Friday, March 25, 2022

Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter! We hope you find the information contained herein valuable. If so, please feel free to share our subscription link!

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We love to highlight local unions and members! If you have something you want announced, have a member you want to suggest we highlight, tell us about a great new contract, or announce a new group of workers joining our union email it to Cathie!

URMILA MOHAN, JOINT COUNCIL, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY ACADEMICS COME TOGETHER (ACT) UAW LOCAL 7902

My name is Urmila Mohan and I am on the Joint Council, New York University (NYU), in Academics Come Together (ACT) UAW Union Local 7902. I serve with our union’s Communication and Arts Team or CATS, developing content for our Instagram account (@act_uaw7902). I also help with programming for BookPAC, our Local’s reading group. Both these roles are a great way to stay connected, discover shared interests, and energize and educate our colleagues. As an anthropologist (PhD, 2015, University College London), I research and publish on how materiality and sociality aids power flows in various contexts. As an Adjunct Professor at NYU, I frame museums and archives as sites of civic engagement. On a similar note, I’d like to see our Local and the wider UAW sustain nurturing and productive relationships with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) members so that racial and social justice become true fundamentals of our collective solidarity.

ANGIE MURPHY, UAW LOCAL 2377 AND UAW REGION 9A CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CO-CHAIR TESTIFIES BEFORE CT APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

On March 25, 2022, Angie Murphy, UAW Region 9A Civil and Human Rights Co-Chair and Financial Secretary of UAW Local 2377, testified before the Connecticut Appropriations Committee in support of HB 5437: An Act Concerning Equity and the Governor’s Budget. This bill would require Governors to include in their proposed budget documents an explanation about how the provisions of the budget further the Governor’s efforts to ensure equity in the State. Angie’s testimony discussed the rising economic inequality in one of the wealthiest states in the country and how making equity a cornerstone of the budgeting process from the beginning would prioritize spending where it makes the most impact to address the greatest needs and repair past harms. If you are interested in reading Angie’s testimony, click here.

UAW LOCAL 3999 BATH MARINE DRAFTSMEN’S ASSOCIATION (BMDA) RATIFIES NEW CONTRACT AT GENERAL DYNAMICS, BATH IRON WORKS, IN BATH, MAINE

The four-year contract was ratified with 72 percent support from the members and consists of 3 percent wage increases each year, cost-of-living adjustments as a hedge against inflation, stable health insurance premiums and copayments and greater company contributions to health savings accounts, a short-term disability plan to provide 50 percent of a worker’s wage. Contract language improvements also include work schedule flexibility and work from home options. Local 3999 members perform the design, configuration and data management, tests, and production support for U.S. Navy ships. Congratulations on a job well done!

GEU-UAW LOCAL 6950 RATIFIES THEIR CONTRACT BY AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY

On Wednesday evening, Graduate Assistants (GAs) at the University of Connecticut (Local 6950) ratified their contract with 98.5% of members voting “Yes” to approve the contract! The contract is expected to be ratified by the University’s Board of Trustees next week and then will be submitted to the CT General Assembly for approval. If approved, the contract will go into effect on July 1, 2022 until June 30, 2026.

Local 6950 represents over 2000 GAs and nearly 170 postdoctoral researchers at the University of Connecticut.

HGSU-UAW LOCAL 5118 MEMBERS ATTEND EVENT WITH REPRESENTATIVE AYANNA PRESSLEY

UAW is a member of a coalition in MA to fight against Big Tech’s ballot initiative that would rewrite worker and consumer protection laws in Massachusetts. On Saturday, March 12, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley held a press conference to announce her endorsement of the coalition and pledged to fight against Big Tech. “We affirm that people matter more than profits. We reject the idea that Big Tech is exempt from the requirement and responsibility to pay workers a living wage, provide paid leave, or to enforce anti-discrimination laws,” said Pressley. You can read more about the coalition and the event here. HGSU-UAW Local 5118 members, Maya Anjur-Dietrich and Ricky Sanchez, and Mikayla Robinson, Servicing Rep, are pictured with Congresswoman Pressley.

REGION 9A UAW MA LOBBY DAY REPORT

On March 15th, our Massachusetts CAP Council held a successful remote lobby day to make our voices heard on the many budget and legislative priorities that are important to our locals, our members, and the residents of the Commonwealth. We had 26 members across our Massachusetts locals who volunteered their time to meet with Legislators. Overall, we completed 35 appointments throughout the entire morning, across 5 lobbying teams. The most exciting part of the day was at the top of the program when we were greeted by our Regional Director Beverley Brakeman and four distinguished speakers who are all former UAW members – Senator Jamie Eldridge, Representative Christine Barber, Representative Tram Nguyen, and Senator Lydia Edwards. If you are interested in reviewing the CAP Council’s 2022 Legislative Agenda, click here.

THE SISTERHOOD DISCUSSION

On Wednesday evening, twelve Region 9A women gathered on zoom to tape our upcoming Sisterhood Discussion to be aired on Monday March 28th. See the flyer!

Joining this roundtable discussion were women and those who identify as women from defense, legal services, gaming, manufacturing, technical office and professional, municipal and higher education. Our moderator Christine Williamson from UAW Local 2377 in Stamford did a great job getting this diverse group engaged around work and the pandemic and our union.

Join us to watch the first ever Region 9A Sisterhood Discussion featuring

Top left to right:

Savanah Cormier Local 3999 Bath Iron Works

Beverley Brakeman Region 9A

Kavin Wyatt Region 9A Education Rep

Michelle Browne Local 2320 National Organization of Legal Services Workers

Corinthia Carter Unit Chair Legal Services Staff Association Local 2320 National Organization of Legal Services Workers

Christine Williamson Local 2377 Stamford

Cara Jackson Vice President Local 6950 University of Connecticut Graduate Employee Union

Annie Larson Unit Chair NYU Adjunct Faculty Local 7902 ACT UAW

Denise Gladue Financial Secretary Local 2121 Foxwoods Resort and Casino

Amy Stephenson 2nd Vice President Local 572 Electric Boat

Vilma Mulholland President Local 2179

Deloris Harmon Local 379 Jacobs Vehicle

LABOR LINKS OF INTEREST

  1. BMDA 2022 Contract Ratification Press Release
  2. Official Call to the UAW Education Committees Conference April 24 – 29, 2022
  3. Official Call to the UAW Chaplaincy Conference May 1 – 6, 2022
  4. Official Call to the UAW National CAP Conference May 15 – 18, 2022
  5. 51st International Convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) May 25-30, 2022
  6. UAW Family Scholarship Program Application June 19 – 24, 2022
  7. Official Call to the UAW 2022 Constitutional Convention July 25 – 28, 2022
  8. A. Philip Randolph Institute’s 51st National Education Conference July 27-31, 2022

Sincerely and In Solidarity,

Bev and the Region 9A Staff