02/06/2026 - 3:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Research Assistants Vote Overwhelmingly to Form 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.
Research assistants (RAs) at the University at Albany-State University of New York (SUNY) Research Foundation won a landslide election to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
This victory puts the more than 200-member strong bargaining unit into a growing community of academic workers across the public college and university system who have already organized for a voice on the job. The majority of SUNY–Albany RAs are international students conducting the type of important scientific research that has been facing federal funding cuts, making this victory all the more critical given the current political threats they are facing.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 02/05/2026 - 09:53
Tags:
Organizing
02/06/2026 - 3:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UAW Reaches Tentative Agreement with Volkswagen in Chattanooga
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.
UAW members who work at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have officially reached a tentative agreement (TA) on their first union contract.
These members first made history in 2024 when they became the first Southern autoworkers outside the Big Three to join the UAW. And now, after a credible strike threat, they’ve proven what’s possible when workers band together. Highlights of the TA include 20% across-the-board wage increases, grievance rights, improved health care, better job security protections and more.
“For years, Chattanooga workers were told to settle for less while Volkswagen made record profits. So, the workers stood together and won their union—and now they’ve secured a life-changing first agreement,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “This deal proves what happens when autoworkers stand up and demand their fair share. People said Southern autoworkers could never form a union or win a union contract. Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga said, ‘Watch this.’”
“This contract is proof that if you stand up and stick together, you can win a better life,” said Kelcey Smith, a worker in the paint department. “No matter where you live, or where you work, autoworkers deserve a union contract, whether at the Big Three or Volkswagen, from Detroit to Chattanooga. Volkswagen workers are showing the whole country what’s possible.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 02/06/2026 - 10:10
02/06/2026 - 3:00pm
Worker Wins: Paving the Way For the Next Group
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
MedStar Nurses Secure Powerful New Contract: MedStar Washington Hospital Center registered nurses (RNs)—who are members of National Nurses United (NNU)—ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement on Saturday. The agreement contains major wins like new language around workplace violence prevention, guardrails around implementation of new technology, wage increases of up to 24%, among other gains. Separately, the union is also working with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia to investigate ongoing and widespread wage theft at the medical facility. “This contract will help MedStar nurses as we seek to provide the highest quality of care to our patients,” said Julia Truelove, RN. “I am so proud of the nurses who stood together as we fought so hard to get these improvements.”
Research Assistants Vote Overwhelmingly to Form Union: Research assistants (RAs) at the University at Albany-State University of New York (SUNY) Research Foundation won a landslide election to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA). This victory puts the more than 200-member strong bargaining unit into a growing community of academic workers across the public college and university system who have already organized for a voice on the job. The majority of SUNY–Albany RAs are international students conducting the type of important scientific research that has been facing federal funding cuts, making this victory all the more critical given the current political threats they are facing.
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula Nurses Vote to Form Union: Registered nurses at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, commonly known as CHOMP, have won their election to join the California Nurses Association (CNA), an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU). This victory means 800 nurses at the medical facility will soon begin negotiating their first-ever collective bargaining agreement. The organizing drive was heavily motivated by concerns around understaffing, which has impacted patient care and led to nurses being forced to skip breaks. “This is a great day for the Monterey Peninsula community and the patients we care for,” said registered nurse Kim Campbell in a press release. “I spent more than 30 years at CHOMP in the emergency department, and I recall when this was genuinely a community hospital and patient-focused institution. I am so pleased that by forming our union, we will now have a voice to advocate for our patients, create an environment that will help recruit and retain excellent nurses, and make improvements for our patients.”
Blizzard Quality Assurance Workers Ratify Union Contract: Blizzard quality assurance workers in Albany, New York, and Austin, Texas—who are represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA) locals 1118 and 6215, respectively—have voted to ratify their first contract with Microsoft. This is the third video game worker contract victory at the company, following the ratification of their own deals last year by CWA members who work for ZeniMax and Raven Software. Highlights of the new agreement include guaranteed wage increases, artificial intelligence guardrails, disability accommodations, protections for immigrant workers and more. “After nearly two decades in the video game industry, it feels great to work with my fellow union members in ratifying a fair contract that makes it easier to see a real, long-term career in this work,” said Local 6215 member and senior quality analyst Matt Gant. “This agreement gives us a better working environment with increased pay, benefits, and layoff protections that include recall rights and ensures that quality assurance work remains a stable and respected role for the workers who will build games long after us.”
Union Leader Taylor Rehmet Elected to Texas Senate: Taylor Rehmet—an IAM Union District 776 member and the president of IAM Union Local 776B and the Texas IAM Union State Council—has won the special election race for Texas Senate District 9 this weekend, flipping the seat and defeating a candidate backed by President Trump. “Taylor’s victory is a win for working people,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant in a press release. “Taylor understands the challenges workers face because he’s lived them. He brings the voice of the shop floor to the State Capitol, and we know he will fight every day for fair wages, strong labor protections, and opportunity for all Texans. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have an IAM Union member in the Texas Senate.” “This is a huge win for Texas workers. Taylor embodies what it means to be a union leader — working together to address the struggles of real, everyday Texans,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar in a press release. “While state parties are trying to reconnect with the working class, we’re running union members up and down the ballot — and winning. Taylor’s historic win kicks off a slate of rank-and-file union members running for office to fight for all of us.”
Poultry Workers in Mississippi Ratify First Contract: Members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1529 who work at the Peco Foods poultry processing plant in West Point, Mississippi, have successfully ratified their inaugural union contract. Despite having to participate in three separate union elections and endure anti-union interference from management throughout the yearlong process of negotiating, workers stood strong and displayed a powerful show of unity. Highlights of the deal include major hourly wage increases, extra vacation time, additional holiday pay and more. “I am very proud of the employees of Peco Foods for hanging together for three long years and reaching a first contract that was better than expected,” said UFCW Local 1529 President Lonnie Sheppard. “The organizing program was a journey, and the direction we chose to take was worth the miles we traveled to get our first collective bargaining agreement,” said UFCW Local 1529 Secretary-Treasurer Rose Turner.
Navajo Nation Workers Secure New Agreement with Frontier: Frontier Communications staff working in the Navajo Nation—who are represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA)—have reached a new three-year contract, thanks in part to the support of Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona. In September 2025, Sen. Gallego penned a letter to Frontier Communications Chief Executive Officer Nick Jeffery calling on the telecommunications company to bargain in good faith and close the longstanding wage gap between Navajo workers and their counterparts elsewhere in Arizona. The new agreement ensures that these members are paid fairly for the essential services they provide on the largest Indigenous reservation in the United States. “Senator Gallego’s letter to CEO Nick Jeffery turned the tide on the company’s slow-walking of our wage parity proposal. This agreement takes an important step to close the wage gap our Native American employees faced, and we appreciate the senator’s continued partnership,” said Fernando Roman, CWA District 7 campaign lead.
Production Workers at D.C. Concert Venues Win Union Elections: Production and box office workers across four major music venues around Washington, D.C., have voted overwhelmingly to join the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) locals 22 and 868. These newly minted IATSE members are a critical part of operations at the 9:30 Club, Anthem, Lincoln Theater and Atlantis. They join the ranks of their food, beverage and staffing co-workers who are part of UNITE HERE Local 25. Approximately 300 staff across departments at these venues first went public with an organizing campaign in October 2025. “With this vote for unionization, the backstage workers who bring the music and stage magic to thousands of showgoers at these I.M.P.-operated music halls will now be heard and can be treated with the dignity they deserve,” said Ryan Chavka, business agent for IATSE Local 22. “We will now reach out to I.M.P. management to schedule negotiations for a first contract. We look forward to giving these production workers a voice at the bargaining table.”
More Nurses Join CWA at Cayuga Health: Nurses at the Cayuga Health Surgicare clinic and Cayuga Cancer Center in New York have secured voluntary union recognition as members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The newly minted members of Cayuga United-CWA are joining the ranks of their counterparts at the Cayuga Medical Center—which is also a member of the Centralus Health system—who won their union election earlier this month. Nurses began organizing to fix chronic understaffing issues that were compromising both the quality of patient care as well as worker safety. “When nurses join together, we can make a positive change for our patients and our profession,” said April Mendez, a registered nurse in hematology and oncology. “We have been inspired by our coworkers at CMC sticking together through a union-busting campaign and winning their election. And we are proud to win our union as well. Now, we’re paving the way for the next group of healthcare workers by building the power to win a union.”
Slate Editorial Staff Ratify New Contract Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members who work at Slate Media have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement that contains critical protections around artificial intelligence (AI) in the newsroom. The bargaining unit voted unanimously to approve the tentative agreement reached in early January. Along with establishing guardrails on the use of generative AI, WGAE members secured salary floor increases, higher severance payouts, more parental leave and other major wins. “The Slate Union is proud to ratify a new contract with management,” the bargaining unit said in a joint statement. “We’re thrilled to have secured better parental leave and severance, raised salary minimums and annual increases, added new positions to the unit, and introduced a brand new A.I. article. This contact improves the livelihoods of all our members, and we hope it helps set even better standards for all of those in our industry.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 02/05/2026 - 11:34
Tags:
Organizing
02/05/2026 - 8:30pm
Black History Month Profiles: Ericka Igess
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black 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 Ericka Igess of the Utility Workers (UWUA).
