Last Week in Labor: July 25-31, 2025
United Airlines' flight attendants reject TA, AFL-CIO continues Better in a Union tour across U.S., railroad workers say Hell No! to merger, and more headlines you may have missed.
Welcome back to the Friday digest, folks. I hope you’ve been well while I’ve been on hiatus. I’ve got a few new posts up from the last couple months if you’d like to get a sense of how things have been going, what my plans are for the newsletter now that I’m back, or read the first installment of my new series, Unemployed in America.
Before we get into this week’s headlines, I’d like to let folks know what I’m planning for this digest going forward. Firstly, I’ll be working on recording audio versions of this digest as part of the weekly publishing schedule. I think it’s worthwhile to include an audio version so that it’s a more accessible item for my audience, but I also hope that it might become a regular listen on your morning Friday commute. I’m still working out the particulars of that piece, but you should see those changes in the coming weeks.
Additionally, I want to kick a question back to you: I’ve written this digest in a particular way over the months I’ve been active, and I constantly worry that perhaps I’m missing something that you might want me to include in the roundup.
If you have any suggestions for sections I might be missing, or want to see more of a particular thing, send me a message! I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’ll be reworking a few sections, like my Labor By The Numbers section (you’ll notice its absence this week), but if there’s anything else you’d like to see, gimme a shout. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Alright, onto the headlines.
Notable News in Labor
United Airlines’ flight attendants vote to reject tentative agreement
It’s back to the bargaining table for United Airlines. From recent Reuters reporting:
Flight attendants at United Airlines voted on Tuesday to reject the tentative agreement for a new contract with the carrier, their union said.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents 28,000 of United's flight attendants, said 92% of the eligible voters cast a ballot, with 71% voting not to ratify the agreement.
UPTE-CWA members win remote work concessions
From the CWA:
After months of negotiations and several one-day strikes, UPTE-CWA Local 9119 members have secured a deal with the University of California San Diego (UCSD) that extends the current remote work (telehealth) policy until October 2025. This will give workers crucial time to make family or childcare adjustments and save money on transportation, easing the transition back to the office.
Read more about the ongoing bargaining sessions here.
AFL-CIO’s nationwide bus tour continues in Indianapolis
The AFL-CIO is continuing its nationwide Better in a Union Bus Tour with stops in Louisville, St. Louis, and Indianapolis this week, where rallies were held in each location in support of local workers in the midst of various struggles and organizing campaigns.
To read more about the tour and their stops this week, check out the links below:
Louisville, KY | St. Louis, MO | Indianapolis, IN
Editorial note: One of these days I’ll snag myself a media seat on one of these tours. It’s a bit of a *major life goal* for me, professionally, lol.
TWU strongly opposes Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Merger
From a July 29 press release,
Billions for Wall Street while workers get shafted
The Transport Workers Union of America strongly opposes the planned merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern and urges federal regulators, lawmakers, shippers, and unions to block the deal.
“Union Pacific has a shameful safety record and was caught by the federal government trying to meddle in a safety audit. There is no world where Union Pacific should be controlling a coast-to-coast rail network,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “A supersized Union Pacific would be catastrophic for TWU rail workers, shippers, and the safety of millions of Americans who live and work near freight rail lines.”
Safeway strike averted with last-minute agreement with workers
From Ruth Roberts at The Independent,
Unionized workers in the Bay Area have reached a tentative agreement with the Safeway company, avoiding a wide-reaching strike that could have affected several stores in the Tri-Valley.
The tentative agreement with United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Locals 5 and 648 was reached after five months of negotiations involving 16,000 Safeway workers in the Bay Area. The preliminary contract was finalized just hours before a strike was set to occur, which would have marked Safeway’s largest walkout in nearly 30 years, according to a press release from Local 5.
‘I voted no, passionately no.’ Butler Hospital strikers reject latest contract offer
From Alexander Castro at the Rhode Island Current,
Butler Hospital’s unionized nurses, social workers, mental health and support staff voted Tuesday to reject the “last, best, and final” contract offer that management had submitted two and a half weeks ago.
The Providence psychiatric hospital owned by Care New England and about 800 workers represented by SEIU 1199 NE have been unable to reach a new contract since the previous agreement expired March 31. The union has been on strike since May 15.
Mail carriers file grievance against USPS on behalf of Toledo
Lighting Design Group Workers Join IATSE Local USA 829
From a recent press release,
In a decisive victory, the designers, coordinators, and draftspeople of the Emmy Award-winning Lighting Design Group (LDG) voted to unionize with IATSE Local United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829. More than 75% of ballots were cast in favor of unionizing in an election certified earlier in July.
The newly formed bargaining unit comprises 34 professionals, including Lighting Designers, Systems Designers, Coordinators, Draftspeople, and their assistant roles. Worker organizing efforts began as early as 2019, gained momentum during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the company’s partial acquisition by a venture capital firm, and culminated in this organizing victory in spring 2024.
With more home games approaching, Fenway workers weight their options in labor battle
From Esteban Bustillos at WGBH,
The air was hot and sticky as fans flowed into Fenway Park for Friday’s game between the Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers. But hospitality workers with UNITE HERE Local 26 remained outside, hoisting signs and banging on drums.
Along with workers at MGM Music Hall, they were on strike, pushing for a new contract after going without one since the end of last year. The strike would also impact two other games over the weekend. Even though it ended Sunday at 11 p.m., the issue remains unresolved — meaning the workers could strike again.
