The news: A number of unions are threatening strikes as they try to extract concessions at the bargaining table.
- Ninety-eight percent of unionized Starbucks baristas voted in favor of a stoppage as contract negotiations with the coffee chain enter the final stages.
- Union members at an Amazon facility in Skokie, Illinois, joined workers at two other facilities in authorizing a strike, after the retailer missed a December 15 deadline to begin negotiations.
- And the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) will resume its strike on January 15 unless progress is made on the issue of port automation.
Why now? After enjoying strong support from the Biden administration, unions are preparing for what’s likely to be a sizable shift under President-elect Donald Trump.
- Pundits expect the Trump presidency to be markedly more pro-business than his predecessor’s—especially given the prominent roles that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, both vocal labor opponents, are expected to play.
- Musk’s SpaceX is one of the many companies, alongside Amazon, Starbucks, and Trader Joe’s, challenging the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board—a challenge which would, if successful, make it harder for workers to unionize and for the agency to enforce labor laws.
On the other hand: The incoming administration is making some efforts to court organized labor after making gains with union workers during the election.
- Trump’s pick for labor secretary, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, supported pro-labor legislation during her limited time in office. She also has the backing of Teamsters president Sean O’Brien.
- Trump also publicly supported ILA dockworkers in their fight against automation, tilting the scales in the union’s favor as the strike deadline approaches.
- That said, there’s often a discrepancy between what Trump says and his actual policies, which could pour cold water on union leaders’ hopes.
Our take: The labor movement has been losing steam for some time—and that trend will likely accelerate under Trump’s second term.
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