Tens of thousands of U.S. workers from diverse industries participated in strikes during October amid a surge in labor activism, The Washington Post reports.
“Striketober,” as economists are calling it, saw 17,4000 U.S. workers – including 10,000 at John Deere – go on strike last month, per a Bloomberg database.
The work stoppages are being attributed to how the pandemic has caused people to re-examine their relationship with employers, especially if going to work heightened their exposure to the virus. Additionally, workers are enjoying increased leverage as a result of the nation’s competitive job market.
The October walkouts make 119 union strikes so far this year, including 15 classified as “major” strikes involving 1,000 or more individuals. That compares with nine major strikes in 2020 (when the pandemic took hold) and 30 in 2019. “But it is clear, economists say, that the 2021 strike movement is historic in both its size and the way it spans across industries,” the article notes.
Read more at The Washington Post.
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
