UAW Region 9A Weekly Newsletter: March 30
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!
Download this newsletter as a PDF.
LOCAL & ORGANIZING UPDATES
Wellesley Organized Academic Workers on Strike! Join Tuesday’s Labor Solidarity Rally
Tuesday, April 1 | 11:30 AM | Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Join unions from around Boston for a rally in solidarity with the striking members of the Wellesley Organized Academic Workers (WOAW-UAW)!
WOAW has been on strike since Thursday fighting for fair wages and courseloads. Meanwhile, the College has been refusing to schedule additional bargaining sessions, while telling students their course credit and visa status are at risk.
With the support of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and the Framingham-Newton Building Trades Council, workers are rallying in solidarity with WOAW before they head back into bargaining.
New Organizing from New England to New York
- From April 3 to 5, workers at the South Street Seaport Museum will vote on becoming the latest museum staff to join UAW Local 2110.
- On April 9 and 10, the Researchers Organizing Committee at Sinai (ROCS-UAW) representing senior researchers has their official union election.
- Starting April 15, the School of Visual Arts Faculty United will also begin voting in their union election, with results expected in late May.
- Last week, the Newbury Comics Warehouse Union in Boston announced after a delay in the vote count that they won their election to join UAW Local 1596!
- UMass Chan postdocs and graduate workers filed last week with the Massachusetts Department of Labor with more than 70% support to unionize.
Columbia Campus Unions Come Together for Rally & Joint Statement of Demands
On Thursday, unions from across New York came together for a rally to reject the cowardice and complicity of Columbia University and to demand the reinstatement of Local 2710 president Grant Miner.
Read the statement and demands that the Contingent Faculty of Columbia University, the Student Workers of Columbia, the Columbia Postdoctoral Workers, the Teacher’s College Student Workers, and the Technical, Office, and Professional Workers of Columbia presented to the Columbia administration.
Local 571 Contract Campaign Heats Up in Connecticut
The Marine Draftsmen’s Association (Local 571) at Electric Boat in Groton is ratcheting up the pressure on their employer during contract negotiations. The bargaining committee activated over 60 local shop-floor councilors to join the open bargaining process and has been keeping the membership informed through regular video updates. The committee has been preparing rank-and-file members to take actions every week, leading up to a powerful rally and strike authorization vote scheduled for April 14.
At the bargaining table, the union presented its economic package on Tuesday and signaled to management that pensions-for-all, significant GWI, new profit sharing, and new COLA language are going to be necessary in order to reach an agreement. In the meantime, follow Local 571 on Facebook for the latest.
Region 9A Locals in the News
“Trautman and Diaz’s film follows Brooklyn and Manhattan theater workers who walked off the job Feb. 14 to protest the layoffs of 70 employees. The strike began after UAW Local 2179 filed an unfair labor practice charge, accusing Alamo — owned by Sony — of declaring an impasse in contract negotiations.”
- Brooklyn Paper: Behind the picket line: Filmmakers document Alamo Drafthouse workers’ battle for better pay (Mar. 21)
“Paralegals, legal assistants, program facilitators and other support staffers at Queens Defenders have begun to unionize, an effort that began almost immediately after the organization’s longtime, controversial leader was booted from her post earlier this year.”
- Queens Eagle: Queens Defenders staff unionizes following controversial director’s ouster (Mar. 25)
““The College’s proposal makes working overtime the new, required norm. We had hoped that Wellesley was serious about their claims to care about averting a strike, but their actions at the bargaining prove otherwise.”
- Wellesley News: WOAW to begin strike on Thursday (Mar. 25)
“Over 50 demonstrators gathered at the Sundial and outside Columbia’s 116th Street and Broadway gates on Monday as part of an ‘informational picket’ organized by Student Workers of Columbia-United Auto Workers.”
- Columbia Spectator: SWC-UAW holds ‘informational picket’ demanding protection for international students (Mar. 26)
“This strike comes after the college’s administration refused to thoroughly engage in good-faith bargaining and come to terms on many key proposals from the union, especially regarding compensation and workload. Now, in an unsurprising turn, the college has begun to place the full strain of the strike onto the backs of students and tenured faculty, while dodging accountability entirely.”
