UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: May 23
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LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES
Through Powerful Strike Prep, MDA-UAW Local 571 Reaches Tentative Agreement
On Sunday, the negotiating committee at MDA-UAW Local 571 reached a tentative agreement with Electric Boat, avoiding a strike on the day of the deadline. MDA members will vote on whether to accept the tentative agreement or else go back to the bargaining table on Tuesday.
“This contract was not handed to us—it was fought for,” the negotiating committee wrote the membership. “We broke with the old tradition of blackout bargaining and chose a new path: transparent and organized. Every gain we made at the table was won through the power, strength and unity of our membership, and the incredible work of our 100+ strike captains, and your dedicated strike prep committee.”
On Facebook Live on Sunday night, Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla thanked local leadership and credited the membership for the gains made in this contract campaign. “Over the past few months, you’ve marched, you’ve rallied, you’ve worn your red shirts and your stickers, held practice pickets, and you’ve stood shoulder to shoulder at work,” he said. “The power of the local rests in the membership. And the demands you put forward in this bargaining were your demands and your agenda. You are the UAW.”
In the news:
- Fox Hartford: Electric Boat workers reach tentative deal to avoid strike (May 18)
- News 8 New Haven: Electric Boat strike avoided thanks to tentative agreement (May 19)
- Connecticut Post: No strike at Electric Boat after marine drafters' union reaches tentative agreement with CT submarine maker (May 19)
- Norwich Bulletin: Strike avoided: Marine Draftsmen’s Association has tentative agreement with EB: What now? (May 19)
- Register Citizen: 'We fought hard for it': Union leaders make arguments for proposed contract with Electric Boat (May 22)
Faculty at School of Visual Arts Win Election to Join UAW
About 1,200 faculty members at the School of Visual Arts in New York City unionized on Thursday, following 77% of members voting in favor of joining the UAW.
Among the issues that faculty are hoping to address through collective bargaining are pay equity, increased workloads without a commensurate increase in compensation, and the loss of such previously enjoyed benefits as retirement account contributions and sabbaticals.
Congratulations to the newest faculty union in the UAW! Follow SVA Faculty United on Instagram for the latest updates as they continue their fight for a first contract.
In the news:
- Artforum: Faculty at New York’s School of Visual Arts Unionize (May 23)
Local 2337 Members in Puerto Rico Win Retroactive Pay After Years of Advocacy
UAW Local 2337, which represents workers at Puerto Rico’s Environmental Quality Board, has fought for years for its members who were paid less than non-unionized employees. After many years of litigation and continuous efforts by the International UAW, the employer is finally complying with a court decision that determined that the differential payment for unionized employees was illegal.
Last week, the union was notified that the debt is authorized to be paid in employees’ next paychecks. Members will receive retroactive payment from 2011 to 2025, and the award differential will be reinstated in their monthly salaries. Many workers will receive payments ranging from $20,000 to $74,000 depending on the period owed and the amount of the award differential.
In March 2024, President Shawn Fain, Vice President Rich Boyer, and Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla, along with leaders from the Puerto Rico locals, met with the Executive Director of the Fiscal Control Board to address this and other matters. After years of advocacy, our UAW members in Puerto Rico are celebrating a well-deserved victory.
Local 2110 Wins Election at Abrams Books, Announces Drive at The Kitchen NYC
Employees at Abrams Books voted overwhelmingly in an NLRB election to unionize with Local 2110. The vote which took place by mail ballot followed a months-long campaign to unionize. Abrams workers earn as little as $45,000 per year and had experienced multiple rounds of layoffs and health benefit cuts. Prior to the vote, Abrams management retained an anti-union consultant who conducted “captive audience” meetings, spread misinformation and lies about unionizing, and told workers that they were “too smart” to need a union. The anti-union tactics backfired—workers voted by an 88% margin for union representation.
Andrea Miller, a senior designer at the company and a member of the union organizing committee, said: “After thirteen years in publishing, I was dangerously close to reaching a point of skepticism that anything could improve, and that stressful and chaotic conditions were industry standard. I’ve completely changed my outlook since spending the past year organizing alongside my coworkers at Abrams. I’m so proud that we now have the right to bargain with management to improve conditions at Abrams. Change is possible and we can make it happen!”
Meanwhile, staff at The Kitchen NYC, one of the city’s oldest nonprofits showing innovative and interdisciplinary work by emerging and established artists, announced that they are petitioning the NLRB for an election to join Local 2110 and asking their employer to voluntarily recognize the union. For the latest updates, follow The Kitchen NYC Union on Instagram.
