Hi John,
As a proud Chicago native, I grew up steeped in labor history. I have so much respect for those who came before me in the movement.
But this holiday season, what I’m really excited about is how the UE Research and Education Fund is building the worker solidarity of the future. Can we count on you to build with us?
In today’s economy, multinational corporations reach their tentacles into workers’ pockets worldwide – from Millcreek, PA, to Mexico City. That’s why UEREF is fighting back in 2026 by taking worker solidarity to a new level: building across sectors, across our country, and across borders to win justice for all working people.
Our Southern Worker Justice Campaign is poised to win big for workers in 2026. Since 2021, SWJC has been building the skills, knowledge, and leadership of public sector workers across Virginia and North Carolina, despite NC’s ban on collective bargaining. Public workers – many of whom are Black, brown, or immigrants – do essential jobs, from ensuring our drinking water is clean to caring for patients in state facilities. In 2026, SWJC will educate and organize workers across the public sector to win a $25/hour statewide minimum wage. We’ll also help workers leverage their collective power to fight for a Workers’ Agenda in the midterm elections.
Our Green Locomotive Project is also moving forward. In 2025, we mobilized our proven worker-to-worker exchange model to bring together rail manufacturing workers across state lines. Unionized locomotive builders from Erie, PA, had a breakthrough success training their nonunion colleagues in Fort Worth, TX. This year, UEREF will build on their achievement by organizing more worker exchanges across the country. Together, we’ll build workers’ power in advance of contract negotiations in 2026 and 2027 and win green technology and good wages at the bargaining table
John, our vision for worker solidarity is intersectional and international:
In California and Illinois, we’re partnering with Environmental Justice allies to fight for the health of workers and community members in and around major railyards like the Barstow International Gateway.
In North Carolina, we’re partnering with Environmental Justice allies to demand heat stress safety protocols for workers and zero-emissions vehicles and equipment to protect our communities.
Internationally, we’re building on relationships we formed at the IndustriALL Congress in Sydney, Australia to form a table of international unions who will strategize together as we pursue Green Locomotive demands internationally.
Inclusive solidarity is the future of workplace justice. I’m so proud to be standing on the frontlines of this fight. And I know you’ll stand here with us, because like me, you believe in workers’ power. 2026 is going to be a year of building. Building takes vision, and it takes resources. At UEREF we have the vision. Can we count on you to resource our movement to build worker solidarity across borders and boundaries?
In solidarity,
Tommy Carden
Director, UE Research and Education Fund
