Worker Wins: Providing Key Protections for Workers
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
PBS Writers Ratify Groundbreaking New Deal: On Wednesday, Writers Guild of America (WGA) members at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) overwhelmingly ratified a new contract with management at member stations WGBH, THIRTEEN and PBS SoCal. In an exciting first, the WGA was able to secure critical union protections for PBS animation writers, who were previously not covered under the WGA–Public Television Freelance Agreement. The deal includes wins such as language ensuring that writer-producers will be paid a writing fee separately from their producing fee, artificial intelligence protections, paid parental leave and more. “This historic contract is the result of the strength and solidarity shown by our fellow PBS writers, the members of the Writers Guild of America and the animation writing community,” said the WGA-PBS bargaining committee in a press release. “With the support of the dedicated WGA East [WGAE] staff, we were able to secure a deal that provides key protections for all PBS writers. At a time when the mission of public television is more important than ever, we look forward to working with the stations to continue creating programs that inform, educate and inspire.”
Cannabis Workers in California Join UFCW: In another successful organizing effort for the emergent industry, more than 20 workers at the Cannabis 21+ dispensary in the Mission Valley area of San Diego have voted to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135. This is a major step for workers to secure the improved wages, benefits and working conditions they deserve. UFCW Local 135 now represents the first of two Cannabis 21+ dispensaries in San Diego County and is already aiming to further assist workers at other locations who are interested in building power in their workplaces. “The workers at Cannabis 21+ in Mission Valley have demonstrated incredible courage and solidarity in their decision to unionize,” said Maribel Mckinze, UFCW Local 135’s organizing director. “This is an important victory not only for them but also for the growing movement to ensure that cannabis workers across California have a voice at work and access to better wages, benefits and working conditions. We look forward to supporting their journey to a strong contract and standing with their colleagues in Sorrento Valley as they organize next.”
Workers at Illinois Library Organize with AFSCME: Staff at the Urbana Free Library in Illinois voted unanimously to join AFSCME Council 31 last month, marking yet another victory at a critical public institution through the union’s Cultural Workers United campaign. The library has been Urbana-Champaign’s public library since 1874, and the staff who make its services possible cited unfair treatment from management as the reason for organizing. With patrons squarely on the side of their beloved library staff, workers are ready to start bargaining a contract that will help them better serve their community.
“Our staff love the library. We care about that place. We care about our patrons,” said Carol Inskeep, a librarian who has worked for the library for 30 years. “That’s why it’s so disheartening when you see decisions get made that result in turnover or demoralize us so much that we lose the most committed people. We know if we have a stronger voice, we’ll be able to make better decisions for our library and our patrons.”
ZeniMax Online Studios Workers Form Union with CWA: The Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced on Thursday that an overwhelming majority of workers at Microsoft’s ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS) have signed union authorization cards. Microsoft voluntarily recognized ZOS United-CWA, coming just months after CWA brokered a labor neutrality agreement with Microsoft for ZeniMax Media Inc. workers. This victory at the studio behind popular multiplayer game, The Elder Scrolls Online, marks another exciting win for organizing in the video game industry for the Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA). The ZOS United-CWA union covers 461 staff who work as web developers, designers, engineers and graphics artists. “By coming together and forming a union, we’re able to take a powerful step forward in ensuring a better future for ourselves and for our families, to create protections against layoffs and workplace exploitation, and to provide additional layers of support for workers beyond what FMLA and workplace policies already provide,” said senior motion graphics artist Alyssa Gobelle. “At ZeniMax, unions belong here.”
TD Garden Concession Workers Ratify New Contract: After months of intense negotiations, TD Garden arena concessions workers represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1445 voted to ratify a new contract Sunday with their employer, Delaware North. Workers at the Boston venue are responsible for providing guests with food, beverages and team gear, in addition to serving visitors in the suites, Legends Room, Press Room, VIP areas and more. The three-year contract includes wins like increased commission rates for the first time in 20 years, improved seniority protections, increases in event minimums and better hourly rates for noncommissioned employees. “The members appreciate the media pressure and community support in securing improvements for the years ahead and look forward to strengthening the labor movement across Massachusetts in the years to come,” said Local 1445 in a public statement following the ratification vote.
New York Times Tech Guild Secures Tentative Agreement on New Contract That Includes 8.25% Raises: The NewsGuild of New York, an affiliate of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), said on Wednesday that it had reached a tentative deal on a three-year contract with The New York Times. More than 600 tech workers at The Times went on a weeklong strike in November. The strike was conducted by workers, including software engineers, designers and product managers, amid stalled contract negotiations over pay and job security. Members will vote to ratify the contract on Dec. 19. The tentative agreement is a first for the Times Tech Guild, which is part of The NewsGuild of New York, and represents nearly 6,000 media workers. The new contract includes enhanced job security with just cause protections and wage increases of up to 8.25%, among other benefits. “We not only won a first contract that set new standards for workers within the New York Times, but we’ve also established a strong foundation for what is possible for tech workers in the future when they organize and bargain collectively,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York.
