Professor John Logan Interviewed by Major News Outlets on Various Key Labor Movements and Challenges Affecting Workers Across Different Sectors

Author: LFCoB
February 28, 2025

John Logan, Professor and Chair of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University, recently discussed several key labor movements and challenges affecting workers across different sectors in CBS News, Reuters, CNBC, and other major news outlets.

John Logan discussed a recent vote of University of California (UC) healthcare, research, and technical employees to authorize a strike, with 98% voting in favor, as reported by KQED.

Even though UC has proposed wage increases, union representatives argue that these changes do not address staffing shortages and employee retention issues. Additionally, under the Trump presidency, financial uncertainty could impact multi-year labor agreements. Logan stated that a strike would reduce the university administration’s chances of protecting their funding. Logan highlights, “A strike which would cause major disruptions — would be the absolute last thing that university administrators would want at this time when it is trying to protect its funding and talk about the value of medical research at places like UCSF and UC San Diego.” He added, “The university, while being very concerned about the potential financial implications of what the Trump administration is trying to do, should also be concerned about its public image.”

Additionally, Logan commented on the Amazon union vote in North Carolina, where workers voted against joining the union, marking a significant victory for the retail giant in a labor fight, as reported by Reuters. According to Logan, the outcome was "not a surprise," given that Amazon was using anti-union messaging tactics to prevent workers from joining the union. “The odds are massively stacked against any group of workers trying to form a union at Amazon,” Logan stated.

Professor Logan was also quoted in a news article in KUOW regarding the challenges faced by employees of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) in their efforts to unionize and secure labor contracts. Since 2021, the outdoor retailer has been reporting financial losses due to the pandemic and growing competition from online retailers and big box stores. According to Sue Cottrell, the company occasionally reduces employee hours below the average weekly threshold needed to qualify for benefits. In response, employees demand union representation to stop constant fluctuations and stabilize working conditions. As a result, in 2023 the first REI store voted to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union in New York City. However, due to high turnover, it’s hard for union campaigns to gain momentum. Logan pointed out, “If you had told me five or 10 years ago that we would see successful union campaigns at Starbucks, Amazon, Trader Joe's, REI, I’d say, you're crazy.”

Professor Logan credited young people for driving recent labor movements, highlighting that their economic and political backgrounds make them more inclined to support unionization. “Most young people entered the labor market after the Great Recession of 2008–2010,” Logan explained. “They have only ever known economic instability. They struggle with student loan debt, can’t afford to buy homes, and often don’t earn a living wage in the cities where they work. Additionally, they tend to be more skeptical of the harsh realities of U.S.-style capitalism than previous generations.”

In addition, Logan was interviewed for a story in POLITICO on the ongoing situation between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) union and the Trump administration over telework and remote work policies. After taking office, President Trump signed a return-to-office mandate for federal employees as part of his effort to reduce the federal workforce. According to the EPA’s largest union, the EPA "unilaterally and illegally" ended its agreement on telework and remote work.  It’s important to note that based on an internal 2023 EPA survey, nearly two-thirds of employees said they would consider leaving if telework was reduced. “The agency’s wholesale rescission of telework arrangements fails to recognize the vast amount of work that employees successfully conduct remotely—whether collaborating with supervisors, colleagues, clients, or the general public,” the council's complaint stated. Logan believes that in-person work, and federal workforce reduction is "a key commitment" of this administration. Logan said. "The Trump administration is extreme in terms of its lack of restraints, its willingness, and even desire, to violate existing practices and traditions."

Read the full news stories by visiting the links below: