The summer weather has finally arrived and there is nothing more refreshing than drinking an ice-cold beverage to cool down. This summer, whether you’re barbequing in the heat or laying on the beach, you can still support American union jobs while sipping on your favorite drinks.

Unions can contribute to almost all the steps of creating and manufacturing beverages, from producing syrup, packaging, shipping, and supplying. Buying union-made products supports American labor, which gives fair wages and benefits to U.S. workers. Here are just 7 of the hundreds of union-made drinks that you can enjoy this summer that support union labor:

Union Services Access is happy to announce the winner of the company’s 2017 Union Services Access (USA) Scholarships. The USA scholarship is awarded annually to the children of union members who have attained outstanding high school academic records.

The 2017 winner of the $2,500 scholarship is Carly McIntyre of Philadelphia, PA, a soon-to-be freshman at Loyola University. Carly McIntyre is the daughter of Matthew McIntyre, a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 8.

The annual Union Services Access Scholarship Fund is made possible by the generosity of Samuel H. Pond, Esq. of Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano; Pat Bianculli, Esq. and Brian Fritz, Esq. of Fritz Goldenberg Bianculli, LLC; and Thomas Duffy, Esq. of Duffy & Partners.

Children of union members who are interested in learning more about Union Services Access’ Annual Scholarship Awards Fund are encouraged to visit http://unionsa.org/education-services/scholarship/.

Pennsylvania’s General Election is less than a month away and your vote is crucial. We are electing a new President of the United States, a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, a new Pennsylvania State Attorney General, and other important positions in our federal, state and local governments.

You can make a difference. All voters need to make their voices heard on Tuesday, November 8^th, 2016, by electing government officials that will stand up for workers’ rights.

Unsure of where to vote? Click here to use PA Voter Service’s Polling Place Search Tool and easily find the closest location to exercise your right.

Recently, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled against a provision that allowed companies to opt-out of the state’s workers’ compensation requirements. Union Services Access President Sam Pond calls the ruling “a critical victory in the national fight to protect injured workers’ rights.”

The Oklahoma high court found that the Opt-Out Act was unconstitutional, denied equal protection to the state’s workers, and denied injured workers the right of access to the court system. Justice Joseph Watt wrote that the law had given employers “the authority to single out their injured employees for inequitable treatment.”

At Union Services Access, we’re fighting every day to make sure that such grossly unfair legislation never becomes a reality in Pennsylvania. President Sam Pond comments, “Coverage opt-outs, along with other attacks such as evidence based medicine, are part of the ongoing war being waged on the rights of injured workers… We can only hope that the ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court is a trend in support of humanity that will continue to be realized in other states.”

Union Services Access enjoyed an afternoon sponsoring A Lift For A Vet Fight Night on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Katie O’Donnell’s Irish pub in Northeast Philadelphia. A Lift For A Vet is a charitable effort by Local 5 of the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC), with the mission to buy and install elevators, home lifts, stair lifts, or wheelchair lifts in the homes of disabled U.S. military service veterans from any era.  Accessibility modifications can be vital to a disabled veteran being able to stay in their own home and enjoy the best quality of life possible.

To learn more about Lift For A Vet, or to donate, click here.

Union Services Access is pleased to announce four winners of the company’s 2016 Union Services Access (USA) Scholarships. The USA scholarships are awarded annually to the children of union members who have attained outstanding high school academic records. The four 2016 winners of the $2,500 scholarships are:

• Rachel Reifer of Glenolden, Pennsylvania, a freshman at Penn State University
• Fernando Marinero of Clayton, a freshman at Rowan University
• Kenneth Kissinger of Havertown, Pennsylvania, a freshman at West Chester University
• Thomas Conroy Jr. of Franklinville, a freshman at Widener University.

“Of the many worthy applicants for our 2016 scholarship awards, these four academically-gifted young men and women really stood out,” said USA President Samuel H. Pond, who also serves as Managing Partner of Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano, Pennsylvania’s largest Workers’ Compensation law firm. “Union Services Access is delighted to be able to provide these annual collegiate scholarships to the children of union members in the region. USA exists to protect union workers and having the opportunity to help the sons and daughters of union members attend college is deeply gratifying. We congratulate all 2016 honorees on their achievements.”

The annual Union Services Access Scholarship Fund is made possible by the generosity of Samuel H. Pond, Esq. of Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano; Pat Bianculli, Esq. and Brian Fritz, Esq. of Fritz Goldenberg Bianculli, LLC; and Thomas Duffy, Esq. of Duffy & Partners.

• Rachel Reifer is the daughter of Paul Reifert, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98.
• Fernando Marinero is the son of Jose Marinero, a member of Glaziers Local 252.
• Kenneth Kissinger is the sone of Kenneth Kissinger, Sr., a member of Communications Workers of America Local 1107.
• Thomas Conroy Jr. is the son of Thomas Conroy Sr., a member of District Council 21, Painters Local 1955.

Children of union members who are interested in learning more about Union Services Access’ Annual Scholarship Awards Fund are encouraged to visit http://unionsa.org/education-services/scholarship/.

Union Services Access was happy to help workers beat the heat recently on a hot August afternoon. We delivered coolers full of water and Gatorade to different union worksites around the Philadelphia area.  As the temperatures rise in the summer months, so does the possibility of heat illness.  People who work outdoors are vulnerable to extreme heat, which can result in serious injury or even death. Click here to review extreme heat safety tips.

USA was glad to provide a brief respite from the heat and encourage workers to take breaks and stay hydrated when working in the extreme heat. We thank you for all that you do!