Last Week in Labor: November 21-28, 2025.
David Huerta pleads not guilty to misdemeanor charge, Starbucks workers get a boost from the Teamsters, and more headlines for your Thanksgiving.
Welcome back to the weekly digest, folks. I hope you had a decent Thanksgiving full of love, good food, and companionship. I'm back in my hometown of Omaha, Nebraska for the week, which has been wonderfully restorative so far.
A note: For those who are following me on Bluesky, you may have noted a number of threads regarding Press Freedom and labor issues--I am working on an essay more fully expounding on those thoughts that I hope to complete by middle of next week. If you haven't subscribed to the newsletter, take a moment to sign up. You'll get new reports, essays, and digests like these in your inbox as they are published.
Alright, enough about me, here's the news from this week:
Notable News in Labor
California labor leader pleads not guilty to misdemeanor over immigration protest
In Los Angeles, SEIU-USWW President David Huerta has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge and will face trial in January. The charge comes from a June 2025 arrest during an immigration raid. Note: I will be covering this trial for WAW in the new year. Stay on the lookout for updates.
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Leer en español
Airline catering workers stage protest near LAX
Hundreds of workers with UNITE HERE Local 11 shut down a major entrance to LAX ahead of the holiday travel rush, forcing some travelers to abandon their vehicles and walk to the terminals. (Editorial note: fuck yes hehe)
Daria Ovide
Blue Bottle Union Baristas strike in 2 states
In Massachusetts and California, unionized baristas with Blue Bottle Coffee have walked off the job on strike in protest of what the union says are Unfair Labor Practices and bad faith bargaining on the part of management. Check out the report from The Boston Globe here.
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Check out my previous reporting on Blue Bottle Independent Union here.
Mel Buer
Federal workers in Utah claim pay still missing from checks after government shutdown
New legislation aims for faster labor contracts to combat corporate union-busting
Dom Shannon over at People's World has some solid reporting on a new bill recently introduced in the Senate, the Faster Labor Contracts Act, that would impose a strict timeline on negotiations in an effort to combat the slow-rolling nonsense that corporate giants like Amazon and Starbucks have done to their workers.
Dom Shannon
Alabama activists urge automotive giants not to ‘recreate the sins of the past’
I'll have some deeper reporting on this coming out next week, but for now, here's a rundown of what's been going on.
...the group calls on the two automakers - which are both part of the same company - to enter into a comprehensive Community Benefits Agreement, which it says would establish new job standards and equity measures subject to binding arbitration.
The move comes after two incidents involving the automakers and their supply chains.
William Thornton | wthorntonal.com
Mayor Scott signs new union contracts boosting city worker pay
After a lengthy negotiation, city workers in Baltimore have a slate of new contracts. Full reporting on this news here.
Pay hikes range among union members from 12% up to 19%. In addition, the minimum wage for city workers will go up to at least $20 an hour. A new, 25-step salary scale will be phased in over three years. Hazard pay will also go from 15 cents to 75 cents each hour. The meal allowance will nearly double, hitting $15.
UPTE-CWA 9119, CNA ratify new UC contracts, secure benefits after negotiations
After a strike authorization was walked back due to a TA last week, union members have ratified their contract with the University of California. Solid reporting from Josephine Murphy at the Daily Bruin below.
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Local transit union members accuse leadership of 'severe financial misconduct'
In Cincinatti, two union leaders were accused of "severe financial misconduct and ethical violation" by rank-and-file members of ATU Local 627. Full reporting below.
By: Dan Monk
Amazon.com Wins Injunction Blocking New York Labor Law
In New York, a federal judge granted an injunction blocking the state from enforcing a new law that would allow its Public Employment Relations Board to hear private sector labor disputes while the NLRB is still missing members. Full report below.
Another crack in the Amazon empire
Amazon CDL drivers at the SDF9 warehouse in Shepherdsville, Kentucky have become the first company tractor-trailer drivers nationwide to organize with the Teamsters. A great report from Cameron Harrison over at People's World:
Cameron Harrison
Whole Foods union rallies outside Fairmount store to demand contract talks
In Philly, workers at Whole Foods in the Fairmount neighborhood rallied outside the store this week to bring pressure against the Amazon-owned company to negotiate a first contract. Check out some great audio reporting below (note: this embed may not populate correctly if you're reading this on email. Click the link in this paragraph for a full report)
CWA and Sundance Institute Jointly Announce Union Recognition of Staff Union
Encouraging news in the independent film world: Sundance Institute workers have had their union voluntarily recognized by management. Check out a statement about the news here.
Bailey Pennick
Jackson Hole Ski Patrol Files For Union Representation Election With Overwhelming 93% Support
Avid skier? Wanna ski somewhere 'union made'? You're in luck. Jackson Hole Ski Patrol filed for a union this week with a supermajority of support. Check out the report here.
California appeals court dismisses Wonderful Co. lawsuit challenging farmworker union law
In a delicious 'fuck you' to Wonderful Company's lawsuits against the United Farm Workers, a California appeals court struck down their recent attempts to bust the union. Full reporting below.
BakersfieldNow Staff
IATSE: Statement of Support for Workers at Rockstar Games
IATSE has released a statement of support and solidarity with the workers who are organizing to improve their workplace at Rockstar Games. Check it out.
