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The 2026 AFl-CIO Constitutional Convention: A Brief Oral History from the WGAE Delegates
NEW YORK, July 2 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Writers Guild of America East issued the following news release:
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The 2026 AFl-CIO Constitutional Convention: A Brief Oral History from the WGAE Delegates
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The AFL-CIO held its 30th Constitutional Convention from June 5 - 7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The convention, which happens every four years, brought together 1,900 member delegates and union staff from the 65 affiliated unions of the AFL-CIO.
Over the course of three days, delegates elected the leadership of the AFL-CIO voted on a diverse slate of resolutions that established the
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, July 2 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Writers Guild of America East issued the following news release:
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The 2026 AFl-CIO Constitutional Convention: A Brief Oral History from the WGAE Delegates
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The AFL-CIO held its 30th Constitutional Convention from June 5 - 7 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The convention, which happens every four years, brought together 1,900 member delegates and union staff from the 65 affiliated unions of the AFL-CIO.
Over the course of three days, delegates elected the leadership of the AFL-CIO voted on a diverse slate of resolutions that established themission for the AFL-CIO's work and set a vision and mandate for building and strengthening the labor movement. The convention also featured a number of panels, guest speakers and workshops.
Secretary-Treasurer Sasha Stewart and Vice President of Online Media Sara David served as delegates, and Film/Television/Streaming Council member Liz Hynes and Online Media Council member Nitish Pahwa served as alternative delegates, on behalf of the Writers Guild of America East. Executive Director Sam Wheeler and Director of Communcations & Policy Jason Gordon attended as staff representatives for the Guild.
Below, Sasha, Sara, Liz and Nitish reflect on the convention in their own words.
SASHA: The WGAE is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. For me, that has meant that we show up for each other - whether it's us picketing with nurses this winter or the countless AFL-CIO affiliate unions who showed up for us in 2023. But getting to go to the AFL-CIO convention felt like seeing the labor movement in action in a whole new way. Solidarity was in the air. From the first day, they gave us our marching orders (and pins! To wear when flying Delta to help their 30,000 flight attendants win their organizing campaign). And it only grew from there. With panels on building worker power, civil rights, the first amendment, voting rights, AI, immigration, veterans' issues, and economic justice, it was a dizzyingly intense and immensely gratifying immersion in everything labor.
NITISH: I'm still very new to my position on the WGAE Council, and newer still to the finer workings of the broader labor movement-the umbrella organizations, affiliated institutions, committees, and sister organizers that make up the structural support for North America's unions. So I felt a little green, attending the AFL-CIO's 30th Constitutional Convention as an alternate delegate-but it only took a few days to feel invigorated and inspired.
SARA: I am so lucky that the WGAE was my introduction to the labor movement because we are a strong activist union with members rooted in creativity and courage-the exact traits needed to imagine and fight for a new vision of the future. It can be hard to feel connected to that creativity and courage as we navigate the layoffs and shutdowns of the media industry, and try to survive our fascist government's complete disregard of basic human rights.
LIZ: Minneapolis was chosen as the location of this year's AFL-CIO conference long before ICE's immigration raids besieged the city, but there was no greater location to celebrate worker solidarity. The same force that drove ordinary Minnesotans to fight and die protecting their neighbors in the streets is the same force that brings union workers together the world over: the belief that the rich and powerful don't have a monopoly on a decent life, that such a life is worth fighting for, and that no force is unstoppable when we join to oppose it as one.
SASHA: Being in Minneapolis in particular was an emotional experience. As they opened the convention, the organizers brought to the stage dozens of union members who had helped out as ICE tried to raid and invade their city. We heard stories of how unions and organizing had been crucial in developing the rapid response necessary to pushing back. It was inspiring, and a challenge for all of us to live up to their example.
SARA: The AFL-CIO conference reignited my belief that labor unions are the most accessible and effective vehicle for everyday people to wield collective power and win material change. I was inspired by all our sibling unions fighting for better protections for immigrant workers. As a Filipino immigrant, I was especially moved by the story of the IAM fighting to free Max Londonio from ICE detention, where he was unjustly held for two months after returning from a family vacation to the Philippines.
LIZ: Every panel was a stark reminder that all our struggles, whether against exploitative employers or an unjust immigration system, are inextricably linked. The story that moved me most involved a machinist - Maximo from IAM Local 695 - who was detained by ICE, sent to prison, and given a blue jumpsuit to indicate his "crime" was an immigration offense. That night, every single incarcerated person with a blue jumpsuit was deported - except for Maximo, because his union had sent their lawyer. In the world we strive for, every person in that prison would have that same protection.
SASHA: Gwen Mills of Unite Here called for us to go on the offense even as they try to make us play defense, "Have a 10 to 20 year strategy." Shawn Feinn of the UAW called for us to start electing more labor candidates into office. April Verrett of the SEIU said that focusing on women and workers of color, especially in the South, will always steer us in the right direction. Dolores Huerta gave a rousing speech calling for us not to run from human rights during these hard times - "When women, LGBTQ people, and people of color are attacked, we must stand together." For her, this means, in part, labor getting behind the push for universal healthcare, daycare, and a free college education. She wants us to teach labor studies in schools. What a great idea!
LIZ: DOLORES HUERTA!
SASHA: Beyond panels and education, we passed a lot of resolutions. What's a convention without voting? But even passing these resolutions became a full-throated endorsement of solidarity. With members from unions across the country explaining why these resolutions mattered and how we are all here to support one another.
NITISH: The difficult, intricate, ultimately affirming work in maintaining and advancing a workers' coalition was laid bare: the appeals to common interests, the effort required to build solidarity across classes and disciplines, the persuasion needed to bring one or another peer onto one's side, the compromises henceforth reached. It can seem so sprawling and unwieldy-between all the people and all the sectors involved, and all the factors incorporated into convention representation-but it never felt that way.
SASHA: Sara David spoke eloquently and passionately on a resolution to regulate AI, and I spoke (less) eloquently and (equally) passionately on a resolution to support a federal film and TV tax incentive.
LIZ: In our current labor environment, arguably the most hostile to unions since the Reagan administration, it can be very easy to succumb to despair.
NITISH: Convention leaders were admirably willing to name the severe setbacks and challenges facing AFL-CIO members, from the government employees purged by this administration, to the weakening of civil rights laws, to on-site deaths and dangers. But every speaker and attendee I saw addressed these issues with tenacity and specificity, laying out ideas for the path ahead and leading with messages of aspiration instead of despair.
SASHA: Something we heard a lot about was the need to imagine better. What does a worker-led future look like across all areas of life? To me, that's a call to action for us writers. No matter what sector you're in, we all have the opportunity to do this kind of collective imagining. We need a positive vision to strive for, not just the one the authoritarians and tech oligarchs pretend is inevitable. A speaker on the the civil rights panel said, "It is not 1960. You don't have to wonder what you would have done. Decide now how you will build our new future." WGAE members, I think we should accept this challenge!
LIZ: Time and time again, workers relayed stories of management employing the same tactics we witnessed from the studios during our 2023 strike. Union-busting is a thriving industry, and their job is way easier if they can kill you in the cradle. In addition to bloodletting at the bargaining table, they're paid handsomely to dissuade us from organizing at all: to sell the lie that the fight isn't even worth it, and cross their fingers that we buy it. But their business only survives because we do. Some of the largest companies in the world - Amazon, SpaceX, Starbucks, etc. - employ the same firm (Morgan Lewis, now serving as de facto General Counsel for the NLRB, loudly booed each time they were mentioned at this conference) in an attempt to destroy unions, because we remain the primary threat to their hegemony. Their sole mission is to destroy workers' rights. Solidarity demands creativity; isolation erodes it. We have plenty of ideas. They only have one.
