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Investments Into Good Jobs in the South: 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. We Have the Power to Turn Manufacturing Investments Into Good Jobs in the South: “During the Biden administration, new manufacturing investments—particularly in clean energy sectors—began to pour into the South. Although money has slowed under President Trump, new projects continue to be announced. In January, Meta and Corning announced a $6 billion agreement to expand manufacturing across North Carolina to support the rapid buildout of data centers. In March, Create Energy, which is focused on renewable energy infrastructure, announced an expansion in Middle Tennessee.”St. Louis ‘Post-Harvest’ Cannabis Workers Win Right to Unionize, NLRB Rules: “The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that St. Louis ‘post-harvest’ cannabis workers at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse cultivation facility here have the right to unionize, setting a national precedent. Workers at the facility tried to organize with UFCW Local 655 two years ago, and the owners have been fighting it ever since, arguing that the employees who process the marijuana don’t have the right to unionize because they’re considered agricultural workers.”Philz Coffee United Joins UFCW 5: “Philz Coffee United, the union representing some workers at Philz, announced Tuesday that they’re now affiliating with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, the region’s largest private sector union. In a post on Instagram, Philz Coffee United cited improved wages, scheduling, benefits, and working conditions as focuses of their negotiations with Philz management. UFCW Local 5 also represents workers at Highwire, Verve, Peerless, and Cat and Cloud, as well as employees of large grocers, including Safeway and Vons.”Chico's Firefighters to Host 3rd Annual Golf Tournament for Charity: “Golf enthusiasts in Chico will have a chance to support future firefighters this summer as Chico Firefighters IAFF Local 2734 hosts its third annual golf tournament. The tournament is scheduled for Monday, June 1, at Canyon Oaks Country Club. The event is a four-person scramble and costs around $700 per team, including green fees, lunch, dinner and prizes. All proceeds will benefit the Captain Andrews Scholarship Endowment Fund, established in 2021 to continue his legacy. The scholarship supports newly graduated cadets of the Butte College Fire Academy.”U.S. Workers Overwhelmingly Support Union-Backed Policies on AI, Poll Says: “‘These results make it clear: our Workers First Initiative on AI is not just a set of principles, but a mandate to deliver,’ said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, in a statement on the poll results. ‘The vast majority of America’s workers agree on how to move forward on AI and who they trust to do it, and it’s not Democrats, Republicans, Big Tech, or their employers—it’s the labor movement.’”AFL-CIO to FIFA: ‘Keep ICE Out of World Cup Host Cities’ to Protect Workers: “AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler on Monday urged leaders of world soccer’s governing body to protect workers by keeping federal immigration enforcement agents away from cities and venues hosting the upcoming International Federation of Association Football Men’s World Cup tournament. ‘As we approach the final preparations for the World Cup and workers begin readying stadiums and communities for an influx of visitors, several of our affiliate unions have raised grave concerns over FIFA’s engagement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),’ Shuler wrote in a letter to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and 2026 World Cup chief strategy and planning officer Amy Hopfinger.”Graduate Student Union at University of Rochester Joins Forces with Other Workers: “Unions and workers are teaming up at the region’s biggest employer. Workers, including members of the University of Rochester’s graduate student labor union, announced the formation of the ‘UR Labor Coalition’ Monday. The coalition is made up of multiple unions representing UR workers. They’ll support each other as they work toward collective bargaining contracts with the university. The Graduate Labor Union in particular says it needs support to achieve recognition from the university. ‘Graduate workers are an essential part of what the university does. They’re here as students to get master’s and doctoral degrees but they’re also essential to our research and our teaching and they deserve a voice in their working conditions,’ said Michael Scott, a professor at URochester.”OPB, KMHD Content Staff Union Reaches First Contract with Management: “The unit comprises more than 90 members represented by the Screen Actors Guild—American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, making OPB the largest public media organization on the West Coast with SAG-AFTRA representation. It includes hosts, reporters, on-air staff and audio, digital and video producers, eight of whom are KMHD employees. The contract was adopted following ratification by the unit of unionized staff, the local SAG-AFTRA chapter and the National Labor Relations Board.”Mayor Dickens Signs Historic Collective Bargaining Agreement with Atlanta Firefighters: “It was a historic moment for Atlanta firefighters Monday as Mayor Andre Dickens signed the union’s first Collective Bargaining Agreement. The union agreement focuses on firefighter pay, overall safety, equipment and gear. Mayor Andre Dickens sent Atlanta Fire and Rescue employees a letter last week stating he would sign the contract this week and that the city will continue to invest in their safety and long-term success. Atlanta News First previously reported there was a delay in this signing because of questions from some firefighters surrounding the union’s then-leadership. In March, under that leadership, the union filed a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta because the contract hadn’t been signed.”WGAE, SAG-AFTRA, DGA and NewsGuild Rally Albany to Pass the NY FAIR News Act: “Journalists and leadership from the Writers Guild of America East, SAG-AFTRA, the Directors Guild of America and the NewsGuild of New York joined Senator Patricia Fahy (D-Albany) and Assemblymember Nily Rozic (D-NYC) on Wednesday, May 6, for a press conference to urge the State Legislature to pass the New York Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements in News Act (The NY FAIR News Act), bipartisan legislation that establishes critical protections for journalists, media professionals and the broader public to ensure that the integrity of the news and its workforce are safeguarded against artificial intelligence.