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.

The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and San Francisco Opera announced a new two-year collective bargaining agreement, ratified by AGMA’s Board of Governors on Aug. 25.

The agreement comes after nine months of negotiations. The new contract, effective through Feb. 28, 2027, includes pay increases, equitable pay adjustments, enhanced work-life protections, other new benefits, and enhancements to scheduling and audition processes.

“This agreement reflects the dedication of every AGMA member at San Francisco Opera; we really came together. Solidarity works,” said Sally Mouzon, AGMA’s Western Region vice president, and a San Francisco Opera chorister. “It’s about respect for the job we do, a healthy balance between life and work, and ensuring that artists have a real seat at the table as our beloved San Francisco Opera plans for the future.”

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:

On Sept. 17, Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, you're invited to join hands with New Jersey residents from Fort Lee to Washington Crossing to form a living chain of resistance against authoritarianism. Learn how you can be a part of @handsacrossnj.bsky.social here - https://handsacrossnj.org/

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— Actors' Equity Association (@actorsequity.bsky.social) September 10, 2025 at 10:20 AM

AFSCME:

Gov. Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke Lierman and AFSCME leaders discussed how the “Big, Beautiful Bill” will harm working families in Maryland. https://t.co/HXCcbSCpIR

— AFSCME (@AFSCME) September 11, 2025

Alliance for Retired Americans:

The Trump administration has tried to cover up the damage DOGE inflicted on the Social Security Administration, but we're not letting them off that easily. Stay in the know and get the full rundown. ⬇️https://t.co/hd8IXsaiyH

— Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) September 11, 2025

Amalgamated Transit Union:

Congratulations to our Local 279-Ottawa, ON, members for ratifying their hard-found, strong new contract. #OurVoiceOurPower #canlab @OFLabour @CanadianLabour https://t.co/JHRaUlWh8v

— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) September 9, 2025

American Federation of Teachers:

We fought. We organized. We won.

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

New Jersey Governor Signs Five Pro-Labor Bills into Law: New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law five bipartisan, pro-labor bills that will benefit working people in the state. One of the pieces of legislation bans captive audience meetings, requires that employers clearly communicate to their staff that attendance is voluntary and also protects workers from retaliation if they choose to not sit in on these meetings. The other bill requires that social studies classes for grades 6–12 provide education on the rich contributions, history and heritage of the labor movement. “Governor Murphy has signed a significant amount of pro-labor legislation into law over the past seven and a half years, and the addition of these two laws further illustrates his commitment to working families and unions,” said Charles Wowkanech, president of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. “We sincerely appreciate his support, as well as the leadership of the prime sponsors of these bills for their advocacy….Collectively, these two new laws illustrate that New Jersey continues to be a strong union state.”

Duke Grad Student Union Ratifies Historic Contract: After two years of negotiations and strikes, members of the Duke Graduate Students Union (DGSU)—which is part of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Southern Region Local 27—voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first contract, with 99% in favor. This agreement—a first for union graduate student workers in the South—will increase members’ base annual stipend, and future raises will be at the same rate as raises for regular-rank faculty. Other wins include nine weeks of parental leave, protections for undocumented students and those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, child care subsidies, workload guardrails and more.

University of California Staff Vote to Join UAW in Landslide Vote: More than 7,000 research and public service professionals (RPSPs) across the University of California (UC) system announced on Tuesday that they have overwhelmingly voted to form a union with the UAW. RPSP-UAW members are in good company: They’re joining the ranks of over 50,000 other UC workers who are already part of the UAW. These staff members, who perform essential work like administering grants and analyzing data, are organizing in the wake of ongoing federal attacks on higher education funding. “As the Trump administration continues its assault on workers, it’s never been more important to join the movement of tens of thousands of higher education workers throughout the country who are standing up for social and economic justice at their jobs and in their communities,” said UAW Region 6 Director Mike Miller. “Forming a union has never been more important with higher education under increasing attack,” said Deborah Ferguson-Fitch, a research administrator at UC San Francisco. “We are joining a movement of research and professional employees in UAW who have been at the forefront of fighting funding cuts and protecting jobs and values in higher education.”

Fort Bend Transit Operators Vote to Join TWU to Address Appalling Working Conditions: Bus and van operators at Fort Bend Transit in Rosenberg, Texas, overwhelmingly voted to join the Transport Workers Union (TWU) on Friday. They sent a strong message to the operator Transdev that a complete lack of respect for workers is unacceptable. “Transdev forces drivers to work without proper bathroom breaks, disciplines and fires drivers through a draconian attendance policy and punishes workers who dare to bring concerns about their working conditions to management. That is unacceptable and it ends TODAY. Transdev’s anti-union rhetoric has epically failed,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “We will fight and win a first contract that improves the working conditions and lives for Fort Bend Transit workers and their families. They are fed up with a lack of respect from management. A contract forces the bosses to make changes instead of punishing workers who dare to speak up.” In recent months, commuters in Rosenberg have been plagued by service disruptions because of Transdev’s mismanagement and treatment of workers. Buses frequently experience overcrowding and commuters are turned away, leaving bus operators at risk of assault and outrage from angry customers.

AGMA and San Francisco Opera Announce New Two-Year Contract: The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and San Francisco Opera announced a new two-year collective bargaining agreement, ratified by AGMA’s Board of Governors on Aug. 25. The agreement comes after nine months of negotiations. The new contract, effective through Feb. 28, 2027, includes pay increases, equitable pay adjustments, enhanced work-life protections, other new benefits, and enhancements to scheduling and audition processes. “This agreement reflects the dedication of every AGMA member at San Francisco Opera; we really came together. Solidarity works,” said Sally Mouzon, AGMA’s Western Region vice president, and a San Francisco Opera chorister. “It’s about respect for the job we do, a healthy balance between life and work, and ensuring that artists have a real seat at the table as our beloved San Francisco Opera plans for the future.”

Production Assistants for Hit TV Show ‘The Pitt’ Vote to Organize with LIUNA: Production assistants (PAs) on the second season of the HBO Max medical drama “The Pitt” voted to join Laborers (LIUNA) Local 724, Production Assistants United. The vote was unanimous. “The PAs on this show are real professionals and we bring our A game every day, so it means a lot that we can now collectively bargain for the same rights and benefits that everyone else gets,” said set production assistant Michael McWilliam. “The Pitt” is the first major television production where production assistants have organized. “LiUNA Local 724 is honored to be at the tip of the spear representing those who long have deserved respect and dignity behind the scenes here in Hollywood, but who have so long been denied that recognition in this place we call Hollywood,” said Local 724’s business manager Alex Aguilar. “This is only the beginning.” Production Assistants United is primarily advocating for bread-and-butter benefits such as wage raises, access to union health plans, turnaround times, grievance procedures and more structured career pathways for PAs who do not have many clear options for career advancement.

Tags: Organizing