SASHA: As we demonstrated back in 2023 with our theme pickets, organizing is also fun! It was wonderful to get to hang out and strengthen our relationships with our fellow arts unions, a party hosted by the AFL-CIO Sports Council on the field of the Vikings Stadium, and an opportunity to go to a Lynx game (The WNBA Players Association is a part of the AFL-CIO!). It was another reminder that all our WGAE programming helps us build community, which helps us build power. Being fun is powerful.
LIZ: A great antidote to that malaise is a room full of thousands of union workers sharing stories and strategies to the soundtrack of a shockingly good DJ.
NITISH: I learned so much, not only about the architecture of this great institution, but of the resilience it takes to make worker empowerment a possibility. The work is only just beginning.
SASHA: When I flew out after our last day, I boarded the plane while proudly wearing my Support Delta Flight Attendants pin, which sparked conversation. The flight attendants I spoke with agreed with the need to unionize, and asked me how I knew about the campaign. "I was just at the AFL-CIO convention, and I can tell you everyone in that stadium has your back." Sara Nelson of the Association of Flight Attendants said, "Solidarity is a force stronger than gravity." That's the power of the labor movement. It's not easy to organize 30,000 people, but it's a little easier knowing you've got millions more ready to stand up with you.
NITISH: Everyone I met was kind, welcoming, and genuinely interested in building bridges and power; the Solidarity Commons folks who hosted workshops, trainings, and information sessions were expert mentors, adept at applying their knowledge and experiences to situations that affect workers in every field.
LIZ: This conference renewed my gratitude for the WGAE's unwavering ambition. When they're not fighting relentlessly for our own members, our staff is incredibly tapped into the wider labor movement. They never miss a chance to spread the word about a solidarity opportunity (join our Signal chat!), and our members are excited to show up for other unions - especially in recent years, after going through the pain of a strike ourselves. We're a relatively small union, but it's rare that there's a picket line in New York City without a WGAE presence. That makes me unbelievably proud. Here's to the future we build together.
SARA: Unions are the first and only line of defense for our most vulnerable members, and knowing that the WGAE will fight to help each of us is truly a gift.
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Original text here: https://www.wgaeast.org/the-2026-afl-cio-constitutional-convention-a-brief-oral-history-from-the-wgae-delegates/
Labor Unions, Nonprofits, Cities, and Counties Seek Injunction to Stop Impending U.S. Department of Agriculture Reorganization
WASHINGTON, July 2 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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Labor Unions, Nonprofits, Cities, and Counties Seek Injunction to Stop Impending U.S. Department of Agriculture Reorganization
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Supplemental Complaint and Preliminary Injunction Motion Filed in Case Challenging Unlawful Reshaping of Government Targets "Reorganization" of USDA
San Francisco - A broad coalition of nationwide labor unions, non-profit organizations, and cities and counties from across the country moved for injunctive relief in their challenge
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 2 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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Labor Unions, Nonprofits, Cities, and Counties Seek Injunction to Stop Impending U.S. Department of Agriculture Reorganization
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Supplemental Complaint and Preliminary Injunction Motion Filed in Case Challenging Unlawful Reshaping of Government Targets "Reorganization" of USDA
San Francisco - A broad coalition of nationwide labor unions, non-profit organizations, and cities and counties from across the country moved for injunctive relief in their challengeto the massive Trump-Vance administration effort to unlawfully reorganize the federal government, reduce the government workforce, and harm the government's ability to deliver vital services to families across the country. This action is necessary to prevent mass staff departures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), represented by union plaintiffs American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), that would leave the department unable to fulfill its essential functions.
