Walking the streets of New York City, one might occasionally come across a giant rat in front of buildings or in squares. This is no ordinary rat, far more numerous than New Yorkers in various parts of Manhattan. Standing at a height surpassing 9.8 feet, with bloodshot red eyes, sharp teeth and claws, and made of gray PVC material, these oversized balloon rats are commonly referred to as ‘Scabby the Rat’.
Over the past few decades, Scabby has established itself as an ‘icon of labor dispute sites’ in the United States. If Scabby is present somewhere, it signifies that a conflict is occurring between workers or labor unions and their employers. Not only has Scabby appeared at individual worker protests against unfair labor practices, but it was also present at the Hollywood writers’ strike in New York this year, and in front of a Starbucks store in Philadelphia last year where a strike related to union formation was taking place.
In the U.S., after the pandemic, movements to establish unions in companies like Amazon and Starbucks have become active, leading to a significant increase in various labor disputes and strikes. Just this year, there have been major strikes by Hollywood broadcast and film writers, actors and broadcasters, automobile workers, and healthcare unions. Although Scabby hasn’t appeared at all of these sites, its activities have certainly become more vigorous.
The recent increase in days lost due to labor disputes in the U.S. is evident. Days lost due to labor disputes are a measure of social loss caused directly by labor disputes, measured in workdays. As of last August, it surpassed 4 million days. The last time days lost due to labor disputes exceeded 4 million was in August 2000 (4.18 million days) during a major strike at telecommunications giant Verizon. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported these labor department data results, stating that “more workdays are being lost due to labor disputes in the U.S. than in any other year. This is the first time we’ve seen the influence of unions in decades.”
After the pandemic, changes in perceptions about work styles and treatment, a decrease in real income due to soaring inflation, and the emergence of new technologies including AI, have all contributed to a stronger support for strikes and union activities among Americans. In a Gallup poll released last month, 61% of American respondents said that union activities are beneficial to the economy.
On the 16th (local time), the largest strike in history took place at hundreds of Starbucks stores across the U.S. Outside a Starbucks store near the New York University campus in Manhattan, about 10 employees held placards that read ‘No Contract, No Coffee’ and protested for wage improvements and staffing. The day, known as ‘Red Cup Day’, is one of the highlights of the season when customers receive a reusable red cup with their seasonal beverage order. An estimated 5,000 people participated in the strike that day.
Starbucks has announced a minimum wage increase of 3% for its employees starting next year, but the union is showing dissatisfaction, considering the company’s revenue growth rate (11%). For them, the auto workers’ union, which secured a 25% wage increase after a six-week strike, seems to be another signal of victory. Not to mention President Joe Biden’s actions, emphasizing ‘fair distribution’, demanding concessions from car companies, and being the first incumbent president to visit a strike site.
Coincidentally, next year is an election year. As workers’ grievances about working conditions and inflation are being expressed through strikes, the calculations of U.S. presidential candidates are becoming more complex. For the time being, wage increase strikes in the U.S. seem set to continue.
New York=Seulki Cho, Special Correspondent seul@asiae.co.kr
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