U.S. plane maker Boeing .N> has averted a potential strike after reaching a tentative agreement with the union representing more than 32,000 workers in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, the latest in a series of collective bargaining talks that have delivered double-digit pay increases despite a tight labor market and stubborn inflation.
Here are some sectors and companies that faced difficult negotiations in 2023:
MEDIA
Members of the Writers Union of America (WGA) agreed to a new three-year contract with the major film studios on October 9 (link). The film and television writers had walked off the job in May, over issues such as compensation, staffing and arrears. They returned to work on September 27 after negotiators reached a tentative agreement.
Hollywood actors reached a tentative agreement (link) with major studios on November 8 to end the second of two strikes that have rocked the entertainment industry as writers and performers demanded higher salaries in the era of streaming television.
The three-year deal, estimated to be worth more than $1 billion, includes minimum salary increases and a new bonus paid by streaming services, according to the union.
AUTOMOTIVE
General Motors GM, Ford 
F and Chrysler owner Stellantis 
STLAM ratified agreements with members of the (link) United Auto Workers (UAW) in November.
The UAW announced on November 15 that about 3,900 of its members who work at Mack Trucks (link) have ratified a new five-year contract that will end a month-long strike at the Volvo Group-owned 
companies belonging to VOLV_A.
PARCEL DELIVERY
Teamsters workers at United Parcel Service 
UPS ratified a new five-year contract (link) in August that includes wage increases, the elimination of a two-tier pay system for drivers, an additional paid vacation day, and the elimination of mandatory overtime.
The pilots of FedEx 
FDX is in a standoff with the parcel delivery company over wages and old pensions. The pilots rejected a tentative agreement (link) in July and negotiations are ongoing.
AIRLINES AND AEROSPACE COMPANIES
Boeing 
BA reaches a tentative collective bargaining agreement (link) with a union representing more than 32,000 workers in the Pacific Northwest, potentially averting a strike.
Pilots of several airlines, including American Airlines 
AAL, Delta Air Lines 
DAL, United Airlines Holdings 
UAL, Spirit Airlines 
SAVE und Jetblue Airways 
JBLU have negotiated new employment contracts this year (link).
Members of some unions, such as the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, have voted to strike if a new contract is not reached.
Spirit AeroSystems 
SPR negotiated a new contract (link) to end a strike that resulted in a week-long walkout at its Wichita, Kansas, plant.
PROCESSING
The US steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs 
CLF has reached a tentative agreement (link) with the United Steelworkers union on a new three-year collective bargaining agreement for its Northshore mining facilities.
US Steel 
X, which is considering several proposals ranging from a partial takeover to a full takeover, is embroiled in a dispute with the United Steelworkers union. The company’s unionized workers claim they essentially have the right to veto any transaction they don’t approve of (link).
CONSUMERS AND RETAIL
In Las Vegas, thousands of workers reached agreements (link) with casino operators and resorts Caesars Entertainment in November 
CZR, MGM Resorts 
MGM and Wynn Resorts 
WYNN to avoid strikes that could have paralyzed tourism in the city.
The Detroit Casino Board reached a tentative agreement (link) on November 17 for a new contract for 3,700 employees of the MGM Resorts MGM Grand Detroit, operated by Penn 
PENN operated Hollywood Casinos in Greektown and the MotorCity Casino.
The Detroit Casino Board called for the first strike in its history last month after negotiations that began in the summer failed to result in a new contract.
More than 3,000 employees in more than 150 Starbucks 
SBUX stores in the US went on strike in June after the company allegedly banned Pride Month decorations in some of its cafes.
On November 16, workers at hundreds of Starbucks stores (link) walked out during a major promotional event, demanding better staffing and work schedules.
Thousands of hotel workers on the Los Angeles wide-body airline (link) went on a three-day strike in July demanding better wages, benefits and working conditions. Union leaders representing the workers have threatened further walkouts.
HEALTHCARE
Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers voted on November 9 to ratify a new contract (link) with the hospital chain, ending months of negotiations that led to the largest medical strike in the United States.
More than 7,000 nurses (link) went on strike for three days in New York City in January over staff shortages and pay increases.
CVS Health employees 
CVS und Walgreens Boots Alliance 
WBA announced a three-day work stoppage (link) starting October 30, dubbed “Pharmageddon,” to improve working conditions and hire more staff.
CANNABIS
Unions representing workers in the cannabis industry have also increased pressure on companies in the sector this year.
Employees at Green Thumb Industries’ RISE drop-off locations 
GTII on the Chicago widebody airliner entered a 13-day unfair labor practice (ULP) strike in April, the longest ULP strike at a cannabis retailer in U.S. history.
The unions secured new contract agreements in July at cannabis dispensaries in Illinois and New Jersey, which are owned by operators in several states.
ENERGY
The unionized workers at the Phillips 66 refinery 
PSX in Roxana, Illinois, ratified a contract (link) with the refinery company at a late stage of negotiations, thus averting a possible strike.
The union had been in talks with the refinery company since the summer, when it rejected a proposal from the company and demanded, among other things, additional vacation and holiday benefits and better pay.