In the news:
- Publishers Weekly: Abrams Employees Vote to Unionize (May 23)
Cinema Village Workers Vote Unanimously to Authorize Strike
On May 7, the workers at the historic and oldest continuously operated cinema in Greenwich Village, Cinema Village, voted unanimously to authorize a strike. The workers, who are members of UAW Local 2179, are dealing with gross retaliation from their boss, including the reduction of work hours, unilateral implementation of new policies, and targeting of Bargaining Committee members by stripping them of their earned titles and responsibilities.
The union believes that the employer is acting in bad faith and has filed three complaints against the employer with the NLRB. And this is all with only 9 bargaining negotiation sessions in almost a year. Show these workers some love and give them a follow on Instagram to stay informed!
FROM REGION 9A
Registration Now Open: Announcing Region 9A Summer School!
Friday, July 25 & Saturday, July 26 | New York, NY
Over the last year, attacks on collective bargaining, civil liberties, the social safety net, and working class communities have only escalated, but UAW members are fighting back and leading the way. In Region 9A and across the country, rank-and-file union members are waging historic strikes and winning record contracts, leading movements to oppose war and injustice, defending immigrant communities, and challenging their bosses on the shop floor. Every day we are battling to win justice in the face of repression and retaliation, but we have a world to win for the working class.
All members are invited to join us Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26 for two days of political education, cultural programs, panels, forums, workshops, skillshares, and other events that will help build our working class power as a union. This conference is an excellent opportunity to meet your fellow UAW members across sectors and share strategies to win!
Prepping NYC's Next Generation of Union Lawyers
UAW Region 9A is making law school more accessible for New York’s next generation of defense, housing, and immigration attorneys. This year, Region 9A partnered with the Consortium for Worker Education to launch a free LSAT preparation course for members. The inaugural class is now complete and the second cohort is underway.
The LSAT class is the first offered from Region 9A’s new Workforce Training Center. The idea came from members at the city’s legal aid agencies, many of whom are paralegals, social workers, and receptionists who could be making tens of thousands of dollars more with a law degree. That life-changing credential has been out of reach for many members, because while a good LSAT score is necessary for law school admission, private LSAT tutors charge thousands of dollars.
“I’ve spent $7,000 and taken the Kaplan course twice,” says Katrina, who works as a Legal Services assistant. “As a single mom, I can’t give up another seven grand. Taking the practice tests in the UAW prep class, I can see my score increase so I’m really grateful for this program.”
“The class is building a future for these members within the union,” says Alexi Shalom, Education Representative at UAW Region 9A. “We are presenting a UAW career path, where you can continue working your UAW job, while going to law school, and then become a UAW legal services attorney.”
Read more about the class from CWE, and stay tuned for future enrollment opportunities!
Buy Your Tickets Now! UAW Yankees Night
Thursday, July 10 | 7 PM | Bronx, NY
Join your fellow UAW members in New York City to cheer on our union siblings in the MLB Players Association at Yankee Stadium! Each ticket includes a New York Yankees UAW hat.
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)
Press Conference with NYC Mayoral Candidates Against Cuomo
This week, UAW Region 9A and Region 9 members and leaders joined two of their endorsed mayoral candidates—Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander—outside NYC City Hall for a press conference to highlight Andrew Cuomo’s failures on labor.
In 2019, Cuomo failed to sign the 'Unemployment Insurance (UI) for Striking Workers' bill while UAW members at GM were on a six-week strike. He also refused to visit the GM picket line in support. The U.S Justice Department has subsequently opened a criminal investigation into Cuomo, regarding decisions he made as New York governor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
UAW says: don't rank Eric Adams or Andrew Cuomo in this election!
Maine CAP Endorses Union Member Troy Jackson for Governor
The Maine CAP Council voted to endorse State Senator Troy Jackson, who announced that he’s running for Governor of Maine in 2026. Jackson was first elected to the Maine Senate in 2008, and in 2018 he was chosen to be president of the state Senate. He is also a fifth-generation logger, a member of the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and the Machinists (IAM) unions, and a passionate advocate for the rights of working people. He launched his campaign with the support of dozens of unions, including UAW.
