Brown Bag Lunch with UPMC Workers
Tuesday, February 25th
12 noon
Lobby Conference Room

Over the past several months hundreds of workers at UPMC have been fighting to win decent pay, fairness at work, and a union contract. They have faced one of the most aggressive anti-union campaigns we’ve seen in this region in years. Workers have been threatened, intimidate, fired, and even had the police called on them for talking about the union in their lunchroom.

But still they’re standing up to form a union and Make it Our UPMC.

If workers at UPMC are going to win a union and respect at work, they’re going to need to win a fair process to organize to form a union—one that doesn’t allow their employer to threaten workers and fire them for showing their support for the organizing drive.

On March 3rd UPMC workers and union activists from around Pittsburgh are going to be taking action UPMC’s headquarters.

But before we head out into the streets, we want to hear more about the UPMC workers’ struggle to form a union and win fairness and respect at work. On February 25th at 12 noon some UPMC workers will be joining us in the Lobby Conference Room to tell us why they’re fighting for a union, the resistance they’re facing at work, and what they’re doing to win a fair process for joining the union.

Please join us on February 25th at 12 noon in the lobby conference room to hear from these brave hospital workers who are fighting for a decent standard of living for working people in Pittsburgh.

By now you no doubt are aware of how destructive so-called “right to work” laws are, not just for union members but for all workers. They result in lower wages, fewer benefits and more dangerous workplaces for all. For years, we have been able to keep these laws out of Pennsylvania.

Now, out-of-state interests are making a full-court press to eliminate public-sector workers’ ability to use payroll deduction to collect dues. By threatening our resources, those advancing these bills are undermining our ability to operate successful unions. We need unity to oppose this, or we’ll also be facing a “right to work” fight imminently.

Our first step of our work is to find out where lawmakers stand on the bills that will eliminate payroll deduction, House Bill 1507 and Senate Bill 1034. We need all USW members in Pennsylvania to contact your state legislators as soon as possible.

Find contact information for your State Senators and House members here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/

When You Call: Ask the lawmakers what their position is on House Bill 1507/Senate Bill 1034. Make sure to share your name, where you’re from and that you want them to oppose the bill and any similar legislation. The information on lawmakers’ positions is extremely important. Please share any information you receive with Bob McAuliffe, District 10 Rapid Response Coordinator, right away. Bob is reachable at 412-303-6235 or rmcauliffe@usw.org.

Thank you!

If you have had trouble using the Benny Visa card you received through your USW Health Reimbursement Account, you are not alone. Sentinel Benefits, which administers the program, has experienced computer glitches that have led to some cards being denied as “unauthorized.” If this happens to you, don’t worry – just hold on to any receipts for medical related expenses starting January 1, and you will be reimbursed when the situation is corrected.