No Más! The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
No Más! Campaign Calls for Chilean Government to Protect Human Rights: "Since last October, sparked by a hike in public transportation fares, a broad alliance of Chile's unions and other social movements have been protesting against low wages, the high cost of basic necessities and persistently high social inequality. The country's extreme model of privatization of most public services and basic programs in health care, social security and education has guided most public policy since the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973–1990). Since October, the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), Chile's largest labor organization, has convened three general strikes, the largest of which brought more than 1 million people into the streets."
Washington Labor Leader Jackie Jeter Retiring: "Longtime labor activist Jackie Jeter (ATU), president of the Metropolitan Washington [D.C.] Council, AFL-CIO, will retire at the end of January after a lifelong career in the labor movement."
A Friend of the Workers: Labor Podcast and Radio Roundup: "In addition to the AFL-CIO's own 'State of the Unions,' there are a lot of other podcasts out there that have their own approach to discussing labor issues and the rights of working people. Here are the latest podcasts from across the labor movement in the United States."
Safety in the Skies: What Working People Are Doing This Week: "Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week."
‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: Healing a Community: "On the latest episode of 'State of the Unions,' podcast co-hosts Julie and Tim talk with the Rev. Leah Daughtry, CEO of 'On These Things,' about Reconnecting McDowell, an AFT project that takes a holistic approach to revitalizing the education and community of McDowell, West Virginia, and how her faith informs her activism."
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Plasterers and Cement Masons: "Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the Plasterers and Cement Masons."
A Win for Nurses and Patients: Worker Wins: "Our latest roundup of worker wins begins with nurses banding together to make patients' lives better and includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. The end of 2019 saw a flurry of wins for working people, so this is the first in several posts over the next week that will cover the victories of the last quarter of the year."
Greater Boston Labor Council Makes History with Latest Election: "The Greater Boston Labor Council (GBLC), AFL-CIO, made history last week with the election of the first woman of color to its top office. Darlene Lombos takes over as executive secretary-treasurer, replacing Richard Rogers, who officially retired after leading the GBLC for the past 16 years."
Economy Gains 145,000 Jobs in December; Unemployment Unchanged at 3.5%: "The U.S. economy gained 145,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 3.5%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Preliminary data from BLS also shows, for the first time since 2010, the majority of workers on U.S. payrolls are women, underscoring the importance of addressing the gender wage gap."
A Future That Works for Workers: "At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, the AFL-CIO is partnering with SAG-AFTRA to host the second annual Labor Innovation & Technology Summit. The summit, led by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler (IBEW), SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and UNITE HERE International President D. Taylor, brings together union, technology, entertainment and media leaders to explore how these industries intersect and the potential impact for America’s workers and for the country’s creative culture."
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 02/04/2020 - 12:42Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Seafarers
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the Seafarers.
Name of Union: Seafarers International Union (SIU)
Mission: To represent the best-trained, most efficient crews in the world as a dynamic, politically active organization dedicated to protecting the membership’s job security in the face of the ever-changing needs of the industry.
Current Leadership of Union: Michael Sacco serves as president of the Seafarers International Union of North America, having first been elected to the position in 1988. He also serves as president of his home union, the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters, which he has been a member of since 1958. Sacco also serves as president of the AFL-CIO's Maritime Trades Department. The Brooklyn-born Sacco served in the U.S. Air Force and he and his wife, Sophie, have four children.
Augustin Tellez serves as executive vice president, David W. Heindel serves as secretary-treasurer and SIU has six vice presidents.
Number of Members: 80,000.
Members Work As: Professional merchant mariners sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels in the deep sea, Great Lakes and inland trades.
Industries Represented: Members work on a wide variety of vessels, including commercial container ships and tankers, military support ships, tugboats and barges, passenger ships, gaming vessels and many more.
History: Before the Seafarers International Union was formed in 1938, there were several other unions that organized maritime workers, including the International Seamen's Union (ISU), which formed in 1892 and was chartered by the American Federation of Labor. Pressures from the Great Depression and internal division led to the downfall of the ISU, despite some successes, including securing the passage of the Jones Act in 1915.
The SIU was formally given a charter in 1938 with nearly 7,000 members. World War II had a major impact on the maritime trades. SIU members were a huge part of the war effort, providing military support to the Allies and serving as the underpinning of the Allied supply lines. The casualty rate for merchant seamen was higher than any other branch of the armed services. The union managed to secure hazard pay for those sailing into war zones. After the war, the SIU made tremendous gains with organizing drives, a general maritime strike and the creation of AFL's Maritime Trades Department.
Paul Hall was a charter member of the SIU and, by the late 1940s, he was in charge of daily operations of the union, and he took the union in a more militant direction. Hall stressed civic engagement and negotiation and took SIU to the streets in solidarity with other AFL unions. Reform and expansion were key among Hall's achievements, including securing the first hospital and death benefits for members, creating the Seafarers Vacation Plan and strengthening seniority provisions in hiring.
In the 1950s, the SIU continued to expand by merging with other smaller maritime unions. The union also opened up several training facilities to help Seafarers hone their professional skills. The union was successful in the 1960s in calls to modernize the U.S.-flag-bearing fleet. The 1970s would see the union successfully fight for the passage of the Merchant Marine Act, which gave a boost to the maritime industry, including boosting jobs.
The rapid changes in technology, trade and world politics in the 1980s and 1990s provided both opportunities and challenges for the SIU. The expansion of global trade and the growth in military conflict around the globe directly affected SIU's membership. SIU members were among the first responders after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, transporting evacuees from affected areas and served as crew on the USNS Comfort, a ship that served as a center for medical care for first responders and survivors. SIU members also would be key in stories in more recent years, such as the “Miracle on the Hudson” aircraft incident in 2009 and when the Maersk Alabama ship was hijacked by Somali pirates.
Whether it be in times of war, times of peace or in reaction to a tragedy, Seafarers are part of the solution; and they continue to do what they always do: "turning to and delivering the goods."
Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The Seafarers provide training and apprenticeships through the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education and the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. The Seafarers Disaster Relief Fund helps members and retirees who are hurt by hurricanes and other disasters. The Seafarers also assist members with pensions and share news and information through The Federal Mariner and the Mobile News Network.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/03/2020 - 10:47Washington Labor Leader Jackie Jeter Retiring
Longtime labor activist Jackie Jeter (ATU), president of the Metropolitan Washington [D.C.] Council, AFL-CIO, will retire at the end of January after a lifelong career in the labor movement.
In addition to her incredible leadership with the council, Jeter served as an elected official with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 in Forestville, Maryland, for more than 25 years. She began as a shop steward for rail operations in 1994 and was elected assistant business agent, first vice president and financial secretary-treasurer before becoming president in 2007. With every new position, Jeter set a historical precedent as the first African American woman to hold those offices.
Jeter also made history at the council when she became its first female president in 2016. Previously, she served on the council’s executive board from 1996 to 2002.
Jeter told the council that now is the right time for this decision. “When I retired from the ATU, I promised myself that I would give back to those who have given me energy, strength and unconditional love all these years, and that’s my family,” Jeter said. “My tenure at the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO, has been a special experience capping a long career in the labor movement, and I’m especially grateful to the council’s board and staff, as well as to all of our wonderful affiliated locals who work so hard and so effectively every day for working men and women throughout the region.”
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA) thanked Jeter for her service: “Throughout her career, Jackie never stopped protecting and championing the rights for working people. The labor movement has deeply benefited from her hard work and dedication, and we will miss her dearly.”
The entire AFL-CIO wishes her a long and happy retirement.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 01/28/2020 - 10:36No Más! Campaign Calls for Chilean Government to Protect Human Rights
Since last October, sparked by a hike in public transportation fares, a broad alliance of Chile's unions and other social movements have been protesting against low wages, the high cost of basic necessities and persistently high social inequality. The country's extreme model of privatization of most public services and basic programs in health care, social security and education has guided most public policy since the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973–1990). Since October, the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), Chile's largest labor organization has convened three general strikes, the largest of which brought more than 1 million people into the streets.
