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UE News Updates

UE Locals March, Rally for Workers’ Rights on May Day

On Thursday, May 1, UE locals across the country participated in International Workers’ Day actions to stand up for workers’ rights. Local 667 joined a march in Pittsburgh and Local 1498-GWU held a series of actions throughout their campus in Las Cruces, New Mexico, including a screening of the film UNION, which tells the story of how Amazon workers in Staten Island won their union. Local 896-COGS in Iowa City, Iowa participated in a mass march to stop deportations and to keep families together.

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UE Political Action Updates

Trump Administration Goes on Union-Busting Spree

While former President Biden’s claim to have been “the most pro-union President in history” is certainly debatable, President Trump is on track to become the most anti-union President in history in his second term.

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UE News Features

A Fighting Union’s Path to Renewal: The UE Story

The ongoing organizational renewal and substantial growth of the United Electrical Workers (UE) is one of the most distinctly remarkable stories in the U.S. labor movement in decades. Few other unions have suffered such losses from state repression, raiding attacks by opportunist unions, and the catastrophic effects of corporate job relocation — and survived. Of the original 42 unions who comprised the founding roster of the Congress of Industrial Unions (CIO) in 1938, a grand total of eight survive intact today. UE is one of them. The remainder have passed out of existence, been destroyed by repression and employer attacks, or been merged into larger unions and lost forever.

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Information for Workers

More than 80 years of experience. Information for stewards, officers, and workers who want to know more about their rights, workplace issues and our union. Click here to subscribe to the UE Steward, our monthly publication for stewards. Click here to view more resources.

Whether or Not to Arbitrate

Arbitrate? Sometimes we’re forced to. But taking grievances to arbitration can be expensive and dangerous. Why? Because arbitration is a third-party process that does little or nothing to build union strength and, at worst, can set a bad precedent that will haunt workers even beyond their own union for many years.

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Dealing with the Media

There are lots of reasons why unions should talk to the press. Often we need the support of the community in taking on a battle with the employer. Getting the word out to large numbers of people can usually only be accomplished by getting coverage in the media. Good stories in the press and on the internet can also lead to contacts for organizing new workplaces.

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Stress in the Workplace

How often have we heard coworkers complain that coming to work makes them sick? How many times has a steward had to intervene on behalf of a worker who blew up at a boss or walked off the job? How often do people continue to work at full speed, despite suffering from pain or injuries because they are afraid of losing their job? These are symptoms of workplace stress.

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Books and Publications

NEW: Member-Run Unions

Member-Run Unions: A UE Guide to Democratic Practice

This 32-page booklet describes in detail how UE’s philosophy of rank and file control is best implemented in the day-to-day work of our union: bargaining contracts, fighting grievances, and running our local, regional and national union in a democratic fashion. Available as a 32-page booklet and a web publication.

The adventure story of the battles, betrayals and victories of American working men and women. An extensively researched, yet highly readable, history of the U.S. labor movement from the Civil War through the Eisenhower Administration.

Published in 2020, “Them and Us Unionism” draws on UE history to identify five core principles of UE’s approach: aggressive struggle, rank and file control, political independence, international solidarity, and uniting all workers. Available as a 24-page booklet, PDF or on the web

More books and publications available at the UE Online Store »