AFL-CIO
‘Working People Had the Power’: The Working People Weekly List
‘Working People Had the Power’: 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.
Democrats’ Blue Wave Carries Several Union Members to Congress: “Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the federation of 65 unions, argued that organized labor’s infrastructure was a key ingredient in what became a historic blue tsunami. And she said the candidates with union backgrounds were perfect for an election cycle that revolved around the rising cost of living and overly stretched paychecks.”‘Blue Wave Was Union-Made’: Record 639 Union Members Won Elections, AFL-CIO Says: “‘This blue wave was union-made. The billionaires had the money in this election, but working people had the power,’ said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. ‘The people who make this country run issued a clear mandate… Speaking with a unified voice, workers demanded that their elected leaders fight to raise their wages and lower costs, expand access to healthcare and unions, hold billionaire CEOs accountable, and check the Trump administration’s attacks on their freedoms.’”UFCW Celebrates Election Results, Outlines Priorities: “Officials with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union celebrated the results of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, which gave Democratic Party candidates control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, led by pro-union legislators. UFCW said it is optimistic about what the results mean to the 1.2 million frontline workers it represents across the country who will benefit from the Democrats’ commitment to address affordability issues and protect U.S. workers. ‘By successfully flipping both chambers of Congress and electing union-backed candidates to governors’ mansions and state legislatures across the country, American workers sent a resounding message that they are ready for a new path,’ said Milton Jones, UFCW International president. ‘They expect lawmakers to show up for them by making life more affordable, protecting their rights on the job and standing with them against the megacorporations.’”How a Logger from Maine Toppled a Giant of the Senate: “Troy Jackson was nobody’s first choice to run for the U.S. Senate from Maine. Only weeks before stumbling into one of most consequential races in the country, he had come in third in the Democratic primary for governor. He looked like a political washout. But today he is a giant slayer, having toppled a five-term Republican incumbent, Senator Susan Collins, in Tuesday’s election. How Mr. Jackson, a former logger and state lawmaker from a struggling northern outpost, got from there to here—in just 101 days, no less—is an extraordinary story of the man meeting the moment.”The New Jersey State AFL-CIO Achieves a Historic 91% Win Rate for 2026 Labor Candidates: “We are proud to announce that as of this morning, our union brother Charles Hassler (IBEW Local 94) won his election for Salem County Commissioner. This brings our total number of wins for our labor candidates to 40 out of 44, resulting in a staggering 91% win rate for our labor candidates this year. To view the New Jersey election results click here. To date, our Labor Candidates’ Program has resulted in the election of 1,396 union members to office who have gone on to pass pro-worker legislation at every level of government, and protect our fundamental rights as union members, resulting in equality for all working people, and a raised standard of living. Their continued contributions demonstrate the importance of our Labor Candidates Program. With each labor candidate victory, we are ensuring that generations of union members to come will continue to exercise the freedoms that members of our movement have fought and died for. Together, we will continue to build a stronger labor movement.”Ann Arbor Reaches Tentative Agreement with Union, Potentially Ending Long Standoff: “The city of Ann Arbor and AFSCME Local 369 have reached a tentative agreement for a new three-year labor contract after several months of negotiation, mediation and public demonstrations by the union at city hall.”‘Which Side Are You On’: D.C.’s Top Union Boss on What Comes After the Election: “Liz Shuler, who leads the largest labor coalition in the country, has a warning for politicians hoping to run in 2028: The next two years will be a ‘which-side-are-you-on moment.’ The AFL-CIO president is laser-focused on how artificial intelligence could reshape the workforce, a topic she said is a ‘litmus test’ heading into the next presidential election. The goal, she said, is avoiding the same kind of disruptive pain that workers experienced during globalization, when people saw their jobs outsourced while the government provided little in terms of a safety net.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 11/09/2026 – 14:52
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: ALPA Members at PSA Airlines Secure Contract Extension
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: ALPA Members at PSA Airlines Secure Contract Extension
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.
Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) members announced on Wednesday that their elected union leaders approved an agreement with PSA Airlines that extends their current contract through 2030 and establishes new pay increases.The regional airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group. ALPA represents some 2,260 PSA pilots who won changes to scheduling, work rules and more in this contract extension.“This contract extension was possible because our pilots spoke up and our union leaders, negotiators, and the company listened,” said Capt. Chris Sabia, Master Executive Council (MEC) chair of the PSA unit of ALPA. “PSA pilots contribute not only to the success of their own airline but also to the success of American Airlines. This extension delivers pay improvements and recognizes those contributions. Pilots at every wholly owned carrier deserve the same: pay that is secured in the contract. No matter the carrier, we stand in solidarity, and PSA pilots join in support of each pilot group as they work toward their goals.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 11/09/2026 – 10:10
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: SAG-AFTRA Members Ratify New TV Animation Contracts
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: SAG-AFTRA Members Ratify New TV Animation Contracts
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.
Members of SAG-AFTRA last week overwhelmingly ratified the 2026 Television Animation Agreement and the 2026 Basic Cable Animation Agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).Highlights of the contracts include enhanced guardrails around the use of artificial intelligence (AI), a 12.6% wage increase, improvements to the health plan and pension and retirement plans, and more.“As someone who often works in TV animation, my heartfelt thanks goes out to the TV Animation Negotiating Committee and co-chairs Bob Bergen and David Jolliffe for putting in the time and effort to get SAG-AFTRA members a dignified deal with essential AI protections,” said SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin.“SAG-AFTRA members who work in TV Animation are entitled to meaningful protections around AI and wages that reflect the value of their labor,” said National Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 11/06/2026 – 10:39
Worker Wins: ‘This Blue Wave Was Union-Made’
Worker Wins: ‘This Blue Wave Was Union-Made’
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Labor Movement Organizing Powers Pro-Worker Majorities in Congress: Union voters mobilized in historic numbers to secure sweeping landmark victories up and down the ballot across the country, including a record number of union member candidates elected to office. The organizing was driven by the AFL-CIO’s largest-ever midterm mobilization, with a singular focus on the pocketbook issues voters said were their top priority. At the 30th AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention in June, the nation’s largest labor federation set a goal of turning out at least 2 million more union voters in this election than in 2022. To reach that, AFL-CIO turned out tens of thousands of volunteers, who reached more than 16 million union voters. The program made a concerted effort by reaching out to several million disengaged voters, many of whom lived in a union member’s household but had never previously been contacted by a union volunteer. As a direct result of this work, union voters turned out in historic numbers. Exit polls showed union households voted 21 points more for Democrats than Republicans nationwide, shaping results that were decisive for control of Congress. “This blue wave was union-made. The billionaires had the money in this election, but working people had the power,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “The people who make this country run issued a clear mandate last night. Speaking with a unified voice, workers demanded that their elected leaders fight to raise their wages and lower costs, expand access to health care and unions, hold billionaire CEOs accountable, and check the Trump administration’s attacks on their freedoms. The labor movement is ready to work with these newly elected members of Congress, governors and state legislators on a bold agenda to deliver real change for the working class.” The AFL-CIO’s program operated in 35 states and powered watershed election results: 639 union members and counting have been elected—which means a record high number of union members will be seated in elected office next year. Troy Jackson in Maine, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico in Texas, Bob Brooks in Pennsylvania, Brian Poindexter in Ohio, Sam Forstag in Montana and many other prominent candidates are card-carrying union members. The labor movement’s deep, year-round, nationwide infrastructure was behind further historic gubernatorial and congressional victories: Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, Josh Turek and Rob Sand in Iowa, Adam Hamilton in Kansas, Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton in Ohio, Annie Andrews in South Carolina, as well as House districts. Working people overcame decades of brutal attacks on their rights to overhaul state governments across the country. They won trifectas in Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and took back the statehouses in North Carolina and Georgia. Union voters broke seven legislative supermajorities in Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio and South Carolina. A seven-figure paid digital and streaming media campaign that hyper-targeted union members and households in 39 key House and Senate races. The ads featured real union members’ voices that generated more than 221 million unique impressions across all races, with a 65% to 72% completion rate, showing strong engagement with the content. The AFL-CIO wasted no time in organizing and talking to working people about the pain they were feeling under President Trump’s economy—including in battleground states—kicking off at the beginning of 2025. Through our Department of People Who Work for a Living field hearings, a 26-state bus tour and door-to-door blitzes in key districts in spring 2026, union members built and deepened relationships through consistent, ongoing engagement with voters across the country. Since Labor Day, union volunteers have reached 14.9 million voters at the door, on the phone and in the worksite to solidify support for a pro-worker Congress. Every conversation had unique value, given the high degree of trust union families have with union members, who research shows are among the most credible messengers in the country. Union voters also were among the most enthusiastic in the nation to go to the polls. 