UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: March 7
LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES
TODAY: March with NYC Alamo United Against Corporate Greed
Friday, March 7 | 2:30 - 10 PM | Lower Manhattan, NYC
On Friday—marking three full weeks on strike—NYC Alamo United will be moving our picket line around the Financial District, the belly of the beast. We will disrupt business as usual of the rich financiers in their banks of marble, letting Sony and Alamo know that IF WE DON’T GET OUR JOBS BACK, THEN YOU DON’T GET NO PEACE!
The march will be starting at the Liberty Street entrance of the Lower Manhattan Alamo, on Liberty Street between Nassau Street and William Street. We will then return to Alamo in Manhattan and continue picketing until 10 PM, when the last movies stop seating for the night.
For the latest, follow @nycalamounited on Instagram, Twitter, and BlueSky.
TODAY: Student Workers at NYU (SWAN) Bargaining Kickoff Rally
Friday, March 7 | 12 PM | Bobst Library, NYC
Show NYU that Resident Assistants stand united for a fair contract! The Student Workers At NYU (SWAN) are cheering on their bargaining committee before their first bargaining session today.
Follow @swan_uaw on Instagram for the latest.
Next Week: Wellesley Organizing Academic Workers Rally After Strike Authorization
Monday, March 10 | 12:45 - 2 PM | Wellesley, MA
Join the Wellesley Organized Academic Workers for a rally urging Wellesley College to bargain in good faith! Last week, 93% of members voted to authorize a strike, granting the bargaining committee the authority to call for a strike if they find conditions warrant it. WOAW is rallying on Monday in the hope that this show of support for good faith negotiations compels the College to continue making movement towards a fair contract at the bargaining table!
For the latest updates, follow @woaw.uaw on Instagram.
Region 9A Locals in the News
“We know direct action gets the goods. Now we're doing it very intentionally in a highly coordinated way. We'll be prepared for all 2,100 of us to go on strike and shut down the city again if we have to.”
- Labor on the Line interview with Local 2325 Financial Secretary Leah Duncan: Legal Aid Workers Launch Sectoral Bargaining in NYC (Mar. 5)
“Attorneys serving the public interest are saddled not only with the constant stress of a demanding and under-appreciated profession, but also with the anxiety of whether they’ll be able to afford rising rent prices, inflation-impacted groceries, and hefty student loan payments each month.”
- City Limits by Local 2325 President Lisa Ohta: Crippling Student Loan Debt Threatens the Work of New York’s Public Service Lawyers (Mar. 5)
“More than 200 Harvard affiliates rallied outside University Hall on Tuesday afternoon to protest time caps for non-tenure-track faculty, amid an extended campaign by the campus academic workers’ union to end the practice. While bargaining for a first contract, organizers for the Harvard Academic Workers Union-United Auto Workers delivered a petition against time caps with almost 1,400 signatories to University officials.”
- Harvard Crimson: Harvard Students Walk Out of Class To Protest Time Caps for Academic Workers (Mar. 5)
“Olga Brudastova, a union leader representing Guggenheim employees through the Local 2110 chapter of the United Auto Workers, said the union was provided no advance notice about the layoffs. The union has filed a grievance and is demanding to bargain over the layoffs. ‘We will take whatever steps are necessary to protect our members’ jobs,’ she said.”
- New York Times: Guggenheim Lays Off 20 Employees as Financial Challenges Persist (Feb. 28)
FROM REGION 9A
Apply Now for the 2025 UAW Region 9A Summer Brigade
Applications are now open for the UAW Region 9A Summer Brigade! The Summer Brigade is a 5-week full-time intensive training program for Region 9A members which will prepare you to become effective labor educators and organizers in your local unions.
As part of the UAW Education Department’s Fellowship Program, participants will receive formal labor studies education at the City University of New York School of Labor & Urban Studies and training on the Education Department’s national curriculum guidelines and standards. Upon completion of the fellowship, participants will be certified as Local Union Discussion Leaders (LUDLs) and are able to conduct UAW education programs at locals and Black Lake with International resources, in coordination with the education representative.
Learn more and apply by March 31.
