Black History Month Profiles: Glenda Armstrong
Black History Month Profiles: Glenda Armstrong
For Black History Month, we’re taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today’s profile is Glenda Armstrong of the General Association of Miramar Employees/OPEIU (GAME/OPEIU).
Glenda Armstrong is a member of GAME/OPEIU Local 101, working as a supervisor in the property and evidence unit of the city’s police department. A former president of the local, Armstrong’s career has spanned nearly three decades with the city of Miramar, Florida, and two decades with Local 101.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 02/17/2025 – 10:25
Black History Month Profiles: Toni Burns
Black History Month Profiles: Toni Burns
For Black History Month, we’re taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today’s profile is Toni Burns of the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Toni Burns has been a stagehand for IATSE Local 27 in Cleveland since 1994. He is a second-generation stagehand. He started his career as a high rigger, downrigger, head flyman and rose to a union steward. Burns was elected business manager for Local B27 from 2007 to the present. He is serving as an IATSE DEI member at large and a board member for Local 27 stagehands. In January 2024, Burns was elected as the 9th international vice president, becoming the first African American man to be elected to the IATSE General Executive Board.
Kenneth Quinnell
Sun, 02/16/2025 – 10:25
2025 VER Q&A Addendums
https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/2025.02.14_2025_apwu_vera_qa_addendum_signed_use.pdfMemorandum of Understanding
Re: One-Time Retirement Incentive
Questions & Answers
Addendum
Black History Month Profiles: Aziza Miller
Black History Month Profiles: Aziza Miller
For Black History Month, we’re taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today’s profile is Aziza Miller of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).
Aziza Miller is a longtime member of AFM Local 802 in NYC, where she currently appears on stage as a keyboardist in Alicia Keys’ Broadway musical “Hell’s Kitchen.” The show was inspired in part by Miller herself and just won a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. “My musical career is always growing and evolving,” she said. Her advice to up-and-coming musicians? “Stay focused. Remain open to learning. Don’t let perfection replace your heart and soul. Always stay humble and grateful. As for me, music is important because it’s life, my voice and my passion’s purpose!”
Kenneth Quinnell
Sat, 02/15/2025 – 10:25
UAW Statement on the NLRB Member Firings
President Trump’s firing of Jennifer Abruzzo and illegal firing of Gwynne Wilcox is a bad start to a Presidential administration that says it wants to stand with the American worker. The so-called “radical” policies that Abruzzo and Wilcox pursued under the National Labor Relations Act weren’t radical at all. They stood for the principle of […]
The post UAW Statement on the NLRB Member Firings appeared first on UAW | United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America.
Ascend Drivers Join Teamsters Local 916
(BARRY, Ill.) – Cannabis delivery drivers employed by Ascend Wellness Holdings have voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 916. “Cannabis delivery drivers are essential to the success of this industry,” said JP Fyans, President of Local 916. “By organizing with the Teamsters, these drivers are paving the way for better wages, improved working conditions, and […]
Read More....Maintenance Webinar: PTR Settlement Payment Distribution and Full Time Conversion Update
The Maintenance Craft is presenting a webinar to discuss the $15 million distribution of funds. Over 75 percent of eligible Part-Time Regulars (PTRs) have already been paid up-to-date.
In addition, we will discuss the conversion to Full-Time Regular and when to expect the second payment and how much to expect. See event details to register.
February 19, 2025 – 2:00PMVirtual Via ZoomNationalNoNo2025-02-19 00:00:00https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81955044839?pwd=ytupqrj7nl6SztbsorEOO8mFQmxtu5.1Maintenance Webinar: PTR Payment Distribution and FT Conversion UpdateBrothers and Sisters,
You are cordially invited to a scheduled Zoom meeting on Wednesday February 19, at 2pm ESThttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/81955044839?pwd=ytupqrj7nl6SztbsorEOO8mFQmxtu5.1
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IAM Union Urges Reinstatement of Illegally Fired Labor Board Member
IAM Union is calling on President Trump to immediately reverse his decision and reinstate Gwynne Wilcox to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). IAM Union believes this action is critical for ensuring that working Americans receive the full protections they are entitled to under U.S. labor law. On Jan. 27, President Trump unlawfully dismissed Wilcox,
The post IAM Union Urges Reinstatement of Illegally Fired Labor Board Member appeared first on IAMAW.
‘Stand with Grocery Workers Who Are Overworked, Understaffed and Underpaid’: The Working People Weekly List
‘Stand with Grocery Workers Who Are Overworked, Understaffed and Underpaid’: 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.
