UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: May 15

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LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES

Join UAW Researchers for a New York City-Wide Day of Action
Wednesday, May 20 | 12 PM | New York City

Right now, thousands of unionized researchers across New York are bargaining new contracts. In the face of attacks on research funding, international researchers, and healthcare, it’s even more vital for us to fight for contracts that protect international workers, increase job security, and allow our members to focus on our critical work.

Researchers help deliver billions in grant funding and perform the groundbreaking research fundamental to our institutions’ missions. Unionized researchers have used our collective power to successfully fight to defend and increase research funding alongside research institutions. We've proven that a strong contract is a tool we can use to make our employers stronger, and to defend higher education and science.

Despite that, research institutions around the city are attempting to weaponize recent unprecedented attacks on research to justify weaker workplace protections and lower pay and benefits—threatening to undermine the high standard for researchers that we’ve fought for and won. On Wednesday, join our colleagues around the city as we call on research institutions to work with us and not against us by committing to fair contracts:

Massachusetts Runs on Research Virtual Town Hall
Thursday, May 28 | 3 PM | Online

For months, researchers across Massachusetts have been advocating for the passage of Governor Healey’s DRIVE Act to provide reliable, state-based funding for public research. Over 800 researchers and members of the public have signed onto our open letter in support of the DRIVE Act. We’ve made progress advancing the bill, which is now being reviewed by the House Ways & Means committee. This should be the final step before the bill can enter the House and Senate to be voted on.

In order to keep the DRIVE Act moving, we must continue to show legislators how urgent this funding is to continue producing the life-saving research we do in our labs. On Thursday, we will be holding a virtual town hall open to the public and state legislators at which researchers across the state will share stories about how federal funding cuts have impacted their work and why stable investment from Massachusetts in science is crucial to support the innovation and research field that undergirds our state’s economy.

State-level funding can’t wait. For over a year, we’ve faced funding instability at the federal level. Even now, the funding that has been allocated to NIH and NSF is being delayed and withheld from reaching labs. The more people who attend this town hall, the more clearly we will demonstrate to the legislature how much support there is behind the DRIVE Act.

Take action now to ensure that we can win this funding for our work:

RSVP to attend our virtual town hall on Thursday, May 28, at 3 PM.
Add your name to our open letter in support of the DRIVE Act!

UAW Stands in Solidarity with University of Puerto Rico Strikers

UAW local leaders in Puerto Rico showed up in solidarity with students on strike at the University of Puerto Rico. At the beginning of May, students across all 11 campuses of UPR began striking to demand the resignation of the university president over his administrative governance and proposed budget cuts.

The current strikes are part of a long history of student activism at UPR, including major strikes in 2010, 2017, and as far back as 1981. Students and workers stand united against the austerity imposed on Puerto Rico’s economy.

Local 5118: HGSU’s Strikes for Fourth Week, All Invited to Community Picket
Saturday, May 16 | 3 - 4:30 PM | Science Center Plaza, Cambridge, MA

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 fourth week. Core issues at the bargaining table include living wages, real recourse for harassment and discrimination, and protections for international workers on campus.

Join HGSU for a community picket tomorrow, and follow @hgsuuaw on Instagram for the latest updates on how to support the strike!

In the news:

Harvard Crimson: Grad Students Rally Outside Garber’s Home as Strike Enters Third Week (May 11)
Harvard Crimson: Dining Workers Rally Outside Smith Center After University Rejects Key Contract Proposals (May 14)

Local 2322: Square One Childcare Workers Union Set Strike Deadline for June 1

After 13 months of bargaining, Local 2322 members at Square One, a non-profit providing early education, care, and family support services in Springfield, MA, voted by a supermajority to authorize a strike (93%). Members have now set a strike deadline of June 1.

The primary issues are fair and equitable wages, paid leave allowance, and the ability to negotiate over changes to job descriptions. After organizing in 1985, this is the first time the Square One union has set a strike deadline. Add your name to the petition to support a fair and equitable contract for Square One teachers and staff!