Apply Now for the 2025 Richard Dik Days Scholarship Program
Applications are now open for the Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship! The Scholarship Fund, founded by the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Connecticut Chapter, UAW Region 9A, and the Days family, awards three $2,000 scholarships annually to Connecticut high school and college students.
The Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship Fund was created in memory of Richard Adam Days, who was a labor educator for the UAW. Prior to his retirement he was the Education & Civil Rights Director for UAW Region 9A. Learn more and apply by May 9, 2025.
TODAY: Stand Up for Science Rallies Across the Country
Friday, March 7 | 12 PM | VT, MA, RI, CT, & NY
Academic workers and scientists across the country will join Stand Up for Science in a nationwide rally to defend public research funding and diversity and free speech in science. Join us in a city near you to rally in coordination with actions being held across the country.
Academic workers conduct life-saving research that benefits the public in countless ways. When the federal government supports scientific research through taxpayer funding, it fuels innovation, creates jobs, and sustains the world we live in. Join us today to stand up for the science thousands of UAW academic workers create!
Region 9A Rank-and-File Assembly
Monday, March 31 | 7 PM | Zoom
The UAW Region 9A Rank-and-File Assembly is intended to be a region-wide organizing space led by rank-and-file members of our region, and members from every unit, local, and sector are welcome and encouraged to join. All members are invited to the next RFA meeting on Monday, March 31.
Region 9A Is Ready for Powerful Contract Campaigns
Last Friday, over 60 members from 15 different locals and campaigns across UAW Region 9A came together for our Worker Power Institute’s first Contract Campaign School in Boston. At the end of the day, a Local 405 member said, “This completely changed the way I think about bargaining.”
For more upcoming training opportunities and to access resources like our bargaining case studies, visit region9a.uaw.org/education.
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)
D.R.E.A.M. Makes a Splash in NYC Mayoral Race
Last Friday, UAW Region 9A issued an op-ed from NYC CAP Chair Jane Fox and Regional Director Brandon Mancilla updating our endorsement in the New York City Mayoral race.
Dropping right before Andrew Cuomo announced he was entering the race, the op-ed explained UAW’s D.R.E.A.M. for a better future for New York City: Don’t Rank Eric or Andrew for Mayor.
Instead, Zohran Mamdani, Brad Lander, and Jessica Ramos are our endorsed candidates for who New Yorkers should rank at the top of our ballots.
City & State covered our updated endorsement, highlighting our message as leading the progressive movement—and even Eric Adams was asked about it in his most recent press conference.
Ready to get involved to defeat Cuomo and Adams? Join us at our next NYC CAP meeting!
UAW Locals Join Successful Effort to Defeat Anti-Trans Legislation
Alongside many other advocates nationwide, UAW higher education locals in Region 6 and Region 9A mobilized to contact our Senators and ask them to use their filibuster power to block H.R. 28/S. 9. This bill, the so-called Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025, would harm women and girls and undermine civil rights for all students.
On Monday night, the bill failed in the Senate after all Democrats who were present voted against it, blocking it from moving past the procedural vote to break a filibuster. Thanks to Region 9A Locals 2322, 2324, 6950, and 7902 for leading on this civil rights issue!
Join the AFL-CIO to Defeat the Anti-Immigrant “No Bailouts for Sanctuary Cities” Act
The No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act is about scaring communities into adopting extremist anti-immigrant, anti-worker policies and cutting essential programs for working families—all to pay for billionaire tax cuts.
This bill would force cities and states to choose between facilitating mass deportations or losing otherwise unrelated funding that benefits all residents. Federal funds that could be stripped from state and local governments under this bill include: emergency Medicaid, emergency disaster relief, public health assistance, school lunches, Women Infants and Children (WIC) program, Violence Against Women Act grants, and Department of Transportation grants. This would hurt all of us as well as lead to massive job losses.
Tell your member of Congress to vote NO on H.R. 32.
Weekly Phone Zaps for Dignity Not Detention
Tuesdays | 1-2 PM | Online
The Dignity Not Detention campaign has weekly phone zaps to New York state legislators on Tuesdays at 1 PM. You can register in advance here. These phone calls are highly effective in targeting legislators to endorse and co-sponsor this legislation.
