Brandon Mancilla, Director of Region 9A of the United Auto Workers, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the UAW's recent organizing efforts, involvement in the New York City mayoral race and the ongoing legal services strike.
Mancilla, who represents roughly 50,000 members across the northeastern United States and Puerto Rico, shared insights on the union’s diverse membership and its impact on various sectors. He highlighted the UAW’s successful organizing campaigns in higher education, including victories at Harvard and Columbia universities. Mancilla emphasized the importance of wall-to-wall organizing, which includes not just faculty but also staff, administrators and other workers. This approach led to significant breakthroughs in private universities, where graduate workers previously lacked the right to organize through the National Labor Relations Board, he said. Mancilla stressed that these efforts have resulted in improved working conditions and benefits for academic workers, despite ongoing challenges such as funding cuts and attacks on universities.
The UAW played a crucial role in the recent New York City mayoral race, endorsing Zoran Mamdani, a pro-worker champion who emerged victorious in the Democratic primary. Mancilla explained that the union’s early endorsement and active involvement in the campaign, including member mobilization and grassroots efforts, contributed to Mamdani’s success. He emphasized the importance of electing leaders who prioritize workers’ rights and address issues such as affordable housing, transportation and childcare that directly impact working families in the city.
Mancilla then discussed the ongoing legal services strike in New York City, where UAW Local 2325 represents approximately 3,000 legal services workers. The strike, which involves multiple organizations, aims to secure better wages, improved working conditions and increased funding for public defense services. Mancilla highlighted the importance of this fight in ensuring equitable representation in the criminal justice system and addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, including immigrants and low-income residents facing housing issues.
To hear more about the UAW’s organizing efforts and their impact on workers across various sectors, listen to the full episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast.