Service & Solidarity Spotlight: United Academics of KU Secures Historic First Collective Bargaining Agreement Ensuring Due Process, 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.

Faculty and academic staff at the University of Kansas (KU), represented by the United Academics of the University of Kansas (UAKU), announced Friday that they had reached a tentative first contract agreement.

“Every step of the way we have seen the power of collective action, united across rank, position and title, in order to strengthen our institution and deliver the best possible education for our students,” said Marsha McCartney, UAKU’s co-lead negotiator and an associate teaching professor in psychology.

The tentative agreement, when ratified, will establish a minimum salary structure that provides a median raise of 13% for several hundred workers on the lower end of the pay scale, a pool of money to address salary compression and reward professional performance, improved job security for nontenured faculty, a first-ever path to promotion for lecturers, safeguards for tenure and promotion, and enforceable protections for academic freedom and shared governance rights.

“Faculty and academic staff have won a landmark agreement that will create ripples across our state. AFT-Kansas welcomes over 1,600 faculty and academic staff as we organize and fight for our collective labor rights,” said AFT-Kansas President Katie Warren.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/10/2026 - 09:30

Women's History Month Profiles: Ye Qing Wei

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 Ye Qing Wei of UNITE HERE.

Ye Qing Wei worked for 15 years as a room attendant at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, where she organized her co-workers to win a 46-day strike in 2018. Now she is an organizer with UNITE HERE Local 26, leading fights for hospitality workers across the Boston area to form unions, win strikes and secure life-changing standards. She is also the founding president of the Massachusetts chapter of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. 

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/10/2026 - 09:38

Tags: Women's History Month

‘We All Win’: 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.

PWHL Players Association Strengthens Voice by Affiliating with AFL-CIO and Its 15 Million Workers: “‘These players have platforms, and they have a voice and power. And when they use it to advance workers’ issues, we all win,’ AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler told the AP. ‘So I think connecting those common struggles has been at the root of why we think this partnership is so important.’ Shuler said the AFL-CIO has played a role in ongoing talks between the Women’s National Basketball Players Association and the WNBA, after the union opted out of the previous CBA. And she noted the clout women’s soccer players had in eliminating the college draft in reaching its latest collective bargaining agreement with the NWSL. ‘When women athletes come together as workers, they don’t only elevate their own leagues, they raise the bar across all of women’s sports,’ Shuler said.”

Alexandria’s Professional Employees Agree to Unionize in Near-Unanimous Vote: “Alexandria’s professional employees have officially voted to unionize. On Tuesday, the city’s professional employees voted 155-1 in favor of unionizing with AFSCME Council 20, an affiliate of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. With significant support, the vote ‘marks 5 of 5 eligible Alexandria bargaining units to file and win their union representation elections since 2021,’ according to a release from AFSCME Council 20.”

Portland-Area Lab Workers Win First Labor Deal: “Laboratory workers who run blood, tissue, stool and toxicology tests for untold numbers of patients in Oregon and Southwest Washington have reached a first contract agreement with the company Labcorp, a significant victory in a yearslong labor organizing effort. The nearly 500 workers—ranging from lab technicians to phlebotomists—are represented by the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. They work at an array of labs owned or operated by Labcorp in Oregon and Southwest Washington, including at numerous Legacy Health Hospitals, a central lab in the Lloyd District, and another one on Northeast Halsey Street near the campus of Providence Portland Medical Center.”

San Diego Building Trades: PLAs, Jobs and Women in Construction: “San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council Business Manager Carol Kim joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast during Women in Construction Week to explain how a long campaign to repeal a project labor agreement (PLA) ban reshaped construction opportunities in the region. Kim, a former teacher and nonprofit researcher who became the council’s first political director, said organized labor remains the most consistent institution fighting poverty by structurally empowering workers. She detailed how the council helped elect a pro-union city council, took a ballot measure to voters and won 58% support to overturn San Diego’s PLA ban. That victory led to a citywide PLA covering the city’s capital improvements program, creating a more reliable pipeline of union work and expanding the ability to recruit apprentices.”

The American Library Association’s Workers Have Formed a Union: “Workers at the American Library Association have announced that they’re forming union with AFSCME Council 31. When the new union is certified, American Library Association Workers United/AFSCME will represent over 100 primarily Chicago-based ALA workers. An open letter signed by 40 employees was released yesterday, and lays out some of the new union’s core principles and commitments, include equitable pay, stable and comprehensive benefits, job security, and more of a say in the organization’s policies and strategies.”

Lamplighter Brewing Co. Workers Successfully Vote to Unionize, Local Representatives Say: “Workers at both locations of Cambridge brewery Lamplighter Brewing Co. have voted to unionize. Following a majority vote in favor of unionization Friday, all 45 employees across Lamplighter’s two brewing facilities and taprooms now join more than 11,000 other workers in New England‘s retail, grocery, and food processing industries represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445. The local chapter is a branch of UFCW, an international union with over 1 million members across the United States and Canada, including thousands in distilleries, wineries, and breweries, according to its website.”

As Video Podcasts Boom, SAG-AFTRA Looks to Organize the Industry: “SAG-AFTRA has been making more moves in the podcast space as video podcasts gain momentum on streamers and more. Recently, The Pete Davidson Show, the first original podcast launched by Netflix, made headlines after signing a SAG-AFTRA podcast agreement. The move may chart a course as more podcasts pop up on streamers, and as SAG-AFTRA ramps up its efforts in the space, while trying to define what constitutes a podcast versus a streaming show.”

