In AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest New York Times  column, she describes what it is exactly that unions do. Though unions are the most popular they have been in decades, anti-union sentiment still thrives in red states and across the nation. “Several years ago, The Atlantic ran a story whose headline made even me, a labor leader, scratch my head: ‘Union Membership: Very Sexy,’” Weingarten writes in the column. “The gist was that higher wages, health benefits and job security—all associated with union membership—boost one’s chances of getting married. Belonging to a union doesn’t actually guarantee happily ever after, but it does help working people have a better life in the here and now.” Click through to read the full column.

On June 8th AFT MA Maintainer 6350 President Nick Gula spoke during the Raise Up Massachusetts kick off rally to support the Fair Share Amendment! The event was sponsored by the Coalition for Social Justice, Greater Southeastern Labor Council, NAACP, MTA, AFTMA, United Steel Workers, AFSCME and SEIU1199.

Nick spoke about the importance of supporting this amendment because the funds will go to fund the CHERISH Act, an act to fully fund public higher education and this amendment will also fund public transportation. Nick spoke in favor of funding for the South Coast Rail line, improving the

The UMass Unions United Dartmouth and UMass Health & Safety coalition have partnered with Domino’s Pizza to reward students for adhering to the campus’s COVID-19 protocols.  Deb Gula, VP of Flawless Execution, has graciously donated 100 gift certificates for a large, one-topping Domino’s pizza (a $15 value).  Deb is the mother of our AFT MA Maintainers 6350 President Nicholas Gula.

Each day beginning Monday, March 15, one student who has tested at our COVID-19 testing site will be awarded a gift card.  They will be notified by ESU member Greg Homol, ATC CSCS COVID-19 Testing Consultant Fitness

Last week members of the UMass Unions United Dartmouth team created an email requesting a union seat on the UMass Dartmouth Chancellor search and screen committee.  The email was sent to UMass President Marty Meehan, Search Committee Chair Steve Karam, Board of Trustees Chair Robert Manning, and copied to MA State Legislators that have expressed interest in the search process.

AFSCME Local 507 President Cindy Costa reached out to AFL-CIO MA President and UMass Board of Trustee Steve Tolman for additional support when she did not receive a response from the email recipients.  Steve contacted