Worker Wins: An Inspiring Example of Solidarity
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Griffith Observatory Lecturers Ratify First CBA with the City of Los Angeles: Lecturers represented by Actors’ Equity Association (Equity) who narrate the planetarium shows at Griffith Observatory’s Samuel Oschin Planetarium theater have unanimously ratified their first contract. The Los Angeles City Council voted to approve the new deal on Wednesday, making this Equity’s first public sector collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in its 111-year history. The planetarium’s storytellers first announced their intent to organize in September 2022 and won voluntary recognition in April of last year. Their contract includes wage increases of 46.2% compounded over the agreement’s lifetime, as well as provisions ensuring regular meetings to discuss workplace concerns and a formalized grievance process. “Our work as artists is unique to this amazing cultural landmark, and we cherish it,” said lecturer Suzanne Ford. “For audiences from all over the world, we are privileged to create an experience like no other—a live performance that, every day, brings the wonders of the universe to life in an immediate and truly dramatic way. This contract affirms the value of our power as actors in the service of education and inspiration.”
Cliff Divers and Other Entertainers at Casa Bonita Unionize: Workers at Casa Bonita voted to unionize with Actors’ Equity Association (Equity) and Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 7. The workers, about 80 cliff divers, magicians, actors, puppeteers and others at the Lakeland, Colorado, Mexican eatery, are seeking to address pay and other concerns, such as insufficient training, scheduling and safety from “abusive patrons emboldened by alcohol.” The restaurant was recently bought by “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. “IATSE Local 7 couldn’t be more humbled and thrilled by the incredible crew of Casa Bonita,” said Local 7 Business Agent Max Peterson. “The days and weeks leading up to this election have been an inspiring example of solidarity.…This result shows that the crew is ready for a brighter future through bargaining collectively to bring safety, security and lasting improvements to their workplace. We are excited to stand with and beside them as we prepare for and begin negotiations!”
Workers at Whiteboard Geeks to Form a Union with the Animation Guild (IATSE): A group of 11 workers at Whiteboard Geeks in Virginia filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to form a union with The Animation Guild (TAG), an affiliate of the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). Whiteboard Geeks specializes in hand-drawn whiteboard animation videos. The group of workers looking to join TAG includes script writers, video editors, production assistants and managers. They are seeking to improve workplace conditions, secure fair wages and enhance the rights of animation professionals in Virginia. “We have already come together to declare our intentions and are determined to see our strength recognized at the bargaining table,” said script writer Phillip Hilliker. “As the first animation union in Virginia, we hope this action will not only improve the working conditions at WBG but also help set a new, sustainable path for creatives across the Commonwealth.”
Hundreds of Logan County Hospital Medical Workers Vote to Join USW: Nearly 300 staff members at Logan Regional Medical Center in West Virginia voted on Thursday to join the United Steelworkers (USW). The new unit includes registered nurses (RNs), nursing assistants, patient care technicians, phlebotomists, pharmacy technicians, respiratory therapists, patient transporters, unit secretaries and others at the acute care facility. Workers launched this organizing campaign almost a year ago, citing issues such as safe staffing levels, equitable wages, fair seniority policies, a voice on the job and enhancing workplace transparency. “With our victory, we’ve shown the hospital, the community and ourselves what it means to stand together and fight for what’s right,” said Canaan Varney, an RN, in a USW press release. “This isn’t just a win; it’s a turning point. Now that we’re unionized, we expect change. We expect fair wages for our work and a voice in the decisions that impact our lives and our community. This victory is about more than us; it’s about the patients we serve and the community we love. Together, we’re building something better, and I couldn’t be prouder to stand with all of my coworkers as we take this next step forward.”
