UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: January 2

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dear fellow members,

2026 will be a historic year for UAW members across the country. In February, our biannual national CAP conference will take place in DC, followed by the quadrennial UAW Constitutional Convention in Detroit in June. New and experienced leaders alike will get the chance to (re)learn the tools of their office at the Financial Officers Conference in late February and at sectoral conferences and council meetings through the spring and summer. This fall, the International UAW will hold the second-ever direct elections for International Executive Board officers, which happen every four years. Please take a moment to update your contact information at myinfo.uaw.org and with your local union to ensure that you stay informed.

Here in Region 9A, our fights continue every day. On top of dozens of ongoing contract campaigns in higher ed, auto dealerships, legal services, and more, many locals will return to the bargaining table this year including Local 3999 at Bath Iron Works, Local 2121 at Foxwoods Casino, Local 405 at Triumph Engine, Local 2377 at the City of Stamford, and Local 4100 at Columbia University. Building on our successes in 2025, our regional and international staff are ready to support members and locals in winning the strongest contracts possible in 2026 and beyond. Be on the lookout for regional trainings, conferences, and events announced through our newsletter and social media. 

As the region constantly raising the bar for new organizing in the UAW, we’re especially excited to kick off the new year with nearly 1,000 workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art voting to join Local 2110 on January 13 and 15. UAW members know that our union fights for everyone, not just ourselves—and there is no better way to do that than by growing our union and bringing new workers into our movement.

Against extreme corporate greed and political corruption that threatens everything that we fight for in our union, I find hope every day in the work we do together. As our UAW-endorsed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in his inauguration speech yesterday, “The work continues, the work endures—the work, my friends, has only just begun.”

In solidarity,
Brandon Mancilla
UAW Region 9A Director

LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES

Local 2325: CAMBA IT Workers Continue Strike into 2026

IT workers at CAMBA, Inc. in New York City are continuing their strike into the new year to demand fair wages, dignity, and respect for the vital work they do. On November 5, workers were forced to walk out after CAMBA rejected modest, common-sense proposals: living wages for administrative assistants, annual cost-of-living increases, and a fair multi-year contract.

Since then, CAMBA management has flouted the union's demands to return to the negotiation table, and unfairly conditioned further bargaining on the union's withdrawal of their ULP and acceptance of the poverty wage proposal the union already rejected.

The small-but-mighty CAMBA IT Workers Union is on indefinite strike until they reach a fair deal. Union workers can support their fight by joining a picket or phone bank next week and donating to striking workers' hardship fund.

Local 7902: Members Fight to Kill the Cuts at The New School

Local 7902 president Jaclyn Lovell appeared on What’s Going On with Bob Hennelly on WBAI radio to talk about the ongoing crisis at The New School. Deep and widespread cuts planned in the coming weeks by the school’s administration to fill a $48 million budget hole has spurred Local 7902 members to take action. Sign the letter urging The New School administrators to stop the cuts!

Local 2110: Met Museum Workers Building Momentum for This Month’s Union Vote

Later this month, 900 workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art will vote to join UAW Local 2110, making this New York City's largest new union election so far in 2026. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Comptroller Mark Levine, and dozens of other municipal and state officials have already signed a letter in support of the Met Museum workers’ unionization efforts. Follow the Met Union on Instagram for the latest updates on their election!

Support a Fair and Equitable Contract for Square One Teachers and Staff

Local 2322 members who are teachers and staff at Square One in Springfield, Massachusetts, are incredibly passionate and dedicated to providing quality care and learning for the families in their community. The Square One union began contract negotiations in March with a desire to negotiate terms that would allow them to continue this work and serve the community they care so deeply about.

Currently, nearly all Square One employees make below the living wage of $22.90 per hour as determined by the MIT Living Wage Calculator for a single person with no children or dependents. The current proposal by Square One management would still leave the majority of teachers and staff well below a living wage, with the cost of living likely to increase each year. Union members face housing and food insecurity, difficult financial choices between the necessities each month, and now, given their proposal, an uncertain future at Square One.

Add your name to the union’s petition calling on Square One management to provide a living wage to union members, be transparent about the organization’s finances, respect staff seniority, and invest in teachers and staff.

FROM REGION 9A

Sign up for LSAT Prep for UAW Members in Spring 2026 in NYC
Tuesdays, February 3 - March 24, 2026 | Sign up by January 10

The UAW Region 9A Workforce Training Center is excited to release the course offering for Spring 2026. This 8-week intensive LSAT prep course is intended for members and their families who plan to attend law school.

