UE NEWS Updates

Twenty-seven members from four UE locals attended the Labor Notes Troublemakers School which was held at the Steamfitters Local 601 Hall on October 4. Locals 1103, 1122, 1177, and 1186 each contributed members to the UE delegation, which was by far the largest of any union in attendance. The Troublemakers Schools are all-day conferences that cover organizing skills and highlight real-world examples of taking on the boss.

Passaic Library workers, members of amalgamated UE Local 155, won four percent wage increases in each year of their new three-year contract. This was the first multi-year contract in many years; for some time, the local has been negotiating one-year extensions due to issues with the library’s finances. In addition to the wage increases, which are higher than they have historically received, the workers won an extra early closure day (with pay) and increased the travel reimbursements.

On July 31, 2025 my wife and I had an amazing opportunity to travel to Japan for the International Trade Union Forum for Peaceful and Just World without Nuclear Weapons.  At this International Solidarity conference, we met with several different trade Unions from around the globe including Zenroren — Japan, Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses (General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers, CGTP) — Portugal, Confédération Générale du Travail (General Confederation of Labor, CGT) — France, Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union (KPTU) — South Korea

On September 30, workers at Chasen Fiber Technologies closed their factory for what appears to be the last time, ending over 60 years of history with UE. The company was bought out in 2024 by Integreon Global, who decided to close the plant in November 2024. Integreon then reopened the plant in April 2025, claiming they would “try and make things work.”

During their time in UE Chasen workers have never shied away from aggressive struggle, even when all the odds were stacked against them.