The Utility Workers Union of America is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its founding in 1946. Throughout its 75-year history, the union’s constitution has provided the structure to empower members and their union, and, in so doing, protect families, communities, and the nation. It is as valuable now as it was when it was first…
Our brother and leader Richard Trumka passed away on August 5, 2021, at the age of 72. Since 2009, Trumka served as president of the AFL-CIO representing 56 unions and 12.5 million members. “Rich was a true friend of the Utility Workers Union of America,” said UWUA President Slevin as he paid tribute to Trumka. “With his…
An important message from UWUA officers and the Veterans Committee When Kabul fell to the Taliban on August 15, under the leadership of its Veterans Committee, the UWUA took swift action to support the hundreds of union members who are U.S. military veterans, active-duty troops, and Afghan allies. On August 17, the UWUA Director of…
The National Women’s Caucus Committee members are working on initiatives that center around the training and development of women throughout the UWUA. Our committee members’ strength and fortitude is now pouring into our workplaces as we mentor other women and guide the next generation to navigate the world around them and lead the way to…
People are sick, in the hospital, and dying from COVID-19. Yet, we still have members who can take the vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones but refuse to. The vaccines have been tested and proven to be effective. To date, the FDA has approved the Pfizer vaccine for use. I encourage those who…
Joe Mazzoni, who retired in 2020, recently passed away. Joe was a 30+ year member of Pennsylvania Local 164. He began his union career as a Steward for the outside commercial group. He was then elected Chief Steward and helped negotiate Local 164’s current contract with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County. He will be…
Local 1-2 safety icon Billy Bleichner is retiring on October 1 with almost 50 years of service. He was a full-time Senior Safety Inspector taking care of Con Ed’s electrical division in the Bronx and Westchester, New York. He is pictured here with Jim Slevin, who was president of the local at that time. “There’s…
Each year, two UWUA members’ children are awarded college scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). This year’s UWUA National Merit Scholarship winners are Cass Dobrowolski, child of Michigan Local 223’s Daniel Dobrowolski, and Liam Ouderkirk, child of New York Local 1-2’s John Ouderkirk. Children of UWUA members are also eligible to apply for…
The UWUA National Safety Committee regularly conducts detailed reviews of incidents that result in injury or death with the goal of correcting mistakes to prevent future mishaps union-wide. The review typically includes: an incident summary, containment of damage, causes, and corrective actions. Below is an example of such a review. Fall from Pole Incident Summary:…
The attacks on our country on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 were certainly some of our deadliest hours. With 2,996 casualties, they exceeded those of Pearl Harbor and comprise the deadliest terrorist attack in world history. The tragedies that occurred in Shanksville, PA, the Pentagon and the World Trade Center changed our lives forever. It was…
Earlier this spring, as the three U.S. COVID-19 vaccines were becoming readily available, many of us thought we saw light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. As vaccination rates rose, we saw infection rates decrease and many thought that we were heading for a summer that would allow us to return to some form…
As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our Utility Workers Union of America, I am both honored and privileged, as your National Secretary Treasurer, to assist in providing historical data for these anniversary editions of The Utility Worker. Our 2021 second quarter magazine titled “Making History, Moving Forward” covered the years 1933-1955. It identified many…
Protecting bargaining unit work from contractors, providing a pathway to careers for veterans, training women in non-traditional jobs, and shining a light on the truth about electrification are all areas of focus for the National UWUA and many of its locals. Each of these taken separately presents a challenge to the union, its members and…
Barbara Yatauro was recently elected President of Local 393, representing approximately 350 members at Suffolk County Water on Long Island, New York. For most of her 22-year career, she worked in the new construction division of the company and is now a Senior Clerk there. A few years after joining the union, she was elected…
Wind technicians working for Michigan giant DTE Energy overwhelmingly voted to join Local 223 recently. The new 25-member unit joins the UWUA’s growing number of members working in the booming renewable energy industry. With the Local 223 victory, Michigan becomes the only state in the nation where the operation and maintenance of wind turbines owned…
Congratulations to UWUA brothers and sisters from Local 223’s Power Generation Division for achieving 1 million hours worked without an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable injury. This significant milestone demonstrates Local 223’s dedication to workplace safety! “Although we work around hazards every day, we are getting better at recognizing and mitigating them prior…
Michigan receives nuclear community grant This summer, the Economic Development Administration (EDA), a branch of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, awarded a $969,261 grant to the Southwestern Michigan Commission, a grant aimed at developing an economic recovery strategy ahead of the closure of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station. Further, this grant will be matched with…
This summer tested us in ways we’ve never been tested before. As if COVID-19 and the Delta variant weren’t bad enough, we’ve experienced unprecedented natural disasters. Extreme wildfires, hurricanes, droughts and floods are no longer an anomaly. They are the norm. As first responders, nobody knows this better than UWUA members. We are on the…