Labor News & Commentary November 15, video game union at Microsoft completes one-day strike & more

https://onlabor.org/november-15-2024/

By Holt McKeithan Holt McKeithan is a student at Harvard Law School.

In today’s News & Commentary, Philadelphia’s largest city workers union authorizes a strike, video game union at Microsoft completes one-day strike, and Massachusetts teachers’ unions are fined.

District 33, a union of Philadelphia city workers, has authorized a strike. The union represents 9,000 mostly blue-collar workers, including sanitation workers. Workers are dissatisfied with the city’s latest contract offer, which amounted to only $50 more per pay period, failing to keep pace with inflation. “Our money is spent on Philadelphia. We live in Philadelphia, and we love Philadelphia. How about showing us the money,” Fred Gillespie, another city worker, added. The union has been working without a contract since July. While the union is not yet striking, the authorization vote allows for the union leaders to call for a vote any time.

Massachusetts teachers in Beverly and Gloucester struck last week, as Elyse covered. Those unions were fined for refusing to return to the classroom. Judges imposed fines of $50,000 per day. Massachusetts state law bans public sector employee strikes. The Beverly Teachers Association (BTA) is negotiating for smaller class sizes, 12 weeks of paid parental leave and living wages for paraprofessionals and teachers assistants. The Union of Gloucester Educators says it has been negotiating for safe, fully staffed schools, paid parental leave, competitive wages, and respect, but the School Committee has stalled and rejected nearly all proposals.


ZeniMax Workers United struck on Wednesday. The union represents video game makers at a company owned by Microsoft. When the union was recognized in January 2023, it was Microsoft’s first. The workers struck over concerns regarding outsourcing jobs and return to office mandates.