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UE News Updates

Two New Books Examine How Working People Have Changed (and Can Still Change) the World

14 December, 2018
Review by Jonathan Kissam

In Can the Working Class Change the World? economist and labor educator Michael Yates makes the case that the working class — and only the working class — can indeed overcome economic inequality, eliminate racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination, and meet the challenge of environmental degradation and climate change. Historian Erik Loomis’s A History of America in Ten Strikes is an original and engaging way to re-learn U.S. history through the lens of working-class struggle.

UE Joins Unions from Four Countries at North American Solidarity Project Conference in Ontario

07 December, 2018
Port Elgin, Ontario

More than three dozen UE leaders and staff traveled to Port Elgin, Ontario on November 9-11 to discuss key challenges and issues facing the labor movement with trade unionists from across North America, along with allies from Europe and Australia. The North American Solidarity Project Conference brought together 140 delegates from six unions in four countries.

Northeast Region Hears Speakers on History, Healthcare, Strikes

07 December, 2018
Portsmouth, NH

“I do not have to tell you we are in horrifying and shocking times,” said Northeast Region President Elizabeth Jesdale as she welcomed delegates to the regional council meeting on November 2. “Our rights and the rights of our sisters, brothers and comrades are being stomped on and diminished daily… It is up to us to gain the education and skills to not only fight for ourselves, but for us to reach out and pull up the unorganized so they may break their chains.”

Local 150 Members Join Protest for Voting Rights

07 December, 2018
Raleigh, NC
By Aubrey Lauersdorf, UE Local 150 Recording Secretary

On Tuesday, November 27th, UE members stood alongside their allies in the Poor People's Campaign, the NAACP, and Repairers of the Breach for a Moral Day of Action in Raleigh, North Carolina.

After North Carolina was devastated by Hurricane Florence this fall, the state legislature called a special session to pass a hurricane recovery bill. However, Republican legislators also decided to ram through a last-minute voter ID bill, since they will lose their veto-proof supermajority in January.

UE President Addresses Sanders Institute Gathering

03 December, 2018
Burlington, VT

UE General President Peter Knowlton was one of four labor leaders who addressed the inaugural conference of the Sanders Institute, “The Gathering,” last weekend. The Sanders Institute brings together organizers, educators and progressive elected officials to promote progressive solutions to economic, environmental, racial and social justice issues.

Local 506 Sports Committee Has Raised over $300K for Veterans

11 November, 2018
Erie, PA

The UE Local 506 Sports Committee takes their commitment to veterans seriously — but not too seriously to have fun. Since 1996, they have raised $319,873 for the Erie VA Medical Center with a variety of events that bring UE members and their families together, honor veterans’ service, and raise money to meet the needs of local veterans.

Mandatory Overtime + Furloughs Don’t Add Up for Local 123

27 October, 2018
Verona, VA

Members of UE Local 123, who make commercial HVAC systems for Daikin, were recently told that their employer plans to move some of their work to Mexico. The boss is also is requesting that workers take a voluntary six-week furlough due to the company being in a financial hardship.

Yet at the same time the company plans for employees to stay home from work on unemployment, it is scheduling union members and other hourly employees to work beyond the maximum twenty-six weekends a calendar year allowed by the collective bargaining agreement between Daikin and the local union.

UE Member’s Job Threatened for Protesting Racism

25 October, 2018
Chapel Hill, NC

Maya Little, a member of UE Local 150 and a graduate employee at the University of North Carolina, is facing a university “Honor Court” trial today for an act of civil disobedience protesting the “Silent Sam” Confederate statue on UNC’s campus and racism at UNC. The Honor Court could potentially expel Little, which would result in the loss of her job.

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