The 100 workers at GNS North America in Canton, Michigan voted to join UAW Local 900, Region 1A on February 20th. These workers make hot stamping and conventional stamped parts for GM, Tesla, and Stellantis. This includes structural parts, roof enforcements, bumper components, B-pillars, and door beams.
“My coworkers, the VOCs, and I wanted to form and start a Union. We felt a change was much needed,” said Weld Operator, Gwendolyn Green. “I am very honored and excited to be a part of this group and most of all a part of the UAW once again.”
“Although the organizing process has been very rewarding; it was exhausting. Being under management’s microscope throughout the campaign and not knowing what new union busting tactics they would throw at us the next day,” said Laser Automation Technician, Roberto Garcia. “In spite of the company’s efforts to suppress our Union, we stood together in the face of adversity, supported each other, rallied others and ultimately, got the win! Looking forward to the much-needed change and a brighter future for all of us at GNS.”
Weld Automation Technician, Brian Herbst said, “Forming a union now gives us workers a voice that will be heard.”
“We welcome the GNS workers to the UAW and Local 900,” said UAW Local 900 President Dwayne Walker. “UAW Local 900 has a long tradition of standing with workers and the community to make people’s lives better. Congratulations on this hard-fought win!”
Region 1A Director, Laura Dickerson said, “We’re very excited to have the members of GNS as part of Local 900 and Region 1A. Workers are exercising their rights and making sure their voices are heard.”
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GNS-Workers-at-Local-900-e1709594008912.jpg12211798Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2024-03-05 09:48:182024-03-05 09:48:19“We Stood Together”: Workers at Auto Supplier GNS North America Vote to Join UAW Local 900, Region 1A
NORTH ADAMS, MA — Unionized employees of MASS MoCA will go on strike starting Wednesday, March 6 if no agreement on wages is reached with the Museum before then. Employees will begin picketing the Museum starting 8 am on Wednesday, March 6 and will picket daily until an agreement is reached.
The employees’ union, part of Local 2110 UAW, was originally formed in April of 2021. After a one day strike in August of 2022, employees reached an agreement on a first contract which allowed them to re-open the agreement in October 2023 to negotiate further wage increases. Negotiations on the wage reopener have been ongoing for four months but no agreement has been reached.
Fifty-eight percent (58%) of the 120 employees are earning just $16.25 per hour. Average pay for full-time employees is $43,600. According to The Economic Policy Institute’s family budget calculator, for a modest living in Berkshire County, a single individual with no children needs to earn approximately $47,000 per year while a family of four needs about $118,000. The Union is seeking to raise the hourly minimum rate to $18.25 by October of 2023 and is also seeking a minimum 4.5% increase this year.
MASS MoCA sent out a March 1 email to union members characterizing its rejection of the Union’s offer: “The Museum cannot agree to terms that will diminish our mission or operational sustainability, upend vital partnerships, reduce our programs, or fundamentally change our creative workplace culture. Simply put, MASS MoCA has been and will continue to be moved to adopt proposals that are balanced, fair, sustainable, and honest.”
The Union says the difference between its and the Museum’s base wage proposal is only an additional $150,000 for this year, and that workers need the money just to make ends meet. Moreover, the Union asserts that the Museum has increased the number of higher-paid management positions at the expense of the unionized staff.
“MASS MoCA seems out of touch with our needs and concerns as employees,” said Meg Labbee, a 25 year employee of the Museum who works in Artists Services. “They say the arts and artists come first but they need to show some regard for the people who work here. We love the work, but we deserve respect and fair conditions.”
Labbee, who is from the nearby town of Adams, adds, “Many of us live locally and our pay has not kept pace with the cost of living. By raising pay to something more livable, MASS MoCA would not only be supporting its employees, but helping lift the community, MASS MoCA’s rejection of our reasonable proposal has left us with no choice but to strike the institution we love.”
The March 6 strike deadline is not the first time bargaining with the Museum has been contentious. In 2022, during initial contract bargaining, the Union filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board over the Museum’s bad faith bargaining, and employees engaged in a one-day strike. Then, this past November, the Union filed a complaint against the Museum with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) when the Museum ordered workers to remove flooring contaminated with loose asbestos without proper equipment or training. OSHA has since issued test results confirming the presence of asbestos, cited necessary corrections to the Museum and is conducting an ongoing investigation.
In April 2021, the MASS MoCA staff voted overwhelmingly to unionize with UAW Local 2110. The bargaining unit includes approximately 120 employees who work as educators, curators, custodians, museum attendants, box office staff, art fabricators, technicians, and other administrative and professional staff. UAW Local 2110 is a technical, office and professional union that represents many museums and cultural institutions in the northeast including the Museum of Modern Art, the MFA, Boston, the Portland Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim, the Jewish Museum, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and other non-profit and educational institutions.
As we enter the month of March, I am inspired to reflect on the significant contributions of women within our UAW community in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Throughout history, women have played pivotal roles in shaping our union and driving positive change. Their resilience, determination, and dedication have been instrumental in advancing workers’ rights and fostering a more inclusive environment for all members.
However, as we honor the achievements of women within the UAW, it is essential to recognize the challenges that persist. The fight for equal opportunities, fair treatment, and representation remains ongoing. In this spirit, let us recommit ourselves to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our ranks.
The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are children under state law, meaning the embryo has rights consistent with a living person. This negatively impacts reproductive rights and options for families who seek IVF to have children. This serves as a reminder that we must remain vigilant in safeguarding the rights of women, both within our union and in society at large. Upholding reproductive freedom, advocating for equal pay, and addressing gender-based violence are crucial aspects of our commitment to justice and equality.
This Women’s History Month, I encourage us all to engage in meaningful conversations, celebrate the achievements of our female colleagues, and actively work towards a more equitable future. Let us amplify the voices of women within the UAW, ensuring that their perspectives and contributions are acknowledged and valued. As we navigate the challenges ahead, let our collective efforts serve as a testament to the UAW’s unwavering commitment to advancing women’s rights. By fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, we can continue to build a union that reflects the strength and diversity of its members.
Let’s celebrate March 8 by wearing Purple in support of International Women’s Day while also taking action by signing the petitioning members of the House of Representatives to bring HJ Res 25 to the House floor by clicking here.
Thank you for your dedication to the principles of equality and justice. Together, let us create a legacy that honors the contributions of women within the UAW by wearing purple and taking action.
In solidarity, LaShawn English Women’s Department Director, Region 1 Director
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/lashawn-english-purple-bg-womens-scaled.jpg9832560Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2024-03-01 09:33:552025-01-13 10:00:12A message from LaShawn English, UAW Women’s Department/Region 1 Director
The nearly 7,000 UAW members who build Freightliner and Western Star trucks and Thomas Built Buses for Daimler Truck North America are gearing up for a historic contract fight. The current contract expires at 12:01 am on Friday, April 26, and covers thousands of workers at six facilities in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.
In a new video, “Not Like It Used to Be,” workers speak out on the declining standards at Daimler Truck, and their fight for fair pay, cost of living adjustments (COLA), job security, and more.
The video announcing the campaign can be accessed here and the media is invited to use the footage.
“When I first started here, I only needed to work one job. Now you need to work two jobs in order to make ends meet,” said Clavonne Davis, a worker at the Daimler plant in Cleveland, NC. “It is our time to fight. It is our time to stand up and fight for what we deserve.”
“We signed this contract six years ago,” said Freightliner worker Derek Smith. “In the last six years, things have changed in our economy. Inflation has gone through the roof. Groceries are more expensive. Eating out is a luxury.”
“We insist on living wages for everyone. We insist on affordable and accessible health care benefits,” said Thomas Built Buses worker, Jennifer Moore.
Daimler workers are the latest UAW members standing up to win their fair share of the massive profits they produce. Last year, thousands of UAW autoworkers walked out on strike for six weeks and won record contracts at the Big Three automakers. Earlier this year, workers at Allison Transmission in Indianapolis, IN, won a historic contract agreement by posing a credible strike threat.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DaimlerPostGraphic2.png6911446Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2024-02-29 11:02:572024-03-06 14:49:15“Not Like It Used To Be”: Daimler Truck Workers Gear Up For Historic Contract Fight
NEW YORK CITY – Full time, non-tenure track faculty at New York University have voted by an overwhelming margin (553 to 72, or 89.5%) in favor of joining Contract Faculty United – UAW (CFU-UAW), according to ballots tallied Wednesday night by the American Arbitration Association. CFU-UAW will represent nearly 1,000 Contract Faculty across NYU.
“With participation from nearly 67% of the unit, this is a resounding vote for our union,” said Ahmed Ansari, Industry Assistant Professor in Technology, Culture and Society at Tandon School of Engineering. “Our work powers NYU’s educational mission—but too many of us face unpredictable salaries that routinely shortchange women and people of color. We look forward to negotiating a strong first contract that allows us to live in New York City, protects our job security and academic freedom, and makes NYU an equitable place to work. Our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions, and we are excited to bargain as equals with the university administration to make progress on these issues and more.”