- Wellesley News: Wellesley’s administration is forcing students to pay for their own mistakes (Mar. 27)
FROM REGION 9A
WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show Talks with Region 9A Leadership
Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla appeared on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show last week to talk about building working class power across sectors, mobilizing in response to the attacks on our members at Columbia and throughout higher ed, and the upcoming New York City mayoral race, as well as taking listener questions. Listen to his 45-minute segment at WNYC.
Last Chance to Apply for the 2025 UAW Region 9A Summer Brigade
Applications are due tomorrow for the UAW Region 9A Summer Brigade! The Summer Brigade is a 5-week full-time intensive training program for Region 9A members which will prepare you to become effective labor educators and organizers in your local unions.
As part of the UAW Education Department’s Fellowship Program, participants will receive formal labor studies education at the City University of New York School of Labor & Urban Studies and training on the Education Department’s national curriculum guidelines and standards. Upon completion of the fellowship, participants will be certified as Local Union Discussion Leaders (LUDLs) and are able to conduct UAW education programs at locals and Black Lake with International resources, in coordination with the education representative.
Learn more and apply by March 31.
Region 4 LGBTQ+ Conference
June 11-14 | Ottawa, IL
UAW Region 4 has invited members from across the UAW to participate in its 2025 LGBTQ+ Conference. This conference celebrates diversity and will have a mixture of workshops and plenaries exploring ways to use our solidarity to fight bias in our workplaces and communities. Participation is open to all members, subject to their local’s approval and a capacity limit of 125 attendees. This conference will culminate with participating in the Ottawa Family Pride Festival Parade and associated activities, which will be held through the evening on Saturday, June 14. If interested in participating as a delegate from UAW Region 9A, please reach out to Alexi Shalom at ashalom@uaw.net.
Apply Now for the 2025 Richard Dik Days Scholarship Program
Applications are now open for the Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship! The Scholarship Fund, founded by the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Connecticut Chapter, UAW Region 9A, and the Days family, awards three $2,000 scholarships annually to Connecticut high school and college students.
The Richard ‘Dik’ Days Scholarship Fund was created in memory of Richard Adam Days, who was a labor educator for the UAW. Prior to his retirement he was the Education & Civil Rights Director for UAW Region 9A. Learn more and apply by May 9, 2025.
Region 9A Rank-and-File Assembly
Monday, March 31 | 7 PM | Zoom
The UAW Region 9A Rank-and-File Assembly is intended to be a region-wide organizing space led by rank-and-file members of our region, and members from every unit, local, and sector are welcome and encouraged to join. All members are invited to the next RFA meeting on Monday, March 31.
UAW Job Opening: Hiring for Servicing Representative in Region 9A
UAW Region 9A is hiring a Servicing Representative to be based in New York City or New England. Servicing Representatives are highly experienced staff who work with local unions to build worker power and represent workers in collective bargaining, as well as participate in developing our union’s programs to organize and achieve social justice. Staff in these positions also support new organizing drives and coalition-building with other unions and social justice organizations.
The UAW is dedicated to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that our collective strength is amplified when all voices are represented. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply to the position—candidates are encouraged to apply by March 31.
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)
Region 9A CAP in the News
“There is a growing rallying cry in the city’s mayoral race: D.R.E.A.M., or in other words, “Don’t Rank Eric or Andrew for Mayor. One of the first groups to promote the idea was United Auto Workers Region 9A, which represents union members in the city.”
- New York Magazine: Anti-Adams, Anti-Cuomo Voters Have a D.R.E.A.M. (Mar. 25)
Stop Stealing Our Retirement Phone Bank
Tuesday, April 1 | 12-2 PM | Zoom
All are invited to join us for a phone bank to call UAW members, retirees, and household members to oppose any cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security in the Republican reconciliation bill. We will be connecting with fellow members and then connecting them to their Republicans representatives in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
UAW Action Guide: Stop the Cuts to Our Veterans Hard-Earned Benefits
The Trump administration plans to cut over 80,000 employees from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Cuts to the VA staffing will greatly endanger veterans’ access to benefits and healthcare, including thousands of UAW members. Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have already fired thousands of veterans in the federal workforce, hurting UAW veterans and their families.
