Welcome to the October 2025 edition of the RWDSU Record! ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

RWDSU Local 21: Standing with Appalachia in the Fight Against Addiction

RWDSU Local 21 joined thousands at the Healing Appalachia music festival this September, raising awareness and connecting people in recovery with resources and opportunities. The annual event brings music and community together to support those impacted by addiction across the Appalachian region and Local 21 was proud to be part of it showing the community in recovery how a union can be part of that support system.

Together, RWDSU Local 21 fights for better wages, affordable healthcare, safer working conditions, and a strong, united voice on the job. A union contract doesn’t just bring protections – it brings power. And for many people, especially those in recovery, that stability can be life-changing.

Local 21 even hosts regular NA and AA meetings at its union hall, because solidarity means supporting each other through life’s toughest moments. At RWDSU Local 21, you’re part of a family that looks out for one another—not just on the job, but in every aspect of life.

In participating in the Healing Appalachia festival, RWDSU Local 21 reinforced the union’s commitment not only to protecting workers on the job but also to supporting their broader journey toward recovery and resilience. For anyone looking for a hand up – not a hand out – union work can be the path to respect, dignity, and a real voice at work…

 Read the full story, and see photos from the event… 

Turning Contract Language Into Action: TDC Training in Texas

On September 9–10, 2025, RWDSU members at TreeHouse Foods in Farmers Branch, Texas took an important step forward by exercising language in their collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The TreeHouse CBA includes a provision requiring training for stewards and supervisors, conducted by the Federal Mediation Conciliation Services (FMCS), with the company covering costs and lost wages. But in practice, this clause has not recently been regularly utilized. This year, the RWDSU Tennessee District Council made sure that changed…

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Local 1102 Members Kick Off School Year with Strength and Solidarity

As September began, RWDSU Local 1102 members working in food service returned from a well-deserved summer break to greet students heading back to classrooms across districts, high schools, and universities. To mark the start of the new academic year, Local 1102 hosted Welcome Back Meetings with members on campuses. These gatherings provided an important space to reconnect, share updates, and highlight the essential work members do each day. They also offered the opportunity to review new benefits, answer questions, and ensure the year began on a strong note…

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STATEMENT: On New EPI Report On H-2B Visa Programs & Potential Expansion in Poultry Processing & Meatpacking

On September 18, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) issued a new report on how “the H-2B visa program has ballooned without being fixed.” Suggesting that “expanding it to year-round jobs like meatpacking would lower wages and revenue.” Stuart Appelbaum, President of the RWDSU, which represents over 15,000 poultry workers at facilities across the southern United States, as well as meatpacking and processing workers in other parts of the country issued the following statement…

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Building a Stronger, Fairer New Jersey with Mikie Sherrill

New Jersey stands at a crossroads this November in choosing their next Governor, facing challenges ranging from an affordability crisis, continued economic recovery post-pandemic, environmental sustainability, to education funding reform. In this pivotal moment, Mikie Sherrill offers leadership, vision, and experience that New Jersey needs to move forward and navigate these diverse challenges. A former Navy helicopter pilot and a two-term Congresswoman representing New Jersey’s 11th district, Sherrill has demonstrated her commitment to bipartisan action – the kind of leadership we need in our state…

 Read More 
 

There are other important elections taking place across the country this November, please visit the RWDSU Election Hub to find your Polling Place, Register to Vote, and other important information.

 

Catch up on RWDSU members and leaders in the news on a wide range of topics from across our union…

  • Poultry Times, September 11, 2025: National union responds to the American Protein Processing Modernization Act

  • National Hog Farmer, September 18, 2025: EPI: Meatpacking needs green cards, not H-2B visas

  • Dallas Express, September 22, 2025: Union Leaders Blast H-2B Visa Growth As Wage-Crusher For U.S. Workers

  • The Rick Smith Show, September 24, 2025: RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum addresses the White House’s latest anti-labor moves and highlights how solidarity helped return Jimmy Kimmel to late-night TV.

Union Members Get Exclusive Savings on Wireless Plans

Staying connected is essential — at home, at work, and everywhere in between. With the Union Plus AT&T Wireless Discount, union members and their families can save big on their monthly wireless bills. This exclusive benefit gives members significant savings on unlimited data plans, accessories, and more.

You can find out more about the discount and how to sign up HERE.

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