Worker Wins: ‘We Now Have a Voice, Community and Collective Power’

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

Indianapolis Baristas Win Union and Powerful Contract: Nearly eight months after Quills Coffee baristas in Louisville, Kentucky, unanimously ratified their first contract, their counterparts at the chain’s location in Indianapolis have followed suit, joining Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 32BJ and securing exciting new workplace benefits. Quills’ workers in the Louisville area first joined SEIU during the summer of 2024, securing voluntary recognition from the company’s CEO who stated he was “grateful for the baristas and their positive approach to organizing.” Now that Indiana-based staff also have formed a union, they have access to a powerful contract that guarantees an $11.50 minimum hourly wage ($13.50 per hour for lead baristas), four weeks of paid family leave, fair scheduling, neutrality for any future union organizing at other Quills locations and more. “My coworkers are the most important reason I wanted to unionize,” said lead barista Fern Thompson. “As much as we enjoy making coffee, it’s about the connection and bond we have with each other, and I believe that all of my coworkers deserve a union. We’re proud and excited to set an example for other baristas in the city.”

IRC Workers Ratify First Contract Covering Hundreds of Staff Nationwide: Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) members at 13 International Rescue Committee (IRC) offices around the country ratified their first collective bargaining agreement this week. This is a powerful win for the nearly 700 member-strong IRC Workers Unite (IRCWU) bargaining unit who have dedicated their careers to helping vulnerable people across the globe access health care, education and economic opportunities. “Winning our contract was an incredibly emotional experience,” said Jodi Camino, a school success caseworker in Atlanta. “Experiencing that win in community really reminded me that in addition to the contract articles that will make a really concrete difference in my financial security, working conditions and quality of life, our biggest win is we now have a voice, community and collective power.” “Through these contract wins, IRC workers are now on the path to earning what they deserve for their invaluable service to refugees, those living through war and all who believe in universal human dignity. This win is a testament to the organizing prowess and bargaining chops of the OPEIU members at IRC, and the wide-ranging gains unions can secure for nonprofit workers,” said Tyler Turner, OPEIU president.

USW Secures New Agreement with Libbey Glass, Ending Strike: United Steelworkers (USW) Locals 59M and 700T members have ratified their new collective bargaining agreements with Libbey Glass in Toledo, Ohio. This victory officially ends the monthslong unfair labor practice strike against the company. Members of USW Locals 59M, 700T and 65T, along with IAM Union Local 1297, first walked off the job in August 2025 when management continued to demand concessions even after the bargaining units made major sacrifices in previous contracts to save Libbey Glass from bankruptcy. Workers stood strong and walked the picket line throughout a difficult winter, securing powerful wage increases and successfully fighting back against concession demands. “We took care of each other. We had donations from other locals. We had support from the international union. All of that got us through,” said Dave Nelson, president of Local 59M. “Our motto from day one was ‘one day longer, one day stronger.’” “We stuck together,” Local 700T President Joyce Marland said. “The members showed that they believe in each other.”

Education Week Union Ratifies First Contract: Staff at Education Week—who are represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (WBNG), The NewsGuild-CWA Local 32035—have overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first union contract. Newsroom workers at the nonprofit media organization first went public with their organizing effort in August 2024. Under the name Education Week Union, the wall-to-wall bargaining unit secured several critical wins in this agreement, including a brand-new minimum salary, yearly wage increases, more paid time off and more. “This agreement is the result of our members’ voices being heard and respected,” said Kelli Jaszcar, EdWeek’s front office administrator who now serves as unit secretary. “Through solidarity, transparency, and persistence, our members secured an agreement that honors our labor and proudly lays the groundwork for our future at EdWeek.”

UAW Reaches Tentative Agreement with Volkswagen in Chattanooga: UAW members who work at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have officially reached a tentative agreement (TA) on their first union contract. These members first made history in 2024 when they became the first Southern autoworkers outside the Big Three to join the UAW. And now, after a credible strike threat, they’ve proven what’s possible when workers band together. Highlights of the TA include 20% across-the-board wage increases, grievance rights, improved health care, better job security protections and more. “For years, Chattanooga workers were told to settle for less while Volkswagen made record profits. So, the workers stood together and won their union—and now they’ve secured a life-changing first agreement,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “This deal proves what happens when autoworkers stand up and demand their fair share. People said Southern autoworkers could never form a union or win a union contract. Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga said, ‘Watch this.’” “This contract is proof that if you stand up and stick together, you can win a better life,” said Kelcey Smith, a worker in the paint department. “No matter where you live, or where you work, autoworkers deserve a union contract, whether at the Big Three or Volkswagen, from Detroit to Chattanooga. Volkswagen workers are showing the whole country what’s possible.”