UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: November 21

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A MESSAGE FROM REGION 9A DIRECTOR BRANDON MANCILLA

Dear Region 9A members,

As we shared in last week’s newsletter, our brother Dan Vicente made the very difficult decision to resign as Region 9 Director. As we move forward, I shared these reflections on Dan's contributions to our union. Please keep Dan and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he focuses on his health.

Dan’s departure led the International Executive Board to consider several options for Region 9’s future, including merging Region 9 into Region 9A. This week, the IEB decided that there will not be a merger and will instead hold a special convention for Region 9 local delegates to elect a new director, who will serve until the next direct election by the members in 2026.

Regions 9 and 9A will always work closely together because of our shared history and future, and we look forward to continuing our work of building a stronger UAW together. If you haven’t already, please consider signing this petition in support of UAW Local 677 members, who are facing potential layoffs and job losses at Mack Truck in Region 9. A special thank you to Local 677 and Region 9 for hosting our members for a training at their union hall in Allentown this past Saturday—read more about our visit below.

In solidarity,
Brandon Mancilla

LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES

Metropolitan Museum of Art Staff Petition NLRB for Vote for Join UAW Local 2110

On Monday, UAW Local 2110 petitioned the NLRB for a union election for nearly 1,000 full-time and part-time professional and non-professional staff of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Workers cite long term pay inequities, lack of job protection and ever-increasing workloads as reasons for the unionization efforts, which were covered by the New York Times, Hyperallergic, Bloomberg Law, and Hell Gate.

Initial conversations about unionizing started in 2020, with staff sharing concerns generated by the pandemic. In 2022, the group reached out to UAW Local 2110, known nationally for organizing staff at major cultural institutions, including the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MoMA, New Museum of Contemporary Art, Guggenheim Museum, MASS MoCA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and others.

“The union effort was started during the pandemic by a group of long-time staff who know the Met extremely well and have been through multiple crises where we have lost staff and benefits.,” says Rebecca Capua, a conservator who has been employed at the Met for 16 years. “We want our jobs at the Met to be viable long term careers—for ourselves and for those who come after us."

Read more about their drive and follow @metunion on Instagram for the latest updates.

Support Local 2377’s Fundraiser for Disaster Relief in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa left shocking damages on the island of Jamaica. Many farmers and fishermen, primarily in the Western section of Jamaica, are still grappling with their loss. This impact is more than the loss of buildings and trees—it disrupted their livelihoods, destroyed much of the farming community, and leaves behind the possibility of significant long-term food insecurity.

UAW Local 2377 representing Stamford municipal workers is raising relief funds for the Ole Farmers Association North America Inc. (OFANA), a nonprofit formed by graduates from the Jamaica School of Agriculture and its successor colleges, COA and CASE, to assist with the recovery of the Jamaican agricultural sector.

There are two ways to contribute to their relief efforts:

Make a tax-deductible donation via Zelle to olefarmersnorthamerica@gmail.com.
Drop off essential items at several drop-off locations in Stamford.

Local 1850 Credit Union Workers in Puerto Rico Make Big Gains in Recent Contract Win

UAW Local 1850 members from AEELA, which represents workers at the credit union serving public sector workers in Puerto Rico, approved their recent tentative agreement with 99% of the vote. Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla congratulated Local 1850 members on this hard-fought victory. "There were many new young workers hired between the last contract and this expiration, and our region was proud to do a training with Local 1850 members on UAW 101, contract campaigns, and bargaining,” he said. "We were happy to see just a week later they ratified a new contract with significant gains for the membership.”

The approved agreement includes excellent benefits such as a $300 monthly salary increase, a $1,750 signing bonus, $700 monthly for health insurance, an increase in the Christmas bonus, 10 days of catastrophic illness leave, paid birthday off, $100 monthly for health insurance for retirees, and new language in several articles expanding benefits to all personnel, including payment of service bonuses, accrual and payment of vacation leave upon retirement, and the accrual of hours toward the Christmas bonus for new employees, among other benefits.

IT Workers at CAMBA, Inc. Are (Still!) On Strike

IT workers at CAMBA, Inc. are on strike to demand fair wages, dignity, and respect for the vital work they do. As the digital backbone of one of New York City’s largest nonprofits, CAMBA’s IT staff make it possible for thousands of low-income New Yorkers to access housing, education, and legal support.

