Category: Magazine

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

Speaking Out: The theme of the upcoming UWUA Convention is Utility Workers: Essential by Industry, Exceptional by Choice. How does this theme apply to how you and your coworkers approach your job?

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…

WOMEN’S CAUCUS: Evolving Our Industries

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.…

Human Rights Committee: Planting Seeds of Hope

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…

IN MEMORIAM: Fabio Pires

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…

Local 648 Raises Funds for Veterans

Earlier in the fall, Local 648 and American Water held a fundraiser for Camp Freedom, an adventure camp for disabled veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. The 1,800-acre camp is located in Northeast Pennsylvania, near where Local 648 members live and work. It provides hunting, shooting sports, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, and other year-round…

Members Take Initiative to Fill Trench Safety Training Gap

In the first half of this year, 22 people died in trench-related accidents in the U.S., far exceeding the 15 trench-related fatalities for all of 2021, according to government data. This increase prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to announce tougher trench-safety rule enforcement. The deaths also drew attention to an innovative program…

Local 492 Scores Arbitration Victory Over AEP Kentucky Power

An arbitrator recently ruled that AEP’s action to transfer employees represented by another union from one plant to another plant to perform UWUA members’ work violated Local 492’s contractual rights. UWUA Local 492 represents 110 workers at the AEP Kentucky Power Company Mitchell Plant in West Virginia. AEP also operates the Cook Coal Terminal (CCT)…