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/18/2026 - 10:29Continue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight:D.C. Pottery Studio Workers Vote to Form Union 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. Staff at All Fired Up, a Washington, D.C., paint-your-own pottery store, won their National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election to form a union with Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU’s) Workers United.Workers, under the name All Fired Up Workers United, voted unanimously to organize on Monday. Staff cited low wages and a lack of benefits as core motivations for their effort. Despite a lack of support from the business owner, sudden layoffs after the public announcement of the union drive and concerning comments made by the owner’s family during the election, workers stood strong and refused to back down.“All Fired Up Workers United is proud to announce that our workers unanimously voted “Yes!” for the union at today’s [NLRB] facilitated election,” the union said in a social media post. “Big thanks to all of our workers who voted, [Workers United, Mid-Atlantic Regional Joint Board] for their support and expertise, and [Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America] for cheering us on. We’re excited to prepare for contract negotiations! The real work is about to begin.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/18/2026 - 10:14 Tags: OrganizingContinue reading→

Worker Wins: The Contract Will Immediately Change Lives Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. AFSCME Corrections Officers in Connecticut Recognized for Making Workplaces Safer: Corrections officers from three AFSCME locals were honored for making their workplaces safer by the Connecticut AFL-CIO. Annually, as part of Workers Memorial Day, the Connecticut AFL-CIO holds an event in Hartford to honor workers who have died, been injured on the job or gotten sick due to work. The state federation’s Health and Safety Committee also honors those who are working to prevent workplace deaths and injuries. This year, AFSCME Locals 387, 391 and 1565—all part of Council 4—were recognized for their advocacy at the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) to boost workplace safety. “Due to the coordinated advocacy of all three AFSCME DOC locals, the Department of Correction finally chose to begin the implementation of mail scanners and body scanners in select correctional institutions—critical technology that, when it is utilized in every facility within the [Connecticut DOC], will make correctional officers and staff, as well as inmates, exponentially safer,” said Jeremie St. Pierre, a correctional officer at the Cheshire Correctional Complex and president of Local 387.United Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract with 31% Average Wage Increase: United Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), voted to ratify a new contract. The contract was ratified, with 82% voting for the agreement and 88.85% votes cast of all eligible. “The contract will immediately change the lives of United Flight Attendants, especially our thousands of new hires who have been hired since the pandemic,” said Ken Diaz, United Master Executive Council president. “Our solidarity delivered the goods.” The five-year contract includes a 31% base pay rate increase this summer; boarding pay (which averages an 7% to 8% increase to compensation); $741 million in retroactive pay; expanded job security; restrictions on red-eye flying; sit pay for scheduled and rescheduled sits over 2.5 hours; per diem and 401(k) contribution increases; 10 weeks’ paid maternity and two weeks’ paid parental and adoption leaves; elimination of 24 hour on-call reserve and more. “The United…Flight Attendants’ contract now leads the industry in total value for flight attendants, and it should,” said Sara Nelson, international president of AFA-CWA. “We will continue to press forward with all of our contracts and build power with our organizing to ensure flight attendants are respected with meaningful return for our work as aviation’s first responders.”IATSE Members Announce Contract with ‘Beast Games’ Ahead of Season 3, Secure Back Pay and Benefits: Members of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) who work on “Beast Games” reached an agreement with the producers ahead of the series’ third season. The contract covers more than 500 crew members working on the production, which is based in Greenville, North Carolina. The workers will receive back pay and benefits for preproduction work that has already been completed and will remain covered by this agreement for this season and subsequent seasons. “Organizing Season 3 of ‘Beast Games’ boiled down to IATSE solidarity in this difficult production environment,” said Michael F. Miller Jr., international vice president and department director of IATSE’s Motion Picture & Television Production Department. “As employment in our industry continues to face challenges from predatory employers looking to take advantage of the industry contraction, our