Featured Stories
UAW Members Out in Force in Key Midterm Districts Could Shape the Next Congress
DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 21 [Category: Union] -- The United Automobile Workers posted the following news:
* * *
UAW Members Out in Force in Key Midterm Districts Could Shape the Next Congress
*
With less than two weeks until Election Day, the UAW is leading its most ambitious political operation in decades in some of the country's most critical and high-profile races. These contests will shape the next two years of government in Washington, D.C., and beyond. The UAW has deployed over 130 full-time political organizers and 1,000 volunteers across the country in swing districts where UAW member
... Show Full Article
DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 21 [Category: Union] -- The United Automobile Workers posted the following news:
* * *
UAW Members Out in Force in Key Midterm Districts Could Shape the Next Congress
*
With less than two weeks until Election Day, the UAW is leading its most ambitious political operation in decades in some of the country's most critical and high-profile races. These contests will shape the next two years of government in Washington, D.C., and beyond. The UAW has deployed over 130 full-time political organizers and 1,000 volunteers across the country in swing districts where UAW memberdensity exceeds the previous margin of victory.
"Our political program is like everything else about the UAW: it's member-driven," said UAW President Shawn Fain. "We've been flexing our member-driven muscle at the bargaining table for the last few years. Now we're building that same muscle in our politics. This year, our members are leading a bold political program, shaking up the political status quo. We'll start by electing UAW champions to office - but our members will lead the work that comes after election day to win a working class agenda in the halls of power.
Overview of Program
UAW members in the field are having tough conversations at the doors and on the phone about the union's core issues: wages, job security, health care, retirement, and time off. The approach is designed to counter negative ads and misinformation from corporate PACs and engage UAW members across the political spectrum who have felt left behind by the political establishment in recent elections.
The 2026 field program is also an opportunity to hear from members and develop a working-class-led political agenda for the new Congress in 2027.
"Every UAW vote matters in these razor-thin elections," said UAW Local 2000 member Sara Noonan from Grafton, Ohio. "We're not telling people how to vote when we talk to UAW members and their families. We're talking about the issues and what's at stake for both our communities and workplaces. Our vote is our voice and opportunity to stand together as working people to protect the rights that generations of union members fought to secure."
"I've been part of the UAW's political program in Michigan as a member for 13 years, and I haven't seen this much open conversation about the election in years," said UAW Local 228 member JJ Jewell from Sterling Heights, MI. "When we hit the doors to talk to UAW members and their families about things like cost and affordability or the imbalance of power between workers and corporations, we are talking about issues that matter to voters of all political persuasions. UAW members are helping reshape US politics to put power back where it belongs: not with the corporations, not with the elite and wealthy -- but with the people."
The UAW is prioritizing must-win races in districts where the union's membership density exceeds recent margins of victory. These members could make the difference in razor-thin elections. Select examples of these races include:
* Michigan U.S. Senate: Abdul El-Sayed
* Michigan U.S. House: Districts 04, 07, 08, and 10
* Ohio U.S. Senate: Sherrod Brown
* Ohio U.S. House: Districts 07 and 09
* Pennsylvania U.S. House: District 07
* Iowa U.S. House: Districts 01 and 02
* Governor's races: Michigan, Ohio
Since launching in July, the UAW has contacted hundreds of thousands of working-class voters in key districts in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, California, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, Washington, North Carolina, Kansas, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maine. The program has:
* Knocked over 125,000 doors
* Made 450,000 calls
* Recruited over 1,200 volunteers, including 850 in Michigan alone
The UAW's 2026 program is focused on heavily working-class districts that could help decide the balance of power in Congress. The UAW has invested heavily in two states - Michigan and Ohio -- where de-industrialization and job insecurity have played a major role in shaping the politics of the states. The Union sees 2026 as an opportunity to make up significant political ground.
In Michigan, the UAW was an early endorser of Abdul El-Sayed in the high-profile U.S. Senate race. Three priority House races in the union's home state--Districts 04, 07, and 10--could flip to Republican control. In each district, UAW membership density exceeds the margin of victory in recent elections.
In Ohio, the UAW has committed significant resources to reelect Sherrod Brown, a longtime ally of working-class people. The union is also working to protect Marcy Kaptur's seat in District 09, one of the country's densest UAW districts. UAW members make up 10% of all voters there. Members in Ohio are also working to flip District 07 for fellow union member Brian Poindexter.
