Press Release

Worker Wins Update: Workers Make Gains in Workplace and Ballot Box

WASHINGTON, DC– Workers across the country have stood up in recent months for fair wages and better working conditions through organizing and ballot initiative campaigns.

The following are a sample of victories won by workers:

Organizing and Community Victories

Boilermakers Make Progress at Virginia Manufacturer: Workers at the Steel Fab manufacturing company in Lebanon, Virginia voted to become members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers on September 19th.

Texas Machinists Vote for a Union:  One thousand mechanics, technicians, and maintenance personnel at the Red River Army Depot near Texarkana, TX successfully organized into the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).  This victory follows successful campaigns by workers earlier this year where 925 employees joined the union at the Corpus Christi Army Depot in Corpus Christi, Texas.

New Jersey AFL-CIO Nonprofit Joins Forces with Hudson County to Form Immigrant Naturalization and Empowerment Center: The New Jersey State AFL-CIO Community Services Inc. has partnered with Hudson County to create an immigrant advocacy center, to help thousands of legal immigrants achieve full citizenship and the right to vote. Hudson County, NJ is home to 93,000 legal permanent residents who are currently eligible to become citizens, but may lack the finances or know-how to complete the process.

Airline Customer Service Agents Vote for Union Representation: Approximately 14,500 customer service agents for the recently merged American Airlines and US Airways voted for union representation in September. This victory was especially significant for 9,000 former American Airlines agents who have been part of a 19 year long organizing effort.

Bike Share Workers Organize in New York City, Begin Work in Washington, DC: Approximately 200 NYC Bike Share workers became members of Transport Workers Union Local 100 in New York City as part of efforts to organize employees at bike share programs across the country. Workers in Washington, DC have also made strides in this effort; ensuring workers have a living wage and benefits.

Electoral Victories

Workers Win on Minimum Wage Increases: Workers in five states and two cities helped push successful efforts to raise the minimum wage. Those states and cities include:

Alaska– Won 69-31 – Raise to $9.75 by 2016 with raises accounted for inflation
Arkansas – Won 65-35 – Raise to $8.50 by 2017
Illinois – Won 67-33 –Raise to $10.00 by 2015 (If approved by legislature)
Nebraska – Won 59-41 – Raise to $9.00 by 2016 with raises accounted for inflation
South Dakota – Won 55-45 – Raise to $8.50 by 2015 with raises accounted for inflation

Oakland, CA - Won 81-19 – Raise to $12.25 by March, 2015 with raises accounted for inflation
San Francisco, CA - Won 77-23 – Raise to $15 by July 2018 with raises accounted for Consumer Price Index

Workers Earn Access to Paid Sick Leave in Three States: Paid sick leave efforts for working families were successful throughout the country. Workers in Massachusetts were joined by voters in Oakland, CA and Trenton and Montclair, NJ in ensuring more than one million combined workers will have access to paid sick leave.

Contact: Anthony DeAngelo (202) 637-5018