UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: August 22
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LABOR DAY 2025
Sign Up to March with Region 9A in NYC & Boston Labor Day Parades!
đ„ March with UAW Region 9A in Bostonâs Labor Day Parade
Monday, September 1 | 9:30 - 11:30 AM | Boston Common
Be part of history and join fellow UAW members to march in Bostonâs first ever Labor Day parade, hosted by the Greater Boston Labor Council! Weâll follow a powerful route that honors the victories of the past and energizes the movement weâre building today. All are welcomeâhelp us spread the word by inviting your coworkers to join us. Please RSVP!
đïž March with UAW Region 9A in NYCâs Labor Day Parade
Saturday, September 6 | 10 AM | West 45th St., New York, NY
Come march with fellow UAW members in this yearâs 2025 NYC Labor Day Parade, which is themed Power in Unity. Bring your family, friends, and colleagues and wear your Region 9A red shirt! All are invited to join us after the parade for food, drinks, and fellowship. Please RSVP!
Join Labor Day Celebrations in Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, & Vermont
đŠ Maine Labor Councils: Labor Day Celebrations
Sunday, August 31 & Monday, September 1 | Portland, Brewer, & Skowhegan, ME
The Central, Eastern, and Southern Maine Labor Councils are hosting Labor Day celebrations across the state. Join them for breakfast and barbeques in Portland, Brewer, and Skowhegan on Labor Day weekend.
đ„ New Hampshire AFL-CIO: Labor Day Breakfast
Monday, September 1 | 8 AM | Manchester, NH
Senator Bernie Sanders is the keynote speaker at this yearâs Labor Day Breakfast in Manchester. All sponsorship proceeds support the NH AFL-CIO PAC fund and the ongoing fight against anti-worker legislation like so-called âRight-to-Work.â Tickets are sold out, but you can sign up for the waitlist.
đ§ș Connecticut for All: Labor Day Canvass and Picnic
Monday, September 1 | 11 AM - 3:30 PM | Meriden, CT
Join labor and community leaders as we hit the doors to talk to our neighbors about the future of Connecticut, followed by a Labor Day picnic at 2:30 PM.
đ Vermont AFL-CIO: Every Worker Stronger on Labor Day
Monday, September 1 | 1-6 PM | Battery Park, Burlington, VT
Join labor unions and activist organizations for a family-friendly picnic and a rally and march spotlighting local workplace challenges and labor struggles. These events reflect the growing coalition of Vermonters organizing against the billionaire- and Trump administration-led war on workers and the oppressed.
LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES
Support ALAA Members Holding the Line Across NYC
ALAA Local 2325 members at CAMBA Legal Services and Goddard Riverside Law Project have been on strike for over a month. Theyâre fighting hard for a fair contract, and bosses at all our shops are watching to see if they'll hold strong or be forced to fold. They need the rest of us have their backs by joining them on the picket line!
Look out for next weekâs schedule by following CWU, GRLPU, and ALAA on Instagram. Both CAMBA and Goddard are small shops, so even a handful of people showing up for an hour or two makes a big impact.
More Region 9A Locals in the News
âThe intensity of the attacks from the federal government, however, is a firstâand has heightened tensions at both universities in a tumultuous year for higher education. HGSU-UAW and SWC-UAW have already clashed with administrators over international worker protections amid arrests and deportations.â
- The Nation: Trumpâs War on Higher Ed Comes to the Bargaining Table (August 21)
FROM REGION 9A
In Memoriam: Local 2121 Founding Member & RI CAP Vice Chair Dave Sherman
UAW mourns the loss of our brother Dave Sherman of Local 2121, who passed away after a long battle with cancer last week. Dave leaves behind a legacy of mentorship and service that touched countless lives throughout his community. His lifelong commitment to others was reflected in his steadfast advocacy for working people as a founding member of UAW Local 2121 and the vice chair of our Rhode Island CAP Council.
In recent years, Dave retired after more than 25 years as a table games dealer at Foxwoods Resort and Casino, where he was a founding organizer and one of the most influential voices in the creation of UAW Local 2121. He served as the Local's first Vice President and Chief Shop Steward, later chairing the Joint Health and Safety Committee for over a decade. In this role he championed protections for workers, including a no-smoking policy in casinos. Dave also served on the bargaining committee and as a Trustee, consistently standing up for his colleagues and their rights. His leadership and advocacy helped shape the union into what it is today, leaving an enduring legacy within the workplace and beyond.
