Worker Wins: ‘Stronger When We Stand Together’

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

Retail Workers at Five Macy’s Locations in Washington State Ratify New Contract: Macy’s workers at five storefronts in Washington state—who are represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 3000—approved a new collective bargaining agreement. The new three-year deal covers sales associates, beauty advisers, inventory managers, merchandise processors and receiving clerks at mall and furniture outlets in Bellingham, Lynnwood and Tukwila. “We had a really strong bargaining unit, and more importantly, the support of our fellow union members behind us. With that, we were able to secure a contract that featured minimal takeaways and one of the best general wage increases we’ve gotten in recent years,” said Samantha Wilson, a Bellingham Macy’s worker.

University of Vermont Medical Center Support Staff Members Secure TA After Authorizing Strike: Support staff and technical professionals at the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC)—who are represented by AFT Vermont—have reached a tentative agreement (TA) just days after voting to approve a strike authorization. A powerful 82% of UVMMC Support Staff United members had signaled their readiness to walk off the job to secure a fair contract. The approximately 3,300-person bargaining unit and UVMMC’s management had been locked in negotiations since April. The members’ previous contract expired in August. “We’re taking a stand against the continued destruction of our staffing levels, of being asked to do more with less, [of just] basically having the brunt of the collapse of the American healthcare system put on our backs,” Jacob Berkowitz, president of UVMMC Support Staff United, said in an interview.

National Low Income Housing Coalition Staff Form Union: After a supermajority of staff signed union authorization cards, workers at the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) have requested that management voluntarily recognize the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (WBNG), Local 32035 of The NewsGuild-CWA, as their bargaining representative. Nonprofit staff are organizing under the name NLIHC Workers United in hopes of securing a contract that ensures organizational transparency, better staff development opportunities, and support and improved collaboration. “NLIHC was the first job I took on after graduate school, and was immediately the place I knew I wanted to be at,” said staff member Nada Hussein. “It’s where I have developed a life-long passion for housing justice, and it’s the place I hope I can give back to others in the ways it’s given to me. This is why I am joining our union—for the belief that our organization is stronger when we stand together, with our guiding, core mission being the catalyst for what we do ”

Oregon’s Public University Workers Secure TA Following Powerful Strike Threat: Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 503-represented classified staff at Oregon’s seven public universities have called off a strike after reaching a tentative agreement (TA) early Monday morning. The bargaining unit covers more than 4,000 school custodians, dining hall workers, office and support staff and other essential workers at Oregon State, Portland State, Western Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Southern Oregon universities, the University of Oregon, and the Oregon Institute of Technology. Back in mid-September, members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a work stoppage to get the fair contract they deserve. “We’re setting a standard here for not only other unions on campus, not only other unions across Lane County and in the state of Oregon, but also for non-union workers who don’t have the ability to collectively bargain,” said Jennifer Smith, president of SEIU 503, Sub-local 085. “But now, we’re setting a standard for wages and benefits across the state.”

Cannabis Dispensary Workers in Ohio Vote to Join UFCW: Staff at Sunnyside Dispensary in Chillicothe, Ohio, have successfully voted to form a union with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1059. These wellness advisers—also sometimes called budtenders—provide expert recommendations for products, educate customers and more. Workers rallied together to win their election so they could secure fair sick-leave policies, improved health care benefits, better safety protocols and more input into day-to-day operations. “We are excited to get to the bargaining table and negotiate a first contract that empowers us and reflects the value that we bring every day,” said Stacie Hupp, a wellness adviser at Sunnyside Dispensary. “We started this movement by simply talking to each other about how to make our jobs better, and now we have an opportunity to make that vision a reality.”

Apple Studios Visual Effects Workers Secure First IATSE Contract: Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) members who work as visual effects (VFX) workers have successfully secured their first collective bargaining agreement with Apple Studios. This victory is part of a larger industry organizing wave and follows first-contract gains secured by visual effects workers at Disney, Marvel, and on the movie “Avatar.” The contract establishes new standards for pay, health care benefits, retirement, working hours, artificial intelligence usage and workplace safety. “For too long, visual effects workers have powered some of the industry’s biggest productions without the union protections afforded to many of their colleagues,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb in a press release. “It is long past time to fix that. By standing together, Apple Studios VFX workers have secured a strong first contract with enforceable standards, quality benefits, meaningful rest, and protections as new technology changes the industry.”

Daily Herald Journalists Win Union Election: Newsroom staff at the Daily Herald have overwhelmingly voted to form a union with the Chicago News Guild, Local 34071 of The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA). All 20 union-eligible journalists at the daily newspaper—which is owned by Alden Global Capital/Tribune Publishing—signed union authorization cards in August. Management refused to voluntarily recognize the Daily Herald News Guild bargaining unit, but members stood united and successfully won their National Labor Relations Board election. Staff members began organizing after they experienced steady wage and working-hour reductions over the past 10 years and multiple rounds of buyouts and combination buyouts and layoffs.

USLPA-CWA Members Ratify New Agreement: Members of the USL Players Association (USLPA), an affiliate of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), have ratified their new contract after two years of bargaining. Despite facing anti-union tactics from management, players stood united in their fight for a fair contract. Year-round contracts, livable wage minimums and guaranteed access to employer-paid health insurance were the primary areas of focus in negotiations. “Our players showed what solidarity looks like,” said USLPA-CWA Executive Director Connor Tobin. “For eight weeks, they stood together during the first minute of every match to make clear that they have a voice and a say in their future. This contract is a foundation for the players who come next. It means future players will have stronger protections and a stronger voice. We are proud of what our players fought for and what they have built together.”