When offered by for-profit institutions, these courses can cost students $2,000 or more—but through the Workforce Training Center, you will have the opportunity to take this course for free with other UAW members.

Session B will be held in New York City on Tuesdays from 6 - 9 PM beginning February 3 and ending March 24. Session C of this course will be held April - May 2026. Register by January 10 to join!

Higher Ed Labor United Northeast Regional Bargaining Summit
January 9-10, 2026 | UMass Amherst, Amherst, MA | Register by December 15

Join us in January in Amherst for HELU’s first Northeast Regional Higher Education Bargaining Summit. In the Northeast, where we have deep collective bargaining traditions, we have an opportunity to learn from each other and build power to fight for our shared goals and values. This Bargaining Summit brings together higher ed unions from across the northeast to build a common agenda for our region–to set new floors on wages, working conditions, and quality education.

Learn from one another’s experiences, with time dedicated to learning from others across the full range of job categories and institutions, including community colleges, 4-year universities, and research institutions. There will be breakouts on wages, workload, job security, safety, and more. Together, we’ll start developing a shared bargaining platform — common goals and demands that we can fight for collectively, strengthening our voice across states and across sectors.

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)

New York: Support the Empire Biomedical Research Institute (EBRI)

Take 2 minutes now to send a letter to Gov. Hochul and New York state legislators to support including investment in biomedical research in the 2027 Executive Budget. The Empire Biomedical Research Institute would fund life-saving scientific research in New York after over a year in which the Trump administration has attacked science through devastating cuts—affecting thousands of UAW members who work in scientific research and advancement.

NYC CAP in the News: Statewide Pre-K, Mayoral Appointments

Local 2325 unit chair and NYC CAP Council chair Jane Fox authored an op-ed for the Hudson Valley’s Journal News advocating for universal access to pre-K and 3-K statewide. She wrote: “Gov. Kathy Hochul has made it clear that universal child care is going to be a priority of hers during the 2026 Legislative Session. That’s why New Yorkers United for Child Care and the UAW have teamed up to lay out the steps the state can take to make 3-K and pre-K universal in just three years. By creating a statewide requirement for all school districts to administer 3-K and pre-K, increasing the per-child funding allocation, paying providers what they deserve, and investing in preschool infrastructure, the state can save families $4 billion annually.”

Earlier this week, Emmy Liss, who authored UAW’s joint childcare report with New Yorkers United for Child Care, was named as director of the city’s child care office. And yesterday, NYC Mayor Mamdani announced his appointment of UAW Local 7902 member Cea Weaver to serve as head of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants. Congratulations to Cea—her leadership in the housing rights movement for years has prepared her to now fight for all working class tenants from City Hall.

Maine AFL-CIO Town Hall with Gubernatorial Candidate Troy Jackson
Sunday, January 11 | 3 - 5 PM | Teamsters Local 340, South Portland, ME

The Maine AFL-CIO, Southern Maine Labor Council, and other unions are hosting a town hall with UAW Local 2320 member Troy Jackson, our endorsed candidate for Governor. This will be a participatory and fun event and food will be provided. This is a great opportunity to meet Troy, ask questions, and learn about why we have endorsed him to be our next Governor!

For the past two decades, no one has done more to support unions and workers in Maine than Troy Jackson. Troy has consistently shown up on picket lines, pushed pro-labor legislation forward and helped workers organize. Troy has a stellar record of legislative accomplishments including strengthening collective bargaining rights, winning free school lunches, making childcare more affordable, taking on big Pharma and lots more. Troy has also  won in a tough district and can build a broad working class coalition with the best shot to win the general election.

Register for UAW’s 2026 National CAP Conference: Building Power for the Working Class
February 8-11, 2026 | Washington, DC

We are in a vital moment for the labor movement and for our country. We are facing unprecedented attacks on working families and unions. The world's richest 1% own more than the bottom 95% combined. Corporations are raking in record profits, while workers get left behind. Billionaires are doing everything they can to divide workers and pit us against one another.

Our union, the UAW, must lead if we have any shot at uniting and winning for the working class. This year's CAP Conference is focused on building our political muscle to win at the bargaining table, in the legislative halls and at the ballot box, focused on our core issues: wages, healthcare, retirement, and getting our time back. The conference will showcase speakers who are leading in their communities, bold legislative solutions for a working-class agenda, and workshops that build the skills necessary to build political power from the ground up. Learn more and contact your local leadership or CAP Council to attend!

FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW

Update Your Membership Records with the International UAW

The International UAW is committed to improving our member records. This effort is led by the UAW Membership Department. Maintaining accurate member records allows the UAW to effectively represent and communicate with active and retired members, provide relevant educational and training opportunities, better allocate resources, deliver targeted support, and facilitate International and local union elections.

Please take a moment to enter your contact information by completing the quick online form available at myinfo.uaw.org. Updating your mailing address now will help ensure that you receive a ballot to vote in the 2026 UAW International Officer Election, as well as other important communications and union updates in a timely manner. Download a flyer to share with your fellow members.

Register for the 2026 Financial Officers Conference
February 22-27, 2026 | New Orleans, LA | Register by January 17

The Secretary-Treasurer’s office will hold the annual Financial Officers’ Conference in February 2026 in New Orleans. Participants will have an opportunity to attend core classes that offer in-depth training and resources specific to the duties of their elected position. These classes provide extensive training on targeted topics like step-by-step instructions for completing and electronically filing LM and 990 forms, administrative roles and responsibilities, and trustee training. Plenary sessions will cover topics of interest to all participants. Local unions responding early with a completed registration form and non-refundable fees will have the best chance of being placed in their workshops of choice before capacity is reached. Be sure to register early!

SOLIDARITY REQUESTS

AFL-CIO Frontline Solidarity: A Mass Deportation Fight-Back Toolkit

The AFL-CIO released a new edition of Frontline Solidarity: A Mass Deportation Fight-Back Toolkit for Union Activists and Organizers, which is an educational resource to fight back against the mass deportation agenda impacting workers. Union activists and organizers can request a copy of the toolkit, which includes know your rights materials, expanded employer engagement guidance, and updates on travel, termination of status, and detention.

Maine AFL-CIO Worker Candidate Training
January 24-25, 2026 | Augusta, ME

Have you ever considered running for public office someday? Do you want to see more working class people in Augusta, on town council, or school board? Would you like to help others with their campaigns? Come to the Maine AFL-CIO’s 2026 Worker Candidate Training in January in Augusta!

To win important labor victories like stronger collective bargaining rights, living wages, tax fairness, affordable housing, child care and health care, we need more union members and working-class allies making the decisions that affect us all. We know that union members make great candidates and will often carry labor's vision into elected office. 

At our Worker Candidate Training we'll spend two days going over everything you need to know to run a campaign for elected office. You’ll learn how to create a campaign plan, knock on doors, speak in public, qualify for Clean Elections funding, develop a message, build a team of volunteers, and other key aspects of campaigning. You can attend if you are interested in running for office, learning more or helping out on campaigns.

Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) in the Winter
Saturday, March 14 | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Worcester, MA

The Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) provides education, training and support to help women become ever more effective organizers and leaders: in their unions and the labor movement as a whole; in the political arena and within their communities.

Global Labor Justice Campaign for #JusticeForPushpa

Sri Lankan garment worker, Paramsivam Pushpalatha, died in October after a Brandix factory that supplies for Victoria’s Secret refused her request to leave a shift early to seek medical attention. Since her death, Brandix has intimidated and threatened Pushpalatha’s family, coworkers, and union organizers. International labor rights advocates are demanding that Brandix’s cover-up must end immediately. Learn more from Global Labor Justice about #JusticeForPushpa.

Union Hiring Hall

• NOLSW Local 2320 | West Coast Servicing Representative | CA, NM, WA, CO, NV
• UAW International Union | International Representative, CAP Dept. | Washington, DC
• UAW International Union | Assistant Director, CAP Dept. | Washington, DC
• New Yorkers United for Child Care | Organizer | Manhattan & Bronx, NY
• New Yorkers United for Child Care | Communications Director | New York, NY
• Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union | Organizer | Newark or New Brunswick, NJ
• Emergency Campaign to Support Higher Education | National Campaign Director
• Emergency Campaign to Support Higher Education | National Organizing Director

UPCOMING EVENTS

2026 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference
January 15-18, 2026 | Baltimore, MD

UAW National CAP Conference: Building Power for the Working Class
February 8-11, 2026 | Washington Hilton, Washington, DC

2026 Financial Officers Conference
February 22-27, 2026 | New Orleans, LA