Earlier this week, on the third anniversary of the opening of bargaining, video game workers at Raven Software unanimously voted to ratify their first union contract with Microsoft. Workers at the studio, who are responsible for the popular Call of Duty game series, were the first Activision Blizzard workers to organize a union with CWA. Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard in early 2023. This ratification builds on recent momentum by CWA members to raise standards across the video game industry, with ZeniMax video game workers ratifying a historic contract with Microsoft in late June.

The contract ensures lasting protections in the workplace, including guaranteed double-digit wage increases over two years, the elimination of “crunch time” (extended and excessive mandatory overtime), layoff protections, and more—a first across the video game industry.

“Going from organizing to sitting across the table from one of the largest tech corporations in the world was a huge learning curve, but we never lost sight of why we were there,” said Raven Software QA tester and CWA Local 4652 bargaining committee member Autumn Prazuch. “We fought hard for raises and job structures that will finally make QA a sustainable career path, and we were able to negotiate limitations on mandatory crunch. Ratifying this contract is a win for game workers everywhere who are ready to take the first step toward a better future.”

Read the full press release here.

NABET-CWA Local 51022 members hold a press conference in Rochester, N.Y., to demand union recognition from Nexstar’s WROC-TV 8.

Broadcasting workers at Nexstar Media Group, the largest local television station owner in the U.S., are forming unions with NABET-CWA to address low wages and unsustainable working conditions. Workers at stations in Rochester, N.Y.; Henderson, Ky.; and Denver, Colo., along with a production hub also in Denver, have recently won union elections, joining broadcast employees at thirty-five other bargaining units at Nexstar. NABET-CWA members work in all aspects of local news, including as on-air anchors, producers, directors, broadcast engineers, and technicians.

“I personally wanted to organize because of the fact that my coworkers were hurting. Hurting mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially,” said Brody Shaffer, WEHT. “Before I was fired for exercising my protected rights and freedom of speech, what I enjoyed about my job was not just the work of creating commercials—I truly enjoyed the team I worked with. I loved so many things about my job. But the thing that’s really hard to replace is the people you did the work with.”

Nexstar workers are speaking out about their working conditions in a new report, Breaking the Story: The Real Cost of Low Wages at America’s Largest Broadcaster. The wages reported by workers indicate that Nexstar pays well below its peers in the industry—22% less than the median wage, on average, for the most common occupations surveyed. Workers also report that they have to skip breaks and often work in understaffed departments.

NABET-CWA is calling on Nexstar to negotiate fair contracts that provide livable wages. Members are also urging Congress to prevent the Trump administration from eliminating the existing standards for broadcast ownership. On Monday, NABET-CWA President Charlie Braico and Newsguild-CWA President Jon Schleuss joined 14 other groups on a letter to the FCC opposing the industry’s efforts to change the current standards through rulemaking.

On Tuesday, Memphis library workers testified before the city council on why they should be allowed the same worker protections as other civil servants, including first responders and educators.

Under Executive Order 133, issued in 1984, library workers are classified as “appointed employees.” They seek to change that designation to “civil service employees,” enabling them to form a union and negotiate contracts, which could lead to greater transparency in hiring and firing, fairer grievance procedures, and greater stability in the public library system. The current designation leaves workers vulnerable to politically-influenced employment decisions.

Library workers have been organizing to join CWA for months and already have 60 percent of the workforce signed up in favor of the union. In a display of solidarity, allies at the meeting included members of CWA Local 3866, the AFL-CIO Memphis & West Tennessee Central Labor Council, Memphis for ALL, Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church, Democratic Socialist Alliance, and the Sesame Workers Union.

“Library workers are essential to our communities, but in Memphis, we’re denied the basic job protections other public servants receive,” said Alexandra Farmer. “It's time for City leadership to correct this. We’re urging them to change our status and grant us the rights and security we deserve.”

Community members and other city workers are calling on Mayor Paul Young to take action. However, the path forward remains unclear. Mayor Young may be able to rescind the executive order, but if not, the change could require a public vote.

Library workers and other unrepresented city employees faced a similar dilemma last year in Denver, Colo., where the issue went to a public vote. Workers won an overwhelming victory last November, paving the way for the formation of unions.

Librarians in the Memphis Public Library System testified before city council this week in favor of changing their status with the city from “appointed employees” to “civil service employees” and opening a path toward union protections.

