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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Staten Island Ferry Workers Win New Contract After 13 Years

Approximately 120 Staten Island Ferry workers who have gone without a pay raise since 2009 announced a collective bargaining agreement that guarantees them an immediate salary increase of 28.55%. The bump is retroactive, which means six-figure sums in back pay. The workers, members of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), work as engineers, captains and mates, and they voted 94% to approve the contract, which goes through January 2027.
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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UAW Files Unfair Labor Practices Charges Against Big Automakers, Alleging ‘Willful Refusal to Bargain’

The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) filed unfair labor practice charges against General Motors and Stellantis, accusing the carmakers of illegally refusing to bargain in good faith. Contracts with the “Big Three” automakers (GM, Stellantis and Ford) are set to expire in two weeks. UAW is seeking a 46% wage increase over four years, more paid time off, and the elimination of tiers that leave newer workers with paltry pay and benefits.
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Economy Gains 187,000 Jobs in August; Unemployment Up Slightly at 3.8%

The U.S. economy gained 187,000 jobs in August, and the unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.8%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This strong jobs report shows the continued success of President Biden's policies.
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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: University of Illinois Chicago Faculty End Strike After Reaching Tentative Contract Agreement

Classes resumed at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) after faculty, members of UIC United Faculty/AFT, agreed to a tentative contract and suspended their strike that started last week. The four-year deal ends the faculty’s second strike in nine years. It increases minimum salaries for nontenure-track faculty to $60,000 and for tenure-track members to $71,500 in the contract’s first year. It also increases average annual salaries by 17.75% over the next four years and provides improved job protections for nontenure-track faculty.
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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Shuler: State of the Unions Is Strong with Record Public Support, Unprecedented Activism and Organizing this Labor Day

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond delivered an inaugural State of the Unions address on Tuesday where they released new polling, which underscores the American people’s support of unions—especially that of young workers—and their view of unions as critical to growing the middle class and providing opportunities for working people to thrive. Additionally, both officers stressed that with this unprecedented level of support, working people in unions are prepared to organize like never before, hold big corporations accountable and restore America’s promise for all.
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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Nearly 90% of Duke Graduate Students Vote ‘Union Yes’

Duke Graduate Students Union won a historic, landslide victory, becoming one of the largest unions in North Carolina. Their union victory is the first such victory at a private university in the South and the largest union victory in North Carolina since 2008. The students campaigned for respect and the freedom to thrive while working at one of the wealthiest private universities in the nation, which fought to deny them their freedom to join together in a union.