Volkswagen plants brought to halt as workers strike amid labor dispute
Workers at nine Volkswagen factories across Germany brought assembly lines to a halt on Monday, Dec. 2, as they launched rolling two-hour strikes. The autoworkers are protesting pay cuts and proposed factory closures the automaker claims are necessary to make up for slumping sales in Europe.
Volkswagen reportedly wants 120,000 German workers to take a 10% pay cut and is proposing the closure of three plants, according to an employee representative who was interviewed by The Washington Post. The closures would be the company’s first in its nearly 90-year history.
Volkswagen argues the changes are necessary as it struggles with low demand, high production costs, Chinese competition and a sluggish transfer to electric vehicles. The walkouts took place prior to talks over a new labor agreement after a mandate period barring strikes expired on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Workers’ representatives warn the Volkswagen strikes could escalate to 24-hours or longer if a deal is not struck during the next round of labor negotiations set for Monday, Dec. 9.
The autoworkers union for Volkswagen employees reportedly presented measures it said would save the company $1.6 billion, which would include a bonus freeze for 2025 and 2026. However, Volkswagen management dismissed the idea as unrealistic.
A union representative in Hanover, Germany, criticized Volkswagen for making workers’ pay for what he considered mistakes by those at the top of the company’s management, including the “diesel emissions scandal,” in which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found from 2009 through 2015 the company intentionally covered up its emission output in its diesel vehicles to meet U.S. vehicle standards.
The union representative also blamed company leadership for falling behind on innovation to Chinese companies.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
President-elect Donald Trump said Mexico has agreed to stem the tide of migrants flowing into the United States, but Mexico’s president is now saying that’s not quite accurate. And Amazon workers are using Black Friday to make a statement about their labor situation. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
As President-elect Donald Trump gets ready to return to office, he’s already making moves to follow through on some of his biggest campaign promises. After announcing this week his plans to impose tariffs on goods from China, Canada and Mexico, he turned his attention to another hot-button issue: immigration.
It’s a bit of a case of “he said, she said” after Trump had a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday, Nov. 27. President-elect Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the call saying Sheinbaum agreed to stop migration into the U.S. through Mexico, “effectively closing our southern border.”
Sheinbaum appeared to contradict Trump in a post of her own on X, saying in part, “Mexico’s position is not to close borders…”
She did, however, lay out Mexico’s “comprehensive strategy” for addressing the migration issue. In a separate post on X, Sheinbaum said during the call, she told President-elect Trump, “No caravans are arriving at the border because they are being attended to in Mexico.”
En nuestra conversación con el presidente Trump, le expuse la estrategia integral que ha seguido México para atender el fenómeno migratorio, respetando los derechos humanos. Gracias a ello se atiende a las personas migrantes y a las caravanas previo a que lleguen a la frontera.…
The two leaders also talked about how they’re addressing the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
The call was scheduled after Trump unveiled plans to slap 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico to the U.S. as part of the effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. through Mexico.
Not only would that impact the prices of avocados and agave — both very popular in the U.S. — Mexico’s economy secretary said Wednesday 88% of all North American pickup trucks come from Mexico. Sheinbaum then suggested Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own.
“I hope he rethinks it,” Biden said. “I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do. You know, one of the things you’ve heard me say before is that we are – we have an unusual situation in America. We’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies: Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships.”
Economists forecast Trump’s planned tariffs would increase prices for American shoppers, costing the average U.S. household about $2,600 per year, according to an estimate from the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Israel and Hezbollah both claim ceasefire violations
Barely three days into a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, both sides are claiming violations.
Yesterday, Hezbollah had a precision-guided missile manufacturing site—today, they don’t.
Hezbollah’s largest precision-guided missiles manufacturing site, 1.4km wide and 70m underground, was struck and dismantled by IAF fighter jets yesterday.
Lebanese authorities also said two people, who were trying to return to southern Lebanon, were shot and wounded by Israeli forces. Lebanon’s health ministry said they were civilians, but the IDF claimed they were suspected of violating terms of the truce.
The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, includes an initial two-month ceasefire during which Hezbollah militants will withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border.
Thousands of Amazon workers to strike from Black Friday to Cyber Monday
Amazon workers in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., are on strike on some of the busiest pre-Christmas shopping days across the world. It started on Black Friday, Nov. 29, a day for bargain hunters to score some of the biggest discounts from stores across the country as holiday shopping kicks into high gear.
Organizers told the United Nations the so-called “days of resistance” are to hold Amazon accountable for alleged labor abuses, as well as “environmental degradation and threats to democracy.” According to ABC News, the strike could delay holiday deliveries.
The organizers said this is their fifth year of labor action against Amazon during the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
In a statement, Amazon said the group that organized the strikes is being “intentionally misleading” and promoting a “false narrative.” Management said the company offers great pay and benefits.
Canada sues Google over control of online ads
Canada’s antitrust watchdog said it is suing Google over alleged anti-competitive conduct in the company’s online advertising business. They’re calling for Google to sell off two of its ad tech services and pay a penalty.
The Competition Bureau said it’s necessary because an investigation into Google found the company “unlawfully” tied together its ad tech tools to maintain its dominant market position. Google insists the online advertising market is a highly competitive sector and is fighting the allegations.
This comes just a week after the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser, saying it continues to crush the competition through its dominant search engine.
America facing a live Christmas tree shortage again
As millions of Americans get ready to begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree, growers are having historic challenges getting them to sale lots, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The day after Thanksgiving is usually the biggest day for live tree sales, but since Thanksgiving came so late this year, it’s a very short selling season. On top of that, a nationwide shortage is expected thanks to severe weather across the country this year, such as a northeastern drought and North Carolina floods caused by Hurricane Helene. North Carolina is the second-biggest supplier of Christmas trees in the country.
Shoppers bought roughly 21.6 million real Christmas trees in the U.S. last year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The Department of Agriculture said the number of trees harvested in the U.S. has declined 30% since 2002, while the American population has grown 16% over the same period.
Alaska native air drops Thanksgiving turkeys to families in remote areas
In the most remote parts of Alaska a Thanksgiving turkey is hard to come by. So, one woman made sure families in roadless parts of the state had their holiday feast.
Pilot Esther Keim calls it “Alaska Turkey Bomb.” She flies in a small plane to off-the-grid homes and air drops frozen turkeys for families to enjoy for Thanksgiving.
Keim said it’s a tribute to a family friend who did the same thing for her family when she was growing up.
She started the tradition in 2022 after somebody that she knew told her they did not have much of a holiday dinner — and no turkey at all. Since then, she has delivered 30 to 40 turkeys every year to families living in remote areas of Alaska.
Amazon workers in 20 countries plan Black Friday, Cyber Monday strike
Thousands of Amazon workers from around the world are planning to strike again on one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. This is the fifth holiday season in a row for Make Amazon Pay protests, when warehouse staff and delivery drivers strike in support of workers’ rights and climate action from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
Employees in 20 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, are demanding higher pay, the option to unionize, and a company commitment to environmental sustainability.
It’s all led by a pair of social and economic justice organizations, UNI Global and Progressive International.
“Amazon is everywhere, but so are we,” Progressive International’s Co-General Coordinator Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla said. “By uniting our movements across borders, we can not only force Amazon to change its ways but lay the foundations of a world that prioritizes human dignity, not Jeff Bezos’ bank balance.”
According to numbers from Amazon, employees in the U.S. can earn between $18.50 and $29.50 per hour depending on the position and location.
A 2023 report by the National Employment Law Project found that warehouse workers in areas with Amazon fulfillment centers make $822 less a month than warehouse workers in areas that don’t have Amazon fulfillment centers.
It’s not clear exactly how much more money Amazon workers are asking for, but they specifically want hazard pay and premium pay for peak times.
When it comes to environmental concerns, the advocacy groups are asking Amazon to commit to zero emissions by 2030 and to transition to electric vehicles.
An Amazon spokesperson said in a statement that it is already taking a proactive stance against climate change by becoming the world’s largest purchaser of renewable energy.
“These groups represent a variety of interests, and while we’re always listening and looking at ways to improve, we remain proud of the competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and engaging, safe work experience we provide our teams,” Amazon said.
Charlotte airport workers go on strike as TSA expects record holiday air travel
As the busiest travel week of the year begins, service workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina are off the job. The employees went on strike on Monday, Nov. 25.
Officials with the Service Employees International Union announced the strike. The workers are employed by ABM Industries and Prospect Airport Services.
The two companies work with American Airlines to clean the inside of airplanes, remove trash and transport passengers who need a wheelchair. Several hundred workers earn between $12.50 and $19 an hour. The union issued a statement saying the workers are demanding an end to “poverty wages and respect on the job.”
Managers of the airport expect about 1 million passengers during the Thanksgiving travel season. The season lasts between last Thursday, Nov. 21 and the Monday after Thanksgiving, Dec. 2.
The TSA now predicts it will screen about 18 million flyers between Tuesday, Nov. 26 and Monday, Dec. 2. That would be an increase of 6% from 2023.
