Strikes: Use Them or Lose Them

“Why are thousands of workers across multiple industries currently striking or planning to strike?” asks Robert Reich. “I guess it’s a mystery.” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) pay has skyrocketed 1,460 percent since 1978, while workers’ pay grew by 18 percent, Reich said. Amazon’s CEO was paid 6,474 times the company’s worker in 2021. This is a perfect example of a rigged system against the workers. The union representing the 3,300 UPS pilots say they will not cross the picket lines if the Teamster drivers and package sorters go on strike August 1, which would essentially shutdown the express logistics company’s global operations. The pilots are represented by the Independent Pilots Association, separate from the Teamsters, but in solidarity with them. The writers and actors of your favorite shows or movies are on strike and it may have to do with the fact CEOs do little of the work, but are paid way more than those who do. The CEOs currently are making at: Fox Corporation $22 million; American Movie Channel $24 million; Walt Disney $32 million; Paramount $32 million; Warner Brothers/Discovery $39 million; Nexstar $39 million; and Netflix $51 million and the other CEO $50 million. What do they actually do to earn this kind of income while the producers (general term) make chump change in comparison? Instead of no one wants to work anymore; try, no one wants to be exploited anymore, Reich said. Workers want what all employees want: fair pay and decent working conditions. Those CEOs wouldn’t have a job if there were no employees. It’s up to workers to enforce their right to strike when they need to and not leave the children to lawyers’ protection or our scandal plagued U.S. Supreme Court or risk-adversed leaders in the National Unions, who decide whether, when and how to use the power of a strike, like the Teamsters. All unions need to band together and stop the further decline of unions and stop the Glacier ruling. The Supreme Court ruled a concrete company could sue a union after striking employees walked out and left concrete turning in trucks. Labor advocates fear this ruling could be used to weaken worker rights. Two Democratic appointed Supreme Court Justices joined the conservative Justices for an 8 to 1 decision deciding Glacier Northwest could sue the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 174 if employees go on strike and damage or hurt the company’s business. Who decides the cost of the damage and the actual damage that might have occurred? Strikes are at a 15 year high and this Glacier decision could hurt workers attempts to make their work more equitable, safe and fair. The 1935 National Labor Relations Act, legalized workers’ rights to strike, except where deliberate company property is destroyed or violence occurs. If no destruction or violence occurs, this law separates strikes from state court decisions. Justices Alioto, Thomas and Gorsuch make it clear they want to destroy the NLRB. The very large unions need to get their ending contract dates as close together as possible. This way, the impact of a strike will be much larger and more impactful than a single strike. Having all the unions with a company or organization go on strike at once, it could conceivably shut down a city, county or state and even a port. Unions need to work together even in local boards, like fire or water departments, counties and cities, even school boards, most all have unions. Let’s try and get the contract dates as close as we can. Then employees from all or some will strike together, especially if one department has trouble getting a new contract they others are there in support. The power must stay with the working people, regardless of age, and we need all the tools in the tool box to win. We are at a crossroads once again, and like our ancestors, we have to fight back because nothing is going to be handed to us.