Region 9A Members Represent at the 2025 UAW Womenâs Conference
Thank you to our members who represented Region 9A at the 2025 UAW Womenâs ConferenceâKathy Melish and Shelley DeLetter from Local 1596, Martha Fletcher, Velma Williams, and Liz Strader from Local 571, and Karina Whitaker from Local 2121 who served on the Regional Advisory Council.
At this year's conference, our members heard from and met with UAW President Shawn Fain and attended workshops on topics including advanced bargaining, addressing menopause in the workplace, and ending violence against women throughout the week.
ALAA UAW Local 2325 President Lisa Ohta, although unable to attend due to ALAAâs ongoing strikes, received an Activist of the Year Award for her leadership in new organizing and defending member democracy.
Please reach out to Vail Kohnert-Yount at vkohnertyount@uaw.net if you're interested in getting involved with the Region 9A Womenâs Council.
Workforce Training Center Launches Fall LSAT Prep Course for Members & Families
Register by September 2
The UAW Region 9A Workforce Training Center is excited to release the course offering for the second half of 2025. LSAT Prep for UAW Members was an extremely popular course in the first half of the year, and we are happy to bring the course to UAW members once again.
This 8-week intensive LSAT prep course is intended for members and their families who plan to attend law school. When offered by for-profit institutions, these courses can cost students $2,000 or moreâbut through the Workforce Training Center, you will have the opportunity to take this course for free with other UAW members. Learn more and register today!
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)
Greater Boston Labor Council Labor Walk to Reelect Mayor Michelle Wu
Saturday, August 23 | 10 AM | Hyde Park, Boston, MA
GBLC is hosting our first Labor Walk for Michelle Wu and other Boston endorsed candidates this Saturday in Hyde Park. Join us and save the date for another Boston Labor Walk on Saturday, September 6, launching from IBEW Local 103.
Labor for Zohran Kickoff Webinar
Wednesday, August 27 | 7 PM | Register for Zoom
Join public and private sector unions and members from across New York City for the Labor for Zohran kickoff webinar, featuring inspiring speakers, breakouts by union, and a teach-in on workplace canvassing. Make sure to register in advance on Zoom.
Need More UAW Swag in Your Life? Sign Up for VCAP!
The UAW Voluntary Community Action Program (VCAP) is our unionâs member-supported political fund. Thousands of UAW members make monthly VCAP contributions to support pro-worker political initiatives and candidates who earn our members' endorsement.
Political leverage in Washington and our state capitols can strengthen our position at the bargaining table, and it can help us win victories beyond bargaining. In todayâs political climate, with a resurgent and organized right-wing movement and an all-out attack on the working class by corporate greed, workers need to consider every source of leverage available to build power.
By supporting progressive legislative campaigns and candidates whose platforms support the working class, workers can gain the upper hand in our fight for dignified working conditions. A strong VCAP program means UAW members' voices can be heard to advance our own vision for the working class: fair compensation for our labor, health care and retirement security, and accessible education for all.
Region 9A members who donate monthly to VCAP will earn UAW swag, including tote bags, baseball hats, and bomber jackets! Learn more and sign up at region9a.uaw.org/vcap.
Region 9A CAP in the News
âSeveral states, including New York and Massachusetts, have drafted legislation that would cede control over certain private-sector cases and employees to state labor boards under specific conditions, such as when the NLRB lacks a quorum. The Massachusetts bill would allow the state board to certify graduate worker unions if the NLRB declares they are not employees, and to take them under its wing if the NLRB were dismantled altogether.
âAccording to Dorothy Manevich, an HGSU-UAW member on the executive board of the UAWâs Massachusetts political action committee, the Massachusetts bill draws from state laws designed to restrict abortion once Roe v. Wade was overturned. âThis is taking a page out of the conservative playbook with their reproductive rights trigger laws or their abortion ban trigger laws, where they were passing all these laws at the state level in anticipation of federal action,â Manevich said. âThat proved to be quite effective, right?ââ
- The Nation: Trumpâs War on Higher Ed Comes to the Bargaining Table (August 21)
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW
Sign Up for LUCAâs Monthly Online Newsletter
LUCA in the Loop is UAWâs monthly online newsletter dedicated to LUCA members. Sign up now and stay informed with the latest UAW news, training tips, and communications trends to strengthen your messaging and outreach. Each issue delivers insightful articles, best practices, and updates to keep you ahead in the ever-evolving world of labor communications. Stay in the loopâbecause strong communication builds a stronger union!
