Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
UNITE HERE Members at Hilton Americas-Houston Win New Contract and End 40-Day Strike: After bravely holding the line for 40 days in what was the first hotel strike in Texas history, members of UNITE HERE Local 23 who work at Hilton Americas-Houston successfully secured a new collective bargaining agreement on Friday. Hospitality workers won a number of major victories including a $20/hour minimum wage—with increases that will bring workers to $22/hour by the end of the contract—job security protections, improved housekeeping workloads and improved safety standards. “This victory is an attestation of our members’ strength, their will, and determination. They held the line for over a month in the heat and rain, as they fought to secure better standards after being left behind for so long. It was an incredibly hard fight, and the outcome reflects just that. Now we expect all the players in Houston’s hospitality industry to follow suit and pay workers a living wage,” said Franchesca Caraballo, Texas Chapter President of Local 23.
Michigan Home Care Workers Win Election to Join SEIU: On Thursday, 32,000 home care workers voted to form a union with SEIU Healthcare Michigan, 13 years after former Gov. Rick Snyder ripped away their collective bargaining rights by reclassifying them. The current governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, reversed her predecessor’s attack on these workers last year, paving the way for them to fight for the wages and benefits they deserve. “This is a proud day for Michigan. If anyone needs a union, it’s home care workers. When the union was stolen from us, I was devastated. But I didn’t lose hope. I knew we would reclaim our union one day—and that day has finally come.” said Phyllis Pride, a home care worker from Ecorse. “This all happened because we took a stand: home care workers and the people we care for deserve better. We deserve respect and dignity. That starts with a union. Together, in SEIU Healthcare Michigan, we can now build the long-term care system Michigan deserves.”
Sutter Health Workers Secure New Tentative Agreement: More than 4,700 SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) members at eight Sutter Health facilities across Northern California have successfully leveraged a major strike threat to reach a tentative agreement on their new contract. Nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, environmental services, food services, x-ray technicians, respiratory therapists and other essential staff voted overwhelmingly earlier this month to authorize a work stoppage in response to bad faith bargaining from Sutter executives. The power of their unity paid off, and members will now vote on a deal that includes wins like a 14% across-the-board raise, protections for health care and retirement benefits, and more. “This tentative agreement shows that when we stand united, we can win improvements that protect both healthcare workers and our patients,” said Dinora Garcia, a dietary clerk from Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport. “Reaching this agreement wasn’t easy but we stood together to advocate for worker and patient safety, improved staffing levels, and fair wages and benefits that reflect the vital work we do every day.”
Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition Workers Ratify First Contract: The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA) members who work for the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition (MEJC) are celebrating the ratification of their first-ever collective bargaining agreement. Staff at the statewide nonprofit work to achieve a healthy and safe environment for vulnerable residents in the state. Their contract established a number of wins that will ensure they can continue this important work such as wage increases, remote work flexibility, retirement security and more. “This contract was hard won. Every member of our unit (past and present) has their hands on these pages. I am elated for our shared success in securing protections and benefits for workers at MEJC,” said Aiko Fukuchi, operations associate at MEJC. “The severance language we were able to confirm was a priority for us in this contract. We wanted to ensure workers had some security they could rely on, especially in such unpredictable times as these. It must be noted that through this process, we benefited greatly from the past efforts and successes of other units in The NewsGuild.”
SAG-AFTRA Announces New Verticals Agreement for Mobile Content: SAG-AFTRA announced an upcoming new media contract Monday specifically designed to protect and empower performers in the rapidly growing, mobile-optimized micro-dramas industry. The Verticals Agreement would cover serialized short-form dramas that are designed to be watched on mobile devices with production budgets under $300,000. Vertical storytelling opportunities have increasingly been of interest for members in a tight entertainment job market, and this new contract will ensure they still benefit from SAG-AFTRA standards in these roles. “Our members are always on the lookout for good work opportunities,” said SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin. “As technology develops and our industry looks for creative ways to engage audiences, new formats emerge. SAG-AFTRA perceives the advent of so-called ‘verticals’ as an exciting new space. This fast-evolving format is catching on, and we are here to support our performers as they pursue their craft and engage this new business model. By offering a contract that is tailored to the unique needs of these projects, our union is meeting the moment. As the business of verticals experiences substantial growth, so too will our relationship with the producers.”