Labor News & Commentary November 20, Philadelphia unions plan a joint strike, Greece faces a 24-hour general strike

[Omaha Steve]

https://onlabor.org/november-20-2024/

By Jacqueline Rayfield Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.

In today’s News and Commentary, Philadelphia unions plan a joint strike, Greece faces a 24-hour general strike, and University of California unions set strikes for today and tomorrow.

Three Philadelphia unions representing transit operators and municipal workers have voted to authorize a strike. Together, these unions represent roughly 14,000 workers city-wide. Union leaders hailed the deal as public sector unity in Philadelphia. This strike could lead to a public transportation stoppage for the over 700,000 daily Philadelphia transit passengers in the city and suburbs. Leaders of all three unions explain that they hope to avoid a stoppage but could be forced to strike if negotiations with Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s office fail.

Greece’s workers began a 24-hour general strike this morning over falling standards of living. So far, the strike has stopped rail and bus services, docked ships, and brought waves of protesters to public spaces. Protesters explained their struggle with rising prices despite low wages since the 2009 debt crisis in Greece. Protesters claim that center-right prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has not adequately raised monthly minimum wages since he entered office in 2019.

University of California (UC) workers began a 2-day strike today on campuses and in university hospitals. The striking unions cover over 40,000 service workers across UC schools and medical centers. Union representatives explain that workers are overworked due to university understaffing. The union also complains that wages have not kept up with the cost of living across California.