Featured Stories
NEU Warns Rising UK Military Spending Risks Further Pressure on Education Funding
LONDON, England, Oct. 10 (TNSrpt) -- The National Education Union issued the following news release:
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NEU warns rising UK military spending risks further pressure on education funding
09/10/2026
A new report from the National Education Union argues that decisions about defence spending must be weighed against their impact on education, public services and international development.
The Security We Choose: The opportunity cost of UK military spending on education and human security(attached) examines what the UK's commitment to increasing core defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP by
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LONDON, England, Oct. 10 (TNSrpt) -- The National Education Union issued the following news release:
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NEU warns rising UK military spending risks further pressure on education funding
09/10/2026
A new report from the National Education Union argues that decisions about defence spending must be weighed against their impact on education, public services and international development.
The Security We Choose: The opportunity cost of UK military spending on education and human security(attached) examines what the UK's commitment to increasing core defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP by2035 could mean for other areas of public expenditure. It also asks who will bear the costs.
The NEU recognises that the UK Government must be able to respond to genuine military threats. However, the report argues that security cannot be achieved via military spending alone. It makes the case for a broader, people-centred approach to security. It highlights the vital role that education and public services, international cooperation and diplomacy play in building sustainable security.
Ahead of the autumn Budget, the NEU is calling on the government to protect and increase investment in education and public services rather than fund rising defence spending through cuts.
The union argues that these are not competing priorities but priorities that will contribute to social cohesion and security.
Key statistics
* The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that meeting the government's defence spending target by 2035 will require pound sterling36 billion a year in additional spending in current terms (from a 2025 baseline).
* Spending power for mainstream schools in England has fallen by pound sterling4.5 billion and experienced teacher pay has fallen by more than a fifth in real terms since 2010.
* International development has been hit heavily to fund the initial increase in defence spending, with pound sterling4.8 billion shifted away from the official development assistance budget in 2026-27, and a further pound sterling6.5 billion due to be moved from development to defence in 2027-28.
* Just 1.5 days of global military spending in 2025 would be enough to fund an entire year of the amount governments gave in aid to education globally.
New NEU analysis shows what pound sterling36 billion could achieve if such an investment was dedicated to education:
* Reverse real-terms losses to school spending power in England (pound sterling4.5 billion)
* Eliminate the 2026-27 SEND funding gap for local authorities (pound sterling3.7 billion)
* Clear the maintenance backlog for all schools in England (pound sterling13.8 billion)
* Fund universal free school meals through year 11 (pound sterling3 billion)
* Restore overseas aid to education to peak levels (pound sterling1 billion)
* Fill the funding shortfall for music education (pound sterling0.2 billion)
Commenting on the report, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"The NEU has had to fight hard for every additional pound invested in education after years of austerity and underfunding. Yet, when it comes to ever increasing military spending, public spending constraints become a secondary issue.
"An additional pound sterling36 billion per year is at risk of being taken from government departments and stretched public services to meet the government's commitment to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035. That same level of investment could transform educational opportunities for millions of children.
"The NEU is deeply concerned by the impacts of armed conflicts around the world. Schools are being destroyed, education is being interrupted, and humanitarian crises are deepening. The UK government has slashed overseas aid by 40 per cent to fund its initial increase in defence spending, cutting support for education and development programmes that are vital to building peace and long-term security.
"Defence spending is a choice. Funding education is a choice. Ahead of the Budget we urge the government to invest in education, public services and international development as the foundations of a safer, fairer and more secure world."
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Editor's Note
The report will be available once the embargo lifts.
