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

Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: SEIU

This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we've covered all 64 of our affiliates. Next up is the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Name of Union: Service Employees International Union

Mission: SEIU’s work is about power—helping members come together to raise wages, improve working conditions, and have a real say over their jobs and their lives. The union organizes across industries and communities to win strong contracts and to push for policies that support working people, including access to health care, fair immigration systems, racial equity and climate solutions.

Current Leadership of Union: SEIU is led by President April Verrett, a longtime union leader who has spent her career organizing care workers and holding corporations accountable. Under her leadership, SEIU is focused on growing the union and winning new organizing victories, particularly in parts of the country where workers have historically faced the greatest barriers to organizing.

Current Number of Members: 2 million

Members Work As: Jobs that keep communities functioning every day—health care workers, senior and disability caregivers, educators, airline workers and those who maintain the places where Americans live and work.

History: SEIU traces its roots to 1921, when building service workers first organized for dignity and respect on the job. From early on, the union brought together members across race and background—something that set it apart at the time and continues to shape its work today.

Over the decades, SEIU members have led campaigns that reshaped entire industries. In 1990, janitors in Los Angeles—mostly immigrant workers—launched what became the Justice for Janitors movement, drawing national attention to poverty wages and unsafe working conditions. In 2012, fast-food workers helped ignite the Fight for $15 and a Union, pushing cities and states across the country to raise wages and confront economic inequality.

Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: SEIU publishes a blog. On its website, SEIU spotlights member stories. SEIU's constituency groups include: the People Working with Disabilities Caucus, the Latino Caucus, SEIU Rise, the African American Caucus, the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, the Lavender Caucus and the Retiree Council.

Learn More: Website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, Threads, X, Substack (President Verrett)

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/02/2026 - 13:46

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Berkeley Teachers Win Tentative Contract with Increased Employer Contribution to Health Care

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.

After 10 months of negotiations, the Berkeley (California) Federation of Teachers (BFT), AFT Local 1078, reached a tentative agreement on a new contract that increases the school district’s health care contribution to 70% beginning in 2027. The teachers still must vote on contract ratification.

The BFT represents more than 900 teachers, counselors and librarians. The contract is for one year.

 “Our educators are excited that the district is making this important investment to ensure stable and consistent school communities,” said BFT President Matt Meyer in a press release. “We love our work and our students. This agreement makes it more possible to establish careers in Berkeley.”

The new contract includes a 3% increase in compensation for the current academic year and a one-time $1,000 bonus for all full-time employees.

“We must also not forget that we are in this position because our state does not fully fund the education every student deserves,” Meyer said in the statement. “We call on the state to raise the revenues necessary for a thriving public education system throughout California.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/02/2026 - 09:50

Tags: Organizing

Women's History Month Profiles

For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. 

Here is who we've featured so far:

• Elizabeth Rian of SAG-AFTRA

Check back throughout the month for more profiles.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/02/2026 - 10:21

Tags: Women's History Month

Women's History Month Profiles: Elizabeth Rian

For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Elizabeth Rian of SAG-AFTRA.

Elizabeth Rian is an actor, writer and award-winning filmmaker originally from Honolulu. Her network credits include “Jane the Virgin,” “Magnum, P.I.,” the Lifetime Channel, the Hallmark Channel and more. She is classically trained, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre performance from Chapman University. She has written, produced and starred in three short films, all of which have screened internationally, from Hawaii to New York to London. Her first feature film, “’Opala,” is in preproduction.

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

Tags: Women's History Month

Worker Wins: ‘We Made Many Important Gains’

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

Hearst Magazines Union Ratifies New Contract: 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 mo

Nurses at NewYork–Presbyterian Ratify Agreement, Ending Historic Strike: After 41 days spent walking picket lines, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) members who work at NewYork–Presbyterian voted overwhelmingly to ratify their new three-year contract, ending the union’s historic strike. This strike was the biggest and longest nurses’ work stoppage in New York City in decades. NYSNA members went toe-to-toe with some of the richest private employers, enduring union-busting, drawn out negotiations and freezing temperatures, and won. “This is a proud moment for our union,” said NYSNA President Nancy Hagans. “15,000 NYSNA nurses went out on strike, and finally all 15,000 will be returning to the bedside. We are so happy with the wins we achieved, and now the fight to enforce these contracts and hold our employers accountable begins. NYSNA nurses showed what it means to advocate for patients, and this moment will go down in history as a win for our communities, in the fight for healthcare justice, and for the labor movement.”

