For press inquiries, please reach out to Communications Director Erin Bzymek at ebzymek@uwua.net or 202-702-9655.
Throughout the COVID pandemic the title of essential worker was liberally applied to various individuals whose occupations companies, the government, and society could not afford to have stay home. These occupations included the obvious police, fire, paramedics, and hospital personnel, as well as utility workers. In addition to the obvious occupations, others were included like…
We recently asked our members on Facebook, “What’s one good change you’ve seen over the course of your career in the utilities?” In your responses, safety came up most often. You brought up ways our members now have more of a say about how to safely get the job done, your ability to work more…
New York Recognizes Essential Role of Utility Workers After a years-long campaign, members of Local 1-2 in New York finally achieved official legal recognition as essential workers. New York law now acknowledges that utility workers play a critical role in emergency preparedness and response and, as such, exempts certain utility and other workers from travel…
This article is a reminder that it is that time of year to review our year-end financial records and execute our compliance requirements. We have seen a large number of retirements in our ranks and many younger members are getting involved in their local leadership. This new energy is encouraging and exciting and will require…
Richie Hughes, Local 369 “The utility worker being essential needs no explanation. We deliver the products to the public that make everyday life as we know it possible. We perform the highest quality work while maintaining the highest level of safety for our members and the public. We do this from call centers, offices, control…
I’d like to take a minute and tell you about a man I never got the pleasure to meet: a Vietnam War hero, a fellow union brother, and a man who left behind an enormous legacy for all veterans. His name is Michael “Mick” Yauger. We can never fill his shoes, but we must try.…
We can’t fight tomorrow’s battles with today’s resources. As we move forward, our focus remains on grassroots efforts — the foundation for building back our union stronger. This begins with advocating to grow our union through collaboration on all levels — nationally, locally, and regionally. Our formula for success is an all-hands-on deck, boots-on-the-ground approach.…
As of the end of October, there had already been more than 545 mass shootings this year—an unacceptable and unconscionable number. And that’s on top of countless gang shootings. As your human rights chair, ordinary citizen, and father, I am deeply concerned for the broad and deep impact of lives cut short, particularly those that…
Fabio Erickson Gomes Pires, a member of Local 369 residing in Brockton, MA, died at age 31 on October 17. He worked as an underground operating mechanic for Eversource. On July 12, Pires was conducting routine maintenance in an electric vault in Boston when an equipment malfunction caused an explosion. Pires suffered severe burns and…
Sean Toolan is a member of Local 365 in Hewlett, New York, where he works for Liberty Utilities’ water division. He’s also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He wore both hats when he spoke at the Region I conference in September and delivered a powerful testimony to the work that he and other…