C4. Radical Labor

National Nurses United has named Puneet Maharaj as the new executive director to lead the union.

VA registered nurses with National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United – along with veterans groups, federal unions, and community members – urged the public to join in their efforts to protect federal workers and veterans health care at the VA during a town hall meeting in Augusta, Ga.

National Nurses United, the largest union of registered nurses in the United States, today stands with Christian “Chris” Smalls, the American labor leader beaten and detained by Israeli authorities, and celebrates his release from Israeli detention.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee today announced the selection of Puneet Maharaj as the new executive director to lead the union. Puneet succeeds Bonnie Castillo, RN in this position.

RNs at Adventist Health Sierra Vista in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Adventist Health Twin Cities in Templeton, Calif., on the Central Coast, voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying new four-year contracts on July 29, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention.

Nurses at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., will hold a vigil for patients impacted by planned service shutdowns at their hospital. Nurses are planning for a solemn event to spotlight what this means for Kansas City patients and how the hospital’s ownership, HCA Healthcare, has mismanaged and cut resources to these units for years, laying the groundwork to justify their own decision to shutter these services.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) is proud to announce that it has signed a two-year, above-inflation wage agreement with the Glass Industry Employers Association (GIEA) under the National Bargaining Council for the Chemical Industry, (NBCCI). This deal was signed yesterday (28 July), and covers all 13 000 workers in the sector and will be extended to non-parties, ensuring the gains reach every employee. The agreement is from 1 July and expires on the 30th of June 2027. It will be backdated to the 1st of July.

Key Agreement Highlights

Period Basic Wage Increase Minimum Wage (per month) 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026 5.5% increase R 8 789.91 → R 9 273.36 1 July 2026 – 31 Dec 2026 5.5% increase 1 Jan 2027 – 30 June 2027 0.5% increase R 9 273.36 → R 9 319.73

• Total increase Year 1: 5.5% across the board
• Total increase Year 2: 6.0% (5.5% + 0.5%)

Additional Gains for Workers

Maternity leave improvement from 50% of basic salary for four months to 85% of the basic wage paid for four months. Pregnant women now have the following options:

• • Option A: 85% of basic wage paid for four months
  • Option B: 55% of basic wage paid for six months

• The NBCCI will set up an unemployment support fund to aid workers who lose their jobs as part of Section 189 processes.
• A ban on labour brokers and temporary services beyond three months, as per section 198 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA); longer-term workers to receive permanent contracts and full benefits the same as permanent employees
• First-time sector-wide negotiations for medical aid coverage, to be finalized by the NBCCI

 Implementation & Next Steps

• The Agreement is back-dated to 1 July 2025
• The Collective Agreement automatically applies to non-parties to the bargaining council
• Plant-level discussions will address:
  • Shift and danger allowances
  • Disaster and emergency leave
  • Housing and heat allowances
  • Long-service awards

NUMSA retains the right to renegotiate any benefit shortfalls at company level.

The NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim said,

“NUMSA remains committed to defending workers’ hard-earned gains and pushing beyond mere inflation adjustments.  This deal sets a new standard in the Glass Sector and sends a clear message: when workers unite, we win.”

Ends

For more information or interview requests, please contact:

Phakamile Hlubi-Majola
NUMSA National Spokesperson
T: 083 376 7725
E: phakamileh@numsa.org.za

NUMSA Head Office
T: 011 689 1700
Facebook: NUMSA Facebook Page
Twitter: @Numsa_Media
Website: https://numsa.org.za

PDF DOWNLOAD: NUMSA signs above inflation wage agreement in the Glass Sector

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Thousands of registered nurses at six Tenet Healthcare Corporation hospitals in California will hold informational pickets on Thursday, July 31. RNs hope to raise awareness in their communities about management’s refusal to ensure appropriate staffing and training, and the impact it has on the quality of patient care and the retention of experienced nursing staff.

VA registered nurses with National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United are hosting a town hall on Thursday, July 31, in Augusta, Ga., in response to the administration’s unprecedented attacks on federal workers and veterans’ health care, and the VA as a whole.

Registered nurses from Kaiser Permanente facilities will hold a vigil at 4 p.m. tomorrow, July 25, in San Francisco, Calif., to honor transgender patients being impacted by Kaiser’s newly announced suspension of some gender-affirming care.

Registered nurses at Alhambra Hospital Medical Center in Alhambra, Calif., voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying a new four-year contract on July 22, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention,

Nurses represented by CNA/NNOC are today shaming Kaiser Permanente, one of the country’s largest health care systems, for their decision to suspend some gender-affirming care services for patients under 19.

Nurses at USC Keck & Norris Hospitals in Los Angeles, California will hold an informational picket on July 24 to protest the administration’s refusal to address RNs’ deep concerns about safe staffing and patient care issues.

