Prior to the most recent contract negotiations in 2025, the union board asked members what we wanted to achieve through the bargaining process. I took the initiative to explore this question and put together a document to present at the next union meeting. My first step was to speak with several coworkers and ask if they’d be willing to collaborate, as I wanted to understand as many perspectives as possible. This union doesn’t belong to just one of us—it belongs to all of our brothers and sisters.

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This document primarily focuses on pay differentials and wage statistics, but it doesn’t highlight other crucial aspects of the negotiation—such as paid time off, healthcare, 401(k), and other benefits. I firmly believe these elements are just as important for everyone in our union, even though they are not emphasized in this particular example..

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In the document, we broke down pay differentials, analyzed how inflation has shifted over the past four years, and voiced the concerns of many of our newer union members. I believe it’s important to share this work with you, not only to show what I’ve contributed personally, but also to demonstrate my ability to work as part of a team and my commitment to standing beside each and every one of you.

If you’ve read this far, thank you for taking the time out of your day. Your interest shows how deeply you care about our union.