Unions
Here's a look at documents from unions
Featured Stories
Workers' Victory Over Autonomous Vehicles
WASHINGTON, May 18 [Category: Union] -- The Transport Workers Union of America issued the following news release:
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Workers' Victory Over Autonomous Vehicles
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Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill is a Massive Victory for Workers Threatened by Autonomous Vehicle Technology
The bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill introduced by Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rick Larsen (D-WA) is a massive win for workers fighting to preserve jobs and increase safety as autonomous vehicle technology develops beyond robotaxis to transit buses, motorcoaches, school buses and
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WASHINGTON, May 18 [Category: Union] -- The Transport Workers Union of America issued the following news release:
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Workers' Victory Over Autonomous Vehicles
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Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill is a Massive Victory for Workers Threatened by Autonomous Vehicle Technology
The bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill introduced by Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rick Larsen (D-WA) is a massive win for workers fighting to preserve jobs and increase safety as autonomous vehicle technology develops beyond robotaxis to transit buses, motorcoaches, school buses andother commercial vehicles, TWU International President John Samuelsen said today.
This bill would set, for the first time, a national federal standard for such commercial AVs to guarantee they are safe before they are put on our streets. This standard includes human oversight and the ability for humans to intervene, as necessary, to keep these vehicles safe.
"This is a massive win for workers and the riding public," Samuelsen said. "The bill sets critically important guardrails for the next wave of autonomous vehicles and advances our top priorities: protecting the employment of our members and ensuring the Wild West chaos that has occurred with the roll out of robotaxis is not repeated. We've said from the very beginning that technology should assist Bus Operators, not recklessly replace them and throw them into unemployment. This bill is a big step forward in ensuring that people, working men and women, remain central figures in providing public transit and school transportation."
The bill also directs the DOT to establish a second set of operating rules to address safety-related duties performed by Bus Operators other than operating the vehicle. The bill directly requires qualified drivers to operate yellow school buses and hazmat vehicles.
TWU Administrative Vice President Curtis Tate said, "The human component of public transportation cannot be replaced by a robot or algorithm. They do a hell of a lot more than operate buses. They are another set of eyes and ears for law enforcement and medical first responders, assist the disabled boarding and exiting, give directions and much more, including on occasion comforting and aiding pregnant mothers going into labor before reaching the hospital. They are invaluable."
In stark contrast to the great work done to address AV safety, this bill ignores the plummeting safety standards on freight railroads. More than 3 years after the derailment in East Palestine, OH showcased the incredible safety failures in the industry, this bill would do nothing to address the key causes of that accident and thousands of others since.
"Qualified car inspectors, mechanics, engineers, and conductors could prevent deaths on the railroad every day if they had the right safety rules in place," said TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz. "It is shameful that Congress hasn't yet banned maximum inspection times for car inspectors to conduct their work or taken any action to even acknowledge the horrific derailments and accidents happening every day across the country."
As this bill moves through the committee's review process, the TWU will be seeking significant improvements in the rail title to improve rail safety and protect workers on the job.
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Original text here: https://www.twu.org/workers-victory-over-autonomous-vehicles/
Teamsters at Bimbo Bakeries Ratify New Agreement
WASHINGTON, May 18 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters at Bimbo Bakeries Ratify New Agreement
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Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: mdrumm@teamster.org
(DENVER) - Over 275 Teamsters with Local 455 at Bimbo Bakeries in Denver have voted to ratify a strong new agreement. The group consists of sales representatives and transportation workers.
"Our members went into negotiations ready to fight for a contract that honored their hard work. They remained determined, refused to settle, and secured
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WASHINGTON, May 18 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters at Bimbo Bakeries Ratify New Agreement
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Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: mdrumm@teamster.org
(DENVER) - Over 275 Teamsters with Local 455 at Bimbo Bakeries in Denver have voted to ratify a strong new agreement. The group consists of sales representatives and transportation workers.
"Our members went into negotiations ready to fight for a contract that honored their hard work. They remained determined, refused to settle, and securedan agreement with big gains," said Jeff Padellaro, Director of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference.