In Lorain County--the only Ohio county to vote for both Sherrod Brown and Donald Trump in 2024--the UAW is adding a contentious County Commission race to its campaign. UAW-represented county workers have been on strike since February 18.
The final three weeks of the UAW program will focus on making the case to all : together, we can put an end to status quo politics and make real change in Washington with working class fighters in Congress.
***
Original text here: https://uaw.org/uaw-members-out-in-force-in-key-midterm-districts-could-shape-the-next-congress/
Share your perspective in the 2026 Public Service Viewpoint Survey
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 [Category: Union] -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
* * *
Share your perspective in the 2026 Public Service Viewpoint Survey
*
As a federal employee, you have firsthand insight into what helps your team succeed, what challenges affect your work and how well your organization is positioned to serve the public. To gather those experiences, we are excited to partner with the Partnership for Public Service(opens in new tab) to administer the 2026 Public Service Viewpoint Survey.
We invite you to complete the Public Service Viewpoint
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 [Category: Union] -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
* * *
Share your perspective in the 2026 Public Service Viewpoint Survey
*
As a federal employee, you have firsthand insight into what helps your team succeed, what challenges affect your work and how well your organization is positioned to serve the public. To gather those experiences, we are excited to partner with the Partnership for Public Service(opens in new tab) to administer the 2026 Public Service Viewpoint Survey.
We invite you to complete the Public Service ViewpointSurvey(opens in new tab):
The results(opens in new tab) of the Public Service Viewpoint Survey will provide an independent, standardized and publicly available view of federal government employees. The findings will help Congress, federal leaders, policymakers and the public better understand how management decisions are impacting mission delivery and workplace culture.
The Partnership for Public Service is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has analyzed federal workforce data across four presidential administrations and has produced the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings and analysis since 2003. Last year, in the absence of the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, the Partnership administered the 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey and released the findings on their website(opens in new tab). The findings were also covered by dozens of media outlets including Politico(opens in new tab) and Bloomberg News(opens in new tab).
Your participation is voluntary and confidential. The Partnership's data team will only use personally identifiable information or demographic data for survey administration and analysis. Findings shared publicly will be anonymized to prevent individual employees or their responses from being identified, and data for demographic groups with fewer than 30 respondents will not be shared outside the Partnership.
Please complete the survey outside your normal working hours by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Dec. 4, 2026. The survey should take about 10 minutes.
Finally, if you are interested in sharing information about the survey to your networks, please feel free to reference the survey's communications toolkit(opens in new tab).
Questions may be directed to psvs@ourpublicservice.org(opens in new tab).
***
Original text here: https://www.nffe.org/nffe_news/share-your-perspective-in-the-2026-public-service-viewpoint-survey/
National Education Union: IPPR Research Calls for SATs Rethink
LONDON, England, Oct. 21 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement:
* * *
IPPR research calls for SATs rethink
21/10/2026
Responding to new recommendations from the IPPR on reforms to primary assessment, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"IPPR's recommendations would lay the foundations for a more equitable, accessible system where teachers can focus on supporting pupils, and children can focus on developing a love of learning.
"The primary school assessment and accountability system fails all children, particularly disadvantaged
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, Oct. 21 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement:
* * *
IPPR research calls for SATs rethink
21/10/2026
Responding to new recommendations from the IPPR on reforms to primary assessment, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"IPPR's recommendations would lay the foundations for a more equitable, accessible system where teachers can focus on supporting pupils, and children can focus on developing a love of learning.
"The primary school assessment and accountability system fails all children, particularly disadvantagedpupils and those with SEND. NEU members know that change is long-overdue and cannot wait.
"The government cannot possibly hope to address the causes of disengagement from learning without recognising that this begins in primary school.
"SATs have a devastating impact on disadvantaged children and those with SEND by labelling many a 'failure', narrowing the curriculum, reducing enrichment, and failing to capture what pupils know and can do.
"While we still need to see SATs scrapped, the NEU supports IPPR's recommendation to remove the draconian, universally unpopular SPaG test and the recommendation to end the publication of school-level data.
"The education secretary recently said we need to go beyond a one-size-fits-all system that sets too many up to fail. It's time to put words into action."
