From Hollywood writers to delivery drivers, workers are fed up with the gradual devaluation of their professions

This month, the members of the Writers Guild of America, East and West, decided to strike for the first time in 15 years. Two weeks earlier, UPS employees represented by the Teamsters began negotiating with the company to replace an existing agreement set to expire at the end of July. If a new deal is not agreed to, these workers could strike as they did with great success in 1997, delaying the delivery of goods across the country. You may not think a Hollywood writer and a UPS driver or package handler have much in common, but the struggles they are currently facing highlight how the fight for labor rights is one that we must all engage in–regardless of what we do.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Americans were isolated due to lockdown orders, streaming TV shows and movies provided an entertaining respite to help us forget our troubles while delivery drivers diligently ensured that vital goods reached their destination so that our economy could function.

A critical outcome of the pandemic has been the growing appreciation Americans developed for long-overlooked “essential” workers. We realized how important they are to help ensure the nation’s economy can operate smoothly. In turn, these “essential” workers–and workers of all stripes–gained a renewed sense of their value–and a determination to see to it that they were treated with dignity and afforded agency in their workplaces.

This revival of the labor movement led to the rise of historical organizing campaigns at Starbucks, Amazon, and among graduate student workers at colleges and universities, to name a few. And it is under this lens that we must see what is happening in the writer’s strike and the UPS negotiations. Even though all these workers do different jobs, their fight is the same.

Writers want increased pay, better health care and pension security, and better protections so that the writing profession does not become another “gig” job. Drivers at UPS are fighting for, among other demands, increased pay for part-time employees and the elimination of a second category of drivers who handle weekend deliveries so that all drivers are treated equally. It is striking that whether a person works in a writing room or a delivery processing floor, they are sick and tired of the gradual devaluation of their labor due to corporate greed and the rush for short-term profits.

These workers aren’t just fighting for better pay and benefits for themselves. They are also fighting to protect the future of their professions so that newer and younger workers get the same opportunities they got.

Throughout the revived labor movement, there is tremendous solidarity within and across unions. A recognition that their lots are tied together. In short, workers are united in ways unseen for decades.

Unfortunately, Washington is letting workers down when they need support the most. During the last Congress, the Senate failed to pa$s the PRO Act, repeating a 50-year pattern of failing to reform federal labor law to enhance the rights of workers to organize–including when Democrats controlled both chambers under four Democratic presidents from Carter to Biden. Even though there is a great deal of energy currently in the labor movement, labor law still heavily favors corporations and executives who want to stop workers from having their voice. The PRO Act would have rectified this by increasing penalties for violations of worker’s rights, empowering workers fighting to organize, and preventing employer interference to ensure free and fair union elections.

However, because of the filibuster, the Senate did not pa$s this much-needed legislation. Similarly, Congress last year failed to increase the budget of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) enough to meet current needs. The NLRB is the agency tasked with enforcing federal labor law and is often the last recourse for organizing workers who have had their rights violated by their employers. In this time of historic levels of worker activity, the NLRB does not have the budget necessary to ensure compliance with the law dedicated to upholding their rights. Employers know and understand that they will often not face any consequences for many of their violations because of the limited resources available to the NLRB.

Our elected representatives cannot let this stand. The right to organize and withhold labor is fundamental in any country that claims to be a democracy. But a right that cannot be vindicated is no right at all. The writers’ strike and the UPS negotiations are two current examples of why we need strong protections for workers’ freedom to organize and bargain collectively. Workers nationwide are standing up but have been let down for far too long in Washington. We must take bold action, pa$s the PRO Act, and fully fund the NLRB.

Workers are united, it’s now time for Washington to act.


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Corporate greed needs to be reigned in

I will never forgive the writer's for mandalorian season 3

Stop picking those trash lazy-a$s career fields. Do the work in High School and in your 20s for financial independence. Put the pens and art crap down and focus on engineering.

It’s not just the pay, it’s the inflation and affordable housing crisis.

We need to clean out Congress , get rid of the career politicians & stop electing men over 65 years of age

Brucebaner2 said 🔗 Stop picking those trash lazy-a$s career fields. Do the work in High School and in your 20s for financial independence. Put the pens and art crap down and focus on engineering.

And then we got a bunch h0es writing our movies and books b, I can't have that fam

Joe Buttons said 🔗 And then we got a bunch h0es writing our movies and books b, I can't have that fam

Who cares, books are about to be obsolete. Most of our education will be video/audio AI stuff in the future.

Brucebaner2 said 🔗 Stop picking those trash lazy-a$s career fields. Do the work in High School and in your 20s for financial independence. Put the pens and art crap down and focus on engineering.

This isn't about just the writers; this is about union workers in a lot of industries.

Lol everyone is replaceable, find a way to make money while you sleep or work until you die

why they got the abiy ahmed the ethiopian prime minister on the pic

Xiox said 🔗 Corporate greed needs to be reigned in

do you know what corporate means?

myPOWER said 🔗 do you know what corporate means?

Stop quoting me with dumb sh!t dude

Even in “top tier” jobs like software engineering, doctor, lawyers, etc, many complain about the stagnant wages, sh1tty job market, and having less respect than previous generations

Xiox said 🔗 Stop quoting me with dumb sh!t dude

So you’re mad because you got challenged and can’t answer?

Stupid n1ggas don’t realize how bright they shine

Brucebaner2 said 🔗 Stop picking those trash lazy-a$s career fields. Do the work in High School and in your 20s for financial independence. Put the pens and art crap down and focus on engineering.

Easily the stupidest sh1t ever

Advancements in art have actually helped advancements in engineering. The semi conductor was greatly improved from sketches and renderings before it was implemented

But you talk out of your a$s and think you’re smart

It's two-fold.

Corporations are greedy as fu#k and people have gotten lazier and more entitled.

That's a recipe for disaster.

myPOWER said 🔗 So you’re mad because you got challenged and can’t answer? Stupid n1ggas don’t realize how bright they shine

I am never mad sir please quote me with something insightful no bs , I ain't with the sh!ts

Kodack sixnine said 🔗 Even in “top tier” jobs like software engineering, doctor, lawyers, etc, many complain about the stagnant wages, sh1tty job market, and having less respect than previous generations

Especially doctors. Horrible work life balance

SuperP@WGHunter said 🔗 It's two-fold. Corporations are greedy as fu#k and people have gotten lazier and more entitled. That's a recipe for disaster.

Pay them well enough and the latter isn’t a problem. And if it is then fire them and hire a more humble person

At least they aint pull the plug expeditiously n givin us this "gradual" devaluation

Bc every human "worker" is now obsolete

Pullin that plug at once would really have the humans raid corporate offices so they are not going with that right away

kingjab7542 said 🔗 Especially doctors. Horrible work life balance

Right? They used to be highly revered for giving up their lives. Now not so much

pandadays said 🔗 I will never forgive the writer's for mandalorian season 3

This and the 2nd half of Boba Fett... straight ass

On the other hand... Andor