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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Vineyard Theatre Crew Ratifies First Collective Bargaining Agreement 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. Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) members who work at Vineyard Theatre in New York City have ratified their first union contract.Backstage and overhire crew at the Off-Broadway theater company announced the news in a joint statement with management, noting that the bargaining process was thoughtful and collaborative. The agreement establishes a clear framework governing pay, benefits, workplace protections, scheduling and more.“Behind the scenes workers are the backbone of live entertainment,” said Brian Munroe, IATSE international representative. “They deserve fair wages, benefits, and union representation. The Vineyard Theatre worked in good faith negotiations with the IATSE to achieve this. We are looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the Vineyard.” Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/29/2026 - 10:07 Tags: OrganizingContinue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Dining Workers at Virginia State University and Norfolk State University Win Recognition 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. Campus dining workers at two of Virginia’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs)—Virginia State University (VSU) and Norfolk State University (NSU)—have officially been recognized as members of UNITE HERE Local 23.These essential staff members are employed by Thompson Hospitality, a subcontracted food service provider.“I’m proud of the hard work and resilience it took for me and my coworkers to show Thompson Hospitality that, just like workers at all the other union universities, we deserve better wages and excellent healthcare at VSU. I personally can’t wait until the contract so that I can be able to pay my bills and still have some funds left over to go see my family in Louisiana!” said Nikita “Miss Nikki” Whitten, a cook for four years with Thompson Hospitality at VSU. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/28/2026 - 10:23 Tags: OrganizingContinue reading→

U.S.- and Union-Made: 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. Postal Service Union Launches Television Ads Promoting Mail-In Voting: “The integrity of Georgia elections has been questioned by President Donald Trump and others since 2020. Now the postal workers' union wants to restore voter confidence in voting by mail via the airwaves. The American Postal Workers Union will begin airing television ads starting this week to promote casting your ballot via mail. Georgia APWU President Charles Brouhgton said he wants to have an impact on voters.”Effort to Dedicate Corner to Local 34 Founding Member Moves Forward: “New Haveners and Yale student leaders have collected about 320 signatures on a petition to name the corner of College and Elm streets in honor of a man who helped establish Yale’s first employee union. The petition required 250 signatures to qualify for review by the president of the Board of Alders, Tyisha Walker-Myers, who may assign it to one of the board’s committees, according to Ward 1 Alder Elias Theodore ’27. Theodore said he recently submitted the petition to City Hall for review.  Under the proposal, the corner would be dedicated to John Wilhelm ’67, who helped found Local 34, which represents the University’s clerical and technical workers. Last year, the union celebrated the 40-year anniversary of its first contract with Yale—a milestone that motivated locals Aldo Cupo and Cheryl Bergman to spearhead the renaming efforts, they said.”Ford, UAW Volunteers Plant 200-Plus Trees and Shrubs in Detroit Industrial Sector: “An industrial stretch of Detroit is getting a green transformation this week as dozens of volunteers from Ford and the United Auto Workers give back to the community where they work. As part of National Volunteer Week, Ford employees spent Thursday planting trees and shrubs at Fort Street Bridge Interpretive Park, a developing green space along the Rouge River. UAW volunteers will join on Friday. The effort marks one of the final construction activities before the park officially opens in late May.”IBEW Local 1 Members, Contractors Team Up with Rebuilding Together to Help Homeowners in Need of Electrical Repairs: “Retired Army veteran MC Thomas has lived in his home off Paducah Drive here for 25 years. He’s tried to keep up with repairs, but says it’s tough living on a fixed income. ‘You save and save, and then something else happens with the house,’ Thomas said. ‘It’s crazy.’ Fortunately, Thomas recently received a helping hand on some electrical work from volunteers with the Electrical Connection—a partnership between IBEW Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)—and Rebuilding Together St. Louis.”Senators Introduce Bill to Prevent Loss of Some Railroad Retirement Benefits: “Two senators have introduced legislation that would end reductions to railroad retirement benefits for some retirees or their spouses who continue working in non-railroad jobs after retirement. Unions supporting the bill include the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the Transportation Communications Union.”Union Pacific Settles Dispute with Rail Supplier, Reaches 7-Year Agreement: “‘USW members have proudly produced steel rail for Union Pacific for generations, and as we look to the future, we’re pleased that our nation’s transportation infrastructure will continue to be U.S.- and union-made,’ USW International President Roxanne Brown said in a statement.”NIPSCO, USW Reach Tentative Agreement: “The Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) and the United Steelworkers (USW) have reached a tentative agreement after failed negotiations forced a lockout. The two sides started negotiations in January, but couldn’t reach a new collective bargaining agreement by the expiration of their contract on March 31. That led to a weeks-long lockout that began on April 2, which kept over 1,600 people from work. The agreement is pending ratification by union members. It includes a requirement for union members to stop picketing, leading to the cancellation of scheduled rallies.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/27/2026 - 11:28Continue reading→