Graduate Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Ratify Union Contract with Penn: “After more than a year of negotiations, Penn’s graduate worker union voted to ratify its first contract with the University on Friday. The union—which represents over 3,700 graduate workers—reached a tentative agreement with Penn on Feb. 16, narrowly averting a strike that would have had widespread impacts on teaching and research across campus. On Feb. 27, Graduate Employees Together—University of Pennsylvania announced 77% of graduate workers participated in the vote and an overwhelming 99% voted in favor of ratifying the contract.”

USW Swears in Roxanne Brown as New International President: “The United Steelworkers union swore in Roxanne Brown as its new international president on Sunday. The USW elected Brown last fall. She succeeds David McCall, who had served as the USW’s international president since September 2023. Brown’s responsibilities will include negotiating new labor contracts with U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs. The USW’s contracts with the steelmakers expire on Sept. 1. Those four-year pacts, negotiated in 2022, included significant wage and benefit gains. More than 1,000 steelworkers and guests attended Brown’s swearing in at the Sheraton Hotel in Pittsburgh’s Station Square, the USW said. ‘Working people are at a crossroads in this country,’ Brown told the crowd. ‘Too many families keep working harder but are forced to settle for less because of the greed and indifference of Wall Street, corporate America, and the politicians who do their bidding.’ Brown is the first woman and first person of color to lead the USW. She was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and grew up in White Plains, NY, the union said.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/09/2026 - 10:43

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Harvard University Custodians Secure Powerful New Tentative Agreement

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.

Custodians at Harvard University—who are represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 32BJ—reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract on Tuesday, containing the largest pay bumps workers have seen in decades.

The deal comes after months of intense negotiations, during which members held rallies with lawmakers and community allies and staged a two-day strike. Both direct employees of the prestigious university and contracted staff would be covered by the agreement. Highlights include a $4 an hour wage increase—retroactive to the expiration of the previous contract—over the lifetime of the agreement, a ratification bonus, stronger job-security language, retention of health care benefits and more.

“It was a long, hard process, but we finally got an agreement we can stand behind with pride,” said Helena Bandeira, a member of the union’s bargaining committee. “We risked our lives in the pandemic; we were the first to respond to the terrible snowstorms this year; and we are finally getting the increase and support for our existing benefits that will help us catch up with the rising costs of living in Massachusetts.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/09/2026 - 09:32

Women's History Month Profiles: Jessica Tang

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 Jessica Tang of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Jessica Tang is president of AFT Massachusetts. She previously served as president of the Boston Teachers Union from 2017 to 2024. She was the first person of color and first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in both roles. She was also the first Asian American member to serve on the AFT Executive Council and is the founding chair of AFT’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Task Force.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/09/2026 - 09:35

Tags: Women's History Month

Women's History Month Profiles: Katie Quan

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 Katie Quan of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU).

Katie Quan was a seamstress and an organizer for the ILGWU strike of Chinese women garment workers in 1982. She went on to serve as international vice president of the ILGWU. Quan is a senior fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, Center for Labor Research and Education. She retired in 2016 but continues to work at the center on special projects involving research on global labor strategies and executive education for union leaders.

Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 03/08/2026 - 09:53

Tags: Women's History Month

Women's History Month Profiles: Amanda Brubaker

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 Amanda Brubaker of the Utility Workers (UWUA).

“I’m proud of what I do every day,” said utility worker Amanda Brubaker. “What gives me joy is when I have a customer get excited to see me get out of my truck just because I’m a woman. The biggest challenge I face is people believing I don’t have the knowledge to do the job. Once we start talking it’s apparent I do have the knowledge and the ability and there’s no question anymore.”

Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 03/07/2026 - 09:53

Tags: Women's History Month

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Workers at Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Join IAM Union

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.

Staff at the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada and eastern California have successfully joined the IAM Union (IAM), a powerful victory amidst the Trump administration’s continuing attacks on the labor rights of federal workers.

The campaign was a true grassroots effort—origins that are reflected in the workers’ unanimous vote to form a union—supported with advice from their colleagues at the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). Now that they’ve voted, these workers are immediately covered by NFFE-IAM’s Master Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service.

“We are extremely motivated to bring union representation to more and more federal workers in the National Parks and Forest Service,” said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett. “Federal workers have been under attack by the current administration, and we are determined to bring the security of a union contract to the dedicated people who maintain and conserve our nation’s protected lands.”

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/06/2026 - 09:46

Women's History Month Profiles: Linda Ward-Smith

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 Linda Ward-Smith of AFGE.

Linda Ward-Smith is president of AFGE Local 1224. She is dedicated and driven, committed to making a meaningful impact in her community. She is a registered nurse caring for veterans and a proud union member. Through hard work, dedication and resilience, she continues to inspire others while honoring the legacy of those who have paved the way. 

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/06/2026 - 09:53

Tags: Women's History Month

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Politics and Prose Workers Ratify New Contract That Includes Wage Increases

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.

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 members who work at Politics and Prose bookstores in Washington, D.C., voted to ratify a new union contract last week.

The bargaining unit covers roughly 70 staff—including both booksellers and baristas. Highlights of the new agreement include annual wage increases, additional holiday pay, language governing internal promotion procedures and more.

“Congratulations to our members on a hard-won contract,” said Mark Federici, UFCW international vice president and president of Local 400. “None of these improvements would have been possible without everyone staying engaged and unified throughout this process. And a special thanks to our hardworking bargaining committee for their time and effort getting this across the finish line. It’s never easy to negotiate a contract and they stepped up in a big way on behalf of their coworkers. We’re proud to have you in our union family.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/05/2026 - 10:08