2019 Strong! This will be a monumental year for the UWUA and our members. As we enter the midpoint of our eighth decade, never before has the UWUA participated in so many different areas where decisions affecting the work lives of our members are made. In order to ensure our nation succeeds in an ever-more…
SALUTING OUR UWUA RETIREES The UWUA wishes all our retirees health and happiness during your “golden years.” Enjoy it —you’ve earned it!
In November 2016, Donald J. Trump was elected as the 45th President of the United States. In his campaign, Trump claimed that he was on the side of America’s workers. Sadly, halfway through Trump’s first term, the President has repeatedly and relentlessly attacked American workers and their Unions. Decisions of right-wing judges will last for…
Mike Lippiello, a Young Workers Initiative Committee (YWIC) member from Local 433, recently attended the 2019 Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Legislative Conference in Harrisburg, the state capital. The conference focused on pro-union activism and upcoming legislation. Panels included Common Sense Economics, Minimum Wage, Organizing Unions, and Apprenticeships. “As a member of the Young Workers Committee, the discussion…
Valerie King – Chair, Women’s Caucus Union Women Uniting America Women impacting women: 2019 begins with a call to action to advocate, empower and mentor women. It is important that women seize this moment in history where women are breaking barriers and creating pathways for other women to realize they can rise higher. Building strategic alliances…
Early this year I joined the National Staff full-time as an Organizer and Women’s Caucus Chair. In my new role, there are a few initiatives that I would like to develop in order to increase participation and engagement of women across our locals. It’s more than just forming a Women’s Committee within our respective locals,…
Nate Waters – Chair, Human Rights Committee MLK Commemoration 2019 I had the opportunity to represent the UWUA at the AFL-CIO’s Dr. Martin Luther King birthday conference in Washington, DC in January. From the conference workshops and forums, featuring elected leaders who support working families and their unions, to the March on the Capitol, there was…
SAFETY CORNER – Scotty MacNeill White House Guts Workplace Safety Reporting Rule During the partial government shutdown, on January 25, the Trump administration repealed a rule — the Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses rule — requiring large employers to electronically submit detailed reports of all workplace injuries to the Occupational Safety and Health…
NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT – John Duffy, National Vice President The Backbone and Future of the Labor Movement Is Found On The Shop Floor The strength of all labor unions lies in the rank and file membership. From the day a new member walks on to the shop floor, much of what he or she experiences will…
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Steven VanSlooten, Executive Vice President Success Breeds Success There is truth to the saying “success breeds success.” The UWUA is proving it every day in numerous ways: our collective bargaining agreements, the steady advancement of our membership, our Power 4 America training programs, and the growth of our UWUA Health and Welfare…
SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORT – Michael Coleman, Secretary-Treasurer Key Filing Compliance Requirements For Affiliated Local Unions and Councils On behalf of the National Union, I meet yearly with representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) to discuss the annual results of the OLMS review under the Voluntary Compliance Partnership (VCP) program. The VCP is…
ARTICLE XV Conventions Section 1. The regular National Convention shall be held subsequent to the National Convention in June, 1979 at four (4) year intervals during the month of June, of such dates and at such places as may be designated by the National Executive Board; provided that the date of such National Convention may…
Open letter from President Mike Langford Our Mission Utility Workers Union of America members are the best trained, highest skilled, safest, most productive workers in the world. We keep the lights on, the water flowing, and the gas burning. We provide life’s necessities and make the American Dream a reality for our members, their families,…
Convention Call TO: All Local Unions and Councils of the Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO ARTICLE XV, SECTION 1, of the Constitution of the Utility Workers Union of America, provides for the convening of our Constitutional Convention during the summer of 2019. Therefore, you are hereby notified that the 31st Constitutional Convention of the…
UWUA NEWS Rick Passarelli Joins National Staff as Director of Veterans Affairs Rick Passarelli retired as Business Manager of Local 18007 Chicago Gas Workers Union on January 1, 2019 to join the UWUA National Staff as Director of Veterans Affairs. As Chair of the UWUA Veterans Committee, Passarelli has overseen the work of the UWUA’s…
POWER 4 AMERICA – P4A Welcomes The California Water Utility Council and California Water Service Group are Newest Members Seeing the value of union-led training, the California Water Utility Council (CWUC) and the California Water Service Group have signed an agreement to partner with the UWUA’s Power 4 America Training Trust for the next two years.…
As Union Professionals Continue to Rise, Organizing Opportunities Abound The number of professional and technical employees who are members of unions continued to rise over the past year and reached a record high in 2018, according to data analyzed by the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO. Over six million professionals are now part of the…