Union Starts with YOU!

Economic Policy Institute article reported by Celine McNicholas, Margaret Poydock, and Heidi Shierholz on unionization in 2025 has a lot of great data on unionization. (Workers’ resolve drives increase in unionization in 2025 | Economic Policy Institute) The article talks about worker's support of being a union and/or voting to have a union. Last year (2025) the number of workers represented by a union increased by 463,000. The one thing in the article that puzzles me is that more than 50 million workers wanted a union but could not get one. The fact that we are seeing a record high public favorability of UNIONS coincides with the growth and density, but still 50 million workers wanted a union but could not get one. Why is

that? Well for starters we are fighting an uphill battle. The corporate world does not want us to have any say at our jobs. They want you to accept things as they are. They do not want you raising concerns, challenging decisions, instructions, or processes. They want you to be obedient without question. They want your labor without any compromise on their part. The instilled FEAR the everyday worker has to stand UP and fight. The FEAR of retaliation from our employer. Our employers hire anti-union consultants to deter organizing. These consultants are PERSUADERS and their job is simple. Use persuasion tactics to discourage unionization, such as misinformation campaigns or intimidation. This is controversial and often illegal under labor laws -LaborLab. If you’re seeking persuasion work, avoid such roles unless you are aware of the legal and ethical implications. Persuader Watch: Union-Busting Consultants Exposed in Four States - LaborLab. While 2025 data is limited, the Economic Policy Institute estimates that in recent years employers have spent over $400 million annually on “union-avoidance” consultants, with some charging $350+ per hour or $2,500+ per day. But even though we are up against all this we are standing up and WINNING. Workers in Tennessee Volkswagen plant voted in 2024 to be organized and just secured their first UNION Contract. It's been a long road to this contract. Workers initially voted twice against joining the union before casting ballots in favor in 2024, making this VW plant one of the few to unionize in the South. More and more workers are seeking to be a UNION shop. They are becoming IAM UNION members. They are standing together to organizer and show their strength. The POWER of solidarity and fighting as ONE to have a VOICE, to raise concerns, challenge decisions, and have a better life. IAM members at DSV (formally DB Schenker) just reach year one mark in December 2025 of their Collective Bargaining Agreement. This once again was a long road. First election to organize as a UNION failed. Schecker hired a persuader and made promises to be better. Another election was held after NLRB charges against Schenker, and settlement agreement was made. Second election passed and then the fight for the CBA. So, in the end "WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN".

Take the first step call me let's get to work and FIGHT.

JOIN

Solidarity - Jimmy Yeager, IAM District 70 Organizer

316-774-5303 jyeager@d70iam.org