03/20/2026 - 1:30pm
Worker Wins: ‘We Work Together for A Purpose’
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
UAW Bargaining Units Reach Tentative Deal with UC, Averting Strike: Three UAW bargaining units reached tentative agreements Friday with the University of California (UC) system after months of negotiations. If ratified, these would be the first union contracts for members of Student Services and Advising Professionals-UAW (SSAP-UAW) and Research and Public Service Professionals-UAW (RPSP-UAW). The previous deal covering members of UAW Local 4811—who work as teaching assistants, student researchers, postdocs and in other academic roles—had expired at the end of February. All three collective bargaining agreements contain powerful wage increases. RPSP-UAW and SSAP-UAW also secured major wins around health care costs, job security, professional development language and more. Local 4811 is celebrating expanded child care access and new provisions establishing a legal fund for international workers.
Oregon Health Care Staff Joins SEIU: Workers at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital in Oregon have overwhelmingly voted to form a union with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 49, successfully securing fair representation for staff at all Samaritan facilities. The new bargaining unit covers roles like nutrition services, housekeeping and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Workers were motivated to organize to secure the fair pay and affordable health care that their counterparts at other locations have won in their collective bargaining agreements. “The union is something so cool because you can make decisions together with administration,” CNA Adilson Nuñez said, “and we both create something that is good for us as employees. We work together for a purpose, we work together for the same goal.” “One of the ultimate goals in all of this is providing workers with a better life through their contracts with good benefits,” added Alan Dubinsky, Local 49’s communications director, “and recognizing how that also helps the communities that they serve.”
Court Orders Restoration of AFGE Veterans Affairs Union Contract: On Friday, a U.S. district court judge ordered the reinstatement of the master collective bargaining agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the AFGE National Veterans Affairs Council (AFGE/NVAC). Secretary Doug Collins terminated the AFGE/NVAC contract on Aug. 6, ripping away collective bargaining rights from nurses, doctors, benefits specialists, housekeepers, electricians, painters, food service workers, lawyers, dentists, pharmacists, crisis responders, mental health specialists, cemetery workers, janitors and more. “As unionists, it’s our duty to stand up for what’s right and hold the VA accountable,” said NVAC President Mary Jean “MJ” Burke. “Every American knows the importance of free speech, the separation of powers, and the protections guaranteed to us in our nation’s Constitution. Each of us owes a debt of gratitude to the veterans and servicemembers who fought to defend these principles. We are grateful for today’s court decision, but there is still work to do. The Union will not be deterred. Our members will continue carrying out the VA’s mission every day in service to those who served.” “Today's ruling holds this administration accountable and makes clear: No one can retaliate against workers for standing up for their rights,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “We are pleased the court has restored the largest union contract of VA employees and protected both the federal workforce and the veterans who depend on them.”
ALPA Secures Tentative Agreement with Air Transport International: Members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) who work for Air Transport International (ATI) are set to vote on a new tentative agreement that will provide approximately $114 million in value over the life of the contract. ATI pilot leadership has voted to move the deal to a membership vote after more than five years of negotiations with the Ohio-based airline that operates cargo jets in Amazon’s air logistics network. Highlights of the new contract include immediate pay increases, a ratification bonus, company-funded contribution to retirement funds, improvements to scheduling and more. “This tentative agreement reflects not only our value to the company but is also the direct result of the unity and tenacity of every ATI pilot,” said Capt. Michael Sterling, chair of the ATI Master Executive Council (MEC). “This agreement will go a long way to improving the lives of our fellow pilots. As we move from the negotiation process to member ratification, I want to express my thanks to my fellow negotiators, the National Mediation Board, and every ATI pilot—all of whom stood in solidarity for almost six years. We are proud of our relationship as Amazon’s largest airline, and we believe this agreement will help reinforce our continuing partnership moving forward.”
Fort Worth Report Staff Win Election to Form Union: On Monday, staff at the Fort Worth Report announced they have overwhelmingly voted in favor of forming a union with Media Guild of the West, The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA) Local 39213. The nonprofit newsroom’s leadership declined to voluntarily recognize the Fort Worth Reporters Guild, but workers were not deterred. After overcoming repeated attempts from management to interfere with the organizing process—including hiring a third-party union-avoidance firm—the newly minted members are celebrating a powerful National Labor Relations Board election victory and preparing for their first union negotiations. “These results were not based on mob rule, but rather a reflection of every single unit member who has been heavily involved in this process since its launch,” the Guild’s organizing committee said in a press statement. “This is the next and vital step for our community newsroom, and we look forward to steering trusted news forward in Tarrant County together.”
