UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: December 19

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LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES

UMaine Grad Workers Ratify First Union Contract With a 99.3% Yes Vote

After more than two years of negotiations and internal organizing, the University of Maine Graduate Workers Union (UMGWU-UAW) bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement on a first union contract with the UMaine System administration. On Wednesday, members voted 438-3 in favor of ratifying the agreement.

“I’m excited to finally have a union contract,” said Sophie Craig, a PhD candidate in the Graduate School of Biomedical Science & Engineering. “We've been fighting for years to get to this point. Now graduate workers can see the improvements to our working conditions that we’ve been striving for.”

Kaia De Vries, a masters student at the Maine Center for Research In STEM Education (RISE), pointed to economic improvements. “We’ve seen nothing but stagnant wages and inadequate healthcare for years. Now, finally, we’ll have some progress. Our minimum pay is going up by thousands of dollars a year, with many of us seeing 17 percent raises or more in the next year. Pay increases every year of the contract and significant improvements to our health, dental, and vision benefits is a huge step towards addressing our economic stress.”

Read more and follow UMGWU on Instagram for the latest updates.

Resident Assistants at WPI & NYU Win Pioneering Tentative Agreements

This week, resident assistants at both Worcester Polytechnic Institute and New York University won hard-fought tentative agreements, joining the Resident Assistant/Peer Mentor Union at UMass Amherst as among the first RA unions in the country.

At WPI, resident assistants who have been on strike since October reached a tentative agreement and ratified their first contract this week. They will join the WPI Grad Workers Union as members of Local 2322. Meanwhile, Student Workers At NYU (SWAN-UAW) reached a tentative agreement after bargaining since March. Upon ratification, they will join Local 7902.

CAMBA IT Workers Hold the Line on Day 44 of Strike

IT workers at CAMBA, Inc. are on day 44 of their strike demanding 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 6+ 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.

Dozens of Electeds Congratulate Met Museum Workers in Advance of January Vote

This fall, workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art filed with the NLRB to join UAW Local 2110. The 900 workers will vote to join the union on January 13 and 15, making this New York City's largest new union election in 2026 right at the beginning of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s term.

On Friday, December 19, Mayor-elect Mamdani, Comptroller-elect Mark Levine, and presumptive Speaker-elect Julie Menin along with dozens of municipal and state officials located in New York City signed a letter led by UAW Region 9A in support of the Met Museum workers’ unionization efforts. The letter states: “These workers, coming together to fight for better wages, healthcare, and job security fulfills the ethos of what we mean when we say, ‘New York is a Union Town.’”

”It’s great to know that New York leaders are backing the unionization of museum workers,” said Jonathan Farbowitz, who works in Photo Conservation at The Met and also previously worked at the Guggenheim. “I was excited to see representatives from my own district sign onto the letter.” Follow the Met Union on Instagram for updates.

Support a Fair and Equitable Contract for Square One Teachers and Staff

Local 2322 members who are teachers and staff at Square One in Springfield, Massachusetts, are incredibly passionate and dedicated to providing quality care and learning for the families in their community. The Square One union began contract negotiations in March with a desire to negotiate terms that would allow them to continue this work and serve the community they care so deeply about.

Currently, nearly all Square One employees make below the living wage of $22.90 per hour as determined by the MIT Living Wage Calculator for a single person with no children or dependents. The current proposal by Square One management would still leave the majority of teachers and staff well below a living wage, with the cost of living likely to increase each year. Union members face housing and food insecurity, difficult financial choices between the necessities each month, and now, given their proposal, an uncertain future at Square One.

Add your name to the union’s petition calling on Square One management to provide a living wage to union members, be transparent about the organization’s finances, respect staff seniority, and invest in teachers and staff.

More Region 9A Locals in the News

“At the rally, The New School’s AAUP were joined by other groups like the part-time faculty union, Student Employees at The New School (SENS-UAW), Student Health Employees at The New School (SHENS-UAW), and The New School (non-academic) Student Workers Union (NewSWU), all of which are affiliated with ACT-UAW Local 7902. “

• New School Free Press: New School community members protest against continuing cuts (Dec. 12)

“Leaders and rank and file members of the NYU Contract Faculty United-UAW…delivered a letter calling on the administration to agree to a ‘fair contract’ with its elected bargaining committee. If the administration doesn’t and ‘continues to delay,’ the union will ask its bargaining committee to call for a strike authorization vote.”

