Remembering the Fallen Michigan State Utility Workers Council Safety Representatives and Consumers Energy marked Workers Memorial Day with a ceremony and unveiling of a memorial wall in honor of all those who gave their lives at work since the company was founded. The monument will spend the next two years travelling CE’s service territory, stopping…
The UWUA Objection Plan Year July 1, 2019 — June 30, 2020 1- Nonmembers’ Right to Object. Any employee who is not a member of the UWUA, and who pays fees to the UWUA and/or a Local Union pursuant to a collectively bargained union-security provision, will have the right to object to expenditures paid for…
The Local 223 Women’s Committee organized an historic Rosie the Riveter paint celebration in recognition of Women’s History Month in March. One of Michigan’s original Rosie the Riveters, Helen Kushnir, attended, as well as Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12). More than 100 women participated in the bridge building event that connected Local 223 members both internally…
NATIONAL COMMITTEES National Committees Meet in Michigan to Compare Notes and Build UWUA Power! UWUA members who are part of the Human Rights, Health and Safety, and Young Workers Committees recently joined together at the Power for America headquarters in Potterville, MI to see first-hand the importance of skills training, to compare notes, and build…
Keeping Safety at the Forefront Boston, NY locals benchmark safety training Boston Local 369 leadership recently made a benchmark trip to ConEdison’s Learning Center in Queens, NY to compare the learning techniques used in the different electrical operations groups. Benchmarking is used to compare the safety training at different locals in order to come up…
Secretary-Treasurer’s Report Download Full Report
John Duffy, National Vice President 31St UWUA Constitutional Convention = Union Solidarity This year we will once again come together as members of a strong and vibrant National Union at our 31st Convention. It has now been 73 years since our first convention back in 1946. While the world has changed much since that time,…
Hundreds of UWUA Delegates and Alternate Delegates who represent the entire membership will come together July 24-27 for the 31st Constitutional Convention. Under the banner of “Our Mission: Protecting Our Legacy, Building Our Future” they will chart a course for the union to follow for the next four years. The convention proceedings are not to…
UMAP – Veterans Training Program Celebrates 500th Graduate! The UWUA’s Utility Workers Military Assistance Program (UMAP) recently hosted a celebration at the Pritzker Military Library and Museum to honor the 500th veteran to graduate from the Gas Utility Workers Training Program. The UWUA established UMAP in Chicago with Local 18007, the UWUA Power for America…
Staff Changes The UWUA’s National Officers are pleased to introduce Erin Bzymek, the union’s new communications director. Bzymek brings over a decade of experience advocating for working families spanning progressive political campaigns, several stints working on Capitol Hill, and work in the non-profit sector. “Erin steps into this role at an exciting time for the…
Local 223 Safety Director Todd Burger Champions Injury Prevention, Member Safety According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 3.5 million people suffered work-related injuries and 5,147 lost their lives on the job in 2017. That means on average, 14 individuals per day go to work and don’t return home to their families. While the…
John Poroda, Secretary-Treasurer, Local 102 – “The reason I feel strongly about the mission statement is because of the aging workforce that we have. It’s time we got the young people involved so they can see what’s important, what’s good about the union.” Chauffe Schirmer, Financial Secretary, Local 127 – “If you think about all…
After over two years of negotiations, UWUA Local 604 members in Lakeland, FL have a new three-year contract. It’s proof that Utility Workers never give up! Retroactive to 2017, when the last contract expired, the new agreement includes annual and merit-based raises and, very importantly, it dramatically cuts the time it takes for a union…
Organizing Victories Mount in Water Utilities The UWUA Organizing Department is successfully expanding its efforts to bring new members into the ranks of the UWUA through organizing campaigns, neutrality/card check agreements, internal organizing drives, and other innovative campaign strategies. Water and wastewater workers are proving to be an important area of growth for the union.…
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – D. Michael Langford Passing the torch! This is my last column as the UWUA president. At our July convention I will retire and new leadership will be elected to lead our great union forward. I’m retiring knowing that we have built a strong foundation for future generations of utility workers and developed…