DeLane Adams Appointed IAM Director of Rapid Response and Mobilization
IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed DeLane Adams, who formerly served as IAM Assistant Communications Director, to the newly established position of Director of Rapid Response and Mobilization, effective April 1, 2026. Adams was initiated into the IAM as a communications representative in April 2017. He has built a strong record of strategic communications, member
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IAM Union Strong in Missouri: Fighting for Workers, Fighting for Democracy
IAM Union members from across Missouri came together in Jefferson City for the IAM Missouri State Council—standing united to fight for working family issues and protect the rights of working people. See photos here. A major focus: pushing back against big-money efforts to undermine Missouri’s referendum process—an attack that would hand corporate interests the power
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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Workers at Two Michigan Auto Supply Chains Join UAW
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Workers at Two Michigan Auto Supply Chains Join UAW
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
In the span of 24 hours, workers at Ground Effects and Webasto Detroit both voted in National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) elections to join the UAW.Ground Effects workers make spray-on truck bedliners, in addition to other aftermarket parts and customizations, while members who work for Webasto Detroit produce hard top roofs, primarily for the Ford Bronco. Both sets of auto supply workers came together in their respective facilities to organize for a fair voice on the job.“I’m thrilled we finally won our union. I’ve worked at Webasto for many years. We’re overworked and underpaid. We’re the ones who make money for the company. For too long, we’ve gotten nothing but disrespect from management. I’m ready for some mutual respect,” said Shara Bell, a quality technician for Webasto Detroit.“Ground Effects workers just showed what courage and determination can do,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. “These workers stood together and stood strong against the underhanded anti-union tactics coming from the boss and their hired guns. Now, Ground Effects workers will have the right to sit with management as equals and negotiate a contract that gives them the dignity and respect they deserve.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 04/07/2026 – 08:43
IAM Eastern Territory Leaders Visit Local 2948 Members at Harley-Davidson Subcontractor, Highlight Women’s Leadership in York, Pa.
IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan, Chief of Staff Lorie Wilson, and International Representative Cori Horowitz, alongside District 98 Business Representative Mike Wentzel, recently toured IAM Local 2948’s DP World 1 and DP World 2 facilities in York, Pa. IAM Union members at DP World, a subcontractor for Harley-Davidson, perform critical sub-assembly work
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Alabama State Council Builds Strength, Solidarity in Montgomery
IAM Union delegates from across Alabama recently gathered in Montgomery for the Alabama State Council meeting, bringing together members from across the state to discuss legislative priorities, strengthen solidarity, and take action on issues impacting working families. Throughout the meeting, more than 45 participants, including delegates, engaged in a full agenda of discussions and presentations
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Unions Are Out There Fighting: The Working People Weekly List
Unions Are Out There Fighting: The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
