UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: July 10
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LOCAL UPDATES
Local 2110: Workers Take to the Streets for 24-Hour Strike at Harper’s Magazine
On Thursday, Local 2110 members at Harper’s Magazine went on a one-day strike to send a clear message to management that all workers deserve a living wage and health care. Workers at the 176-year-old publication voted to unionize in summer of 2024, and after nearly two years of negotiations they deserve a fair contract.
UAW members were joined on the picket line by many UAW-endorsed elected officials and candidates, including Brad Lander, Jessica González-Rojas, Samantha Kattan, Eli Northrup, Illapa Sairitupac, Diana Moreno, and Brian Romero. Follow @harpersmagunion on Instagram for the latest updates.
Thursday: Picket with New York Film Academy’s Teachers & Staff Union
Thursday, July 16 | 11:40 AM | 25 Broadway, New York, NY
Faculty and staff at New York Film Academy voted overwhelmingly 149-3 to form their union, Association of Teachers & Staff, just over two years ago. Today, faculty and staff find themselves still waiting on their first contract. Simply put, they have waited long enough.
Earlier this summer, a majority of members from across the NYC and LA campuses sent an open letter to NYFA’s Board of Directors, giving NYFA a deadline of June 30 to finish their contract. While the letter created meaningful movement at the bargaining table, NYFA has, once again, fallen short. At this point, the major outstanding issue is compensation. NYFA is trying to reduce compensation for prep time and teaching hours for some classes (which are moving from 15 weeks to 13 weeks).
While faculty and staff understand the financial challenges that NYFA is facing (especially as a small arts school), employees cannot agree to a pay cut. RSVP to join supporters across the NYFA community on Thursday to demand that NYFA finish the contract and protect employees’ pay!
Local 2325: Six Shops Ready to Strike While It’s Hot This Summer
ALAA Local 2325 members at six shops across New York City—Brooklyn Defenders, Bronx Defenders, Neighborhood Defender Service, Justice in Motion, Catholic Migration Services, and the Center for Family Representation—are all bargaining and could strike this summer for wages, workload, health insurance, just cause protections, and more.
- Workers at Justice in Motion have set a strike deadline for Friday, July 10. “No one on this team has dedicated years to the mission of this organization only to decide one day to stop working for migrants’ rights,” the union wrote. “A strike is not an end in itself, but a last resort when all else has failed.”
- On Tuesday, workers at Brooklyn Defender Services voted to authorize their bargaining committee to call a strike. 94% of members participated and 96% voted yes. Last night, the bargaining committee set a strike deadline of Thursday, July 16.
- Workers at Neighborhood Defender Service have also voted to authorize a strike. 94% of members participated and 97% voted yes. The union has set a strike deadline of Tuesday, July 14.
- Meanwhile, workers at Bronx Defenders are currently voting on strike authorization. Their vote closes Sunday, July 12.
Local 259: Premier Ford Auto Techs in Brooklyn Win Big After Strike Threat
Local 259 members at Premier Ford in Brooklyn ratified a successor agreement on Monday after mounting a powerful strike threat. Many members will earn 41% more in the first year with 3% increases each year after, fully paid medical, and increased pension accruals from 53 to 86. Congratulations on a hard fought victory!
Local 2320: Food AND Medicine Workers United Bargain for a Fair Contract
This week, the staff union of Maine’s Food AND Medicine, affiliated with NOLSW/UAW Local 2320, went to the bargaining table with management to renegotiate their contract for the first time since 2001. The workers of this Bangor-based organization are vital to their community, with key programs focused on food justice, as well as political and economic empowerment for the working class.
FAM Workers United won important non-economic improvements this week, including enforceable reporting for safety issues and pathways to workload management. But the union is still fighting for the minimum: base salaries, accessible healthcare for part-time employees, and paid sick days. Management’s position that workers should use their limited PTO when they are sick is a striking contradiction for an organization rooted in solidarity.
