UE NEWS Updates

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78th Convention Celebrates Strike Power

October 8, 2023
Pittsburgh

From September 17-21, nearly 200 delegates, guests, and staff gathered at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh for UE’s 78th Convention. Held under the theme of “Building Strike Power,” the convention celebrated UE’s many victories over the past two years.

Many of those victories illustrated the importance of the convention theme: the successful ten-week strike by members of UE Locals 506 and 618 that concluded in August, the six-day “stand down” by city workers in Durham, North Carolina at the beginning of September, and the first contract won by UE Local 256 (MIT-GSU) the week before convention, won after MIT graduate workers demonstrated their willingness to strike to achieve a first contract that met their demands.

International Guests: “Our solidarity is without borders”

October 8, 2023
Pittsburgh

On Tuesday afternoon, convention delegates were joined by international guests from Japan, Mexico, and Quebec. Takeshi Takeshita and Keisuke Fuse, both deputy secretaries-general of Japan’s militant labor federation Zenroren, described the “long history of friendship and solidarity” between Zenroren and UE. That history included Zenroren taking action to put pressure on Japanese multinationals such as Kobe Steel and Hishi Plastics when their workers in the U.S. sought to join UE.

Ten-Week Strike Wins Improved Contract at Wabtec

October 7, 2023
Erie, Pennsylvania

After ten weeks of a hard-fought battle on seven different picket lines and at other locations in Erie and around the country, the 1,400 members of Locals 506 and 618 forced Wabtec to improve the contract offer that the members had overwhelmingly rejected on June 22. The UE members voted on August 31 to accept a tentative agreement that was reached between the parties the previous week, ending their strike.

“Stand Down” Action and Community Support Win $6.5 Million in Bonuses for Durham City Workers

October 6, 2023
Durham, North Carolina

A month after solid waste department workers “stood down,” refusing to load their trucks for six days to protest low pay and income lost during the pandemic, the Durham City Council voted yesterday to approve $6.5 million in additional bonuses for city workers.

MIT Graduate Workers’ First UE Contract Sets New Standards

October 6, 2023
Cambridge, Massachusetts
By Mingjia Chen, Sophie Coppieters 't Wallant, and Belinda Li, UE Local 256 (MIT-GSU)

One week after publicly announcing our strike plan and 24 hours before the public launch of our strike pledge at a huge General Membership Meeting, the graduate workers of UE Local 256 (MIT-GSU) won a strong tentative agreement for our first contract. By Friday, September 22, we ratified our first contract, ending a 12-month struggle negotiating with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Solidarity with the UAW

October 3, 2023

In September, as the UAW launched their historic strike against all of the Big Three automakers, UE’s General Executive Board declared, “The auto workers’ strike is all of our fight, and we encourage all UE members and allies to support the strike in whatever way they can.”

A win for UAW will be a win for the entire working class — and a strong contract settlement at the Big Three will have positive impacts on bargaining for all of us, pushing up standards for workers across the whole economy.

Delegates Take Strong Stand Against Racism, Hear from International Guests

September 19, 2023
Pittsburgh

As Day 3 of UE’s 78th Convention opened, delegates considered the resolution “Fight Racism” — a topic about which UE members had a lot to say. Over a dozen members spoke on the resolution, all expressing strong support for what Angaza Laughinghouse from Local 150 called a “very powerful resolution.”

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