The government reacted to the protests with repression and violence reminiscent of the Pinochet era, leading to the deaths of at least 29 people, thousands of grave injuries and numerous rapes while protesters were in police custody. In response, 18 members of the U.S. House of Representatives called on the U.S. Embassy in Chile to defend the fundamental rights of the Chilean people and encourage the pursuit of peaceful, democratic dialogue.
The constitution drafted and imposed by the dictatorship in 1980 has blocked substantive changes to the extreme free-market model that has created a small wealthy class while making working peoples' and retirees' lives precarious and stressful, with most jobs paying too little to afford expensive privatized education, health care and pensions while investing little in public systems in these basic areas.
For too long, Chile has been held up as an example for developing countries to follow to advance economically by extreme free-market measures while avoiding larger issues of sustainability, democracy and inclusion. With recent sustained protests, Chileans are overcoming that legacy in the face of excessive violence by the government and are claiming their rights. As result of sustained protest, nearly all Chilean political parties agreed to hold a referendum in April about replacing the constitution written under the Pinochet dictatorship. Chile has the opportunity to build a sustainable future with social justice.
During this transition, the government must protect and respect human rights. As the CUT opened its 12th national congress on Jan. 24, bringing together its unions and an international delegation representing more than a dozen countries, CUT launched the campaign Chile: No Más! to mobilize the international community to increase attention to ongoing human rights violations in Chile and pressure the government to honor its commitments to human rights and democracy. The AFL-CIO has joined this effort.
Tags: Chile
A Friend of the Workers: Labor Podcast and Radio Roundup
In addition to the AFL-CIO's own "State of the Unions," there are a lot of other podcasts out there that have their own approach to discussing labor issues and the rights of working people. Here are the latest podcasts from across the labor movement in the United States.
Building Bridges: Which of the 2020 Candidates Is a Friend of the Workers?: "With Shaun Richman, program director for the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center for Labor Studies at SUNY Empire State College....[We] talk about what the top Democratic Party contenders for the presidency are proposing to better the 'state of the state' of working men and women, as they ready themselves for the Iowa caucuses. We’ll also discuss who supports and the likelihood of the passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which is scheduled to be introduced in the House of Representative in early February."
Heartland Labor Forum: Neoliberalism: "This week on the Heartland Labor Forum: Recently workers in France and Colombia have shut down their economies when confronted with pension reforms, which attacked their livelihoods. Tune in Thursday to the Heartland Labor Forum to hear from union leaders in both countries about why they’re in the streets and what a general strike is. Thursday at 6 p.m., rebroadcast Friday at 5 a.m. on KKFI 90.1 FM or streaming at kkfi.org."
Labor History Today: UAW’s Punch Press Strike Daily: "The Cool Things from the Meany Archives' crew features the Punch Press, an autoworker strike publication. Also this week, Saul Schniderman remembers contributions to labor history by both Johnny Paycheck and Bruce Springsteen."
Union City Radio: Latest D.C. Labor News: "Bus strike ends; D.C. wage theft; NABET-CWA members at CNN win $76 million in back pay; the toll on firefighter health; repealing the Veterans Affairs' fraudulent “right to work.”
Union Strong: Television Diversity Tax Credit: "The Television Diversity Tax Credit Bill has been signed into law. We talk to Lowell Peterson, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East, to find out how it will change what we watch on television and the new opportunities it will create for writers and directors, who until now were overlooked."
WorkWeek Radio: Iran War and Labor And Fraud in California: "WorkWeek looks at the growing war threat of war by the U.S. when Donald Trump ordered the murder of the Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. We interview retired International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 Secretary-Treasurer Clarence Thomas, who visited Iraq and met with trade unionists, Kambiz Sakhai, a labor political educator from Iran, and Alison Weir, with If Americans Knew. Then WorkWeek looks at the growing corruption scandal at the Fraud Assessment Commission, where the former Gov. Jerry Brown appointed disgraced former director Christine Baker of the Department of Industrial Relations to the FAC. We interview former Cal-OSHA Medical Director Dr. Larry Rose and former SEIU 250 Executive Board member and Kaiser Sacramento worker Dina Padilla. She is a longtime advocate for injured workers."