Wells Fargo Faces Labor Board Complaint Over Union Vote: “The National Labor Relations Board has accused Wells Fargo of illegally threatening and retaliating against employees and coercing workers to prevent fair unionization votes at a California branch. Most employees of an Atwater, California, branch who signed cards supporting unionization in December 2023 voted against unionization the following month, a regional director of the NLRB alleged, in a complaint filed Tuesday and seen by Bloomberg, The NLRB claims Wells Fargo coerced workers to vote against unionization. Wells Fargo has denied that allegation.”Chicago History Museum Workers Want to Join an Arts Industry Unionization Wave: “About two dozen workers at the Chicago History Museum have signed a letter saying they plan to unionize. In the letter, issued Wednesday morning, the employees said they are seeking clear communication from management and competitive wages. The move is one in a wave of similar organizing efforts at other Chicago cultural institutions. The workers are organizing with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME Council 31. Workers from the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum and Newberry Library, among others, have joined that same union in recent years.”‘Stand with Grocery Workers Who Are Overworked, Understaffed and Underpaid’: “For too long, the hardworking union grocery workers of Southern California have been overworked, understaffed, and underpaid. These essential workers, who showed up day in and day out during the pandemic to keep our communities fed, now find themselves struggling to make ends meet. With inflation driving up the cost of living at an alarming rate, it’s time for major grocery corporations—Kroger/Ralphs, Albertsons/Vons, Stater Bros., and Gelson’s—to step up and provide the fair wages and benefits that these workers have earned. Southern California UFCW Locals are gearing up for what will likely be the toughest round of negotiations in decades. Bargaining with Kroger/Ralphs and Albertsons/Vons kicks off on February 13, with Stater Bros. negotiations beginning on March 6. Dates with Gelson’s have yet to be scheduled, but our message to all these companies is the same: Grocery workers are rising for our futures, our families, and our communities.”How Teachers Union Leaders Are Gearing Up for the ‘Resistance’: “Sure. So, ‘Resistance Committee’ is pretty much shorthand for ‘Committee to Help Everyone Have a Better Life.” I know that sounds very general, but AFT represents not just public education but also health care professionals and nurses. Particularly in this moment, where—you know, it began with hospitals and places of worship and schools being removed as sensitive sites—we really had to think about how we protect our students, families and patients.”SEIU Hospital Workers Ratify Contract, Avert Possible Strike: “SEIU workers at UPMC Washington Hospital and UPMC have agreed to a new contract. According to a press release, the contract includes average raises of 12% over three years, with some workers getting as much as 19% raises over the life of the contract. The union said the new contract ‘is major progress from UPMC’s original proposal of a 1% raise per year.’ ‘Our new contract will help us support ourselves and our families with the increased cost of living. This proves that when health care workers unite and take action—even at a small community hospital—we can create concrete positive change,’ said Melissa Duran, the chapter president of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania at Washington Hospital, where she works as an EKG technician.”Federal Workers, Lawmakers to Rally at Capitol Hill to Protect Civil Service: “Hundreds of federal workers are expected to gather on Capitol Hill Tuesday afternoon for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) ‘Rally to Save the Civil Service.’ The event, part of AFGE’s annual legislative conference, aims to push back against efforts to politicize federal jobs.”Retail Unions Are Gaining Ground as Employee Dissatisfaction Grows: “Americans are increasingly taking the side of workers as public opinion has turned overwhelmingly pro-union in recent years. Fifteen years ago, only about half of Americans approved of unions. Last year, it rose to 70%, just one percentage point below the 71% hit in 2022. That was a historic high since 1972 when Gallup began tracking union approval ratings annually.”Union Leaders to Try Again on Rail Safety; Corporate Greed Sidetracked It: “Titus and Cassidy joined AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Greg Regan, who organized the session, along with co-sponsoring Reps. Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio, and Chris Deluzio, D-Pa. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, sent a short video. All but Nehls discussed the massive Norfolk Southern derailment and venting of toxic chemicals into the. air and water precisely two years before, on Feb. 3, 2023, in East Palestine, Ohio. ‘The people of eastern Ohio have suffered so much from corporate greed,’ Sykes said. ‘Our greatest fear is a train derailment can become a mass casualty event. But we have yet to see meaningful reform out of Congress’ to force railroads to put safety and people over profits, said Regan.”As Off Broadway Crews Unionize, Workers See Hope, Producers Peril: “A unionization wave sweeping across Off Broadway is poised to reshape the economics of theater-making in New York—for workers as well as producers. Striking stage crews have idled the nonprofit Atlantic Theater Company—the birthplace of the musicals ‘Spring Awakening,’ ‘The Band’s Visit’ and ‘Kimberly Akimbo,’ which all transferred to Broadway and won Tonys. The strike, which began last month, comes amid a drive to unionize stage hands and crews at Off Broadway theaters. The drive is being spearheaded by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, or IATSE, which represents workers on Broadway and in Hollywood. It has won union contracts at two long-running commercial Off Broadway shows: The crew of ‘Titaníque,’ a musical that spoofs the film ‘Titanic’ and the pop star Celine Dion, approved a contract last October, and the crew at ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ a revival of the sci-fi musical comedy, did so in January.”First Labor Official Ousted from NLRB in 90 Years Is Now Suing Trump. Hear Why: “Former National Labor Relations Board member Gwynne Wilcox speaks to CNN’s Victor Blackwell after being fired by President Donald Trump, making her the first member of the board to be removed in 90 years. Wilcox called her firing “unprecedented” and has since filed a federal lawsuit.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 02/14/2025 – 11:16
Black History Month Profiles: Dominique Drew
Black History Month Profiles: Dominique Drew
For Black History Month, we’re taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today’s profile is Dominique Drew of the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT).
Dominique Drew started in the union on her 18th birthday. And 22 years later, she’s built a rewarding career as an architectural metal and glass worker. When she discovered IUPAT’s Black CORE Committee, she had finally found a platform to make an impact within her union as a woman of color. She has flourished in her journey, becoming the co-chair of the Black CORE Committee, chairperson of CBTU’s Under 40 Leaders and co-chair of Leaders Under 40 NYC Chapter. Currently, she serves as a member engagement specialist for IUPAT.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 02/14/2025 – 10:09