Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW)

Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW) is a cross-industry service-sector labor union primarily located in located in the American South. 1 USSW formed in November 2022 2 3 and functions as a part of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) labor union. 4

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At-A-Glance

Type: Labor Union, National/International Union
Issue Areas: Labor Policy
Website: ussw.org
Formation:

2022

Status:

Project of the SEIU

Location: Columbia, SC View on map

Contents

    USSW supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement 5 6 and the critical race theory-influenced concepts of economic justice 7 and anti-racism. 3 The union claims that African American and Hispanic workers in the American South have been excluded from forming labor unions. 8 As of September 2023, USSW claims that more than 200 workers are involved with its organizing. 6

    History and Leadership

    Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW) was founded in Columbia, South Carolina, by Naomi Harris and Brandon Beachum in 2022. 3

    In November 2022, Beachum said he believed the United States is still overcoming slavery, Jim Crow, and the destruction of the post-Civil War Reconstruction period. 3

    Activities and Funding

    Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW) is a cross-industry service-sector labor union primarily located in the American South. USSW’s efforts are focused on workers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. 1

    USSW formed in November 2022, 2 3 and functions as a part of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) labor union. 4 The group remains skeptical of National Labor Relations Board (NRLB)-run organizing elections, which it believes favor business interests. 1 As of September 2023, the union claimed that more than 200 workers were involved with USSW. 9

    USSW is a continuance of Raise Up, the southern chapter of the left-of-center Fight for $15 campaign to raise the minimum wage, 10 and works to organize what it calls “unorganizable workers” in retail, food service, and care industries against what it considers “historical racism.” 11 3

    USSW has promised to use “any means necessary” to gain higher wages, health and safety protections, and equal protection for workers in Southern service industries. 3 Organizers have said USSW’s efforts to may include petitions for management, strikes, walk outs, sit-ins, boycotts, and legal action, if necessary. 3

    Political Views

    Union of Southern Service Workers supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement 5 6 and the critical race theory-influenced concept of economic justice. 7 It opposes all state-level right-to-work laws. 9 USSW is dedicated to the far-left concept of anti-racism and claims that African American and Hispanic workers in the South have been excluded from forming labor unions. 8 3 12 In July 2023, USSW shared a video highlighting Fredrick Douglass’s speech “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?” that is critical of Independence Day celebrations. 13

    USSW believes that the United States was built on the unpaid labor of slaves, thinks history of exploitation still shows today, and has said its efforts can dismantle the critical race theory-influenced concept of systemic racism. 14 Previously, USSW supported the Fight for $15-led “Strike for Black Lives.” 15

    Partners and Events

    Union of Southern Service Workers is a partner of the left-of-center film funding and grantmaking firm Working Films. 16

    In November 2023, Harvard University’s Center for Labor and a Just Economy (CLJE)  and Labor and Employment Action Project (LEAP) co-sponsored an event to discuss the USSW. Event participants included representatives from CLJE, LEAP, Florida State Representative Angela Nixon (D), the SEIU, and Harvard University Law School. 11

    Parent Organization

    Union of Southern Service Workers is a project backed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) labor union. 4 9

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    References

    1. Raskin, Hanna. “Picket crosses worker lines.” The Food Section. January 30, 2023. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://thefoodsection.substack.com/p/picket-crosses-worker-lines.
    2. Luce, Stephanie. “Southern Service Workers Launch a New Union.” Labor Notes. November 22, 2022. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://labornotes.org/2022/11/southern-service-workers-launch-new-union.
    3. Candaele, Kelly. “A New Union Rises in the South.” The American Prospect. November 30, 2022. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://prospect.org/labor/new-union-rises-in-the-south/.
    4. Geller, Lena. “Service Workers in NC, Other Southern States Launch a Union.” Indy Week. November 18, 2022. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://indyweek.com/news/northcarolina/southern-service-workers-launch-a-union/.
    5. “Tweet.” Union of Southern Service Workers X Page. Posted February 23, 2022. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://x.com/raiseupthesouth/status/1496606081455464455?s=46&t=3NS6kAbTQoTxAHIoHcM5iQ.
    6. Isser, Mindy. “Workers in the South Aren’t Letting Anti-Labor Laws Stop Them From Organizing. “In These Times.” September 19, 2023. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://inthesetimes.com/article/durham-north-carolina-south-union-labor-strike.
    7. “X Post.” Union of Southern Service Workers X Page. Posted January 7, 2022. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://x.com/raiseupthesouth/status/1479513794648977414?s=46&t=3NS6kAbTQoTxAHIoHcM5iQ.
    8. “Who We Are.” Union of Southern Service Workers. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://ussw.org/who-we-are/.
    9. Olander, Olivia. “Unions seek gains in hostile territory: ;If you change the South, you change America’.” Politico. September 6, 2023. Accessed November 26, 2023. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/05/unions-south-labor-organizing-ussw-seiu-00114085.
    10. Vasquez, Tina. “The South Has a New Union – and Workers Have Black Women to Thank.” Prism, Truthout. January 16, 2023. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://truthout.org/articles/the-south-has-a-new-union-and-workers-have-black-women-to-thank/.
    11. “Organizing the South: The Union of Southern Service Workers.” Center for Labor and A Just Economy. November 2, 2023. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://clje.law.harvard.edu/events/organizing-the-south-the-union-of-southern-service-workers/.
    12. “Organizing the South: The Union of Southern Service Workers.” Harvard Law School Event. November 2, 2023. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://hls.harvard.edu/events/organizing-the-south-the-union-of-southern-service-workers/.
    13. “What to a Slave is the Fourth of July? Speech.” Union of Southern Service Workers. Posted July 5, 2023. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rosUt4Bb5fg.
    14. “We are the Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW). We are organizing the South.” Union of Southern Service Workers YouTube. November 18, 2022. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oShUps4sU_U.
    15. [1] “Tweet.” Union of Southern Service Workers. Posted July 23, 2020. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://x.com/raiseupthesouth/status/1286376197379760135?s=46&t=3NS6kAbTQoTxAHIoHcM5iQ.
    16. “Short Film Fund and Organizing Campaigns.” Working Films. Accessed November 25, 2023. https://www.workingfilms.org/projects/docs-in-action/.