Here’s a briefing from our latest NLRB Campaign Update and Experience Share. A lot is moving right now.

Petition levels remain 25% below 2024, the direct result of the five-week shutdown. When the NLRB reopened, filings poured in — 125+ new petitions in just three days. Even so, 2025 sits well below the 2022–2023 cycle.

Several large petitions landed immediately after reopening:

• Metropolitan Museum of Art (900 workers) – UAW
• Woodward (824 workers, RM) – UAW
• Boeing LAX Satellite Systems (516 workers) – UAW

Museums remain a quiet growth sector for the UAW, alongside its continued push in aerospace and higher education. 

But the macro trend remains unchanged:

Workers United staged another Red Cup Day strike, claiming 1000 participants and 65 locations impacted; Starbucks reported less than 1% disruption. Strong optics and PR, but not much leverage. This fits the three-year pattern.

The bigger development this week happened at the York, PA, distribution center, where numerous supporters (mostly DSA, UAW, Teamsters) blocked trucks for hours and livestreamed the picket on Instagram: a new tactic for SBWU.

On-site view from an Atlanta store action from someone on the call:

• 50–60 total protesters
• Only three actual Starbucks employees
• Store closed, but activity peaked for 15 minutes
• More content creation than strike disruption

The Starbucks PR team reached out to some who cover labor-relations news on the management side to provide an official company statement and a status update on the work stoppage launched on Nov. 13, 2025.

The NLRB remains stuck with only David Prouty seated.

• Jim Murphy and Crystal Carey advance to the full Senate.
• Scott Mayer’s vote stalled again, blocked by Bernie Sanders.
• Gwynne Wilcox remains tied up in the Supreme Court’s Humphrey’s Executor review.

Even after Murphy is seated, major cases cannot move without a fourth member — keeping Starbucks, Amazon, and Cemex locked in place, assuming they follow past Board tradition.

 
State-Level Moves: Captive Audience & Mini-NLRAs

Captive Audience Bans:
• Minnesota’s ban stands (on standing grounds).
• California’s ban was blocked as unconstitutionally vague.
• Other bans remain unenforced, no violations mean no standing to challenge.

Mini-NLRAs (CA/NY):
• No petitions filed during the shutdown window.
• Amazon’s New York hearing featured a skeptical magistrate.
• NLRB has sued both states for preemption.

Sen. Bill Cassidy rolled out a sweeping set of bills that would fundamentally reshape how campaigns, elections, and ULPs work, although it will be challenging to get them passed.

 
Here’s what’s inside:

Worker RESULTS Act
Tightens elections by requiring secret ballots, two-thirds turnout, and expanded decertification windows003 forcing more frequent checks on union support.

NLRB Stability Act
Locks the NLRB to circuit-court precedent, preventing the usual administrative flip-flops and shifting power toward more conservative circuits.
Fairness in Filing Act

Requires evidence up front for ULPs and adds penalties for frivolous filings, limiting “blocking charge” tactics.

Union Transparency & Worker Privacy
Pushes political-dues opt-in, expands disclosure to members, and restricts how unions collect and use worker data during campaigns.

Protection on the Picket Line Act
Clarifies employer rights to discipline misconduct during strikes and protests

Teamsters’ $1,000 per week “enhanced strike pay” continues to be used selectively but hasn’t translated into bargaining wins.

 
Sean Fain’s May 1, 2028, general strike idea is gaining rhetorical traction, but contract alignment is difficult, and historically, U.S. general strike calls fade long before they materialize.

If you want deeper analysis — especially around manufacturing trends or the potential impact of Cassidy’s package — let us know and we’ll add it to the next session.

Stay Left of Boom,
Phil Wilson & the LRI Team
📞 800-888-9115
🌐 www.LRIONLINE.com