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)

Launching Weekly Phone Banks for UAW-Endorsed Candidates
Wednesdays, 1-2 PM | Thursdays, 12-1 PM | Zoom

As our CAP Councils roll out endorsements across Region 9A, it’s time to get out the vote. Starting next week, we’ll be hosting two member-to-member phone banks each week to spread the word about our UAW-endorsed candidates.

On Wednesdays at 1 PM and Thursdays at noon, UAW members are invited to join us on Zoom to make phone calls to fellow members who vote in critical districts, starting with our New York City area candidates in advance of the Democratic primary on June 23.

Sign up to join us! And if you can’t make it at that time, you can phone bank on your own at another time that works for you.

Canvass for Evan MacKay for State Rep & Picket with HGSU
Saturday, May 16 | 12 PM & 3 PM | Cambridge, MA

Come out for a day of solidarity with fellow UAW members! Canvass for Evan MacKay in their run for the Massachusetts State House at 12 PM before heading to the Harvard Graduate Students Union picket line at 3 PM.

Evan MacKay is the former president of UAW Local 5118, a pro-democracy organizer, and a Harvard teaching fellow. Evan is running for state representative in the 25th Middlesex District to fight for a transparent, accountable government that works for the many, not the few.

Then head over to support the Harvard Graduate Students Union! HGSU is on strike as workers have been fighting for a new contract since February 2025. They are fighting for fair pay, better protections against harassment and discrimination, and rights for non-citizen workers.

More Canvasses for UAW-Endorsed Candidates

Join the Maine AFL-CIO to canvass for UAW member Troy Jackson ahead of the gubernatorial primary on June 9!
This Sunday, May 17, at 12 PM, join UAW members Darializa Chevalier running for U.S. Congress and Conrad Blackburn running for New York State Assembly for a joint canvass at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem.
On May 17, 20, and 24, Labor for Claire Valdez is canvassing in Greenpoint and Fort Greene.

Region 9A CAP in the News

“A group of 13 unions [including UAW] are pressuring New York City Council members not to override Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s veto of the controversial ‘educational facility buffer zone’ bill. [...] The letter argues that the bill – which would direct the NYPD to establish ‘security perimeters’ placing limits on protests outside educational facilities – would threaten New Yorkers’ freedom of speech and undermine labor organizing, in part because it defines ‘educational facilities’ far too broadly.”

City and State NY: Unions urge City Council not to override Mamdani’s ‘buffer zone’ veto (May 14)

“[Claire] Valdez was elected to represent New York Assembly District 37 in 2024. She previously worked as a union organizer. Valdez served on the bargaining committee of United Auto Workers Local 2110 at Columbia University and was elected unit chair in 2022.”

Ballotpedia: Four candidates are running in June 23 Democratic primary for New York’s 7th Congressional District (May 13)

FROM REGION 9A

How to Unite and Win at Work Training with EWOC
Tuesday, May 26 | 7 PM | St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 521 W 126th St, New York, NY

All workers deserve a union. We’re excited to partner with the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC) and offer our members introductory organizing workshops, so you can learn the skills you need to organize your coworkers and win improvements on the job.

Join us at EWOC’s “Unite & Win at Work" trainings taking place in neighborhoods across the city. You will learn from experienced labor organizers how to connect with your coworkers and win improvements at work. These trainings are sponsored by EWOC, NYC-DSA Labor Working Group, UAW Local 9A, OPEIU 153, Workers United NY-NJ, The NewsGuild-CWA, New York State Tenant Bloc, and Brandworkers.

UAW Region 9A Retired Workers Council Spring Meeting
Friday, May 29 | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM | Region 9A Office, Hartford, CT

Our retirees are the foundation of our union. Please join us in person in Hartford or virtually for our next Retired Workers Council meeting. The meeting will begin at 11:30 AM with lunch served afterwards.

Contact Aaron Eisenberg at aeisenberg@uaw.net for more information.

Join the Region 9A Dik Days Scholarship Committee for the Juneteenth Parade!
Saturday, June 20 | 10 AM | Bloomfield, CT

Every year UAW Region 9A joins the Dik Days Scholarship Committee to march in the Bloomfield Juneteenth Freedom Day Parade. We will show our support for the local community, the legacy of Juneteenth, and honor our three scholarship winners.