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REPORT: https://neu.org.uk/sites/default/files/2026-10/NEU4532 Impact of military spending on the right to education HQP.pdf
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/neu-warns-rising-uk-military-spending-risks-further-pressure-education-funding?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
Actors' Equity Association Supports Bill to Limit Pedicabs Near Broadway, Off-Broadway Theatres
NEW YORK, Oct. 10 -- Actors' Equity Association, a labor union that says it represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers, issued the following news release:
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Actors' Equity Association Supports Bill to Limit Pedicabs Near Broadway, Off-Broadway Theatres
New York- Actors' Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, has offered testimony in favor of New York City Council INT 0064-2026, legislation that would prohibit pedicabs from parking or doing pickings or dropoffs within 50 feet
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NEW YORK, Oct. 10 -- Actors' Equity Association, a labor union that says it represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers, issued the following news release:
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Actors' Equity Association Supports Bill to Limit Pedicabs Near Broadway, Off-Broadway Theatres
New York- Actors' Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, has offered testimony in favor of New York City Council INT 0064-2026, legislation that would prohibit pedicabs from parking or doing pickings or dropoffs within 50 feetof any entrance or exit of all theaters in the Theatre District.
"This bill would fix a longstanding and critical safety issue for many of our members - and many other theatre workers - who make their living in the theatre," said Equity Director of Member Safety in Theatrical Facilities Keith Sklar. "For far too long the status quo has presented an unacceptable level of risk for Equity members. The Theatre District always has heavy foot traffic, but the pedicabs have made it so that our members cannot safely navigate the sidewalk leaving work. In the case of an emergency, we need to know these workers could quickly evacuate the building without a tangle of vehicles in the way."
"Broadway is part of the fabric of this city, and every night thousands of theatergoers and workers pour out onto some of the busiest sidewalks in New York," said Council Member Virginia Maloney. "When pedicabs cluster directly outside theatre entrances and stage doors, that congestion can make it difficult to move safely, and we have heard repeated concerns from theatergoers and workers about aggressive solicitation as they are trying to leave. Intro 64 is a straightforward safety measure that would keep the immediate area around theatre entrances and exits clear, while allowing pedicabs to continue serving riders throughout the Theatre District. At its core, this bill is about giving audiences, actors, stage managers, and theatre workers the room they need to get out the door safely. I'm grateful to Actors' Equity for standing with us in support of this legislation."
Currently, pedicabs often crowd outside of theaters to take advantage of the heavy level of foot traffic. Over two dozen theaters in the neighborhood have street-facing stage doors, meaning that Equity members move through these crowded spaces leaving work. Sidewalk congestion can be so severe that Equity members may walk in the street to get through. Furthermore, loitering pedicabs cause noise that that can be heard in theaters, making it harder for stage management teams or actors to share crucial information. In case of an emergency, evacuation routes could be severely compromised.
This bill was originally introduced to City Council in January, is currently sitting with the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection. If the committee recommends passage of the bill, it will move on to City Council for a vote, followed by the mayor signing it into law.
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ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks
October 9, 2026
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Original text here: https://actorsequity.org/news/PR/2026/10/09/actors-equity-association-supports-bill-to-limit-pedicabs-near-broadway--off-broadway-theatres
[Category: Union]
NEU Calls on Chancellor to Keep pound sterling3.3bn Pension Savings in Schools
LONDON, England, Oct. 9 -- The National Education Union issued the following news release:
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NEU calls on Chancellor to keep pound sterling3.3bn pension savings in schools
07/10/2026
Today (7 October) the general secretary of the National Education Union has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for him to halt plans to claw back savings from reduced employer contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) and keep the money in school budgets.
Following the 2024 TPS valuation, employer contributions will fall from 28.6 per cent to 17.6 per cent from April 2027 -- a saving
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LONDON, England, Oct. 9 -- The National Education Union issued the following news release:
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NEU calls on Chancellor to keep pound sterling3.3bn pension savings in schools
07/10/2026
Today (7 October) the general secretary of the National Education Union has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for him to halt plans to claw back savings from reduced employer contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) and keep the money in school budgets.
Following the 2024 TPS valuation, employer contributions will fall from 28.6 per cent to 17.6 per cent from April 2027 -- a savingestimated at around pound sterling3.3 billion a year. This is money desperately needed within schools, with latest figures from the School Cuts campaign showing that schools have faced pound sterling4.5bn in real term cuts since 2010.
