Worker Wins: ‘A Meaningful Voice In the Decisions that Affect Them’

Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.

Butterball Sanitation Workers Vote to Join UFCW: Sanitation workers at the Butterball plant in Raeford, North Carolina, have voted to form a union with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1208. These members play an essential role in the facility, cleaning and preparing it for daily production. The core issues that motivated them to join UFCW included pay and safety concerns, problems with favoritism and the need for a fairer career advancement process. Workers stood strong against anti-union rhetoric to secure this powerful Southern organizing victory.

SLU Graduate Student Workers Vote to Ratify Contract: Graduate workers at Saint Louis University (SLU), who are represented by UAW Local 6690, have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. Under the name Graduate Workers of SLU Union-UAW, academic staff at the private Jesuit research university have been negotiating since they first organized in 2024. “SLU preaches Cura Personalis, and protecting graduate workers is a clear example of caring for the whole person,” said union member Grayson Arnold in an op-ed. “Graduate workers’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness all directly relate to how we show up as students and employees. When graduate workers are less stressed, they’re better equipped to teach their class or lab and to form impactful connections with their undergraduate students. With this win, the whole university benefits.”

Firefighters Agree to 3-Year Contract with City of Somerville, Secure Wage and Benefit Increases: Members of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 76 in Somerville, Mass., agreed to a new three-year contract, covering July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. Local 76 members have ratified the contract, and the Somerville City Council has voted to fund it. The contract includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment in each year of the contract; an additional 2% pay increase for firefighters with 20 or more years of service; an increase in the annual EMT certification stipend to $6,000; a new emergency medical response stipend that begins at $1,000 before increasing to $2,000 in the agreement’s second year; the establishment of a city-funded cancer-screening account of $50,000 that will be replenished annually; 18 sick days annually; the use of up to 10 sick days for an approved Family and Medical Leave Act absence to care for an immediate family member; and eight weeks of paid maternity leave for employees who give birth. “Local 76 would like to thank Mayor Wilson and his team for keeping true to their word and putting the work in to get this agreement done,” said Local 76 President Mike Jefferson. “This is what bargaining in good faith looks like, having a contract done in a timely manner and not waiting years to come to an agreement like we had become so accustomed to in the past.”

Workers at Cooperative Development Institute Win Voluntary Union Recognition: Workers at the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) in Northampton, Massachusetts, received voluntary recognition from management for their union, CDI Workers United (CDIWU), on Aug. 31. CDIWU represents 30 CDI employees and is affiliated with the Providence Newspaper Guild, The NewsGuild-CWA Local 31041. Workers are organizing to secure meaningful participation in workplace decisions, transparency, accountability, equitable working conditions, and a desire to strengthen communication across programs and throughout the organization. “We organized because we believe deeply in CDI and in the cooperative values that guide our work,” said Addy Schuetz, a member of CDIWU. “Every day, we help communities build structures that give people a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect them. We believe workers deserve that same opportunity. Forming CDI Workers United gives us a way to bring those values more fully into our own workplace and to work together toward a stronger, more sustainable CDI.”

Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Job Application Loyalty Question After Unions File Suit: On Friday, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from requiring federal agency job applicants to write an essay about their favorite Trump administration initiative, siding with AFGE, AFSCME and the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), an affiliate of SEIU, in their lawsuit. Unions filed a complaint after the Office of Personnel Management issued a “merit hiring plan” in May 2025. The court found that this unlawful requirement violates the First Amendment, the Administrative Procedure Act and the Privacy Act. This is a major win for public service workers and the communities we serve,” said AFSCME President Patrick Moran. “These ‘loyalty questions’ are a blatantly illegal attempt to hire partisan cronies who would endanger our communities by putting politics before people, rather than dedicated, qualified public service workers.” “Requiring federal job applicants to answer politically motivated questions goes against the very nature of the nonpartisan civil service, and we are pleased the judge has put an immediate stop to the administration’s loyalty questions. Federal employees should be hired based solely on their ability to perform the job–not their allegiance to any particular administration,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. “Today’s ruling makes clear that hiring in the federal workforce cannot be turned into a political loyalty question,” said David J. Holway, national president of NAGE. “Federal jobs are not political rewards, and public service is not conditioned on allegiance to a president.”

