UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: May 1

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MAY DAY 2026

May Day is our day! Join UAW members across Region 9A and tens of thousands of other workers as we come together today for International Workers' Day.

In Connecticut, join the CT for All Coalition for rallies in Hartford, New Haven, and Willimantic.
In Boston, the Hands Off Higher Ed Coalition is meeting up at the Boston Common Rally at 4:30 PM, followed by a post-rally social with UAW members.
In western Massachusetts, join Local 2322 and the Western Mass Area Labor Federation for a rally in Holyoke at 4:30 PM.
In New York City, our locals are meeting up at 4 PM to join unions from all over the city for a march and rally in Foley Square.
In Maine, the Western Maine Labor Council will celebrate the restoration and rededication of the Local 14 Strike Mural.
In Puerto Rico, UAW members rallied at the Plaza Las Américas this morning against ten years of La Junta’s imposed austerity.

Today in honor of May Day, UAW President Shawn Fain released a new video spotlighting Local 2110 member Claire Valdez’s campaign for Congress.

“From the picket line to the ballot box, a united working class is the best defense against the billionaire class’s race to the bottom,” he said. “That’s what May Day is all about, and that’s why our union is backing UAW member Claire Valdez for Congress. If we want results for the working class, we need to elect members of the working class.”

On Saturday, May 2, join fellow UAW members for a May Day rally and canvass with Labor for Claire in Astoria! We’ll have conversations with neighbors about Claire and her commitment to delivering across workers' rights, housing, and healthcare. You’ll also have the opportunity to get your own UAW for Claire signs and swag.

LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES

Local 5118: HGSU Strikes for Second Week, Pushes to Keep ICE Off Campus

After 14 months of contract negotiations and nearly a year without an active contract, over 4,000 workers represented by the Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU-UAW Local 5118) launched a strike now on its second week. Core issues at the bargaining table include living wages, real recourse for harassment and discrimination, and protections for international workers on campus.

Last June, HGSU proposed an article in contract negotiations calling on Harvard to safeguard I-9 forms, fund legal counsel for its workers, and prevent ICE agents from entering non-public campus spaces without a valid judicial warrant. The University of California has maintained similar provisions governing ICE interactions for nearly a decade. But instead, Harvard finally responded to the article after 10 months—only to strike out almost every single line detailing those protections.

Since the start of the strike, HGSU has received support from other unions including UNITE HERE, SEIU, IBEW, and Teamsters, as well as 34 elected officials who signed an open letter urging the employer to reach fair contracts with both HGSU and the Harvard Academic Workers (HAW-UAW). Follow @hgsuuaw on Instagram for the latest updates on how to support the strike!

Local 2377: Members Volunteer for ARI CT’s Walk for Independence

A great BIG thank you to all the UAW Members that took time out on a rainy Sunday morning April 26, 2026, to volunteer for the ARI Connecticut’s 20th Annual Walk for Independence.

Members assembled from 7:30 AM to lend support to various capacities; from handing out tee shirts, to selling raffle tickets, food prep/services, setting up everything, photography, and any other duties they were assigned, not to mention participating in the walk. It was truly rewarding to see the public service volunteer activities our members gave.

The cadre included our president Dr. Renford Whynes, UAW Public Relations Coordinator Norma Jarrett; Food & beverage coordinator Eden Huang, Vice President Arnold Knittle, Financial Secretary Gennaro Catino, Our Steward Gamalier Feliciano, our wonderful members – Bridget Patterson, Mary Janocha, Winsome Bogle, Lyudmila Fuks, Danile Deboo and Dakota Verses. Special thanks to the spouses that assisted with volunteer efforts.

In his e-mail to our president and myself this morning; Mr. Gerard Gasparino stated… I Can’t thank you and the employees of the City of Stamford UAW Union enough for your help yesterday! This was the most successful walk to date, and the group went above and beyond any expectations to make this a great event!

More Region 9A Locals in the News

“The Harvard Academic Workers-UAW filed an unfair labor practice charge Wednesday, accusing the University of illegally increasing teaching workloads by expanding class sizes in its Expository Writing program without bargaining. [...] Under the NLRA, employers must maintain existing working conditions while negotiating a first contract. HAW-UAW, which represents more than 2,600 non-tenure-track faculty and postdoctoral researchers, has been bargaining with the University since September 2024 but has yet to reach an agreement.”

Harvard Crimson: HAW Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against Harvard, Cites Improper Change to Expos Class Sizes (April 30)

“When deficits occur, the administrative class does not bear the burden. Faculty and students do. At the New School, for instance, where adjunct instructors already make up roughly 90% of the teaching workforce, the president (who makes more than $1 million a year) and senior administration refused to cut their salaries while steadfastly eliminating full-time and part-time faculty lines.”