The NEU has also welcomed the Government's decision to keep savings from reduced employer contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in education, helping schools meet staff pay costs and protect jobs.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
Dear Chancellor,
I am writing to you ahead of the upcoming Budget to ask you to halt plans to claw back savings from employer contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) and instead keep this money in school budgets.
We were pleased to see the recent announcement from your government that savings from reduced employer contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) will remain in education. Where individual schools have seen reductions in their LGPS employer contributions this will support the funding of staff pay awards without any impact on the pensions that support staff will receive.
This was very welcome in ensuring that schools would not have to face further cuts to their budgets for this year and helping to protect over 8,000 jobs that our analysis showed were at risk due to funding cuts.
Despite this, the picture for school funding has been bleak. 74 per cent of schools have faced cuts since 2010 and the Core Schools Budget is currently pound sterling4.5 billion lower than it was in 2010 in real terms. Repeated cuts to school budgets have had devastating impacts on schools. Our class sizes in the UK are among the highest in Europe. School staff are being driven to burnout by relentless stress and sky-high workloads.
As a result of the TPS valuation 2024, the employer contribution rate is reducing from 28.6 per cent to 17.6 per cent from April 2027. It is estimated this will save approximately pound sterling3.3bn per year, money HM Treasury is currently planning to recoup. This is funding that is urgently needed to begin to restore school funding back to 2010 levels.
Due to this planned clawback of savings from the TPS, the Core Schools Budget totals outlined during the 2025 spending review will now be lower in a consistent basis. This is likely to significantly affect any planned increases in school funding in coming years. By keeping this money in schools the government can maintain these totals and allow individual schools to enjoy these savings.
This would reassure educators that school funding will increase in real terms in the near future and help mitigate potential job losses, restructures and redundancies as schools continue to struggle with falling rolls.
I was very pleased to see that this administration has recognised the crisis in our schools - now is the time for decisive action to arrest this decline in funding. A generation of students has known nothing but funding cuts. We cannot afford to fail another generation of children.
I would be delighted to meet with you to discuss this further.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel Kebede
General Secretary
National Education Union
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/neu-calls-chancellor-keep-ps33bn-pension-savings-schools?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
Nurses put D.C. hospitals on Red Alert
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Oct. 8 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United posted the following news release:
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Nurses put D.C. hospitals on RED ALERT
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RNs demand MedStar Washington Hospital Center reopen postpartum unit amid maternal health crisis in D.C.
Registered nurses will hold a rally and community event on Saturday, Oct. 10 in Washington, D.C. to demand that MedStar Washington Hospital Center reopen its shuttered postpartum unit in the midst of a Black maternal health crisis in the District. Following the rally, the nurses and allies in the community will make their way to the
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Oct. 8 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United posted the following news release:
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Nurses put D.C. hospitals on RED ALERT
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RNs demand MedStar Washington Hospital Center reopen postpartum unit amid maternal health crisis in D.C.
Registered nurses will hold a rally and community event on Saturday, Oct. 10 in Washington, D.C. to demand that MedStar Washington Hospital Center reopen its shuttered postpartum unit in the midst of a Black maternal health crisis in the District. Following the rally, the nurses and allies in the community will make their way to thehospital where they will deliver a letter to management calling for the immediate reopening of the unit.
MedStar Washington Hospital Center registered nurses are represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU).
"As nurses who have seen the devastating effects of a racist health care system that has left too many Black families suffering, we can not stand by silently as MedStar shutters this critical unit for families in D.C.," said Ingrid Guardado-Cruz, RN. "We are demanding that MedStar reopen this postpartum unit immediately."
