UWUA congratulates Matias Alejandro Vergara for receiving a 2023 Union Plus scholarship. He is the son of Alejandro Vergara, secretary-treasurer of California Local 283. Matias is a sophomore at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) pursuing the study of computational biology. His career goals include furthering the understanding of minute biological processes and enhancing the…
In June, the New York State Assembly and Senate unanimously passed the 9/11 Notice Act to support the forgotten victims of 9/11. Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to sign it into law before year-end. The bill aims to ensure that individuals who were in the Lower Manhattan and northern Brooklyn exposure zones between September 2001…
Glenn Thomas 1931-2023 Long-time UWUA National Representative Glenn Thomas passed away on July 10, after a remarkable 91 years of life. Thomas served as UWUA National Representative from 1970 to 1997. He came out of Local 164, which represents water and wastewater members at the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County in southwestern Pennsylvania. In addition…
The UWUA wishes all our retirees health and happiness during your “golden years.” Enjoy it — you’ve earned it! Local 1-2 Eric Adler Richard Calvanico Walter Davis Lorenzo Dryden Vincent Estella Nathaniel Evens Jose R. Hernandez Anthony Hill Robert Marecheau Nelson Marrero Antonio Padilla Jenifer Sadler Christopher Scirica Mayie I. Soto Keidi Wein Local…
Human trafficking, a sinister crime that shatters lives and defies the boundaries of human decency, is a violation of human rights. The stereotypical view of trafficking as involving only prostitution has evolved, revealing a much broader and more disturbing reality, including forced labor. A personal encounter with the harrowing consequences of human trafficking opened my…
Every year there is an increase in the number of women in our union. This was apparent at this year’s 32nd UWUA National Convention. As I looked around, I saw many women in the room. This was exciting to see, especially since we had amazing women guest speakers. We had the first ever female president…
As UWUA YWIC chair, I could not have been more pleased to see the large number of young and first-time delegates at the recent convention. During the Young Workers Initiative Committee resolution debate, members passionately emphasized YWIC’s influence and the need to support and develop future utility workers. Their impactful words will inspire other UWUA…
The Los Angeles Dodgers gave a special welcome to UWUA Local 132 member Jason Whitlock at their July 4th game. Whitlock attended as a guest of Umps Care, a charity run by Major League Baseball umpires, and the Wounded Warrior Umpire Academy (WWUA), a program that trains military veterans to become umpires. Whitlock got to…
Local 270 members working for the City of Cleveland ratified a new three-year agreement securing substantial advancements in training and sick leave for 46 members in building support and the city’s water treatment and distribution plants. The negotiating committee included Local 270 President Chris Ericksen, Vice President Rob Scheffler, Recording Secretary Karl Scheffler, and members…
“…No matter your background or your history, we’re all sitting in the same room today together with one goal: to create a better future for our unions and for our members. I hope all of you never lose sight of that goal…the future of the labor movement depends on you!” -Susie Martinez, Secretary-Treasurer, Nevada State…
Convention delegates elected Adrian Dueñas, business manager of Local 18007 in Chicago, to the UWUA’s executive board. Dueñas has spent his entire career at Peoples Gas, starting fresh out of high school in 1991. In 2001, Local 18007 endured a three-week strike against the company. “It was hard for everyone, and I realized then that…
The profound impact of a harrowing experience on December 8, 1995, forever imprinted on my memory, has driven me to become an unwavering advocate for safety in the workplace. This incident was the catalyst of my devotion to safeguarding lives and championing a safety culture. That fateful day began like any other, a routine assignment…
Convention delegates voiced strong support for the adoption of the UWUA Health and Safety Resolution. This resolution reaffirms the founding principles behind the establishment of the UWUA National Safety Committee. The National Safety Committee mirrors the diverse fabric of our union. Our commitment extends to encompass all sectors — gas, water and electric — and…
Our Mission “There is no greater cause or purpose we have than supporting our members, ensuring that we are there for them, that we are standing side by side with them, arm in arm, through any struggle or any situation that arises. Our members need to know that whether it’s their dignity, their respect, their…
In March 2020, when Covid-19 shutdowns made normal activity virtually impossible, Local G-555 had an officers’ election to run and had to think fast. Paul Talboo, the local’s executive vice president and acting chairman of the election committee, had just one week to devise a plan, and his thoughts turned to fast food — a…
Spanning four action-packed days at the end of July, the UWUA’s 32nd Constitutional Convention was a resounding success, with delegates engaging in activities that laid the foundation for the union’s future. They elected and re-elected officers and executive board members, deliberated and passed 14 resolutions, amended our constitution, and drew inspiration from an impressive roster…
Members of Local 18007 at Chicago’s Peoples Gas ratified a five-year agreement that guarantees historic annual wage gains and adds two new seniority steps at the top of the scale. In the first year of the agreement, the guaranteed wage increase (GWI) for the 900-plus field service workers was 4.4%, effective May 1. The second-year…
Our union is a tapestry woven from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints that unites individuals from all walks of life. During the convention, extensive deliberations centered around the themes of “Embracing Our Differences” and “Leveraging Our Strength.” Delegates from every region throughout our national union delved into resolutions spanning a wide spectrum of subjects,…
Field employees at Liberty Gas in Georgia celebrated a historic milestone in mid-July—the ratification of their first-ever UWUA contract. The culmination of months of determination, negotiation, and perseverance, the three-year agreement, set to expire in March 2026, marks a transformative chapter for the Liberty Gas workforce. The journey began when approximately 70 field and customer…
Through these past eight years as your Secretary-Treasurer, we’ve diligently laid the financial groundwork for growth. Since day one, I’ve remained steadfast in my commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency. It’s important to emphasize that fiscal responsibility isn’t merely a matter of numbers; it extends to the thought and consideration behind every financial decision. Back…
At the end of July, the Utility Workers Union of America held its 32nd National Convention, and by all accounts it was a great convention. Many topics were covered based on our theme “Essential by Industry, Exceptional by Choice” and our subthemes of “Embracing Our Differences, Leveraging Our Strength, Determining Our Future Together.” A strong…
As we gathered in Las Vegas for the 32nd Constitutional Convention, my passion for the UWUA and my pride in our union burned brighter than ever. The theme “Essential By Industry, Exceptional by Choice” was apparent everywhere you looked and in every delegate who rose to speak. It resonates as deeply today as it did…
Nicole Wallace-Edgar, Local 1-2 “My number one takeaway is that unions are power. We must learn to leverage that power to get what we need for the American worker and workers worldwide. We as women are now making up a greater share of the workforce, and we as women also need to leverage our power…