The Daily Valet. - 7/21/23, Friday
✔️ The Next Big One
Friday, July 21st Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
I don’t know about you, but I’m rooting for the brewers at Anchor Brewing.
Today’s Big Story
The Next Big Strike
A work stoppage at UPS would have far-reaching implications for Consumers and the economy
How many strikes can happen at once? Because around 340,000 UPS employees are inching toward a strike that appears increasingly likely. That will be the largest work stoppage in over half a century and experts say it will no doubt “upend the broader package delivery system that Americans have come to depend on.”The Teamsters could still reach a deal with UPS, but time is running out. The contract will expire at midnight on July 31 and while the two sides have resolved most of their issues, with UPS agreeing to install air conditioning in vans and eliminate a lower-paid class of workers, they remain at odds over pay and benefits for part-time workers who make up more than half of UPS's workforce.So what does that mean for consumers? USA Today reports that despite the threat of a work stoppage, Amazon said the company does not expect a significant impact on customer deliveries as most of the company's orders are processed through its own network. But Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy at lobbyist the National Retail Federation, warned that a strike would likely cause disruption for other online deliveries akin to delays seen during the pandemic, threatening one or two-day deliveries.He also said that customers may not be able to use another shipping option (like FedEx or DHL) while the industrial action is ongoing as “it's unclear if there's capacity elsewhere to make up for that.” As for retailers, one home goods seller in Annapolis, Maryland told Newsweek that switching all her wholesale orders away from UPS to another carrier would see the shipping cost double.So in short, it sounds like it would be a mess for all involved. Which is why Teamsters general president Sean O'Brien told Intelligencer that it would be in UPS's best interest to meet the demands. And as the Teamsters see it, they can afford higher pay for part-timers. The union argues that salaries haven't reflected the large profits UPS enjoyed in recent years, Bloomberg notes. In 2022 the company's revenue reached $100 billion, the highest in its history.
Meanwhile:
NBC News looks at how President Biden plans to handle the series of possible labor strikes across the country.
Women’s World Cup Kicks Off
record crowds are a highlight after a shooting rocks Auckland
The ninth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup is officially underway. Over the next four weeks, 32 teams will compete across 64 matches at 10 venues in Australia and New Zealand.Opening Day brought its share of thrills on the pitch, with record crowds and New Zealand scoring its first Women's World Cup victory, according to Reuters. It's a positive sign, after a shooting near the Norwegian team hotel in Auckland that left three dead and six injured.This is the most countries to ever compete at the tournament and one of the big topics of conversation is equal pay for women's athletes. The female players this year will, on average, earn just 25 cents for every dollar earned by men at their World Cup last year, a new CNN analysis found. And with such an expanded field of teams this year, The Ringer asks if the USWNT can make history and become the first team—men's or women's—to win three consecutive World Cups? They'll play Vietnam tonight at 9 p.m. ET.
Meanwhile:
An Associated Press report finds that hazing remains ingrained in American team sports.
Workers Try to Save Anchor Beer
the brewery’s employees have agreed to pursue a bid to run it as a co-op
There was an outpouring of sadness after last week's news that Anchor Brewing is closing after 127 years in business, but since then there's been a movement among potential investors to rescue San Francisco's legendary steam beer maker. But now the employees have proposed a way to keep the beer flowing.According to VinePair, the factory workers have met, discussed and decided to launch an effort to purchase the brewery and run it as a worker co-op. “We are not asking for a handout or charity,” said one representative of the union. “All we want is a fair shot at being able to continue to do our jobs, make the beer we love, and keep this historic institution open. We do not want the brewery and brand we love to be sold off before we even had a chance.”The New York Times reports that Japanese beer giant Sapporo acquired the company, which was founded in 1896, back in 2017 for around $85 million. In 2019, Anchor workers voted to unionize, describing inadequate pay and unfair working conditions. Currently, Anchor has stopped brewing but has said that it will continue to sell beer until it runs out or through the end of July, whichever comes first.
FYI:
“Steam beer”, also known as California common, is a hybrid style of brewing that dates back to the late 1800s.
Would You Subscribe to a Scooter?
Hey, What's one more monthly subscription bill at this point?
It's clear that electric scooters are the future. They're fast, effective and safe. But the future of e-scooters is subscription-based, or at least that's what some of the most buzzed-about brands think. Unagi is heavily leaning into its existing subscription model for its new e-scooters, as evidenced by the reveal of its latest Model One Voyager and the cancellation of its Model Eleven, which was crowdfunded via Indiegogo.Unagi is calling the app-connected Model One Voyager its first smart scooter, and will offer it for a monthly fee of $67. Input says the subscription model almost feels like a lease. It includes free shipping, free maintenance and theft insurance. Or if you'd rather just buy it outright, you could simply pay $1,190 and be done.But they're not the only ones offering subscription scooters. The European-designed and manufactured Äike T electric scooter is launching a similar subscription plan with Tempo for $75 a month. According to Electrek, the plans make sense “since most electric scooter riders aren't chomping at the bit to lay down nearly two Gs for a scooter.”
Dig Deeper:
Which is more cost-effective ... renting or a monthly subscription? Let's crunch the numbers.
In Other News
It will “likely lead to long-term shortages” of medicine.
Have you heard about ...
A Weekend Pairing
‘They Cloned Tyrone’ + an Amaretto Sour
Have you heard about They Cloned Tyrone (streaming today on Netflix)? First and foremost, I have to point out the cast John Boyega, Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx star as an unlikely trio who end up unearthing a government cloning conspiracy. The film is socially savvy—addressing the harsh realities of racial inequality of the '80s in tandem with its science fiction tinges—while cleverly mixing in the coded humor that invoked films like Shaft and Friday.This comedic caper takes on many aspects of the blaxploitation genre, but as Collider points out, it shows how the genre as a whole has evolved. And reviewers are loving it. The film boasts a 98% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the New York Times praised “the smoky John Carpenter-esque cinematography” and stylish period costumes while Inverse says the trippy film “showcases the joys of disorientation.”
Pair It With
I was thinking about what cocktails were popular in the 1980s and the Amaretto Sour seems period-specific, while also being something that would be highly sippable in the middle of the summer. What’s more, it’s easy to make and requires very little ingredients as long as you have the bottle of Amaretto liqueur.
Also Worth a Watch:
‘Till’ on Prime Video; ‘The Afterparty’ Apple TV+
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A Campfire cook prep set
You don't have to skimp out on cookware if you're preparing a meal by the campfire. This camping kitchen set comes with an oak-wood oversized spoon, fork for salads, flat scraper tool, a grater and a durable stainless-steel knife.
Get It:
Campfire cook prep set, $80 / $65 by Primus
Morning Motto
Treat yourself.
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