Prospect Airport Services responded to the labor action in Charlotte saying the company recognizes the seriousness of the potential for a strike during the busy holiday travel season. ABM Industries said it appreciates the hard work the employees put in to keep spaces clean and people healthy.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
With North Korea entering the war, the Biden administration is now allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia. And President-elect Donald Trump returned to New York for a UFC showdown this weekend while also making more presidential picks. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
It’s been nearly three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and while the U.S. has supported Ukraine since the start, President Joe Biden is now easing limitations on how U.S.-supplied weapons can be used.
The policy shift comes as President Biden’s time in office winds down and President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to limit U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump has also promised to quickly put an end to the war with Russia but has yet to say how.
Biden’s decision comes as Russia unleashed a barrage of its own missiles in Ukraine Sunday, Nov. 17. Ukrainian authorities said 10 people, including two children, were killed and dozens injured in a Russian strike on a residential building in Sumy, near the Russian border.
Earlier in the day, Russia launched its largest attack against Ukraine since August, once again targeting power plants and energy infrastructure across the country. Ukrainian authorities said at least five people were killed in those strikes.
On the social site Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said about 120 missiles and 90 drones were fired into the country, with Ukrainian air defenses downing more than 140 targets.
Israeli strike in Beirut kills Hezbollah’s top spokesman
An Israeli strike on a neighborhood in Beirut killed Hezbollah’s top spokesman, according to the militant group.
Mohammed Afif was an adviser to the late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, whom Israel killed in an attack on Beirut in September. Afif had been responsible for Hezbollah’s media relations since 2014.
Lebanon’s health ministry said no evacuation warning was issued before the strike, which happened in the middle of the day, and four people were killed.
🔴ELIMINATED: Chief Propagandist and Spokesperson of Hezbollah, Mohammed Afif
Afif was a senior Hezbollah military operative, in contact with senior officials and directly involved in advancing and executing Hezbollah’s terrorist activities against Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a “precise, intelligence-based strike” that “eliminated the terrorist Mohammed Afif, the chief propagandist and spokesperson of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
Trump attends UFC event in New York City, makes more picks for 2nd term
Over the weekend, President-elect Trump returned to Madison Square Garden to see the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s pay-per-view event. It was the first time Trump was back at the New York City venue since his rally last month and he received roaring applause from the UFC crowd Saturday night, Nov. 16, including chants of “USA!”
Trump was joined by friend and UFC President Dana White, as well as some of the names he’s recently picked to join his administration, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump’s oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were also in attendance.
The president-elect also shook hands with Joe Rogan, one of the commentators for the event. Trump was a guest on Rogan’s podcast in the days leading up to the election.
Trump’s weekend also involved filling more key positions in his administration, including nominating Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy. Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a Denver, Colorado based fracking company.
He also picked current FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to be the agency’s chairman. Carr recently made headlines after claiming Vice President Kamala Harris’ appearance on Saturday Night Live violated FCC rules.
More nominations from the president-elect are expected to come this week.
Biden becomes first sitting president to visit Amazon rainforest
President Biden made history Sunday, Nov. 17, becoming the first sitting president to visit the Amazon rainforest.
While there, Biden met indigenous leaders and visited a museum at the gateway to the amazon. He also toured the drought-shrunken waters of the Amazon River’s greatest tributary and signed a U.S. proclamation designating Nov. 17 International Conservation Day, highlighting his commitment to the preservation of the region.
He also touched on concerns the incoming Trump administration might change U.S. climate policy.
“It’s no secret that I’m leaving office in January,” Biden said. “I will leave my successor and my country in a strong foundation to build on if they choose to do so.”
Today I issued an official proclamation to support the conservation of nature around the world.
That was the most that Biden publicly referenced President-elect Trump during his South American tour.
The transition was briefly mentioned during Chinese president Xi Jinping’s remarks on Saturday, Nov. 16 during his final meeting with Biden. While he also did not mention Trump by name, Xi appeared to signal his concern over what the new administration could mean for China’s relationship with the U.S. During his campaign, Trump promised to levy 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Reports: WBD, NBA settle with 11-year deal; ‘Inside the NBA’ to air on ABC
Warner Brothers Discovery is back in the game when it comes to the NBA. Though the company will no longer be airing games on its TNT network after this season, the Wall Street Journal and other outlets report the two sides have come to an agreement to keep NBA programming in the Warner Bros. family.
The reports said the new deal will settle Warner Brothers Discovery’s breach of contract lawsuit, which it filed against the league after the NBA signed rights deals with Disney’s ESPN, Comcast’s NBC, and Amazon.
This 11-year agreement will see NBA content remain on Warner Bros. Discovery’s digital platforms Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. It also gives Warner Brothers Discovery the right to distribute games overseas in places such as northern Europe and parts of Latin America, excluding Mexico and Brazil.
Reports said Warner Brothers Discovery also struck a deal with Disney to license its popular TNT show “Inside the NBA,” featuring former-players-turned-commentators Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley starting next season. The show will air throughout the season on ABC and ESPN.
The deals are expected to be officially announced this week.
Netflix says 60 million households tuned in live for Tyson vs. Paul
Netflix also said 50 million households watched the co-main event that saw Katie Taylor retain her championship against Amanda Serrano. The streaming giant said that would make it the most-watched professional women’s sporting event in United States history.
Netflix said more information, like total viewers, will be released later this week.
Netflix’s future live sporting events will include NFL games on Christmas Day and WWE weekly programming starting next year.
NYT tech staff end election week strike, negotiations to continue
The New York Times Tech Guild returned to work on Tuesday Nov. 12 following a weeklong strike that started just before Election Day. The Guild, representing more than 600 employees, says the strike affected the Times’ digital coverage of the election, with workers walking out to protest for better contract terms.
In a statement, the Tech Guild announced that its members would “march into the office together in the morning as a symbol of what’s to come for The Times.”
AP Images
The guild’s chair, Kathy Zhang, noted that the work stoppage caused some issues on Election Day, including the unavailability of certain vote-tracking tools and slower app and website performance.
The guild had also requested that readers avoid the Times’ daily puzzle games and cooking app during the strike. Instead, they directed users to alternate games made by striking workers on an independent website. Now that the strike has ended, the guild has lifted that request.
A Times spokesperson said that despite the strike, the Times had “the smoothest site performance during an election ever,” crediting the months of preparation work by Tech Guild members and other staff. The spokesperson also said the company looks forward to continuing negotiations with the guild.
The guild plans to continue negotiating with the Times for a fair contract, with Zhang saying the disruption underscored the importance of the work done by the tech team.
The Times, meanwhile, emphasized that its focus remains on journalism and serving its readers, while noting that guild members are among the highest-paid contributors in the company.
NYT tech workers release own versions of Wordle and Connections during strike
The New York Times Tech Guild has gone on strike, urging readers to avoid popular games like Wordle and Connections on the Times’ website in solidarity. The union, which represents over 600 tech employees, claims management has stalled contract negotiations and committed unfair labor practices.
The guild, composed of software engineers, designers, product managers and data analysts, has been negotiating for two years to secure its first contract.
According to the union, management implemented a return-to-office policy without bargaining and attempted to intimidate members who chose to strike.
AP Images
To maintain a digital picket line, the guild has released alternative versions of the Times’ games, allowing players to enjoy Wordle and Connections without supporting the Times’ platforms.
Among the union’s demands are greater job security, pay equity to address racial disparities and an end to allegedly discriminatory disciplinary practices. The guild claims that women and people of color have been disproportionately targeted by management’s actions, which it described as “arbitrary.”
Additionally, the union cited a specific incident in which an employee was terminated days before undergoing major surgery. While these alternate games won’t preserve players’ ongoing streaks, they replicate the experiences of the Times’ original games and are a visible part of the guild’s strike efforts.
To support union members during the strike, the guild has launched a GoFundMe campaign, with many members asking for public backing to pressure the Times to address worker concerns.
New York Times’ tech staff walks out before Election Day
The New York Times’ tech team has gone on strike, threatening the newspaper’s real-time coverage of Election Day results. Around 600 engineers, data analysts and product managers are participating in the walkout, which centers on demands for better pay, remote work options and stronger worker protections.
The tech workers provide critical support for The Times’ digital operations, including live election coverage tools like the election needle feature and interactive updates.
If the strike continues, it could delay the necessary fixes to unforeseen bugs as the website braces for heavy traffic on Election Day.
We are on ULP strike. We gave @nytimes management months of notice of our strike deadline, we made ourselves available around the clock, but the company has decided that our members aren’t worth enough to agree to a fair contract and stop committing unfair labor practices. pic.twitter.com/jYlANW1ruw
In solidarity with the strike, workers are urging readers to avoid using the newspaper’s popular apps and games, including “Wordle” and “The Cooking App,” and to end their daily streaks.
