Worker Wins: We’re Just Getting Started
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Minnesota Nurses Ratify Union Contract with Essentia Health-Virginia Hospital: After 10 bargaining sessions that began in July, nurses at Essentia Health-Virginia Hospital, members of the Minnesota Nurses Association (an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU)) voted to ratify their union contract on Wednesday. More than 100 nurses are covered by the three-year contract that is effective through July 31, 2028. “This contract was won because nurses stood together,” said Jodi Hensley, RN and co-chair of the bargaining committee. “By voting to ratify this agreement, nurses showed the strength of our collective voice and our shared commitment to protecting patient care and respect for those who provide it.” Nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association say they “remain committed to advancing patient centered healthcare that is accessible, sustainable and guided by frontline expertise. Through ongoing solidarity, nurses will continue to use their seat at the table to advocate for their patients, profession and the community.”
Flight Attendants at Flight Services Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract: Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 578 members who work as flight attendants at Flight Services International have ratified a new five-year contract. The agreement includes substantial wage increases, more vacation time, improved sick leave and other major quality-of-life improvements. “Flight Attendants at TWU Local 578 voted massively to ratify a new contract that immediately offers life-changing raises, approaching 50 percent over five years,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “This is why workers form unions. I’m proud of the hard work our negotiators put into getting an agreement that offers real improvements for our members at FSI.”
UMaine Grad Workers Reach Tentative Agreement: After more than two years of negotiations, members of the University of Maine Graduate Workers Union-UAW (UMGWU-UAW) have secured a tentative agreement on their first union contract. Research assistants, teaching assistants and graduate assistants from across the University of Maine (UMaine) System first organized with UAW in 2023. The agreement includes stipend increases, health insurance wins, protections for immigrant workers and a ratification bonus. "We really see these, these wins in this tentative agreement as a direct result of our relentless organizing and solidarity for years," said Peter Howe, a member of the bargaining committee and a Ph.D. student in forest resources. "This only came about because hundreds of grad workers continued to show up and work tirelessly. So many people gave so much for years to arrive at this tentative agreement, including many graduate workers who would never see the benefits of this contract. But as a union so many, so many people understood that this was about more than just us."
Adler Planetarium Staff Vote to Join AFSCME: Workers at the Adler Planetarium voted on Thursday to join AFSCME Council 31, marking the latest victory for cultural workers in Chicago fighting for a fair voice on the job. Members of Adler Planetarium Workers United began organizing in October to bargain a contract that addresses staffing shortages, management’s communication and unilateral changes to working conditions. The bargaining unit includes 70 staff members who handle all aspects of the institution's operation. “Throughout Chicago's cultural sector, a movement has been building for the last five years,” said AFSCME Council 31 in a social media post. “On the Museum Campus and across the city, cultural workers are forming unions with an echoing call: We deserve to be heard. At Adler, we too deserve to be heard—not as singular voices asking questions in isolation, but united as one, with the right to the discussions and answers we need. We've all heard management ask, ‘How do we improve the Adler for the future?’ Our answer is, ‘Together, in our union.’”
Workers at Cobalt Abortion Fund Ratify Union Contract: Members of the Denver Newspaper Guild/The NewsGuild-CWA Local 37074 who work at the largest abortion fund in Colorado have ratified their first union contract. Staff at the Cobalt Abortion Fund won their union election nearly 18 months ago and had been negotiating for exactly one year when they settled this first agreement. Despite facing union-busting and layoffs, the Cobalt Workers United bargaining unit secured a deal that included more time off, fully employer-covered health insurance premiums, annual cost-of-living-adjustments and more. “The belief that everyone deserves a living wage, access to affordable healthcare, and workplace protections are a core part of our values as abortion workers, and I am proud of us for fighting for a better working environment for ourselves and each other, too,” said Molly Arndt, Cobalt Abortion Fund’s senior intake coordinator and program communications manager. “I am hopeful that our contract will be a building block for a better Cobalt and a better abortion access landscape, and that our union will continue to grow, and strengthen our future contracts in the years to come. Solidarity with all workers and abortion seekers forever!”
SMART-TD Reaches Tentative Agreement with SEPTA, Averting Holiday Transit Strike: Members of SMART-TD Local 1594 reached a tentative agreement with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) on Thursday, preventing a holiday work stoppage. This deal comes just days after the same contract was also approved by their union brothers, sisters and siblings at Transit Workers Union (TWU) Local 234. It contains major advances around core worker issues like workplace safety, wages, benefits and quality of life. Importantly, the contract also ensures that bus, train and trolley operators will not be replaced by automation. “The new agreement brings SMART-TD members to parity with the other unions on the property and sets the stage for a future built on respect, fairness, and shared purpose,” SMART said in a press release. “This was a hard-fought win is another example of why this union is here: when SMART-TD members stand together, we move forward—with strength, unity and respect from our employers. Congratulations to every member of SMART-TD Local 1594. You’ve earned this victory.”
