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“When We Fight, We Win” – From Honolulu to Toronto, IFPTE Locals, Members Participate in Labour Day Festivities

IFPTE members and Locals across North America participated in Labor Day events in their local communities to celebrate and honor working families. Among the many Locals that represented IFPTE strongly at Labour Day gatherings and marches were Local 121 at the Hawaii Labor Unity Picnic in Waikiki; the Society of United Professionals (SUP/IFPTE Local 160) at Toronto’s annual Labour Day parade, and Locals 1921 and 29 at Greenbelt, Maryland’s annual Labor Day parade.

SUP President, Rebecca Caron, Joins Letter Calling on Ontario Gov’t to “Improve Safety in Courtrooms Across the Province

In response to the tragic and fatal shooting that occurred on July 31st at the youth centre on Wapekaka  First Nation during court proceedings, Society of United Professionals (SUP/IFPTE Local 160) President Rebecca Caron joined Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) President, JP Hornick, and Ontario Crown Attorney’s Association President, Donna Kellway, signed a joint letter urging Attorney General Doug Downey to take immediate action to, “prevent further risks to the health and safety of courthouse staff, the judiciary, counsel, justice system participants, and the public.”

Hands Off TVA! – Secretary-Treasurer Henson Addresses TVA Board, Talks to Valley Labor Report on Labor’s Fight to Keep TVA Serving the Public, Not Profits

Over the August recess, IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson and Engineering Association (EA), Local 1937 President, Anthony Chorney, lead IFPTE’s fight against rumored interest by the Trump Administration to consider privatizing the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).  Henson, who is the former longtime president of the Engineering Association (EA), Local 1937, and a 38 year employee of TVA and who attended a TVA board a TVA board meeting on August 20th along with Chorney, testified to board members that, “Selling TVA to a profit-making entity would have disastrous consquences for the region, TVA customers, TVA’s beautiful and well-cared for natural resources, the region’s economic growth and every single person who lives and works in the Valley.”

SPEEA’S WTPU Unit Prepares for Negotiations with Spirit AeroSystems

SPEEA’s Wichita Technical and Professional Unit – or WTPU — is moving forward in its preparations for upcoming contract negotiations with management at Spirit AeroSystems. Council Reps in Wichita in August elected five people to serve on the WTPU bargaining team: Patti Brinkmeyer, Emily Forest, Wes Gardner, James Hatfield, and Cathy Yeager. In addition, the WTPU Contract Action Team – made up of activists from among the ranks of dues-paying SPEEA members in Wichita — has begun meeting to discuss ways to support negotiations.

IFPTE Canadian Locals Gather in Winnipeg for Semi-Annual Meeting of CCL

TEAM/Local 161 and WAPSO/Local 162 welcomed leaders from sister Canadian IFPTE Locals, the Society/Local 160, and SCMMA/Local 222, to Winnipeg for the Council of Canadian Locals’ second meeting of the year, occurring on August 22nd. The Local leaders were joined by special guest Ian Cantello, President of the Regina Civic Middle Management Association (RCMMA), as well as IFPTE President Matt Biggs, who attended virtually, and IFPTE Canadian Area staff.

IFPTE Members Attend John Garrity’s Homegoing Celebration

Our Union Brother and former Local 3 President, John Garrity, sadly passed away on August 19 at his home in Delaware after a long bout with cancer.  IFPTE offered our deepest condolences to his wife, MaryJo, their three children, the Garrity family, and the Local 3 family. IFPTE International Representative, David LaFemina, and President, Matt Biggs, attended his funeral and served as pallbearers last Thursday in Newark, Delaware. Brother LaFemina also delivered John’s eulogy.

Sherrod Brown Earns IFPTE’s Endorsement for U.S. Senate

IFPTE was proud to endorse our longtime friend, and one of the staunchest supporter of working families and their Unions the United States Congress has ever seen, Sherrod Brown, for the United States Senate.  In issuing the endorsement, IFPTE called Brown, who previously served Ohio citizens in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and boasts an unblemished 100% lifetime voting record of approval from the AFL-CIO ,  “a true friend of workers and unions, and a champion for workers’ rights.”

IFPTE in the NEWS

9/5/2025 – The People of Snohomish County Support Us (the STAND)Half-dozen members from SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001 turned out for informational picketing in support of the Everett News Guild last night. The Local’s E-Board also sent a letter of support.