Hyperallergic: The Death of the Art School (April 27)

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)

UAW Members Running for Office Publish May Day Reflections

“On Friday, more than 3,000 May Day protests will take place across the United States – more than double last year’s number,” Assembly Member and UAW Local 2110 member Claire Valdez wrote in an op-ed published today in The Guardian commemorating May Day. “Workers, students and families are calling for a strike: no school, no work, no shopping and an end to billionaire rule. I’m headed to the streets with members of my own union, the United Auto Workers, in New York City.”

In The Indypendent, UAW Local 2325 member Conrad Blackburn, running for the New York State Assembly, wrote about the rich history of labor leaders from Harlem. “The pathway of Black labor and Black organizing has always stopped and started like those stately Pullman cars of our past, again and again returning to Harlem as a place of vision and action,” he wrote. “And as a State Assembly candidate for Harlem’s District 70, I would be remiss if I did not take the time to say thank you to the men, the women, and the queer pioneers.”

Canvass and Petition for UAW Members Darializa and Conrad in Harlem
Sunday, May 3 | 1 - 4 PM | Harlem, New York

Join us to talk to our neighbors in NY-13 and AD-70 about our UAW members Darializa Avila Chevalier and Conrad Blackburn running for U.S. Congress and New York State Assembly!

In the wealthiest city, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, working people shouldn't have to struggle for a dignified life. As union members, Daraliza and Conrad are fighting to tax the rich and divest from the corporations profiteering from wars and exploitation to invest in our communities and our children.

No experience is needed. All of our canvasses will begin with a training, and you’ll always have the option to pair up. Bring a friend (or make a new one)!

Good Jobs and Inclusive Growth: The Fight for A People’s Policy and New York City
Saturday, May 2 | 8:30 AM - 6:30 PM | 63 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY

The Zohran Mamdani administration has reinvigorated the demand for a city centered on affordability, focusing on a broad swathe of platforms aimed at achieving affordable housing, accessible public transit, food security, and universal childcare.

This conference invites participants to interrogate the scope, role, and nature of what public resources can provide, especially considering what a people-oriented policy framework can do for the city economically. Read the complete program, with panels featuring former UAW Local 7902 member Cea Weaver and Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla.

The conference is free with registration. Presented by the Economics Department at The New School for Social Research, with support from Catalyst, The Center for New York City Affairs, UAW Local 7902, and UAW Region 9A.

FROM REGION 9A

Region 9A Labor History Event at NYU’s Tamiment Library
Thursday, May 14 | 5:30 - 7:15 PM | New York, NY

Many of the UAW locals in NYC have a proud history dating back to the 1930s when industrial unionism built a strong presence combining militant tactics, anti-racist politics, and wall-to-wall organizing. This history is not lost to us but still preserved in the archives of these locals and their leaders through photographs, documents, correspondence and more—much of which can be found in NYU's Tamiment Library, which holds rich collections relating to labor and social history, the history of the Left, the place of workers in American society, and the evolution of labor law.

Join us at the Tamiment Library to explore some of our Region’s labor history through the archives left by the NYC UAW locals and local leaders that came before us from the 1930s to present day! We will be guided by NYU Librarian Susan McElrath. Some of the archives we hope to take a look at include records covering ALAA - UAW Local 2325, LSSA - UAW Local 2320, UAW Local 259, UAW Local 2110 campaigns at NYU GSOC, MoMA, and more, District 65, and other UAW historical records. Registration is required in advance.

Enroll in Labor Studies at CUNY with Fellow UAW Members This Fall
Sign up by May 1 | August 28 - December 1 | New York, NY

For the past few semesters, UAW Region 9A has been partnering with the City University of New York School of Labor & Urban Studies to offer courses. We are excited to offer placement in a variety of labor studies courses this fall, including U.S. Labor History, New Directions in Collective Bargaining, Power & Strategy, and Perspectives in the Labor Movement.

Integrated into the course will be both UAW members and members from other unions and the labor movement. We are offering both undergraduate and graduate versions of the class on different nights for the fall 2026 semester. We ask that only members who want to enroll fill out the form to sign up. Please contact UAW Region 9A Education Rep Alexi Shalom at ashalom@uaw.net with any questions.

Applications for the 2026 Richard 'Dik' Days Scholarship Now Available
Apply by May 8

The Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the availability of the 2026 Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship application. Connecticut graduating high school seniors attending college full-time in the fall and current full-time undergraduate students are eligible to apply. Three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded this year. The application deadline is May 8, 2026.

The Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship Fund is an initiative formed through collaboration between the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Connecticut Chapter, UAW Region 9A and the Days Family. 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. Read more about Brother Days and learn more about the scholarship on the Region 9A website.

FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW

UAW Higher Education Council Virtual Meeting
May 8-9, 2026 | Elect delegates by April 15 | Online

Last year, over 300 UAW members in the Higher Ed sector gathered in Pico Rivera, California, for the first meeting of the UAW’s Higher Education Council. We discussed our “Kill the Cuts” campaign to protect and increase federal funding for science, and we strategized how to fight back against further attacks on free speech, the rights of workers in all immigration statuses, and job security at our local institutions.

While we’ve had many wins in 2025, we know the fight isn’t over. For 2026, the Higher Education Council will meet virtually. Learn more and register to attend.

2026 UAW Constitutional Convention
June 15-18 | Detroit, MI | Elect delegates by May 16

The 2026 UAW Constitutional Convention (ConCon) is on June 15-18, 2026, in Detroit! ConCon is at the heart of our democratic processes as a union. It will bring together over 1,000 UAW delegates from across the country to debate and pass resolutions on our priorities for the upcoming years, consider amendments to the UAW Constitution, and nominate candidates for the International Executive Board elections.

Each Local will be apportioned a certain number of delegates to represent you at the Convention. Delegates must be democratically elected. Refer to the UAW Constitution, Local Union Election Guide, and your Local Union Bylaws for full election process requirements. The deadline for delegate elections this year is May 16, 2026.

Apply Now for the 2026 Family Scholarship at Black Lake
July 12-16 | Onaway, MI | Apply by June 1

Since 1970, thousands of UAW members and their families have participated in the Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center Scholarship Program—changing their lives and those of their loved ones forever!

Located in scenic Onaway, Michigan, on Black Lake, the Center was envisioned by legendary UAW President Walter Reuther to be a place where UAW members and their families could come together to learn and relax.

Through educational and recreational activities, the Family Scholarship Program provides an opportunity for adults and children to learn and think about how our union empowers us to change our workplaces and communities for ourselves and future generations.

Learn more and apply for the Family Scholarship Program today!

Registration Now Open: UAW Civil & Human Rights Conference
August 23 - 28 | Onaway, MI

The dates for the 40th Annual UAW Civil and Human Rights Conference are August 23-28 at the Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center. The theme for this year is “Our Legacy, Our Fight, Our Generation’s Defining Moment: Celebrating Our 40th Civil and Human Rights Conference.” See the call letter for more information.

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.

SOLIDARITY REQUESTS

Maine AFL-CIO Summer Institute 2026
August 5-6 | Orono, ME
We have an exciting program in the works for this year's Labor Summer Institute on August 5-6, 2026 at the University of Maine in Orono! Labor Summer Institute is a two-day event for union members to learn and share skills and information important to building our labor movement. The Summer Institute is held at the University of Maine with the Bureau of Labor Education & Scontras Labor Center. Stay tuned for more details on registration and hotel rates. FMI: Sarah, sarah@maineaflcio.org or 207-356-7322.

Apply to the UCLA Strategic Labor Research Conference
August 7-9 | Los Angeles, CA | Apply by May 15
We are now accepting applications for the 2026 Strategic Labor Research Conference. The application portal will be open until May 15 and accepted applicants will be notified by June 5. Hosted by the UCLA Department of Labor Studies, the UCLA Strategic Labor Research Conference is an annual event that includes over 25 workshops and plenary sessions on applied skills and discussions about strategic campaigns designed for new and experienced labor and allied researchers. Dynamic keynote speakers and a variety of exciting training sessions will help strengthen and add new skills to your research repertoires. Come join labor movement researchers in discussions about the future of research and organizing!

Union Hiring Hall

New York State Nurses Association | Area Director | New York, NY
SEIU Committee of Interns & Residents | Worksite Organizer | Providence, RI
Muslim Advocates | Senior Staff Attorney | New York, NY
Community Labor United | Senior Researcher | Boston, MA
Community Labor United | Organizing Director | Boston, MA
Community Labor United | Development Director | Boston, MA
NY United for Child Care | Director of Organizing and Campaigns | New York, NY

UPCOMING EVENTS

UAW Higher Education Council Virtual Meeting
May 8-9 | Virtual

Region 9A Labor History Event at NYU’s Tamiment Library
Thursday, May 14 | 5:30 - 7:15 PM | New York, NY

55th International Convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
May 20-24 | Atlanta, GA

Pride at Work Membership Convention
June 1 - 4 | Minneapolis, MN

39th Constitutional Convention
June 15-18 | Detroit, MI

Family Scholarship at Black Lake
July 12-16 | Onaway, MI

UAW Veterans Conference
August 9-14 | Onaway, MI

UAW Civil & Human Rights Conference
August 23 - 28 | Onaway, MI

UAW Bargaining & Contract Enforcement Bootcamp
September 20 - 25 | Onaway, MI

UAW Member Mobilization Institute
September 27 - October 2 | Onaway, MI