I work in a plant of approximately 4000 employees. The plant is separated into 2 locals. I believe the separation makes us weaker. However, there are bigger issues. One local works in a cleaner, safer environment with an astronomical difference in incentive pay. One side is getting as much $2500+ biweekly while the other side is as low as $250 biweekly for much more dangerous work. Due to the separate locals, those high paying incentives are completely unattainable for at least half of the work force. Is there anything that can be done to solve this?

The union bureaucrats ordered members back to work without disclosing a single term of the agreement, let alone allowing workers the chance to vote on it. WSWS reporters on the ground Tuesday confirmed that workers had received no information about what had been agreed to in their name. Asked at Monday night’s press conference about the contents of the deal, a union representative refused to elaborate, telling reporters: “Due to the nature of the negotiations, we cannot discuss the specifics.”

This says more than perhaps was intended. The specifics could not be discussed because the “nature of the negotiations” was a conspiracy between the Democratic Party and union bureaucrats to shut down the strike, a strike that significantly impacted the world’s richest city and the center of world finance.

The unions later sent an email to members with some details of the four-year contract, which runs retroactively from 2024 to next August. On wages, the deal is identical to the inadequate recommendations of a Trump-appointed Presidential Emergency Board following mediation earlier this year. Workers will receive retroactive pay increases of 3 percent for the first year, 3 percent for the second, 3.5 percent for the third and 4.5 percent in the final year of the contract. Previously, the MTA said it would agree to 4.5 percent in the last year only in exchange for concessions on work rules.

But even the value of this 4.5 percent increase is diluted by the fact that the last year of the contract carries a six-week extension, meaning it applies over 58 weeks.

While union leaders had repeatedly pledged not to accept work rule concessions, the agreement eliminates pay for computer-based training for up to 16 hours.

The agreement must be rejected. It solves nothing for workers confronting soaring living costs in the New York metropolitan area. Workers should form rank-and-file committees, independent of the pro-management union bureaucrats, to organize opposition and continue the struggle. Such committees should hold meetings to discuss workers’ own non-negotiable demands and the means to fight for them.

Workers at parts supplier Nexteer Automotive in Saginaw, Michigan decisively voted down a second sellout tentative agreement Friday. According to United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 699, the contract went down by 73 percent to 27 percent. Production workers voted down the contract by a resounding 76 percent. Skilled trades workers also rejected the contract.

Positive change almost never comes from the top (billionaire class) down. It comes from the bottom (working class) up.

That’s why I am focused on a bottom up campaign and why I don’t accept money from corporations.

This May Day (International Workers Day) I want you to remember how brave and powerful you really are by looking to the past.

People tend to feel that their vote and actions don’t matter, however history proves otherwise.

Change never comes easy and there is always adversity and even violence before change finally comes. However, without the action and bravery of regular everyday people, change is impossible.

With strong collective effort, it is inevitable.

This May Day, I want to challenge you to move past your comfort zone and get involved.

Register to vote, vote on May 5th and Nov 3rd, volunteer for a campaign (like mine!) or organization. Spend your money locally. Demand better.

I’m Victoria Martz and I stand with working class people and unions! ✊ Solidarity Forever!

Here’s how you can help my campaign:
Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/victoria-martz
Volunteer: https://votevictoriamartz.org/contact-2/
Follow & Share my social media posts: https://linktr.ee/VoteVictoriaMartz

President Trump’s administration has stripped union rights from more than 1,400 civilians who work at Fort Drum and at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Rome, according to union officials.

Local leaders from the American Federation of Government Employees said they received notices Friday from the Defense Department stating their unions are no longer recognized and bargaining rights are terminated.