Ericka Igess is the first Black woman to serve on her local’s executive board, and she is honored and proud to be a voice for all members of UWUA Local 18007. As recording secretary, she takes pride in helping others get through challenges they face and helps members deal with issues they may have at work. She also helps to make sure the collective bargaining agreement is being diligently enforced.
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 02/04/2026 - 10:27
Tags:
Black History Month
02/04/2026 - 1:00pm
Celebrating Black History Month: 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 on X.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Connecticut 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:
New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
New York State AFL-CIO:
Oregon AFL-CIO:
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
Texas AFL-CIO:
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 02/03/2026 - 13:12
02/03/2026 - 7:00pm
Black History Month Profiles: Dawn Ashford
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black 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 Dawn Ashford of AFSCME.
As a family services specialist, Dawn Ashford provides hope for families in Las Vegas. Ashford has dedicated over 30 years to various public service roles, from street outreach to supporting HIV/AIDS patients and more. “Seeing the look on a client’s face when they realize they will be able to get groceries this week or finally see a doctor—basic needs we sometimes take for granted—is what keeps me motivated to continue this work.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 02/03/2026 - 10:31
Tags:
Black History Month
02/03/2026 - 7:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Union Leader Taylor Rehmet Elected to Texas Senate
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.
Taylor Rehmet—an IAM Union District 776 member and the president of IAM Union Local 776B and the Texas IAM Union State Council—has won the special election race for Texas Senate District 9 this weekend, flipping the seat and defeating a candidate backed by President Trump.
“Taylor’s victory is a win for working people,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant in a press release. “Taylor understands the challenges workers face because he’s lived them. He brings the voice of the shop floor to the State Capitol, and we know he will fight every day for fair wages, strong labor protections, and opportunity for all Texans. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have an IAM Union member in the Texas Senate.”
“This is a huge win for Texas workers. Taylor embodies what it means to be a union leader — working together to address the struggles of real, everyday Texans,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar in a press release. “While state parties are trying to reconnect with the working class, we’re running union members up and down the ballot — and winning. Taylor’s historic win kicks off a slate of rank-and-file union members running for office to fight for all of us.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 02/03/2026 - 10:25
02/02/2026 - 6:30pm
Demanding Jobs and Freedom: 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.
Lee Saunders: The Latest Assault on Working Parents: “This is a blatant, targeted attack on working people. It’s an attack on children who deserve a safe space to learn and grow. It’s an attack on all of the childcare providers—thousands of whom are AFSCME members—who rely on this funding to keep their doors open. And it’s an attack on every working parent who counts on reliable, affordable childcare so that they can go to work each day and earn a living.”
Growing Number of Education Groups Criticize Impact of ICE Operations on Students: “American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said in an emailed statement that immigration enforcement needs reform ‘immediately,’ including more protections for schools, and urged lawmakers to work together to avoid a shutdown.”
CWA’s Cummings Urges Union Members to Unite, Fight Back in Battle for Soul of Democracy: “Communication Workers of America (CWA) International President Claude Cummings Jr. is urging union members to unite and fight back in today’s battle for the soul of democracy. Cummings was the keynote speaker for the 46th Annual Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Awards banquet in St. Louis. The event was held Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 union hall. Here are some excerpts from his lively speech: ‘We, as Black trade unionists, know that the Labor Movement and the Civil Rights Movements are two sides of the same coin. As Dr. King was declaring that he had a dream, many forget that the stated purpose of the March on Washington was to demand jobs and freedom: economic and social justice.”
Unions Sue FEMA Over Work Force Cuts They Say Threaten Readiness: “A coalition of unions, scientific groups and local governments filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking to block the Federal Emergency Management Agency from cutting its staff, arguing that, by doing so, agency leaders are violating laws mandating that FEMA maintain capabilities to respond to disasters. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, seeks to block the dismissals of hundreds of contract workers at FEMA that began at the start of the year. About 1,000 employees were expected to lose their jobs this month, although the agency paused the cuts last week in anticipation of a winter storm that raged across the country, according to internal FEMA emails reviewed by The New York Times.”
SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin Talks AI, Residuals, Pensions and More Ahead of 2026 Labor Negotiations with AMPTP: “SAG-AFTRA will head into another round of labor negotiations with the major Hollywood studios in around two weeks, led by newly elected leader Sean Astin. ‘My mission going into this negotiation is to make sure that the companies spend as much time as necessary to fully hear the issues that each of our groups represent,’ he recently told Deadline in a sit-down ahead of next month’s formal start to negotiations.”
