Topic: Labor Supply

Amy Pope has assumed the role of Director General of the IOM, becoming the first woman to lead the agency after serving as a senior advisor to President Biden. Speaking from Geneva, Pope argues that migration fuels innovation and revitalizes aging communities by providing a necessary labor supply. Critics argue this approach prioritizes cheap, obedient labor over the interests of domestic workers.

Starbucks workers at 100 stores launched a three-day walkout to protest for unionization. Simultaneously, reports from the rail industry indicate that Union Pacific has implemented significant shipping embargoes, leading to an unusual number of empty container carriers moving through ports. These actions suggest ongoing instability in the national supply chain.

A major freight railroad union, the Brotherhood of Maintenance-of-Way Employees, rejected a labor deal previously brokered by the Biden administration. While Biden had "spiked the ball" claiming the strike was averted, workers are still demanding better sick leave and working conditions. A potential strike deadline is now set for November 19th, which could severely impact the holiday supply chain.

Federal Labor Minister Carla Qualtro rejected arguments that vaccine mandates for truckers are damaging the Canadian supply chain. Qualtro asserted that a fully vaccinated workforce is the most effective way to ensure food security and workplace safety. Government officials maintain that approximately 90% of truckers are already vaccinated, dismissing the protest's logic as flawed.

National delivery delays are causing "outages" of food and beverage items at Taco Bell and Starbucks, including a shortage of hot sauce. The used car market is also seeing extreme inflation, with dealers offering thousands of dollars over lease payoffs for three-year-old vehicles. These disruptions are attributed to a combination of labor shortages and quasi-universal basic income policies.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy delivers a speech emphasizing the need for "structural economic growth" and a change in the "skills supply" of the European workforce. The hosts mock the speech's tone and the edited applause in the video, comparing Van Rompuy's rhetoric to authoritarian propaganda.