Strikes and Negotiations: Tensions between Companies and Unions under Scrutiny

The Boeing plants in Seattle and other locations were paralyzed early Friday by a walkout of the assemblers after union members overwhelmingly voted for a strike. The recent tensions focus on issues such as wages and health benefits. With this, aircraft manufacturer Boeing joins a list of prominent companies currently facing union conflicts. For instance, last year, automakers Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis reached agreements with the United Auto Workers (UAW). These new contracts, which run until April 2028, concluded after tough negotiations that led to six-week-long strikes. The agreements include wage increases of up to 33%. UPS also faced challenges. A tentative agreement reached last year with the Teamsters union provided for higher hourly wages for both full-time and part-time employees. The agreement also ensured that Martin Luther King Jr. Day would be recognized as a holiday and implemented measures to improve working conditions. In the video game industry, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) reached an agreement on wage improvements and protection against exploitative practices involving artificial intelligence. Following a more than one-month strike, this agreement set precedents. The hospitality workers' union in Las Vegas achieved a significant success after a year of negotiations with the Venetian and Palazzo resorts. The contract includes a 32% wage increase over five years. There was also movement in the healthcare sector. In October 2023, Kaiser Permanente and the representatives of 85,000 healthcare workers reached an agreement that regulates minimum wages and sets wage increases of 21% over four years. In Hollywood, the actors' strike ended in December 2023. The agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the studios included a 7% wage increase and the establishment of a fund for future payments from streaming services. These developments show that the relationship between large companies and their unions is changing across various industries, and focus on the needs and rights of the workers.