Hofstra Faculty Approve New Five-Year Union Contract: Faculty at Hofstra University—who are members of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), an affiliate of AFT—have ratified a new contract. Union members overwhelmingly approved the agreement last week, securing annual raises of between 3% and 3.5% over the lifetime of the five-year deal. “Months of hard work, extensive negotiations, and active participation by our membership and community achieved this outcome,” AAUP Hofstra said in a statement. “We thank our members for their participation and unity throughout the entire process; hundreds attended meetings, participated in an on-campus rally, voted to support job actions, signed strike pledges, mobilized their networks to sign a petition to President Poser, shared their views, and took part in the final contract vote.”

Fort Wayne Philharmonic Musicians Secure New Agreement: The Fort Wayne Musicians Association, American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 58, has reached a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Highlights of the new contract include approximately 30% in cumulative wage increases over the life of the deal, higher employer-paid pension contributions, enhanced family benefits and more. This agreement will allow the Philharmonic to attract and retain talented AFM members while it expands programming and community engagement projects for patrons in Northeast Indiana. “Our new agreement brings Musicians meaningful gains in wages, additional work weeks and a bolstered benefits package, while also improving the audition, probation and tenure processes for the newest members of our orchestra,” said Philharmonic Players’ Association Chair Debra Welter. “We look forward to our continued partnership with the Philharmonic Board, management and staff as we bring symphonic music to audiences across Northeast Indiana.”

Labcorp Workers in Atlanta To Vote To Join IUPAT: Labcorp workers in the Metro Atlanta area will be voting this week to join the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), District Council 77. District Council 77 represents workers across Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. This organizing effort dates back to 2022. After service representatives scheduled their first National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election, Labcorp management held more than 15 hours of captive audience meetings. Staff were also subjected to surveillance, threats and other intimidation tactics. Unfair labor practice complaints related to this drive were settled earlier this year, and workers were awarded more than $750,000 in back pay. With a new NLRB vote coming up, Labcorp is back to union-busting tactics, but workers are undeterred and ready to win representation on the job.

Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro Joins AFSCME Retirees, President Moran to Celebrate Huge Pension Victory: Years of organizing by AFSCME Retirees paid off Monday, when Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an AFSCME-endorsed bill giving a double-digit cost-of-living increase to 60,000 retirees across the commonwealth. Shapiro signed the legislation at AFSCME Chapter 13 Retirees 45th convention in Harrisburg. The new law brings closure to a decades-long campaign led by the Chapter 13 Retirees to receive the COLA members say they’ve needed and earned over years of service. The new COLA increases range from 15%–24.5% for those who retired from public service before 2001, depending on their retirement date. This is the first pension bump for these retirees in more than two decades. “Your victory means tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians can breathe a little easier,” said AFSCME President Patrick Moran. “And it proves something important: When working people stick together, commit to organizing and refuse to quit, we can win.” 

Union Journalists at Forbes Win First Contract with Editorial Integrity and Job Security Protections: Unionized editorial staff at Forbes, represented by The NewsGuild of New York (an affiliate of The NewsGuild-CWA), ratified their first contract, the culmination of a more than four-year fight since organizing in 2021. The deal sets strong editorial integrity protections, a new salary floor, gold-standard job security protections and more. Forbes Union, which represents nearly 90 reporters, photo and video editors, ratified the three-year contract on Sept. 1. “We refused to accept any deal that didn’t honor the value we bring every day to Forbes,” said Andrea Murphy, unit chair and statistics editor for Forbes. “This contract is the direct result of our union’s perseverance and solidarity.” Highlights from the deal include: Raises of 4%, 3% and 3% in each successive year of the contract; a $2,500 ratification bonus; a new $68,500 wage floor; salary minimums; gold-standard “just cause” job security protections; a one-year recall period for members who are laid off; a pathway to full-time employment for temps; and strong editorial integrity protections.

