A Long History of Fighting for Us: The Working People Weekly List

Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.

Roth's Fresh Markets Employees Reach Tentative Agreement, Cancel Strike: “The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 555 reached a tentative agreement with Roth's Fresh Markets on Sept. 10 and called off a strike scheduled to begin Sept. 11. ‘We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support shown by the community over the past few months. Your solidarity and understanding were invaluable in reaching a successful agreement. This would not have been possible without you. Thank you for standing with workers at Roth’s every step of the way,’ Dan Clay, president of UFCW Local 555, said in a press release.”

Evergreen Public Schools Reaches Tentative Deal with Union to End Strike: “Officials with Evergreen Public Schools and a union representing classified staff reached a tentative agreement late Wednesday, according to the district. The deal marks the end of a strike that pushed the start of the school year back three weeks for the district’s nearly 22,000 students. The district did not provide details about the agreement, but in an emailed statement Evergreen Superintendent Christine Moloney said union leaders scheduled a ratification vote for Thursday. Throughout the strike, negotiators with the Evergreen chapter of the Public School Employees of Washington SEIU Local 1948 said they were fighting for fair wages for their approximately 1,400 members. The union represents bus drivers, paraeducators, school security officers and other support staff.”

Gov. Josh Stein Calls to Invest in Workers at State AFL-CIO Convention: “North Carolina AFL-CIO president MaryBe McMillan praised Stein for pushing to taking action against foreclosure scams and prioritizing health care and education as a state senator as well as combating price gouging, opioid abuse, and voter suppression as attorney general. The NC AFL-CIO has endorsed Stein in each of his campaigns for office in North Carolina. ‘We fought hard to elect Governor Stein because he has a long history of fighting for us,’ McMillan said. At the conclusion of his remarks, Stein awarded McMillan with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, in a surprise to the union president who is set to step down this week. ‘Well that was a nice surprise, y’all,’ McMillan said.”

Workers at 4 Popular Bay Area Rock Climbing Gyms Win Unionization Vote: “Workers at some of the Bay Area’s most popular rock climbing gyms have voted to unionize, joining colleagues at five gyms in Southern California that are in contract negotiations with their employer, Touchstone Climbing. Employees of Mission Cliffs and Dogpatch Boulders in San Francisco, as well as The Studio in San Jose and Diablo Rock Gym in Concord, won their unionization votes on Monday night. ‘I’m very excited; it’s excellent news,’ said Max Dolso-Morey, a club coach at Mission Cliffs and a member of the union organizing committee.”

Altoona, International Association of Fire Fighters Union Agree to Terms: “The city will hire six additional firefighters soon, based on a new five-year contract that City Council approved this week with the city’s International Association of Fire Fighters local.”

IBEW Ratifies Agreement with UP: “IBEW is one of 11 unions that have ratified agreements with UP; they cover 12 crafts and represent 46% of the Class I railroad’s craft employees. International Association of Sheet, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ Mechanical and Engineering Department (SMART-MD) members ratified their agreement with UP earlier this month. The ratified agreements cover five-year terms and include wage increases, effective July 1, 2025, along with additional vacation time, health and welfare benefits, and work rule changes, according to UP.”

Ban on ‘Captive Audience’ Meetings a Victory in New Jersey, Minnesota: “Three recent pro-worker wins—two laws enacted in New Jersey and a prior one in Minnesota upheld in a federal appeals court—again re-emphasize the importance of state and local laws and lawmakers for workers. Because it’s safe to say that without Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and a pro-worker legislature in New Jersey, the law banning firms from forcing workers to attend so-called ‘captive audience’ meetings would never have passed. Murphy signed it on September 4. In those meetings, bosses and their hired persuaders, aka union-busters, can lie, browbeat, intimidate and threaten workers while campaigning against organizing drives. ‘All working people should have the freedom to choose whether to form a union at their workplace without interference or intimidation from their employer,’ said Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham in a statement celebrating the circuit court’s decision.”

Mount Holyoke Dining Workers and Housekeepers Reach Union Agreement After Strike: “A 24-hour strike of Mount Holyoke employees quickly led to a new union agreement Friday that ups workers’ pay and secures legal representation for immigration issues, a growing point of concern for more than 200 dining and facilities staff. Striking staff picketed five entrances to the private college in South Hadley last week to protest slow contract negotiations and alleged unfair labor practices against the housekeeping staff. (The employees were members of either the local 32BJ chapter or UAW Local 2322.)”

Wowkanech: AFL-CIO Labor Walks Kick into Gear: “The Labor Movement mobilized on the streets of Newark this evening under the auspices of the AFL-CIO, with a big show of muscle by the Laborers and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council. ‘This week we will begin our labor walks, a full labor program, to drive out the vote,’ Charles Wowkanech, president of the New Jersey AFL-CIO, told InsiderNJ, in the shadow of City Hall where crowds of union workers gathered.”

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/12/2025 - 13:20

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Braxton Winston Elected President of North Carolina State AFL-CIO

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

On Friday, Braxton Winston II was elected by delegates at the North Carolina State AFL-CIO’s annual convention as the next president of the state federation.

Winston is a member of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 322, served three terms on the Charlotte City Council and was the Democratic nominee for North Carolina's commissioner of labor in 2024. He succeeds President Emeritus MaryBe McMillan who dedicated more than 20 years of service to the state federation. Her tenure heavily emphasized the importance of organizing Southern workers and building worker power in the region.

“For too long working people in North Carolina and across the South have been told to work harder and accept less,” said President Winston. “But we are here to declare something different—that every worker deserves dignity, security, and power. Every worker deserves a union!…We are no longer waiting for change. We are the change. We are the revival!”

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler was also in attendance and addressed the conference.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein also gave remarks at the North Carolina State AFL-CIO convention, he loudly and proudly championed the importance of building up the “Tar Heel State’s” unions and union workforce.

“A stronger North Carolina requires that we invest in our people so that folks have the skills and knowledge to succeed in an ever-changing economy,” Stein said. “A stronger North Carolina supports working families struggling with the rising cost of living.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 09/15/2025 - 10:13