"This committee stayed focused and unified throughout the entire bargaining process," said Jason Abbott, a business agent with Local 455. "They made clear to the company that they were willing to fight for the contract they deserved."
The four-year agreement includes route protections, an increase in pension contributions, ratification bonuses, and locks in health and welfare with no increases. The agreement also includes wage increases of up to 12 percent for transportation workers.
"We stuck together until the company offered us the contract we deserved," said Jason Wildman, senior steward and a sales representative of 30-years at Bimbo Bakeries. "We earned a great contract that we can continue to build upon." Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Teamsters Local 455 is a powerhouse union representing over 10,000 members in the Rocky Mountains region. For more information, visit teamsterslocal455.org.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/05/teamsters-at-bimbo-bakeries-ratify-new-agreement/
MissionWired Workers Overwhelmingly Ratify First Union Contract with CWA
WASHINGTON, May 18 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Communications Workers of America posted the following news release:
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MissionWired Workers Overwhelmingly Ratify First Union Contract with CWA
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New union contract secures guardrails on use of artificial intelligence in the workplace
A strong majority of workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA Local 2336), overwhelmingly voted to ratify a first union contract at MissionWired after more than two years of bargaining. MissionWired is a digital marketing and fundraising agency for nonprofit organizations and Democratic
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WASHINGTON, May 18 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Communications Workers of America posted the following news release:
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MissionWired Workers Overwhelmingly Ratify First Union Contract with CWA
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New union contract secures guardrails on use of artificial intelligence in the workplace
A strong majority of workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA Local 2336), overwhelmingly voted to ratify a first union contract at MissionWired after more than two years of bargaining. MissionWired is a digital marketing and fundraising agency for nonprofit organizations and Democraticcampaigns based in D.C. with approximately 136 members in the unit.
"When we started organizing, we wanted a real voice in the decisions that shape our work and our lives. This contract gives us that voice to make sure the tools that we work with every day enhance our jobs rather than replace them," said CWA Local 2336 member Kelsey Evans, a Data Engineer at MissionWired. "We're super proud of what we were able to build into the workplace with a first contract."
Highlights of the three-year contract include:
* Guaranteed annual wage increases and raised salary bands for the duration of the contract;
* Guardrails and protections on artificial intelligence (AI) usage in the workplace;
* Remote work arrangements and compensatory time for holiday and weekend work.
"This contract is a testament to what workers can win when they stand together," said Melissa Smith-Kupihea, President of CWA Local 2336. "After more than two years at the bargaining table, MissionWired workers secured real, enforceable protections on wages, on the use of AI in the workplace, and on the flexibility they need to do their best work. CWA Local 2336 is incredibly proud of this unit. They organized, they bargained, and they delivered a first contract that raises the standard for the entire digital campaign industry."
The ratification marks the latest milestone in a wave of worker-organizing across the digital and tech industries led by CWA's Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA). Since launching in 2020, CODE-CWA has helped thousands of workers organize new unions at digital agencies, nonprofit fundraisers, advocacy organizations, video game studios, and tech companies, bringing collective bargaining protections to industries that have historically operated without them.
"We're so thrilled to have reached this moment with our employees," said Kate Kline, CEO of MissionWired. "Our employees are uniquely talented and dedicated, and so much of our innovation and excellence is a credit to them. This is only going to make us better partners to the campaigns and causes that rely on us, as well as future partners."
About CODE-CWA
The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.
About CWA
The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.
cwa-union.org @cwaunion
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Original text here: https://cwa-union.org/news/releases/missionwired-workers-overwhelmingly-ratify-first-union-contract-cwa
Chicago nurses win historic union vote to join National Nurses Organizing Committee
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 18 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Chicago nurses win historic union vote to join National Nurses Organizing Committee
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Registered nurses at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, voted overwhelmingly in favor (77 percent) of joining National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), the nation's largest and fastest-growing registered nurse (RN) union.
"We are proud to join a strong union for RNs in National Nurses Organizing Committee that will give us the tools
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 18 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Chicago nurses win historic union vote to join National Nurses Organizing Committee
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Registered nurses at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, voted overwhelmingly in favor (77 percent) of joining National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), the nation's largest and fastest-growing registered nurse (RN) union.