83% of union members reported being “very motivated” to vote, a 10-point increase from 2022. Union P.O.W.E.R., a 50-state election protection program, trained more than 30,000 union volunteers, deployed 54 election protection coordinators across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, along with dozens of highly trained union lawyers to 24 states under particular threat from the Trump administration. These lawyers and volunteers were on the ground in the weeks leading up to and on Election Day, and they will continue to work in the field to ensure every ballot is counted.Ushers at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills Joining IATSE: Ushers at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts voted overwhelmingly to join the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local B-192. The newly unionized unit covers 23 ushers at the Beverly Hills venue. The ushers first began organizing years ago, but the effort was renewed this spring with a majority of the group signing cards in August and the petition for an election being filed shortly thereafter. “Our Local has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, and we continue to find opportunities to organize and strengthen our Local by providing the benefits of union membership for thousands of workers in the Los Angeles area,” said Nicole Miller, president of IATSE Local B-192. “Welcoming the Ushers at The Wallis is indicative of workers rising up and recognizing the value of union representation, and of IATSE in particular.” An usher who voted in favor of joining Local B-192 described what the victory means: “IATSE representation gives us a newfound power to come together and make meaningful improvements to life as a Wallis Usher. For most of us, this is our second or even third job. We do it because we love being around theatre and music, and we are very much not in it for the money. At the same time, I believe that our work is important and we deserve to be paid a living wage. I am excited to begin the bargaining process and optimistic that we can work with management to achieve many of our goals and make the Wallis a better place to work.”29 Graduate from Missouri Works Initiative Apprenticeship Programs: Twenty-nine students graduated Oct. 16 from the Missouri Works Initiative’s Apprenticeship Ready programs at the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 hall in St. Louis. Eighteen came from the Apprenticeship Ready in Construction (ARC) program, and 11 from the Apprenticeship Ready in Manufacturing (ARM) program. “I want to congratulate you guys,” said Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel. “We know this is a lot of work and a lot of effort to get here, but I can promise you that it’s worth it. These are life-changing careers, and it’s been amazing what you guys have been able to accomplish.” The five-week programs, supported by the Missouri AFL-CIO, are designed to address critical workforce shortages in the general supply chain, aerospace, manufacturing, transportation and construction sectors. The initiative connects underrepresented, underemployed and unemployed individuals with high-paying union jobs, offering resources, support and access to opportunities to build sustainable careers. “Not everybody can get up early in these conditions and put in the work that we do, but we’re cut from a different cloth so just have pride in your work,” said ARC graduate Jordan Ramsey-Williams, who is joining Ironworkers Local 396. Learn more about the Missouri Works Initiative and its ARC and ARM programs.WGAE Members at RadicalMedia Ratify First Union Contract: Staff at RadicalMedia—who are represented by Writers Guild of America East (WGAE)—have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. These WGAE members are behind popular nonfiction titles such as “This Is a Gardening Show,” “Conversations with a Killer,” “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich” and more. Highlights of the contract include new rate minimums that increase 2% annually, paid holidays and bereavement leave, comp days for extra days worked, and more. WGAE Vice President of Film, Television and Streaming Michael Rauch said, “We’re thrilled RadicalMedia workers secured their first union contract. This agreement builds on protections nonfiction production workers have gone without for too long, including rest periods, pay when production is paused on short notice, paid holidays and health care contributions. With RadicalMedia joining a growing list of organized nonfiction shops, the message to the industry is clear: union standards are becoming the norm.” “We’re excited to have reached our first union contract with RadicalMedia and consider it an important milestone on the path to organizing the entire Nonfiction industry,” the bargaining committee said. “We’re especially proud to have won participation in the Flex Plan, as health insurance is often out of reach for those of us working in a freelance environment.”Simmons University Adjuncts Reach Their First Tentative Agreement: After more than a year of contract negotiations, collective actions and growing community support, adjunct faculty at Simmons University, members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 509, reached their first tentative collective bargaining agreement. Highlights of the tentative contract include strong raises for all adjuncts; course assignment priority and pay increases for returning adjuncts; enforceable protections against discrimination, improper discipline and the erosion of academic freedom; an improved orientation and evaluation process; and expanded professional development funding and tuition remission benefits. Members of the union must still vote to approve the contract.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 11/05/2026 – 13:33
Tags:
Organizing
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Simmons University Adjuncts Reach Their First Tentative Agreement
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Simmons University Adjuncts Reach Their First Tentative 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.
