organizing

Solidarity at the Shipyard: The Story of USW Local 8888's Fight for Union Power

USW Local 8888's story is a powerful example of shipbuilders at Newport News overcoming great odds to unionize. Workers faced tough conditions and company pushback but found strength in solidarity. Their fight for better working conditions, fair representation, and unionization is a tribute to the enduring spirit of labor movements, leading to significant improvements in their rights and benefits through collective bargaining.

Women of Steel rally in oakland for Pitt staff and grad workers.

On tuesday October 24, nearly 1000 steelworkers from the USW Women of Steel program showed up to support the organizing efforts of graduate workers and staff at the University of Pittsburgh. Solidarity was out in full force! #usw #organizing #womenofsteel #knowyourpower #1u

Cherie, are you listening?

The Rev. William Barber of the Poor People's Campaign is among those speaking up on behalf of Giti Tire workers who are trying desperately to improve their conditions at work and their lives in their community. Vice Chair Cherie Nursalim: are you listening?

District 4: Brian Callow of USW Local 314

Hear some of the major reasons to consider joining a union, straight from union members themselves!

Don't be afraid of a union!

Kathy Palin says Materion workers in #Ohio have nothing to be afraid of, and can't wait to have a union. Watch & share to show her you have her back! #1u #VoteYes

At the end of the day, I want to try something new! #USWUnity

John Tate has given over a decade of his life to Materion Corp. and just wants things to get better at work. That's why he wants to join our union. Watch & share to let him know we can't wait to have him in the family! #1u #VoteYes

It's personal, I can't turn my cheek this time!

Brenan Minch says it's time for him and others who make Materion Corp. work to be treated with dignity and respect. That's why they are voting #UnionYes. Watch & Share to let them know we're with them! #1u #USWUnity

Vote Union Yes! Kumho tire 2019

The company might try and tell you one thing, but listen to honest testimonial straight from the mouths of union workers. Vote Union Yes on September 5th and 6th at Kumho Tire!

USW Leadership Level 4 Action at Point Park University

Folks on broadway aren't the only ones singing about not being able to pay the #rent. Big shoutout to USW Level 4 Leadership Development for putting the pressure on #PointParkUniversity to do right by the adjunct professors.

USW Local 8599: The Fontana Unified School District

A brief video featuring testimonials from the classified employees and school site aides of the Fontana Unified School District in Fontana, California.

Pitt Faculty Town Hall Discussion - October 24, 2018

A record of the Pitt Faculty open public discussion of how a union would affect faculty at The University of Pittsburgh. Panel participants: Ruth Mostern (moderator), Associate Professor - History Tyler Bickford, Associate Professor - English Jennifer Lee, Senior Lecturer - Writing Program Carl Redwood, Adjunct Faculty - School of Social Work Mrinalini Rajogopalan, Associate Professor - History of Art and Architecture Marian Jarlenski, Assistant Professor - Health Policy and Management

University of Pittsburgh Graduate Employee: Rahul Amruthapuri

Pitt graduate employee, Rahul Amruthapuri talks about the benefits of organizing into a union and how it would positively affect international graduate workers at the University of Pittsburgh.

University of Pittsburgh Graduate Employee: Golnar Touski

Golnar, a Pitt graduate employee and native of Iran, explains why the graduate union is important to her and reaches out to fellow international students for unity.

WPXI News Clip - Pitt Parran Hall Renaming

WPXI's Gordon Loesch reports on the probable renaming of the University of Pittsburgh's Parran Hall. Interviewed: Abby Cartus of the Pitt Graduate Student Union.

Casino Workers: Don't Gamble With Your Healthcare

Several casino workers in Ohio and West Virginia discuss how having a union helped them win better healthcare coverage on the job.

Don’t Gamble With Your Future

We – the women and men who work at Hollywood Casino — know what’s best for us at our workplace. We are the union. The union allows us to have each other’s backs and fight for us. We deserve to have a voice that is heard. Don’t game with your future, stick with the union. More: casinoworkerscouncil.org.

Casino Workers: You are the Union

Casino employees across the U.S. and Canada talk candidly about what being a union member means to them and how their quality of life has improved after becoming one.

Pitt, Rename Parran Hall & Stop Honoring an Unethical Scientist

Pitt's Parran Hall is named for former U.S. Surgeon General Thomas Parran who presided over the infamous Tuskegee syphilis experiment, in which 399 African American men were deceived and infected with syphilis without consent. Sign our petition urging them to change the name! pittgradunion.org

Our Tokes are Our Tokes!

The Department of Labor (DOL) is in the process of changing the tip rules. The new rules could make it possible for employers, like The Meadows, to take of distributing tips (tokes) however they see fit as long as they pay us at least the minimum wage. We want to prevent this from happening!

Female Faculty at Pitt: Something doesn't add up

Learn more at www.pittfaculty.org/doesntaddup2

Pitt Faculty are Organizing to Form a Union!

After more than two years of hard work, faculty at the University of Pittsburgh are moving their campaign to form a union with the USW's Academic Workers Association to the next phase by beginning to collect union cards. Some 4,000 full and part-time faculty are organizing because they want a voice in how the university is run, ensuring the core mission—teaching and research—doesn't takes a back seat to other priorities. Comment below with your words of solidarity to wish them luck!

Now is the time to sign your union card!

Visit www.askagrad.org to get in touch with an organizer so you can sign your union card before the end of the semester.

A union gives us a collective voice on the national level

Having a union gives us a collective voice to advocate for ourselves and all graduate student employees on issues that impact our work. Email info@pittgradunion.org to get in touch with an organizer to learn more about the campaign.

We are the Union: The Origins of Organizing at The University of Pittsburgh

For nearly three years, graduate student employees at Pitt have been organizing and campaigning for a union. What started as colleagues and friends meeting in coffee shops and at each other’s houses became a vast, complex project. Please, take a few minutes to watch the video to hear about the origins of the Graduate Student Organizing Committee at the University of Pittsburgh.

Andréa Hanna: Response to the Provost

Our colleague, Andréa Hanna, wrote a letter to the editor of Pitt News in response to Provost Beeson’s recent email attempting to intimidate grad employees out of exercising our right to build a union at Pitt. It highlights the consequences caused by the deficient level of support we receive as grad employees at Pitt. How can one produce their best work when they can barely afford to eat?

WHY GRADS AT PITT ARE ORGANIZING

With a union, graduate student workers at the University of Pittsburgh will have a stronger voice in their workplace when it comes to issues that impact their jobs and their students' education.

USW: House Calling

A vintage video about how to properly perform a home visit on union business.

United Steelworkers: For a Better Life

USW Launches Organizing Campaign at Pitt

The United Steelworkers (USW) sponsored a news conference for full and part-time faculty and graduate employees of the University of Pittsburgh to discuss their ongoing campaign to improve working conditions for instructors and learning conditions for students by organizing and bargaining collectively for union representation.

Organizing the Unorganized: iTaxi Toronto

Under the leadership of the United Steelworkers, iTaxi drivers in Toronto have organized to fight for better benefits, wages and securities.

Organizing the Unorganized: Mable McIntosh

In USW District 9, deep in the heart of Tennessee, union activist Mable McIntosh discusses her knack for internal organizing in a right-to-work state.  It all starts with a simple phrase - It's wrong not to belong.

Organizing the Unorganized: Adjunct Professors

With the support of the United Steelworkers, adjunct professors at Point Park University and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA have successfully formed a union. They will soon begin to bargain for wages, benefits and quality of life improvements so they may continue to usher students through the ranks of higher education.