Day of Action with UAW & Brad Lander for NYC
Saturday, May 24 | 10 AM - 1 PM | Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY
Join UAW and Brad Lander for NYC for a day of action at Grand Army Plaza! Sign up to join our team as we talk to voters about Brad’s vision for a safer, more affordable, and better-run City. We will be talking to people in high foot traffic areas and asking them if they support Brad’s key policy proposals on housing, subways, and workers’ rights. This is your opportunity to be the campaign and build support for Brad. If you have never done an event like this before, don’t worry, we always run a training beforehand and pair you up with a partner if you come alone.
Canvass to Elect Justin Brannan for NYC Comptroller
Sunday, June 7 | 12 - 3 PM | McCarren Park, Brooklyn, NY
Join Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, UAW Region 9A, and Justin Brannan for a Day of Action in Greenpoint! We'll be postering, passing out flyers, and canvassing to spread the word about what’s at stake this June! Meet us at Bedford Avenue & Lorimer Street.
Connecticut AFL-CIO Path to Power Candidate Training
Saturday, June 21 | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM | IBEW Local 90, Wallingford, CT
The Western and Eastern Connecticut Area Labor Federations, in partnership with the national and Connecticut AFL-CIO, are hosting a free Path to Power Political Candidate Training. This program is designed to teach union members how to run for public office and build power to positively influence our communities.
Government runs best when it's made up of everyday working people like us. Running for office is a powerful way to give workers a voice and ensure we are creating policies that improve the lives of working people. The Path to Power training will guide you through the entire process—including determining if you can win, developing a campaign message and stump speech, running a field program, fundraising, and more. Whether you're thinking about running for Board of Education, City Council, Mayor, or the state legislature, this training will give you the tools to run an effective campaign.
Connecticut & Massachusetts: Take Action for Unemployment for Striking Workers
Labor law favors employers and corporate CEOs over workers when it comes to bargaining a contract. But a proposal to allow workers to access unemployment insurance after they have been on strike for a certain period of time will help restore balance to collective bargaining.
- In Connecticut, legislation allowing striking workers to access unemployment insurance is working its way through the General Assembly, but Governor Lamont is already threatening to veto it. Email Governor Lamont now and ask him to stop siding with powerful employers and stand with working people!
- Similar legislation has been proposed in Massachusetts, allowing employees forced to strike to be eligible for unemployment benefits after 30 days of being on the picket line, standardizing the benefits eligibility of workers engaged in labor disputes. Ask your legislators to support S.1319 & H.2168 today!
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW
UAW Hotline for Immigration Legal Counsel & Emergencies
UAW members in higher education are facing escalating anti-immigrant actions from the Trump administration, including visa revocations and ICE activity in and around campuses. Our union has set up a hotline to quickly refer members facing an immigration emergency to legal resources. In the event that a member is experiencing an unexpected change in immigration status or any other immigration-related emergency, they may call this number to be connected with legal counsel: 888-416-2110. Please share this information with your fellow members.
UAW Inaugural Higher Education Council Meeting
June 21-22 | Register by June 9 | Pico Rivera, CA
We are experiencing an unprecedented attack on higher education from the federal government. From funding cuts to attacks on free speech and DEI programming, to mass cancellations of student visas, our members have faced the brunt of the administration’s attacks on universities. It’s time we come together for a weekend of strategizing and skill refining to make sure we’re in alignment for a militant response in the summer and fall.
Please join us June 21-22 at the UAW Region 6 office in Pico Rivera, CA, for the inaugural meeting of the UAW Higher Education Council. Local unions are responsible for electing delegates and covering travel and accommodation. Anyone planning to attend the council meeting must complete the registration form by Monday, June 9.
2025 UAW-LUCA Communications Conference
June 22 - 27 | Register by May 30 | Onaway, MI
We are thrilled to announce the theme for this year’s conference: Family Re-UNION: Refocus – Reignite – Reengage! This dynamic gathering is designed specifically for labor communicators, emphasizing the critical role labor communications play in building strong, effective unions. This year’s conference will provide participants with the tools and skills required to enhance local communication efforts while offering valuable opportunities to network and strengthen connections. Together, we’ll explore strategies to educate members, inspire action, and advance the cause of labor with renewed energy and focus. Join us for an exciting educational experience that will empower you to refocus on your mission, reignite your passion, and reengage your union family. Let’s come together to build a brighter future for labor!
2025 UAW Family Scholarship
July 20 - 25 | Register by June 6 | Onaway, MI
Registration is open to apply for the 2025 UAW Family Scholarship! For more than 45 years, the Family Education Center has been where UAW members and their families come together for an experience combining education and recreation. It’s a place to learn about our union, unlock ideas, and build new friendships with other UAW families. This one-week summer experience will give you and your family a spirit guaranteed to strengthen your understanding and appreciation of our union. If interested, please complete your registration no later than June 6.