RNs at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Md., will hold a one-day strike from July 24, 7 a.m. to July 25, 6:59 a.m., to protest Ascension management’s refusal to address their urgent concerns about patient care, safe staffing, and high staff turnover in contract negotiations. This notice follows a nearly unanimous strike authorization vote on May 16.

Nurses from three Healthcare Systems of America (HSA) hospitals in Florida — Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, Coral Gables Hospital in Coral Gables, and Florida Medical Center in Lauderdale Lakes — are holding a joint rally on Wednesday, July 23 in Hialeah to highlight their patient safety concerns as they begin bargaining a new contract.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) National Gender Structure joined hands with the Red Cross to commemorate Mandela Day in Joe Slovo Township, Mthatha, Eastern Cape. This year’s event centred on solidarity with over 2,000 families devastated by last month’s deadly floods across Mthatha and Butterworth.

At least 100 lives were lost, and over 10,000 families were displaced when torrential rains swept through the region. Among those who perished were loved ones of NUMSA members, making this tragedy both personal and collective for the union.

In response, the National Gender Structure launched an emergency relief campaign, mobilizing donations of urgently needed items. NUMSA provided the following essential support:

• Blankets, dry goods, and toiletries
• School shoes, children’s stationery, and clothing
• Sanitary towels and tinned food
• Food vouchers for bereaved NUMSA families

This support was sourced through robust fundraising efforts driven by NUMSA members and allies across the country. Addressing attendees at the event, NUMSA’s Second Deputy President and Chairperson of the National Gender Structure, Puleng Phaka affirmed:

“As Africans, Ubuntu teaches us that we are because of one another. At NUMSA, our fight is not confined to the shopfloor, it extends to defending the dignity and wellbeing of working class communities. When disaster strikes, we do not turn away. We act. We welcome this opportunity to work with the Red Cross and call on the broader public to continue assisting flood-affected families.”

NUMSA extends heartfelt gratitude to the regional leadership of Eastern Cape and Hlanganani, the National and Regional Gender Structures of the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape and Hlanganani, the Local office in Mthatha, SAFTU affiliates, and our dedicated Shopstewards, staff and members who rose to this occasion. We also thank NUMSA Financial Services and Kungawobantu and supporting service providers for bolstering our relief efforts.

The campaign continues for the next 30 days. Donations can be dropped off at the nearest NUMSA Regional or Local office. Furthermore, we call on all NUMSA Gender Structures to intervene proactively, not only in the Eastern Cape but in their communities wherever there is a need and to adopt a progressive program to lighten the burden on those who are vulnerable and suffering.

President Phaka went on to say,

“True Socialism is not just ideology, it is compassion in action”.

ENDS.

For more information, please contact:

Phakamile Hlubi-Majola

NUMSA National Spokesperson

0833767725

phakamileh@numsa.org.za

NUMSA Head Office number: 0116891700

NUMSA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NumsaSocial

NUMSA Twitter account: @Numsa_Media

NUMSA Website: https://numsa.org.za/

PDF DOWNLOAD: The NUMSA National Gender Structure donated essential relief to 2000 flood victims in Umtata as part of Mandela Day

The post The NUMSA National Gender Structure donated essential relief to 2000 flood victims in Umtata as part of Mandela Day appeared first on NUMSA.

Registered nurses at Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Long Beach, Calif. decided unanimously to pass a vote of no confidence in the hospital’s administration.

California Nurses Association has learned through credible reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) representatives presented a warrant at Glendale Memorial Hospital and took a patient into custody by removing the patient from the facility through a side door apparently against the medical advice of the patient’s physician. 

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has signed a new wage agreement for one year with the Bombela Operating Company which manages the Gautrain. The agreement was signed yesterday (16 July) and is valid from 1 July 2025 to the 30th of June 2026.

It is broken down in the following way:

1. We have negotiated a 4,25% wage increase across the board
2. Housing allowance from R1300 to R1400.
3. Night work/Transport allowance has increased from R112 to R125.
4. Night Shift allowance increased from R38 to R40 per hour
5. KPI bonus increased in terms of the wage increase at a rate of 4.25% from R9600 to R10 016.
6. The agreement will be backdated to the 1st of July.

NUMSA is satisfied with the agreement because it was negotiated under very difficult conditions of a low March CPI rate of 2.7%. One of the benefits of this agreement is that all of the allowances increased by more than the 4.25% across the board increase.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Phakamile Hlubi-Majola

NUMSA National Spokesperson

0833767725

phakamileh@numsa.org.za

NUMSA Head Office number: 0116891700

NUMSA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NumsaSocial

NUMSA Twitter account: @Numsa_Media

NUMSA Website: https://numsa.org.za/

PDF DOWNLOAD: NUMSA signs wage agreement at Gautrain

The post NUMSA signs wage agreement at Gautrain appeared first on NUMSA.

The nation's largest union of registered nurses provided this statement in response to the announcement by Congressional authors of the Protect America’s Workforce Act that they will move this legislation through a procedure called a “discharge petition.”