UWUA News
Local 369 Wins Critical Victory Share
UWUA Local 369, Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO won a critical, resounding victory in a union election at National Grid May 16. The election involved a group of dispatch employees at the Company’s Northborough, Massachusetts facility who voted by a margin of 53 to 16 to retain Local 369 as their representative. Read More

Utility Workers Union Files Complaint Challenging West Virginia American Water Cutbacks Share
The Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO, and its System Local 537 have filed a complaint with the West Virginia Public Service Commission challenging West Virginia American Water’s announced plan to lay off 10 percent of its workforce statewide. Read More

Palisades Nuclear Plant: UWUA Local 150 - Instrument & Control Technicians (I&C) Organizing Drive Share
On May 12, 56 employees of the Entergy Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert, Michigan learned that their efforts to become members of the Utility Workers Union of America were not in vain. Read More

UWUA Local 537 Has No Sympathy for American Water Share
"The current morale is horrible. It's at an all-time low," said Kevin Booth, system president of Utility Workers Union Local 537, which represents about 50 West Virginia American Water employees in the Huntington area. "The employees just aren't satisfied with what's going on." The water company workers weren't expected to walk off the job today -- though Tuesday's unanimous vote allows them to strike at any time. Read More and Discuss This

Labor News
Utility Union Charges National Power Company With Illegal Employee Gag Rules Share
GenOn allegedly prohibits its workers from talking to anyone about their working conditions or pay, which would be in clear violation of federal labor law. GenOn also had a rule prohibiting posting of information about union activity and rules not allowing workers to wear buttons in support of workers, according to the union's filing. Read More

Anti-Union Bills
Michigan Should Consider Union's Cost Saving Study Share
Their study says the state could save millions by reducing the number of managers in favor of front-line employees who provide services. It also calls for cutting expenses on state contracts and urges that front-line workers help find ways to maintain quality service while cutting costs. Read More

Struck Down Share
"The court must consider the potential damage to public trust." - Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi. Those are the words of the judge today as she struck down the Wisconsin law stripping collective bargaining from state workers. Read More

Democrat Wins G.O.P. Seat in Closely Watched Upstate New York Race Share
The Associated Press has declared Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, the winner in a closely watched Congressional race in upstate New York that is being seen as a test of a Republican plan to overhaul Medicare. Read More

Industry News
Next Generation Lighting an Investment, Not a Consumable Share
Next year, new light bulb standards in the U.S. take effect. Bulbs being manufactured or imported after the first of the year must be 25 percent more efficient. But you can keep your old bulbs. If you want to hoard old-style bulbs, feel free. Retailers can sell old stock. Section 321 of the Energy Independence and Security Act, signed into law by President Bush, is about making residential lighting more efficient and saving consumers money. From a technical standpoint, the law is about light output per watt. The law doesn’t specifically ban incandescent bulbs. Read More

Political Education (COPE)
Stunning Statistics of the Week: Share

• $800,000: Amount former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, now a presidential contender, raised at a recent fundraising event
• $10.25 million: Amount former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is mulling a presidential bid, raised in a single day recently
  
  Read More and Discuss This

In the political arena, labor has both friends and foes. We need to do everything possible to support the election of politicians who are truly friends of labor, while doing everything we can to defeat those that are in the back pocket of corporations determined to destroy our standard of living. The most effective way to accomplish this is to donate to the UWUA-COPE fund. To learn how you can help make a difference in this never ending battle for justice for American workers, please click here to visit the UWUA COPE: Political Education Page.