Local organizing helps lift labor to historic week

What do Virginia wireless workers, Maryland administrative assistants, Harvard grad students and JetBlue flight attendants have in common? They were all part of last week’s historic organizing surge, as more than 10,000 workers joined unions. The JetBlue flight attendants and Harvard grad students -- with about 5,000 each -- comprised the bulk of the wins, voting respectively to join the Transport Workers and UAW. Local efforts contributed as well, with six Cricket wireless workers joining CWA 2222 and over 100 administrative employees working for a Montgomery County contractor filing for an election last week with UFCW 1994 MCGEO. Other locals, including OPEIU 2, report ongoing organizing campaigns as well. These local efforts buttress a resurgent national labor movement that has captured national headlines as teachers across the country have staged massive strikes.