“UAW workers in higher education are standing up and winning major improvements all across the United States, raising the standards for all academic workers,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. ”We applaud NYU contract faculty for taking this major step towards winning the pay, benefits and respect they deserve, and we’ve got their back.”
“We are excited to welcome NYU contract faculty into the growing UAW family,” said Brandon Mancilla, Director of UAW Region 9A, which includes New York City, New England and Puerto Rico. “After a long fight and a historic election victory, contract faculty can now look forward to bargaining a strong first union contract.”
NYU Contract Faculty join more than 100,000 academic workers across the United States who are represented by the UAW. In the last five years alone over 40,000 academic workers around the country have chosen to become part of the UAW, including nearly 15,000 from the east coast area.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CFUUAW-1.jpg328596Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2024-02-29 11:00:002024-02-29 11:44:15NYU Contract Faculty Win Their Union, Form Largest Union of Full-Time, Non-Tenure Track, Private University Professors in the Country
VANCE, AL — A majority of workers at Mercedes-Benz’s largest plant in the United States, MBUSI in Vance, Alabama, have signed union cards in support of joining the UAW.
In a video announcement, Mercedes worker Jeremy Kimbrell, surrounded by his Mercedes coworkers, announces that “a majority of our coworkers at Mercedes here in Alabama have signed our union cards and are ready to win our union and a better life with the UAW.”
The full text of the announcement, and the video, are available below and media are encouraged to use the materials.
Kimbrell details several of the driving forces behind the workers’ grassroots campaign to join the UAW, including workers going many years without meaningful raises, a two-tier wage system, and the abuse of temporary workers. Each of these issues also figured prominently in the UAW’s Stand Up Strike at the Big Three, which has spurred an unprecedented amount of organizing activity and interest among America’s non-union autoworkers.
“There comes a time when enough is enough,” says Kimbrell. “Now is that time. We know what the company, what the politicians, and what their multi-millionaire buddies will say. They’ll say now is not the right time. Or that this is not the right way. But here’s the thing. This is our decision. It’s our life. It’s our community. These are our families. It’s up to us.”
The announcement marks the second plant to reach the majority milestone this month, after Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga reached majority support in early February. Over ten thousand non-union autoworkers across 14 auto companies have signed union cards and begun organizing to join the UAW in the wake of the historic Stand Up Strike victories at the Big Three.
Full text of MBUSI workers’ announcement of majority support to join the UAW:
“We’re here today to make a major announcement.
A majority of our coworkers at Mercedes here in Alabama have signed our union cards and are ready to win our union and a better life with the UAW.
We haven’t taken this step lightly.
For years, we’ve fallen further behind while Mercedes has made billions.
After 2008 and 2009, some of our coworkers were forced to leave the company.
Consecutive CEOs said they’d be brought back once things improved.
Things did improve, but they were never allowed to return and were replaced within six months by temporary workers at half the pay.
These same temporary workers then worked for up to eight years before receiving full time jobs.
Also during this time, our management gave us a 42 cent raise over a six year period while making record profits.
And these same record profits weren’t enough to prevent Mercedes from imposing an unfair two-tier pay scale just as our children were entering the workforce.
We’ve learned that we can’t trust Mercedes with our best interests.
There comes a time when enough is enough.
Now is that time.
We know what the company, what the politicians, and what their multi-millionaire buddies will say.
They’ll say now is not the right time.
that this is not the right way.
But here’s the thing.
This is our decision.
It’s our life.
It’s our community.
These are our families.
It’s up to us.
It’s not up to Mercedes management or any politician or anyone else.
We’re exercising our right to fight for a better life.
And we won’t stop until we’ve made things right for the workers who build the cars and make the company run.
We organized our plant by ourselves.
We are our union.
So we’re here to tell you that we are the majority.
That Mercedes workers are ready to stand up.
And we’re asking all of you watching this, whether you’re an autoworker at Mercedes or just someone who believes in a better life for working class people in Alabama and beyond: stand with us.
Support our cause, and join our movement.
Thank you.
Stand Up!
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mercedes50percent.png7271452Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2024-02-27 11:01:222024-02-27 11:01:24“We Are The Majority”: Workers at Mercedes-Benz’s Largest US Plant Announce Majority Support for Movement to Join UAW
DETROIT — On Wednesday, the UAW International Executive Board voted to establish a new solidarity project to support autoworkers in Mexico fighting for economic justice and improved working conditions.