Motion Capture Workers Ratify First Contract: Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) members at 2K’s motion capture studio have successfully ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. The Petaluma, California, video game studio operated by parent company Take-Two Interactive is known for popular titles such as NBA 2K and WWE 2K. The new contract is a historic first for motion capture video game workers and establishes major wins such as wage floor minimums, yearly pay increases, protected benefits, an enforceable framework for promotions, staffing and subcontracting protections, work-from-home policies, protections related to artificial intelligence, and more. “This agreement shows what workers can achieve when they stand together and bargain for the future of their craft,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “These workers made history when they organized, and they have made history again by ratifying the first union contract for motion capture video game workers in the United States.” “We went into the negotiating process understanding there would be a strong fight ahead,” said stage technician Connor Bredbeck. “We were united in our goals, shared in solidarity with one another, and focused on protecting the work we love while acknowledging our critical efforts in making games at 2K. We are pleased that 2K was willing to negotiate and made the effort to understand, honor and recognize the contributions of our team.”
USW Members Secure New Master Agreement at Domtar: United Steelworkers (USW) members across nine local unions voted overwhelmingly this winter to approve a new master contract covering workers at Domtar paper facilities around the United States. This new agreement is the first after a series of acquisitions in 2021 and 2023. But thanks to the steadfast unity displayed by members nationwide and well-established internal communications channels, they won the best wage increases the USW has ever negotiated with Domtar. “With new ownership and leadership at the table, we knew this round of bargaining would be challenging,” said USW International Vice President Luis Mendoza, who oversees the union’s paper sector. “It wasn’t easy, but with working families seeing expenses rising across the board, and the industry in a time of uncertainty, members should be proud of the progress they made in this agreement. By standing together, members achieved a fair agreement that rewards their hard work but also positions the company for success and protects workers’ future in a changing industry.”
New York Transit Museum Workers Organize to Join AFSCME: Workers at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn have filed for a National Labor Relations Board election to form a union with AFSCME District Council 37. Following a successful organizing drive by their co-workers in the museum gift shop to join Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 last year, museum educators, visitor experience staff and others are now fighting for union representation, too. Workers went public with their effort to form the New York Transit Museum Collective in early February. Management has yet to voluntarily recognize AFSCME as their bargaining representative, but staff remain committed to fighting for a contract that addresses low wages, lost benefits and other core concerns. “Our museum tells stories that wouldn’t exist without organized labor,” said Ava Dennis, a part-time museum educator. “We tell these stories, we uplift them and remember them. We deserve that same sort of opportunity.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 03/19/2026 - 11:53
Tags:
Organizing
03/19/2026 - 6:30pm
‘All Are Welcome and Safe Here’: What Working People Are Doing This Week
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.
Actors' Equity:
Join us for Equity 101, a Zoom class that to deepen your understanding of what being a union member is all about. Save the date: Monday, March 30 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. RSVP the portal - https://members.actorsequity.org/newsandevents/savethedate/event-detail/...
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— Actors' Equity Association (@actorsequity.bsky.social) March 17, 2026 at 12:13 PM
AFGE:
AFSCME:
Alliance for Retired Americans:
Amalgamated Transit Union:
American Federation of Teachers:
“All are welcome and safe here.” That’s not just a slogan; it’s a promise we make to our students every day. This week we took that promise to the streets. Thank you to everyone who rallied, marched and spoke up for dignity and respect for every child. We see you.
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— AFT (@aft.org) March 5, 2026 at 12:31 PM
American Postal Workers Union:
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Boilermakers:
Bricklayers:
03/19/2026 - 12:30pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: New York Transit Museum Workers Organize to Join AFSCME
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.
Workers at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn have filed for a National Labor Relations Board election to form a union with AFSCME District Council 37.
Following a successful organizing drive by their co-workers in the museum gift shop to join Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 last year, museum educators, visitor experience staff and others are now fighting for union representation, too. Workers went public with their effort to form the New York Transit Museum Collective in early February. Management has yet to voluntarily recognize AFSCME as their bargaining representative, but staff remain committed to fighting for a contract that addresses low wages, lost benefits and other core concerns.
