‘Union Contracts Raise Pay for Workers’: 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.
Liz Shuler & Heidi Shierholz: Unions Are the Key to America’s Cost of Living Crisis: “Ask an everyday working American, and they’ll likely tell you there’s something fundamentally wrong with our economy. Across industries, big cities, and small towns, working people are struggling. Their paychecks aren’t stretching far enough. They stress over every expense and struggle to cover rent and electric bills, let alone take their families to dinner once in a while. Meanwhile, our research shows that top CEOs gave themselves massive raises in 2025 and now make well over 300 times what typical workers are paid. As everything gets more and more expensive, we believe there is a powerful solution: unions. Union contracts raise pay for workers.”
Fredrick D. Redmond & Fredrick C. Ingram: All Skinfolk Ain’t Kinfolk: “Byron Donalds wants to be Florida’s next governor. Not on our watch. Our stance is rooted in an old saying coined by Floridian Zora Neale Hurston in her final major nonfiction work, Dust Tracks on a Road, set in Florida. ‘All skinfolk ain’t kinfolk’ is an idiom that distinguishes shared identity from shared interests. The congressman has done little to advance the cause of Black workers. In fact, on the AFL-CIO’s legislative scorecard, which tracks how legislators vote on the issues and policies that matter to working people, Rep. Donalds has voted against working people every time except once—giving him a lifetime score of 1%.”
Workers at Union Loafers, 2 Other St. Louis Restaurants Vote to Unionize: “Workers at three area restaurants are now in a union. Employees at Union Loafers Cafe, Bagel Union and The Station voted on Wednesday to unionize by a vote of 51-6. Once the union vote is certified by the National Labor Relations Board, the union can begin to bargain with ownership. They’re looking for a contract that includes more pay, better working conditions and more input on workplace decisions.”
Flint Council Approves Ratified Contracts with Unions Representing 100s of City Employees: “Ratified contracts between the city of Flint and two labor unions representing more than 230 city employees have been granted final approval. The Flint City Council approved contracts ratified by rank and filed members of AFSCME Local 1600 and the Flint Police Sergeants Union in a 6-0 vote following a closed session at its meeting on Monday, Oct. 12.”
Princeton City Schools Bus Drivers Approve New Four-Year Agreement, Ending Strike: “The union representing Princeton City Schools bus drivers has ratified a new four-year agreement with transportation company First Student, clearing the way for drivers to return to work. Members of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 184 approved the agreement Wednesday with ‘overwhelming support,’ according to a statement provided to WLWT.”
Houston Symphony and Musicians Agree on New Four-Year Contract: “The Houston Symphony and its players, represented by the American Federation of Musicians Local 65-699, have recently announced that they have agreed upon a new four-year collective bargaining agreement, which will run until October 5, 2030. Over the course of the new contract, the players will receive tiered pay increases of 3%, 3.5% and 4.25%. In addition, the size of the orchestra will be expanded to 95 players, which includes the addition of three new string jobs and two librarian positions.”
Ascension Via Christi Nurses Vote to Ratify Contract: “Ascension nurses at Via Christi St. Francis and St. Joseph approved a new, three-year contract on Wednesday, according to the National Nurses United union. It came after nurses went on strike in July over patient safety and workplace violence. ‘We were able to win key improvements on all our priority issues,’ St. Joseph nurse Marvin Ruckle said in a statement. ‘Patients will be safer, and nurses will stay at our hospitals because of this agreement.’ The union said the contract includes the following: safe staffing improvements, workplace violence prevention, a 17- to 24% pay increase over three years and additional paid holidays.”
Unions Sustain 10-Year High in Discharge Labor Arbitration Wins: “The percentage of union victories in labor arbitration termination disputes reached a 10-year high in 2025, and doubled from 15% to 30% between 2021 and 2025, according to Bloomberg Law data. Additionally, the percentage of union wins held steady from 2023 to 2025, suggesting that the landscape is moving in labor’s favor.”
Museum of History & Industry Workers Vote to Unionize: “Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) workers have voted to unionize. According to The Seattle Times, nonprofessional workers voted 16-1 Thursday in favor of forming MOHAI Workers United. Employees in education, programs, special events, and visitor services are classified as nonprofessional workers. The vote follows an organizing campaign announced earlier this fall. Workers cited concerns about pay, staffing shortages, and employee turnover, according to earlier reporting by The Seattle Times.”
AC Transit Ratifies Collective Bargaining Agreement with Employees’ Union: “The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District on Friday announced it had ratified a bargaining agreement with the union representing more than 300 of its employees. The agreement reached with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3916 offers greater stability and certainty for members while reinforcing workforce stability.”