UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: June 6
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LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES
Connecticut Locals Prepare to Picket Gov. Lamont for Vetoing UI for Strikers
Monday, June 16 | 6 PM | 990 Prospect Ave, Hartford, CT
Thanks to union members’ tireless efforts, a bill is heading to Gov. Lamont's desk that would allow striking workers to access unemployment insurance after striking for two weeks—a vital protection in the face of the assault on workers’ rights by the White House.
But instead, Gov. Lamont has threatened to veto this vital bill. Instead of siding with Connecticut workers, he's siding with corporate CEOs. We're calling on all union members and allies to join us on Monday, June 16, for a picket outside the Governor's Mansion to urge him to sign this bill into law!
We also need all Connecticut members to contact Governor Lamont and demand he sign SB 8. Click here to send him a message. With just the stroke of a pen, Gov. Lamont has the power to make a real difference in the lives of working people and ensure employers can no longer starve out their workers.
On June 16, let's show Gov. Lamont that we are united and he must take action!
Tonight! Join Cinema Village United
Friday, June 6 | 7 PM | Cinema Village, 22 E 12th St, New York, NY
After winning their election earlier last year, the workers at Cinema Village United (Local 2179) began negotiations on July 12, 2024. In almost a year, their boss, Nick Nicolaou, has refused to bargain consistently.
In the interim, three ULPs have been filed over the company's refusal to bargain, direct dealing, and retaliatory behavior against the workers, who among other things, have faced a reduction of work hours, demotions, and the threat of closing down the movie theater during daytime hours. The workers have had enough and have voted to authorize a strike.
Come support their rallying cry to demand this behavior stop—show Nick that when any of our union siblings are under attack we stand up and fight back!
Join ALAA on the Picket Line in New York City Next Week
The Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys (Local 2325) invites all UAW members in NYC to join them at two pickets next week.
This week, ALAA reported on how NYC legal services attorneys are routinely assigned workloads that violate the profession’s core ethical standards, per the experiences of more than two dozen legal services workers and a close analysis of three major workload studies.
Picket for Appellate Providers (CAB, OAD, AppAd) | Wednesday, June 11 | 1 PM | City Hall Park, New York, NY
Picket for Legal Aid Society Attorneys United | Thursday, June 12 | 1 PM | 199 Water Street, New York, NY
Connecticut Unions Rally to Defend Civil Liberties
Sunday, June 8 | 12:30 PM | New Haven Green, CT
Join the call! All out to defend our constitutional rights! It's time to protect our schools and universities and stop all attacks against student activists.
Connecticut unions will gather at New Haven Green at noon with the rally and speakers starting at 1PM. More info at ctcivillibertiesdefense.org.
More Region 9A Locals In the News
“I find this absurd,” said Ozan Baytaş, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School from Turkey. “There’s a clear attack on the universities, freedom of speech, academic freedom and science, and there’s a clear intention to purge the current system of many non-citizen workers who are very talented.”
The Guardian: Unions representing Harvard workers fear Trump’s ‘authoritarian turn’ (May 30)
“This victory affirms that hundreds of educators and creatives across different disciplines are ready to unite around a just social cause and give solidarity a chance in these thunderous times,” said adjunct faculty member Merlin Ural Rivera. “We are here to build a wonderful, intimate community of professionals who are allowed the time and resources to follow their creative practices while also helping shape the next generation of artists and inspiring them to fight for self-determination.”
New York Central Labor Council: Faculty at New York's School of Visual Arts Form Union (May 30)
Bill Louis, president of UAW Local 571, which represents the marine drafters, delivered a similar assessment when he presented their new five-year contract at a May 22 meeting in Groton. “The company doesn’t give us a damn thing unless we fight for it, and we fought hard for it,” Louis said. “We got more on the table this time around than we’ve gotten in any other contract.”
News Times: How Connecticut workers at Pratt & Whitney and Electric Boat got their new contracts (May 31)
“We're arguing that these layoffs shouldn't be happening,” said Marilyn Mendoza, who was an education justice organizer at the nonprofit before she was included in the layoffs. “We are demanding that our contract be respected.”
