Region 9A News

UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: January 9

Catherine Graugard
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UAW & NY ASSEMBLY MEMBER CLAIRE VALDEZ

LAUNCHES RUN FOR CONGRESS IN NYC

 

zohran_shawn_claire_brandon

Today, UAW President Shawn Fain and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined Assembly Member Claire Valdez to launch her UAW-endorsed campaign for Congress in New York’s 7th Congressional District spanning North Brooklyn and Western Queens.

Mayor Mamdani said Claire’s experience as a member of UAW Local 2110 would be valuable in Washington. “I truly believe that we need a labor organizer in Congress,” he said. “We need someone who will put forward that same agenda for the working class, whether it's legislation to make it easier to join a union or to fight for Medicare for All.”

“Corporations and billionaires are doing everything they can to crush the working class. The only way we can take on the crises in front of us is if we have more workers representing us in the halls of power,” said President Fain. “That is why I am proud to stand with UAW member Claire Valdez in her run for Congress. Claire will fight like hell for dignity, fairness, and justice for all workers. This is exactly how the labor movement can fight back against corporate greed and inequality: by electing more of our own. UAW is excited to send Claire to Congress to deliver for the working class.”

Read more about Claire’s campaign, and get involved at clairevaldezforcongress.com.

LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES

 

Local 2325: CAMBA IT Workers Emergency Rally Against Bargaining Unit Elimination
Thursday, January 15 | 1 PM | New York City Hall

CAMBA IT Day 44

CAMBA just announced plans to eliminate its entire IT department—including workers who have been on strike for over eight weeks. This is blatant retaliation against workers who organized for dignity, fair pay, and a voice on the job.

For decades, CAMBA’s IT workers have kept programs running for the very community CAMBA claims to serve. Now management wants to replace longtime Brooklyn workers with an outside contractor rather than bargain in good faith. Workers are filing an Unfair Labor Practice and fighting back together.

If you’re outraged, here’s how you can help right now:

Solidarity is stronger than retaliation. UAW members stand with CAMBA IT workers!

Local 259: Tasca Audi Volkswagen Technicians Vote Yes to Unionize

Congratulations to UAW Local 259's newest members at Tasca Audi Volkswagen in Mohegan Lake, NY! On January 7, following another instance of unlawful union busting by management, the majority of technicians at this dealership voted to join Local 259.

These technicians sought to form their union to oppose the loss of their 40-hour weekly guarantee, high healthcare costs, and insufficient respect from management for their expertise. In response, Tasca led an anti-union campaign by using economic and psychological pressure on employees to vote no. The workers beat back the boss's union busting, and we stand with them in their fight for affordable health care, fair working hours, and respect on the job.

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)

 

UAW Members in NYC Endorse Brad Lander for Congress

Brad Lander

This week, UAW Region 9A announced our endorsement of Brad Lander for Congress in New York’s 10th Congressional District, citing his decades-long record of standing with workers. In the face of a changing economy, Lander has worked exhaustively to deliver some of New York City’s strongest worker protections. In the City Council, Lander authored and passed legislation guaranteeing a living wage for Uber drivers and deliveristas, required stable schedules for fast food and retail workers, and protected freelancers from wage theft. 

“UAW Region 9A is excited to endorse Brad Lander for Congress. We have known and worked with Brad for years and know he walks the walk. In every role he’s served, he’s called out bad bosses, walked picket lines with all our locals, and leveraged the tools of his office to fight for workers. From housing to workers rights, we know Brad will be a steadfast champion for working people in Congress,” said Brandon Mancilla, UAW Region 9A Director.

Read more about our endorsement, and get involved at bradlanderforcongress.com

Following UAW’s Advocacy, Mamdani & Hochul Announce Free Child Care Statewide

NYC Childcare

Following months of advocacy by UAW members, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani today announced an unprecedented investment with the goal of expanding child care to all 4-year-olds in New York State by the fall of 2028.

In New York City specifically, Governor Hochul also committed to help Mayor Mamdani launch a new 2-Care program to provide free child care for 2-year-olds while strengthening the city’s existing near-universal pre-K and 3-K programs to serve all families. The governor has committed state dollars to fund the first two years of the program, beginning with 2,000 toddlers in high-needs areas this fall before expanding to the rest of the city.

In recent months, UAW members have taken action to expand universal child care across the state. The New York State CAP Council, composed of local unions from Region 9A and Region 9 (representing Western and Central New York), made winning statewide universal childcare our priority for the 2026 legislative session. Read more about yesterday’s announcement, where UAW members celebrated an enormous victory for New York’s working class families.

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

Fund NY Science

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.

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 must lead if we have any shot at uniting and winning for the working class. This year's 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 REGION 9A

 

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

LSAT Prep - Spring 2026

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!

ICE Out for Good Rallies Across Our Region

ICE Out for Good

From Minneapolis to Caracas, the Trump administration is killing people in order to entrench rule by bullies for the benefit of billionaires. Our elected representatives must do their duty to stop this regime’s lethal attacks on our families and communities here and abroad.

In response, communities are organizing ICE Out for Good events across the country this weekend. Below are some of the rallies happening in our region—find more near you.

Solidarity with NYSNA Nurses on Strike Next Week

NYSNA

New York State Nurses Association members at various hospitals in Manhattan and the Bronx are set to strike as soon as Monday, January 12. Help support NYSNA registered nurses in their fight to secure health care, safe staffing enforcement, and fair wages by joining them on the picket line or serving as a legal observer next week.

Both attorneys and non-attorneys are eligible to volunteer as legal observers. Training will be conducted virtually on Sunday, January 11 at 6 PM—sign up to volunteer today! Follow NYSNA on Instagram for the latest updates on the strike.

FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW

 

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!

Update Your Membership Records with the International UAW

Membership Department flyer

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.

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.

ALE Save Our Jobs Campaign: Support City Council Staffers

The Association of Legislative Employees (ALE) is raising funds to support any City Council staff that lose their jobs during the 60-day reorganization period. ALE is the largest union of legislative staffers in the United States. ALE is calling on all Council Members to honor due process and just cause protections during the upcoming January reorganization period. This provision was intended for limited administrative restructuring, not mass layoffs or punitive action. Without firm commitments from Council leadership, the reorganization period could be misused to target workers for union activity, filing grievances or EEO complaints or raising concerns about workplace conditions. Reorganization is no excuse for retaliation.

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.

Union Hiring Hall

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