Point Park University Faculty Union Approves New Contract: Full-time faculty members at Point Park University—who are represented by The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA) of Pittsburgh Local 38061—overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new three-year contract last week. The agreement includes 3.6% annual across-the-board wage increases, increased just-cause protection for nontenure-track faculty, more pay for overload courses, an established pathway for nontenure-track faculty to be considered for promotion to tenure track and more. Professors at the private university in Pittsburgh saw powerful displays of support from students on campus and credited that solidarity to part of the union’s success. “Faculty fought for months over the summer and into the start of the fall semester for the gains in this new contract, and I’m so excited that we get to reap the rewards of that fight today,” said Zack Tanner, president of TNG-CWA of Pittsburgh. “It’s not just wages that we won, but increased job protections and major improvements to the professional life of full-time faculty members. This is a contract that every faculty member at Point Park should be proud of.”
2K Motion Capture Workers Vote to Join IATSE: Motion Capture (MoCap) Studio workers at 2K, the video game company behind blockbuster franchises such as “NBA 2K” and “WWE 2K,” have voted to join the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). This victory at MoCap Studio in Petaluma, California, marks the first successful organizing effort at a workplace of this kind in the video game industry’s history. The election took place Friday morning, and the bargaining unit will include stage technicians, engineers, animators and recording and audio specialists. 2K MoCap Studio workers have cited the need for higher wages, greater job security, better working conditions and greater clarity on the job responsibilities attached to certain titles as core reasons for organizing. “This victory is not just about one studio; it’s about the future of work in the video game industry,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb in a press release. “2K MoCap workers have shown what many other entertainment workers already know—that collective action is the best way to secure fairness, equity and respect in the workplace. Their courage will inspire others in the industry to follow suit. This outcome also demonstrates what can be achieved when workers exercise their right to organize, a right that we will continue to fight to defend and expand.”
Washington Area Bicyclist Association Staff Win Voluntary Recognition: Workers at the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) secured voluntary recognition from their employer just days after announcing their intent to join Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 320. This win marks the first bike-related nonprofit union drive for TWU after years of successfully organizing mechanics, technicians and other staff at bikeshare companies. The local already represents workers at Capital Bikeshare DC. “A few of us started conversations about organizing our workplace and got connected with TWU Local 320, and their willingness to work with us was exciting,” said Kevin O’Brien, who works for WABA as their Virginia organizer. “We saw their work with bikeshare groups and felt like it was a good fit. This could be a really challenging four years ahead of us. A lot of WABA’s funding comes through grants. We want to ensure that whatever comes, we’re navigating it together.”
Pitt Grad Workers Vote to Join USW in Landslide Vote: Almost a year after going public with their organizing efforts, graduate workers at the University of Pittsburgh have voted overwhelmingly to join the United Steelworkers (USW). The Pitt Graduate Workers Union victory comes after university faculty organized with USW in 2021 and staff across all five of Pitt’s campuses also successfully joined in September. The roughly 2,100 graduate workers launched this organizing effort to secure a contract that would establish a voice on the job, the ability to negotiate over funding security, stipend increases, protections against discrimination and harassment, improved family benefits, affordable health insurance and more. “My colleagues and I are a critical part of the research and education that makes the University of Pittsburgh a world-class academic institution,” said Caroline Layding, a graduate researcher in Pitt’s biostatistics department, in a press release. “We are so proud to join the Steelworkers, and we can’t wait to meet the university administration at the bargaining table.”
Workers at Kentucky EV Battery Announce Intent to Join UAW: The UAW announced Wednesday that a supermajority of workers at BlueOval SK (BOSK) in Kentucky have signed union authorization cards, launching their public campaign to organize. BOSK, a Ford Motor joint venture battery plant, produces batteries for the auto manufacturer’s electric vehicle (EV) fleet. This new campaign comes on the heels of Ultium workers in Ohio winning a contract in June and an election victory at an Ultium plant in Tennessee in September. BOSK workers are joining together to secure the standards UAW autoworkers enjoy as part of their hard-fought union contracts and to set a precedent for labor standards in the rapidly expanding EV battery industry. “I want a union because I want representation,” said Joseph Morgan, who works in maintenance–formation at BOSK. “I’ve been in the hot seat before without anyone to represent me. I don’t want to see anyone leave the company because of a lack of representation where the truth is decided in a one sided fashion. With a union, some of our coworkers, working next to us, will receive training to know how to implement the contract and help enforce it. I want to see my brothers and sisters at work united so strongly that the company can’t neglect our needs whether it be safety or benefits.”