• The Chief: NYU contract faculty union threatens a strike vote after 2 years without its first contract (Dec. 18)

FROM REGION 9A

Sign up for LSAT Prep for UAW Members in Spring 2026 in NYC
Tuesdays, February 3 - March 24, 2026 | Sign up by January 10

The UAW Region 9A Workforce Training Center is excited to release the course offering for Spring 2026. 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 more—but through the Workforce Training Center, you will have the opportunity to take this course for free with other UAW members.

Session B will be held in New York City on Tuesdays from 6 - 9 PM beginning February 3 and ending March 24. Session C of this course will be held April - May 2026. Register by January 10 to join!

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)

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

We are in a vital moment for the labor movement and for our country. We are facing unprecedented attacks on working families and unions. The world's richest 1% own more than the bottom 95% combined. Corporations are raking in record profits, while workers get left behind. Billionaires are doing everything they can to divide workers and pit us against one another.

Our union, the UAW, must lead if we have any shot at uniting and winning for the working class. This year's CAP Conference is focused on building our political muscle to win at the bargaining table, in the legislative halls and at the ballot box, focused on our core issues: wages, healthcare, retirement, and getting our time back. The conference will showcase speakers who are leading in their communities, bold legislative solutions for a working-class agenda, and workshops that build the skills necessary to build political power from the ground up.

Learn more and contact your local leadership or CAP Council to attend!

Region 9A CAP in the News

“Jane Fox, a parent, chair of the Legal Aid Attorneys Unit at UAW Local 2325 and a leader on the UAW Political Councils for New York City and State, said that, after living in the city for almost 20 years, the cost of child care forced her family to leave, saying that child care was their biggest expense, more than rent, groceries and student loans. ‘Without universal pre-K, we would have left New York State entirely,’ Fox said. ‘I am not unique, I’m average. I did what too many parents are forced to do every day because we cannot afford to live and work and care for our children in the five boroughs.’”

• The Chief: Workers, babies and electeds rally for universal childcare outside gov Hochul’s office

“Putting an average of $20,000 a year back in families’ pockets is the best investment our state can make toward achieving the affordability agenda,” said Brandon Mancilla, director of UAW Region 9A.

• Adirondack Explorer: Hochul pledged universal child care - advocates deliver a roadmap (Dec. 16)

Mamdani Transition Team Appoints UAW Champion Julie Su as Deputy Mayor

Region 9A members are representing UAW on NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team, which just announced the appointment of Julie Su as the first-ever Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice. This is a new position created in the NYC Mayor's Office that will coordinate all the work the administration will do to uplift workers rights, protect consumers, and keep corporate greed and bad bosses accountable.

As former U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Biden, Julie led the most pro-worker agenda in our federal government’s history, including ensuring that historic investments of federal dollars went to creating good union jobs, securing over $1 billion in back wages for victims of wage theft, and implementing the American Rescue Plan’s Special Financial Assistance program, which stabilized pensions for more than one million workers and retirees.

This appointment would not have been possible without our union's leadership and involvement in Zohran's historic campaign, as Julie Su was a tremendous champion of the UAW during the Stand Up Strike as Labor Secretary. We look forward to advancing workers' rights and organizing with Mayor Mamdani and Deputy Mayor Su. 

Maine AFL-CIO Town Hall with Gubernatorial Candidate Troy Jackson
Sunday, January 11 | 3 - 5 PM | Teamsters Local 340, South Portland, ME

The Maine AFL-CIO, Southern Maine Labor Council, and other unions are hosting a town hall with UAW Local 2320 member Troy Jackson, our endorsed candidate for Governor. This will be a participatory and fun event and food will be provided. This is a great opportunity to meet Troy, ask questions, and learn about why we have endorsed him to be our next Governor!

