Worker Wins: A Fight We Won

Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.

Maryland Public University Nontenure-Track Faculty Win Collective Bargaining Rights: The Maryland General Assembly has passed legislation extending collective bargaining rights to the majority of nontenure track faculty at Maryland’s four-year public universities. This victory was a direct result of the tireless organizing done by unions like AFT-Maryland, United Academics of Maryland—an affiliate of American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and AFT—Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500 and the Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO. The bill now heads to Gov. Wes Moore’s desk for his signature. “For years, I have heard from faculty who have been showing up for their students while barely keeping their heads above water and without a seat at the table,” said AFT-Maryland President Kenya Campbell. “Today, we celebrate, and tomorrow we keep fighting – fighting to organize our non-tenure track faculty so they have a voice and fighting to extend collective bargaining rights to all faculty.” “Our universities are under attack,” said Karin Rosemblatt, president of the University of Maryland–College Park chapter of the United Academics of Maryland. “Our academic freedom is being radically curtailed by the illegal moves of the Trump administration, and our administrations feel their hands are tied. Funding for higher education has been stagnant for almost two decades. Students are forced to learn under the pressure of debt and overcrowded classrooms. Our shared governance structures are routinely circumvented or sidelined. But collective bargaining will help faculty fight back. With a union, they will win the job security and resources that will make for better work, better teaching, and better research.”

Lucky 8 and Sharp Entertainment Workers Ratify Contracts: Nonfiction television staff represented by the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) at Lucky 8 and Sharp Entertainment ratified new collective bargaining agreements. These members are responsible for producing popular shows like “The Food That Built America,” “To Catch a Smuggler,” “90 Day Fiancé” and more. Both bargaining units secured major wins around minimum rate increases and other working condition improvements. “Nonfiction production workers are the backbone of some of the most-watched television,” said Michael Rauch, vice president of Film/TV/Streaming at WGAE, in a press release. “These newly-ratified contracts reflect what workers across the industry deserve — fair pay, real protections, and stability in an unpredictable work environment. Lucky 8’s first contract, and Sharp’s third, show that organizing works, and the energy we saw at this weekend’s summit makes clear that workers are ready to keep building. Nonfiction workers know their value, and the WGAE is here to help them fight for it.”

Rochester, New York, Nursing Home Staff Unanimously Ratify New Contract: Members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East have unanimously voted to ratify a new three-year contract with Rochester Regional Health’s Unity Living Center in Rochester, New York. Staff at the skilled nursing facility work as licensed practical nurses, certified nurse assistants, activity aides, unit secretaries and physical therapy aides. Their previous agreement expired earlier this year. Throughout seven months of bargaining, the issues of staffing, recruitment and retention, and compensation remained core sticking points. The new contract was reached one month after a powerful informational picket. Highlights of the deal include an 8.75% wage increase over the lifetime of the agreement, an additional floating holiday, an attendance bonus and other provisions that will help support overworked and underpaid staff. “I feel happy about our new union contract. It was a fight that we won and my next goal is to make sure everyone belongs to the union and benefits from the contract,” LPN Kiara Grey-Bradley said in a press release.

NYC Residential Workers Reach Tentative Agreement, Averting Strike: Just days ahead of a strike deadline, 34,000 SEIU Local 32BJ members who work as doormen, porters and maintenance workers across New York City reached a tentative agreement with the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations (RAB). These members perform essential work at approximately 3,500 apartment buildings, condos and co-ops—their previous deal was set to expire today. Highlights of the new contract include raises of $4.50 an hour over the life of the contract, a 15% increase to pension benefits, protections for employer-covered health care and more. “Today we found a common path forward with the RAB that rewards workers appropriately,” 32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich said. “This agreement honors the indispensable contributions 32BJ members make to our city.”

New Jersey Cannabis Workers Celebrate Union Election Victory Ahead of 4/20: Workers at cannabis products producer Sun Extractions have voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 360, marking another win for the union’s ongoing campaign to ensure fair labor protections in the emergent industry. Medical and recreational cannabis sales in the state are on track to exceed $2 billion, and the workers who make those profits possible are organizing to ensure that they can secure wages and benefits that reflect that success. “New Jersey’s cannabis industry is stronger today, thanks to this vote by Sun Extractions workers,” said Hugh Giordano, director of organizing at UFCW Local 360. “Sustainable success for businesses, employees, and communities starts with fair treatment, strong standards and shared commitments. That’s how jobs in the cannabis industry become long-term careers, and it’s the future these employees are working towards.” “We have more reasons than ever to celebrate 4/20 this year. We’re welcoming the workers of Sun Extractions into the Local 360 family, seeing the hard work of our members move an entire industry forward, and talking to other states as they look to New Jersey as a model of how to do it right,” UFCW Local 360 President Sam Ferraino Jr. said. “It’s another proof-point for what we always say: stronger unions mean stronger industries and stronger communities. And that’s worth celebrating.”

Lush Cosmetics Workers in Maryland Vote Unanimously to Join UFCW: Staff at a Lush Cosmetics storefront in Baltimore last month voted unanimously to form a union with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 27. These workers join the ranks of their colleagues in St. Louis; Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky; and Friendswood, Texas, who are part of the growing number of staff organizing to improve conditions at the British retailer. “It has been a joy working at Lush since I joined as floor leader in the 2024 holiday season,” said Hazel Schalow, a worker at the Baltimore store. “I value all my co-workers so much, which is why unionization feels like the right thing to do so that our store can continue succeeding. I want to make sure everyone who’s a part of Lush Harbor East can have the proper pay and scheduling to build a life for themself here in the city we love, and I’m so proud of us all for taking this big step forward together! We support all our fellow co-workers in raising issues to be improved, and we have each other’s back because caring is what we do best as a workforce.” “This is what happens when workers stand together and refuse to be pushed around,” said Jason Chorpenning, president of UFCW Local 27. “These workers faced union-busting head-on and still won unanimously. That sends a message to this company and every employer in retail: workers are done accepting low pay, unpredictable schedules, and disrespect on the job.”