Chicago Tribune Journalists Secure First Contract: Members of the Chicago Tribune Guild, part of The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA), won their first contract with Alden Global Capital last week after six years of bargaining. Alden Global Capital, which has a well-established reputation of gutting and slashing newsrooms, began buying into the Tribune Publishing Company in 2019. The hedge fund fully acquired the paper in May 2021. This landmark contract was ratified with near-unanimous approval on Friday, providing two years of consecutive raises and an immediate signing bonus. The agreement also retains Guild members’ 401(k) match, raises minimum salary floors and establishes essential protections against artificial intelligence outsourcing. “We won because we fought, and we fought because we believe in the work we do for Chicago,” said Unit Chair Jake Sheridan. “The world needs people to push for truth right now. That’s what we do. This contract gives us a little more stability and a little more pay so we can keep doing it.”
Arapahoe Basin Ski Patrollers File to Form Union: On Monday, staff at the Arapahoe Basin Ski Patrol announced their decision to file for union representation with the United Professional Ski Patrols of America (UPSPA), Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7781. Ski professionals at the iconic alpine ski area in the Arapaho National Forest of Colorado are responsible for ensuring the safety of thousands of visitors each year. These workers are organizing to negotiate for important workplace issues such as benefits, compensation and respect on the job. “The union will guarantee that we have a voice at the table to negotiate for what is important to us as a staff,” said Kali Flaherty, an Arapahoe Basin ski patroller. “We hope to work closely with management to ensure we receive the benefits, compensation, and respect we deserve for our hard work. We also hope that our community—both in Summit County and the surrounding areas—will come together to support the values and goals we stand for.”
St. Louis University Graduate Workers Vote to Join UAW: Late last week, St. Louis University graduate students overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining the United Autoworkers (UAW). The Graduate Workers of St. Louis University Union-UAW (GWSLUU-UAW) unit covers more than 500 people who work for the school as teaching and research assistants. This landslide victory came right before the National Labor Relations Board reported Monday that more than 50,000 students who work at U.S. universities have unionized during the past two years, proving that this win is part of a much larger national effort to organize increasingly precarious higher education institutions. Members cite the need for better working conditions and increased pay as core motivators, saying that before the organizing effort, graduate workers had not received a raise in more than a decade. Concerns around uncertainty in science funding and unstable regulation of visas were also issues that spurred the campaign. “This feels like the greatest achievement of our lives,” said Zach Davis, a doctoral candidate in American studies. “For the first time in this university’s history, grad workers will have a seat at the table in all decisions that affect them. There will no longer be any conversations about us in which we are not an active participant and so long as this union is around, that is not going to change.”
Rite Aid Workers Secure Tentative Agreement: Rite Aid workers in Southern California, represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), secured a tentative agreement (TA) on Friday after months of intense negotiations with the drugstore chain. The deal covers more than 3,500 UFCW members across locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442. Workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike a month ago, building on months of strategic actions, rallies and community conversations. Their endurance has paid off—the Rite Aid TA includes improved wages, health care benefits protections and pension security. “This tentative agreement would not have been possible without the strength we showed during the bargaining process,” the UFCW Rite Aid Bargaining Committee said in a joint statement. “We stood up to the company’s unfair labor practices and showed them we were willing to fight for the contract we deserved. The power we showed at our stores translated to power at the bargaining table. Our solidarity and this victory will send a strong message to workers everywhere—when we fight, we win!