For the past two decades, no one has done more to support unions and workers in Maine than Troy Jackson. Troy has consistently shown up on picket lines, pushed pro-labor legislation forward and helped workers organize. Troy has a stellar record of legislative accomplishments including strengthening collective bargaining rights, winning free school lunches, making childcare more affordable, taking on big Pharma and lots more. Troy has also  won in a tough district and can build a broad working class coalition with the best shot to win the general election.

FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW

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.

Higher Education Department Recaps 2026 Campaign to Save Science Funding

Upon taking office on January 20, the Trump administration enacted a number of attacks on higher education, targeting federal funding to universities and scientific research as a means to restrict free speech and academic freedom. The administration cut federal funding for any grants believed to relate to issues of diversity, equity, or inclusion (DEI), attempted to reduce indirect costs in grants that go toward maintaining labs and covering the cost of administrative and maintenance staff (including some of our members), and targeted specific institutions for funding cuts where UAW represent workers including Columbia, Harvard, Cornell, and the University of California system. We joined lawsuits as a plaintiff and wrote briefs in others to fight back on the legality of these funding cuts.

UAW members took to the streets to push back on these massively unpopular cuts. Members shared how these funding cuts would impact their livelihood and stall potentially life-saving research with elected officials and the public. We also organized two legislative sign-on letters addressing the attempts by the Trump administration to slash science budgets and block research funding already appropriated by Congress. UAW members also organized town halls at which thousands of workers participated. Please check out our Kill the Cuts website for more information on this ongoing campaign.

Register for the 2026 Financial Officers Conference
February 22-27, 2026 | New Orleans, LA | Register by January 17

The Secretary-Treasurer’s office will hold the annual Financial Officers’ Conference in February 2026 in New Orleans. Participants will have an opportunity to attend core classes that offer in-depth training and resources specific to the duties of their elected position. These classes provide extensive training on targeted topics like step-by-step instructions for completing and electronically filing LM and 990 forms, administrative roles and responsibilities, and trustee training. Plenary sessions will cover topics of interest to all participants. Local unions responding early with a completed registration form and non-refundable fees will have the best chance of being placed in their workshops of choice before capacity is reached. Be sure to register early!

SOLIDARITY REQUESTS

Boycott Starbucks While Baristas Are on Strike!

Starbucks baristas are in the midst of the longest ULP strike in the company's history. Thousands of workers across 145+ stores are holding the line every day after years of illegal union-busting, understaffing, and retaliation. They are fighting for fair hours, higher take-home pay, and an end to hundreds of labor law violations.

Over 12,000 baristas have unionized more than 600 stores with Starbucks Workers United. They're fed up, united, and taking action to make sure Starbucks hears their demands – and they need our help. When allies and customers refuse to cross the picket line, it sends a clear message to Starbucks: We’re with baristas until they win the contract they deserve. Sign the pledge to boycott Starbucks!

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.

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.

Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) in the Winter
Saturday, March 14 | 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Worcester, MA

The Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD) provides education, training and support to help women become ever more effective organizers and leaders: in their unions and the labor movement as a whole; in the political arena and within their communities.

Global Labor Justice Campaign for #JusticeForPushpa

Sri Lankan garment worker, Paramsivam Pushpalatha, died in October after a Brandix factory that supplies for Victoria’s Secret refused her request to leave a shift early to seek medical attention. Since her death, Brandix has intimidated and threatened Pushpalatha’s family, coworkers, and union organizers. International labor rights advocates are demanding that Brandix’s cover-up must end immediately. Learn more from Global Labor Justice about #JusticeForPushpa.

Union Hiring Hall

• NOLSW Local 2320 | West Coast Servicing Representative | CA, NM, WA, CO, NV
• UAW International Union | International Representative, CAP Dept. | Washington, DC
• UAW International Union | Assistant Director, CAP Dept. | Washington, DC
• New Yorkers United for Child Care | Organizer | Manhattan & Bronx, NY
• New Yorkers United for Child Care | Communications Director | New York, NY
• Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union | Organizer | Newark or New Brunswick, NJ
• 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

2026 Financial Officers Conference
February 22-27, 2026 | New Orleans, LA