The plaintiffs in AFGE v. Trump are challenging the Trump-Vance administration's unlawful reorganization of the federal government without legislative authority. The coalition fighting against unlawful government reorganization plans includes AFGE and four AFGE locals; AFSCME; Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and SEIU Local 1000; Alliance for Retired Americans; American Geophysical Union; American Public Health Association; Center for Taxpayer Rights; Coalition to Protect America's National Parks; Common Defense; Main Street Alliance; NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council); Northeast Organic Farming Association Inc.; VoteVets; Western Watersheds Project; City and County of San Francisco, California; County of Santa Clara, California; City of Chicago, Illinois; City of Baltimore, Maryland; Harris County, Texas; and King County, Washington.
The filing in AFGE v. Trump draws attention to recently-implemented actions to disrupt USDA by forcing office relocations and mass resignations at the department. Reflecting the massive impact of these plans on communities across the country, this filing adds a trio of plaintiffs that will be directly and irreparably harmed by the unlawful USDA reorganization, including the National WIC Association (NWA), a membership organization that represents more than 10,000 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) professionals nationwide, including staff at state, tribal, and local WIC agencies, as well as WIC clinic staff; Prince George's County, Maryland, which is home to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center; and the Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies (the Alliance), a nonprofit organization that manages and supports three membership associations: the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, whose approximately 7,500 members includes USDA employees. The coalition is represented in the case by lead co-counsel Democracy Forward and Altshuler Berzon LLP, along with Protect Democracy, Public Rights Project, and Democracy Defenders Fund, and counsel for local governments.
"WIC is one of the most effective public health programs in the United States. For over 50 years, WIC has helped reduce infant mortality, improve maternal health, and ensure that low-income moms, babies, and young children have access to nutrition support during the most critical stages of development," said Georgia Machell, President & CEO of NWA. "But WIC only works because of the close partnership between state and local WIC providers and USDA's federal staff at the national and regional levels. A reorganization that reduces or disrupts federal expertise would not increase efficiency, responsiveness, or service quality; instead, it would directly weaken the systems families rely on to access care, nutrition, breastfeeding support, and trusted guidance. The administration must not be allowed to move forward with a plan that will decimate the federal staff and infrastructure that makes WIC work for millions of families across the country."
"Prince George's County has been the proud home of the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) for over 115 years," said Prince George's County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy. "BARC has produced innovative and groundbreaking research that has greatly improved food safety, human nutrition and livestock genetics. A significant portion of Prince George's County's economy has developed around BARC and we believe that approximately 1,000 jobs at BARC and in the surrounding community would be lost with BARC's permanent closure. BARC is critically important to Prince George's County's Economy. BARC is a pillar of our community that promotes jobs, innovation and opportunity within the agriculture industry. We believe that the Trump Administration's attempt to permanently shut down BARC and relocate its staff outside of Prince George's County is unlawful and we are joining this lawsuit to protect our economy, County residents that work in and around BARC, and the important research that is conducted in our County."
" USDA employees keep our food safe, stand behind our farmers, make sure our children are fed, and keep thousands of American businesses running. They live and work in communities all across this country. This administration keeps showing it won ' t look out for Americans, pushing an unlawful reorganization of USDA that would gut the workforce our country depends on," said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. "AFGE is proud that these public servants have a collective voice through AFGE, and we are proud to help lead the fight to stop this unlawful reorganization. No administration gets to break the law to dismantle an agency that feeds this nation. "
"From helping our farmers get their products to market, to assisting with farm loans and providing infrastructure improvements in rural communities, to protecting American agricultural exports through the Foreign Agricultural Service, the AFSCME members targeted by this 'reorganization' provide essential services that strengthen rural communities and support America's food supply," said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. "This administration is trying to gut the agency that helps farmers stay in business and puts food on working families' tables so it can hand out even more tax cuts to billionaires. We will continue fighting for these public service workers and the farmers, families, and communities across the country who rely on the services they provide every day."
Earlier this year, USDA began taking action to implement a Reorganization Plan that would restructure and downsize the agency across many different issue areas and sub-agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Food and Nutrition Administration, Agricultural Research Service, Economic Research Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Farm Production and Conservation mission area (which include the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service), Rural Development mission area, and the Foreign Agricultural Service.