The rally will also highlight the patient care impacts of the federal health care cuts from H.R. 1 on D.C.-area hospitals while demanding hospital management immediately restore vital services. Analysis by NNU finds that all five of D.C.'s hospitals are vulnerable to cuts and closure due to their high dependence on Medicaid and Medicare funding. These hospitals are George Washington University Hospital, Howard University Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Who: MedStar Washington Hospital Center nurses, community allies, and National Nurses United
What: 'RED ALERT' rally and community event
When: Oct. 10, 2026 | Free wellness checks beginning 11 a.m.; free food and DJ beginning at 11a.m..; program/rally at 12 p.m.
Where: Wangari Gardens, D.C. at the corner of Kenyon St. NW & Park Place NW
Speakers and guests include: Renelsa Caudill, RN, MedStar Washington Hospital Center; Cathy Kennedy, RN, President of National Nurses United; Sam Epps, President, Maryland State & D.C. AFL-CIO; and Sequnely Gray, D.C. Jobs With Justice
In total, these hospitals provide some 80,000 inpatient visits yearly and stand to lose between $140.5 million and $223.8 million annually when H.R. 1 is fully implemented. More information on the impact of H.R. 1 on D.C. hospitals and patient care is available here.
Despite this, nurses are demanding MedStar management prioritize safe patient care, especially in communities most vulnerable to H.R. 1 funding cuts. According to ProPublica, MedStar Health had more than $1 billion in net assets as of fiscal year ending June 2025. Its CEO, Kenneth A. Samet, received compensation of more than $7 million.
Furthermore, MedStar Health is spending large amounts of money in an aggressive union busting campaign at MedStar Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore, Md., where nurses are unionizing to protect patients and their community. MedStar management is interrogating nurses about union support, surveilling nurses, and using security to interfere with nurses speaking with coworkers. Based on previous contracts reported to the U.S. Department of Labor, NNU estimates MedStar Health is spending an estimated $28,000 to $40,000 a week on these union busting efforts. Nurses say it is disgraceful that money that should be spent on patient care is going to pay for private consultants to attempt to silence nurses as they advocate for safe patient care.
Nurses say it is unconscionable that MedStar Washington Hospital Center would shutter a postpartum unit limiting access to birthing options at a time when more resources are needed for families. Nurses note that Black women account for 84 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in the District, although they account for only 31 percent of births, according to city data. MedStar Washington Hospital Center plays a vital role in providing care in D.C., delivering a third of the babies born in the District.
"As we see the health care landscape under attack in D.C., we must fight for the most vulnerable in our community, the newborn babies and their families," said Averie Foster, RN "Since we have had the postpartum unit closed in July, we have had to put our hospital on labor and delivery diversion 22 times. This means laboring patients are traveling further for care which puts them and their babies at risk for poorer outcomes."
On top of potential service cuts and closures at area hospitals, D.C. patients are expected to face increasing challenges to accessing care with the expiration of ACA subsidies on top of the Medicaid and Medicare cuts. More than 285,000 D.C. residents rely on Medicaid. Some 95,000 of these individuals are at risk of losing their Medicaid when H.R.1 is fully implemented.
Furthermore, many D.C. residents will be hit with a double punch as H.R. 1 is slated to cut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $187 billion over the next ten years. Families are already feeling the effects: since H.R. 1's implementation, nearly 10,000 individuals in the D.C. have lost access to SNAP. Once fully implemented, estimates show up to 230,000 families will lose some SNAP benefits, with 26,000 families with children and 33,000 working families losing $25 or more monthly.
More than one in three Black residents of D.C. belong to a household participating in SNAP, compared to 1 in 65 white residents. Nearly half of Black D.C. residents are enrolled in Medicaid, compared to 1 in 37 white residents. Residents in Ward 7 and 8, two historically marginalized wards, will face the greatest harm from H.R. 1.
More information on the impact of H.R. 1 on D.C. hospitals and patient care is available here.
'RED ALERT' tour offers the union nurses' vision for how to make America healthy:
The Oct. 10 rally and event in D.C. is part of National Nurses United's RED ALERT bus tour, which is travelling across the country to highlight the drastic reduction in the quantity and quality of health care services as a result of H.R. 1 - and to demand hospital executives and management join nurses in putting patient care over profits.