CWA-represented Passenger Service Agents at Piedmont Airlines continued bargaining last week in an attempt to resolve some outstanding issues before entering into mediation.

The company continues to ignore the economic needs of our members and is refusing to commit to improvements that would meet industry standards. The CWA Piedmont Bargaining Committee is no longer willing to tolerate delay and disrespect. CWA and Piedmont have jointly requested mediation through the National Mediation Board. A mediator has been assigned, and the Committee is awaiting proposed mediation dates.

Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor relations in the airline and railroad industries, mediation is a required step when the union and the company cannot reach an agreement on their own. Passenger Service Agents are not permitted to strike, picket, or take job actions unless the National Mediation Board declares an impasse and formally releases both parties from mediation.

Last week, UPTE-CWA Animal Health Technicians (AHTs), along with other members, supporters, and allies, rallied outside the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) against chronic understaffing. Members say the crisis has reached a point where two techs can be responsible for the care of more than sixty patients. Emergencies are turned away, preventable tragedies occur, and the stress is driving talented workers away.

At the country’s top-ranked animal hospital, AHTs make approximately $15 per hour less than their counterparts at regional specialty and emergency clinics. At the same time, University of California (UC) veterinary hospitals set benchmarks for patient care and training not only around California but also across the country. AHT’s treat roughly 50,000 animals annually, including household pets, livestock, and exotic creatures.

Workers at VMTH are fighting the same low pay, high turnover, and sub-optimal patient outcomes as other members across the UC healthcare system and vow to continue the fight until their demands for better pay, better working conditions, and better care for patients are met.

Last week also marked an important victory for the union as members were able to reverse a layoff. The university terminated Luis Baquera, a System Administrator at UC Riverside, sending Baquera and his wife scrambling. The IT specialist had worked for the UC for over twenty years. Said Baquera, “After months of bracing for the worst, I was back to work just weeks after my "final" day. This is the power of being willing and able to stand up against unjust decisions in the workplace. This is the power of having and enforcing a strong contract with layoff protections. This is the power of our union.”

UPTE-CWA is now calling for layoff reversals for two other members: John Salinas and Sandi Pearson, both workers at UC Irvine. Click here to add your name to the UPTE-CWA petition for reinstatement.

Members of UPTE-CWA at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital held a rally in protest of understaffing, poor pay, and high turnover currently impacting patient outcomes.

From July 21 through July 25, members of United Workers of Harris Center-CWA Local 6154 held a week of actions calling for the company to compensate workers fairly. Workers are seeking a $5,000 across-the-board pay raise and a $20 per hour minimum wage.

In preparation for the week-long mobilization drive, union activists took to their phones, placing calls and texts to UWHC-CWA members. During the mobilization blitz, members hosted multiple potluck lunches where they provided information on the union, their demands, and the CWA Political Action Fund.

Members also engaged workers with:

• A pay raise lemonade stand
• A pay raise brunch
• A taco breakfast for shift workers
• A social hour for legislative updates and a PAF drive

Activists signed up 69 new members during the drive, which culminated in a united march on the bosses at their board meeting. Wearing CWA paraphernalia, 16 members testified about their love of their jobs and the services they provide to their community. However, low wages force some workers to hold two or even three additional jobs to make ends meet. The low wages also contribute to low morale and high turnover, further increasing strain on veteran workers. Members asked the Board to support pay raises for all Harris Center workers as a way to increase retention, improve quality of life, and improve delivery of services to the community. Members deliver high-quality mental health services and provide assistance to clients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

Members of United Workers of Harris County-CWA Local 6154 participated in a week of actions to build support for a pay raise.

On August 18, AFA-CWA-represented Flight Attendants at PSA Airlines will host a Day of Action before mediated negotiations resume on August 20. PSA members will hold informational pickets at five airports to send a message that low wages will not be accepted and that PSA needs to bargain seriously. PSA is a subsidiary of American Airlines.

Click here to join PSA Flight Attendants at a picket location near you.

To mark the 90th anniversary of the creation of Social Security, and in recognition of the unprecedented attacks currently being waged on the millions of working families who rely on it, CWAers across the country will be participating in the Protect Our Checks week of actions, from August 9 through August 16.

Click here to find an event near you and let anti-worker politicians know every person deserves dignity, not desperation!