USDA sought authorization for the actions in this Reorganization Plan through the budget process for Fiscal Year 2026. However, Congress not only rejected this process, but additionally specifically directed USDA not to take actions restructuring the agency or downsizing staff without further congressional approval. USDA has not obtained such approval. Still, USDA officials are continuing to push forward with an unlawful Reorganization Plan, implementing actions that have harmed and will continue to harm USDA employees impacted by the restructuring and the farmers, families, and communities who rely on them to execute USDA's mission.
"The Trump Administration's unlawful government reorganization is part of their ongoing war on science. It undercuts the essential science undertaken by many of the Agencies to better understand and protect America's unique natural history and resources. Some of my colleagues provided the court with clear examples of how these moves stifle essential research in forestry and soil science, illustrating the wide and damaging impacts these cuts would have if allowed to move forward," said Garett Rose, senior attorney at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council).
"The government workers threatened by the Trump Administration are essential to so many of the programs and policies that fight chronic food insecurity, manage environmental challenges, and otherwise promote the well-being of all Baltimoreans. Gutting the organizations that manage our social safety net will do nothing but create more economic precarity and vulnerability all across the country. Baltimore stands with Democracy Forward, labor unions, and local governments to challenge the President's continued lawlessness," said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott.
"Government workers reflect the spirit of service our nation is built on, and a lifeline for families in need. Trump's pernicious attempts to restructure and push specially trained and certified government employees out of an agency-that in our County alone, serves tens of thousands of mothers and children annually-would have serious consequences for vulnerable families across the country. My office stands alongside Democracy Forward, our labor unions, and local governments across the country in asking the court to block this action," said Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin.
This is the second supplement to the original complaint filed in 2025. On January 28, 2026, the coalition filed a supplemental complaint challenging the unlawful and drastic reduction of staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), leaving the agency unable to adequately prepare for or respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, placing lives and property at risk and undermining the very purpose for which Congress created the agency. After the coalition filed that supplemental complaint, FEMA offered jobs to employees who had been terminated and ceased additional terminations, so the court determined that injunctive relief is unnecessary at this time. But the court has set the claims against FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for expedited summary judgment briefing.
"We thank all of our plaintiffs for showing how this administration's thoughtless and cruel changes at USDA will have a real and lasting impact on communities across America. By forcing countless employees to relocate across the country for no good reason, the administration is crippling USDA's ability to do its vital work. More than 40 percent of infants in the country get fed through WIC. As this supplemental complaint shows, USDA's 'reorganization' will put them at risk of going hungry. The closure of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center will mean more disruption in food production and security. These actions are not just heartless, but also clearly unlawful and Democracy Forward is honored to work with this growing coalition to stop harmful efforts to prevent civil servants from doing their jobs," said Elena Goldstein, Legal Director at Democracy Forward.
Corinne Johnson, Altshuler Berzon partner said: "The actions of this Administration to reorganize USDA are a ruse for forcing employees to quit because they work on programs - like feeding low-income women and children, protecting our forests, or scientific research- that this Administration opposes for political reasons. That is unlawful. Congress, not the President, still determines the mission and functions of federal agencies created by statute, and Congress has repeatedly drawn the line to say no to workforce reductions. On behalf of our clients, we will continue to ask the courts to hold that line."
"Congress created federal agencies to serve the interests of the American people - not of one man," said Jules Torti, Counsel at Protect Democracy. "The President simply does not have the authority to unilaterally reorganize and change our government without Congress's involvement.
"This administration cannot keep sidestepping Congress to reshape the government on its own. Cities and counties rely on USDA to help feed families, support farmers, and respond to environmental challenges. When that support is disrupted, communities bear the consequences," said Jonathan Miller, Chief Program Officer at Public Rights Project.
"Millions of families across the country rely on the essential services provided by hardworking USDA employees," said Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), co-founder and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund. "By gutting this department, the administration is threatening programs that help children eat, small farms survive, and communities function. We're going to court because these mass layoffs would leave more families without the support they need."
