We’ve Always Been the Union No One Saw Coming
In the history of American labor, UDW has always been the plot twist.
While other unions organized shop floors and assembly lines, we organized in kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms—the overlooked frontlines of care. For too long, our work was unseen, unprotected, and underpaid. Together, we changed that and we’re still changing what’s possible.
When UDW was founded in 1979, we didn’t just join the labor movement. We reshaped it—connecting care, community, and courage to redefine what labor power looks like.
Labor History Month: Honoring the Struggles and Triumphs
That same spirit runs through every chapter of labor history. Labor History Month reminds us how far workers have come—and how much further we must go. It honors the people who built this country, held it together, and demanded more.
The month of May marks some of labor’s fiercest fights—like the 1886 Haymarket riot and the roots of International Workers’ Day. These weren’t footnotes in history; they were sparks that lit a fire we’re still stoking.
We also remember:
- The 1619 Jamestown strike, where artisans refused to work without voting rights
- The Lowell mill girls of 1834, among the first to strike for women’s labor rights
- The Wagner Act of 1935, which made unionizing a legal right
- The Delano Grape Strike of 1965, where Filipino and Mexican farmworkers united across race and language
- The 1970 Postal Strike, the largest wildcat strike in U.S. history
Honoring Labor History Month is a call to action. The same forces that tried to silence us then are still at work today. But so are we.
Our Union Fights and Wins
UDW members don’t just demand change—we make it happen. Together, we’ve delivered real results:
- Overtime pay for IHSS providers
- Paid sick leave for home care workers
- Union recognition for over 40,000 child care providers
- First statewide child care contract
- Secured $100 million health care fund for child care providers
- Secured protections for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Stopped cuts to the IHSS program threatening up to 20% reduction in care hours
These victories were never handed to us—we organized, we persisted, and we won. Our history is proof that when we fight together, we win.
Join the Movement. Support UDW.
We don’t just remember labor history—we make it.
Every victory we’ve won was built by workers like you: bold, relentless, and ready to fight for what’s right.
Here’s how to get involved:
Tell your story.Show the world what care really looks like and why it matters.- Grow our power. Become a member of a union that’s breaking barriers and rewriting the rules.
- Stay connected. Follow us across our social media platforms to find out how we can continue organizing and winning:
We’re building a future where care work is respected, workers are protected, and no one gets left behind. Let’s keep making history.
