Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Anne Arundel County Public Library Workers Ratify First Contract: Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) system workers unanimously ratified their first union contract last week as AFSCME Maryland Council 3 members. The more than 400-person Anne Arundel Library Workers United bargaining unit includes librarians, library associates, circulation staff, building care technicians and others. Workers began organizing in early 2023 and worked with AFSCME to push for the passage of the Library Workers Empowerment Act during last year’s legislative session. The bill established collective bargaining rights for all library workers in Maryland. Their contract contained multiple major wins, including more than 12% in raises, stronger protections against discrimination, a more equitable disciplinary process and more. "The ratification process is the culmination of almost a year of work designing a contract that all parties agreed to,” said Lisa Shore, a part-time hourly information worker at the Odenton branch. “It is very exciting and a chance to build a library system that supports our amazing staff so we can support the communities we serve.”
Grocery Workers in Bay Area Win Tentative Agreement, Avert Historic Strike: Over the weekend, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) locals 8-Golden State, 5 and 648 announced that they had reached a new tentative agreement (TA) covering members who work at Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons in the Bay Area. The deal comes after a powerful, coordinated walkout threat that would have involved more than 25,000 grocery workers and been the first regional strike against the company in nearly 30 years. Highlights of the TA include wage increases, a fortified pension plan, improvements to scheduling, increases to health care benefits and more. “This agreement is the result of our members standing strong together,” said UFCW Local 8-Golden State President Jacques Loveall. “Because of their unity and determination, this new agreement will bring them the respect and dignity they deserve. These workers are more than the backbone of these companies—they are part of the fabric of our communities, and their efforts drive our shared success.” “This is a hard-earned and inspiring victory,” said Local 5 President John Frahm and Local 648 President Dan Larson in a joint statement. “Because our members stood together—strong and unshakable—they secured a contract that reflects their value and delivers real improvements for their families and futures.”
SAG-AFTRA National Board Overwhelmingly Approves Network Television Code Deal: On Saturday, the SAG-AFTRA National Board overwhelmingly voted to approve the 2025 Network Television Code tentative agreement. The contract covers members who work in live and recorded programs like soap operas, talk shows, variety shows, award shows and sports programming. In addition to securing annual wage increases throughout the duration of the contract, the agreement also includes wins around expansion of streaming coverage for sports broadcasters, improved terms for dancers and singers, protections for ensuring hair and makeup equity, and more. “This is a meaningful and future-facing contract that raises the bar across the board,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a press release. “This contract reflects the union’s deep commitment to dignity, fairness, and progress in the face of increasingly adverse times. I’m incredibly proud of the work that went into this deal, and wholeheartedly approve of what it represents for our members working under the Network Television Code.”
Legal Aid Society Workers Reach Tentative Agreement, Keeping 1,100 Attorneys on the Job: Workers at the Legal Aid Society have reached a tentative agreement with management, avoiding a strike authorized by 1,100 public interest attorneys who are members of the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys-UAW Local 2325 (ALAA). ALAA authorized a strike at the end of June as its contract with management expired. Attorneys demanded higher pay, lighter workloads and greater retirement benefits. After a stalled bargaining process, the union terminated its collective bargaining agreement and set a strike deadline for last Friday, promising to walk off the job without a contract. The tentative agreement will head to union membership for a vote. “While we are proud of these historic gains on workload protection to increase retention, a first-of-its-kind student loan fund, 20 weeks parental leave, retiree health benefits, and more, we were fundamentally left behind by Mayor Adams and our employers on salaries and pensions,” said Local 2325 chapter Chair Jane Fox. “Our members will vote on this contract next week, but regardless if they vote it up or down, we won a reopener guaranteeing no matter what, we will be back to win the salaries and pensions we deserve next year.”
Norfolk Botanical Garden Workers Vote to Form a Union with IAM: Workers in Norfolk, Virginia, who work at Norfolk Botanical Garden, become the second botanical garden in the state to organize in as many years, with nearly two-thirds of them supporting the formation of the union with IAM Union (IAM). Workers had a powerful outpouring of community support during their effort—hundreds of people signed a petition backing their union drive and lawmakers like state Sen. Angelia Williams Graves and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott also stood alongside them in their fight. Members are looking to have more input on the garden’s direction and to improve workplace safety, notably raising concerns about opaque or lacking inclement weather policies. Better pay was also a driver for the unionization push. “We need to be a voice for everyone,” said Bridget Fitzgerald, the union organizer working with Norfolk garden employees. “If you can’t include everyone’s voice, then you’re still excluding those same 23 people who are essentially a third of the bargaining unit, and you don’t want to do that. You want everybody to come together in unity.”
Westchester Medical Center Residents Ratify New Contract After Months of Negotiations: After months of rallies, petitions and high-pressure negotiations, nearly 500 doctors at Westchester Medical Center ratified a new contract. The residents, represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents of the Service Employees International Union (CIR/SEIU), said the contract marks a turning point in the hospital’s treatment of its staff. “This new contract is a huge victory,” said Dr. Daniel Bassily, a CIR member. “We were struggling just to pay our rent and for things like childcare, with some of us even taking on second jobs to pay the bills.” The contract includes a 22% wage increase over five years, paid parking reimbursement for off-site rotations, Juneteenth recognized as a paid holiday and a hospital-funded Uber service to get physicians home safely after long shifts.
Walters Art Museum Workers Unanimously Ratify First Union Contract : Workers at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, who are members of Walters Workers United (WWU), an affiliate of AFSCME Maryland Council 3, unanimously voted to ratify their first union contract. “I’m thrilled that nearly two years of dedication from everyone in our bargaining unit have secured health and safety provisions, wage increases for our members, and benefits that enhance retention and keep the museum competitive,” said Karena Ingram, a digital marketing associate. “It’s an honor to support our colleagues in their essential work of bringing art to our community.” WWU reached a tentative agreement in late June and ratified the contract on Wednesday. Highlights of the contract include more than 13% in raises over the life of the contract, improved health benefits, increased leave, and the creation of two oversight committees to address workplace concerns. The contract covers more than 80 museum workers, including gallery officers, facility workers, museum educators, visitor experience staff, and others whose work forms the backbone of the museum.