On November 5, workers were forced to walk out after CAMBA rejected modest, common-sense proposals: living wages for administrative assistants, annual cost-of-living increases, and a fair multi-year contract. Over the last two weeks, CAMBA Management has flouted the Union's demands to return to the negotiation table, and unfairly conditioned further bargaining on the Union's withdrawal of their ULP and acceptance of the poverty wage proposal the Union already rejected.

The small-but-mighty CAMBA IT Workers Union is on indefinite strike until they reach a fair deal. Union workers can support their fight by joining a picket or phone bank next week and donating to striking workers' hardship fund.

Picket | Monday, Nov. 24 | 12 - 1:30 PM | 20 Snyder Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Picket | Tuesday, Nov. 25 | 12 - 1:30 PM | 20 Snyder Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Virtual Phone Bank | Wednesday, Nov. 26 | 12 - 1:30 PM | Zoom

UnLocal Union Wins NLRB Election to Join ALAA Local 2325

UnLocal Union, organized with ALAA-UAW 2325, won their NLRB union election unanimously on Tuesday. The victory was a long time coming: UnLocal Union workers first demanded voluntary recognition back on September 3, but management refused to recognize the union in spite of near unanimous support.

When the union's NLRB vote count was indefinitely delayed by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, UnLocal Union maintained momentum by engaging in a Halloween-themed shop floor action and building community support via a public sign-on letter.

The unanimous vote underscored that the union's power only strengthened in the face of their employer's stalling tactics. UnLocal Union members are mobilized to win job security, pay transparency, and stronger benefits in their first CBA!

Postdocs Rally for a Fair Contract at Einstein College of Medicine
Wednesday, December 3 | 1 PM | Price Building, Bronx, NY

Postdocs at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have been fighting for over a year for a fair contract, but the college administration is still refusing to agree to commit to basic rights and protections in a union contract, falling behind its unionized competitors across NYC as a result. While Einstein has been delaying and going backwards on terms they previously agreed to, postdocs have also been fighting back alongside other UAW members across the country against unprecedented threats to higher education, including drastic cuts to federal research funding and escalating attacks on immigrants and international scholars.

It's time for Einstein to stand up and meet the moment by agreeing to a fair contract with postdoctoral researchers that provides critical stability and rights during this period. To send a clear message to Einstein that their delays and intransigence must end, Einstein postdocs are rallying on Wednesday, December 3, in front of the Price building. Please join other postdocs and community members to call on Einstein to agree to the contract we deserve—RSVP here!

Coolidge Corner Theater Union Rally
Wednesday, December 3 | 5 - 7:30 PM | Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, MA

The Coolidge Corner Theatre Union needs you! For a year, UAW Local 1596 members have been negotiating with the Coolidge for better wages and transparency with little to show for it.

Come help us demand better from the Theatre we all love during one of their biggest fundraisers. Signs will be provided. Just dress warm and bring your enthusiasm for the cause!

More Region 9A Locals in the News

“More than 800 Harvard affiliates signed a petition urging the University to offer legal assistance to Venezuelan staff members who lost their authorization to live and work in the United States after the Temporary Protected Status program for Venezuelan nationals expired this month. [...] The Harvard Law School chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, the International Scholars Working Group of the Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Auto Workers, and the Student Labor Action Movement cosponsored the petition.

Harvard Crimson: 800 Affiliates Petition Harvard To Aid Venezuelan Staff After TPS Expiration (Nov. 17)

“The [Association of Legal Aid Attorneys-UAW Local 2325] representing public defenders at the Brooklyn Defender Services has found staunch allies in the New York City Council as the labor group contends management is trying to bust the union. Nearly two dozen Council members penned a letter to the Brooklyn Defender Services Board of Directors, requesting it launch an independent, external investigation into the allegation.”

City & State NY: Council members call for investigation into Brooklyn Defender Services (Nov. 21)

FROM REGION 9A

Region 9 & 9A Members Join Forces for Local 677 Ed Committee Training at Mack Truck

Members from Locals 2110, 2320, 2325 travelled to Allentown, PA last Saturday at the invitation of the Local 677 Education Committee to participate in a joint training on the UAW’s history and core values. Local 677 workers build Mack Trucks, along with several other workplaces, and are fighting the offshoring of their work due to unfair trade policy.