RadicalMedia Voluntarily Recognizes WGAE Union: Members of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) at the nonfiction entertainment division of RadicalMedia had their new union voluntarily recognized by management on Dec. 6. The bargaining unit of 65 staffers in production and postproduction roles was recognized. They went public with their organizing drive Oct. 23, after an “overwhelming majority” of workers in the proposed bargaining unit had signed union cards. Organizers said they wanted to negotiate pay, benefits, working conditions, job security and professional advancement. “We are pleased to share that RadicalMedia voluntarily recognized our union,” the union’s organizing committee said. “We look forward to negotiating a fair contract that addresses our concerns and lives up to the values espoused in the Nonfiction content produced by this progressive production company.”
Evansville Fire Fighters Secure New Contract with 7% Raises in First Year: Firefighters from Evansville, Indiana, will see a hefty pay raise with the new three-year contract approved by the members and the City Council. The members of the Fire Fighters (IAFF) will receive 7% raises in 2025, followed by additional 4% increases in 2026 and 2027. “The vote we had from our membership is something I haven’t seen in 13 years as union president, and longer than that as an executive board member. Over 99% passing on this contract vote,” said IAFF Local 357 President Larry Zuber. “I appreciate Mayor Terry placing the value on public safety, and especially Evansville’s bravest, the men and women of the Evansville Fire Department….You’re going to get a return on that. Our membership, the fire department people, we’re second to none in the state of Indiana and across the whole country.”
Strand Bookstore Workers Reach Tentative Agreement, End Strike: Workers at the Strand bookstore in New York city, members of UAW Local 2179, tentatively agreed on a new contract and ended a strike. Members will vote whether or not to approve the contract later this week. The new contract would last through Aug. 31, 2028. If approved, the contract would provide an increase to the store’s per hour hiring rate, amounting to a roughly 37% wage increase over four years for Strand workers who begin at the base salary. Unfair labor practice charges filed by the union also will be dropped.
Wrongfully Terminated Dancers Reach Settlement with Dallas Black Dance Theatre: After months of a coordinated public pressure campaign, members of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) who were wrongfully fired by the Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) have won a settlement agreement. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) brokered the agreement after finding that the dance company committed unfair labor practices, including when it fired the entire dance company in August. The settlement includes more than a half million dollars in compensation, personal apologies from leadership, labor rights training for managers and more. “This has always been bigger than us,” said the fired dancers in a written statement. “We voted as one to unionize, we fought as one through months of intimidation and retaliation, and we’ve made this decision to move forward as one. We exposed what was happening behind closed doors, and people took to the streets to stand with us. While this settlement allows our lives to go on and gives us some sense of much-needed closure, we recognize that the fight for accountability and justice at DBDT is far from over.”
WESA and WYEP Staff Approve First Union Contract: SAG-AFTRA announced on Thursday that after nearly two years of negotiations, workers at two Pittsburgh radio stations announced they have voted to ratify their first contract. Radio hosts, music directors, reporters, editors, digital content staff and other staff at WESA-FM and WYEP-FM—which is owned and operated by the Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation (PCBC)—first organized in 2022. The PCBC board of directors unanimously approved the contract Wednesday, which includes across-the-board raises, more time off, preserves telework flexibility, expands the parental leave policy and more. “This is a historic day for PCBC, for those of us who work here, and for the community we serve,” said the Pittsburgh Public Radio Union bargaining committee in a press release. “Pittsburgh is a union town, and we are proud to serve it as a unionized station. We’re proud as well of this contract, which underscores the value our members offer to the station and the region as a whole.”
Lush Cosmetics Workers in Missouri Join UFCW in Historic First: Workers at the Lush Cosmetics location at Saint Louis Galleria mall in St. Louis voted to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 655, making history as the first beauty chain store staff in the state to organize. In addition to the new unit in St. Louis, the UFCW also represents Lush Cosmetics workers in both Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, and in Friendswood, Texas. Members say their organizing efforts align with the company’s corporate values and a union will help them ensure a dignified work environment. “Lush is very open about supporting animal rights, environmental justice, and human rights,” said Harshini Abbaraju, a Lush Cosmetics employee who has worked for the company in three states and is now employed at the Saint Louis Galleria. “Now they need to put their money where their mouth is and recognize our union, because there are no human rights without workers’ rights.”