Category: Magazine

The Good In 2018, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 that ruled a public employee cannot be required to pay dues or fees for the representation the union provides related to collective bargaining and other representational activities. The majority on the Court ruled that Mark Janus, a State…

Union members across the nation are standing up and fighting back, and the UWUA is on the front lines with them! When the United Auto Workers’ (UAW) went on strike against General Motors in September, the UWUA was offering support on the picket lines, donating supplies and financial support to UAW’s strike fund. “We stand…

On November 9, some 1,400 UWUA members from throughout California rallied together at the Pasadena Convention Center urging lawmakers to adopt a more moderate, integrated approach to powering the state’s energy future. Members urged lawmakers consider factors such as energy reliability and affordability while at the same time working together to address climate change. “Today,…

Gas Workers Local 18007’s annual Veterans Day Drive collected donations from numerous worksites to deliver to Midwest Veteran’s Closet. Located in North Chicago, IL the organization is a not-for-profit rapid response group that provides life’s basic needs to enlistees, families and veterans. Two veterans from each shop delivered the donations along with Local 18007 President…

Braintree, MA Cable Installers Secure 22 Percent Pension Benefit Raise The members of Local 379 in Braintree, Massachusetts, working with Senior National Representative Dan Hurley, successfully secured a significant, 22 percent increase to cable installers’ pensions. The members’ defined pensions are held by the county and voted on by the retirement board of the town.…

UWUA hosted over 350 United Steelworkers (USW), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Unifor, United Association (UA) and UWUA members in Florida for the Inter-Union Gas Conference in September. The annual conference offers a unique opportunity for members to share concerns, safety issues and lessons learned from their experience working in the industry. Safety first…

UWUA President Jim Slevin recently met with Local 127 members at the Dave Johnston Plant in Wyoming, one of the largest coal-fired electric power generation facilities in the western United States. While owner PacifiCorp has announced plans for closing the plant over the next couple of decades, workers have received assurances that there will be…

The way we generate electricity today is evolving rapidly. In America, coal and nuclear assets are increasingly being taken offline every year, while natural gas and renewable generation is expanding. We understand these changes are driven by powerful economic forces and also in response to global climate change. Opportunities and challenges UWUA members are highly-skilled…

Ohio Local 270 pulled off a remarkable victory this fall by successfully preserving everything in its collective bargaining agreement as employer FirstEnergy Solutions emerges from bankruptcy. “Everything was saved,” says 270 President Frank Meznarich. “We’re not giving up anything, our contracts remain the same.” FirstEnergy’s demand that union members give up their defined benefit pension…

Listening to Our Members Since being elected UWUA president last summer, I’ve embarked on a nationwide listening tour to hear your concerns and identify issues that are affecting you and your families. My goal is to work with you, your local and national officers to create a better workplace and a better life for all…