December Newsletter: 2025 in Review
This has been a challenging year for working people. Between skyrocketing wealth inequality, an affordability crisis that touches the daily lives of all working people, and the escalating authoritarianism of the Trump administration, working people find ourselves at a critical inflection point. Wealthy elites of all political parties have made it clear they aren’t going to fight for the needs of working people. The time is now for working people to build a movement to reshape our economy and society to benefit workers instead of billionaires. Working people deserve a future that’s built by and for us – one that prioritizes affordable communities, job security, safety and dignity at work, and a sustainable future – and one that’s built on the solidarity of working people across race, gender, nationality, and beyond.
This is no small task, but in 2025 UAW members in Region 6 have built impressive foundations that show it is possible. Since Region 6 re-formed a few years ago, we’ve nearly doubled in size as a result of numerous worker-led organizing campaigns. More and more workers continue organizing new campaigns to form unions, including in higher ed, research, and EVs/batteries. This year, members have also built power through high participation, escalating contract campaigns, winning new standards and protections in both first contracts and successor agreements across multiple sectors. Members have also dramatically expanded worker-led political action across the Region, including with mass participation campaigns to defend lifesaving research funding and innovative new programs to increase working peoples' impact on elections.
As detailed in this year’s Annual Report, there are many examples of members across every area and sector of Region 6 taking action to build the powerful labor movement this moment demands. To be sure, there is significant work still ahead of us. Please engage with this report critically and use it to draw out lessons we can take forward into building even more power in 2026. It will take every member’s active participation to win a world where all working people thrive, and I look forward to continuing to fight alongside you to make that vision a reality.
In Solidarity,
Mike Miller
Director, Region 6
More Updates from Around the Region
UC Workers’ Rally for Our Rights & Our Future
On November 20, thousands of Academic Student Employees (ASEs), Research and Public Service Professionals (RPSPs), and Student Services and Advising Professionals (SSAPs) rallied together statewide across every campus to let UC management know that academic employees and staff stand united and ready to do what’s necessary to achieve fair contracts, including fair wages, childcare benefits, and job security deeply affect the lives of so many of us. Despite the meager proposals from UC management at the previous bargaining session, the pressure SSAPs and RPSPs exerted on the UC resulted in several new, intensive blocks of bargaining dates in December and January. SSAPs and RPSPs expect UC to get serious and show up with real movement toward a just contract in the upcoming bargaining sessions.
CSU Academic Student Workers Rally for Strong Contract
Local 4123 members at CSU have been building a campaign for months to win a strong new contract. This month, Academic Student Employees at San Diego State University, San Francisco State University, and CSU Northridge held rallies to tell CSU management: if campus presidents are getting raises and bonuses, then the workers who make the CSU run deserve them too! While the CSU Board of Trustees says there’s no money to give raises to workers, they lifted salary caps and approved big 15% bonuses for campus presidents and executives. ASEs turned out across CSU campuses to deliver their bargaining demands, which include pay increases, better protections for marginalized workers, and sick leave.
Tentative Agreement on First Contract at UC Law SF
Student Workers at UC Law SF have reached tentative agreement (TA) on a first contract! This significant milestone comes after months of organizing by Student Workers, including rallies, practice picketing, and other public showings of solidarity. The TA includes increased wages for all student workers and protections against discrimination and harassment. Workers are now voting on whether to ratify the agreement.
Operational Student Employees at WWU File for Union Recognition
On December 5th, a majority of Operational Student Employees at Western Washington University filed to form their union — for the third time in three years. OSEs have been building an impressive, high participation campaign to win their union, including with a powerful strike earlier this year that won significant progress on terms of employment. Now, OSEs are mobilizing to pass HB 1570 to enshrine collective bargaining rights in Washington state law.
Local 509 Grievance Handling Training
In early December, delegates from multiple units of Local 509 came together for two intensive days of contract enforcement training. Over the course of the training, members learned fundamentals of grievance handling and put new skills into practice with an extended mock grievance case. Members left ready to build worker power, educate fellow members, and enforce their contacts.
USC Workers Hold Kill the Cuts Town Hall
Hundreds of USC academic workers came together to discuss how union members can fight back against federal attacks on life-saving research and higher education, and to ask state-level electeds to champion the Save Science Save Lives bond measure which would raise billions of dollars for research funding in California.
WSU Postdocs Demand Fair First Contract
On December 12th, WSU Postdocs delivered a petition to WSU president Elizabeth Cantwell demanding that WSU bargain a fair first contract for Postdocs without any more delays. The petition was signed by a majority of Postdocs and calls on WSU to agree to compensation, job security and gender equity provisions consistent with other UAW Postdoc contracts. For the delivery, Postdocs were joined by ASEs members of Local 4591. WSU Postdocs have been bargaining for nearly a year and plan on continuing to organize and escalate to reach a fair contract that raises standards and improves research at WSU.
Overpaid CEO Act
UAW members were proud to join the launch of the Overpaid CEO Act in San Francisco alongside fellow unions and community groups. This measure would place a small tax on large companies whose CEOs make over 100x more than the median worker, with revenue going towards essential public services that have been hollowed out by tax cuts for the rich.
UAW Job Openings
Interested in finding a job working for your union? A number of positions are open in various departments and levels of the UAW, and UAW members are especially encouraged to apply. Find open positions and information about how to apply at the UAW Indeed site.
Stay Connected & Share Your Updates
The Region 6 Newsletter is produced by the Region 6 Education & Communications Committee (ECC). If you have updates or stories from your Local/Organizing Campaign to share in a future newsletter, email region6newsletter@uaw.net. All Locals & Organizing Campaigns in Region 6 are strongly encouraged to send members to participate in the ECC on an ongoing basis. For regular updates and information, you can also check out Region 6 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and our website. Not already receiving the Region 6 newsletter, or know someone else who isn’t? Fill out this form to subscribe!