This training was a great opportunity for collaboration between Regions 9 and 9A. Thank you to Local 677 and UAW Region 9 for hosting our New York City members at their union hall. “The UAW 101 and Core Values workshop was an eye opener, learning both the true meaning of the UAW's core values and also about the history of our union,” said Jason Ortiz-Troxell from Local 677. “I also had the pleasure of meeting some of the very brilliant and outstanding people from Region 9A. I learned that cross-region and sector collaboration is not only beneficial but very important to what we continue to fight for as a whole, especially during times of corporate greed, government overreach, and unfair labor practices.”

“It was really energizing for our members to attend a training hosted by Local 677,” said Brenden Ross, from UAW Local 2325 in New York. “We got a ton of great ideas to bring back to our own locals in 9A and are looking forward to more cross-local and cross-sector collaboration with our siblings in Region 9.”

Rafaela Uribe, from UAW Local 2320 in New York, said: "As a newer member to the union this education session offered not only an opportunity to learn more about the long history of social justice of the UAW and our core values but also time to learn from my union siblings in different departments and industries about their experiences living these values. This type of exchange is exactly what our labor movement needs to continue to grow in strength and unity!"

Higher Ed Labor United Northeast Regional Bargaining Summit
January 9-10, 2026 | UMass Amherst, Amherst, MA | Register by December 15

Join us in January in Amherst for HELU’s first Northeast Regional Higher Education Bargaining Summit. In the Northeast, where we have deep collective bargaining traditions, we have an opportunity to learn from each other and build power to fight for our shared goals and values. This Bargaining Summit brings together higher ed unions from across the northeast to build a common agenda for our region–to set new floors on wages, working conditions, and quality education.

Learn from one another’s experiences, with time dedicated to learning from others across the full range of job categories and institutions, including community colleges, 4-year universities, and research institutions. There will be breakouts on wages, workload, job security, safety, and more. Together, we’ll start developing a shared bargaining platform — common goals and demands that we can fight for collectively, strengthening our voice across states and across sectors.

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)

NYC Rally for Universal Child Care
Thursday, December 11 | 10 AM | 919 3rd Avenue, New York, NY

Governor Hochul says she wants to get us on a pathway to universal child care—so parents and would-be parents are going to Albany in 2026 to show the governor that we want it too!

Join UAW Region 9A and New Yorkers United for Child Care for our campaign kick-off on December 11 at 10 AM outside the Governor’s office in Midtown Manhattan.

In the meantime, members are invited to sign the petition for universal child care for all two-year-olds in New York City, following the success of universal 3-K and pre-K.

Join Your Next Region 9A CAP Meeting

The CAP is the legislative and political arm of our Region, with councils in Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Each local has representatives on their states’ CAP councils, and all members are welcome to attend meetings, which are typically monthly. The next CAP Council meetings are:

New York City: Thursday, December 4, 9:30 AM
Massachusetts: Wednesday, December 10, 10 AM

If you would like to learn more, please reach out to CAP Representative Aaron Eisenberg (aeisenberg@uaw.net). If interested in joining your CAP council’s next meeting, please email James Taylor (jhtaylor@uaw.net).

FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW

Region 9A Featured in Fall 2025 Issue of Solidarity Magazine—Now Available!

The new Fall 2025 issue of Solidarity Magazine is now available! Spotted from Region 9A:

MDA Local 571’s strike captains
CORE & SVAFAC’s union victories
UAW 2325's sectoral bargaining
UVM, UNH, & UMaine contract fights
Zohran’s NYC mayoral victory
Local 2396’s fight against austerity

If you didn’t get a copy in your mailbox, be sure to update your contact info with UAW at myinfo.uaw.org.

SOLIDARITY REQUESTS

AFL-CIO Frontline Solidarity: A Mass Deportation Fight-Back Toolkit

The AFL-CIO released a new edition of Frontline Solidarity: A Mass Deportation Fight-Back Toolkit for Union Activists and Organizers, which is an educational resource to fight back against the mass deportation agenda impacting workers. Union activists and organizers can request a copy of the toolkit, which includes know your rights materials, expanded employer engagement guidance, and updates on travel, termination of status, and detention.