Hi all. I'm Robert, a lead product designer at NYT Games. My coworkers @NYTGuildTech and I are on strike for a fair contract–we're asking that in solidarity you don't play any of our games today: Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, etc. Break your streak! https://t.co/3lhomNAJMV
More than 750 journalists at the Times have expressed support for the tech team. The journalists signed a pledge asking the newspaper’s publisher to reach an agreement, saying, “We can’t do our jobs without the Tech Guild. Can you imagine if our election needle didn’t work, the app didn’t open, or the homepage went down? Bargain now. Honor your commitment to our readers.”
“While we respect the union’s right to engage in protected actions, we’re disappointed that colleagues would strike at this time, which is both unnecessary and at odds with our mission,” Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokesperson for The New York Times, told the Washington Post
As negotiations continue, it remains unclear how long the strike will last. The tech workers plan to hold daily protests outside the Times’ headquarters until an agreement is reached.
The best it gets? Boeing machinists union urges striking members to vote yes
It is time “to lock in these gains and confidently declare victory,” the Boeing machinist union told its striking members after Boeing’s latest contract offer. The deal on the table includes 38% pay raises over four years, just shy of the 40% union members demanded and much higher than the 25% the company started negotiations at.
Boeing’s latest offer also quadruples the original ratification bonus to $12,000 and comes with a strong 401(k) company match. District 751 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers will vote on the contract Monday, Nov. 4.
The contract offer notably leaves off what it appeared machinists wanted most: the return of pensions. But the union is endorsing and recommending the latest offer after nearly two months off the job.
“In every negotiation and strike, there is a point where we have extracted everything that we can in bargaining and by withholding our labor. We are at that point now and risk a regressive or lesser offer in the future,” IAM 751 posted.
A week ago, 64% of union members rejected Boeing’s offer of 35% raises, despite union negotiators saying the offer was “worthy of [their] consideration.” Now, with a new contract in front of them, striking machinists are still casting doubt on the latest deal days before casting their vote.
“They’re going to get a no vote from me,” one worker told Seattle news station KIRO. “They’ve used legal mumbo jumbo to re-explain it, but no, it’s the same offer as last time, up slightly.”
“It is lucrative, more lucrative than it has been, but there’s still room for improvement,” another told KOMO.
“When you think about what’s been going on at Boeing with issues of quality, with issues of ignoring employee reports of whistleblowing around those quality issues, I think that those workers have an outsized amount of bargaining power in this very instance, in this moment,” Alicia Modestino, research director of Northeastern University’s Dukakis Center, said.
Workers will vote on the latest contract offer all day Monday, the day before the presidential election. Meanwhile, the impact of the strike is showing up in national economic data ahead of the national election.
The U.S. economy recorded adding just 12,000 jobs in October, about 100,000 jobs below estimates. Strikes and two hurricanes dragged down the results.
Economy adds 12,000 jobs in last report before election amid hurricanes, strikes
The U.S. economy added far fewer jobs than expected in October 2024as the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1%. Friday’s jobs report marks the last piece of economic data released before the presidential election.
Total nonfarm payroll employment, the number of people employed at all U.S. businesses except farms or the military, was basically unchanged at 12,000 jobs added in October after gaining 223,000 jobs in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday, Nov. 1. The median estimate for October job growth was 117,500 according to FactSet. The unemployment rate did not change from September’s 4.1%.
October’s jobs survey was impacted by storms and strikes, with Hurricane Helene hitting before the collection period and Hurricane Milton happening during it. Meanwhile, the ongoing Boeing strike and the ripple effects from a short-lived longshore worker strike may have put downward pressure on the number.
“Hurricane Milton struck Florida on October 9, 2024, during the reference periods for both surveys. Prior to the storm’s landfall, there were large-scale evacuations of Florida residents,” BLS said.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said 44,000 workers were on strike when it conducted its survey for the month. Boeing machinists account for 33,000 of those striking workers.
Employment in manufacturing fell by 46,000 for the month amid those major strikes.
The state of the jobs market will weigh heavy on the Federal Reserve as it meets next week to discuss monetary policy and decide whether or not to further cut its benchmark interest rate. The Fed cut its rate by 50 basis points in September. The central bank’s dual mandate is to maintain full employment and keep inflation within its 2% target.
The personal consumption expenditures price index, which is the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, dropped to 2.1% in September.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the number of people not working who want a job is at 5.7 million, essentially unchanged from September. Health care added 52,000 new jobs, just about in line with the average monthly gain of 58,000 over the last 12 months.
August’s job growth was revised down to adding just 78,000 from a previously reported 159,000 jobs added. Meanwhile, September’s report was revised down by 31,000 to 223,000 jobs added for the month.
