Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
Working People Respond to Executive Order Attacking Federal Worker Collective Bargaining RightsPrimary tabs
Working People Respond to Executive Order Attacking Federal Worker Collective Bargaining Rights: “The Trump administration issued a new executive order stripping collective bargaining and union rights from workers across the federal government. Advocates for working people condemned the move.”
Panel of Postal Union Leaders Maps Plans to Combat Privatization Threat: “A longtime right-wing goal, the threat of privatization of the Postal Service, and the retirement of controversial Trumpite Postmaster General Louis DeJoy dominated the discussion by three postal union presidents of the USPS and its future. The March 25 panel, with Letter Carriers (NALC) President Brian Renfroe, Postal Workers (APWU) President Mark Dimondstein, and Rural Letter Carriers President Don Maston, not only discussed DeJoy’s departure—and who might succeed him—but who would follow DeJoy’s controversial postal ‘modernization’ plan.”
Ohio University Faculty Approve Unionization by Wide Margin: “Nearly 800 Ohio University faculty will soon be part of a union, following a years-long organizing campaign and an election that saw more than 70% of participating faculty vote to unionize, according to unofficial results. ‘We worked really hard for this, and we actually had a very good sense that we had strong support,’ faculty organizer Julie White told the Independent. ‘It was a pretty overwhelming victory, and now I think the task is to go forward and represent the interest and concerns of faculty.’”
Interview: Sheria Smith, Leader in the Fight to Save the Education Department: “Sheria Smith is President of AFGE Local 252, which represents workers at the U.S. Department of Education. As the Trump-Musk administration moved to completely dismantle her agency, Smith suddenly became the focal point of the labor movement’s fightback. People’s World talked with her in Dallas on March 23.”
CSX Announces Tentative Agreement with Boilermakers Union: “CSX on Tuesday evening (March 25) announced it had reached a tentative five-year labor agreement with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, its second such deal of the day. The union—formally the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers—represents 59 CSX employees.”
Activision User Research Workers Vote to Form Union with CWA: “Today, labor union group Communication Workers of America (CWA) took to their blog to announce that user research workers within Activision overwhelmingly voted to unionize with the CWA last Friday. Microsoft has also recognized the union, per the release.”
NCCC, IBEW Vote to Ratify National Agreement: “The National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) and members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have voted to ratify a national collective bargaining agreement. This ratified national agreement is the seventh of the 2025 bargaining round, following the successful contract ratification by BMWED members last week.”
Celebrating Federal Workers at L'Enfant Plaza: “‘We often take federal employees for granted, yet they dedicate their lives to serving the American people, often under challenging circumstances,’ said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. ‘It's crucial that we take time to recognize their hard work and commitment, not just on special occasions, but every day. They are going through a difficult time, and we are proud to support them with a simple thank you.’”
Education Dept. Should Be Made Efficient, Not Dismantled: Union President: “Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, warned that dismantling the Department of Education could have severe consequences for students across the nation, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Washington Senate Passes Bill to Extend Unemployment Benefits to Striking Workers: “The Washington State Senate has passed Senate Bill 5041, which would extend unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to workers during labor strikes. If the bill passes the House and is signed by the governor, Washington would become the third state, after New York and New Jersey, to grant this benefit. The bill allows striking workers who have logged at least 680 hours in the past year to receive UI benefits starting the second Sunday after their legal strike begins, following a one-week waiting period. These workers would be eligible for up to four weeks of UI benefits.”