Support Starbucks Workers United on Strike

Unionized Starbucks workers have gone on strike in over 40 cities demanding fair pay, better working conditions, and the resolution of hundreds of unfair labor practice charges. Starbucks Workers United is calling this historic strike the “Red Cup Rebellion.” Baristas walked out on November 13th and won’t return until Starbucks executives, including ultra-rich CEO Brian Niccol, negotiate a fair contract with the union. At least one thousand workers are on strike, and all members of Starbucks Workers United are asking people to stop buying from Starbucks until the strike is over. Stand in solidarity with unionized Starbucks baristas and sign their “No Contract, No Coffee” pledge!

On the Line Presents A Subterranean Fire: Building a Fighting Labor Movement
Friday, November 21 | 6:30 - 8 PM | People’s Forum, New York, NY

On the Line is bringing together two of the most dynamic leaders in the labor movement for a powerful, one-night conversation on the future of working-class struggle in the U.S. Join us for a live discussion with Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), and Jimmy Williams Jr., General President of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). Together, they represent nearly 200,000 workers across the U.S. and Canada.

Together, we will discuss the lessons from recent labor struggles, the wide demands for a general strike and how organized labor is responding in this moment, and what it will take to revitalize the labor movement into a fighting force against Trump’s war on the working class. On Friday, we’ll dig into these urgent questions and explore where the labor movement goes from here, and how we can contribute to building this revitalized, bold, and fighting labor movement.

Maine AFL-CIO Worker Candidate Training
January 24-25, 2026 | Augusta, ME

Have you ever considered running for public office someday? Do you want to see more working class people in Augusta, on town council, or school board? Would you like to help others with their campaigns? Come to the Maine AFL-CIO’s 2026 Worker Candidate Training in January in Augusta!

To win important labor victories like stronger collective bargaining rights, living wages, tax fairness, affordable housing, child care and health care, we need more union members and working-class allies making the decisions that affect us all. We know that union members make great candidates and will often carry labor's vision into elected office.

At our Worker Candidate Training we'll spend two days going over everything you need to know to run a campaign for elected office. You’ll learn how to create a campaign plan, knock on doors, speak in public, qualify for Clean Elections funding, develop a message, build a team of volunteers, and other key aspects of campaigning. You can attend if you are interested in running for office, learning more or helping out on campaigns.

Call for Proposals for the 2026 Boston Labor Conference at UMass Boston
March 28, 2026 | Submit proposals by November 21

With an eye towards surviving and defeating Trumpism while forging a broad-based movement, the tenth annual Boston Labor Conference examines the array of attacks faced by working people since the start of 2025 while also exploring the various ways in which they have fought back. In addition to sweeping analyses that attempt to make sense of Trump’s second term on a broad level, we welcome proposals for papers/presentations that offer historical perspectives and critical analysis across a range of areas related to the ongoing attack and defense of: democracy and government, a more just economy, immigrants, labor unions, public education, healthcare, LBGTQ+ communities, the media, the legal system, the environment, basic personal freedoms, and so on.

To submit a proposal to give a presentation at the Boston Labor Conference on March 28, 2026, please send a (a) very short CV (or just tell us about yourself) and (b) one-page abstract of the proposed paper/presentation by November 21st to laborresourcecenter@umb.edu and steve.striffler@umb.edu.

Sign the Petition to Support the Massachusetts State House Employee Union

The Massachusetts State House Employee Union is calling for supporters to sign onto a letter to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee in support of S.1343/H.2093, An Act Relative to Collective Bargaining Rights for Legislative Employees. These bills would extend to State House staff the same right to unionize that almost all workers in the Commonwealth enjoy. Please add your name to show your support for the Massachusetts legislative staffers.

Union Hiring Hall

UAW International Union | International Representative, CAP Dept. | Washington, DC
UAW International Union | Assistant Director, CAP Dept. | Washington, DC
UAW International Union | Financial Strategist, Research Dept. | Detroit, MI
New Yorkers United for Child Care | Organizer | Manhattan & Bronx, NY
Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union | Organizer | Newark or New Brunswick, NJ
University of Southern Maine | Lecturer in Sociology & Labor Educator | Portland, ME
Emergency Campaign to Support Higher Education | National Campaign Director
Emergency Campaign to Support Higher Education | National Organizing Director

UPCOMING EVENTS

2026 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference
January 15-18, 2026 | Baltimore, MD

UAW National CAP Conference: Building Power for the Working Class
February 8-11, 2026 | Washington Hilton, Washington, DC