UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: July 25

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LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES

UAW President Shawn Fain & Stellantis Department Visit Local 3942 Members in Fishkill

On Thursday, UAW President Shawn Fain, Stellantis Department Director Kevin Gotinsky, Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla, and servicing representatives from Region 9A and the Stellantis Department visited Region 9A’s newest local, Local 3942 in Fishkill, NY.

Local 3942 was formed by members from the former Local 422 in Mansfield, MA, and Local 3039 in Tappan, NY, which were both part of the historic UAW Stand Up Strike in 2023. The Stellantis contract consolidated a number of Stellantis Parts Distribution Centers across the country into fewer, larger facilities, which led to the establishment of the new facility in Fishkill.

President Fain toured the shop floor and took questions from the membership, discussing the transition and the UAW’s commitment to building a strong local at the Stellantis Fishkill facility that will continue the fight against corporate greed and for economic justice for autoworkers and the entire working class.

ON STRIKE! ALAA Members Picketing for Fair Contracts Across NYC

On Friday, President Fain also visited ALAA members on strike from the Urban Justice Center and Goddard Riverside Law Project. Along with their ALAA siblings at CAMBA Legal Services, these workers are still out on the line fighting for the fair pay and contracts they deserve.

In the past week, ALAA members at Appellate Advocates, Bronx Defenders, Center for Appellate Litigation, Legal Aid Society, New York Legal Assistance Group, and Office of the Appellate Defender have reached tentative agreements, which are now going to the membership to vote on ratification.

These TAs exemplify what we can win when our unions are strike ready. For example, at NYLAG, workers won an agreement with a $65,500 wage floor, $87,210 attorney step 1, improved workload protections, free speech outside the workplace, student loan assistance, 20 weeks parental leave, and more. And at Bronx Defenders, the TA includes a $68,500 wage floor for all workers, setting the standard for legal service providers across New York City.

Solidarity to our members at UJC, GRLP, and CAMBA who are still fighting the good fight! For continuing strike updates and information about where you can join ALAA members on the picket line, follow @alaa2325 on Instagram.

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

Region 9A Summer School Kicked Off Today with 150 Members in Attendance

Region 9A’s Summer School kicked off this morning with 150 members participating from nearly every local across our region. Thanks to the historic (and newly unionized!) LGBT Center in New York City for hosting our two-day event.

The first day of workshops included Building Political Power, Effective Union Meetings, Mobilizing in Manufacturing & Design, Fighting for Immigrant Justice, Communications for a Powerful Contract Campaign, The Fight Against Free Trade, and Striking to Win.

UAW President Shawn Fain addressed our members and said. “Members are leading the way here in Region 9A.” Read a full recap of day one on Twitter.

Region 9A Members Graduate from Summer CUNY Labor Seminar

This week, UAW members graduated from their Contemporary Labor Studies course at CUNY’s School of Labor and Urban Studies.

Members of Region 9A’s Summer Brigade program were joined by fellow UAW members from Locals 2325, 7902, and 2320 as students in this summer semester course, taught by Daniel Judt.

Many Region 9A members are eligible to participate in the Education Fund to receive up to $1,000 of tuition reimbursement to take courses like this one. Learn more at region9a.uaw.org/edfund.

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)

NOLSW Members Lobby in Washington for the Working Class Agenda

NOLSW Local 2320 members from Region 9A and across the country gathered in Baltimore this week for the local’s National Joint Council meeting. While there, members traveled to Washington, DC, for the day to educate members of Congress about legal aid issues and lobby for homes for all, Medicare for all, and more.

The NJC also featured a panel of three Local 2320 members from Massachusetts talking about how to build political power for the working class: Senator Lydia Edwards, Representative Tram Nguyen, and Emmylou Manwill, an NOLSW member currently running for Salem City Council. Region 9A is proud of our tradition of electing members to state and local office.

FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW

UAW Education Department Debuts New Website

Check out the new Education Department page at uaw.org/education. Members can access and download UAW’s published training materials for free, as well as find out information about upcoming Education Department conferences and institutes.

If you have questions about how you or your local can take advantage of the Education Department’s offerings, contact Region 9A Education Representative Alexi Shalom at ashalom@uaw.net.