Justice for the working-class starts in the workplace. Stand with FAM Workers United as they bargain for a fair contract!
Locals 1596, 2320, 2324, & 5118: Boston UAW Members Join Nurses on Strike
On Wednesday, more than 4,500 nurses and home care workers represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association took to the picket lines after Mass General Brigham Hospital refused to reach fair agreements that protect quality patient care and respect the frontline healthcare workers who provide it. This action includes Brigham and Women's Hospital nurses as well as Mass General Brigham home care clinicians, making it the largest nurse and healthcare professional strike in Massachusetts history.
Boston area UAW members from UMass Lowell (Local 1596), Boston University (Local 2324), Harvard (Local 5118), and legal services (Local 2320) showed up in solidarity on the first day of the strike!
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)
Last Chance! Take Action by July 13 to Defend Trump's Attacks on Grant Funding
On May 29, the Trump administration announced a new escalation in their attacks on the working class. Under a proposed set of federal regulations, Trump’s Office of Management and Budget would gain unprecedented control to deny or cancel more than $1 trillion in annual federal grants at any time for any reason.
If these policies are allowed to go into effect, the OMB could directly interfere and block a wide range of critical programs, including research performed by UAW members at universities as well as grants that fund disaster preparedness, workplace safety, education, legal support, child care and transportation.
These proposed policies are an attempt to wrest control of federal spending from Congress and to undermine the courts that have blocked Trump’s illegal cuts again and again. While workers face an affordability crisis and soaring prices, these policies will create further economic uncertainty, kill jobs, and stifle innovation.
UAW members can take action to stop this from happening by submitting a comment by July 13 to oppose these changes using this portal.
Maine: Region 9A CAP Council Votes to Unendorse in Senate Race
The UAW Region 9A Maine CAP Council voted this week to rescind our previous endorsement of Graham Platner for U.S. Senate.
“Unions are engaged in a fight for dignity and justice for all people, and the struggle to eradicate sexual harassment and assault at our workplaces and across society is a key part of our work,” the CAP Council said in a statement. “Given the recent serious allegations, we can no longer support Platner as the Democratic Party’s nominee for Senate and call on him to drop out immediately.”
Over the next few weeks and months of the Maine Senate campaign, we will continue to be clear about our priorities and will stand firm on our principles. This fight is not about one person or one campaign: it is about winning economic and social justice for the entire working class. And we expect to have leadership that lives up to that historic duty.
Region 9A CAP in the News
“While most unions played it safe in New York’s recent elections, UAW Region 9A and its director, Brandon Mancilla, took big swings in supporting progressive and socialist insurgent candidates like Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier — and won.”
- Jacobin: UAW Region 9A’s Big Risks in NYC’s Elections Paid Off (July 8)
FROM REGION 9A
Apply to the 2026-2027 UAW Education Fellowship
October 2026 - May 2027 | Apply by August 10, 2026
The UAW International Education Department is excited to announce the 2026-2027 Fellowship Program. The Fellowship is an intensive work-study program designed to develop dedicated UAW members into strong leaders and effective union educators. Graduates of the Fellowship join our roster of Local Union Discussion Leaders (LUDLs), serving as activists in their local union education committees while also being available to assist our regional and national education programs.
The 2026-2027 Fellows will participate in an intensive training program that consists of a mix of in-person and virtual touchpoints from October 2026 through May 2027. This program requires a serious commitment from the Fellows to complete assignments at home, in addition to attending the scheduled touchpoint sessions. Bilingual Spanish/English speakers are strongly encouraged to apply. Members will apply by completing the online application by August 10, 2026.
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW
Last Chance to Register: UAW Women’s & TOP Conference
August 9-14 | Register by July 17 | Houston, TX
UAW members are bringing the heat, the power, and the purpose to Houston, Texas, in August! This year, we are fusing the incredible strength of our Women’s Committees with the vital expertise of our Technical, Office, and Professional (TOP) members.
