Weekly Labor Roundup - February 17, 2025
Following the shuttering of independent panels that mediate labor disputes, the Trump administration is laying off federal employees en masse. The timing of the firings in this context leaves federal workers fewer avenues to challenge the firings.
In Colorado, legislators took a major step towards making forming a union easier. The Senate voted on Thursday to repeal the Labor Peace Act, which requires two separate votes (one to form the union, and the second to collect dues) to represent workers in a union.
Following heavy anti-union propaganda and employee surveillance by Amazon in their Garner, North Carolina facility, Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE) failed in their election to formally establish their union.
As the federal government threatens to cut funding for the University of California system, the union representing healthcare, research and technical employees has voted to authorize a strike. The vote passed with 98% support and covers more than 20,000 UC employees across all UC facilities.
Striking workers at King Soopers in Colorado have said they will call off their now two-week strike if King Soopers will provide the union with the information (including proprietary information and sales data) it has been requesting for five months. They are asking King Soopers to withdraw their lawsuit against UFCW Local 7 amid other concessions.
On Friday, Governor Cox signed House Bill 267 that prohibits labor organizations in Utah from collective bargaining with a public employer. HB 267 will take effect on July 1.
