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.”