"We are proud to join a strong union for RNs in National Nurses Organizing Committee that will give us the toolsand resources to be powerful advocates for our patients.," said Jennifer Pearl, RN in the medical-surgical unit's float pool. "We call on all nurses in Chicago to join us in our union and organize for safe staffing, nurse retention, and improved patient care."
Nurses at Rush, which includes a 671-bed hospital, say they voted to join the union because it is critical that nurses have a say in making decisions about staffing and working conditions, which leads to improved patient care.
Who: Registered Nurses at Rush University Medical Center interview availability
When: Monday, May 18, now until 1:15 pm
Where: Billy Goat Tavern (near United Center), 1535 W. Madison St., Chicago
"We are excited to bargain for a strong contract that protects patients and nurses so we can provide the best care possible," said Regina Piper, RN in the antepartum/postpartum unit. "We want safe staffing. We want Rush to put patients before profits."
NNOC now represents about 2,000 nurses at Rush University Medical Center, who will soon enter negotiations for their first collective bargaining agreement. They will join more than 7,000 RNs at nine Chicago facilities who are members of NNOC/NNU.
National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/chicago-nurses-win-historic-union-vote-to-join-national-nurses-organizing-committee
AFSCME's Saunders: This EMS Week, we honor the AFSCME members in EMS who provide lifesaving care during some of the most difficult moments in people's lives
WASHINGTON, May 17 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) issued the following news release:
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AFSCME's Saunders: This EMS Week, we honor the AFSCME members in EMS who provide lifesaving care during some of the most difficult moments in people's lives
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AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement recognizing National EMS Week, May 17-23, 2026. AFSCME is proud to represent nearly 100,000 public safety personnel, including EMS workers, in more than 40 states and Puerto Rico.
"During EMS Week, we honor the
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WASHINGTON, May 17 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) issued the following news release:
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AFSCME's Saunders: This EMS Week, we honor the AFSCME members in EMS who provide lifesaving care during some of the most difficult moments in people's lives
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AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement recognizing National EMS Week, May 17-23, 2026. AFSCME is proud to represent nearly 100,000 public safety personnel, including EMS workers, in more than 40 states and Puerto Rico.
"During EMS Week, we honor thehighly skilled AFSCME members in EMS who answer the call to provide lifesaving care during some of the most difficult moments in people's lives. Whether responding to an accident or a medical emergency, dispatching help when we need it most, or transporting a patient during a natural disaster, EMS workers bring professionalism and courage to countless emergencies every day. But they do so amid a national staffing crisis in emergency medical services.
"In too many communities, response times are increasing because of staffing shortages. Those shortages will only worsen since Congress cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid -funding that more than 90% of EMS agencies rely on to maintain critical services.
"From the moment an EMS worker is dispatched, every second counts. When someone calls 911, any delay in receiving care puts their health -and their life -at risk. EMS workers deserve fully funded resources, pay parity with other first responders, mental health support to combat burnout, and workforce investments to recruit and retain the next generation of emergency responders. Every community relies on the EMS professionals who show up in moments of crisis -and we will continue organizing to ensure they have the equipment, staffing, training and support they need."
AFSCME's 1.4 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in communities across the nation, serving in hundreds of different occupations -from nurses to corrections officers, childcare providers to sanitation workers -AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and freedom and opportunity for all working families.
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Original text here: http://origin-afscme.bytrilogy.com/press/releases/2026/this-ems-week-we-honor-the-afscme-members-in-ems-who-provide-lifesaving-care-during-some-of-the-most-difficult-moments-in-peoples-lives
ATU Stands in Solidarity with Long Rail Road Workers on Strike
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 16 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Amalgamated Transit Union issued the following news release:
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ATU Stands in Solidarity with Long Rail Road Workers on Strike
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ATU International President John Costa released the following statement in support of Long Island Rail Road workers on strike.
"As the largest transit union in North America, I want to express the strong support of our more than 200,000 ATU members with our fellow union Long Island Rail Road Workers on strike. As fellow transit workers, we recognize the struggle to fight these tactics, but together
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 16 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Amalgamated Transit Union issued the following news release:
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ATU Stands in Solidarity with Long Rail Road Workers on Strike
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ATU International President John Costa released the following statement in support of Long Island Rail Road workers on strike.
