An update on the Starbucks unionization campaign, which has just organized its 200th store in Cleveland, Ohio. Despite repression and retaliation, the movement continues to grow.
RICHMOND WINS PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING!
On July 25, Richmond City became the fifth locality in Virginia to adopt a local public sector collective bargaining ordinance.
AUGUSTA COUNTY: UNION ORGANIZING AT HERSHEY PLANT
Workers at the Hershey Chocolate plant in Stuarts Draft, Va., filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board Jan. 18 to be represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers’ International Union (BCTGM). According to the Staunton News Leader, workers say the main issues are a lack of time off, disrespect on the job and frequent changes that are poorly communicated by management.
D.C.: POLITICS & PROSE UNIONIZES WITH LOCAL 400
Politics and Prose, an independent bookstore with three locations in Washington, D.C., is the first bookstore in the district to unionize. The approximately 100 workers are now represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400. The Virginia Defender spoke to Isa Salazar of the Politics and Prose Workers Union Organizing Committee about the process of getting organized.
FIRST IN STATE, RICHMOND TEACHERS WIN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS!
On Dec. 6, Richmond became the first locality in Virginia to approve collective bargaining for its teachers and other public school employees.
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS TWO PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAINING ORDINANCES FOR CITY WORKERS
In May 2021, a change to state law came into effect that allows local governments and school boards to bargain collectively with their workers. Richmond City Council now has two bills to consider on this topic.
RICHMOND JOINS GROWING NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO UNIONIZE STARBUCKS
Workers at two Richmond-area Starbucks stores, one at 6980 Forest Hill Avenue in the city and the other at 11136 Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County, have filed petitions with the National Labor Relations Board for recognition of their union.
The Virginia Defender 