The project will provide resources to Mexican workers and independent unions in Mexico, and aims to strengthen cross-border solidarity between U.S. and Mexican workers.
For decades, corporations have taken advantage of inadequate trade laws to offshore thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs to Mexico where worker wages and conditions have long been suppressed. Corporations use the threat of offshoring jobs as a cudgel to beat back worker discontent and organizing efforts in the U.S.
Mexican autoworker wages have fallen dramatically since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994. Under NAFTA, Mexico’s automotive workforce has grown seven-fold, while wages, benefits, and working conditions continue to fall behind.
The announcement of the UAW’s Mexico solidarity effort comes during a pivotal moment for the UAW, as over 10,000 non-union autoworkers have signed union cards in an effort to join the UAW. On Tuesday, the UAW announced it was committing $40 million through 2026 in new organizing funds to support non-union autoworkers and battery workers who are organizing across the U.S.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UAW-Wheel-generic-feature.jpg5761024Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2024-02-23 16:16:232024-02-23 16:16:24UAW Establishes Solidarity Project to Support Mexican Autoworkers
For more than 45 years, the Family Education Center has been a place where UAW members and their families come together for an experience that combines education with recreation.
It’s a place to learn about our union, unlock ideas, and build new friendships with other UAW families. This one-week summer experience, held from July 21-26 at the Education Center, will leave you and your family filled with a spirit guaranteed to strengthen your understanding and appreciation of our union.
Since 1970, thousands of UAW members and their families have participated in the Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center Scholarship Program (Family Scholarship or Family Scholarship Program) – changing their lives and those of their loved ones forever.
Located in scenic Onaway, Michigan, on Black Lake, the Family Education Center was envisioned by legendary UAW President Walter Reuther to be a place where UAW members and their families could come together to learn and have fun.
Through educational and recreational activities, the Family Scholarship Program allows adults and children to learn and think about how our union empowers us to change our workplaces and communities for ourselves and future generations.
These lessons are learned through daily adult and children’s programs and family activities.
Applications must be completed and submitted by June 27, 2024.
WHO: All active or laid-off members in good standing WHERE: Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center Onaway, Michigan WHEN: July 21-26, 2024
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/black-lake-lantern-850x567-2.jpeg567850Chris Skellyhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngChris Skelly2024-02-22 09:00:002024-02-26 12:33:392024 UAW Family Scholarship Program
DETROIT – The United Auto Workers is committing $40 million through 2026 in new organizing funds to support non-union autoworkers and battery workers who are organizing across the country, and particularly in the South.
The UAW International Executive Board voted Tuesday to commit the funds in response to an explosion in organizing activity among non-union auto and battery workers, in order to meet the moment and grow the labor movement.
In the next few years, the electric vehicle battery industry is slated to add tens of thousands of jobs across the country, and new standards are being set as the industry comes online. These jobs will supplement, and in some cases largely replace, existing powertrain jobs in the auto industry. Through a massive new organizing effort, workers will fight to maintain and raise the standard in the emerging battery industry.
More than ten thousand autoworkers have already signed their union cards to join the UAW and fight for a better life at 14 non-union automakers from California to South Carolina. To learn more about that campaign, visit UAW.org/join.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Mercedes-Best-Banner-2-bot-top-1.jpg10101618Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2024-02-21 15:29:102024-02-23 16:15:09UAW Announces $40 Million Commitment to Organizing Auto and Battery Workers Over Next Two Years
LOUISVILLE – After months of negotiations over local issues, UAW Local 862 has reached a tentative local agreement with Ford Motor Co., averting a potential strike this week.
Workers at Ford’s most profitable plant were set to walk off the job over local issues related to skilled trades, health & safety, and ergonomics. The tentative deal addresses these and other core issues of concern to KTP autoworkers.
There are dozens of remaining open local agreements across the Big Three automakers, while the national contracts were ratified this fall after the union’s Stand Up Strike secured record contracts.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FordLocal862-1024x768-2.jpg7681024Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2024-02-21 10:43:292025-01-10 16:29:57UAW Local 862 Reaches Tentative Local Agreement at Ford Kentucky Truck Plant, Averting Strike
UAW Statement on the Republicans’ Anti-Worker Budget Reconciliation Bill
BOSK Workers Call on NLRB to Step In: “We Deserve a Fair Shot at a Union Vote”
UAW Statement on New York Mayoral Primary Race