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What have we accomplished in our fourth year as a union?
- In March, we selected new union leadership across UMW and Local 9562. Jenise Brown and Jim Kappas remained our UMW President and Vice President, respectively. Jenise also took on a new role as Local 9562 Vice President, and UMW griever Zeja Copes became the Local 9562 Secretary.
- Also in March, UMW Vice President Jim Kappas spoke at the USW International NextGen Conference, which focuses on new and younger generations of union organizers.
- On March 24th, members of UMW and Local 9562 had a great turnout at the kickoff rally for the union campaign of the United Children’s Museum Workers. UMW President Jenise Brown and Local 9562 President Stephen Laskaris both spoke at the rally, along with Congresswoman Summer Lee. The United Children’s Museum Workers won their union election on April 24th.
- On April 17th, UMW President Jenise Brown had the opportunity to meet US President Joe Biden at an event at the United Steelworkers headquarters.
- On May Day, we marched with Casa San Jose, LCLAA, APALA, and other local labor organizations in the May Day Rally and March celebrating immigrant workers.
- In June, members of UMW and Local 9562 marched with Pride At Work in the Pittsburgh Pride Parade and the People’s Pride Parade.
- Also in June, UMW president Jenise Brown and griever / local secretary Zeja Copes attended the USW District 10 conference in the Poconos. They met workers in a variety of industries supported by the Steelworkers and learned about how the union helps organize political campaigns and promotes labor-friendly legislation. Jenise received the District 10 Achievement Award in honor of her work for our union.
- At the end of June, we ratified a new Memorandum of Agreement that helps new part-time workers receive their benefit of two paid floating holidays after one year of employment, regardless of their hiring date. Prior to passing this MOA, management only allotted this benefit once a year, in January, meaning that workers hired early in the year needed to wait nearly two years before getting to use their paid floating holidays.
- In August, we successfully defended the regular part-time status of Natural History Interpreters after disputing an attempt by management to reclassify them as occasional employees.
- On September 2nd, UMW workers marched in our third Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade and celebrated the holiday at a wonderful Labor Day Picnic with our fellow Local 9562 members.
- Also in September, UMW president Jenise Brown spoke to WBUR NPR Here & Now about her experience as a union organizer and the impact of our first contract. Listen to her interview at this link: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/09/03/museum-unions-pittsburgh