AFGE Demands Resignations of Noem, Miller Following Member’s Slaying: “The nation’s largest federal employee union on Monday called for the resignations of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over the two officials’ statements denigrating VA nurse Alex Pretti just hours after he was slain by a U.S. Border Patrol agent Saturday. Trump told reporters Tuesday that Noem would remain at her post, saying, ‘I think she's doing a very good job.’”
Workers Unionize at Columbus-Based Jeni’s Ice Cream: “Workers across eight central Ohio ice cream shops have voted to unionize. The 81 employees across Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams shops in central Ohio voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union local chapter. According to the Ohio AFL-CIO, a union advocacy coalition, Jeni’s workers voted with a nearly 2-1 margin to unionize on Jan. 14. ‘We respect our employees’ rights and the outcome of this election,’ a spokesperson for Jeni’s said. ‘As negotiations begin, we will engage in good faith, and work constructively toward an agreement.’”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 01/30/2026 - 12:35
02/02/2026 - 6:30pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Blizzard Quality Assurance Workers Ratify Video Game Union Contract with Microsoft; Secure Wage Increases and 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.
A strong majority of quality assurance workers at Blizzard Entertainment’s Albany, New York, and Austin, Texas, locations overwhelmingly voted to ratify a union contract at Microsoft. The workers are represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA) locals 1118 and 6215, respectively.
The three-year contract includes guaranteed wage increases; enhanced regulations around the usage of AI and generative AI in the workplace; protections on fair crediting and name recognition on shipped video games; reasonable disability accommodations without discrimination or retaliation; protection to immigrant workers from unfair discipline and loss of seniority while streamlining legal verification; restrictions on mandatory “crunch time” or excessive overtime hours; and other benefits.
“At a time when layoffs are hitting our industry hard, today is another big step in building a better future for video game workers at every level,” said Local 1118 member and Blizzard Albany quality analyst Brock Davis. “For quality assurance testers, this contract provides us wages to live on, increased job security benefits, and guardrails around artificial intelligence in the workplace.”
“After nearly two decades in the video game industry, it feels great to work with my fellow union members in ratifying a fair contract that makes it easier to see a real, long-term career in this work,” said Local 6215 member and Blizzard Austin senior quality analyst Matt Gant. “This agreement gives us a better working environment with increased pay, benefits, and layoff protections that include recall rights and ensures that quality assurance work remains a stable and respected role for the workers who will build games long after us.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 02/02/2026 - 10:13
02/02/2026 - 6:30pm
We Proudly Celebrate Black History Month
Black History Month is a time for reflection and recognition as we celebrate the Black labor leaders and union members, both past and present, who have advanced real change.
The struggle for equity absolutely continues, and our task of protecting our fundamental rights remains as important as ever. The labor movement plays a critical protective role against the Trump administration and its enablers as they attack diversity, equity and inclusion policies and programs, attempt to trample our rights, and whitewash our history.
We’ll feature the stories of new Black History Month labor leaders and activists throughout the month here.
President Trump likes to say he is delivering for working people. He promised on the campaign trail to protect “Black jobs.” But like so many of his promises, this is an empty one. In fact, we have been living with the effects of Trump’s policies since he took office a year ago, and the only thing he has delivered for us is employment uncertainty and financial insecurity.
Black unemployment has now surged to more than 7%, nearly double the country’s overall unemployment rate. For both Black Americans as a whole and Black women in particular, unemployment has reached its highest level since 2021 and will likely continue to grow.
Most Americans say they’re still struggling just to make ends meet. President Trump promised to “make America affordable again,” but instead, his administration and its allies in Congress spent the past year driving up costs, holding down wages and letting jobs disappear—including good-paying jobs that would help keep energy bills from skyrocketing.
We’ll keep fighting to hold the Trump administration accountable when it pushes anti-worker, anti-Black policies. That’s why we need your help to tell Congress to fix the affordability crisis now. Please make a call.
Trump’s economy may be working for his billionaire buddies, but for the rest of us, it’s a disaster. It’s time to take our country back to ensure that Black workers—and all workers—finally get the fair shot at getting ahead that we deserve.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, wrote that “we are…tied in a single garment of destiny.” And that remains true today. We are all connected in the same struggle for dignity as working people—no matter our race, nationality or immigration status. What affects one of us affects all of us.
That is at the heart of the civil rights and labor movements—a connection rooted in shared values and the pursuit of economic and racial justice through solidarity, collective action and nonviolent civil resistance.
Together, we will advance the march toward progress. Stay strong. Stay united.
P.S. I recorded this video message for Black History Month. Please take a look and share:
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 02/02/2026 - 15:50
Tags:
Black History Month
