Posts tagged wages
Aquarium of the Pacific Employees Form Union
September 26, 2026 // Union officials said key factors driving the unionization efforts are the growing use of generative artificial intelligence in the aquarium’s operations, wages that do not keep up with the cost of living, and a lack of professional development opportunities.
Teamsters in Akron, Toledo and Twinsburg join Anderson strike against Coca-Cola
September 25, 2026 // Tuesday, the union announced teamsters in Akron, Toledo and Twinsburg, Ohio are joining the strike, which effectively shuts down Coca-Cola’s Ohio operations, the union said.
Alton public works employees begin strike at midnight after talks stall
September 24, 2026 // A Thursday afternoon press release from the City of Alton outlines plans to navigate the strike while keeping emergency services and "other work the City deems essential to public health and safety" on track. Beth Bear, the Alton City Council coordinator, sent the press release. Alton says emergency work outside the city's agreements, threats to public health or safety, and emergency declarations will be upheld. The city also says repairs to traffic signs and signals resulting from accidents, emergency-related street cleanups, and road repairs addressing public safety hazards will not stop.
The ‘No Surprises’ warning for mandatory labor arbitration
September 23, 2026 // The Faster Labor Contracts Act passed the House of Representatives earlier this year and remains pending in the Senate. Under this proposal, a newly recognized labor union and employer have a strict 120-day timeline — comprising 90 days of negotiation and 30 days of federal mediation — to reach an initial collective bargaining agreement. If they fail to do so, the dispute goes to a binding arbitration panel that sets the terms and conditions of employment. Proponents say the prospect of arbitration would prevent delay and encourage serious bargaining. The No Surprises Act shows why that assumption deserves skepticism.
Commentary: Are Unions Rising from the Political Grave?
September 21, 2026 // Here again, however, there may be less than meets the eye. Despite its surprising bipartisan support, the FLCA would raise significant constitutional questions if enacted. By relying on a government-mandated arbitration panel to resolve labor disputes, the law effectively empowers the state to impose contractual terms on private parties—a form of what constitutional lawyers call “state action.” As attorneys Alex MacDonald and Vinnie Vernuccio observe: “[S]tate action opens the door to a slew of constitutional requirements and restrictions, notably to protect rights of free speech and association.”
New Report: Faster Labor Contracts Act Advances Union DEI Agenda Through Politically Appointed Arbitrators
September 13, 2026 // Americans for Limited Government today released findings in a new exposé, “The Faster Labor Contracts Act: Advancing the Union DEI Agenda”, revealing how a union-backed bill, the Faster Labor Contracts Act, moving through Congress would hand labor bosses a powerful new tool to impose radical diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) mandates, transgender workplace policies, and restrictions on cooperation with immigration enforcement — all without a worker vote. This report is the latest in ALG’s series examining how union leadership continues to push priorities at odds with President Trump’s agenda and the concerns of many rank-and-file workers.
California’s $20 fast food wage could have hidden effects, study suggests
September 10, 2026 // According to a UC Santa Cruz study released in 2026, fast-food employment growth in California slowed significantly after the wage hike compared with neighboring states. Researchers argued that while total job losses may not appear dramatic on paper, hiring activity and expansion plans may have quietly weakened across parts of the industry.
Report: A Crisis of Representation: Antisemitism and Inclusion in Higher Education Unions
September 10, 2026 // Drawing on incident reports, member accounts, union materials, and campus developments, the report finds that some higher education unions have become flashpoints for conflicts involving antisemitism, Israel, Zionism, and Jewish identity. In some cases, highly organized activist factions have used low-participation governance processes to advance divisive political positions without broad member consensus. In others, mainstream Jewish voices are subject to such open hostility by anti-Israel activists that they lose the opportunity to meaningfully engage in their union’s democratic processes. These dynamics distract from core labor priorities, including wages, working conditions, academic freedom, job security, and fair treatment. They also erode trust and internal cohesion, particularly when Jewish faculty and graduate students experience exclusion, hostility, silencing, or fear of retaliation for raising concerns about antisemitism or expressing views related to Jewish identity, Israel, or Zionism.
NJ remains one of nation’s most unionized states, Rutgers report finds
September 9, 2026 // The researchers estimate New Jersey has about 22,000 more union members than in a previous Rutgers study. But the share of workers belonging to unions slipped slightly because nonunion employment grew faster. New Jersey's average unionization rate was 15.47% from 2023 through 2025, ranking sixth-highest among the 50 states and well above the national rate of about 10%.
Encore employees announce strike deadline after failing to agree on new deal with Wynn Resorts
September 2, 2026 // mployees at Encore Boston Harbor have announced they will officially go on strike Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 a.m., after failing to reach a deal with Wynn Resorts. The employees, who are members of the UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 unions, authorized a strike in a vote on Aug. 20.