members and their local leaders are showing that they have the strength to stand together to maintain standards in the face of repeated attacks on their livelihoods by greedy employers.”University of Missouri Librarians Vote to Join LIUNA 955: Librarians at the University of Missouri voted to join LIUNA Local 955. The unit includes librarians, archivists and library information specialists. The workers launched their union drive in December. “Some of our staff barely make above minimum wage and that harms our ability to deliver effective service to our users—the researchers, students, staff and faculty that keep this University running,” said Taira Meadowcroft, a health science librarian.Workers at PCA Paper Products in Minnesota Ratify Strong Contract with Major Wage Gains, Protected Health Insurance: Members of IAM Union locals W33 and 760, Electrical Workers (IBEW), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Operating Engineers (IUOE), and the Teamsters working at Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) in International Falls, Minnesota, ratified a strong four-year contract. The contract includes 12.5% in general wage increases, a guarantee that current health benefits will not change, improvements to scheduling language, a better grievance procedure, better paid personal time language, and other improvements. The Joint Union Committee, representing members of each of the unions, was led by IAM District 5 Directing Business Representative Jeff Hoopman. “I’m very proud of the work and commitment put in by this committee,” Hoopman said. “Such a large committee representing so many unions can be a challenge, but this group really acted throughout with one purpose: to get a great contract for their members and they accomplished that.”San Diego Musical Theatre Crew Join IATSE: Production workers at the San Diego Musical Theatre (SDMT) voted overwhelmingly to organize with the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 122. The unit includes wardrobe department staff, stitchers, dressers, audio technicians, spotlight operators, deck crew, stage managers and assistant stage managers. “Building the theatre community has always been a priority for our Local,” said Robert Morales, business representative for IATSE Local 122. “By organizing SDMT, we continue to build union density which in return helps us negotiate better contracts for everyone and uplift the industry.” The newly organized crew will now negotiate their first collective bargaining agreement with San Diego Musical Theatre. The company conducted an anti-union campaign, including unsuccessful attempts to hold a captive audience meeting and personal appeals from management to reject the union.UAW Members at CNH Racine Reach Tentative Agreement; Secure Raises, Other Benefits: UAW members at CNH Industrial’s Racine facility reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract. The Racine plant manufactures Case IH Magnum high-horsepower tractors. The contract includes stronger job security language, 22% general wage increases for production employees, 29% general wage increases for skilled trades employees, significant health and safety language improvements, health care enhancements, and improvements to retirement benefits. “This tentative agreement reflects the strength and solidarity of our members in Racine,” said UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson. “Workers stood together to win meaningful wage increases, improvements in health and safety protections, stronger retirement benefits, and commitments that help secure the future of this plant and the jobs it supports.” The tentative agreement must still be ratified by the membership.IAM Local 778 Members Ratify New Contract at Olin Winchester, Winning Raises, Mandatory Overtime Relief: IAM Union Local 778 members voted to ratify a new four-year contract with Olin Corp.’s Winchester division, ending their strike. The victory for more than 1,300 skilled workers at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant was approved by the membership on May 6. “This ratified agreement met the needs of our membership and they are ready to get back to work under these new terms,” said IAM Local 778 Directing Business Representative Scott Brown. “Our members fought for a contract that includes improvements to pay and relief to mandatory overtime scheduling.” “I am proud of these members for their courage and sacrifice,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The members of IAM Local 778 took the necessary action to make their workplace better and make each other’s lives better. ”NewsGuild of New York Journalists at Sports Illustrated Win New Contract, Guaranteed Pay Increases: Journalists at Sports Illustrated (SI)—who are members of The NewsGuild of New York, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 31003—won a new three-year contract that raises salaries, saves on health care costs, protects remote work as well as workers regarding artificial intelligence (AI). The SI Union represents 64 journalists at the sports media organization. The deal wraps up nearly a year and a half of bargaining with publisher Minute Media. Highlights of the new contract include a new $70,000 salary floor; an average raise of 5.22% upon ratification, with 3% guaranteed increases over the next two years; preservation of just-cause protections; AI guardrails and more. “This contract upholds the principles and protections we fought so hard for four years ago,” says Dan Falkenheim, a fact checker and the SI Union’s unit chair. “After our members have experienced more than their fair share of instability because of ownership changes beyond our control, we are thrilled to have a contract that values our work and provides a strong foundation for Sports Illustrated’s future at Minute Media.” Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/15/2026 - 14:59 Tags: OrganizingContinue reading→