Labor News & Commentary November 10, 2023 California farmworkers unionize

[Omaha Steve]

https://onlabor.org/november-10-2023/

By Greg Volynsky

Greg Volynsky is a student at Harvard Law School.

n Today’s News & Commentary: President Biden addresses autoworkers, Kaiser Permanente workers ratify contract, California farmworkers unionize, NYC cleaners prepare for strike, and Cornell graduate students unionize.

President Biden took off his blazer and pulled a red UAW t-shirt over his button-down in Belvidere, Illinois. Speaking to the autoworkers, the President touted the UAW’s success in negotiating with auto companies. Biden told the crowd “I want this type of contract for all auto workers and I have a feeling the UAW has a plan for that.”

Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers have ratified a new four-year contract following a significant strike. The strike began October 4, as Linh reported, and involved over 75,000 healthcare employees—making it the largest strike in U.S. healthcare history. The union reached a tentative agreement with the company on October 13th (as I reported), and the deal has now been ratified, with almost all of the 85,000 union members voting in favor.

Farmworkers at a Stanislaus County tomato farm and packing company, DMB Packing, in California have successfully unionized under a new state law. The new law, effective as of May, allows workers to unionize using authorization cards. Just over half of the company’s 297 workers voted for union representation. DMB Packing is disputing the results​​​​​​.

FULL story at link above.