* * *
Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/ippr-research-calls-sats-rethink?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
How NFFE-IAM Union Members Can Get Involved in This Critical Election
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 [Category: Union] -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
* * *
How NFFE-IAM Union Members Can Get Involved in This Critical Election
*
The Nov. 3 Election Day is approaching quickly, and we need all hands on deck to help elect candidates who will actually work for working people.
If you've been waiting to get involved, now is the time! Here are a few things you can do right now:
1. Sign up to be a poll worker, and help your community vote safely and easily!
Our elections depend on people like us who make sure voting runs smoothly
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 [Category: Union] -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
* * *
How NFFE-IAM Union Members Can Get Involved in This Critical Election
*
The Nov. 3 Election Day is approaching quickly, and we need all hands on deck to help elect candidates who will actually work for working people.
If you've been waiting to get involved, now is the time! Here are a few things you can do right now:
1. Sign up to be a poll worker, and help your community vote safely and easily!
Our elections depend on people like us who make sure voting runs smoothlyand everyone's vote is counted. You can make sure we have safe, fair and efficient elections for all. Step up today to become a poll worker for the next election in your community.
Training will be provided, and some local jurisdictions may pay poll workers a stipend! Learn more: go.aflcio.org/ptp(opens in new tab)
2. Find a volunteer event, either in person or virtual.
Early and absentee voting is underway in many states, and IAM Union members are already on the ground knocking on doors, staffing community events, making phone calls and sending text messages. If you are not able to attend an event in person, you can join a national virtual event like a phone bank. IAM Union members are a trusted part of our communities, so we need every member and supporter talking to their neighbors about the importance of voting in 2026. Find an event: mobilize.us/aflcio/(opens in new tab)
3. Not sure how you want to help? Fill out the volunteer form.
If you're not sure what you want to do yet, but you still want to be involved, sign the AFL-CIO's volunteer form and someone will reach out to connect you with opportunities that work for you. Sign up here: go.aflcio.org/volunteer(opens in new tab)
People are engaged and excited, and we're seeing sky-high energy and optimism across the country as we fight for real change for working people. IAM Union members have the power to make a difference. Please join us.
***
Original text here: https://www.nffe.org/nffe_news/how-nffe-iam-union-members-can-get-involved-in-this-critical-election/
2027 IAM Scholarship Competition is Accepting Applications!
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 [Category: Union] -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
* * *
2027 IAM Scholarship Competition is Accepting Applications!
*
The 2027 IAM Scholarship Competition opened on Oct. 1, 2026 and will be accepting applications through Feb. 5, 2027. Entries are accepted online. The competition is open to members of NFFE-IAM with two years of continuous service and their children who are current high school seniors throughout the United States and Canada.
Interested parties can find a link to the online applications, rules, and general
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 [Category: Union] -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
* * *
2027 IAM Scholarship Competition is Accepting Applications!
*
The 2027 IAM Scholarship Competition opened on Oct. 1, 2026 and will be accepting applications through Feb. 5, 2027. Entries are accepted online. The competition is open to members of NFFE-IAM with two years of continuous service and their children who are current high school seniors throughout the United States and Canada.
Interested parties can find a link to the online applications, rules, and generalinformation on the IAM Scholarship Competition page or you can download the official calls below.
2027 Scholarship Competition Official Call and Eligibility: English | French | Eligibility
The IAM has a vocational-technical two-year scholarship for members and their children, which is also included in the scholarship awards.
The IAM Scholarship Fund, used exclusively to make these awards possible, was established by the 1960 IAM Grand Lodge Convention delegates.
You can learn more and apply online at the IAM Scholarship website.
***
Original text here: https://www.nffe.org/nffe_news/2027-iam-scholarship-competition-is-accepting-applications/
Workers at VISTAR Join Teamsters
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
* * *
Workers at VISTAR Join Teamsters
*
37 Oakland Warehouse Workers Win Wall-to-Wall Teamsters Representation
Press Contact: Lena Melentijevic Phone: 347-208-2279 Email: LMelentijevic@teamster.org
(OAKLAND, Calif.) - Workers at VISTAR, a subsidiary of Performance Food Group (PFG), have voted to join Teamsters Local 853. The 37 warehouse workers organized to secure stronger wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions.
