Category: Magazine

As UWUA members, gas, electric, and water are the utilities in our business. However, with today’s technology, communication and social media, is ‘data’ the new utility? Is it possible that as we look ahead, data is the world’s most valuable resource? Many companies across the country have made the gathering of data a major focus…

Well, it is that time of year. The holidays you think, well yes, but what I was actually referring to is the beginning of the relentless barrage of political ads. This resurrects the age-old question, “Should a labor union support the Democratic or Republican Party?” This is a debate that union members have had from…

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…