“Our museum tells stories that wouldn’t exist without organized labor,” said Ava Dennis, a part-time museum educator. “We tell these stories, we uplift them and remember them. We deserve that same sort of opportunity.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 03/19/2026 - 10:19
03/19/2026 - 12:30pm
Women's History Month Profiles: Shaunna Winton
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 Shaunna Winton of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE).
Shaunna Winton is a 20-year member of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001. She began her career at Boeing as a material review board engineer. She remains a strong advocate for her fellow union members and is the incoming SPEEA treasurer. Winton is passionate about encouraging young women in STEM careers. She is an active career-long member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and served as lead coordinator of the SWE Team Tech collegiate technical competition.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 03/19/2026 - 10:25
Tags:
Women's History Month
03/18/2026 - 11:30am
CALL: Tell Your Senators Not to Make Voting Harder for Working People
Gas prices are spiking, grocery prices are still sky-high and workers are struggling just to pay the bills while wages aren’t keeping up.
With a record like that, President Trump and his allies who control Congress are scheming for other ways to secure their power in November’s election, so they’re pushing the Senate to pass a bill that would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. Trump has even said that he won’t sign any other bills into law until the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (or SAVE America) Act passes.
The SAVE America Act would require you to have a valid passport or a certified copy of your birth certificate, and present those documents in person at an election office each time you want to register to vote or update your voter registration. If you’ve ever changed your name, such as through marriage, you would need to provide even more documents to convince an election official that you are who you say you are.
For working people who don’t have the money to get a passport and go on a fancy vacation, or the time to chase down documents and stand in another DMV-style line, this bill could prevent many eligible voters—from every political party—from casting their ballots.
That’s why your senators need to hear from you. How would you be impacted if they made it harder to register to vote, update your voter registration or cast a ballot?
CALL YOUR SENATORS
Only half of Americans have a passport, and many don’t have the time or the $65 to $165 required to get one. Many others no longer have their birth certificates, and getting replacements can be costly and time consuming. Still others, like married women who have changed their names, would need to gather even more documents and may not be successful.
If your senators might vote for this bad bill, your call is important. Let them know the people they represent don’t support schemes to keep eligible Americans from voting.
And even if your senators oppose this bad bill, they still need to hear from you—because they want to lift up the voices of working people in their state who would be hurt from this legislation.
This is voter suppression, plain and simple. Could it affect you? CALL your senators and let them know. Dial 844-733-3172 or visit go.aflcio.org/voter-call to be connected.
Your call could go a long way to help protect our democracy and your own voting rights. Thank you for sharing.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 03/17/2026 - 13:28
03/18/2026 - 11:30am
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: USW Members Secure New Master Agreement at Domtar
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 Steelworkers (USW) members across nine local unions voted overwhelmingly this winter to approve a new master contract covering workers at Domtar paper facilities around the United States.
This new agreement is the first after a series of acquisitions in 2021 and 2023. But thanks to the steadfast unity displayed by members nationwide and well-established internal communications channels, they won the best wage increases the USW has ever negotiated with Domtar.
“With new ownership and leadership at the table, we knew this round of bargaining would be challenging,” said USW International Vice President Luis Mendoza, who oversees the union’s paper sector. “It wasn’t easy, but with working families seeing expenses rising across the board, and the industry in a time of uncertainty, members should be proud of the progress they made in this agreement. By standing together, members achieved a fair agreement that rewards their hard work but also positions the company for success and protects workers’ future in a changing industry.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 03/18/2026 - 09:42
03/18/2026 - 11:30am
Women's History Month Profiles: Tatishka Thomas
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 Tatishka Thomas of AFGE.
Tatishka Thomas joined AFGE in 2004 and was elected as president of Local 548 in 2007, quickly growing the local to well over 1,100 members. In May 2023, Thomas made history when she was elected as the first Black woman to serve as national vice president for AFGE’s 5th District. Thomas retired from service as a proud VA employee in 2025, but she remains active in her local, council and community affiliates.
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 03/18/2026 - 09:46
Tags:
Women's History Month
03/18/2026 - 11:30am
‘If Not, Why Not?’ In the States Roundup
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations.
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Florida AFL-CIO:
Illinois AFL-CIO:
Maine AFL-CIO:
Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
Michigan State AFL-CIO:
Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Missouri AFL-CIO:
Nevada State AFL-CIO:
03/17/2026 - 5:00pm
Women's History Month Profiles: May Chen
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 May Chen of UNITE HERE.