The newly organized workers join 30 VISTAR
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
* * *
Workers at VISTAR Join Teamsters
*
37 Oakland Warehouse Workers Win Wall-to-Wall Teamsters Representation
Press Contact: Lena Melentijevic Phone: 347-208-2279 Email: LMelentijevic@teamster.org
(OAKLAND, Calif.) - Workers at VISTAR, a subsidiary of Performance Food Group (PFG), have voted to join Teamsters Local 853. The 37 warehouse workers organized to secure stronger wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions.
The newly organized workers join 30 VISTARdrivers who became Teamsters in 2025. With this victory, Teamsters Local 853 has achieved wall-to-wall representation at the Oakland facility.
"We're thrilled to welcome these hardworking brothers and sisters to Local 853," said Steve Beck, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 853. "Their vote shows that workers are united and ready to build a stronger future. We look forward to helping them win a first contract that reflects their hard work, solidarity, and value to the company."
Throughout the organizing campaign, VISTAR spent more than $146,000 on an aggressive union-busting effort.
"Despite the company's anti-union campaign, these workers stood strong and won," said Tom Erickson, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. "This is another major step forward as we build power at PFG. When workers stand together, no amount of corporate intimidation can stop them from winning a voice on the job."
The Teamsters represent 2,000 workers at PFG and its subsidiaries nationwide.
"There was a noticeable difference after the drivers organized," said Michael Townsend, a warehouse worker at VISTAR and new member of Local 853. "We saw them stand together and fight for a strong first contract. That inspired us to do the same. Now it's our turn to have a voice on the job and the protections that come with a Teamster contract."
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.
***
Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/10/workers-at-vistar-join-teamsters-2/
Rush nurses hold rally for patient safety
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Oct. 20 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United posted the following news release:
* * *
Rush nurses hold rally for patient safety
*
RNs at Rush University Medical Center demand enforceable safe staffing standards amid proposed Rush and Endeavor Health merger
Registered nurses at Rush University Medical Center, in Chicago, Ill., will hold a rally on Thursday, Oct. 22, to highlight their staffing proposals to improve patient safety, announced National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union
... Show Full Article
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Oct. 20 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United posted the following news release:
* * *
Rush nurses hold rally for patient safety
*
RNs at Rush University Medical Center demand enforceable safe staffing standards amid proposed Rush and Endeavor Health merger
Registered nurses at Rush University Medical Center, in Chicago, Ill., will hold a rally on Thursday, Oct. 22, to highlight their staffing proposals to improve patient safety, announced National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing unionof registered nurses in the nation. The nurses, who are in negotiations for their first union contract, have proposed language to improve RN staffing, including enforceable protections that ensure staffing decisions are driven by patient care needs, and are demanding that bedside nurses have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their patients.
Nurses say current staffing practices often leave them without adequate support to consistently provide safe care for their patients. Nurses aren't able to take breaks, and their workload does not adequately account for their patients' level of sickness, resulting in too many patients to care for.
"Nurses come to work every day committed to giving our patients the best care possible, but we need the staffing and resources to do that," said Keeley Binion, RN in general medicine at Rush and member of the bargaining team. "When nurses are stretched thin, unable to take their breaks, or expected to do more with less, it affects our ability to provide the care our patients deserve. We are fighting for a contract that puts safe patient care first and holds the hospital accountable to the nurses and patients who depend on it."
Who: RNs at Rush University Medical Center
What: Rally for Patient Safety
When: Thursday, Oct. 22, 12:30-1 p.m.
Where: Rush University Medical Center, 1620 W. Harrison, main entrance of the hospital
These concerns come amid the recently announced proposed merger between Rush and Endeavor Health, raising additional questions about the future of staffing, patient services, and working conditions. Nurses say the proposed merger further underscores the urgency of securing a strong first union contract with enforceable staffing protections that ensure patient care needs, not corporate priorities, drive staffing decisions.
"Nurses are concerned about what this proposed Rush-Endeavor merger could mean for our patients and the future of care at Rush," said Erika Czopkiewicz, RN in the medical-surgical float pool and member of the bargaining team. "We've seen what can happen when hospital systems consolidate and decisions about patient care are made without the voices of bedside nurses. We cannot allow cuts in services or corporate decisions to determine the quality of care our patients receive. That's why we're fighting for a strong union contract with enforceable staffing protections that put our patients first."
Rush nurses won their union election on May 18, 2026.
NNOC/NNU represents more than 1,800 registered nurses at Rush University Medical Center.
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.
***
Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/rush-nurses-hold-rally-for-patient-safety