Your Rights at Work (WPFW 89.3 FM, Washington, D.C.): "Big win against wage theft in the District; Cinder Bed Road bus strikers win new contract; women leaders get empowered."
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/24/2020 - 12:39Tags: Podcast
Safety in the Skies: What Working People Are Doing This Week
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.
Actors' Equity:
Members representing all 28 Equity Liaison Areas convened last July in Minneapolis, MN for a two-day conference w/ staff & members of Council to focus on ways to grow leadership capacity & advance the goals of Equity 2020.
Read more in the Member Portal- https://t.co/ieOIUylvmn pic.twitter.com/ozf9fxVAjG
AFGE:
The @USDA's request to the FLRA is not consistent with the law or the facts. #1u https://t.co/AOEIFDKlx6 pic.twitter.com/jF0Qg3C6df
— AFGE (@AFGENational) January 23, 2020AFSCME:
Public service workers in Puerto Rico work 24/7 to make their communities better. They never quit on their neighbors or fellow residents or on each other, which is why their union will never quit on them! ?? https://t.co/DfEqyuv133
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) January 23, 2020AFT:
No child should have to learn in schools full of mold. And no educator should have to teach in one either. It's time to #FundOurFuture #FundOurFacilities and create safe, healthy environments for learning and teaching. https://t.co/s1jq1P4LOW
— AFT (@AFTunion) January 20, 2020Air Line Pilots Association:
Safety in the skies is truly a team effort that revolves around the most important and effective safety feature on any passenger aircraft—two well-trained, highly-skilled, and experienced pilots. #TrainedForLife https://t.co/LUpvqZXJn7
— ALPA (@WeAreALPA) January 17, 2020Alliance for Retired Americans:
After hobnobbing with billionaires at Davos, President Trump revealed that the door is open for Social Security and Medicare cuts. #Shame pic.twitter.com/ad7Rftpk2V
— Alliance Retirees (@ActiveRetirees) January 22, 2020Amalgamated Transit Union:
Florida lawmakers, #HART spearhead bills to improve transit worker safety https://t.co/25NNlmjz7u #1u #UnionStrong #transit #SafeBus
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) January 21, 2020American Federation of Musicians:
#UnionMusicians ratified a new 2 yr. contract w/major studios that includes for the first time—screen credits for musicians. It also includes yearly 3% wage increases & increased residuals for shows rented & purchased online. #1u https://t.co/qaWis6JsCe pic.twitter.com/ckY39maI4N
— AFM (@The_AFM) January 23, 2020American Postal Workers Union:
Be like Will E Bear.
Support your public Postal Service. #usmailnotforsale https://t.co/2HOEXm33GA
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
As a @CAPAC member, Rep Speier must protect immigrant families by cosponsoring the #ReunitingFamiliesAct! https://t.co/oMn7IeSITv
— APALA (@APALAnational) January 21, 2020Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
We're contacting our airlines in an effort to put in place info & precautions for crewmembers. We're sharing what we know about virus now, although health officials are still determining full implications of virus & how it's spread. https://t.co/l75GhDrEic #CoronavirusOutbreak
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) January 23, 2020Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
No Duh. #Organize
“Strengthening labor unions and worker power represents the most effective strategy to combat America’s economic inequality and corporations’ sway over the economy and politics.” https://t.co/P8OnjoP2mP
Boilermakers:
Read how this #Boilermaker member from L-290 (Bremerton, Washington) and his wife used the @UnionPlus advantage here ➡️ https://t.co/cqR1TUU6e8 pic.twitter.com/ZcEMo2yCTW
— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) January 23, 2020Bricklayers:
⛑️✅?✅?✅ #WednesdayWisdom https://t.co/68Fhbg65xx
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) January 22, 2020California School Employees Association:
The labor movement is for everyone! Read about how milennials are picking up the torch: https://t.co/TR5tBNTEIn
— CSEA (@CSEA_Now) January 16, 2020Coalition of Labor Union Women:
Workers lose $31.9 billion in wages each year that Congress refuses to pass #ChildCare4All & #PaidLeaveForAll.
