American Red Cross

Blood service workers at the American Red Cross (ARC), represented by a coalition of labor unions including CWA, have been on the front-lines throughout the pandemic, keeping their communities and donors safe and healthy. They have been mobilizing for months demanding respect and a fair contract that guarantees affordable health care and safe working conditions, including adequate staffing levels. In addition, the workers are seeking to prevent harmful levels of turnover among trained staff so they can collect our lifesaving blood supply. Instead of responding to the workers’ concerns, Red Cross managers are making things worse by proposing to roll back health care benefits for thousands of employees.

The workers participated in coordinated actions this week to raise awareness about these conditions and to call on ARC management to give the workers the contract they deserve.

“As someone who goes to different sites in different states, I can tell you that the issues front-line workers face are systemic throughout Red Cross…management doesn’t care that many of us have children and families we have to take care of. They routinely schedule staff for long shifts with little notice,” said Jaytricia Tremel, CWA Local 13000, who spoke at the rally held in Washington, D.C.

In addition to Washington, D.C, the workers held actions in Lansing, Mich.; Peoria, Ill.; and San Diego and Pomona, Calif. CWA members at the Red Cross in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York are responsible for drawing blood from patients and donors, coordinating donor drives, and more.

Jaytricia Tremel, CWA Local 13000, spoke at the rally held in Washington, D.C., as part of a nationwide mobilization for a fair contract at American Red Cross.

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Buzzfeed News

Last Friday, workers at Buzzfeed News, members of the NewsGuild of New York (TNG-CWA Local 31003), unanimously voted to ratify their first contract. The workers have been fighting for a first contract for more than two years. Throughout the bargaining process, they engaged in escalating collective actions, including a one-day work stoppage, to put pressure on management to fairly negotiate a contract the workers deserve. In addition to setting a salary floor, the new five-year contract includes yearly salary increases, a cap on health care cost increases, just cause protections, expanded eligibility for overtime pay, and more.

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National Domestic Workers Alliance

Last Wednesday, more than 200 workers from the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), members of CWA Local 1180, and supporters joined together for a virtual rally in support of NDWA workers who are bargaining their first contract.

The workers have been fighting for a fair contract that includes equitable salaries and benefits, and provides better workplace protections.

“We are thankful for the voluntary recognition on the part of management, but now they need to put their money where their mouths are and work on a fair and reasonable contract with the members,” said CWA Local 1180 President Gloria Middleton.

Last Thursday, in a win for members of United Campus Workers at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UCW-CWA Local 3865), the University of Tennessee announced graduate student workers will no longer have to pay student fees. This move will save graduate assistants – those who work teaching or performing research – nearly $2,000 a year. For the last three years, the members of UCW-CWA Local 3865 have been fighting to eliminate these burdensome fees that add to the financial hardships the workers are already facing as the cost of living continues to rise. This win follows the successful efforts of the members of United Campus Workers-Georgia (CWA Local 3265) to remove the "Special Institutional Fee" across all public universities in Georgia.

In Mississippi, part-time and full-time staff, faculty, and student workers from the University of Southern Mississippi, members of United Campus Workers of Mississippi (UCW-CWA Local 3565) held a rally last Thursday to call on the university to raise the school’s minimum wage to fifteen dollars an hour. The university advertises its role as an economic driver for the community, generating an annual economic impact of over $600 million. Yet, the lowest paid university workers receive an annual salary of only $21,000 (roughly $10.50/hr) – a sub-poverty wage for those with families. The rally ended with the delivery of more than 300 employee signatures to University President Rodney Bennett pressing for the establishment of a living wage for all employees.

Members of United Campus Workers of Mississippi (UCW-CWA Local 3565) and supporters held a rally to call for the establishment of a living wage for all employees.

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