Happy May Day!

Workers Speak Out About Sales Pressure Returning

Leaders of our union hosted a national webinar last week - Sales Pressure Returns To Wells Fargo. We are sounding the alarm for regulators, particularly the Federal Reserve Board, to prevent the final sanctions including the asset cap from being lifted until the Fed hears directly from workers about what is really going on with the bank. Here are some excerpts:

Danielle Olivas who is a Teller at the Artesia Branch in New Mexico, said, "Mental health is a concern for myself when it comes to my employment and the pressure of these prompts, with a long line, add to that stress. The fear of not being able to complete the prompts or even get to it without the anticipation of penalties further down the line is intimidating. We want to do the best for our customers but as the sole teller, we don’t have the time without inconveniencing the next person in line."

Sabrina Perez, Senior Premier Banker at the Eldorado Branch in Albuquerque, New Mexico added, "A major reason that we unionized was because we felt that our concerns were not being heard or taken seriously by the company." 

Scott Keehn, Senior Premier Banker at the Fairfax Branch in Wilmington, Delaware shared, "I recently celebrated 25 years at Wells Fargo so I’ve personally experienced, endured and survived all of the bank’s past labor practices, including those that previously led to the bank getting in trouble with regulators. I love my job and I’m committed to making Wells Fargo a great place to work and a great place for our customers to do business.

But I’m deeply concerned over the direction the bank has been taking over the past few years. That’s why I decided that we need a seat at the table in order to collectively bargain over the policies that affect our day-to-day work lives."

If you missed it, you can watch the entire webinar on our Committee for Better Banks YouTube channel.

Watch Full Webinar

Share Your Concerns About Sales Pressure

Make your voice heard and share your concerns about sales pressure, layoffs, understaffing that are creating risk for our jobs and our future at Wells Fargo. Fill out this petition and get involved with helping to build our union so we can make positive change.

Fill Out Our New Survey

Join Us!

Will you join us and help build our union? New is a great time. The best way to start is by taking one of our Union 101 Classes.

Do you have questions about how unions work, how to join, or maybe you just want to see if all the negative things that your manager has said are true? Well now's your chance, sign up today.

Union 101 Class

Wells Fargo in the News

>> "Wells Fargo clears 12th consent order; 2 remain" Rajashree Chakravarty, Banking Dive, April 28, 2025

>> "Concerns rise about sales practices at Wells Fargo" Barbara, Pianese, The Banker, April 30, 2025

Question of the Week

Question: What is the significance of May Day?

Answer: May 1 is celebrated around the world as International Workers' Day but capitalists in the United States did not want to embolden international worker solidarity and so moved to celebrate labor day in the U.S. to September.

May Day in America was born out of the 8-hour workday movement in 19th-century Chicago. At the time, as the capitalist system gained a foothold in industrial-era America, working-class conditions had worsened. A 16-hour shift wasn't unusual for workers at the time.

Decades before the 8-hour work-day became the country's norm, the organization now known as the American Federation of Labor set May 1, 1886, as the date that workers nationwide should go on strike to demand the 8-hour workday. 

The workers followed through. On that May date, anarchists and labor activists in Chicago began a multi-day strike in what became known as the Haymarket affair of 1886. By May 3, the protests turned violent when police — "which were basically the armed force of the capitalist masters," according to historian Linebaugh — attacked workers demonstrating near the McCormick Reaper plant. The following day, a meeting held in the city's Haymarket Square turned even bloodier. Again, the police intervened, said Linebaugh, triggering clashes that killed both officers and civilians.

A bomb exploded among police ranks in the melee, but historians say it's unclear whether it was intended for the police or the crowd of civilians.

"There was a trial of eight men who were found guilty of conspiracy to murder," Linebaugh said. "Even though no evidence was ever produced that any of them had any relationship to this bomb, and four of them were eventually hanged despite a worldwide campaign in England, Europe, Mexico to save their lives."

Linebaugh points to the influential words of August Spies, one of the convicted men, who just before his execution cried out the famous words: "There will come a time when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today."

His words "swept the globe," Linebaugh said. "Throughout Latin America, throughout Europe and in North America, to many, the day became this holiday to celebrate working people."

To honor the Chicago workers, the International Socialist Conference in 1889 named May Day a labor holiday, birthing what many nations now call International Workers' Day.

Read the full story, "What is May Day" on National Public Radio here.

We will bring you the Top #WFunion updates each week. If you have additional questions or ideas for future newsletter stories, please email us at [email protected]. 

Are you ready to stand with us and make positive change at Wells Fargo?  Email us at [email protected] today!