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Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: United Steelworkers 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 United Steelworkers (USW). Name of Union: United SteelworkersMission: Helping all workers achieve better wages, greater job security, more reasonable hours and safer working conditions.Current Leadership of Union: Roxanne Brown serves as international president. Myles Sullivan serves as international secretary-treasurer. Emil Ramirez serves as international vice president (administration). Kevin Mapp serves as international vice president (human affairs). Marty Warren serves as the Canadian national director. Amber Miller serves as international vice president at large. Luis Mendoza serves as international vice president.Current Number of Active and Retired Members: 850,000Members Work as: Atomic energy workers; chemical workers; creative, service and technical workers; educators; energy and utilities workers; glassworkers; health care workers; manufacturing workers; metalworkers; mine workers; oil workers; paper and forestry workers; public sector workers; rubber and tire workers; transportation workers and more.Industries Represented: Nearly every industryHistory: The USW’s foundation dates back generations, born of a shared commitment to fighting for better conditions for workers everywhere. In times of war and peace and through economic recession and boom times, USW has remained driven by its core guiding principles: helping all workers achieve better wages, greater job security, more reasonable hours and safer working conditions. USW activism helped end child labor, institute workplace safety laws, champion civil and human rights, and so much more. In 1936, workers formed the Steel Workers Organizing Committee, the precursor to the United Steelworkers union. In 1937, workers launched the “Little Steel” strike to organize workers at Bethlehem, Jones & Laughlin, National and other companies. The strike resulted in police riots, attacks and other hardships for workers, yet led to the successful organization of those companies. Delegates met in Cleveland in 1942 and created the United Steel Workers of America (USWA), electing Philip Murray as their first president. Over the past eight decades, the USW has grown through both organizing and mergers, including the 2005 merger between the USWA and the Paper, Allied Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE). The union has established international alliances and other strategic partnerships, and founded the BlueGreen Alliance alongside the Sierra Club in 2006. The union has long been the leading voice calling for fair trade and manufacturing growth, including infrastructure investments. It has a growing contingent of members who work in nonprofit, technical and higher education fields. Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The USW maintains a number of alliances and strategic partnerships, including the BlueGreen Alliance and the Alliance for American Manufacturing. The union publishes Roxanne Brown’s Stronger Together blog, a quarterly magazine called USW@Work and the monthly Solidarity Works podcast.The USW maintains a growing number of activist opportunities for members to make a difference in their locals, workplaces and communities, including its Civil and Human Rights Department; Emergency Response Team; Rapid Response network; and Veterans of Steel, Next Generation, Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) and Women of Steel programs.The union also has ongoing efforts in organizing and union voter outreach, as well as education and membership development, and health, safety and environmental resources. The USW maintains a directory of products by members.Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/27/2026 - 13:51Continue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Air Ambulance Crews in Nevada and California Join TWU 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. Flight nurses and flight paramedics in northern Nevada and California voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to join the Transport Workers Union (TWU).Employed by REMSA Health, these air ambulance crews regularly perform intense, high-risk rescues in remote areas. The newly minted TWU members cited inadequate compensation and exclusion from important decision-making processes as core motivators for organizing. Despite an aggressive anti-union campaign by management, medical workers are energized and ready to bargain for the fair wages, quality benefits and respect they deserve.“These critical first responders no longer have to fight their callous and dismissive bean-counting bosses alone,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen.“REMSA’s union-busting actions failed miserably during this campaign,” TWU International Organizing Director Angelo Cucuzza said. “I hope, for their sake, the consultants they hired were on a contingency basis. The rehashed garbage they put out brought more workers to the TWU’s side, proving once again the boss is usually the best union organizer.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/27/2026 - 09:27Continue reading→