Seoul, Dec 29 (NationPress) The United States has seen a remarkable rise in labour strikes throughout 2024, with employees from diverse industries taking to the streets to protest issues ranging from wages to working conditions.
As of Friday, the nation recorded 334 labour actions across 515 locations, reflecting a continuing upward trend in strike activities in recent years, according to the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations's Labor Action Tracker, a comprehensive database of strike and labour protest activities.
One of the most significant strikes of the year took place at Starbucks, where over 5,000 workers from more than 300 stores in 45 states walked off their jobs on Christmas Eve, as reported by their union, Starbucks Workers United, according to Xinhua news agency.
This strike marked the largest in the history of the coffee chain, involving workers from 12 major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and Seattle. The striking workers demanded higher wages and fair scheduling while criticizing the company's executive compensation practices, particularly CEO Brian Niccol's $113 million compensation package.
Just prior to the Starbucks walkout, Amazon faced what workers described as the largest strike ever during the peak Christmas shopping season.
While the labour union claimed nearly 10,000 workers participated in the movement for better wages and improved workplace safety, Amazon contested these figures, asserting that many of the striking individuals were not even employees.
The manufacturing sector was also impacted, with around 33,000 Boeing machinists commencing a seven-week strike in September.
Their union accepted a contract offer in November, allowing the workers to return to their jobs. This strike, which involved workers assembling the popular 737 Max airliner in Washington, added to Boeing's struggles during a challenging year.
In October, the maritime sector faced significant disruptions as nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) struck against East and Gulf Coast ports, affecting the flow of imports and exports from Maine to Texas.
The hospitality industry also experienced labour actions, with about 10,000 hotel workers striking across several popular tourist destinations in September. The walkout impacted 24 hotels managed by Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt in cities such as San Francisco, San Diego, Honolulu, Boston, and Seattle.
The hotel workers' union, Unite Here, emphasized issues of understaffing, with three employees often performing the workload meant for four.
Several factors contributed to this surge in labour activism. The US Department of Labor reported a doubling of union representation petitions from 1,638 in fiscal 2021 to 3,286 in fiscal 2024.
According to Labor Notes, an organization and network for rank-and-file union members and grassroots activists, unions are currently enjoying more popularity than at any time since the 1960s, with a public approval rating of 70 percent.
Furthermore, economic conditions have played a vital role in fueling these labour actions. A low unemployment rate has provided workers with greater leverage in negotiations.
The rise of remote work and worries regarding technological displacement have introduced new dimensions to labour negotiations, as workers seek safeguards against job losses due to automation and advancements in artificial intelligence. These concerns are particularly urgent in sectors undergoing swift technological changes.
This was especially apparent in the recent port workers' dispute, where automation emerged as a key issue. The ILA highlighted that automation at ports could lead to job losses for some members.
Moreover, reform movements within labour unions have resulted in effective strike threats.
With a January 15 deadline approaching to resolve the automation dispute at East and Gulf Coast ports, tensions remain elevated, heightening the possibility of another significant disruption in port activities in the upcoming year.
