UAW 1979

Surprise! There's a Board of Governors meeting *today* at 4pm, in McGregor Memorial Conference Center. Sorry for the short notice, it was just posted yesterday (link below). Attend if you can, please.

bog.wayne.edu/meetings/401...

Following faculty pushback to Customs and Border Protection recruitment listing, SPS removes all external postings from career opportunities website Following faculty pushback for listing an external Customs and Border Protection recruitment event on its career opportunities <a href="https://careerdesignlab.sps.columbia.edu/events/" rel="">web pag...

💥💥💥

Congrats to Columbia AAUP on successfully standing up against ICE recruitment on campus.

Let's keep organizing and go all out to get ICE off our campuses.

@swcolumbia.bsky.social
@aaupcu.bsky.social

Dogs, cats...maybe a camel at some point. All saved by Walter, and then managed by previous @reutherlibrary.bsky.social archivists from before my time at Wayne State.

The WSU Board of Governors meeting is at 3:15pm on Thursday, in the Student Center Ballroom. Come stand in solidarity, or even sign up to speak (48 hours or more in advance - bog.wayne.edu). Wear your union shirt and make sure they know we're here.

It's coming up soon.

The next Board of Governors meeting is February 12, 2026 on the main campus. If you can make it there, wear a union shirt and make sure they remember we're here.

bog.wayne.edu/meetings

Photo of UAW Local 155 members who recently ratified their first contract with the Lear Corporation in Detroit, MI.

Congratulations to our UAW Region 1 family at Local 155 on voting by 99% to ratify their first contract with the Lear Corporation in Detroit, MI! After a long battle, members were able to win significant economic improvements, including major wage increases and strong healthcare gains. ✊💪

"The Board of Governors welcomes your input on Wayne State's next president. ... the Board invites you to a listening session on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the McGregor Memorial Conference Center, Rooms FGH."

Everyone has their red shirts, right?

rsvp.wayne.edu/presidential...

Academic workers at schools: Do not use your institutional email for union matters. (love, your friendly neighborhood higher ed union rep, begging you to please please please stop emailing me from your university email address)

The 1949 Ford contract is signed. Left to right: Ken Bannon, UAW Ford Director; Walter Reuther; John Bugas, Ford Vice-President in charge of Industrial Relations; Mel Lindquist, Ford Manager of Industrial Relations. Second row, behind Walter Reuther, Victor Leo Zuzak. Photo courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library

Auto workers near retirement age hold picket signs denouncing Ford Motor Company’s stance on employee pensions during the 1949 Ford Strike, location unknown. Photo courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library.

Walter Reuther (UAW President) and Ken Bannon (director of the UAW Ford Department) lead the UAW-Ford bargaining team in the 1949 negotiations, Detroit, Michigan. The negotiations resulted in the creation of the first pension plan in the industry. Photo courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library.

🧵 On this day in 1949, the UAW and Ford agreed to a groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement that saw the creation of the first-ever pension plan in the industry. The plan covered 115,000 Ford workers across the country and was considered a pattern-setter for all heavy industry in the U.S.

UAW members at the union's Member Mobilization Institute at the Walter & May Reuther Education Center in Black Lake, MI.

UAW members at the union's Member Mobilization Institute at the Walter & May Reuther Education Center in Black Lake, MI.

UAW members at the union's Member Mobilization Institute at the Walter & May Reuther Education Center in Black Lake, MI.

Photo of the Walter & May Reuther Education Center in Black Lake, MI.

This week, UAW rank-and-file members are participating in the union's Member Mobilization Institute in Black Lake, MI.

The institute provides an opportunity for our members to reflect on their passions as unionists and to discover their path to mobilizing their local membership.

Happy Labor Day!

Region 1C members marching, Solidarity Day III, Labor Day, Detroit, September 5, 1983. Photo courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library.

Kohler Strike Float, Labor Day, Detroit, Michigan, 1957. The float won parade trophy. Photo courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library.

Children dress in patriotic garb during Detroit's 1941 Labor Day Parade. September 1, 1941. Photo courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library.

Walter Reuther delivers an address to the crowd gathered in front of City Hall during the 1960 Labor Day demonstration. Photo courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library.

Today, we celebrate the labor movement's immense contributions to our country and honor all working people who have bravely stood up to the most powerful forces in the world to help create a more fair and just society for us all.

📸 @reutherlibrary.bsky.social

Old poster that says, "WDET: The Voice of Labor"

Happy Labor Day, Detroit! 💪

pc: @uawarchivist.bsky.social

X’s Altmetric Hegemony Ceding to Bluesky The alternative social media platform is matching engagement of Elon Musk’s X in ways that “would have seemed unthinkable until recently,” says study.

X’s Altmetric Hegemony ‘Ending,’ With @bsky.app ‘Clear Alternative’

The alternative social media platform is matching engagement of Elon Musk’s X in ways that “would have seemed unthinkable until recently,” says study. bit.ly/4myucjh

#EDUSky #AcademicSky

Dark blue graphic with the text: "Solidarity is the answer." UAW wheel logo

Our greatest hope is each other. Solidarity is the answer.

It's voting day, P&A! If you don't have a PDF of the tentative agreement in your email, *tell us*. Make sure the spam filter doesn't get you.

Graphic promoting the August 18th Walter P. Reuther Library event, "Telling Labor's Story: Workers, Media, and Politics Today," featuring labor writers Hamilton Nolan and Kim Kelly, and labor communicators Jonathan Kissam, Annemarie Strassel, and the UAW's own, Dave Elsila. Event is from 11 am to 4 pm ET at the Reuther Archives, 2nd floor.

Check out this FREE event coming up at the
@reutherlibrary.bsky.social!

Telling Labor's Story brings two panels of labor writers and union communicators to the stage on August 18, 2025, 11 am-4 pm ET.

Register here:
ow.ly/ThYh50WAsGH

"The UAW Education Department will hold its Member Mobilization Institute September 28 – October 3, 2025."

It's in Onaway, Michigan, and open to any active UAW members or local leaders in good standing.

www.facebook.com/events/17445...

And there it is - one solid year.

Still waiting...

It's been since August 1, 2024 that UAW 1979 has had a contract that wasn't monthly extensions. Not having a contract ready in time for the old one to expire is, sadly, typical. Waiting about a year so far isn't. Maybe we're just not loud enough.

Here's an attempt to learn from that.