Worker Wins: Needing a Stronger Voice

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

CapMetro Workers Reach Strong Tentative Agreement, Averting Strike: Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1091 members who work for CapMetro have reached a tentative agreement after months of negotiations, averting a potential work stoppage. Workers at the regional public transportation provider in Austin, Texas, are employed by subcontractor Keolis. In June, union members voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike. Their unity and bravery have paid off in the form of a powerful tentative contract that would guarantee a 12% wage increase with full retroactive pay from Jan. 1, a contract signing bonus and more vacation. “Our members worked hard for this contract, and we believe it strikes the right balance between meeting their needs and maintaining the high standard of service that the residents of Austin deserve,” said ATU Local 1091 President and Business Agent Brent Payne.

TC Philharmonic Musicians Vote to Join AFM: Traverse City Philharmonic musicians have overwhelmingly voted to join American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 56. The northern Michigan professional orchestra has entertained music lovers in the region for more than seven decades. Performers worked with AFM to build out a grassroots organizing campaign so they can negotiate a contract to address workplace concerns and give workers a fair say in the institution’s future. “The TC Phil has been my ‘home’ since age eleven, and it is one of the main reasons I became a professional violinist and teacher,” said violinist Kaylee Erlewein. “However, in recent years, decisions by the TC Phil management, discussions with my colleagues, and years of service on the Players’ Committee led me to believe that the musicians needed a stronger voice. The necessary next step was to join with the American Federation of Musicians. We look forward to working with AFM Local 56 to make the orchestra stronger than ever, for many years to come.”

NYC Ferry Workers Unanimously Vote to Join Transport Workers Union: The New York City Ferry’s marine diesel technicians and welders have decisively voted to form a union with the Transport Workers Union (TWU). The 65 members of the bargaining unit work for Hornblower Group, a marine transport contractor, and they are ready to fight for a contract that ensures fair pay and stronger benefits. “We are growing our ranks at the New York City Ferry with this latest organizing victory, as technicians and welders can see the day-in-day-out fight we bring on all fronts and want to be a part of it,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen in a statement. “We will now begin work on a critical first contract to bring big gains for NYC Ferry workers, just like we have for decades with NYC Subways, trains, buses, planes, and bikes.”  “The highly skilled NYC Ferry workers are trusting in the industrial power of the TWU in New York to deliver a crucial first contract while showing up to fight for them on all fronts, no matter what,” said TWU Special Projects Coordinator Alejandro Arroyo in a press release. “Across New York City and New York State, the TWU is showing over and over again why we are America’s fightback union, organizing the unorganized and standing up for every worker against powerful interests.”

Former Anaheim Marriott Staff Win Major Settlement: Last week, UNITE HERE Local 11 hosted a press conference to celebrate a landmark settlement for 29 former Anaheim Marriott workers after the California Labor Commissioner found that the hotel had violated state labor law. The $2.75 million payout resolves a citation revolving around the hotel’s failure to comply with the state’s right-to-recall requirements, which compel management to offer available jobs to eligible former employees who were laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic. Servers, cooks and room attendants filed complaints and bravely fought back against the Anaheim Marriott’s attempt to violate the 2021 law. “I want to be very clear with employers that if you break the law in California, we are going to hold you accountable,” California State Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower said.

ABC News Digital Staffers Join WGAE: The staff behind ABCNews.com and ABC News’ social media platforms are officially members of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), marking an important win for digital staff as the news organization continues to face scrutiny from the Trump administration. The new bargaining unit covers approximately 50 workers, including digital reporters, digital editors, digital video producers and social media producers. In a statement, the bargaining unit said, “The industry is changing at a rapid pace, and we want to help shape the version of ABC News that will emerge from this transition. We are excited to join hundreds of our ABC News Broadcast colleagues and thousands of our fellow Disney employees who are represented by unions.” “The WGAE has represented unionized workers at ABC News since the 1960s,” WGAE President Tom Fontana added. “We appreciate that management engaged in productive conversations for recognition, and we look forward to winning union protections for ABC News’ digital staff.”

Years of Advocacy from SMART-TD and ATU Lead to Critical Bus Operator Safety Legislation: Following years of vocal advocacy by bus and transit members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), lawmakers have now introduced the bipartisan Bus Operator Safety and Security Act. This legislation would require newly purchased, federally funded fixed-route buses—with a length of 30 feet or longer—to include protective barriers fully enclosing the operator’s workstation. The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Jack Reed (R.I.) and Josh Hawley (Mo.), and its House of Representatives companion bill was introduced by Reps. Shomari Figures (Ala.) and Jefferson Van Drew (N.J.). SMART-TD is hailing the tireless efforts of its Bus Department, National Legislative Department, and Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee as key to helping this issue break through in the halls of Congress. “Not a day goes by that I don’t hear about one of our members being shot, stabbed, spit on, verbally abused, and more. Every day, at least 42 transit workers are assaulted on U.S. transit systems,” said ATU International President John Costa in a press release. “The Bus Operator Safety and Security Act invests in critical transit security measures, including an enclosed driver workstation, to better protect our transit workers, riders, and communities. Operator safety is about public safety.”