Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Atlanta Plane Train Workers Ratify First CBA: TCU/IAM members who operate and maintain the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have ratified their first-ever collective bargaining agreement (CBA). When these essential workers first voted to form a union nearly a year ago, it marked the first joint organizing campaign between TCU/IAM and the IAM Union Rail Division. This historic contract enshrines critical wins, including seniority rights, a grievance and arbitration procedure, just cause protections, an immediate 18% wage increase, a ratification bonus and more. “Winning an election is an important first step, but negotiating and ratifying a first agreement is where workers truly begin to realize the value of standing together,” said TCU/IAM National President Matt Hollis. “These members stayed united throughout the bargaining process and earned an agreement that delivers meaningful wage increases, stronger workplace protections, and a real voice on the job. We congratulate every member whose solidarity made this first contract a reality.”
Audio Engineers at Three Denver Music Venues Vote to Join IATSE: Audio engineers at three independent music venues in Denver have voted overwhelmingly to join Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 7. The Oriental Theater, The Federal Theatre and HQ Denver are some of the city’s most prominent entertainment venues and key fixtures of the local rock scene. Staff at each venue voted separately and secured powerful victories at all three locations. “The live music industry has long left its crews behind. Unstable conditions, little to no benefits, and wages that fall well short of what a skilled workforce deserves,” said Local 7 President Bryant Preston. “We look forward to sitting down with the employer and getting to work on the issues these workers face every day on the job.”
Wiki Workers United U.S. Branch Demands Voluntary Recognition from Wikimedia Foundation: A supermajority of workers who make possible Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects have signed union authorization cards to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and are demanding voluntary recognition from the Wikimedia Foundation. Under the name Wiki Workers United U.S./CWA (WWU-US/CWA), staff at the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia are organizing to address transparency issues and ensure that the organization is living up to its commitment to the free knowledge movement. Over 1,000 volunteers and community members who have collectively made more than 15 million edits have publicly signed petitions supporting these workers in their fight for a collective voice. “We are hopeful that the Wikimedia Foundation will honor their stated values and quickly come to the table so that we can verify that an overwhelming majority support the union. We are proud to support this group of dedicated and talented workers. We are also deeply grateful for the strong solidarity of the volunteer community, the backbone of Wikipedia and its sister projects, that has pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder with these brave workers,” said CWA Organizing Director Tim Dubnau.
Long Island IAFF Local in New York Secures Contract After 16-Year Impasse: For the first time since 2010, members of Long Beach Professional Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 287, are working under a new collective bargaining agreement. The signing officially ends one of the longest bargaining campaigns in the New York local’s nearly 100-year history. Highlights of the new contract include wage increases, restructured pay charts for the city, incorporation of certain National Fire Protection Association and Fair Labor Standards Act requirements into the city’s obligations for the department, and more. “The road to get here was long and, at times, incredibly difficult. Yet through it all, our fire fighters continued to answer every call and serve this community with professionalism and pride,” said Local 287 President Sam Pinto. “Today is about recognizing what can be accomplished when people stay committed to the process and remain focused on the future.”
IFPTE Members Ratify New Contract with PG&E, Including Highest-Ever Wage Increases: Members of the Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 20, voted to ratify a contract with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). ESC represents nearly 5,000 highly skilled professionals at PG&E, which provides utility services to 16 million California residents. “With this agreement, ESC members have secured the highest three-year wage increases of any PG&E contract in the union’s 74-year history,” said John Mader, president of ESC and of the union’s PG&E unit board. “The newly ratified contract also protects the benefits that make ESC jobs at PG&E such great careers, including our pension, health coverage and disability benefits,” Mader continued. “Members chose to extend our contract multiple times in the context of PG&E’s bankruptcy and the pandemic, so this is the first full contract ESC has negotiated in 10 years. We are proud that it is a very strong agreement and that members have overwhelmingly voted in favor of ratification.”
AGMA Ratify New Contract with Opera Colorado: The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and Opera Colorado have issued a joint announcement that they have reached their first-ever contract covering these artists. The union and the opera company also agreed to a side letter governing the Artist in Residence program, Opera Colorado’s emerging artist apprenticeship program, providing it with more resources and opportunities. “After three years, we are thrilled to have reached this milestone in building a new relationship between Opera Colorado and its artists,” said Adam Da Ros, who served on the negotiating committee. “This agreement reflects a great deal of hard work on both sides and keeps artists at the center of creating opera, allowing us to move forward together with confidence and a shared belief in a sustainable future for opera in Colorado.” “A first agreement lays the groundwork for every agreement that follows,” said Tracy Jones, AGMA’s director of collective bargaining. “The time invested in this process allowed both sides to work through important issues thoughtfully, resulting in a strong contract that provides meaningful protections for AGMA artists and reflects a collaborative relationship with Opera Colorado built on mutual respect.”
