UE Helps Initiate Labor Call for Ceasefire in Israel and Palestine
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Strike Threat Pays Off for Local 728 in Kentucky
The members of UE Local 728 in Williamsburg, Kentucky ratified their second UE contract on Tuesday, October 31. After members voted overwhelming to strike if the company did not improve its “last, best and final offer,” management came up with an improved offer two days before the contract expired.
The new contract includes 11 to 18 percent wage increases during the life of the contract, a fifth week of paid vacation for employees who reach 20 years of service, increased bereavement leave, improved seniority protections, and more.
The fighting spirit of the Local 728 membership can be seen in this video coverage of their first-ever rally, held on the Friday before their contract expired. The next issue of the UE NEWS Bulletin will include more details and full coverage of the contract struggle.
Local 150 Leader Receives Human Rights Award
Angaza Laughinghouse, a founding member and three-term president of UE Local 150, received the Discount Foundation’s 8th Annual Legacy Award at the 2023 Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Celebration, held on November 1 by Jobs with Justice. In his acceptance speech, he spoke about fighting for justice in North Carolina. He also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“We, members of the American labor movement, mourn the loss of life in Israel and Palestine. We express our solidarity with all workers and our common desire for peace in Palestine and Israel, and we call on President Joe Biden and Congress to push for an immediate ceasefire and end to the siege of Gaza. We cannot bomb our way to peace. We also condemn any hate crimes against Muslims, Jews, or anyone else.”
Unified Local 684 Membership Makes “Huge Strides” in Wages and Benefits
With one hour to spare before the expiration of their collective bargaining agreement, the Local 684 negotiating committee reached a tentative agreement with their employer on October 4. Two days before the contract expired, Local 684 members voted overwhelmingly to strike if the negotiating committee could not reach a tentative agreement before the contract’s expiration. The new contract, which was ratified by Local 684 members on October 12, includes some of the largest wage increases the local has ever negotiated. Read more »
New Head Start Contract Improves Wages, Retirement
UE Local 221 members who work at the Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA) Head Start program in Vermont won a new two-year contract with significant wage increase for their lowest-paid members, janitors and food service workers. Classroom teachers will also see increases that bring them closer to what their public-school counterparts earn. Read more »
$6/Hour Increase for Nursing Staff in Local 278 Reopener
Licensed nursing assistants and medication nursing assistants at the Grafton County (NH) Nursing Home will see a $6 per hour increase to their wages thanks to a reopener negotiated by Local 278 in September, which establishes a new Licensed Nursing Staff Wage Chart. All other workers covered by the contract will receive a $2 per hour increase, and shift differentials will increase by $1 per hour, to $2.75 for evening and weekend shifts and $3.75 for night shifts. Read more »
New 625 Contract Advances Living Standards
On August 29, UE Local 625, whose members build high-quality circuit breakers and high-voltage equipment, ratified a new one-year contract. The agreement includes a six percent general wage increase and a freeze on healthcare costs. It also eliminates one step of the contract’s wage progression, meaning that newer hires will now make it to the top rate one year sooner. Members also received a $500 bonus. Read more »
Library Workers Extend Contract
Members of UE Local 155 who work for the Passaic Free Public Library have extended their contract for two years, through June 2025. Workers will receive a three percent wage increase each of the two years, and Juneteenth was added as a new holiday. Current employees will maintain the same plans, options, and reimbursement rates for health insurance. Read more »
UE Urges President Biden to Remove Special Corporate Rights from Trade Agreements
UE joined over 200 other labor, consumer, health, human rights, faith, and other organizations in a letter to President Biden urging him to fulfill his stated position against Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and eliminate ISDS terms in existing free trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties. ISDS is embedded in numerous trade and investment agreements and has created a global governance regime that prioritizes corporate rights over those of governments, people, and the planet. Read more »
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