IATSE Communications
Boeing Strike in St. Louis Ends as Union Approves New Contract
After three months on strike at Boeing Defense, 3200 workers have ratified a new five-year agreement.
Jennifer Pierce
State employees union files complaint against Mills administration over negotiations
In Maine, the largest labor union for state employees slams the Mills Administration for 'bad faith' bargaining. Full report below.
Kevin Miller
Back Market workers organize one of the first unions in e-commerce with OPEIU Local 153
The new union, Back Makers United, organized just in time for the holidays. Check out the full release below.
Scott Williams
Antelope Valley nurses protest staffing crisis and union busting
Nurses at Antelope Valley Medical Center denounce racist retaliation against union leaders and the hospital’s refusal to fill open positions. Full release dated from before the protest below.
California Nurses Association/National Nurses United
Union to File For Vote at JetBlue
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said Tuesday that it will file for a union representation vote for about 3,000 JetBlue ground operations workers.
Zach Vasile
Teamsters give major show of solidarity amid ongoing Starbucks strike
As the Starbucks strike continues, the Teamsters are stepping up in solidarity with striking baristas and refusing the cross the picket line. From recent reporting on the show of support,
Starbucks workers and supporters marched and rallied outside the California office of CEO Brian Niccol as they accused the company of failing to meet workers' core demands, such as better hours to improve staffing in stores, higher take-home pay, and the resolution of charges stemming from union busting.
They were backed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, whose members include truck drivers, garbage pickup workers, and workers in many other sectors.
"[Starbucks stores] won't get their food, they won't get their packages delivered to them, they won't get their trash picked up because the Teamsters are standing with you," Teamsters Joint Council 42 President Victor Mineros told the crowd.
Newly organized workers at Providence St. Peter Hospital ratify first contract
The workers, represented by UFCW 3000, ratified their first Collective Bargaining Agreement with near-unanimous support. Check out the full release below. (Congrats!)
UFCW 3000
Unions Respond to Trump Administration
AFGE and AFSCME Win Major Victory Against Trump Administration’s Efforts to Silence Voice of America Workers
A statement from AFGE about the recent news.
Judge Friedman’s oral opinion delivered in open court was against the President, the USAGM (the agency that houses Voice of America), and USAGM Acting CEO Kari Lake. The ruling is a result of a lawsuit filed by AFSCME, AFGE, the Voice of America Employees Union, AFSCME Local 1418, and AFGE Local 1812 against the Trump administration’s August 28 executive order stripping USAGM and VOA workers of their voice on the job.
Thanks to the ruling, the cancelation of USAGM workers’ collective bargaining freedoms has been blocked. In the ruling, the judge affirmed that the executive order was a clear effort to retaliate against the unions representing USAGM workers and violated the First Amendment.
Labor organizers to host forum on fighting MAGA
On December 3, labor organizers in New York City are hosting a forum "Fighting MAGA and Fighting Racism: Looking Towards 2026"--here's a write up about the event and what to expect.
Karen Juanita Carrillo
Commentary & Analysis
ILWU rank-and-file leader tells students how Local 10 led the battle against apartheid
Retired ILWU Local 10 worker Clarence Thomas, Jr., writes about his recent experience leading a teach-in at the University of California, Berkeley about ILWU's role in the anti-apartheid movement of the 1980s. It's a good read; check it out.
En Español
OPINION: Starbucks Ignores Worker Demands at Its Peril
A solid piece about the ongoing Starbucks barista strike.
How long the rebellion will last is unclear. But given the union’s strong stand and public appetite to punish misbehaving corporations, Starbucks is risking everything by ignoring its workers’ demands.
Sonali Kolhatkar, Independent Media Institute
Black Friday nightmare exposes Amazon's real treatment of workers
A revealing testimony from an Amazon worker about the absolute hell of working during the holiday season. Take a look.
The atmosphere during this time feels like an unspoken emergency. Workers must move at extreme speed. They are expected to reach unrealistic numbers. Any slowdown is treated as a mistake. Many collapse from exhaustion. Breaks become shorter. Shifts get longer. People go home unable to lift their arms because of the intense effort.
Our Labor History: Eugene Debs – A Leader for Working People
From APWU's November/December issue of their magazine, a great piece on the legacy of Debs.
mwiley
The DNC has a labor problem
Interesting opinion piece in The Hill this week, where Cameron Davis urges DNC management to walk the walk, instead of just talking the talk, when it comes to their own staff union. (As with most progressive organizations, this continues to be a monumental task, apparently)
Immigration
Looking Ahead...
Plenty of reporting from me coming up in the next few weeks, including a more detailed announcement about my forthcoming labor podcast. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter for updates (including member perks!).
If you’ve got a…
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Send me an email at melbuer@proton.me or hit my DMs on Bluesky. I'll get your flyer in the newsletter.
As I mentioned last week, this week was the first week of my month-long Holiday Subscription Drive. From now until 12/26, I am offering a discount on a number of paid annual subscriptions. You can find the links to sign up via the sale page here. Your financial support has a massive impact on my ability to continue doing this work, and I appreciate every single one of you who has shoved a bit of their limited resources in my direction so that I can keep doing this work. It means so much.
Mel Buer
In love and solidarity, and a very happy holidays to you,
Mel