H.R. 1 is the 2025 budget bill, pushed through by Republicans and President Trump, that cut more than $1 trillion in Medicaid and Medicare funding to give billionaires tax breaks, militarize immigration enforcement, and fund endless wars abroad. Nurses have condemned these cuts to health care funding and denounced its funnelling into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), which have unleashed a deadly, illegal, and cruel terror campaign across the country. NNU is calling for ICE to be abolished.
Union nurses are taking their alternative Vision for a Healthy Society directly to the patients and working-class communities they serve, calling on community members to help them organize and advocate to protect patients, not profits. To date, RED ALERT has visited communities in Glendale, Oceanside, Alameda, and Oroville in Calif.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Kalamazoo and Ironwood in Michigan; Chicago, Ill.; and Bangor, Maine.
"The billionaire class and their Republican puppets are gutting public health protections to make themselves richer and militarize our neighborhoods, with zero regard for working people and families struggling to survive," said NNU President Jamie Brown, RN. "Nurses refuse their deadly agenda. We're taking the wheel and bringing our vision for a healthy society directly to patients and communities who will bear the brunt of Republican policies. We invite everyone who has felt abandoned by the political system to join us and build real working-class solidarity."
National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with nearly 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/nurses-put-dc-hospitals-on-red-alert (TNSmlt)
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 2 Additional California Candidates for Election to Congress
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 2 Additional California Candidates for Election to Congress
LAKEWOOD, Calif. -- The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of two additional candidates for election to the U.S. House representing California in the 2026 elections. The general election is Nov. 3.
The newly endorsed candidates are Randy Villegas for election to the U.S. House representing California's 22nd Congressional
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 2 Additional California Candidates for Election to Congress
LAKEWOOD, Calif. -- The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of two additional candidates for election to the U.S. House representing California in the 2026 elections. The general election is Nov. 3.
The newly endorsed candidates are Randy Villegas for election to the U.S. House representing California's 22nd CongressionalDistrict and Connie Chan for election to the U.S. House representing California's 11th Congressional District.
"AFGE has done our research, and we are happy to join with the other unions in California to support Randy and Connie in their campaigns for Congress. They have demonstrated that they understand and support the amazing work of federal employees and will provide AFGE members with the tools they need to do their jobs," AFGE District 12 National Vice President Mario Campos said.
Randy Villegas is running to fight for working families, protect our democracy, and bring accountable, people-first leadership to Washington. He's challenging Republican David Valadao, who has consistently sided with corporate interests over the needs of our communities.
Villegas' campaign is rooted in the belief that everyone - no matter their ZIP code, Social Security number, or background - deserves a fair shot.
Connie Chan currently represents District 1 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which includes the Inner Richmond, Central Richmond, Outer Richmond, Lone Mountain, Golden Gate Park, Lincoln Park, University of San Francisco, Sea Cliff, and Presidio Terrace neighborhoods. First elected in 2020, Connie has served as chair of the board's budget committee since February 2023 and also serves as a member of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, the San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission, and the Free City College Oversight Committee.
As supervisor, recognizing the looming threat of federal cuts, Chan proactively created a $400 million revenue risk reserve fund in the 2025-2026 budget to ensure funding would be available for healthcare, food security, housing, and other services at risk of being cut. She understands the valuable role that smart public policy and good public servants can play in the lives of everyday Americans.
AFGE previously endorsed 39 current members of Congress for reelection to their seats representing California ahead of the statewide primary and recently endorsed five additional candidates for election to the U.S. House representing California in the 2026 elections.