The legal team at Democracy Forward working on the matter includes Andrea Matthews, Tsuki Hoshijima, Gregory Cumming, and Elena Goldstein.
For more on this case, please click here.
To read the filed supplemental complaint, please click here, and to read the memorandum in support of preliminary injunction, please click here.
For more resources for civil servants facing retaliatory dismissal, please visit civilservicestrong.org.
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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
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Original text here: https://www.afge.org/link/7d1a9ea8f51f49508c4d14d66f39bc5a.aspx
Teamsters at Bimbo Bakeries Ratify Strong New Agreement
WASHINGTON, July 1 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters at Bimbo Bakeries Ratify Strong New Agreement
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Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3734 Email: mdrumm@teamster.org
(BALDWIN, N.Y.) - A group of 200 Teamsters at Bimbo Bakeries have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The route sales professionals, route riders, field merchandising representatives, and utility drivers are employed by Entenmann's and S.B. Thomas, brands under the Bimbo umbrella.
"Through their consistent bargaining and
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 1 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters at Bimbo Bakeries Ratify Strong New Agreement
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Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3734 Email: mdrumm@teamster.org
(BALDWIN, N.Y.) - A group of 200 Teamsters at Bimbo Bakeries have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The route sales professionals, route riders, field merchandising representatives, and utility drivers are employed by Entenmann's and S.B. Thomas, brands under the Bimbo umbrella.
"Through their consistent bargaining andstrong solidarity, this determined group was able to close their deal without a strike and win an excellent agreement," said Jeff Padellaro, Director of the Teamsters Brewery, Bakery, and Soft Drink Conference. "This contract shows what Teamsters can achieve when we refuse to back down. Our members should be proud of this accomplishment."
"The Teamsters committee and our members were tenacious in their approach to solidifying the best contract possible," said James Shannon, President of Teamsters Local 802. "This group stuck together, and because of that they have obtained an impressive agreement."
The new six-year agreement includes an up to 40 percent wage increase, more employer-paid contributions toward health care, a uniform allowance, and a raise in pay for holidays, sick days, and personal days. The contract also includes a no layoff clause for the first year of the agreement.
"By standing united we secured a powerful contract that truly recognizes our dedication," said David Halwick, a route sales professional at Entenmann's for 34 years and a shop steward. "This agreement delivers concrete improvements, especially for our newer members."
Teamsters Local 802 represents bakery drivers and food production workers in New York and New Jersey. Local 802's major employers include Entenmann's, S.B Thomas, Frito-Lay, and Krasdale Foods. For more information, visit www.ibt802.org.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/07/teamsters-at-bimbo-bakeries-ratify-strong-new-agreement/
Student Teacher From Illinois Elected NEA Aspiring Educators Chairperson
WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release on June 30, 2026:
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Student teacher from Illinois elected NEA Aspiring Educators Chairperson
Stephanie Chavez, member of NEA Board of Directors, will mobilize future teachers to shape the direction of public education and grow our movement
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DENVER -- Future teachers from across the country came together today to elect Stephanie Chavez, a student teacher from the suburbs of Chicago, to serve as the next chairperson of NEA Aspiring Educators. She will serve a two-year term.
"It is so important that
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release on June 30, 2026:
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Student teacher from Illinois elected NEA Aspiring Educators Chairperson
Stephanie Chavez, member of NEA Board of Directors, will mobilize future teachers to shape the direction of public education and grow our movement
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DENVER -- Future teachers from across the country came together today to elect Stephanie Chavez, a student teacher from the suburbs of Chicago, to serve as the next chairperson of NEA Aspiring Educators. She will serve a two-year term.
"It is so important thatyoung people get involved early and make their voices heard," said NEA President Becky Pringle. "Stephanie has been instrumental in bringing the voices of future teachers to the forefront while serving on NEA's Board of Directors, and I have no doubt she will continue to lead and grow our movement as chairperson of NEA Aspiring Educators."
