AFL-CIO Weblog

02/26/2026 - 5:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Hearst Magazines Union Ratifies New Contract with Raises, Other Benefits Graphic that reads, “Contract ratified! 98% of voting members approved.”

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 Hearst Magazines have overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement.

This victory came after members delivered a strike pledge signed by more than 85% of the unit and participated in walkouts and rallies calling for a fair contract. The agreement covers staff across 29 different Hearst Magazines publications, including major titles like Cosmopolitan, Elle, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping. Strong economic gains in the contract will help ensure that WGAE members can continue to deliver informative and entertaining content that generates billions in profits every year.

“We made many important gains—better raises, higher wage floors, and an improved 401k match—for members of our unit with this contract,” The Hearst Magazines Union bargaining committee said. “We also know there is still a great deal of work to be done to make Hearst Magazines a place we can all be proud of. We hope this ratification sends a clear message to management that we are only getting stronger and more cohesive as time goes on, and that we will always fight for a more equitable workplace.”

Thu, 02/26/2026 - 09:48

02/25/2026 - 4:00pm
Action Alert: Tell Whirlpool America’s Workers Deserve a Future, Not Pink Slips Graphic with the IAM Union logo and text overlay that reads, “Save our jobs at Whirlpool.”

Whirlpool Corp. just announced that, effective March 9, nearly 400 more layoffs will occur at its Amana, Iowa, manufacturing facility. The IAM Union currently represents 1,300 production workers at this plant. However, more than 3,000 IAM members worked at the facility just a few years ago.

These are IAM members who build the Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag and Amana refrigerators that fill American homes. This is not a one-time setback. Less than a year ago, Whirlpool laid off approximately 250 workers at this same facility. Now the company is back with another round of pink slips and a warning that more cuts may be on the way.

Sign this petition and tell Whirlpool CEO Marc Bitzer that Iowa’s working families deserve better than broken promises and a shrinking future for their community.

Sign the Petition

Wed, 02/25/2026 - 10:52
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