On October 12, UE Newport News City Worker Union Organizing Committee leaders met with City Council member David Jenkins to discuss our workplace concerns for better wages, safety and fairness. Public Works employees Riccretia Clifton and Terence Harrell (both Master Equipment Equipment Operators in Solid Waste), Keith Graham, Construction & Maintenance Sr worker in Stormwater, along with UE organizers Charles Brown and Dante Strobino participated in the productive meeting.

Jenkins pledged his firm support for workers struggling to make a living wage and have a voice on the job. He also pledged to support a city council resolution to allow Collective Bargaining. With a 7 member City Council, we need to secure 4 votes to pass a resolution. UE members are already in touch with several other city council members and have meetings set up in the coming weeks.

With the new law, e ective May 1, 2021, workers are facing a historic opportunity to make REAL workplace changes. Workers in all sections of Public Works and Human Services departments have been signing union cards pledging their support for collective bargaining. We must continue this momentum and encourage our co-workers to sign their union cards.

With the positive news that on September 28 in nearby City of Virginia Beach the City Council got a full briefing on collective bargaining and the Mayor Bobby Dyer has set up a committee to move it forward, Newport News workers can be part of this exciting momentum. Now is the time to step up and get involved to make changes!

If you would like to be part of the meeting with city council representing your department let us know!

Union cards can be signed on line at https://organize.ueunion.org/newport-news