Chavez, a leader on the local, state and national level, has represented aspiring educators on NEA's Board of Directors for the past year, amplifying the voices of young people. She hopes to use her new role to make membership more accessible and inclusive.
"My goal of making membership accessible and union education a priority will set us up to build the inclusive program we all dream of," said Chavez. "Coalition building begins with us. Together, let's build a program that is inclusive for the leaders that will come after us."
"Stephanie is just getting started, with a promising career ahead of her. Even before reaching this point, she has already established herself as a respected organizer, advocate, and trusted voice, said Illinois Education Association President Karl Goeke. "Whether she's addressing racial and social justice issues or shaping conversations around education policy, people listen when Stephanie speaks. She is an exceptional leader today, and her impact will only continue to grow. We're fortunate to have her in the profession."
The Aspiring Educators Program supports, develops and empowers diverse, pre-service teachers with the resources, networks and opportunities to excel as educators and leaders, both as students and throughout their career. More than 40,000 Aspiring Educators are already part of the National Education Association - the nation's largest union of 3 million teachers and school staff.
Nearly 7,000 educators, education support professionals, retired teachers and aspiring educators are in Denver for the 169th Annual Meeting and 105th RA, the organization's top decision-making body, which sets Association policy for the coming year. Delegates will complete an agenda, which includes adopting a budget, electing executive committee members and addressing new business items.
For more information on NEA's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly, go to www.nea.org/ra
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The National Education Association is the nation's largest labor union, representing nearly 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.
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Original text here: https://www.nea.org/about-nea/media-center/press-releases/student-teacher-illinois-elected-nea-aspiring-educators-chairperson
[Category: Union]
Over 1,000 Workers at Bridgewater Interiors Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify New Agreement
DETROIT, Michigan, July 1 [Category: Union] -- The United Automobile Workers posted the following news:
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Over 1,000 Workers at Bridgewater Interiors Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify New Agreement
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About 1,000 UAW Local 400 members who manufacture seats for vehicles like Ford F-150s and Stellantis Dodge RAM trucks at Bridgewater Interiors voted by 80% to ratify a new contract that secures a top rate of $35 per hour by 2030 among other major gains at the plant in Warren, MI.
"UAW Local 400 members at Bridgewater Interiors are another example of workers in the IPS sector who are ready to
... Show Full Article
DETROIT, Michigan, July 1 [Category: Union] -- The United Automobile Workers posted the following news:
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Over 1,000 Workers at Bridgewater Interiors Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify New Agreement
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About 1,000 UAW Local 400 members who manufacture seats for vehicles like Ford F-150s and Stellantis Dodge RAM trucks at Bridgewater Interiors voted by 80% to ratify a new contract that secures a top rate of $35 per hour by 2030 among other major gains at the plant in Warren, MI.
"UAW Local 400 members at Bridgewater Interiors are another example of workers in the IPS sector who are ready tostand up and win their fair share," said UAW President Shawn Fain. "They don't treat IPS CEOs like second-class citizens. So why do they treat IPS workers that way? Whether you build axles or seats, the days of allowing IPS workers to be treated like second class citizens is ending."
Prior to this new agreement, most workers at Bridgewater earned less than $21 per hour, with hundreds of others having been stuck under $26 per hour. The newly ratified contract raises the top rate by almost $10 per hour by May 2029 - a 36% raise in under three years. Workers also secured a cap on increases to their health care costs for the life of the agreement as well as more time off and a $2,000 ratification bonus.
"UAW Local 400 members stood united," said UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English. "They told the company '$35 by 2030' - and because they made their voices heard, they walk away with a contract that delivers on their demand."
This was the second tentative agreement voted on by the UAW Local 400 members, who, in addition to rejecting a previous deal by 95%, voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if the company did not meet their demands. This is another example of workers in IPS plants fighting to recuperate years of underwhelming wages and benefits as they generate billions for a sector that supplies the auto industry, including the Big Three. Earlier in June, UAW members at American Axle in Three Rivers, MI ratified an agreement after walking out on strike for ten days.
