‘Hot Labor Summer’ Brings Strikes and Organizing Wins in MN and Us
The summer of 2023 unofficially has been dubbed as “Hot Labor Summer” by labor organizations all across the country. The pages of the Labor Review these past few months tell part of that story.
Here in Minneapolis and the west metro our “Hot Labor Summer” started with UFCW Local 663 taking to the streets to successfully demand a fair contract at Cub UNFI, Lunds & Byerlys AND Kowalski’s. The labor movement rallied with these brave grocery workers as they demanded raises and respect after serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workers continued their marches with Teamsters Local 120 and Teamsters Local 638, who walked “practice” picket lines and were on the verge of striking their employer, UPS, as part of what would have been the largest private sector nationwide U.S. strike in recent history.
Workers in the entertainment industry also have said enough is enough — with both the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA shutting-down shows in a nationwide strike.
Baristas with Starbucks Workers United are continuing their steady progress of unionizing shops all over the Twin Cities, with the latest announcement coming from workers at the Starbucks at Nicollet and Grand in Burnsville.
Our friends in healthcare at SEIU Health Care Minnesota and Iowa and the Minnesota Nurses Association are rolling out announcement after announcement about their recent organizing victories at various healthcare facilities.
Most recently, a unit including more than 500 doctors and other healthcare staff at Allina Health’s primary care clinics and urgent care clinics announced they are organizing with the Doctors Council, an affiliate of SEIU.
As the labor movement grows our numbers and workers win raises, corporate giants are spending millions of dollars to defeat our progress.
Despite this resistance, the organizing successes here in Minnesota have been undeniable during this unseasonably warm “Hot Labor Summer.”
Even more amazing has been the radical solidarity we are seeing across the local labor movement. Fellow union members are showing up with their banners and in their union shirts to stand shoulder to shoulder like never before. The renaissance we are seeing of this radical solidarity leaves me very optimistic about the future of this labor movement.
It’s time to keep rolling up our sleeves to fight for workers rights in our workplaces and at the ballot box. Now’s the time to fix our broken labor laws. Now’s the time to shout our union pride on every corner so we realize the full potential of this momentum. Hopefully, with the help of all of you, “Hot Labor Summer” will continue to grow into a full-fledged “Hot Labor Year!”