Connecticut For All Democracy School Training
Saturday, March 15 | 10 AM - 2 PM | Middletown, CT
The Connecticut For All coalition is hosting a democracy school training on escalation in strategy and practice. Member leaders will join us to learn from other coalition partners about their escalation tactics in the workplace and in the community and align our plans to win a budget that works for us!
NYC Climate Justice Mayoral Forum
Monday, March 31 | 6:30 PM | CUNY Law School, Long Island City, NY
Global temperatures are on the rise, and NYC will likely experience stronger and more dangerous climate disasters. Now more than ever, we need our City's leaders to pass bold climate legislation, fight fossil fuel interests, and prioritize climate and environmental justice.
As the 2025 mayoral race picks up, we want to ensure that NYC's future Mayor prioritizes climate as a key issue for our city's future! Join a coalition of labor, community, faith, environmental justice, and climate organizations—including UAW Region 9A—to find out more about NYC mayoral candidates' climate and environmental justice plans to protect the most vulnerable communities and ensure NYC is adequately prepared to face a changing climate.
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW
Breaking: Union Drive for Volkswagen Workers Goes National As New Jersey VW Workers File to Join UAW
The push to unionize Volkswagen has gone national, as VW autoworkers at a large distribution center in New Jersey have reached supermajority support and just became the first VW workers on the East Coast to file to unionize with the UAW. They join more than 4,000 VW workers in Chattanooga, TN, who won their union with UAW nearly a year ago. The New Jersey facility is now VW’s second in the country to organize with the UAW in the past 12 months.
“Volkswagen has been getting away with exploiting their U.S. workers for far too long,” said UAW Region 9 Director Dan Vicente. “It’s clear the balance of power is shifting. Autoworkers across the country witnessed workers demanding their due during the Stand Up Strike. When they see what can be won when we unite together, anything is possible.” Read more at UAW.org.
Save the Date: Higher Education Council Meeting
June 21-22, 2025 | Pico Rivera, CA
In 2024, recognizing the importance and growth of our higher ed membership in the UAW, the International Executive Board voted to establish a National Higher Education Council, as well as a department to support the work of our higher ed locals. There are over 100,000 higher ed workers who have either joined our union or are organizing to do so.
More and more higher ed workers are refusing to accept the status quo and are organizing for a voice in their workplaces. At the same time, higher ed workers—and all workers—face severe threats from the incoming Trump administration. The new Higher Education Council will be an important space to coordinate, share tactics and make national strategies at this critical time.
The UAW Higher Education Council will meet virtually in April 2025 and then hold its first in-person meeting on June 21-22, 2025, at the UAW Region 6 office in Pico Rivera, California. Each bargaining unit will elect delegates to this meeting based on membership size. For more information, see the call letter.
SOLIDARITY REQUESTS
Federal Unionists Network Let Us Work Rally
Friday, March 14 | 12 PM | Federal Plaza, New York City
Unelected billionaire Elon Musk is waging an assault on federal agencies, the public services they provide, and the workers who make them run. But federal workers are organizing and standing up to defend our public services and democracy. Please join them on Friday at 26 Federal Plaza, from 12 pm to 1 pm, as they demand to be put back to work for the public.
Massachusetts AFL-CIO Dropkick Murphys Union Night Fundraiser
Friday, March 14 | MGM Music Hall, Boston, MA
Tickets for the 2025 Dropkick Murphys Fundraising Concert are now on sale. Tickets are $65 each and include a special pre-show performance as well as a custom concert t-shirt. Tickets can be purchased online. A percentage of ticket sales will be donated to the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Steven A. Tolman Addiction Fund, and additional contributions are appreciated.
Rally and Vigil to Stand Up for Migrant Fishing Workers' Rights
Monday, March 17 | 4:30 - 6:00 PM | Boston, MA
Migrant fishers in Taiwan's distant-water fishing industry, many from Indonesia, face routine deaths, injuries, and disappearances, all stemming from the blatant disregard for the safety and labor rights of the fishers who make its profits. They go on trips of 6 months and longer with no way to communicate with their families or report injury and abuse while the corporations plunder the ocean. They fish the tuna in the cans that many of us buy on a regular basis.
