Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where we are tracking several pro-labor candidates around the country tonight, especially the Mayoral election in New York City tomorrow.
Mamdani Election Analysis Virtual Forum with Ted Hamm
On Thursday at 7 pm, Payday Report will hold a special live session to analyze election results with Ted Hamm, the author of "Run Zohran Run!: Inside Zohran Mamdani's Sensational Campaign to Become New York City's First Democratic Socialist Mayor", which was recently published by OR Books.
The live event will be open to any Payday subscribers or donors who wish to participate and ask questions.
Register here for the event this Thursday at 7 pm.
Feds May Shut Down Some Airspace Over Concerns About Controller Walkouts
Earlier today, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced that the federal government may shut down some airspace due to concerns about staffing levels among air traffic controllers. The move comes as air traffic controllers continue to engage in "sickout" strikes because they are not being paid due to the government shutdown.
According to FAA data, more than 50% of facilities are now facing staffing shortages. Duff attempted to blame Democrats for the staffing shortage in remarks on Tuesday, saying they will only intensify as the holiday season approaches.
"So if, if you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos," Duffy said in public remarks. "You will see mass flight delays. You'll see mass cancelations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don't have the air traffic controllers."
Black Teamsters Leader to Challenge Trump Ally O'Brien
Earlier this year, Black Teamsters activist Richard Hooker Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 632 in Philadelphia, announced that he would run for Teamsters President against Teamsters President Sean O'Brien in the November 2026 election.
In an interview with the Guardian published today, Hooker said he was most angered by O'Brien's support and cheerleading for Trump.
"You have your supposed leader flirting with someone who does not care if you have a pension – someone who does not care if you have healthcare, who does not care if you have the NLRB, if you have protect protections at the EEOC or OSHA," said Hooker. "If you align yourself with someone who is OK with being in a relationship with that type of person, then they have no business being a labor leader, because what you're doing is you're putting your members and the rest of the working class in jeopardy.
For more, check out the full interview with the Guardian.
Machinists Offer to Settle Boeing Dispute for $8 Million over 4 Years
Last week, 3,200 Boeing jet-fighter workers in St. Louis voted by a margin of 51% to 49% to reject Boeing's latest offer and continue their strike, which entered its 4th month. Now, local union leadership says that they feel confident that they could settle the strike if Boeing is willing to spend an additional $8 million over 4 years.
"At the same time, this company has handed out $100 million in golden parachutes to failed CEOs, reported $23 billion in third-quarter revenue, and sits on a $76 billion defense backlog," said the union in a statement. "It's clear that the company is simply doing this to try to break you — and to break your union".
For more, check out the complete statement from the Machinists here.
Delta Flight Attendants to Try to Unionize for 5th Time in 20 Years.
Over the last 20 years, flight attendants at Delta have tried unsuccessfully to unionize the airline, and have failed —often narrowly —every Time. Now, flight attendants say that they are prepared to try again.
"I've been with this campaign since 2018. I've never seen the movement forward that we have over the last year," flight attendant Karen Wargo told Atlanta News First. "We have more than doubled our numbers in the last year and we are within spitting distance of being able to call for a vote."
For more, check out Atlanta News First.
Vermont Farms Rally to Support Jamaican Guest Workers Hit Hard by Storms
Finally, Vermont farmers are rallying to support seasonal Jamaican guest workers, whose homes in Jamaica were damaged by storms. From VT Digger:
Established by Champlain Orchards on behalf of Vermont orchards that employ seasonal farmworkers, the Vermont Apple Growers’ Support Fund for Jamaican Seasonal Workers has raised more than $55,000.
“Our workers are hearing stories of severe devastation. They’re just at the end of the harvest season and preparing to go back to Jamaica, and we know they’re going to go back and find some really difficult situations,” said Susan Van Put, marketing project manager at Champlain Orchards. “Because they are like family to us, we want to support them as they go back.”
Champlain Orchards, about 300 acres in Shoreham, is one of the oldest continuously operating orchards in Vermont. It typically employs about 60 seasonal farmworkers from Jamaica each year but had a few less this year because of the drought, Van Put said.
At Paul Mazza’s farmstand in Essex, a sign asking for aid greeted customers on Friday afternoon. The farm has 23 Jamaican workers who are working to finish picking 25 acres of strawberries, and has put out its own crowdfunding appeal that has raised more than $71,000.
“We are just hoping to rally and help them get back on their feet, and rally the community into supporting them,” farm manager Kaity Mazza said. “We’re so happy to have them. Farm work is hard and I think people don’t realize that we wouldn’t be here without them.”
For more, check out VT Digger.
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- SNAP Axe could fall on grocery shoppers and workers alike
- Broadway musicians ratify new contract with producers that averted strike
- 650 Minnesota Doctors may go on strike
- Salt Lake bar closes amid employees' efforts to unionize
- What the steady drumbeat of layoffs means for Hollywood workers
- Finally, over 700 Palestinian workers strike at Chinese mine company based in Gaza
Alright folks, that's all for today. Keep sending emails, comments,and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
