
September 15, 2025 // The tentative agreement covers a five-year term and secures strong job security protections for both Erlanger and Evendale locations, including minimum headcount and new work, the statement said. On Friday, the UAW said in an X post that members will vote on ratification on September 19. Until then, all picket lines will continue.
Striking Janesville health care workers to rally at state Capitol
September 4, 2025 // The union has also established a food pantry at 1795 Lafayette St. to support striking members and is accepting donations of non-perishable food and baby items. Donations can be dropped off on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Financial contributions to the strike fund can also be made by check. The strike has garnered support from other labor groups and community members in the Janesville area, who have joined picket lines and contributed to the strike fund.