UE NEWS Updates

Local 1137 Members Secure Wage Fairness In Second Ferro Pfanstiehl Contract

January 3, 2012

Waukegan, IL

At the end of a tough round of negotiations that included membership rejection in October of an earlier company offer, UE Local 1137 members have approved a new two-year agreement with Ferro Pfanstiehl, a pharmaceutical manufacturer. The new contract includes hourly raises of 45 cents each, and brings three workers who were below the standard wage rates up to rate. This was only the second contract for the Ferro workers, who organized in May 2008, so eliminating below-rate wages was a bit of unfinished business left over from the first contract.

Settlement Reinstates Branford 4: "I Felt Like Norma Rae"

December 20, 2011

Branford, CT

June 15 was a good day for the paraprofessionals in the Branford public schools. On that day, by a 90 percent margin, they voted to form a union, in an election conducted by the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations, and gained representation as members of UE Local 222. The victory was especially impressive because it came just three months after members of the 140-worker bargaining unit first contacted UE and asked how they could join the union.

In New Contract, Local 234 Raises Wages, Holds Line on Healthcare Costs

December 15, 2011

St. Johnsbury, Vermont

The members of UE Local 234 have a new three-year contract with their employer, Fairbanks Scales, with raises totaling 9 percent, no increase in workers' share of health insurance premiums for the first two years, and only a small increase in the third year. Agreement was reached two days before the October 31 expiration date, and negotiations were "fairly smooth," says Local President Bob South.

Local 222 Turns Back Subcontracting of Woodbridge School Custodians

December 2, 2011

Woodbridge, CT

The members of UE Local 222, Sub-local 80 in the Woodbridge public school district have won an important battle, overturning the actions of the board of education (BOE) in privatizing the work previously done by four custodians represented by the union.

Wisconsin UE Members Already Active in Recall Walker Campaign

November 16, 2011

Madison

As soon as their shift ended on Tuesday, November 15 these Local 1107 went as a group to sign "Recall Walker" petitions in Necedah, Wisconsin.

UE Southern California Locals Participate in Occupy Movement

November 11, 2011

Los Angeles

Participants in an Occupy LA workshop on plant occupations included Ed,a UE community ally; Henri Tran, Mrs. Barrington, Brian Barrington, and Bryan Martindale, Local 1421; Bentley Derr, and Abdul Ahmad, Local 1008.