|
What have we accomplished in our third year as a union?
In February, workers started signing UMW membership cards for the first time.
In the spring we held multiple education sessions to prepare workers for a potential strike. We were ultimately able to avoid going on strike by holding rallies and maintaining a strong sense of worker solidarity when faced with CMP’s negotiation tactics.
As we pushed through the final stretch of contract negotiations, we ramped up our solidarity actions! On March 29, we hosted our first silkscreen printing party and started creating UMW merch. On March 30, workers rallied outside the closing of the 58th Carnegie International to promote receiving a fair contract now! And on April 14, workers rallied outside the Carnegie Science Center’s Speakeasy Science event to raise awareness of our ongoing contract fight.
On May 18, we ratified our first contract, raising the minimum wage at CMP to $16 an hour along with raises throughout the museum system. We also secured other rights including better working conditions, recognition of seniority for part-time employees, and paid floating holidays. Our union amalgamated with USW Local 9562, which also represents workers at the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh, HCL, the Persad Center, and MK Elections.
Over the summer, we selected union leadership. We elected Jenise Brown (CMNH) as our Unit President and Jim Kappas (CSC) as our Unit Secretary. Both Jim and Jenise served as representatives on our Bargaining Committee, and Jenise is now a USW staff organizer helping the University of Pittsburgh graduate student workers unionize.
On September 4, members of our union marched with the United Steelworkers in our second Labor Day Parade.
On October 24, we sent two delegates to attend our first Women of Steel conference. Members of our union marched with conference attendees at a rally in Oakland in support of Pitt grad students, faculty, and staff.
In October, UMW President Jenise Brown made Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list.
In November, Local 9562 released their first political statement, voted upon by general meeting attendees.
Our Grievance Committee handled a wide variety of grievances during our first six months of assembling, addressing issues such as uncompensated work, emergency evacuation procedures, wrongful terminations, and unfair break schedules.
In December, UMW was named People of the Year in Labor by the Pittsburgh City Paper.
In the spring we held multiple education sessions to prepare workers for a potential strike. We were ultimately able to avoid going on strike by holding rallies and maintaining a strong sense of worker solidarity when faced with CMP’s negotiation tactics.
As we pushed through the final stretch of contract negotiations, we ramped up our solidarity actions! On March 29, we hosted our first silkscreen printing party and started creating UMW merch. On March 30, workers rallied outside the closing of the 58th Carnegie International to promote receiving a fair contract now! And on April 14, workers rallied outside the Carnegie Science Center’s Speakeasy Science event to raise awareness of our ongoing contract fight.
On May 18, we ratified our first contract, raising the minimum wage at CMP to $16 an hour along with raises throughout the museum system. We also secured other rights including better working conditions, recognition of seniority for part-time employees, and paid floating holidays. Our union amalgamated with USW Local 9562, which also represents workers at the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh, HCL, the Persad Center, and MK Elections.
Over the summer, we selected union leadership. We elected Jenise Brown (CMNH) as our Unit President and Jim Kappas (CSC) as our Unit Secretary. Both Jim and Jenise served as representatives on our Bargaining Committee, and Jenise is now a USW staff organizer helping the University of Pittsburgh graduate student workers unionize.
On September 4, members of our union marched with the United Steelworkers in our second Labor Day Parade.
On October 24, we sent two delegates to attend our first Women of Steel conference. Members of our union marched with conference attendees at a rally in Oakland in support of Pitt grad students, faculty, and staff.
In October, UMW President Jenise Brown made Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list.
In November, Local 9562 released their first political statement, voted upon by general meeting attendees.
Our Grievance Committee handled a wide variety of grievances during our first six months of assembling, addressing issues such as uncompensated work, emergency evacuation procedures, wrongful terminations, and unfair break schedules.
In December, UMW was named People of the Year in Labor by the Pittsburgh City Paper.
|
|
|
|