"As the largest transit union in North America, I want to express the strong support of our more than 200,000 ATU members with our fellow union Long Island Rail Road Workers on strike. As fellow transit workers, we recognize the struggle to fight these tactics, but togetherwe will not back down. This strike sends a loud and clear message to management that working people will not stand silent. Their fight is a fight for all workers. Solidarity is our strength, and the ATU stands with the Long Island Rail Road Workers until they get the fair and just contract that they deserve."
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Original text here: https://www.atu.org/media/press/2026/atu-stands-in-solidarity-with-long-rail-road-workers-on-strike
3,500 Workers Walk Out as BLET Teamsters, Union Coalition Launch LIRR Strike
WASHINGTON, May 16 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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3,500 Workers Walk Out as BLET Teamsters, Union Coalition Launch LIRR Strike
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Press Contact: Jamie Horwitz Phone: (202) 549-2021 Email: jhdcpr@starpower.net
(NEW YORK) - Teamsters with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) have launched a strike alongside their bargaining coalition of 3,500 workers from five unions.
"The LIRR owns this strike. Union workers have sacrificed so much for the railroad for years
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 16 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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3,500 Workers Walk Out as BLET Teamsters, Union Coalition Launch LIRR Strike
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Press Contact: Jamie Horwitz Phone: (202) 549-2021 Email: jhdcpr@starpower.net
(NEW YORK) - Teamsters with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) have launched a strike alongside their bargaining coalition of 3,500 workers from five unions.
"The LIRR owns this strike. Union workers have sacrificed so much for the railroad for yearswhile consistently bargaining in good faith for a fair contract," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "Hundreds of thousands of commuters rely on our members' labor every day. The LIRR is stranding passengers while denying wages, benefits, and respect to BLET Teamsters and other hardworking union members. All 1.3 million members of the Teamsters Union are standing with every worker on strike. We will win this fight and the LIRR will give these essential workers the contract they've earned."
The LIRR is the busiest commuter railroad in America, with 300,000 daily passengers. It is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). This is the first strike at the carrier in 32 years.
"This strike would not have happened if the MTA and LIRR offered our members the reasonable terms the government recommended multiple times. But management refused," said Mark Wallace, President of the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference. "We hope LIRR gets serious soon to avoid further unnecessary disruptions for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. They know where to find us when they're ready: on the streets."
The Teamsters represent over 500 locomotive engineers at the railroad. They have gone three years without raises throughout the process of bargaining a new contract.
"To every LIRR passenger whose trip is disrupted, know that the MTA left us no choice but to strike," said Gil Lang, General Chairman of the BLET's LIRR General Committee. "We don't want to be on the picket line. But after three years without raises, we cannot make any more compromises to cover for the MTA's mismanagement."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/05/3500-workers-walk-out-as-blet-teamsters-union-coalition-launch-lirr-strike/
NEA: VEA Statement on Governor Spanberger's Veto of Public Sector Collective Bargaining Legislation
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The National Education Association issued the following joint statement on May 15, 2026, with the Virginia Education Association:
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VEA Statement on Governor Spanberger's Veto of Public Sector Collective Bargaining Legislation
The Virginia Education Association (VEA) and the National Education Association (NEA) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Abigail Spanberger's announced veto of legislation that would have guaranteed Virginia's public employees the right to engage in collective bargaining and protections from retaliation when they do so:
"More
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WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The National Education Association issued the following joint statement on May 15, 2026, with the Virginia Education Association:
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VEA Statement on Governor Spanberger's Veto of Public Sector Collective Bargaining Legislation
The Virginia Education Association (VEA) and the National Education Association (NEA) issued the following statement today in response to Governor Abigail Spanberger's announced veto of legislation that would have guaranteed Virginia's public employees the right to engage in collective bargaining and protections from retaliation when they do so:
"Morethan half a million Virginians who teach our children, care for our communities, keep our cities running, and serve the public every day were promised a seat at the table. Today, the Governor took that seat away. This veto is a profound disappointment. The legislation passed by the General Assembly was the product of decades of organizing, coalition-building, and good- faith negotiation. We are especially grateful to the General Assembly lawmakers and other state elected leaders who listened to workers, honored their organizing, and stood with them every step of the way. It reflected the will of Virginia voters who consistently support the freedom of working people to bargain collectively over wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Public employees are not a special interest. They are our neighbors. They are the educators, bus drivers, social workers, librarians, custodians, and first responders who hold our communities together. Denying them the basic right to negotiate as equals with their employers is a step backward for Virginia and an affront to the dignity of public service. This decision also carries a deep racial and gender impact.