After more than a year of contract negotiations, collective actions and growing community support, adjunct faculty at Simmons University, members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 509, reached their first tentative collective bargaining agreement.Highlights of the tentative contract include strong raises for all adjuncts; course assignment priority and pay increases for returning adjuncts; enforceable protections against discrimination, improper discipline and the erosion of academic freedom; an improved orientation and evaluation process; and expanded professional development funding and tuition remission benefits.Members of the union must still vote to approve the contract.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 11/05/2026 – 10:19
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Secretary-Treasurer Redmond Speaks at Get-Out-the-Vote Rally in Jacksonville, Fla.
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Secretary-Treasurer Redmond Speaks at Get-Out-the-Vote Rally in Jacksonville, Fla.
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.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joined union members and community leaders in Jacksonville, Florida, for a get-out-the-vote rally last week hosted by International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1408 and its president, Warren Smith. Held at the union hall, the event brought together workers, families and supporters, along with Senate candidate Angie Nixon, gubernatorial candidate David Jolly and his running mate, former Rep. Gwen Graham. Redmond urged union members to make their voices heard at the ballot box and elect leaders who will fight for good jobs, better wages and an economy that works for working families. The rally featured music, a community fish fry and a shared commitment to mobilizing working people in the final days before the election.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 11/03/2026 – 10:57
Tags:
Elections 2026
‘Rest in Power, Sister Dolores’: The Working People Weekly List
‘Rest in Power, Sister Dolores’: 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.
How One Huge Labor Union Is Reaching This Election’s Swing Voters: “UNITE HERE, which boasts more than 300,000 members across the country, tells its organizers to zero in on voters’ personal financial situations before seeking support for Democratic candidates. In Texas, a doorknocker for the union might reference last year’s Hilton Americas-Houston hotel strike before pivoting to telling a voter that Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico and gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa supported workers’ drive for a higher wage. ‘That’s more what we find effective, because there is an apathy about Democrats in general,’ Gwen Mills, UNITE HERE’s president, told Semafor. ‘We talk about the agency that workers and working-class people have to change their lives through their union, and then through voting. That’s a different angle into having a conversation about the election.’”Abdul El-Sayed Joins City and Union Leaders at Detroit Rally: “With eight days left until the general election, the battle for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat continues to be one of the most closely watched races. Both candidates were back on the campaign trail Monday, and the United Auto Workers held a press conference for Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed was back in Detroit, meeting with city council members and representatives from local unions. ‘You have a choice between a corporate-backed politician who made millions off of his time in public service, who wants to do the bidding of the worst president to ever serve in the office, Donald Trump, who cannot stand up to the wrong war, cannot stand up to the tariff war, and will certainly not stand up for Detroiters,’ El-Sayed said.”PWHL and Union Reach Agreement to Expand Rosters and Increase Minimum Salaries Entering 4th Season: “The PWHL and its union on Thursday announced reaching an agreement to increase each team’s active roster by one player and a stepped-up jump in minimum annual base salaries over the remaining five years of their existing collective bargaining agreement. The changes reflect the league’s growth in popularity and coincide with the PWHL expanding to 12 teams by adding four new franchises entering its fourth season, which opens Dec. 5. ‘The PWHL and PWHLPA remain committed to working collaboratively to advance player opportunities, compensation, and the continued growth of professional women’s hockey,’ the league and PWHL Players Association said in a joint press release.”National Beef Workers in Liberal, Kansas, Ratify Union Contract: “Today, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 2 announced the ratification of a five-year