"After voting down an initial deal by 95% and voting to authorize a strike, UAW Local 400 members sent a clear message to Bridgewater management: no contract, no seats," said UAW Local 400 President Mark Hemphill. "And no seats mean no trucks for Ford and Stellantis - that's power and leverage, and we put it to work."
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Original text here: https://uaw.org/over-1000-workers-at-bridgewater-interiors-vote-overwhelmingly-to-ratify-new-agreement/
New Dates Announced for 2026 UAW Health & Safety Conference
DETROIT, Michigan, July 1 [Category: Union] -- The United Automobile Workers posted the following news:
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New Dates Announced for 2026 UAW Health & Safety Conference
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This conference was previously scheduled for May 2026, but due to severe flooding in Northern Michigan, it was postponed. The new dates are October 11 - 16, 2026. As we preciously had nearly 200 delegates registered for this conference, we are giving those local unions priority to confirm or cancel their delegate/s before any new registrants are approved. Local unions that registered delegates prior to the postponement must
... Show Full Article
DETROIT, Michigan, July 1 [Category: Union] -- The United Automobile Workers posted the following news:
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New Dates Announced for 2026 UAW Health & Safety Conference
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This conference was previously scheduled for May 2026, but due to severe flooding in Northern Michigan, it was postponed. The new dates are October 11 - 16, 2026. As we preciously had nearly 200 delegates registered for this conference, we are giving those local unions priority to confirm or cancel their delegate/s before any new registrants are approved. Local unions that registered delegates prior to the postponement mustconfirm or cancel those delegates by following the link to registration outlined in the new call letter by August 31, 2026.
Read the full letter from the UAW Health and Safety Dept. below more full details.
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Original text here: https://uaw.org/new-dates-2026-uaw-health-safety-conference/
NEA: In a Win for U.S.-Born Children, Supreme Court Reaffirms Birthright Citizenship
WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release on June 30, 2026:
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In a win for U.S.-born children, Supreme Court reaffirms birthright citizenship
Court rejects Trump's attempt to redefine who is American
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Today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's attempt to strip the constitutional guarantee of citizenship from children born in the United States via executive order. Earlier this year, the National Education Association, on behalf of its 3 million members, joined a coalition of labor unions in filing an amicus brief with
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WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release on June 30, 2026:
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In a win for U.S.-born children, Supreme Court reaffirms birthright citizenship
Court rejects Trump's attempt to redefine who is American
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Today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's attempt to strip the constitutional guarantee of citizenship from children born in the United States via executive order. Earlier this year, the National Education Association, on behalf of its 3 million members, joined a coalition of labor unions in filing an amicus brief withthe Supreme Court, outlining the harm ending birthright citizenship would cause to students and educators nationwide.
The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Becky Pringle:
"For generations, birthright citizenship has embodied the promise at the heart of America--that all children born here can grow, contribute, and pursue their dreams without limitation. This administration sought to undermine that promise by casting doubt on the belonging of children whose only home is the United States.
"In its decision, the Court stood by the Constitution and more than a century of Supreme Court precedent, reaffirming that every child born on American soil is entitled to the full rights and protections of citizenship. Trump's executive order would have created a permanent underclass of people who have always called this country home. The Court rightly rejected this unconstitutional power grab.
"Educators have a moral responsibility to confront this unprecedented and unprovoked attack on our students and American values. We see through their attempts to turn us against each other based on where we were born or the language we speak. As this administration continues its attacks against our communities, from Arizona to Arkansas, and Colorado to the Carolinas, we will continue to organize and stand together to protect our students, our families, and this place we call home."
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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.
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Original text here: https://www.nea.org/about-nea/media-center/press-releases/win-us-born-children-supreme-court-reaffirms-birthright-citizenship
[Category: Union]
