Carla Muenks, Local 335
“Although our UWUA union and membership have accomplished great things in the past, there is always room for improvement. I feel our members are enthusiastic about the coming year and with their passion and the union’s support, opportunities are endless. The labor education training that is offered gives our members, new and old, the best tools for representing and more importantly leading our fellow brothers and sisters. Being a part of a UWUA National committee gives us a great platform to become more visible and involved within our communities which gives the opportunity for exposure to show unity and the value of union trade workers.
In view of the coming year, with an apparent change in the political climate, I feel opportunities will arise through economic growth and our union will capitalize on these situations bringing growth in membership and a stronger union which benefits us all.”
Tony Mazzocco, Local 223
“We will have great opportunities to expand more into renewables, Also, we’ll be able to focus on training members for new technologies.”
Brooke Lauber, Michigan State Utility Workers Council
“The biggest opportunities for UWUA members in the year ahead will be gaining more members, making our voices heard, and pushing for better working conditions. I feel that our job as current UWUA members is to educate others about what this union has done for us, what this union can do for them, and what we are continuing to do.”
Chris Ollio, Local 479
“With the cost of college becoming less affordable, I think we’ll see more people pursue a path into the trades, especially natural gas. Young people are seeing that college is no longer the guarantee into a good job that it once was. A job in the utility industry provides a great future and a balanced lifestyle.”
Takiya Robinson, Local 175
“The biggest opportunities for UWUA members in the upcoming year will be securing more lucrative economic packages during contract negotiations. Over the past year we have witnessed bargaining units nationwide secure the highest wage increases in decades. For such a long time we accepted the 2-3% annual wage increase as industry standard. Meanwhile, the companies that benefit from our labor had record high profits like never before. We deserve to share in those gains, and we do so with higher wages, increased company matches for retirement plans and company sponsored health insurance premiums.
Another major opportunity I believe we have is growing our membership via organizing. Unions have become more popular in recent years, especially with younger generations. They are quickly learning that there is power in numbers and that those numbers make their voices heard and contribute to positive changes. Millennials and Gen Z’ers are finding it extremely difficult financially to buy a home and start a family compared with the generations that came before them. They easily recognize corporate greed plays a huge role in their current reality while union jobs provide higher wages, job security, better benefits, and safer workplaces.
Using the momentum of the past year’s accomplishments will ensure that the upcoming year will be even more successful, and we can achieve these opportunities all together.”