collective bargaining agreement at the National Beef plant in Kansas, which will bring significant wage increases, bonuses, and additional time off to more than 2,600 workers through 2031. UFCW Local 2 President Martin Rosas said, ‘Our union is incredibly proud to have negotiated this collective bargaining agreement, which members made possible by trusting and supporting each other. We are fully committed to securing fair wages, strong benefits, and safe working conditions for all workers in the meatpacking industry. That can only be achieved through solidarity.’”AFL-CIO Drafting ‘Gold-Standard’ AI Legislation: “The AFL-CIO is drafting its own ‘gold-standard’ AI legislation it hopes lawmakers can pass next Congress, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler told Semafor. The bill, which will touch on ‘worker protections and privacy and data protections’ as well as ‘ideas around economic impacts,’ will be the union federation’s ‘highest priority,’ Shuler added. Shuler has sought to use AI to mobilize voters this election cycle, even as data centers divide organized labor and invite public backlash. ‘The changes that are happening in the workplace that feel so out of control [have] people feeling extremely anxious and uncertain, and I think that’s only increased since’ June, Shuler said, calling data center pushback ‘the way that it is manifesting.’”Remembering Labor Leader Dolores Huerta: “AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler: ‘Our sister Dolores Huerta was a giant, an icon and a hero who kicked open the tightly shut doors of opportunity for me and countless others in the labor movement. Sending love and support to her family, her union family, and the millions she inspired with her courage and fight. I’m especially thinking of all the women and immigrant workers who saw Dolores Huerta lead so powerfully, from the fields of California to the halls of Capitol Hill. When we say ‘¡Sí, se puede!’ we bring those words to life through organizing and carry on her legacy. What an honor it has been for all of us to stand on the same picket line as Dolores Huerta for fairness and justice. Rest in power, sister Dolores. Your fight will continue in all of us.’”Workers at Joplin, Missouri, Dispensary Vote to Join Union: “Workers at the Greenlight Marijuana Dispensary in Joplin, Missouri, voted to unionize, joining the UFCW Local 2. The 21 workers said they organized to seek better job security, more consistent scheduling, equitable tip distribution, better pay, and protection from unilateral corporate changes. In a statement, Kelli Jones, a budtender, cited job security as ‘crucial’ for the workers, noting that the dispensary was recently acquired by Good Day Farm.”Wisconsin Electrical Union Highlights Demand for Skilled Workers: “Electrical Workers Union IBEW Local 158 in Green Bay says Wisconsin needs more electricians, and officials say the career benefits both the state and workers who enter the trade. The union says it is a good career option for young people. Depending on certification, workers can sometimes earn close to $80,000 a year fresh out of high school, according to the union. ‘Our apprenticeship programs give young people the opportunity to earn while they learn with scheduled wage increases as they complete their required training and work hours,’ said Scott Evenstad, with IBEW Local 158 Membership Development.”New California Law Aimed at Protecting Utility Workers from Assault: “As part of its advocacy efforts, members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245 shared firsthand experiences of being harassed or subjected to violence while on the job. ‘Utility workers perform dangerous work every day to keep California’s communities powered and safe,’ IBEW 1245 Business Manager Bob Dean said in the release. ‘Being attacked on the job should never be one of those risks.’”IATSE’s First Tech Czar Wants Crew Members Involved in the Creation of AI Tools: “As the use of AI in Hollywood ramps up, the entertainment industry’s top crew union has hired a dedicated staffer to help them navigate this brave and uncertain new world. Enter Jillian Arnold, the more than 170,000-person labor group’s first labor and technology intelligence officer, tasked with keeping the union abreast of technological developments and protecting its workers. With a jurisdiction spanning the U.S. and Canada, she’s set to get involved in contract negotiations, reskilling and upskilling initiatives and federal and state policy efforts.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 11/02/2026 – 15:59
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: President Shuler Canvasses on Halloween in Iowa
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: President Shuler Canvasses on Halloween in Iowa
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.