More Than 160 Harvard Club Workers Vote to Unionize with UFCW Local 1445: “Workers at the Harvard Club of Boston voted overwhelmingly to unionize with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445 earlier this month, bringing more than 160 employees at the private Back Bay club into the union. The unit includes workers across dining, wellness, athletics, and lodging operations at the Harvard-affiliated social club, which serves alumni and other members with restaurants, event spaces, and athletic facilities.”SAG-AFTRA Communications Staff Union Voluntarily Recognized: “SAG-AFTRA has voluntarily recognized a union for its communications and marketing staffers after a card count found that a majority were in support of organizing. After a third-party checker examined union support cards this week, the union, aligned with National Organization of Legal Services Workers, United Auto Workers Local 2320 (NOLSW), was certified. NOLSW already represents organizing staffers at SAG-AFTRA.”Employees Attempting to Unionize Toledo Parts Supplier: “Employees with ValuePoint Material Solutions are preparing a vote to unionize, but some say it’s been an arduous effort. ValuePoint Material Solutions supplies parts for machines used by General Motors. The employees will vote on Wednesday to join the United Auto Workers Local 14. But throughout the organizing process, some former employees say the company’s management has resented their efforts.”A Democratic Electrician Nabs a State Senate Seat in Republican Florida: “Democrats on Monday officially claimed a second upset in Florida’s recent special elections when The Associated Press declared an electrical workers union leader to be the winner of a tight state senate contest in reliably Republican West Tampa. Brian Nathan, a Navy veteran and member of a new cadre of working class Democrats, will join Emily Gregory, a small-business owner with a public-health background, as upstart Democrats in Tallahassee.…Mr. Nathan, 45, is one of many blue-collar Democrats and anti-Republican independents vying for U.S. House and Senate seats, as well as state legislative posts. Those include Bob Brooks, a retired firefighter, and Brian Poindexter, a union ironworker, who are running for House seats in Pennsylvania and Ohio; Graham Platner, an oysterman, and Dan Osborn, an industrial electrician, running for the Senate in Maine and Nebraska; and Sam Forstag, a smokejumper and union leader, who is vying for the Democratic nomination for a House seat in Montana.”Educators Join the Biggest Day of Mass Protest in U.S. History to Raise Their Voice Against the Trump Administration: “Speaking at the flagship event, Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), stated: ‘Standing up, and showing up, being in solidarity like millions of [us] are doing today is so important. It is the only way we can get the government to act in our interest.’”Union Workers Ratify Contract at Exxon Louisiana Complex, Sources Say: “Union workers at Exxon Mobil’s (XOM.N) refining and chemical plant complex in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ratified a new four-year contract on Friday, sources familiar with plant operations said.…The contract provides a 4% pay increase in the first and fourth years and a 3.5% increase in the second and third years and was negotiated between Marathon Petroleum (MPC.N) and the United Steelworkers union (USW). The workers at the Baton Rouge refinery and chemical plant are represented by USW Local 13-12.”‘Sheroes’ of the Labor Movement: Women Have Long Legacy of Representing Workers: “Organized labor is a growing force in the United States. In 2025, labor unions recorded the highest membership in 16 years. Liz Shuler is leading the charge. ‘They see that unions are out there fighting, right? We’re out there raising people’s voices,’ Shuler said. Shuler represents the voices of 15 million of those people as president of the AFL-CIO—a federation of 65 national and international labor unions.”Liz Shuler Defines ‘No Kings’ Movement, Says It’s About ‘Standing Up to’ Trump and Reshaping Economy: “AFL–CIO President Liz Shuler expressed her support for the ‘No Kings’ movement and said it represents a challenge to the leadership of the White House. Meanwhile, she also asked for a large-scale economic transformation that will assist workers in general. During her speech at a ‘No Kings’ rally, Shuler also condemned the disparity in wealth between the rich and poor in the United States, claiming that many of the current policies benefit affluent Americans and that many working Americans have been neglected.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 04/06/2026 – 12:14
Get to Know AFL-CIO’s Affiliates: Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association
Get to Know AFL-CIO’s Affiliates: Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association
This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we’ve covered all 65 of our affiliates. Next up is the Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association (PWHLPA).
