Kenneth Quinnell

About 1,100 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan workers who work call center and claims processing jobs went on strike Wednesday. The workers are members of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). They walked off the job in pursuit of a fair contract.

Union contracts for 150,000 International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) members at the Big Three automakers expire Sept. 14. It will take the unity and strength of every UAW member, union, community and political ally to win what autoworkers and every worker deserves. The Big Three have made extreme profits over the past decade. Workers deserve fair pay and the Big Three can afford it. You can show your support.

The Machinists (IAM) Organizing Department won a hard-fought two-year campaign to represent 103 workers at Vaderstad Inc., an agricultural equipment manufacturer in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Production workers at the facility make air seeders and tillage equipment.

The United Steelworkers (USW) welcomed workers at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Northshore Mining as the newest members of the union. There are approximately 400 workers in the mine in Babbitt, Minnesota, and plant in Silver Bay, Minnesota. They authorized the union using card-check. “Mining in Minnesota provides essential support for our local communities, our domestic steel industry and our nation’s critical infrastructure,” said USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez. “We’re honored that workers at Northshore chose our union.”

Hurricane season is a major challenge for union members, from first responders who provide assistance to people in danger and distress to utility workers and building trades workers who work and rebuild during the recovery phase. Dozens of unions are part of the recovery process and help communities recover from hurricanes and other natural disasters.

In an editorial for the St. Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Tribune, United Steelworkers (USW) International President Tom Conway said: “Workers who want to band together for better futures often face prolonged and brutal anti-union campaigns from employers hellbent on holding them down....