It’s 2023 and yet the pandemic of homeless veterans across the United States is still ever present. So you may be asking what is the big deal? Today’s veterans face many difficult challenges when returning from war. We continue to fight for the most basic services including adequate medical care, accessible treatment facilities, recognition for…
This is a year of leveling up. Women’s Caucus members are making intentional transformations. These sisters are on the wings of change to make impactful differences in their respective locals, regions, and national union. Women on a mission are seeking opportunities to improve the lives of girls and young women. They’re creating partnerships in their…
The UWUA wishes all our retirees health and happiness during your “golden years.” Enjoy it — you’ve earned it! Local 105 Karen McCann Local 106 Andrew J. King Scott A. Price Local 127 Kevin R. Bennett Mark R. Carter Steve M. Carter Jim H. Christensen James E. Cole Timothy J. Coughlin Patrick J. Dix Candace…
After a year of intense negotiations, UWUA members who work as wind technicians at DTE Energy ratified their first union contract. The agreement addresses the issues that had first prompted the group to organize in late 2021 and includes higher wages, caps on healthcare costs, defined work rules and vacation time. The newest members are…
The expected boom in green energy is a complicated issue for UWUA members. While provisions in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) promise union-friendly project labor agreements, prevailing wages and apprenticeship programs, much of what’s been experienced so far has benefited the construction-side of the business and not…
The other day I was asked, “Why do we still need Black History Month?” First and foremost, I’d say we need it because we have unresolved racial divisions in this country that originated centuries ago with an economy built on slave labor. Black History Month presents an opportunity to educate and raise awareness of the…
The U.S. job market has been on an upswing for more than two years with unemployment in early 2023 at its lowest level in more than half a century. Most industries are now above or close to their pre-pandemic levels of employment. At the same time, workers are engaging in a wave of unionizing. According…
Merriam-Webster defines a millennial as “a person born in the 1980s or 1990s.” This generation, workers aged 24-44, represents around 40% of the American workforce. With surging costs of housing, healthcare, and education, and real wage stagnation that’s lasted for a decade, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing a revitalization in support of organized labor…
Seven New York state utilities in January updated their pilot proposals for the construction of emission-free Utility Thermal Energy Networks (UTEN) that will decarbonize buildings and protect union jobs, and Massachusetts is moving ahead with similar plans. The Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act, signed into New York law last July, calls for multiple…
Water and wastewater workers in southwestern Pennsylvania signed a new five-year contract in October that brings higher wages and a bump in pension benefits. Local 164 represents 260 members employed by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County. Members work in various municipal water and sewerage plants within a five-county region east and south of Pittsburgh.…
In January, 11 building maintenance workers cast their votes in favor of UWUA representation. They’ll now be part of the 900-member-strong Local 102 and join a union family that includes linemen, substation, and meter service workers at West Penn Power and other FirstEnergy-owned companies throughout Western and Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland. Travis Beck, the…
Local 116 recently settled a three-year contract renewal with American Electric Power (AEP). The local represents about 140 linemen and substation workers in the Canton, OH, region. IBEW represents other AEP workers in the same area. The new agreement runs through June 2025 and includes 9% in guaranteed wage increases for all members as well…
Operations, mechanical and electrical maintenance, warehouse and garage workers at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant in Ohio ratified a new agreement with Energy Harbor in early November. The contract covers roughly 100 craft workers who are members of Local 270. The local also represents the plant’s 50 technicians. Perry underwent a recent ownership change related…
Three representatives from the UWUA traveled to Denmark at the invitation of the Trade Council of Denmark of North America to develop an understanding of Danish offshore wind (OSW) training programs and bring back recommendations for how to best train our members for the coming boom in North American wind related jobs. There’s money pouring…
Throughout the COVID pandemic the title of essential worker was liberally applied to various individuals whose occupations companies, the government, and society could not afford to have stay home. These occupations included the obvious police, fire, paramedics, and hospital personnel, as well as utility workers. In addition to the obvious occupations, others were included like…
We recently asked our members on Facebook, “What’s one good change you’ve seen over the course of your career in the utilities?” In your responses, safety came up most often. You brought up ways our members now have more of a say about how to safely get the job done, your ability to work more…
New York Recognizes Essential Role of Utility Workers After a years-long campaign, members of Local 1-2 in New York finally achieved official legal recognition as essential workers. New York law now acknowledges that utility workers play a critical role in emergency preparedness and response and, as such, exempts certain utility and other workers from travel…
This article is a reminder that it is that time of year to review our year-end financial records and execute our compliance requirements. We have seen a large number of retirements in our ranks and many younger members are getting involved in their local leadership. This new energy is encouraging and exciting and will require…
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…