UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: July 18
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LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES
ON STRIKE! ALAA Members Picketing for Fair Contracts Across NYC
350 more legal services workers with the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys (UAW Local 2325) have joined 400 others on strike since Tuesday. Over 750 workers are now on the picket line to demand the funding, staffing, and support needed to continue delivering justice for low-income New Yorkers.
The seven legal services units on strike now include the Urban Justice Center, New York Legal Assistance Group, CAMBA Legal Services, Goddard Riverside Law Project, Bronx Defenders, Office of the Appellate Defender, and Center for Appellate Litigation. One unit, Appellate Advocates, has reached a tentative agreement. And Local 2325’s largest chapter, the Legal Aid Society, has announced a strike deadline of next Friday, when 1,200 more workers could join the strike.
On Tuesday, members rallied before launching picket lines and drew support from mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, State Attorney General Letitia James, New York City Council Labor Chair Carmen De La Rosa, New York City Council Member Justin Brannan, State Assembly Member Claire Valdez, and other community members.
Every day, ALAA members provide free legal representation to tenants facing eviction, immigrants at risk of deportation, families navigating child welfare and custody cases, survivors of domestic violence, the unhoused, and people seeking access to health care, disability benefits, and other critical services.
“Our clients deserve the best representation they can get,” said Legal Aid Society Chapter Chair Jane Fox. “That requires proper funding that ensures livable wages and reduces turnover, so we can keep protecting the most vulnerable members of our city.”
For strike updates and information about where you can join ALAA members on the picket line, follow @alaa2325 on Instagram.
In the news:
- The City: Bronx Defenders Join Growing Legal Services Worker Strike (July 18)
- New York City Central Labor Council: Striking UAW Legal Workers Rally to Demand Resources Needed to Represent Vulnerable New Yorkers (July 18)
- The Chief: City legal aid attorneys strike (July 18)
- Queens Daily Eagle: Hundreds of public defenders go on strike (July 17)
- Spectrum News NY 1: Legal Services Workers Rally, Threaten Strike as They Demand Better Resources (July 16)
- City Limits: Nonprofit Legal Service Employees Strike, As NYC Politics Take a Pro-Worker Turn (July 16)
- The City: Hundreds of Legal Services Staff Strike as Larger Walkout Looms (July 15)
- AMNY: Making their case: NYC public interest attorneys rally for higher pay as hundreds go on strike (July 15)
Sign the Petition to Defend Student Workers of Columbia Against Unfair Discipline
On May 7, Columbia students held a brief teach-in at Butler Library in support of Palestinian human rights. In response, university public safety officers barricaded the exits, refused to let protestors leave, and choked and body slammed students, resulting in five concussions and four hospitalizations. Columbia then invited the NYPD onto campus, who arrested over 80 people for participating in a teach-in at their own library.
Multiple members of Student Workers of Columbia (UAW Local 2710) have been threatened with expulsion and will lose their jobs if Columbia is successful. Others are facing multi-year suspensions and will not be permitted to earn a paycheck during that time. SWC is calling on UAW allies to sign the petition to demand that Columbia drop charges against all students and workers for the teach-in.
FROM REGION 9A
Introducing New Region 9A Servicing Representative CJ Barber
Dear Region 9A Members,
I’m proud to introduce myself as your new Servicing Representative, effective June 30, 2025. After more than two decades serving as Business Agent and Executive Vice President of UAW Local 1596 in Massachusetts, I’m excited to bring my experience to this new role.
Throughout my career, I’ve been a dedicated advocate for workers negotiating record-setting contracts in various sectors, favorably resolving grievances, and standing strong for member rights every step of the way.
I look forward to building strong connections across Region 9A and working together to amplify our collective voice. My commitment remains the same: to ensure every member is represented, heard, supported, and empowered.
In solidarity,
CJ Barber
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)
Maine AFL-CIO Endorses IUPAT & IAM Member Troy Jackson for Governor
Following the endorsement of our Maine CAP Council, the Maine AFL-CIO announced its endorsement of Troy Jackson for Governor. Jackson is a fifth-generation logger, a member of the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and the Machinists (IAM) unions, and has been a passionate advocate for the rights of working people as president of the state Senate. His advocacy in the 1998 logging blockade along the Canadian border to protest unfair trade policies launched his career in politics.
“Over the past two decades no one has done more to support unions and workers—showing up on picket lines, pushing pro-worker legislation forward and helping workers organize,” said the Maine AFL-CIO in its announcement. Troy has a stellar record of legislative accomplishment: winning free school lunches, making childcare more affordable, taking on big Pharma and lots more. Troy has consistently won in a tough district and can build a broad working class coalition with the best shot to win the general election.”
CAP in the News: What Zohran’s Win Means for UAW Members
UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla was interviewed on the MeidasTouch podcast about Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral primary win, and how politicians who fight for the working class are winning races and leading in polls across the country.
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW
Penn Postdocs and Research Associates Win Their Union
By a decisive margin, Postdoctoral Scholars and Research Associates at the University of Pennsylvania have voted in favor of forming a union, RAPUP-UAW. The vote was 703 to 38, or 95% in favor, according to ballots tallied by the National Labor Relations Board Thursday evening.
“We are thrilled with tonight’s results, and ready to work with the university towards a more democratic workplace,” said Emily Perkins, Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychology. “We love our jobs, but the increasing threats to international scholars coupled with inadequate compensation made a union the obvious choice. We’re ready to speak in one voice for fair pay, better job security, and a more equitable university.” Read more at UAW.org.
Women’s Department Talk About It Wednesdays
Tuesday, July 23 | 6 PM | Online
It’s time to talk about what too many workplaces ignore: Hot flashes on the job. Brain fog during discussions and retaining power through midlife. Join us for the next episode of Talk About It Wednesday’s, hosted by the UAW International Women's Department, where we will engage in a powerful conversation about Navigating Perimenopause and Menopause at Work and discover how to help women in transition retain their power as they navigate the Pause.
Our featured guest, Diana Bitner, MD, FACOG, MSCP is a leading menopause expert who will break down:
- The difference between perimenopause and menopause—and why it matters at work
- Symptoms that affect your shift, focus, and confidence
- How unions and leaders can better support midlife members
- Real tools, contract ideas, and ways to advocate for yourself and your sisters
This isn’t just health—it’s a labor issue. Want to ask a question? You can either submit your question to the UAW Women's Dept. at WomensDept1955@uaw.net and we can ask the expert, or you can call-in live during the Q&A segment of the live episode. Because working women deserve contracts, care, and conversation that include every season of life. Don’t miss it.
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.” Labor rights and civil rights are inextricably intertwined. Register for the UAW Civil and Human Rights Conference at the UAW Education Center in Onaway, MI. Talk with your local union leadership and request to attend. Registration is open until August 1.
2025 Contract Enforcement Boot Camp
September 7-12 | Register by July 28 | Onaway, MI
The UAW Education Department’s Contract Enforcement Boot Camp will offer intense training for local union grievance handlers, emphasizing an organizing approach to contract enforcement. Delegates will develop the basic technical skills needed to be effective union representatives while also working through more complex challenges facing stewards in a modern workplace. Register by July 28!
SOLIDARITY REQUESTS
Greater Boston LCLAA Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, July 23 | 5:30 - 7 PM | Zoom
Join Boston area Latinx union workers, worker center members and community leaders to strategize, organize and support Latino/a workers campaigns and communities in our region. We know that it will take collective power and solidarity to resist and fight back to protect the rights of all working people against these attempts to diminish our labor as well as the threats used to put fear into our communities.
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!
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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