“We have had an incredible two years of organizing in this union,” declared Director of Organization Mark Meinster as he began his report to the UE 78th convention this afternoon. “Young workers are leading a resurgence of unionism in this country.”
UE’s 78th convention opened today in Pittsburgh with remarks from two women who have led extraordinary movements that have transformed the politics of their cities, Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates and Congresswoman Summer Lee (D-PA).
UE stands in full solidarity with the United Auto Workers as they pursue strike action against Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. Auto workers are standing up for the entire working class as they demand that record profits for the companies should translate into record contracts for the workers who produce that wealth.
The movement for justice lost a warrior on August 29 when former UE Field Organizer and Black Workers for Justice leader Dennis Orton passed. Dennis made historic contributions to UE’s work in the South.
Solid waste workers for the city refused to load their work trucks on the morning of Wednesday, September 6. They are demanding that the city make up for the two years their step pay plan was essentially frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On June 22, after nearly two months of negotiations, the 1,400 members of UE Locals 506 and 618 voted down Wabtec’s last, best and final offer. Ten weeks later, they ratified a new contract that “represents a substantial improvement over what Wabtec had on the table in June,” according to Local 506 President Scott Slawson. “We are proud of the resolve of the membership over 70 days on the picket line. As a result of the action taken by our members, we made both economic and non-economic gains.”
USCIS Service Center workers at UE Locals 208, 808, and 1008 ratified new three-year agreements with federal contractor ITC Federal in June. Their union contracts cover nearly one thousand federal contract workers who process nonimmigrant visa petitions for USCIS in Essex Junction, VT (208), Lincoln, NE (808), and Laguna Niguel, CA (1008).
Amid the threat of coming layoffs, the locals united in an aggressive, coordinated contract fight, winning massive economic gains and beating back all of ITC’s concessionary demands.
Negotiations for UE Local 119’s third contract this spring provided an object lesson in how privatization can create havoc for the workers who provide essential public services like education.
The 60 members of UE Local 121 who work for Clendenin Brothers ratified a new five-year contract in May. Local 121 members manufacture industrial fasteners.
Local 121 President Marcus Davis, who was elected shortly before negotiations began, called the experience “thrilling and interesting. It was a good experience.” Treasurer Sheldon Brooks added, “The contract talks went pretty smoothly this year.”
Participants in the second cohort of UE’s Leadership and Staff Development Program met at the UE Local 506 hall in June for a few days of workshops and experiences on the picket lines outside the Wabtec plant. As these rank-and-file members traveled to Erie from around the country, UE Locals 506 and 618 were taking a vote on whether to accept Wabtec’s last contract offer or go on strike.
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