Coffee Workers Form Worker Co-op In Wake of Mass Firings

When workers at Augie’s Coffee demanded recognition of their union last summer, their bosses responded by shutting down all five coffee shops, effectively firing 54 workers. Taking to heart the old Industrial Workers of the World slogan, “The boss needs you, you don't need him,” the workers have now formed a worker co-operative, Slow Bloom Coffee.

Local 1107 Retiree Running for State Senate: “I am running on a workers’ platform”

Joni Anderson, a recently-retired member of UE Local 1107 in Necedah, WI who served that local in many capacities over the years, is running for state senate in Wisconsin’s 14th senate district. Her pro-worker program includes workers’ rights, healthcare for all, and stronger democracy. Her website proudly displays a photo of Anderson wearing a UE shirt at the state capitol, and she has been endorsed by both UE’s Western Region and the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.

Take Action in Solidarity with Candy Workers This Halloween Season

Mars Wrigley is the largest and most profitable candy-maker in the world. But when 100+ warehouse workers in Joliet, Illinois demanded safety protections and hazard pay during this pandemic, the corporation and its third party logistics contractors not only denied their requests, but fired several workers for coming together and speaking out! These working people are being systematically denied paid sick leave during the pandemic and basic safety protections such as socially-distanced work stations, screening, and adequate warehouse sanitation. Mars Wrigley has also denied their warehouse workers common-sense hazard pay for taking on the increased health risks during this crisis. Sign and share this petition »

New Members, New Anti-Racism Workshop at General Executive Board Meeting

UE’s General Executive Board, newly expanded by elections held at July’s regional council meetings, met over Zoom on September 21 and 22. Under the regional reorganization carried out over the past few months, each of UE’s two geographic regions is now represented on the GEB by the region’s president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer, along with five at-large members elected from the regional executive board. Read more »

Solidarity for Racial Justice at Eastern Region Virtual Meet

UE’s Eastern Region council met virtually on Saturday October 17, with delegates joining an all-day Zoom conference. The regional meeting featured the first joint UE-Unifor presentation of a new workshop, “Solidarity for Racial Justice,” developed as part of the North American Solidarity Project’s equity and anti-racism work. UE Co-Director of Education Kari Thompson and Unifor Director of Human Rights Christine Maclin led the workshop. Read more »

What's At Stake in the Presidential Election

There's a lot at stake for workers in this year's presidential election. The UE NEWS has prepared a series of short articles on the issues: workers' rights, continued offshoring of jobs, health and safety (especially during a pandemic), and the courts. Read more »

“I will continue to fight for Medicare for All”

Addressing a COVID-19/Medicare for All town hall with Representative Jesus “Chuy” Garcia on Monday, UE Local 1077 President and Western Region Vice President Larry Hopkins told the town hall that “I will continue to fight for Medicare for All.” Watch Brother Hopkins' remarks »

UE International Rep. on How Labor Can Prepare for Growth

UE International Representative Mark Meinster wrote in Labor Notes this month about how labor can prepare for “the sort of upsurge where unions grow dramatically.” The strikes, workplace leaders and independence from the mainstream needed to turn moments of social unrest into dramatic growth for unions will require a labor movement with the type of class-struggle orientation that UE has long promoted. Read the article »

Local 222 Member Featured in Article About School Support Staff

“You can’t run the school without support staff,” UE Local 222-92 member Ann Pulisz, a school food service worker in Wallingford, CT told Huffington Post reporter Sarah Ruiz-Grossman. “I know our bus driver, because my daughter had him for four years. How do you thank this person?” she added. “You’re putting yourself in danger to make sure my kid gets to school safely. The custodians are cleaning up after my kid so he doesn’t get sick. How do you thank a person for doing that? What bugs me most is when people think of others’ jobs as being menial — but where would anybody be without the people doing these jobs?” Read the full article »

The THRIVE Agenda: A Bold Plan for Working People and the Planet

UE joined over 100 organizations and more than 75 representatives and senators in endorsing the THRIVE agenda, a bold plan introduced in mid-September to address the economic, environmental and social crises facing working people and our country. The THRIVE agenda would create nearly 16 million new jobs and sustain them over the next critical decade, essentially eliminating the unemployment crisis. Read more »

Bolivia Ousts Coup Government in Democratic Elections

Workers in the US may be focusing on our own upcoming elections, but the results of this week’s Bolivian presidential election are worthy of our attention. On Sunday, the Bolivian people elected Luis Arce, ending the brief reign of a far-right government installed by a military coup and backed by the Trump administration. UE’s officers condemned this coup last November. Read more »

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