Growing economic inequality in the US sparks a ‘summer of strike’

Rising economic inequality is fueling worker protests and strikes across the country, while a tight labor market, expiring seasonal contracts and high costs of living force workers to bargain hard with employers over wage increases and other rights.

While many workers argue that their living conditions have deteriorated since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic, the intensity of union activities in the United States has been notable recently.

According to data from the US Department of Labor, the number of striking workers in the country increased nearly 50 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year. While 80,700 workers went on strike in the United States in 2021, this number rose to 120,600 in 2022.

Until July this year, 16 strikes involving 1,000 or more workers took place in the country.

According to Labor Action Tracking data from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), as of August of this year there were 247 worker strikes at 367 locations across the United States.

As thousands of workers from many sectors of the country, from screenwriters to actors, from nurses to hotel workers, clash with employers for higher wages and better conditions in the face of the high cost of living, the wave of strikes in recent months it has been called the “summer of strikes”. The number of striking workers in the United States is expected to rise further this year.

THEY WANT BETTER WAGES AND LIVING CONDITIONS

In the US, rising post-epidemic inflation, high corporate profits, growing wage inequality between workers and managers, and difficult conditions are putting workers on their feet, while unions they put intense pressure on employers to increase their salaries to double digits. and better living conditions.

Despite the country’s progress in fighting inflation, the costs continue to weigh on American budgets. More than 60 percent of adults in the United States still say they live from day to day.

More and more workers from different sectors are taking a tough stance against companies for improvements in wages and working conditions.

While the strikes of writers and actors have had a great impact in Hollywood recently, it is seen that the protests and strikes of the workers in the country have spread to sectors such as tourism, health, automotive, cargo, aviation and manufacturing.

$5 BILLION DAMAGE

The strike started by the Screen Actors Association (SAG) and the American Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) on July 7 in the US for reasons of employment guarantee and salary guarantee continues. Supporting the strike, around 65,000 players want salary increases, better coverage of health services and job security against artificial intelligence.

On the other hand, 11,500 writers participating in the strike initiated by the American Writers Association (WGA) on May 2 demand the regulation of wages, working hours and the use of artificial intelligence in projects.

It is estimated that the Hollywood strikes could cause more than $5 billion in damage to the US economy due to pay cuts and movie delays.

It should be remembered that the 100-day layoff of employees as a result of the writers’ last strike in 2007 caused a loss of approximately $2 billion.

HOTEL EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO ON STRIKE

Members of the “Unite Here Local 11” union, which represents hotel workers in the tourism sector, continue the strike that began on July 20.

The 1,750 hotel employees, including JW Marriott and Sheraton, are demanding higher wages, better benefits and better working conditions in a strike in Los Angeles.

THE NEW WAVE OF NURSES Strikes

The health sector is also among the sectors affected by the wave of strikes in the country.

Nearly 2,000 nurses went on strike at one of New Jersey’s largest hospitals in early August, after more than 7,000 nurses went on strike demanding a pay increase in New York in January.

It was claimed that one of the main problems for nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital was the shortage of staff at the hospital.

NEW CONTRACT AT UPS PREVENTS STRIKE

Workers’ strikes are also on the agenda at UPS, one of the leading companies in the package and cargo transportation industry, as employees of the Teamsters union approved a new five-year agreement in recent weeks, which provides for wage increases. With the removal of the two-tier wage system for drivers, the end of paid leave and mandatory overtime, the risk is gone.

On the other hand, FedEx pilots also had disagreements with their companies over salaries and pensions. Negotiations are expected to resume as the pilots rejected the provisional agreement in July.

NEGOTIATION IN THE AVIATION AND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Pilots for many airlines including American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Jetblue Airways have also entered negotiations for new employment contracts this year. The shortage of pilots gave the unions more advantages in their negotiations.

Unions representing employees of some airlines, such as American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, have decided to allow a strike if no agreement is reached.

United Airlines, on the other hand, signed a preliminary four-year agreement with the pilots’ union in July, which provides for a 40 percent raise.

In the auto sector, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union continues its negotiations with General Motors, Ford Motor and Stellantis for a new contract for approximately 150,000 workers, while unionists should not reach an agreement on wages and retirement plans before of the current 4-year contract expires on September 14. He reported that he had voted to allow the strike.

DO NOT GET A SHARE OF THE PROFITS

Todd Vachon, a member of Rutgers University’s Business and Labor Relations faculty, said there are industry-specific issues for workers in different professions.

Pointing out that these issues are adequate employment levels for nurses, healthcare costs for some factory workers, and wages and safe working conditions for other workers, Vachon said what they have in common is that for decades, American workers have not They have been able to earn a living. more profits than ever for their employers and not receive a share of those profits.

“Covid-19 and the high inflation that followed have exacerbated the historically high levels of inequality in our society,” Vachon said. But at the same time, a healthy economy with a very tight labor market gives workers the opportunity to file lawsuits with employers that can begin to solve the inequality crisis.”

Stating that workers are trying to get fair compensation for their work, be treated with dignity in their jobs and have a healthy work-life balance, Vachon said: “This includes living wages, good health insurance, leave and retirement benefits, AND predictable times, adequate staffing, means fighting for safe levels and conditions of work.”

Recalling that similar strike waves have been experienced in the United States, though not in the recent past, Vachon said unionized workers have demanded a reversal of this trend, thanks in part to labor market shortages, and that the threat of strikes is much greater. strong than it seems It has been in recent times, when employers find it difficult to find workers. (AA)