Higher Safety Standards: 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.

Fred Redmond: One Hundred Years of Black Workers Telling the Truth: “In 1917, A. Philip Randolph and Chandler Owen launched The Messenger, a pro-labor, anti-war magazine that connected racism to exploitation and demanded justice for Black workers. Two years later, the federal government responded with tactics of targeted censorship—surveillance, harassment and threats of prosecution—and branded a small Black labor magazine ‘the most dangerous’ publication in the country simply for encouraging Black workers to organize.”

How We Organized a Union at Whole Foods: “There were six of us at the first meeting to form a union at Whole Foods in Philadelphia: too many to fit around the coffee shop table, a good sign, so we moved to a restaurant around the corner. We talked about disrespectful managers, low pay, and the loss of paid breaks and health care for part-timers. ‘I’ve seen many wonderful people come and go’ in a decade at the store, said produce worker Ed Dupree. ‘So many of them worked hard and weren’t always treated well, especially after the Amazon acquisition.’”

Randi Weingarten: How to Measure Real Progress in Education: “Re: ‘Hope for American Schooling, From Three Red States,’ by Nicholas Kristof (column, Feb. 15): Mr. Kristof is right that the literacy gains in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana deserve attention. Students are being taught to read in effective ways, and it shows. It’s not red or blue; it’s a commitment to good curriculums, knowledgeable educators and leadership that gives teachers the time, tools, feedback and investment to make this happen.”

Roxanne Brown Breaks Steel Ceiling as New USW Leader in Pittsburgh: “Roxanne Brown is set to take the helm of the United Steelworkers this Sunday, stepping into the union’s top job after a months-long leadership handoff. When she is sworn in, she will become both the first woman and the first person of color to lead the USW, which represents roughly 850,000 members across North America. Her arrival at the top job comes with instant pressure tests in contract talks, political work, and the energy transition that will shape the union’s next four years.”

Senators Introduce New Version of Railway Safety Act: “A bipartisan group of U.S. senators led by Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Jon Husted (R-Ohio) introduced a new version of the Railway Safety Act today (Feb. 24). The new legislation includes a mandate for wayside defect detectors, an expanded list of hazardous materials subject to higher safety standards, and a two-person crew requirement. The Railway Safety Act of 2026 is the third version of the bill introduced following the Norfolk Southern derailment and hazardous material release in East Palestine, Ohio, in 2023. The prior versions failed to reach a vote on the Senate floor.”

N.J. Union Leaders: Our Energy Crisis Demands Homegrown Solutions, Not Imported Power: “New Jersey is in an energy crisis. Electricity prices have been rising in states across the country, but in New Jersey, which was already home to some of the highest electricity prices, we’ve seen bills go up faster than just about anywhere else. Working families are feeling this crisis month after month when choosing between keeping the lights on or buying groceries.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/02/2026 - 10:36

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: WGAE Members at HuffPost Ratify New Contract; Secure 3% Raises

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.

Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members at HuffPost have unanimously ratified their new three-year contract, securing critical artificial intelligence guardrails among other meaningful wins.

The 69-member strong HuffPost Union bargaining unit first secured voluntary recognition in 2016. This is their fourth collective bargaining agreement at the online news outlet. Other contract highlights include 3% annual wage increases, codified parental leave, unlimited sick time, protected severance language, increased budgets for professional development conferences and training and more.

“We stood firm in protecting safeguards that support a diverse and representative newsroom,” said the union’s negotiations committee. “We did not let industry uncertainty around technology stop us from securing AI protections. We refused to sell out future workers for short-term promises. And we were able to do this because 100% of our members were unified about what the contract we deserved looked like, and what we were willing to do to secure it.”

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/03/2026 - 09:52