2025 UAW Civil & Human Rights Conference
August 24 - 29 | Onaway, MI
The 39th Annual UAW Civil and Human Rights Conference is August 24 - 29 at the Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center. This year's theme is Defending…Demanding…Justice… We are the Defenders of Justice.”
SOLIDARITY REQUESTS
Labor for an Arms Embargo Training
Saturday, May 31 | 1 PM ET | Online
The Labor for an Arms Embargo campaign is organizing workers across the country to win an arms embargo. We are organizing in our unions at the local level to demand that our seaports and airports no longer be used to sustain war crimes, genocide, and occupation. We are coordinating national trainings to engage workers in the campaign and align our organizing efforts to win over supermajorities of our coworkers for an arms embargo. Join us for the first training on May 31!
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. For more info, visit the course website.
EWOC Conference Registration Open: Unite & Win
June 27–29 | Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
The Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee is hosting its first-ever organizing conference, and registration is now open! This conference will bring together 250 EWOC volunteers, workers, union leaders, and local organizers for a weekend of training, discussion, and movement building focused on new workplace organizing. EWOC is the only project that any non-unionized worker, anywhere in the country, can reach out to and immediately receive workplace organizing support and training. Scholarships are available through a reimbursement basis.
Save the Date: NYC Queer Liberation March
Sunday, June 29 | 11 AM | NYC AIDS Memorial
As the results of the 2024 election have made clear that America’s LGBTQIA2S+ communities are under the greatest threat from the federal government we have experienced since the 1969 Stonewall uprising, The Reclaim Pride Coalition has announced that the theme for this year’s 7th annual Queer Liberation March on Sunday, June 29, will be: Resist! Reclaim! Rejoice!
The March will assemble at 11 AM at the NYC AIDS Memorial and St. Vincent’s Triangle Park (7th Avenue between Greenwich and West 12th Streets) and march north to Lenape Circle, dispersing into Central Park. Learn more and sign up to volunteer at queermarch.org.
Fundamentals of Workplace Organizing: EWOC Training on How to Unite and Win
Saturdays, July 12 - August 2 | 4 - 5:30 PM
In four 90-minute weekly sessions, you will learn how to approach your co-workers, build a team of organizers among them, and develop a campaign. You will meet other workers who are organizing and learn helpful tools, practices, and principles for winning workplace improvements and getting a democratic voice over your working conditions. We also welcome those who are interested in joining EWOC as a volunteer and supporting other organizing workers! Space is limited to 120 participants, so register here today!
Register for Skills to Win Training: Workers vs. Billionaires
July 19-20 | 12 PM - 6 PM | Online
Join us July 19 and 20 for this special edition of “Skills to Win”, tailored specifically for groups in the May Day Strong and 2028 strike networks who want to sharpen their organizing skills to take on the billionaires. This training program, built on Jane McAlevey’s core organizing methods, will teach members and staff how to build both strike-ready organization and powerful community-labor alignments. The UC Berkeley Labor Center and Bargaining for the Common Good are partnering to host this training, which will be held for two full days over Zoom. Groups are required to attend in groups of at least ten people from your organization, because organizing is a team sport. Learn more and register by June 13!
UPCOMING EVENTS
38th Annual UAW Chaplaincy Conference
June 1-6 | Onaway, MI
2025 UAW EAP Conference
June 1-6 | Onaway, MI
Higher Education Council Meeting
June 21-22 | Pico Rivera, CA
2025 UAW-LUCA Communications Conference
June 22 - 27 | Onaway, MI
APALA 18th Biennial Convention
June 26 - 29 | Los Angeles, CA
UAW Night at the Yankees
July 10 | New York, NY
NAACP 116th National Convention
July 12 - 16 | Charlotte, NC
UAW Family Scholarship
July 20 - 25 | Onaway, MI
LCLAA 25th National Membership Convention
July 28 - August 2 | Atlanta, GA
APRI 54th Annual National Educational Conference
August 6 - 10 | Chicago, IL
UAW Veterans Conference
August 10 - 15, 2025 | Onaway, MI
2025 UAW International Women's Conference
August 17 - 22 | St. Pete Beach, FL
2025 UAW Civil & Human Rights Conference
August 24 - 29 | Onaway, MI
2025 UAW Local Union Officers Institute
October 5 - 10 | Onaway, MI
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