Employment Law Update: American Labor Activism Rises
Date: October 3, 2024
By:
Robert N. Drewry
This strike is the latest in organized labor’s efforts to achieve better pay and stop artificial intelligence from replacing workers. Over the past year, workers from industries including automotive, hospitality, aviation, and film have gone on strike to send their message. According to Cornell University’s ILR School, between 2022 and 2023, the number of work stoppages rose 9% to 466 strikes and four lockouts.
The dockworkers' strike blocks the offloading of cargo for everything from food to automobiles, with one analysis indicating that the strike will cost the economy billions of dollars a day. While experts agree that consumers will not see an immediate impact from the strike, if the strike lasts more than a few weeks, the stoppage could stall the nation’s supply chain.
The increase in organized labor activity across industries in recent years follows new legislation and various court and NLRB decisions. As organized labor increases, it is important for employers to stay on top of the emerging landscape and take a proactive approach in dealing with unions and employees. Whiteford’s Labor and Employment Law team is ready to assist with these issues.
The information contained here is not intended to provide legal advice or opinion and should not be acted upon without consulting an attorney. Counsel should not be selected based on advertising materials, and we recommend that you conduct further investigation when seeking legal representation.