U.S. union leader Chris Smalls released by Israel after abduction from aid flotilla
From Michael Arria at Mondoweiss,
U.S. labor activist Chris Smalls has been released from jail after being abducted by Israeli forces as part of a Gaza aid ship. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition says Smalls had been assaulted by seven uniformed Israeli soldiers.
Actors’ Equity Association endorses Zohran Mamdani for New York City Mayor
From Broadway World,
Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, announced that Equity’s National Council has endorsed Zohran Mamdani as the next mayor of the City of New York, on behalf of its nearly 18,000 members who live in the greater metro area.
Unions & the Trump Administration
AFGE Victory: Court Blocks Attack on Union Contracts
This past week, Judge Alan Albright – appointed by President Trump – handed down a powerful rebuke to the White House’s aggressive campaign against federal workers. He dismissed a lawsuit filed by eight agencies that attempted to invalidate collective bargaining agreements covering AFGE members and other union-represented federal employees.
“We are very pleased that the courts have once again ultimately sided with public servants and AFGE and stopped another attack by this administration on the patriotic, dedicated Americans who serve their country in the federal government,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “AFGE will never stop fighting to uphold our rights, our contracts, the rule of law, and the integrity of the people’s government.”
USAID Employee Unions’ Case Dismissed for Lack of Standing
From Stephanie Gleason at Bloomberg,
US Agency for International Development employee groups had their lawsuit against the Trump administration dismissed Friday, with a federal judge finding that their claims spanned too far outside the realm of personnel issues.
Judge Carl Nichols of the US District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed the case brought by four organizations—American Federation of Government Employees, American Foreign Service Association, Personal Services Contractor Association, and Oxfam America—who represent employees and contractors affected by the Trump administration’s move to dismantle the government agency.
Labor Federation, Unions File New Lawsuit to Defend Federal Workers' Collective Bargaining Rights
From the AFL-CIO,
Organizations representing working people across the federal government, including professional and technical employees, overseas teachers, and workers in shipbuilding, maritime and construction trades, sued the Trump administration today over its union-busting attackon the collective bargaining rights of federal workers.
The lawsuit is part of the labor movement’s ongoing fight in court to ensure that every worker who makes the federal government run has their fundamental freedoms restored, challenging the administration’s attempt to exploit the “national security exemption” to attack the basic rights of workers.
Read the full press release here.
Commentary & Analysis
The past, present, and future of labor in the US
Urban planning and public policy professor Virginia Parks tackles several key topics. Listen to the full episode below, and check out the article here.
https://soundcloud.com/theucipodcast/the-past-present-and-future-of-labor?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Ftheucipodcast%252Fthe-past-present-and-future-of-labor
Labor unions are a lifeline
From Matthew Jegers at Minnesota Daily,
With plummeting membership, inconsistent state laws and policies limiting union creation, the deck is stacked against the labor movement. However, there is still hope for a resurgence.
Jones said that despite a fall in the popular opinion of unions around 2010, union support recently skyrocketed, especially among younger generations who experienced the difficulties of starting their careers during the pandemic.
Trump’s OSHA is Cheapening Workers’ Lives
Privatize the postal service? Postal unions say no
From Anna Del Savio at Northwest Labor Press,
Even as the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding on July 26, postal unions were sounding the alarm about the new postmaster general and about growing threats to privatize the post office.
David Steiner, who started July 15 as America’s postmaster general, is a former Waste Management CEO who served on the board of USPS competitor FedEx. Postal unions opposed Steiner’s appointment from the moment the USPS board announced he would replace Louis DeJoy, who resigned.
Looking Ahead…
AFL-CIO Announces Workers’ Labor Day ‘Workers Deserve’ Week of Action
From a July 30 press release,
In communities large and small in every state, workers will celebrate our power and the freedom, fairness and security we all deserve. At hundreds of events across the country, working people will send a clear message to greedy CEOs, billionaires and anti-worker politicians: We built this country, and we’re taking it back.
“Big corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk and President Trump launched the biggest attacks on unions in history because they know that when we stand together, we have the power to speak out and fight back,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “As I’ve been traveling the country this summer, I’ve been inspired by the energy and enthusiasm workers have to create a better future where we all earn fair wages, and have good health care, a secure retirement and the dignity we deserve on the job. It’s better in a union—and we won’t stop until all workers have a fair shot to join one.”
Editorial note: I’ll be out and about working to cover any local events planned for the LA-area. If you see me, say hello. :)
If you’ve got a…
- workshop,
- seminar,
- panel,
- conference,
- labor action,
- strike,
- protest
- walkout,
- negotiation,
- sit-in,
- or other item you’d like eyes on, shoot me a message.
I’ll add it to the “Looking Ahead” section and get it in front of folks who might be able to join you in solidarity. Seriously. Send me a message. Shoot me an email at melbuer@proton.me, send me a DM on Bluesky, send out your last carrier pigeon. If I get the message, I’ll add it to the digest.
Alright folks, that’s it for this week. Frankly there’s dozens more stories that I didn’t include in this week’s digest–it’s a good reminder that when you’re feeling like the world is going nuts, workers all over this country are still in the struggle for a better life.
I’ll see you next week, enjoy the weekend.
-Mel
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