Category: Magazine

For press inquiries, please reach out to Communications Director Erin Bzymek at ebzymek@uwua.net or 202-702-9655.

2015 Constitutional Convention Coverage: National Women’s Caucus

The opening day of the convention included an historic first, the creation of the UWUA’s National Women’s Caucus. After completing the official work for the day, Delegates, Alternates and guests remained in the convention hall to participate in the caucus launch. Caucus Chair Valerie King, Local 601 executive secretary, started things off. “The number of women in the workplace has declined since 2014,” she said. “The U.S. now ranks 19th among 24…

Repair America

America’s infrastructure — the systems we rely on every day for transportation, clean water, energy, and to communicate with each other — earned a “D+” from the American Society of Civil Engineers. The goal is to get Americans working together again to build this backbone of systems we rely on every day. Opening Ceremony The…

Human Rights: Message from Chair Craig Massey

The UWUA Human Rights Committee was formed in 1971, after a series of meetings with the National Executive Board members because of a lack of diversity within union leadership and representation, especially among Black and other minorities in the union and the workplace. In 1971, the utility industry ranked last in employment of workers of…

Moving Forward

Young Workers We created the Young Workers Initiative Committee (YWIC) to engage and activate our younger members. YWIC members have opportunities to participate in every level and every day of the convention. This is of primary import to the future of our union and the future of the labor movement in our country. Women’s Caucus…

Young Workers Initiative Committee

Earlier this year, the newly seated Young Workers Initiative Committee (YWIC) held its first face-to-face meeting in Atlanta, GA. UWUA President Langford and Vice President VanSlooten participated in the meetings. Langford introduced the committee to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Vice President Tefere Gebre, and Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler. For many on the committee, this was truly…

National Vice President’s Report, Spring 2015

The attacks on workers’ rights in the United States were brought to unimaginable levels as a result of the 2010 mid-term elections, which gave complete control to Republican anti-union legislators and governors in a number of states including Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Resembling a state of emergency, the legislative priority for these, and other…

Keeping Drumbeat Up for Pipeline Safety

The first annual conference of the Mayor’s Council on Pipeline Safety featured UWUA Senior National Representative Bernie LaBelle and Regulatory Affairs Director Carl Wood. Held May 14-15 in Philadelphia, the conference brought together elected leaders and policymakers from all around the country to discuss how to prevent gas explosions and cut methane emissions. Mayors organize…

UWUA Locals Plan Bargaining Strategy at AEP

UWUA National and local union leaders gathered May 12 in Columbus, Ohio to make plans for negotiations with electric utility giant American Electric Power at multiple locations during 2015. The UWUA represents over 1,000 utility workers in eight AEP bargaining units across Ohio and West Virginia, plus an additional 200 employees at Ohio Valley Electric…

Ensuring the Transition to Clean Energy Works for Labor

It is no secret that the energy industry is undergoing a significant transition with respect to how electricity is generated and how the consumption of electricity is managed. Utilities are spending billions of dollars in capital investment in natural gas powered generating facilities and billions more in developing wind and solar generation. Meanwhile, energy consumption…