In today’s news and commentary, Boeing workers in St. Louis end a 102-day strike, unionized Starbucks baristas launch a new strike, and Illinois seeks to expand protections for immigrant workers.
In St. Louis, Boeing factory workers voted on Thursday to approve a new five-year contract, ending the second-longest strike in Boeing’s history. The 3,200 workers on strike had previously rejected four offers from Boeing, seeking better pay raises and retirement benefits. As Finlay previously covered, both Democrats and Republicans had put pressure on Boeing to offer a fair contract, especially after Boeing hired permanent replacement workers. The resulting contract includes a 24% general wage increase, more vacation and sick leave, increased potential for overtime pay, and a $6,000 signing bonus, although worker demands for a stronger 401(k) match and bigger wage increases for longtime workers were rebuffed. All striking workers will be returning to work later today.
Also on Thursday, Starbucks Workers United launched a strike at 65 stores across the country. The striking workers have called it a “Red Cup Rebellion,” as the strike was timed to coincide with Starbucks Red Cup Day, an annual promotion of the company’s holiday drinks. The workers are seeking better staffing, higher pay, and resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practice charges. As Ajayan noted, SWU has authorized an open-ended strike. On social media, SWU wrote that they are “prepared for this to become the...
The prosecution has requested a prison sentence for a YouTuber charged with spreading rumors about SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Kim Hee-young, director of the T&C Foundation. On the 17th...