Nurses at St. Joseph Health Vote Decisively to Join NNU: Registered nurses (RNs) at St. Joseph Health in Brazos Valley, Texas, are celebrating a powerful victory this week after they voted to form a union with National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU). The medical facility is owned by CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the nation that generated $1.1 billion in profits in 2024. Newly minted NNU members cited concerns around lack of decision-making power in patient care and staffing and the need to recruit and retain experienced nurses as core motivators for organizing. “This is a great day for the nurses at St. Joseph Health and for the patients in our community,” said Tara Cassell, an RN in the labor and delivery unit, in a press release. “Nurses have come together to ensure that our voices are heard as we advocate for our patients. We were compelled to organize and form a union because of our deep concerns about our patients’ safety and well-being. We are excited to build a strong contract that protects nurses and patients so we can provide the best care possible.”
Dancers of Dayton Ballet Unanimously Cast Ballots in Favor of Forming Union with AGMA: The performers who bring the magic to the Dayton Ballet in Ohio have voted unanimously to join the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). Dancers of the city’s professional ballet company—which is part of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA)—cast their ballots on Dec. 10 in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election, just days before they are set to debut the company’s run of “The Nutcracker.” “We are so proud of our unity and that we are now joining the ranks of AGMA companies across the country! We are looking forward to negotiating our first collective bargaining agreement with the DPAA,” the Dancers of Dayton Ballet said. “Congratulations to the magnificent Dancers of Dayton Ballet!” said Jeffrey Boyd, AGMA’s national executive director. “Your unity, your resolve, and your absolute clarity of purpose are inspiring. We are honored to welcome you into the AGMAverse, and we look forward to supporting you every step of the way.”
Unifi Fresno Workers Vote to Join IAM Union: Aviation staff who work for Unifi at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport have voted to form a union with IAM Air Transport Territory. Despite the turbulence that came from the government shutdown and a high turnover rate, members fought together to secure a collective voice. Unifi workers credit the support of other union brothers, sisters and siblings at the airport as a key component to their victory. “Congratulations to District 142, Local 1782 and especially our new members at UNIFI Fresno,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “Bringing UNIFI Fresno into our union is another powerful step in strengthening worker power across the industry. We’re proud to welcome them into the IAM family.” “The vote in Fresno sends a clear message, Air Transport workers want the power and protection that only the IAM can deliver,” said IAM District 142 President and Directing General Chair John M. Coveny Jr. “We’re honored to represent these new members and are ready to get to work on their first contract.”
Airport Lounge Workers in Texas Ratify New Contracts: UNITE HERE Local 23 members who work in lounges at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport have successfully ratified new three-year contracts. More than 200 baristas, cooks and other food service staff employed by Flik Hospitality Group at the United Club lounge and Eurest at the American Airlines Admiral Club are covered by the agreements. Local 23 members will receive an immediate $4 hourly pay increase and will make $22 an hour by the end of the contract. "This increase represents real relief for many of our families, allowing us to cover essential needs and improve our quality of life. It also confirms that organizing and working together truly leads to positive and lasting results," said Carmen Barralaga, a lounge cook. "I feel incredibly happy and proud of the fair contract and wage increase we were able to win. Thanks to our union and the strength we showed together, this raise will allow us to spend more time with our families and afford our rent, bills, groceries, mortgage, car payments, medical insurance, and more," said Klaudi Barrientos, a lounge floor attendant.
Puerto Rico Public Sector Workers Win Fight for Overdue Raises: Members of Servidores Públicos Unidos de Puerto Rico (SPUPR/AFSCME Council 95) who work at the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation in Puerto Rico will soon be seeing a significant pay increase after years of a sustained government accountability campaign. Next week, more than 3,500 public safety workers will finally receive a wage bump three whole years after it was mandated by Law 91. The legislation called for an annual raise of almost $9,000, but the Puerto Rican government has refused to allocate the appropriate funds. SPUPR members have marched through the streets and held public demonstrations urging elected leaders to honor their commitments to corrections officers, park rangers and pretrial arrest agents. “It was a fight that practically kept us up at night. Every day we were looking for strategies,” SPUPR President Jessica Martínez Santos said during a press conference. “Until the law was passed, there was no fair wage for any correctional officer or supervisor within the department.”
More Production Assistants Vote to Form Union with LIUNA: In another major win for a historically underrepresented group of entertainment industry workers, production assistants (PAs) on two more television series have voted to join Production Assistants United, an affiliate of Laborers (LIUNA) Local 724. Staff on “All American” and “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” voted in separate NLRB elections, and both had unanimous results among those who voted. These victories come a few days after PAs on “The Pitt” ratified their first union contract, securing union health care, retirement benefits and more. “Securing two more unanimous PA election wins is an incredible boost for our campaign and for the production assistants across the industry,” said Local 724 business manager Alex Aguilar. “The energy on the ground is real—people want change, they want respect and they want a voice. These victories prove that momentum is on our side, and we’re just getting started.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 12/19/2025 - 13:02
Tags:
Organizing