Sign the Petition to Keep Mack Trucks UAW-Made in Pennsylvania
Our UAW Region 9 siblings in Pennsylvania have built their communities for generations because of proud union jobs at Mack Trucks. Now, the company wants to sacrifice working families in the state to squeeze as much as they can out of exploited Mexican workers doing the same work for less. The UAW is fighting to end this race to the bottom that pits workers in the U.S. against workers in Mexico. Weâre both getting screwed by corporate greedâand the only people who win are CEOs and Wall Street. Please sign the petition and stand with UAW Local 677!
SOLIDARITY REQUESTS
AFL-CIO It's Better in a Union Bus Tour in Maine
Tuesday, August 26 and Wednesday, August 27
The national AFL-CIOâs âItâs Better in a Union: Fighting for Freedom, Fairness, and Security" Bus Tour will be making two stops in Maine on Tuesday, August 26 and Wednesday, August 27. The tour will stop at the Solidarity Center in Brewer for a mid-day press conference with the Eastern Maine Labor Council on August 26, followed by another stop at the Local 14 Solidarity Center in Jay on August 27 for a training on key skills on how to stay safe during public actions.
The bus tour has been crisscrossing the nation in the lead up to Labor Day to amplify workersâ voices in our fights to organize, address issues that matter to us and highlight how the Administration is making the lives of working class people harder. The union leaders and members traveling on the bus will stop in 26 states to join picket lines, support organizing campaigns, visit Veterans Affairs and Medicaid-funded facilities and hospitals gutted by DOGE, and speak directly with workers whose jobs have been ripped away by the Administration.
Massachusetts AFL-CIO Racial Justice Committee First Friday Meet-Up
Friday, September 5 | 4 - 8 PM | District 7 Tavern, Roxbury, MA
First Friday is a new monthly event hosted by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Racial Justice Committee. This gathering is designed as a social approach to organizingâa relaxed environment where union members can connect, build relationships, and learn more about the powerful work happening across our movement.
Our goal is to create a welcoming space where members can:
- Meet and connect with the labor constituency groups
- Learn about upcoming union activities and campaigns across Massachusetts.
- Get involvedâwith opportunities to join constituency groups, participate in labor events, and strengthen our collective impact.
Rather than a formal agenda, the evening will center on connection, conversation, and building solidarity in a relaxed and engaging way. Please RSVP! Food and a cash bar will be available. Together, we can build power, strengthen our community, and create new pathways for leadership and action.
Massachusetts: Contact Your Legislators to Support the FAIR Act
Employers are increasingly using new technologies that rely on AI and machine learning to hire, discipline, monitor, promote, and fire workers. At the same time, employers have started incorporating these technologies into the regular job responsibilities and expectations of their employees.
The Massachusetts AFL-CIO has endorsed a solution to ensure working class people have strong safeguards to protect from the harmful effects of artificial intelligence and other algorithmic tools. The FAIR Act creates commonsense guardrails on artificial intelligence to protect workers while supporting the benefits of innovative technology. Contact your legislators to cosponsor the FAIR Act today!
WILL Empower 2025 Edna Berger Award Nomination
WILL Empower is awarding the 2025 Edna Berger Young Courageous Leader Award ($15,000) to a leader who is leading for transformation. WILL Empower celebrates cisgender and transgender women, gender expansive and gender non-conforming leaders who reside and work in North America and who are actively involved in worker justice movements. Learn more about Edna Berger and the Berger-Marks Legacy.
Do you know a young (age 30 and under) courageous leader who demonstrates a commitment to worker, racial, and gender justice? Tell us about them. They should be affiliated with unions, worker centers, community-based organizations, or other justice-seeking organizations where worker well-being is central. Their work and accomplishments must demonstrate a willingness to confront power and exclusive institutional practices for greater equity. Nominate a leader who inspires you using this form!
UPCOMING EVENTS
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