Worker Wins: We Are Only Asking for What’s Right

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

Federal Charges Against SEIU-USWW President David Huerta to be Dismissed: On Monday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California moved to dismiss the charges against Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) President David Huerta. In response, President Huerta released the following statement: Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it is dropping its charge against me.  This means the government is finally admitting what we knew from day one and what was obvious to anyone who saw the videos: the charge against me was baseless, meant to intimidate anyone who dares to speak out, organize, or demand justice. There was never a real case, only an attempt to punish and silence me for exercising my constitutional rights….I’m grateful for the support of SEIU members, our community, my family, my friends, and everyone who has stood with me this past year. To every worker, every immigrant, everyone who’s ever been marginalized or discriminated against—now is not the time to keep your head down or to keep silent. Now is the time to keep organizing. To keep showing up. To keep fighting. We will not be silenced. We will not be divided. And we will keep fighting until every worker and every family is safe from raids, separation, and fear. Read the full statement here.

RWDSU-UFCW Members at Treehouse Foods Ratify New Contract: Members of the Tennessee District Council (TDC)—part of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-United Food and Commercial Workers (RWDSU-UFCW)—at Treehouse Foods have ratified a powerful new contract. Thanks to the efforts of their highly engaged, member-led bargaining committee, workers at the food processing company secured major victories such as a wage increase, a $1,000 ratification bonus, improved vacation language, a new floating holiday and more. In a post on its website, the union said, “What makes this ratification even more special is how the committee used the bargaining process to unify and expand our union. Every single person who filled in a bargaining survey signed a new membership application. By actively connecting with workers at every step, personally handing out contract surveys and guiding members through the ratification process, the committee signed up enough new members to boost overall union membership by 10%. That growing unity gave our bargaining team the leverage they needed at the table.”

Brooklyn Defender Services Staff Reach TA: Staff represented by the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys–UAW (ALAA-UAW) Local 2325 at Brooklyn Defender Services have reached a tentative agreement (TA), ending a strike at New York City’s second-largest public defender group. Staff attorneys, social workers and support staff at the organization serve more than 40,000 people across Brooklyn and Queens each year. Members walked off the job for five days to secure a contract that will allow them to continue their critical work. The new deal includes pay increases, more sick leave, higher retirement contributions and remote work options. “Tonight, we reached a Tentative Agreement on a contract and our STRIKE IS OFF,” the union said in a social media update posted late Tuesday night. “We owe this win to the tireless work of our bargaining committee, the dedication of our rank and file members who held down the picket line, and the support of our elected officials, union siblings, and community members.”

Pennsylvania Library Workers Win Union Election: Workers at the Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Free Public Library have successfully voted to form a union with AFSCME Council 13. The Pennsylvania library system dates back to the 1930s and contains three different branches. Now that workers have won their union representation, members are ready to bargain a contract that ensures fair wages, cost-of-living adjustments, stronger workplace protections and a greater voice in shaping the future of the library. “People wanted more agency at work and a bigger voice in decisions that have such a huge effect on the services we can offer the community,” customer service assistant Hunter Montgomery said. “Once people realized the power that collective action gives you, it kind of felt easy. The momentum just kept building, and we were able to ride that wave of enthusiasm right through the successful election.”

New Flyer-NFI Parts Workers Ratify First Contract: Members of IUE-CWA Local 83600 in Louisville, Kentucky, have voted to ratify their first collective bargaining agreement with New Flyer-NFI Parts. These workers produce bus, motorcoach and transit shuttle parts for the multinational bus manufacturer. Members’ new five-year contract builds upon the New Flyer national agreement that was reached earlier this year. Highlights of the deal include wage increases, protections against unexpected health care premium hikes, 100% company-paid dental and vision insurance, new just-cause protections, the introduction of paid maternity leave, and more. “Working class people around Kentucky are not only organizing unions but also winning,” said Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Dustin Reinstedler in a social media post. “Instead of sitting around and waiting on something to trickle, we stand up and fight back with our coworkers. We exercise our freedoms to collectively bargain which leads to worker power. Thank you to each person employed at New Flyer who has that kind of courage to say enough is enough. Congrats on an exceptional first contract!”

Swaybox Workers in Louisiana Vote to Join IATSE in Major Organizing Victory: Workers at Swaybox Studios in New Orleans won their National Labor Relations Board election to join Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), one of the largest film and television organizing victories in the union’s recent history. The new bargaining unit will cover 136 animators, digital puppetry artists, facilities staff and other workers—membership is expected to grow as Swaybox progresses on current and future projects. “Too many workers in this segment of the entertainment industry believe they have to accept low pay or poor conditions because they’re told that’s how the job works,” said IATSE International President Matthew Loeb. “The workers at Swaybox proved otherwise. If you’re working non-union and things aren’t right, if pay is low, take the first step and call the union. We’ll have your back.” “Today, by standing together across crafts and departments, [Swaybox workers have] shown that productions coming to Louisiana to build world-class films can’t expect to succeed by lowering standards or ignoring the people whose talent and dedication bring those projects to life,” said Simonette Berry, business agent of IATSE Local 478. “Their courage and solidarity send a powerful message: when workers stand together, they have the power to shape their future. This victory belongs to the crew.”

QVC Group Hosts Vote to Join SAG-AFTRA: Television hosts across QVC, HSN and Omni Channel have voted overwhelmingly to form a union with SAG-AFTRA. Hosts delivered a petition to QVC Inc. management in mid-June requesting voluntary recognition, citing concerns around the use of artificial intelligence (AI). These newly minted members are also seeking a contract with greater workplace transparency, pay equity, clearer guidelines for career advancement and a strong voice on the job. QVC Group hosts are dedicated professionals who have played a key role in making QVC Group a leader in the live, social shopping industry,” SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said in a press statement. “Like everyone, QVC, HSN and Omni Channel employees deserve fair compensation, AI protections and a stronger voice in decisions that affect their work. All of SAG-AFTRA’s 160,000 members are proud of these individuals for bravely exercising their right to unionize, and we stand with them as they begin bargaining for their first contract.”

American Federation of Musicians Reaches Tentative Agreement with Metropolitan Opera: After nine months of negotiations, members of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 802 have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the Metropolitan Opera. AFM represents more than 130 associate musicians at the iconic New York City opera house. Throughout bargaining, artists stood strong and fought for the wage parity they deserve after more than a decade of pay cuts. “The Associate Musicians of the Metropolitan Opera make up 30–50% of what audiences hear each night when the curtain goes up at the Met, and after more than a decade of absorbing cut after cut to their pay, they have won a contract that recognizes that contribution,” said AFM Local 802 President Dan Point. “This deal is a testament to what these musicians accomplished by standing together behind their committee, signing their names to a petition, and telling management face-to-face that they would not trade permanent concessions for temporary gains.”

Adventist Health St. Helena Nurses Join California Nurses Association: Registered nurses (RNs) at Adventist Health St. Helena voted last week to form a union with the California Nurses Association (CNA), an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU). The 250 newly minted union members won their National Labor Relations Board election in a landslide victory. RNs report that a primary motivator for organizing was their need to have a strong voice on the job to help recruit and retain experienced nurses in order to ensure quality patient care. “The nurses and patients of St. Helena are my community,” said Mark Gonzalez, an RN in the intensive care unit. “We need a union so we have a voice to advocate for our patients and to ensure that Adventist administration invests its profits back into our hospital. We are only asking for what’s right, like safe staffing and adequate supplies and equipment. Our patients depend on it.”