Three days before Election Day, nearly 100 Iowa union members kicked off a Saturday morning Halloween canvass from Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 347 in Des Moines. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Iowa Federation of Labor President Charlie Wishman rallied the crowd alongside former Sen. Tom Harkin and union-endorsed candidates Rob Sand for governor, Josh Turek for U.S. Senate, and Sarah Trone Garriott for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District.Iowa union volunteers have already exceeded their door-knocking goal this cycle and are pushing to reach even more union households before polls close. Canvassing and phone banking continue through Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.“This economy isn’t working for working people; the rules are stacked against us. Fortunately, what I see here in Iowa are candidates from top to bottom on this ticket who are going to fight for workers,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.“Iowa’s union families know what’s at stake. Rob Sand, Josh Turek and Sarah Trone Garriott have stood with working people, and this weekend we’re standing with them. Every door we knock between now and Tuesday counts and will make the difference,” said Wishman.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 11/02/2026 – 10:11
Tags:
Elections 2026
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: WGAE Members at RadicalMedia Ratify First Union Contract
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: WGAE Members at RadicalMedia Ratify First Union Contract
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 RadicalMedia—who are represented by Writers Guild of America East (WGAE)—have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement.These WGAE members are behind popular nonfiction titles such as “This Is a Gardening Show,” “Conversations with a Killer,” “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich” and more. Highlights of the contract include new rate minimums that increase 2% annually, paid holidays and bereavement leave, comp days for extra days worked, and more.WGAE Vice President of Film, Television and Streaming Michael Rauch said, “We’re thrilled RadicalMedia workers secured their first union contract. This agreement builds on protections nonfiction production workers have gone without for too long, including rest periods, pay when production is paused on short notice, paid holidays and health care contributions. With RadicalMedia joining a growing list of organized nonfiction shops, the message to the industry is clear: union standards are becoming the norm.”“We’re excited to have reached our first union contract with RadicalMedia and consider it an important milestone on the path to organizing the entire Nonfiction industry,” the bargaining committee said. “We’re especially proud to have won participation in the Flex Plan, as health insurance is often out of reach for those of us working in a freelance environment.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 10/30/2026 – 10:23
Worker Wins: ‘Each One of Us Cares Deeply About Our Work’
Worker Wins: ‘Each One of Us Cares Deeply About Our Work’
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
CommonWealth Beacon Staff Win Voluntary Recognition: Staff at the CommonWealth Beacon have successfully won voluntary recognition as members of The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA). MassINC, the nonprofit that publishes the digital news outlet, informed workers that they were ready to move forward with negotiations with the CommonWealth Beacon Guild bargaining unit following a vote by the board of directors. “To get truly impactful reporting that educates the public and holds power to account, you need journalists who can develop expertise, build out sourcing, and refine their craft with a sense of stability,” said Chris Lisinski, a senior reporter at CommonWealth who covers Beacon Hill and transportation. “Each one of us cares deeply about our work, and coming together as a union gives us the tools to do the best job possible.”Corvallis City Workers Return to Jobs After Successful Work Stoppage: City workers in Corvallis, Oregon—who are represented by AFSCME Local 2975—have approved a new contract with the city after a powerful nine-day strike. Highlights of the agreement include pay increases, a new step for the wage schedule, a $1,000 ratification bonus, improved safety language and more. “We are glad that we were able to come to a deal that meets most of our members’ needs, while also addressing the limitations of our city budget,” said Evan Newton, president of Local 2975. “I’m so proud of this union for coming together to make this happen. This is what happens when workers stand united to fight for what we deserve.” Ford Plant Health Clinic Providers Vote to Join UAW: This month, health care workers at the Ford Chicago Stamping Plant and Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant have joined the UAW, following in the footsteps of their colleagues at the Ford Chicago Assembly plant who voted to organize in April. The new members include three registered nurses and one physician assistant, who is the first physician assistant to be added to the Ford Salaried Agreement. “I’m excited to welcome the nurses at the Chicago Stamping Plant to the UAW,” Region 4 Director Lucas DeSpain said. “They work for Ford too, and they deserve the ability to protect their rights and interests just like their coworkers on the line do.” “The nurses, physician assistants, and other health care providers at Ford plants play a vital role in keeping our members healthy and safe at work. We are honored to have them join our union. We look forward to protecting their rights and ensuring they are also treated fairly by Ford,” said UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson, Ford Department Director. “Ford plant clinic workers are welcome in the UAW, and we encourage them to join us.”Hundreds of Rhode Island Hospital Physicians Ratify First Contract: Resident physicians and fellows at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence—who are members of the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/Service Employees International Union [SEIU])—have overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first union contract. The bargaining unit covers 