On March 17, these migrant fishers are taking their fight directly to the Boston Seafood Expo, demanding that the seafood industry take immediate action to address this extreme abuse. It's time for the industry to prioritize the health and safety of fishers and uphold their labor rights. Enough is enough! Together we can use our power as unions, community allies and consumers in the U.S. to stand with these workers who are organizing against all odds.
Labor Notes Educators Workshop: Organizing to Protect Immigrant Rights & Public Education
Tuesday, March 18 | 7:30 - 9 PM | Online
The Trump Administration has made it crystal clear that it wants to destroy the U.S. education system by exerting control through fear and attacks on both educators and students.
We want to use this workshop as an opportunity to come together as organizers and dig into specific actions we can take, not only to fight and defend against the attacks, but to take control of what education can be in the U.S.
Specifically, we’ll hear two examples of how educators are preparing for and organizing against these attacks in the area of Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, and then we’ll start planning how we can start building the fight in our backyards.
Labor Notes Troublemakers School in New York City
Saturday, March 29 | 9 AM - 3:30 PM | New Design High School, New York, NY
In less than two months, union activists from across NYC and beyond will get together to strategize, share skills, and learn ways to organize to win. Sharpen your union skills. Share strategies. Become a more educated troublemaker! Join hundreds of labor activists for this one-day conference with workshops including beating apathy, assertive grievance handling, running effective meetings, new organizing, first contracts, and more. Registration is $40 and includes lunch.
Cornell Strategic Corporate Research Summer School
June 22-27, 2025 | Ithaca, NY | Apply by May 1
The AFL-CIO and Cornell University are sponsoring a Strategic Corporate Research Summer School on June 22-27, 2025. The application deadline is May 1. The course is designed for students and others who want to make corporations accountable by working as researchers in unions and social change organizations. The course offers a regular track and an advanced track with an additional research and writing requirement. It is open to individuals applying on their own and to individuals sponsored by unions and other organizations. Scholarships are available to non-sponsored individuals who qualify. Inquire if interested in obtaining course credit. For more info, email scrsummer@cornell.edu or visit the course website.
2025 Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Convention
May 20-26, 2025 | Lake Buena Vista, Florida
The 54th International Convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) will be held May 20-26, 2025, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The theme for this year’s CBTU Convention is “Preserving and Building on Our Legacy: Unbought, Unbowed, Unstoppable.”
For additional information on the Convention program schedule and to download registration material, visit convention.cbtu.info. Please note that 2025 CBTU dues must be paid by mid-April to register as a delegate. If interested in attending, contact your local union.
National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education Conference
March 23-25, 2025 | New York, NY
The National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions, Hunter College, City University of New York will hold its 52nd annual national conference on March 23-25, 2025 in New York City with the theme Unity in Defense of Higher Education and Collective Bargaining. See the conference schedule and register online. Contact Alexi Shalom at ashalom@uaw.net for discounted registration rates: $80 for adjuncts and $55 for student workers.
Union Hiring Hall
- SEIU Local 509 | Director, Member Action Resource Center | Marlborough, MA
- SEIU Local 509 | Deputy Communications Director | Marlborough, MA
- SEIU Local 32BJ | Higher Education Division Supervisor | Boston, MA
- MIT Graduate Student Union - UE Local 256 | Staff Organizer | Cambridge, MA
- South Bay Youth Changemakers | Lead Youth Organizer | Oakland, CA
- International UAW | Communications Campaigner | Detroit, MI
- International UAW | Financial Strategist | Detroit, MI
- International UAW | Director, Research Department | Detroit, MI
- International UAW | Director, Benefits & Pensions Department | Detroit, MI
- Workplace Justice Lab @ Rutgers University | Managing Director | New Brunswick, NJ
UPCOMING EVENTS
2025 UAW Financial Officers Conference
March 9-14, 2025 | Atlanta, GA
2025 UAW Women in Leadership Conference
April 3 - 6, 2025 | Ottawa, IL
2025 UAW Health & Safety Conference
April 27 - May 2 | Black Lake, MI
UAW Bargaining Boot Camp Conference
May 4-9 | Black Lake, MI
UAW Education Committees Conference
May 18-23 | Black Lake, MI
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Convention
May 20-26 | Orlando, FL
Higher Education Council Meeting
June 21-22 | Pico Rivera, CA
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