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

Take Action to Support Empowering the App-Based Workers Act in Connecticut

Connecticut Drivers United is proud to announce that our Senator Chris Murphy is championing federal legislation called the Empowering App-Based Workers Act that would guarantee drivers at least 75% of each passenger’s fare. That’s money that pays rent, pays groceries, and stays in Connecticut, for the people who actually do the work. Please send a letter to Senator Blumenthal and ask him to join his colleague and support drivers!

Over 1,000 concession workers, members of UNITE HERE Local 26, just voted to go on strike at Fenway Park. After over six months of negotiations, these essential workers—who serve fans at one of the most profitable sports venues in the country—still lack a fair contract.

Workers are on strike for the entire Dodgers homestand. They will maintain a 24/7 picket line, and we are urging all supporters to turn out during peak solidarity shifts (listed above). Workers are not asking fans to skip the game, just to skip buying food and beverage while in the Park.

The key issues at stake are low wages that fail to match the cost of living in Boston and job-threatening automation, including the growing use of self-checkout stands. Let's show the Red Sox and their concessions vendors that Boston is a union town!

Families First: A National Day of Action
Saturday, July 26 | 11 AM | Boston Medical Center, 80 E. Concord St, Boston, MA

Join 1199SEIU and allies in Boston as part of a 50-state peaceful action calling on leaders to put care over cruelty and put our families first. In this moment of federal attacks on healthcare, workers, and public services, we’ll gather to affirm that we will protect each other—and demand a future where every family can thrive. For more information, please reach out to Henry Cohen at henry.cohen@1199.org.

UNITE HERE Rally: When We Fight, We Win
Tuesday, July 29 | 5:30 PM | Scantlebury Park, New Haven, CT

Connecticut has long been one of the wealthiest states in the country. New Haven hosts one of the wealthiest universities in the world. Recently, $2.5 billion dollars in public and private money has been invested in New Haven’s biotech and luxury housing sectors. But do most of us benefit from all of this wealth?

New Haven is closing schools, enlarging class sizes, and cutting student-facing positions. Residents are struggling to stay in their homes. We’re stringing together two, three, and even four jobs just to make ends meet. Please join us to rally on July 29 in New Haven as we fight for a city that provides opportunity for all residents.

Since 2020, Yale’s endowment has grown by $10.33 billion. Wealthy New Haven developers run anti-union campaigns against low-wage workers while expanding their real estate empires with the support of public money. Multinational food service companies complain that struggling workers make too much.

But there is another way. We can insist that wealthy institutions provide good middle-class jobs and pay their fair share to our city. We can insist that anyone who puts in 40 hours per week has dignity, economic security, and opportunity for their children. We can build a city where everyone has a safe and affordable place to live. We can have a city where all our youth, once again, are filled with hope instead of despair. We can build this city by simply insisting that the wealthy don’t take so much and insisting that our elected leaders join the fight.

We must fight back by building a hopeful vision where even the wealthiest do their part. But we cannot win this fight without you. Together we are struggling, and together we must fight.

F.U.N. Forum: Federal Workers Unite!
Thursday, August 7 | 5:30PM – 7:30PM | Thomas O’Neill Federal Building, Boston, MA

Federal workers are invited to this cross-agency forum to connect, reflect, and strategize in response to ongoing threats to public service and democracy. Hosted by and for federal employees, this event is a space to share experiences and strengthen solidarity. For more information, please reach out to Kyle Engels at kylengels@live.com.

Community & Labor Solidarity Picket with Teamsters Local 25 on Strike in Boston
Thursday, July 24 | 3 - 4:30 PM | 66 Norfolk Ave, Roxbury

Teamsters Local 25 members continue their strike against Republic Services, demanding fair wages, comprehensive benefits, and safe working conditions. Despite weeks of good-faith negotiations, the company refuses to meet basic community standards—so these workers are holding the line around the clock. Walk the picket line with GBLC unions, community allies, and Teamsters on strike—let’s make it clear: respect is non-negotiable!

You can also visit a 24/7 picket line at:
• 300 Center St, Holbrook
• 300 Forest St; 109 Newbury St; 5 Lakeland Park Dr; 277 Newbury St – Peabody
• 22 Nightingale Ave, Quincy
• 320-A Charger St, Revere

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

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 Contract Enforcement Boot Camp
September 7-12 | Onaway, MI

2025 UAW Membership Mobilization Institute
September 28 - October 3 | Onaway, MI

2025 UAW Local Union Officers Institute
October 5 - 10 | Onaway, MI