More than 255,000 federal employees live in California - caring for veterans, supporting the military, ensuring the safety of our food and air, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents nearly 82,000 federal employees in District 12, which includes Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
Written by OPEIU 2 AFL-CIO
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Original text here: https://www.afge.org/link/b4f9a56aa1814108a5f4bf94e327a130.aspx
IATSE Secures Agreements for Crews of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and "Heathers" at New World Stages
NEW YORK, Oct. 8 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees posted the following news release:
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IATSE Secures Agreements for Crews of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and "Heathers" at New World Stages
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NEW YORK, NY - The IATSE International reached separate agreements with the off-Broadway productions of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and "Heathers" during the week of September 21, 2026, securing union representation and supplemental payments for the crews of both shows. Both productions are playing at New World Stages,
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 8 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees posted the following news release:
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IATSE Secures Agreements for Crews of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and "Heathers" at New World Stages
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NEW YORK, NY - The IATSE International reached separate agreements with the off-Broadway productions of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and "Heathers" during the week of September 21, 2026, securing union representation and supplemental payments for the crews of both shows. Both productions are playing at New World Stages,a multi-venue off-Broadway theater complex in the Times Square and Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan.
The agreements cover approximately 15 workers per production across Stagehands, including Carpenters, Props, Electricians, and Sound technicians, as well as Wardrobe, Makeup Artists, and Hairstylists.
Organizing for both productions began earlier in 2026. The producers of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" voluntarily recognized the union. "Heathers" took a longer path to recognition, with the union prevailing after two NLRB elections following administrative complications that prompted challenges from both the employer and the union.
With both productions scheduled to close in the coming weeks, the agreements are short-term in duration but significant in principle. Workers secured union representation for the remainder of each run, along with supplemental payments that vary by production.
"The IATSE continues our drive to represent off-Broadway workers, right up until productions close," said IATSE International Representative Brian Munroe. "Off-Broadway workers deserve fair wages, benefits, and working conditions, and we will continue to fight for that."
Theatre workers looking to join together to win better workplaces can head to iatse.net/join to contact an IATSE organizer.
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Original text here: https://iatse.net/iatse-secures-agreements-for-crews-of-the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee-and-heathers-at-new-world-stages/
Arbitration Award Requires Long Beach Memorial to Pay Affected Workers Back Wages with Interest
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Oct. 8 [Category: Union] -- The United Steelworkers issued the following news release:
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Arbitration Award Requires Long Beach Memorial to Pay Affected Workers Back Wages with Interest
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LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the union has won a major arbitration victory on behalf of members of Local 2801 at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, securing an award requiring the medical center to make affected workers whole after violating its collective bargaining agreement.
Arbitrator Jonathan S. Monat ruled on Oct. 5, 2026, that Long
... Show Full Article
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Oct. 8 [Category: Union] -- The United Steelworkers issued the following news release:
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Arbitration Award Requires Long Beach Memorial to Pay Affected Workers Back Wages with Interest
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LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the union has won a major arbitration victory on behalf of members of Local 2801 at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, securing an award requiring the medical center to make affected workers whole after violating its collective bargaining agreement.
Arbitrator Jonathan S. Monat ruled on Oct. 5, 2026, that LongBeach Memorial violated the contract by failing to pay bargaining unit members at least 30 percent more than the applicable California state minimum wage.
The arbitrator called the contract language "clear and unambiguous" and rejected the Medical Center's argument that the provision was tied to the minimum wage in effect when the contract language was negotiated.
The medical center has been ordered to make all affected employees whole with back pay, relevant benefit contributions and interest, which could result in millions of dollars in lost wages and related compensation being returned to workers.
"This is a major victory for our members and a clear demonstration of the power of a union contract," said USW District 12 Director Gaylan Prescott. "Our members fought to make sure Long Beach Memorial honored the agreement it made with them. The arbitrator agreed, and now affected workers will be made whole."
Prescott said that the decision underscores the importance of workers having a strong union and a collective bargaining agreement that protects their wages.
"USW members stood together and held their employer accountable," Prescott said. "This award shows what workers can accomplish when they have a union contract and are willing to fight to enforce it."
The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of members in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.
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Original text here: https://usw.org/press-release/arbitration-award-requires-long-beach-memorial-to-pay-affected-workers-back-wages-with-interest/
