11/26 Weekly Email

Happy Thanksgiving, UAEA! 

I realize many people will be on vacation the next few days so I’m not putting any major updates in here. I mostly wanted to say thanks for a few things. 

First, I’m grateful for all of the past workers who fought for labor rights and helped us get to where we are today. Work can always be better and I would love to see a world where we all don’t need to work nearly as much to survive and thrive, but I’m happy with where we are - people fought and died for basic rights like a 40 hour work week, overtime, and lunch breaks, and I’m grateful for the foundations they laid which help us push for even more in the present.  

Second, I’m grateful to the UAEA board: I know I’m probably the most visible of the UAEA Board but there are 10 other people helping make everything happen - we could not provide nearly as much direct help to our members without our incredible Citywide Representatives Leah Sergeant, Annette Betancourt, Sandra Jaramillo, and Olivia Calderon, and our inexhaustible Resolutions Director Natalya Ennels.We would not have nearly as pretty or professional of communications without the graphic design and editing work of our Communications Director, Kelly Taylor. And lest you think I’ve forgotten the importance of what happens behind-the-scenes, we would not be where we are today as an organization without the onerous record-keeping of our Secretary Lisa Johnson or the invaluable financial services of our Treasurer Brian Gonzales. They don’t do the most exciting work but their contributions are integral to us continuing to operate. And finally, I am very grateful for the work of our Membership Director Jeremy Hopf and our Vice President Brittainy Nelson, who continue to keep us on track while also helping us rethink the services we offer and what kind of organization we want to become. 

Finally, I’m very grateful for our members. Arizona is a right-to-work state and I think many unions struggle as they attempt to grow since non-members can take advantage of this and accrue the benefits of each contract. I am deeply appreciative of everyone who recognizes the value of and wants to support organized labor - I promise you we will continue to make membership even more appealing in the coming year. 

Holiday Party RSVP: One last reminder - this is the rsvp for our annual holiday party. We will be at Spokes on Southern from 430pm to 7pm on Thursday, December 4th. Please note that this is the first year we will be allowing plus ones - you can bring a friend, partner, or family member as long as they are above 21 (Spokes has restricted entry for underage individuals). Please also make sure to rsvp by tonight at 5PM - we need to give a final count to Spokes a week in advance. 

I had a few questions about this in the survey and wanted to clarify that this event will be catered and attendees will receive at least one ticket for an alcoholic beverage. Like last year, UAEA will also be doing some Christmas present giveaways at the event. Members might walk away with a variety of prizes by either winning some trivia competitions or getting their ticket selected in our random drawings throughout the evening. We will also be collecting toys for charity at this event - every toy donated will give members an extra entry into the drawings. 

We recognize that this time may overlap with some member’s normal work schedules. We apologize for the inconvenience and want to do something for those who can’t attend due to their work schedule - if that applies to you, please fill out this survey. 

Member Meeting Minutes: I’ve attached the meeting minutes from last Thursday’s meeting. 

Employee of the Quarter: this is the final reminder that nominations for the next Employee of the Quarter awards will close this Monday, December 1st, at midnight. If you’d like to be considered or would like to nominate one of your peers, please fill out this form asap. 

Food Bank & Misc Resources: Due to disruptions in SNAP funding, I’m including a few resources below. Please take advantage of these if you are eligible or pass this along to friends or family who are impacted. Please note that my mention of these resources is not an endorsement of any of them - UAEA is not affiliated with these organizations and cannot speak to their respective quality or offerings. 

AZ Food Bank Network: This link contains information about dozens of food banks and assistance sites across Arizona. You can search by the directory and the zipcodes they provide services for to find food banks in your areas. 

AZ Medical and Nutrition Assistance: This is an Arizona-State run program that can help connect people with Arizona State programs that provide assistance for people who need medical coverage or access. I do not know all that the program entails. 

Maricopa County Utility Support: This is a Maricopa County program that can help people receive assistance paying for utilities. Some cities have unique offerings while others are covered under one umbrella program. 

AZ 211: This is a Arizona-State run help line that can help people connect with a variety of resources and support they may be unaware of in their area. 

Salvation Army Christmas Assistance: This link allows people to sign up if they need help providing Christmas presents for their children. 

Tempe Employee Relief Fund: This is a Tempe-run program (paid for by employee donations) that can provide support of up to $1,200 to assist Tempe employees with unplanned emergency bills (housing, mortgage, utilities, etc). 

SNAP Discounts: The Arizona Secretary of State is tracking businesses who are offering free meals to people impacted by SNAP cuts or opportunities to support the community. I also found a list of discounts that SNAP participants are eligible for, including deals on phone plans and legal services. 

Storm Response Survey: I put together a very brief survey for members to provide feedback about how their workgroups responded to the major storm on 10/13/25. Please provide UAEA with some feedback and/or suggestions about things that went well or ways that you think your workgroup could improve their responses in the future. I can bring up responses in some upcoming Labor Management Meetings and hopefully make life easier down the road. 

Employee Development Survey: I’ve been working with Employee Development to identify some barriers employees face when trying to attend their classes. We have a little data but could use more to help us make fewer assumptions about employee behavior. We’re both very interested in ensuring that all employees, regardless of workgroup, work location, or work schedule, have access to at least 10 hours of professional development training each year if they want to take advantage of it. I’ve attached an anonymous survey that members can fill out - it should only take about 5 minutes and the information we get will be used to improve training access.