Registration is now open. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable week packed with high-energy workshops, major leadership building, and the kind of sisterhood and solidarity that fuels the labor movement.
Last Chance to Register: UAW Veterans Conference
August 9-14 | Register by July 17 | Onaway, MI
The theme for the 2026 UAW National Veterans Conference is “Defending Freedom at Home and Abroad.” This year’s conference will once again provide helpful training for UAW veterans, veteran supporters, and local union representatives, especially those on their local or regional Veterans Committees. Please note that all first-time delegates will be enrolled in a core curriculum that will include sessions on post-traumatic stress disorder, veteran benefits, resiliency, and Veterans Standing Committees.
Other classes this year include workshops from a variety of instructors. These classes will include a women delegate only class She Power: You Are Enough, The War Within: Mental Health, Teaching Veterans to Tell Their Story, Financial Freedom, Understanding Your Service-Connected Disability Rating, Civil and Human Rights, and more.
UAW Now Hiring: Servicing Representative for the Higher Education Department
UAW is hiring another International Servicing Representative for the Higher Education Department, based in Region 9A or another location near UAW higher education members. You can find the job posting as well as any other open positions at the UAW on Indeed.
Save the Date: 2026 UAW International Officer Candidate Forums
Get informed! Tune in to hear directly from candidates running in the 2026 UAW International Officer Election about their vision for our union. Virtual candidate forums will be held for the following offices on these dates:
- Thursday, July 23 - International Secretary-Treasurer
- Monday, July 27 - International Vice Presidents
- Thursday, July 30 - International President
All Candidate Forums will begin at approximately 6 PM ET. More information regarding how to access the Candidate Forums will be provided on the Monitor’s website. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about each candidate's priorities and make an informed decision before ballots are mailed in August!
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
Mass-Care Strategy and Working Conference: Path to Medicare for All in Massachusetts
Saturday, July 18 | 10 AM - 4 PM | Clark University, Worcester, MA
The health insurance crisis is deepening, and inequality in health care is growing. All manner of gimmicks and tweaks to “improve” the present private insurance offerings are being discussed, but none of them will correct the enormous burden on union members, workers, and our families with our present system of private health insurance. Premiums are skyrocketing and coverage is decreasing.
We know the solution is some version of single payer as outlined in the legislation “Medicare for All in Massachusetts” (H1405 and S860), a solution which would bring huge financial and health care benefits and relief to all residents of MA. A solution which would enable the state to address critical health care needs for our communities: affordability and access, primary care physician shortages, and equity driven care that serves all residents.
At 1:30pm the afternoon of the conference there will be a labor sector meeting. As an employer-based system, unions have a special role to play in health insurance and health care. We negotiate contracts that provide health insurance to our members and administer health and welfare funds. Unions represent over 100,000 health care workers in MA.
Higher Ed Labor United Training: Grievances, Anti-Discrimination & Organizing Strategy
Saturday, July 25 | 12 - 3 PM ET | 5 Steeple St, Providence, RI or Zoom
The Graduate Labor Organization at Brown University (GLO-AFT Local 6516) and HELU invite union members in higher education to a deep-dive session about grievance procedures, anti-discrimination protections, and organizing to win better and more comprehensive defenses in our workplaces.
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.
Union Hiring Hall
- Connecticut AFL-CIO | Legislative Director | Rocky Hill, CT
- Massachusetts Working Families Party | Organizing Director | MA
- Ranking Member Bernie Sanders’ office of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee | Paid Internships (Fall 2026) | Washington, DC
- Laborers' Local 79 | Senior Strategic Researcher | 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 Women’s & TOP Conference
August 9 - 14 | Houston, TX
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
UAW Standing Committees & Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Institute
October 4 - 9 | Onaway, MI
UAW Health & Safety Conference
October 11 - 16 | Onaway, MI
Region 9A Veterans Council Dinner Dance
Saturday, November 7 | New London, CT