Arizona Theatre Company Workers Ratify First Contract with IATSE; Secure Wage Increases, Other Benefits: Workers at Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) voted 15–1 to ratify their first collective bargaining agreement. The workers, represented by Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 415, nearly unanimously approved the contract. The contract covers 19 workers across scenic carpentry, painting, lighting, video, audio, properties, costume, hair and makeup, and other theatrical crafts at Arizona’s only League of Resident Theatres professional regional theater. The contract includes wage increases averaging 15%, continuation of health insurance coverage during layoffs for seasonal workers, improved overtime conditions, increased sick leave and protected days off. “I could not be more proud of the current generation of ATC employees who have fought so hard for this right. We are thrilled to be joining our union kin in IATSE, Actors’ Equity Association, United Scenic Artists, and SAG-AFTRA,” said ATC employee Matthew Devore, who has worked at the company for 18 years.

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USW Secures New Collective Bargaining Agreement with Rocky Mountain Steel Mills: Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) in Colorado have a new contract at Rocky Mountain Steel Mills. Production and maintenance workers at the Pueblo mill are represented by USW Local 2102, and clerical, technical and plant protection staff are part of USW Local 3267. The new deal contains wage improvements, including attendance bonuses and performance goal incentives; increases to pension benefits; and retention of health care coverage. “Our members work hard. They care deeply about this mill and this community, and they deserve an agreement that recognizes their contributions. We believe this contract does that while giving us a strong foundation to continue building the future of steelmaking in Pueblo,” said Eric Ludwig, president of Local 2102. “For the second time this decade, the Steelworkers have helped ensure that Pueblo’s manufacturing industry remains a key part of the local economy,” said Charles Perko, president of Local 3267. “Every dollar our members earn through their work can be reinvested in our community through restaurants, stores and other local businesses. When our members win, Pueblo wins.”

IAM Union Shipbuilders Ratify New Contract with Nearly 20% Wage Increases and Major Benefit Gains: IAM Union members at General Dynamics NASSCO ratified a new three-year contract covering more than 800 shipbuilders in San Diego. The agreement raises wages by nearly 20% over the life of the contract—a 10% increase in the first year, followed by 5% in the second year and 4% in the third year. It also delivers major improvements to retirement benefits; an additional floating holiday; stronger language on attendance, seniority, life insurance and disability benefits; and other gains. “This contract recognizes the skill, sacrifice, and essential work of IAM members who build the ships that support our national security and strengthen America’s maritime capabilities,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “Our members stood together throughout this campaign, and their solidarity produced meaningful improvements in wages, retirement security, benefits and workplace protections.” “Our members built the strength that made this agreement possible,” said IAM District 947 Business Representative William “Billy” Corona. “They talked with their coworkers, grew the union inside the shipyard and showed the company that NASSCO shipbuilders were prepared to stand together. That unity gave the committee the power it needed to secure real gains at the table.”

Maine State Workers Ratify New Contract with Wage and Benefit Gains: Members of the Maine Service Employees Association-SEIU Local 1989 (MSEA-SEIU) ratified a new, two-year contract good through June 30, 2027. “We are taking the gains we won together—and getting organized for the fights ahead,” said MSEA-SEIU on its website. The new contract includes across-the-board wage increases of 4.5% effective the pay week closest to Sept. 1, 2026; a $2,000 lump sum payment; an increase from 80% to 85% of the federal mileage rate; Department of Health and Human Services license renewal reimbursement; an ECS Training Stipend increase to $2; reimbursement for advanced courses, licenses and certifications; improved Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations; a six-month pilot program to study where schedule flexibility is being denied, why agencies may be denying alternate work schedules and whether flexible work schedules can be expanded; creation of a contractual alternative work schedule appeal process; and numerous other gains.

Ascension St. Agnes Nurses Ratify First Union Contract: National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) members who work at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore have overwhelmingly voted in favor of ratifying their first collective bargaining agreement. After years of negotiations and strikes, registered nurses (RNs) have won an agreement that includes a 5%–6% pay increase, staff staffing improvements, a formalized grievance procedure, workplace violence prevention language and more. “Over the long road to secure this contract, we won a lot of victories, from equipment improvements to staffing improvements to raises, through organizing and putting pressure on the hospital,” said Melissa LaRue, RN in the intensive care unit. “Now that we have a contract, we are empowered, ready to hold Ascension accountable to it, and ready to keep up the fight for a hospital that puts patients over profits.”