UE sent a letter to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on August 17, demanding strong labor standards that can actually be enforced in any renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement. UE signed the letter, together with more than 30 other organizations, based on our experience filing complaints through the inadequate system available under the current trade deal.
The importance of rank-and-file political action was made clear on Monday afternoon at the UE Local 506 hall in Erie, as members of Locals 506 and 618 and other Erie unions packed into the hall to hear Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, who the members of Local 506 have endorsed for re-election.
UE General President Peter Knowlton sent the following letter to University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld, who has threatened to close the UI Labor Center. We encourage UE members and allies to take action to support the UI Labor Center at saveourlaborcenter.com/take-action, and follow Save Our Labor Center on Facebook.
Dear President Harreld,
It has come to my attention that the University of Iowa is intending to shut down the Labor Center. As you know since 1951 the Labor Center has been the only organization in the Iowa Regents system devoted to education about and for Iowa workers. Its programs have been largely due to the Iowa labor movement’s investment of ideas and time, including direct funding from unions, payment of program fees, and active support for state investment in public higher education.
Members of UE Locals 203, 208, 255 and 267, along with trade unionists from throughout Vermont, were honored by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders at a "Worker Appreciation Dinner and Dance" on Sunday, July 29. Sanders held the event to celebrate the role that Vermont's labor unions play in winning justice for working people.
The right-wing, anti-worker majority on the Supreme Court issued a ruling today against public-sector workers and their unions. In Janus v. AFSCME, five of the Supreme Court justices agreed with the billionaire- and corporate-funded National Right to Work Committee that public-sector unions should not be allowed to collect “fair share” fees from the workers they represent.
On Monday, June 11, members of UE Local 228 participated in the Poor People's Campaign action at the New Hampshire state house in Concord to demand a living wage and a reversal of the assault on the rights of organized workers. The state of New Hampshire abolished its state minimum wage in 2011.
Retired UE Director of Organization Bob Kingsley joined the Poor People’s Campaign labor rights protest at the US Capitol and Supreme Court yesterday. Brother Kingsley was there as part of the legal team tasked with tracking arrests and getting demonstrators out of jail.
There were nearly 100 arrests for civil disobedience. Most arrestees were processed and released. Nine arrested in front of the Supreme Court spent the night in jail. Two of those arrested yesterday had addressed recent UE Conventions.
The UE General Executive Board, meeting in Pittsburgh from June 5-8, 2018, adopted a statement condemning the killing of Palestinian protesters and attacks on the First Amendment rights of Americans to engage in peaceful protest of Israel's military policies.
The UE General Executive Board, meeting in Pittsburgh from June 5-8, 2018, adopted a following statement endorsing and calling for support of the Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future (OFF) Act, HR 3671, and the Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act.
UE General President Peter Knowlton sent a letter today to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). Former KCTU President Han Sang-gyun was released from prison this week after being unjustly imprisoned for leading protests against the corrupt government of former President Park Geun-hye.