Local 155 Contract with Tinius Olsen Gives Workers Greater Control Over Their Time

The new contract between amalgamated UE Local 155 and materials testing machine company Tinius Olsen includes several measures that give workers greater control over their time.

Vacation time was greatly improved by eliminating the old system of attendance incentive days, personal days, and two holidays, and turning them all into vacation days. The union won more vacation flexibility by getting workers the right to use some vacation in one-hour increments, and reduced the notice time workers are required to give for vacation of three days or more. UE members also won greater rights to carry over vacation days, and the company agreed to look into a digital system to allow workers to check their accumulated time.

Funding Secured to Remove Solidarity Mural from UE Hall, but More Support Needed

Although UE leaders and supporters in the public arts community have secured enough funding to remove the most important parts of the “Solidarity” mural from the UE Hall in Chicago prior to new owners taking over the building, they are seeking additional donations to complete the task of removing the walls and to pay for virtual documentation of the mural.

Local 150 Joins Poor People’s March

On Saturday, March 2, UE Local 150 joined the Poor People’s March in Raleigh, NC. The march was held to commemorate the 800 people who die each day in America from poverty and low wages. Read more and watch video »

Southern California UE Members Learn Skills, Discuss Green Locomotives at Subregion Education Event

Leaders from four Southern California UE locals met for a subregion education event on Friday, February 23. For several members, this was their first time attending a union event outside their own local. Read more »

UE, Six Other National Unions Launch Ceasefire Effort

UE is one of seven national unions which announced the formation of the National Labor Network for Ceasefire (NLNC) on February 16, along with over two hundred local and regional unions. The aim of the network is to “end the death and devastation” in the Middle East, and to expand support for the ceasefire among unions nationally. Read more »

FEATURE

Two New Podcasts Explore History of the CIO

The past two months have seen the release of two new limited-run podcasts about the history of the CIO, the federation of industrial unions that arose from and led the worker upsurge of the 1930s and 1940s. Organize the Unorganized tells the story of the CIO in a crisp, newsroom style, through the voices of prominent labor historians and of the participants themselves. Fragile Juggernaut, produced by a group of journalists, organizers and historians and sponsored by Haymarket Books, is taking a longer and deeper historical view. Read more »

UE Mourns Passing of Former GEB Members John Lambiase and Bob Rudek

Two UE leaders who served on the union’s General Executive Board in the 1990s and 2000s passed away in December and January.

John Lambiase, who served as president of UE District Six from 1998 to 2005, passed away on January 3. He led his first strike at age 15, when he was a steward at a grocery store in Brooklyn, New York. Read more about Brother Lambiase »