May Chen was a community activist and part-time organizer during the garment workers’ strike of 1982, when nearly 20,000 immigrant women took on the industry. Chen rallied to assist the Chinatown workers, and took a full-time job with the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) Immigration Project and Local 23-25. She assisted with the founding of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and was elected first vice president. Chen rose through the ILGWU and its successors to become international vice president and manager of Local 23-25.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 03/17/2026 - 10:20
Tags:
Women's History Month
03/16/2026 - 10:00pm
‘Run More Union Members for Office’: 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.
Van Hollen Proposes Bill to Eliminate Federal Income Tax for Millions of Low-Income Americans: “Maryland U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Virginia Rep. Don Beyer announced new legislation Thursday that seeks to provide federal tax cuts for millions of working Americans trying to make ends meet. ‘Under our plan, 130 million Americans will get some tax relief,’ Van Hollen said during a news conference, where he also appeared with fellow Democrat Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly.”
UFCW Endorses SNAP Delivery Safeguards: “The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union is endorsing the reintroduction of the Food and Nutrition Delivery Safety Act, which would require federal agencies to establish delivery guardrails for retailers that serve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program online delivery customers.”
One Simple Way to Heal American Politics: Run More Union Members: “American politics feels hopelessly broken. Extreme political polarization, enormous amounts of Pac money sloshing around during elections, and the increasing power of the rich make it seem like nothing, and no one, can set the country on the right track. But a new report from the Center for Working-Class Politics looks at a surprisingly simple way that ordinary people might have more influence in our political system: run more union members for office.”
What San Francisco Educators Won on Their Strike: “This winter has seen historic strikes hit the United States on both coasts. In New York City, 15,000 nurses across three of the city’s largest private sector hospital systems walked out on January 12 and stayed on the picket lines for about a month, making it the largest and longest nurses’ strike in the city’s history. Meanwhile, in California and Hawaii, 31,000 health care workers employed by Kaiser Permanente across the two states struck from January 26 to February 23 in what their union describes as the largest open-ended health care strike in U.S. history.”
Chesapeake College Faculty Approve First Ever Union Contract: “After 20 months of negotiations, Chesapeake College faculty members established their first ever union contract in school history. On March 3, it was announced that the Chesapeake College faculty—represented by United Academics of Maryland—voted to establish their first ever union contract, which includes wage increases, a service pathway to promotion and improvements to working conditions, benefits and protections. Chesapeake College professor David Timms, the new union chapter's chair, called the decision a great move for staff and students.”
Motion Capture Workers at ‘NBA 2K’ Studio Ratify First Union Contract with IATSE: “Motion capture workers employed by the video game company behind NBA 2K and WWE 2K have ratified their first labor contract in a move that union IATSE is calling historic. Workers at 2K’s motion capture studio in Petaluma, California, have unanimously ratified a deal with management at parent company Take-Two Interactive, IATSE announced on Tuesday. The crew union represents stage technicians, engineers, animators and recording and audio specialists at the studio.”
Everett Kelley: The System Is Failing TSA Workers—and Travelers Are Paying the Price: “Those lines were not a fluke. They were a warning about what happens when the people responsible for keeping our aviation system safe are forced to choose between performing a public service that keeps us all safe for no pay, or flipping burgers with pay. Across the country, Transportation and Security Agency officers are once again being asked to report to work without a paycheck. In the most recent pay period, many officers received only a fraction of their normal pay. Some members of the American Federation of Government Employees took home as little as $5.”
Video Game Developer Heart Machine Voluntarily Recognizes Staff Union: “The indie video game studio Heart Machine has voluntarily recognized a union formed by staff members. The developer behind 2021’s Solar Ash and 2016’s Hyper Light Drifter agreed to recognize a wall-to-wall union representing all non-managerial employees, the Communications Workers of America announced on Monday. Previously, the union states, a majority of the workers at the studio signaled their interest in joining CWA.”
International Women’s Day Is a Celebration and a Call to Action. Here Are Things to Know: “Women across the world called for equal pay, reproductive rights, education, justice and decision-making jobs and celebrate progress toward female empowerment during events and demonstrations marking International Women’s Day on Sunday. Officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, International Women’s Day is commemorated in different ways and to varying degrees in places around the world. Protests are often political—and at times violent—rooted in women’s efforts to improve their rights as workers.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 03/16/2026 - 10:41