CWA Members Reach Tentative Agreement and Secure Historic Settlement at Piedmont Airlines: Communications Workers of America (CWA) members who work for Piedmont Airlines as passenger services staff have reached a new tentative union contract. This comes days after the union also secured a settlement agreement after years of wrongful pay practices. While the previous collective bargaining agreement (CBA) covering the CWA Passenger Services unit was in effect, Piedmont Airlines fluctuated wages at 45 stations in order to attract and retain staff. During negotiations for a successor CBA, the union became aware of errors impacting seniority and pay rate as a result of this practice. Now in addition to a new tentative agreement that ensures compensation bonuses, improved sick time rules, an additional paid holiday and other wins, workers who were impacted by the wage flexes will also be made whole.
Brooklyn Bowl Stagehands Vote to Join IATSE: Production workers at Brooklyn Bowl’s flagship Williamsburg location voted 15–1 on Tuesday to form a union with Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 4. This organizing victory is years in the making—workers have been in contact with Local 4 about getting a voice on the job since 2022. “This victory shows once again that when workers come together to improve their conditions, anything is possible,” said IATSE Special Representative Joseph Juntunen. “Local 4 and [IATSE] stand ready to assist and represent stagehands and workers throughout the entertainment ecosystem to build a stronger future for all.” “Union representation for me means I have support and protection as a working-class person,” added crew member Ryan Ramirez. “Working within an organization that earns when I earn rather than being a red-line item against profitability.”
Dallas Workers Organize with SMART: Workers at Dallas-area contractor Stratus Systems overcame the challenges in their path to organize with International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 68. Since 2023, the workers partnered with Local 68 organizers to build an organizing campaign through sustained outreach, relationship building and the determination of trusted worker leaders. Following worker-to-worker outreach in early 2023 that quickly turned into an organizing campaign by the end of the year, workers filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In January 2024, they lost that vote. But the organizing team rebuilt support by strengthening worker engagement, forming an internal organizing committee and expanding worker-led communication. Out of 168 workers at the company, 96 signed union authorization cards. In early 2026, organizers secured a new NLRB election, then executed an intensive campaign featuring daily strategy meetings, rapid-response jobsite outreach, worker-to-worker messaging and strong support from volunteer leaders. “Everyone was feeling excited because we knew that the workers knew the union had their backs by the workers’ smiles, honks and waves,” said organizer Yadriel Carrasquillo. The new vote was successful and the workers joined SMART Local 68.
Half Price Books Workers in Minnesota Join UFCW: Workers at Half Price Books in Apple Valley, Minnesota, voted to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 663, becoming the fifth union-represented store in the state and the tenth nationwide. Staff at the book retailer chain organized to secure a powerful voice on the job. With their first union contract, members are aiming to secure higher wages, improved staffing and a seat at the table when it comes to workplace decision making. “Half Price Books is attempting to iron out the individuality that shapes our community by standardizing our roles and incorporating A.I. in our workplace,” said Drew Schmidt, a bookseller at the store. “Unionizing is our way of encouraging Half Price Books to correct its course.” “All my co-workers at the Coon Rapids Half Price Books are thrilled that the Apple Valley workers are joining us as members of Local 663,” said bookseller Terell Paris. “We know that our Union will be stronger together, and that we can use that strength to make our workplaces better.”
UC Resident Doctors Win Historic Statewide Contract: Resident physicians and fellows at the University of California (UC)—who are represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU (CIR/SEIU)—reached a tentative agreement on their first statewide contract with UC Health. The 6,400-member bargaining unit began negotiations almost a year ago. After months of collective actions, the doctors won a contract that includes wage increases, preservation of fertility benefits, improved access to radiation exposure equipment, immigrant protections for patients and more. “Resident working conditions are patient care conditions,” said Dr. Gloria Tavera, a UCSF gastroenterology fellow. “With a contract that covers all residents and fellows at the UC’s, we are more united than ever in ensuring that we keep the pressure on administration to ensure that the contract language is enforced – for our futures, for the futures of those coming up behind us, and for our patients’ futures.”