Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where I am getting back on my feet after being sick over winter break.
Big thanks to everyone who donated and allowed me to take two weeks off.
Immigrant Rights Groups Call for Strike on January 11th
With Trump set to take office on Monday January 20th, some immigrant rights organizers are calling for a strike of immigrants to begin on January 11th.
In 2006, a strike by millions of immigrants nationwide, effectively derailed attempts to criminalize and deport immigrants during the Bush Administration.
(See Leon Fink’s excellent piece on these strikes in The American Prospect)
Now, immigrants rights activists are hoping to inspire a new wave of strikes to protest anti-immigrant policies beginning with a week-long strike by immigrants in some cities.
“A week without work to see if they can turn around and look at our community and how we contribute to this country. We’re stopping as many people as we can,” Sam Ruiz told Unicorn Riot. “We have truckers, construction workers, field workers, restaurant workers, and hospitality workers. In Las Vegas, we’re creating a pretty big movement and It feels bigger than what happened in Florida with Ron DeSantis after SB1718 was passed.”
For more, check out Unicorn Riot.
Help Us Push Unions to Defend Immigrants
In 2025, Payday’s #1 priority will be coverage to protect immigrants from deportation. At this time, many unions don’t have legal defense funds to protect immigrants, Payday will push the labor movement to do more.
Donate to help us cover the movement to protect immigrants rights. Please, if you can, sign up as one of our recurring donors today.
ILA & Port Owners Hold Secret Talks over Automation
With a January 15th deadline looming for a possible strike, ILA union leaders and port owners are engaged in “secret talks,” a controversial move, which has angered union democracy activists, who have advocated for “open bargaining.” From CNBC:
“According to a document reviewed by CNBC, the agreement states that the ILA reserves the right to add union workers in the future to complement any new technologies and “there is a commitment by the parties to research and utilize all technology that would assist an operator in being more efficient and productive.”
The document specifies that skilled human crane operators have proven their ability to work with the aid of modern crane control systems to handle port tasks where precision is required. The crane technology includes cameras and alignment guides, anti-sway technology for precise container placement, and motion-dampening controls.
The document refers to semi-automated rail-mounted gantry crane operations “where humans control complex tasks while automation handles repetitive motions.”
It also cites manual RMG operations in which union workers operate the cranes manually without automation. Loading positioning sensors, obstacle detection systems, and real-time feedback systems were also cited as tools that “enable human operators to achieve precision comparable to automation.”
Even with the proposed language on automation suggesting that the USMX is willing to give in to some union concerns over jobs, port sources say critical details still need to be worked out.”
For more, check out CNBC.
Nippon & US Steel Sue Steelworkers, Biden Administration, & Cleveland Cliffs
Earlier this week, the Biden Administration announced that they would formally block the sale of US Steel to the Japanese company, Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns. Now, Nippon and US Steel have sued both the Steelworkers union, Biden Administration, and the steel manufacturer Cleveland Cliffs.
“[The Biden Administration] corrupted and compromised a critical mechanism for the protection of America’s national security in order to serve the President’s personal political agenda,” the lawsuit alleged.
For more, check out the Washington Post.
In Rare Move, Oregon Doctors to Strike Alongside 5,000 Nurses
In Portland, 5,000 nurses intend to go on strike at 8 hospitals owned by Providence this week.
In a rare move, hundreds of doctors plan to strike alongside nurses. Doctors at these hospitals had unionized in 2023 and many are saying that they refuse to cross picket lines.
“As physicians, we have the unique role of being somewhat harder to replace in terms of finding people to cross the picket line,” Dr. Jennifer Lewis told Oregon Business. “But also, this is unprecedented, and by using our position of power, we can not just help ourselves by getting safer staffing levels and doing better by our patients, but we can also uplift our nurses. We know as doctors, without our nurses, we can’t do anything.”
For more, check out Oregon Business.
Park City Ski Patrol Strike Goes Viral
Finally, videos of Ski Patrol workers striking in Park City, Utah have gone viral with some stranded skiers chanting “Pay Your Employees”:
"Stay Strong!! Stoked to see you guys standing up for what's fair. Vail Resorts continues to take advantage of mountain enthusiasts as they rake it in and drive prices through the roof throughout the industry,” posted champion skier Sammy Carlson on Facebook. “Way to stand up for what’s right. I wish this was the start of something much bigger, Vail resorts doesn’t give a shit about us."
For more on the strike, check out Powder
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- Pope appoints Trump critic to be archbishop of Washington, DC
- 2,000 nurses unionize in Oregon
- Comedian's ticket sales increase after canceling Virgin Hotel show amid union strike
- Waffle House employees say owners rob them of up to $46.8 million a year
- Fashion Model rights bill signed into law in New York
- Finally, a look at how did Canadian workers and unions fare In 2024.
Alright folks, that’s all for today. Keep sending tips, story ideas, comments and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
Donate to help us cover how immigrant and labor organizers are mobilizing to fight back against deportation. Please, if you can, sign up as one of our recurring donors today. Thanks again for all the support.
Love & Solidarity,
Melk