Use this UAW Action Guide to contact your representatives to say stop the cuts and stand up for our veterans. Share with your fellow members to fight back!
NYC Climate Justice Mayoral Forum
Monday, March 31 | 6:30 PM | CUNY Law School, Long Island City, NY
Global temperatures are on the rise, and NYC will likely experience stronger and more dangerous climate disasters. Now more than ever, we need our City's leaders to pass bold climate legislation, fight fossil fuel interests, and prioritize climate and environmental justice.
As the 2025 mayoral race picks up, we want to ensure that NYC's future Mayor prioritizes climate as a key issue for our city's future! Join a coalition of labor, community, faith, environmental justice, and climate organizations—including UAW Region 9A—to find out more about NYC mayoral candidates' climate and environmental justice plans to protect the most vulnerable communities and ensure NYC is adequately prepared to face a changing climate.
Take Action for Dignity Not Detention
The Dignity Not Detention Act aims to end the state's contracts with ICE, which currently allow ICE to use county jails to detain immigrant New Yorkers. By drastically reducing the number of detention facilities in the state, the legislation seeks to eliminate the practice of profiting from inhumane detention in New York and help protect immigrants from being separated from their families and communities.
The Dignity Not Detention campaign has weekly phone zaps to New York state legislators on Tuesdays at 1 PM. These phone calls are highly effective in targeting legislators to endorse and co-sponsor this legislation.
The Dignity Not Detention coalition will also travel to Albany on Wednesday, April 2, for a lobby day. No prior experience with lobbying is needed to participate. Free lunch and transportation to Albany will be provided.
Federal Unionists Network Let Us Work Rally
Wednesday, April 2 | 1 PM | Federal Plaza, New York, NY
Unelected billionaire Elon Musk is waging an assault on federal agencies, the public services they provide, and the workers who make them run. But federal workers are organizing and standing up to defend our public services and democracy.
Please join at 26 Federal Plaza from 1 pm to 2 pm, as they demand to be put back to work for the public. On April 2, ALAA Local 2325 is sponsoring the rally.
Massachusetts State Senator Lydia Edwards Joins WOAW Picket Line
Massachusetts State Sen. Lydia Edwards, who is a former UAW Local 2320 member, joined our members who are on strike at Wellesley College. Watch her speech on the picket line.
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL UAW
Kill the Cuts National Day of Action Planning Call
Tuesday, April 1 | 6 PM | Zoom
On Tuesday, April 8, higher ed workers across the country are standing up to demand NO cuts to life-saving research, medical care, and education. Find or plan an action near you at killthecuts.org.
In the meantime, join the national planning call featuring Naomi Klein on April 1 to strategize and share resources.
Statement from UAW President Shawn Fain on Attacks on Federal Workers
This week, President Trump signed an order that tramples on the union rights of more than a million federal workers, stripping them of their ability to negotiate over their working conditions. The 1 million members of the UAW stand with federal workers and their union, AFGE, against the attacks from the Trump administration.
The Reagan administration famously busted the air traffic controllers’ union, PATCO, firing over 11,000 striking controllers and blacklisting them from federal jobs. It wasn’t just about PATCO – it sent a message to employers everywhere that it was open season on the working class. The labor movement failed to act in that moment, and we have been paying the price ever since.
The actions the administration has taken this week are many times worse than PATCO, affecting over 1 million federal employees across at least 18 agencies. These actions are not just an attack on unions—it’s an attack on free speech, on workers’ right to organize, on the very idea that people should have a say in their own jobs and futures.
Read more at UAW.org and take action to stop Trump’s union-busting.
Higher Education Virtual Council Meeting
Wednesday, April 16 | 7 PM | Zoom
From funding cuts to attacks on free speech, our union has been busy fighting back against Trump’s assault on higher education. Our next opportunity to discuss these attacks and strategize our response will be at the Higher Education Council virtual meeting in April.