Queens Daily Eagle: Queens immigration nonprofit lays off staff, angering new union (May 30)
The university was seeking a quick decision on Monday against the Trump administration, arguing that the government had violated its First Amendment rights and had not adhered to required procedures. On Monday, the American Association of University Professors and the United Auto Workers, which represents graduate students at the university, also asked the court for a quick victory, for similar reasons as those cited by Harvard.
New York Times: Harvard Argues Cutting Off Its Government Funding Is Wasteful (June 2)
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 locals 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! Registration is now open—contact your local to sign up by June 15.
2025 Juneteenth Parade in Bloomfield, CT
Saturday, June 21 | 11 AM | Blue Hills Fire Department, Bloomfield, CT
The Blue Hills Fire District in partnership with the town of Bloomfield invites all to a three-day celebration of unity, love, and joy in honor of Juneteenth. UAW Region 9A members along with the Richard ‘Dik” Days Scholarship Committee will be marching in the parade. Learn more about the history of Juneteenth, and if interested in joining the march, contact Alexi Shalom at ashalom@uaw.net.
Join UAW Region 9A at the 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.
RSVP here to join your union siblings and march together!
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)
UAW Releases New Video on Andrew Cuomo’s Failures for Working-Class New Yorkers
On Monday, the UAW released a new video highlighting the failures of Andrew Cuomo as Governor of New York for working-class people and communities across the state. On Friday, UAW Region 9A endorsed Zohran Mamdani #1 for mayor along with a full ballot suggestion including explicit instructions to not rank Andrew Cuomo. UAW was the first union to endorse Mamdani and has been explicit in Cuomo’s failures for working people.
“In the UAW, our endorsements are earned,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “We support politicians who stand with us, and who have the courage to fight for the working class.
“Zohran Mamdani has stood shoulder to shoulder with us in our fight against some of the toughest bosses in New York City. He’s been to countless UAW picket lines. He’s fought for better wages, for our livelihoods, and for a livable city for UAW members.
“We need new elected leaders who are not afraid to pick a side—politicians who will put workers over corporate donors every single time. That’s why our union is proud to support Zohran Mamdani and a ranked slate of pro-worker champions for mayor.”
WATCH THE VIDEOUAW Region 9A Updates Ranked Choice Ballot For NYC Mayor
This morning, UAW Region 9A updated our ranked choice ballot for the Mayoral election. UAW members have been explicit this entire race: we cannot afford Andrew Cuomo or Eric Adams as the next Mayor. One week after issuing our full ranked choice ballot, we remain steadfast in our support for ranking Zohran Mamdani first and Brad Lander second as the pathway to defeat Andrew Cuomo.
Opposing Andrew Cuomo is a non-negotiable for our membership. In light of today’s news that Jessica Ramos has endorsed Cuomo, our New York City CAP Council immediately voted to unendorse her on our ballots.
We are now calling on our 20,000 members in New York City and our allies to rank our two endorsed candidates:
Zohran Mamdani
Brad Lander
As UAW President Shawn Fain said earlier this week, “We need new elected leaders who are not afraid to pick a side—politicians who will put workers over corporate donors every single time. That’s why our union is proud to support Zohran Mamdani and a ranked slate of pro-worker champions for mayor.”
We are also now recommending that our members complete their ballots with the following three candidates:
Zellnor Myrie
Adrienne Adams
Michael Blake
Michael Blake has confirmed that he will never be endorsing Andrew Cuomo in this election. This full ballot is to encourage other unions and pro-worker organizations to recommend our ranking to their respective memberships. We believe this ranking ensures the best chance to defeat Andrew Cuomo, and gives working people in New York a fighting shot to build a future in the city we built.
UAW Action Guide: Stand Up For Our Lives—Fund Families, Not Billionaires
On May 22, the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill called H.R. 1—also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” But don’t be fooled by the name, because this bill is a disaster for working people.