Name of Union: Professional Women’s Hockey League Players AssociationMission: The PWHLPA strives to protect the rights and well-being of all PWHL players, on and off the ice. Led by the collective voice of the players and their interests, the union is committed to the advancement of the league and the opportunities it creates. Together the players aim to leave the game better than they found it for future generations.Current Leadership of Union: Laura Stacey serves as president, Lee Stecklein serves as vice president, Savannah Harmon serves as treasurer, and Hayleigh Cudmore serves as secretary. Malaika Underwood serves as executive director. Each team elects a player representative.Current Number of Members: 184 from the United States, Canada and EuropeMembers Work As: Professional hockey playersIndustries Represented: Professional sportsHistory: In 2019, players walked away from existing professional leagues and formed the precursor to their current union. Under the umbrella of that initial association, those players trained and organized their own competitions independently for multiple years. As part of that effort, they advocated for a viable, professional league with proper investment, resources, infrastructure and labor standards. They were not simply asking for opportunity. They were demanding sustainability and dignity. When the PWHLPA was ultimately established in 2023, the players brought with them years of collective action experience. They understood that if the PWHL was going to be a success, their voice must always be heard.Before the first puck ever dropped, the players organized the PWHLPA and they negotiated and ratified a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), making the PWHL the first professional women’s sports league in North America to have a CBA in place before its inaugural game.Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The PWHLPA works to strengthen the future of professional women’s hockey through player advocacy, education and leadership. Current efforts include supporting professional standards across the league, certifying and regulating contract and marketing agents who work with PWHL players, and helping ensure players are equipped to make an impact both within their communities and across the sport.Learn More: Website, Facebook, Instagram, X
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 04/06/2026 – 12:31
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: University of Michigan Student Research Assistants Win Union Election
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: University of Michigan Student Research Assistants Win Union Election
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
On Monday, graduate student research assistants (GSRAs) at the University of Michigan voted to join the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO), AFT Local 3550.In 1981, GSRAs were barred from organizing after the Michigan Employment Relations Commission ruled that they were not employees under the Public Employment Relations Act. However, that decision was reversed in 2023, restoring their collective bargaining rights. This victory was a product of decades of campus organizing and now adds more than 2,000 additional members to the GEO bargaining unit.“No matter what job title graduate students hold, we face the same pay, same healthcare, same advisors, and same workplace issues,” said Kevin Zheng, a Ph.D. student in the School of Information. “Furthermore, each of us switch between these positions each semester: I worked as a Fellow last year, as a Research Assistant this year, and will be working as a Graduate Student Instructor in the fall. It only makes sense for us to be represented and organized together under the same union.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 04/06/2026 – 09:51
Tags:
Organizing
Teamsters Reach Strong Settlement with UPS on Driver Severance Packages
(WASHINGTON) – After months of urging United Parcel Service (UPS) to honor its Teamsters contract and return to the bargaining table over unilateral driver buyouts, UPS on Sunday agreed to terms on a new settlement with the Teamsters National Negotiating Committee — capping severance offers while rewarding and protecting the seniority of Teamsters drivers.
Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien successfully pushed UPS into negotiations in the wake of national grievances filed against the package giant over its Driver Choice Program (DCP), which UPS pursued in February without agreement from the union. Those grievances forced UPS to withdraw the DCP in 13 states in March before ultimately agreeing to negotiate.
Under terms of the strong new settlement, UPS will be limited in the number of severance packages it can offer. Those who wish to accept them will receive $150,000 payments for early retirement. Offers will be made to long-haul feeder drivers and Regular Package Car Drivers based on seniority in all regions of the country. UPS has agreed not to pursue or offer any other severance programs for the life of the current Teamsters National Master Agreement, which does not expire until July 31, 2028.
“UPS never had the contractual right to unilaterally offer driver buyouts, but with enough pressure and member solidarity UPS finally did the right thing by putting its commitments to hardworking Teamsters down in writing,” O’Brien said. “Lifelong Teamsters who have given so much of themselves to making UPS the king of parcel delivery will have the right of first refusal on any severance agreements. Union seniority and the rights of all our members will be honored. UPS will no longer have the chance to go around the union without giving Teamsters the respect they deserve at the bargaining table.”
The settlement between the Teamsters and UPS caps the total number of severance payments to 7,500 drivers across all job classifications nationwide.
“Rank-and-file Teamsters have given their blood, sweat, tears and, most importantly, their labor to ensure UPS’s success for a century. This agreement is a powerful reminder to UPS executives that the Teamsters never want to harm the company’s ability to be competitive, but we will also never tolerate any violations of our contract or our members’ rights,” O’Brien said.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
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1,350 IAM Union Members at Olin Winchester in Kansas City Vote to Reject Contract, Strike for Fairness
INDEPENDENCE, MO., April 3, 2026 – Approximately 1,350 workers represented by the IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) Local 778 at Olin Winchester in Kansas City, Mo., have voted to reject company’s management substandard contract offer and go on strike at 12:01 a.m. CT on Saturday, April 4, when their current contract
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