Virginia's public-sector bargaining ban is rooted in a Jim Crow-era effort to silence Black workers at the University of Virginia Hospital who organized for fair pay and dignity. Preserving that legacy today disproportionately harms women and workers of color, who make up so much of the public-service workforce and who have the most to gain from fair wages, safer workplaces, and a real voice on the job.
We are disappointed. We are not deterred. The members of the Virginia Education Association and our partners in the labor movement will continue this fight in every locality, in every legislative session, and at every ballot box until every public employee in the Commonwealth has the right to bargain collectively. We urge Governor Spanberger to listen to the workers who power this Commonwealth and to work with the General Assembly in the future to finally make this right."
Carol Bauer, President of the Virginia Education Association
Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association
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Original text here: https://www.nea.org/about-nea/media-center/press-releases/vea-statement-governor-spanbergers-veto-public-sector-collective-bargaining-legislation
[Category: Union]
IAM Union, TCU/IAM Stand with Striking Long Island Rail Road Members Fighting for Fair Contract
UPPER MARLBORO, Maryland, May 16 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers issued the following news release:
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IAM Union, TCU/IAM Stand with Striking Long Island Rail Road Members Fighting for Fair Contract
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The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) and Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) are standing in full solidarity with IAM and TCU/IAM members on strike at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), alongside fellow union workers in a coalition representing 3,500 railroad employees.
The strike
... Show Full Article
UPPER MARLBORO, Maryland, May 16 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers issued the following news release:
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IAM Union, TCU/IAM Stand with Striking Long Island Rail Road Members Fighting for Fair Contract
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The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) and Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) are standing in full solidarity with IAM and TCU/IAM members on strike at the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), alongside fellow union workers in a coalition representing 3,500 railroad employees.
The strikebegan at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 16 after years of stalled negotiations, four years without raises for many workers, and repeated failures by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and LIRR management to reach a fair agreement.
"Our members kept Long Island moving through every challenge thrown at this railroad, and they deserve dignity, respect and a fair contract," said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. "The MTA and LIRR had every opportunity to settle this dispute and avoid a strike. Instead, they chose delays, concessions and disrespect. The IAM Union stands shoulder to shoulder with our members and every worker on the picket line. We have their backs for as long as it takes."
The coalition of unions has said workers are seeking a contract that keeps pace with the rising cost of living on Long Island after years without raises, despite recommendations from federal panels supporting wage increases.
"TCU/IAM members did not want to be forced into this position, but management left workers with no other choice," said TCU/IAM National President Matt Hollis. "Our members show up every day to keep this railroad running safely and efficiently for hundreds of thousands of commuters. They deserve a contract that respects their work and recognizes the sacrifices they have made. We will remain united until a fair agreement is reached."
The Long Island Rail Road is the busiest commuter railroad in the United States, serving roughly 300,000 daily riders. This marks the first strike at the carrier in more than three decades.
"Our IAM Rail Division members and our brothers and sisters across this coalition have bargained in good faith throughout this entire process," said Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division. "The responsibility for this strike falls squarely on MTA and LIRR management. We are proud to stand with our members on the picket line."
The IAM Union is encouraging the public and labor allies across the country to support striking LIRR workers as they continue their fight for a fair contract.
Share and Follow:
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Original text here: https://www.goiam.org/news/departments/hq/rail-division/iam-union-tcu-iam-stand-with-striking-long-island-rail-road-members-fighting-for-fair-contract/