700 resident physicians and fellows at the hospital, which is the largest facility in the state and part of Brown University Health. Highlights of the deal include a 12% total increase to base pay, lower health insurance premiums, 401(k) matching of up to 6% and more. “We believe that the people of Rhode Island deserve excellent care and we want to do everything in our power to advocate for that, while making sure that we’re also able to care for ourselves and attend to our own well-being,” said Ben Raymond-Kolker, MD, an internal medicine-pediatrics resident.Ohio Public Defenders Win Powerful First Contract: Staff at the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office in Ohio—who are members of AFSCME Local 4652, an affiliate of AFSCME Ohio Council 8—have secured a powerful first collective bargaining agreement. Under the name Montgomery County Public Defender Collective (MCPD Collective), members of the bargaining unit defend the rights of Ohioans to a fair trial and due process. Highlights of the contract include 12 weeks of paid parental leave, a formal promotion and grievance process, annual raises, and more. “I’m incredibly proud of our members for standing together to achieve our first collective bargaining agreement,” said Mike Dailey, an assistant public defender at MCPD. “This is an important step forward for the dedicated attorneys and staff who work every day to protect the rights of our clients.” Dattner Architects Launch Effort to Join IAM Union: Workers at New York City-based architecture firm Dattner Architects have requested voluntary recognition from management as they seek to join the IAM Union. This is the latest organizing effort for the IAM-affiliated Architectural Workers United. If the campaign is successful, it would make Dattner the largest union-represented firm in the country. “As members of Dattner Architects, we recognize and believe in the vision and the intent of our firm to create equitable communities, and we believe our firm can become a model for the future direction of architecture,” workers said in a statement. “Unionizing will provide us with a framework to negotiate alongside leadership, shape decisions that affect us, and strengthen the culture we value.”Chicago Public Schools Lunchroom Workers Reach Tentative Agreement: UNITE HERE Local 1 has reached a new agreement covering the approximately 1,800 lunchroom workers who keep Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students fed. Members, who are among the lowest-paid CPS employees, approved the contract with more than 95% approval. Still pending final ratification by the school board, the deal includes a new minimum hourly pay of $21—up by $4 an hour from the previous agreement. “Our contract brings up their pay considerably, and brings them basically up to the same pay rates as the custodians,” said Patrick Griffin, Local 1’s organizing director. “We’re all very happy that they’re going to be compensated in a much more fair way going forward. The workers have really been eager to get back to feeding the students. They love what they do, and this campaign has been about what it is going to take to make sure they have the tools they need to do that.”Embarcadero Media Foundation Wins Union Contract: Embarcadero Media Foundation staff represented by Pacific Media Workers Guild-CWA Local 39521 have ratified their first union contract. The 20 reporters, editors, designers and photo staff at the Silicon Valley-based media nonprofit make up the Embarcadero Community News Guild. The deal comes after nearly a year and a half of negotiations and contains major wins like a median 10% wage increase, job security protections, vision insurance coverage and more. “This deal is the result of countless hours of work from former and current members and staff at Pacific Media Workers Guild, and we’re proud to see these long sought-after benefits and protections being implemented for our newsroom,” said Julia Brown, Embarcadero Community News Guild chair and a member of the union’s bargaining committee. “Local news is more important than ever, and our contract protects the reporters, editors, designers and photographers who form the backbone of our newsroom and keep our communities informed,” said bargaining committee member Riley Cooke.Arizona IAM Members Secure New Contract With Raytheon: IAM Union (IAM) Local 933 members in Tucson, Arizona, have ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with Raytheon. This new contract covers more than 2,200 hourly workers and contains a number of major victories. Members won an average compounded wage increase of 24% over the lifetime of the deal, expanded education and training opportunities, paid time off improvements, and more. “Meeting the demand for these defense systems starts with taking care of the workers who build them,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Local 933 members know their work, they know their worth, and they stood together. This agreement delivers gains they can be proud of and helps secure the skilled workforce this industry needs.” “A lot of our members have built their lives around these jobs,” said IAM Local 933 President and Directing Business Representative Junior Alegria. “Their homes are here, their kids go to school here, and they want to keep doing this work in Tucson. This contract gives them more reason to feel good about that future. They earned it, and they had the final say.”Staff at The Fresh Grocer Ratify New Contract: United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 152 members who work for The Fresh Grocer have ratified a new four-year collective bargaining agreement. The contract covers meat, seafood and deli department staff at two Philadelphia-area locations. After approving the deal, members received immediate, across-the-board wage increases. Other wins include increased contributions to workers’ retirement savings plan, expanded bereavement leave and more. “Congratulations to members of Fresh Grocer on ratifying a strong new collective bargaining agreement that benefits everyone,” said UFCW Local 152 Recorder/Executive Vice President Lisa Sanders. “The workers now have higher starting rates, annual wage increases, additional paid time off, and they maintain their good union benefits.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 10/29/2026 – 14:10
Tags:
Organizing