Starbucks Upset over Union Workers Being Invited to WH - Baseball Umpire’s Strike in Biden’s Hometown -  Mother’s Day Strike Organized for Abor

Folks, 

Greetings from the Burgh, where a group of elected officials have written a letter denouncing a Steve Irwin-linked super Pac for running an ad accusing African-American State Representative Summer Lee of backing Donald Trump. 

AIPAC Is Dropping $2 Million Against Summer Lee – Help Payday Fight Back Against the Smears 

AIPAC and affiliated super PACs are dropping more than $2 million in ads against Summer Lee in a tight race with corporate attorney Steve Irwin, who co-owns a law firm that has done anti-union work. 

May 17th is election day and we need your help to cover this crucial election of national importance right here in Pittsburgh.

Donate today to help us cover this election. And please, if you can, sign up as one of our 688 recurring donors.

TikToker Calls for Mother’s Day Strike over Abortion Rights

In countries like Poland, Iceland, and Ireland, workers have gone on strike for abortion rights. Now some activists in the US are trying to organize a week-long economic strike over abortion rights beginning on Mother’s Day. 

“Our human rights have gotten stripped away to the point where protest doesn’t really do a whole lot anymore,” said TikTokker @graceotto0 in a video about the strike. “The only language America speaks is money and exploitation, so let’s show them how integral we are to this system.”

For more about the strike, check out the group’s homepage, which gives instructions on how to run a strike. 

Starbucks Upset Over White House Visit with Unionizing Workers

Yesterday, President Joe Biden met with union activists in the White House including Amazon Labor Union president Christian Smalls and workers representing Starbucks, the Baltimore Public Library, and REI. However, Starbucks executives are upset that the unionizing Starbucks employee was invited to the White House.

“We believe this lack of representation discounts the reality that the majority of our partners oppose being members of a union and the unionization tactics being deployed by Workers United,” wrote Starbucks executive AJ Jones II in a letter to the President. 

Read the full story and the letter at the HuffPost.

Berry Farmworkers Strike in Santa Maria, California 

In Santa Maria, California,  workers at JB Berry farms are on strike with the support of  The Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) and the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (C.A.U.S.E.). 

The workers are currently paid only $2.10 per box of strawberries picked. They are asking for a raise to $3.50 per box. 

“The things we are earning, it’s not enough for food,” farmworker Rosalina Sebastian told KSBY. “The rent is expensive, the gas is going high.”

For more, check out KSBY.

Baseball Umpires Strike in Biden’s Hometown

Finally, in Joe Biden’s hometown of Scranton, baseball umpires are on strike. Currently, umpires in the Lackawanna league are paid $77 for officiating a baseball game and $71 for officiating a softball game. With gas prices rising and inflation, umpires are demanding at least $90 per game. 

“We just want to be compensated fairly compared to officials in the rest of northeast and central Pennsylvania,” umpire Jim Elliot told WOLF. “They’re not going to work for the rates that are being offered.” 

For more, check out WOLF.

Strikes & News Happening Elsewhere

• Buffalo Starbucks employees strike over new benefits not being extended to unionized stores
• In Sri Lanka, there is a nationwide general strike to demand that the corrupt government step down
• Landfill workers in Eau Claire, Wisconsin are on strike
• The Charlotte Observer has a look at the new enthusiasm for unionizing in the region 
• Vice looks at how Starbucks Workers United may start competing with other unions to organize Starbucks workers 
• On Labor examines the lessons of a strike of public defenders in Minnesota 
• Finally, the life and legacy of ‘labor priest’ Msgr. George Higgins recalled at AFL-CIO forum

Alright folks, that’s all for today. Donate to help us cover this crucial highly watched Congressional race right here in Pittsburgh. Please, if you can, sign up as one of our 688 recurring donors. 

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Love & Solidarity, 

Melk