At our April meeting, we’ll hear about legislative changes affecting higher education workers, and the ways our members have been fighting back. We’ll also preview the new UAW Higher Education website and get your input on programming our first in-person meeting from June 21-22 in Pico Rivera, California.
SOLIDARITY REQUESTS
Massachusetts Union Member Candidate School
Saturday, April 5 | 10 AM - 2 PM | Ironworkers Local 7, Boston, MA
Are you thinking about running? Come learn from fellow union members who have successfully run for public office in Massachusetts! Lunch is provided.
Hands Off! New York City Fights Back
Saturday, April 5 | 1-3 PM | Bryant Park, New York, NY
Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. New York City is fighting back! They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them. This is a crisis, and the time to act is now. On Saturday, we're taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!
Just Transitions Summit: How Can We Fight the Climate Crisis and Achieve Economic and Social Justice?
April 3-5 | University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME
The urgency of the climate crisis has sparked movements calling for the immediate shut down of polluting industries such as coal plants, pipelines, and refineries while promoting green infrastructure and electric vehicles, thus ushering in a new, “green economy.” Proponents of the “green economy” often discuss public health and Earth’s future, while overlooking workers and communities affected by these transitions. The concept of a "just transition" seeks to ensure workers' livelihoods and community well-being during these shifts to a new economy, but its meaning is widely debated. This Summit will create space to examine and debate questions about a just transition from diverse perspectives.
Mass Alliance Grassroots Campaign Trainings
April 5-6, Holyoke, MA | June 7-8, Lowell, MA
Mass Alliance's signature Grassroots Campaign Training, is a comprehensive two-day bootcamp that will teach you all you need to know to run and win a grassroots campaign for public office including mailers, GOTV planning, fundraising, messaging, social media, and more. Learn more and apply!
National Immigration Project Two-Day Training for Community Defenders
April 10 & 11 | Zoom
Join the National Immigration Project on April 10 and 11 for our spring community defender training, “Rights and Resistance: Protecting Your Communities and Responding to Immigration Raids.” This two-day training is designed to equip organizers, advocates, and impacted community members with the knowledge to navigate and respond to immigration enforcement in their communities. Register here!
Cornell Strategic Corporate Research Summer School
June 22-27, 2025 | Ithaca, NY | Apply by May 1
The AFL-CIO and Cornell University are sponsoring a Strategic Corporate Research Summer School on June 22-27, 2025. The application deadline is May 1. The course is designed for students and others who want to make corporations accountable by working as researchers in unions and social change organizations. The course offers a regular track and an advanced track with an additional research and writing requirement. It is open to individuals applying on their own and to individuals sponsored by unions and other organizations. For more info, visit the course website.
2025 Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Convention
May 20-26, 2025 | Lake Buena Vista, Florida
The 54th International Convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) will be held in May in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The theme for this year’s CBTU Convention is “Preserving and Building on Our Legacy: Unbought, Unbowed, Unstoppable.” For additional information on the Convention program schedule and to download registration material, visit convention.cbtu.info.
National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education Conference
March 23-25, 2025 | New York, NY
The National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions, Hunter College, City University of New York will hold its 52nd annual national conference on March 23-25, 2025 in New York City with the theme Unity in Defense of Higher Education and Collective Bargaining. See the conference schedule and register online. Contact Alexi Shalom at ashalom@uaw.net for discounted registration rates: $80 for adjuncts and $55 for student workers.
UPCOMING EVENTS
2025 UAW Women in Leadership Conference
April 3 - 6, 2025 | Ottawa, IL
2025 UAW Health & Safety Conference
April 27 - May 2 | Black Lake, MI
UAW Bargaining Boot Camp Conference
May 4-9 | Black Lake, MI
UAW Education Committees Conference
May 18-23 | Black Lake, MI
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Convention
May 20-26 | Orlando, FL
38th Annual UAW Chaplaincy Conference
June 1-6 | Onaway, MI
Higher Education Council Meeting
June 21-22 | Pico Rivera, CA
Thanks for reading this week's newsletter! We hope you find the information contained herein valuable. If so, please share our subscription link! We love to highlight local unions and members—send your stories HERE!