PSA Flight Attendants Reach Tentative Agreement: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) members reached a tentative agreement on Thursday for a new three-year contract with PSA Airlines. The regional airline is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, that operates flights under the American Eagle brand. The deal includes a 30% to 50% increase in compensation over the lifetime of the contract, scheduling improvements, increased flexibility and other critical wins. “PSA Flight Attendants save lives every day and serve as the face of American Eagle in ever increasingly difficult conditions,” said Lee Wilkes, president of AFA-CWA PSA. “This tentative agreement starts to recognize what we do every single flight to get people to their destination safely. We fought extremely hard to set a new industry standard for contract duration.” “PSA Flight Attendants need these improvements and we fought hard to get them in their hands for a ratification vote,” said Sara Nelson, international president of AFA-CWA. “Although it was extremely difficult bargaining with PSA, American CEO Robert Isom demonstrated his longstanding commitment to recognize the work of frontline employees who make it possible for American to fly. We appreciate his direct engagement to make this agreement possible.”

Volkswagen Workers Ratify First Union Contract at Major Southern Auto Plant: In a powerful victory, UAW members who work for Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have voted by 96% to ratify their first union contract. The contract is a major milestone in Southern union organizing and delivers a number of powerful, life-changing wins. This includes a 20% wage increase, health care cost reductions, job security guarantees, an enforceable grievance procedure and much more. “This victory shows what happens when workers stand up and refuse to be ignored. We didn’t just win better wages and raise standards at our plant—we forced respect onto the table and got it all in writing,” said Yogi Peoples, a bargaining committee member. “Our victory here at Volkswagen should send a message to autoworkers everywhere: don’t let management divide you. When workers fight together—united and unafraid—we can beat the odds and win!” “This is just the beginning,” said Chattanooga Area Labor Council President Geoffrey Meldahl. “No more business as usual. Working people are sick and tired of begging for scraps to keep their lights on while the richest of the rich buy themselves yet another mega yacht. The future of the south is union strong!” “This isn’t just a win for Chattanooga autoworkers,” Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council President Billy Dycus said. “It’s a win for our entire state because these workers have proven that when we band together, Southern workers have the power to win the wages, affordable healthcare, job security and respect we all deserve.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/26/2026 - 10:31

Tags: Organizing

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Fortune Staff Win Three-Year Contract with Wage Increases, Other Benefits

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.

Digital and print staff at Fortune—who are represented by The NewsGuild of New York, CWA Local 31003—have ratified their first union contract.

The bargaining unit covers two dozen writers, reporters, producers, editors and artists at the business magazine. Highlights of the contract include annual wage increases, new salary floor standards, just cause provisions, layoff severance, editorial standards protections and more.

“We are so excited to finally have a fair contract after a long battle,” said unit chair Sasha Rogelberg. “Our union has repeatedly come together in tough times—including after a mass layoff over the summer reduced our unit size by one-third—to fight for the well-being of our newsroom. The efforts to secure this contract were no exception.”

“Our Fortune Union members refused to give up and accept less than they are worth,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “Because they persevered, they won a contract that boosts wages for all and lifts salaries for the lowest paid across the union, along with important job protections like just cause. We say this all the time in our union because it’s true: When we fight, we win.”

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/27/2026 - 10:07

Tags: Organizing

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Hearst Magazines Union Ratifies New Contract with Raises, Other Benefits

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.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/26/2026 - 09:48

Action Alert: Tell Whirlpool America’s Workers Deserve a Future, Not Pink Slips

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

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 02/25/2026 - 10:52