Please arrive at the First Cathedral at 10 AM to line up for the parade. After the parade, we will be heading to a local restaurant for a celebration luncheon for the scholarship winners at 1:30 PM. Please RSVP to join us in June!

UALE Northeast Summer School for Women in Unions
July 20 - 24 | New York, NY

The 49th Annual United Association for Union Educators (UALE) Northeast Summer School for Women in Unions and Worker Organizations will take place July 20–24, hosted by the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies in New York City. The theme of this year’s school is: Resist · Rebuild · Renew: Sowing Seeds of Solidarity.

The Women’s Summer School is a five-day program bringing together more than 150 rank-and-file members, staff, and officers of unions and worker organizations to develop leadership, build community, and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the labor movement. Sponsored by the United Association for Labor Educators, the Northeast Summer School rotates among host institutions across the region.

Learn more about the Summer School, and if interested in attending contact your local union.

Region 9A Building Our Power Leadership Series
July - December 2026

As part of our focus this year to equip local leaders with the tools necessary to win, Region 9A is excited to announce our Building our Power educational series, which will begin in July 2026. This program is specifically designed for busy local leaders who want to further their union leadership skills and build strong, militant, and effective unions.

The series will be composed of a small 10-15 person cohort across Region 9A who will meet virtually once a month. Participants will dive deep into collective bargaining, membership mobilization, and strike strategy. Together, we will learn to understand and assess the economic conditions of our industries and identify organizing and mobilization strategies that advance our struggles.

The first four sessions will be conducted once a month from July to September via Zoom on Tuesdays from 6-8 PM. Participants are required to commit to attend all sessions. The final session will be an all-day event in either the Hartford or NYC Regional Office, to be determined.

Please see the attached call letter for more information and apply by June 1. Space in this program is extremely limited and will be approved based on evaluation of application.

FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW

Region 9A Represents at Higher Education Council’s Annual Meeting

On May 8 and 9, the UAW Higher Education Council convened on Zoom for its annual meeting. UAW President Shawn Fain joined for the opening plenary to acknowledge the numerous wins in new organizing and contract campaigns over the past year, including the founding of two new locals in Region 9A: Local 3270 at Wellesley College and Local 7650 at the University of Maine.

Two panel discussions dug deeper into Higher Education wins, including how to organize and win strong contracts under the second Trump Administration, and how workers in New York and Massachusetts are pursuing state-level funding for scientific research. Over 100 attendees participated in organizing workshops focused on increasing local union membership, fighting grievances, and organizing international workers.

The Council meeting wrapped on Saturday afternoon with members working on industry standards in the Higher Education sub-councils: faculty, staff, student workers, and postdocs, and researchers. Along with Region 9A, members from Regions 1, 4, 6, 8, and 9 attended and participated in the Council meeting.

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!

Union Hall Arts Residency Program
August 10 - September 7 | Detroit, MI

The UAW Education Department is proud to support the UNITE HERE Education and Support Fund (501c3) and Talking Dolls Studio to pilot the Union Hall Arts Residency.

This four-week artist residency program will launch this summer in Detroit, Michigan. The program will bring together a talented cohort of 4-6 members of various unions to hone their artistic skills and unleash their creative expression to make art for our movement.

Visit the Union Hall Arts website for more details about this extraordinary opportunity: www.unionhallarts.org.

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

Letter Carriers March on Postal HQ in Boston
Sunday, May 17 | 10:30 AM | Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA

This weekend, join members of the National Association of Letter Carriers as they march on Postal HQ in Boston to save the Post Office from mismanagement.

UNITE HERE Local 26 Hyatt Regency Boston Cambridge Picket
Thursday, May 21 | 4:30 PM | 575 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA

Workers of the Hyatt Regency are asking for a fair process to decide on a union, free of intimidation. Let's stand in solidarity with the workers and boycott Hyatt Regency. Join the workers outside the Hyatt Regency Boston-Cambridge location for a rally on Thursday, May 21.

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

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

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