Read more about how H.R. 1 would slash critical funds for UAW members, our families, and our communities—while giving away even more to the billionaire class. And take action now that the bill is moving to the Senate by calling your Senator, who needs to hear directly from YOU about how these cuts would impact you, someone you love, or your community.
Canvass to Elect Justin Brannan for NYC Comptroller
Saturday, 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.
UAW CAP in the News
Local 259 President Brian Schneck: “Looking forward, we must ask: Who will stand up for New York’s working class? With a veto-proof Democratic majority, the state should be able to do far more for its workers. That the biggest labor victory this year was a cellphone ban in schools—while not insignificant—highlights how far we still have to go. The labor movement needs more than symbolic wins to take on corporate power and the billionaire class.”
Newsday: Hochul, state lawmakers come up short on affordability (June 4)
“Assembly Member Claire Valdez emphasized the importance of community solidarity in resisting the Trump Administration during her first town hall in Sunnyside since taking office earlier this year. [...] She urged the passage of the New York for All Act, which would limit the disclosure of immigration status in New York State and bar police officers and other public officials from inquiring about an individual’s citizenship or immigration status. [...] Valdez also called on the state legislature to pass the Access to Representation Act, which establishes the right to legal counsel in immigration court proceedings. The US Constitution does not guarantee the right to an attorney in immigration proceedings, unlike in criminal cases.”
Queens Post: Valdez calls for NY resistance to Trump policies at Sunnyside town hall (June 4)
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW
Survey for Higher Education Members Impacted by NIH Funding Cuts
As you may know, UAW is a plaintiff to a number of lawsuits challenging Trump's attacks on higher education, including one filed by the ACLU challenging cancellations of NIH grants and fellowship programs. The case specifically address cancellations of grants due to inclusion of certain topics and populations (including but not limited to health disparities, LGBTQ+, gender, HIV, COVID, climate change, and a wide range of grants intended to diversity research fields). As part of this case, the judge has requested a list of grants impacted by these cancellations, and one possible outcome is that the judge issues a ruling that only restores the grants that have been reported.
The ACLU attorneys have created a reporting form at this link: https://www.aclu.org/APHAvNIHform. Please distribute to UAW members in your local, and workers who are part of a UAW-represented organizing campaign can also fill it out. If you have already distributed it, please do it again so all members have the opportunity to report any impacted grants. Here's an email draft that you can use. All responses need to be in by June 11.
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 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
People’s Summit for Korea
July 25-27 | New York, NY
The People’s Summit for Korea is being convened by Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, in partnership with key organizations in the Korea movement and anti-imperialist movement in the US. We are calling this summit at a critical juncture in Korea’s struggle for sovereignty, with tensions on the peninsula reaching new heights as the US escalates the New Cold War against China. Now is the time to unite across communities, struggles, and borders to oppose U.S. aggression in Korea.
Join us for a three-day convening featuring plenaries, panels, workshops, breakout sessions, and cultural performances led by key figures in the Korean liberation movement and the global anti-imperialist struggle. We call on organizers, artists, intellectuals, students, and community members across the Korean diaspora, South Korea, and beyond to build our movement together.
Mass-Care Medicare for All Conference
Saturday, June 21 | 10 AM - 4 PM | Clark University, Worcester, MA
Mass-Care is hosting a state-wide strategy and working conference on June 21. We all know the health care crisis that exists in Massachusetts: already exorbitant insurance rates are soaring by an additional 12% this year, and the bankruptcy of Steward Hospitals has left minority and working class communities without access to hospitals. Medicare for All is the only solution that will provide complete coverage to all Massachusetts residents and save money for all.
The core of the conference will be breakout sessions, by sector, throughout the day: healthcare workers, labor unions, businesses, municipal and elected officials, and community organizations and organizers. Each of these sectors have a unique relationship with the private health insurance system. Bringing those common experiences together will help define and carry out a stronger action-oriented organizational effort to enact Medicare for All, however we win it, through a legislative vote or by a binding referendum vote by the people. The breakout sessions are designed to build activism and deepen all aspects of the commitment and to embolden the movement for Medicare for All in MA.
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.
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
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