Call your representative and tell them that families can’t afford to wait another year. https://t.co/JitrZ1yH0Z pic.twitter.com/TsFGlV8jYl
Communications Workers of America:
"It’s time to fundamentally reform our political system by passing the #ForthePeopleAct. It’s time for Mitch McConnell to do his job and put this bill up for a vote.”
— CWA (@CWAUnion) January 22, 2020Department for Professional Employees:
"The number of unionized professional employees, for example, increased by more than 90,000 people. About 6.27 million professional workers were union members last year, an all-time high." https://t.co/Z6CnwkvYBF
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) January 22, 2020Electrical Workers:
Good riddance to the Cadillac Tax. https://t.co/80wG3qtqAW
— IBEW (@IBEW) January 23, 2020Farm Labor Organizing Committee:
We are thankful for churches and other religious groups who stand with us. Will more of you join us? https://t.co/WF20tfe6hD
— Farm Labor Organizing Committee (@SupportFLOC) January 21, 2020Fire Fighters:
AGP @jimmyjam1967 and @DougWStern lead an important discussion on how to communicate in a multi-cultural world at #ALTSHR20 pic.twitter.com/Y19MBqBNY8
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) January 22, 2020Heat and Frost Insulators:
More from the Shakamak Jr. – Sr. High School Trades Career Fair yesterday in Indianapolis! We've got opportunities for joining the Registered Apprenticeship Program with Local 18 https://t.co/eVC8s9kFTG pic.twitter.com/lB0mLrmYQu
— Insulators Union (@InsulatorsUnion) January 23, 2020International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
the #UnitedProfessionals of @IFPTE and @TheSocietySays stand with out @UniforTheUnion sisters and brothers! https://t.co/eVtGRe9hqZ
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) January 23, 2020Ironworkers:
"Mykka Ellis, who joined the Ironworkers Union as a trans woman in 2016, says she got a lot of support when they would send her out to jobsites." #LGBTQ #transrights #BeThatOneGuy
https://t.co/7uPjRT9ecH
Jobs With Justice:
Big business thought it could take the new $15 #minimumwage in Minneapolis to court and win. Welp, they lost and working people WON. #fightfor15 https://t.co/IOB7MMWjwU
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) January 23, 2020Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
LCLAA supports the Prince George's County NAACP chapter, as it is imperative that our communities are accurately represented in order for our voices to be heard!https://t.co/4f8gxEysiR
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) January 23, 2020Laborers:
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.... #MLK #MartinLutherKingJr pic.twitter.com/JkWv8nBtqj
— LIUNA (@LIUNA) January 17, 2020Machinists:
The @MachinistsUnion is urging members to write House members, urging them to pass the #PROAct, legislation that would bolster worker rights https://t.co/hsVuTNmq8B
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) January 22, 2020Metal Trades Department:
The value of union membership. Have you checked out the Metal Trades Free College Benefit? Did you know that we now have a low-cost Bachelor's degree option? https://t.co/iMevQOKxjG pic.twitter.com/NmW4iqpVLZ
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) January 23, 2020Mine Workers:
UMWA International President @CecilRoberts met with @senatemajldr yesterday to thank him for his critical role in passing the Bipartisan American Miners Act. #TheyEarnedIt #PromiseKept pic.twitter.com/zMCTBN815g
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) January 8, 2020Musical Artists:
We had an amazing Delegate Training session today with some of our incredible Concert Singers! #WeAreAGMA #AGMA #UnionStrong #KnowledgeIsPower #UnionPower pic.twitter.com/e2SzD5GcMT
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) January 16, 2020National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
In a single year, nearly one billion passengers will take to the skies — more than twice the population of the U.S., and the number increases each year. The use of geospatial technology enables precision time-management for controlling air traffic. https://t.co/BrYhNf78c8
— NATCA (@NATCA) January 23, 2020National Association of Letter Carriers:
One hot summer day, as carrier Joseph Loeser was delivering on his route, he saw one of his customers suffering from heat stroke. Joseph comforted the man and asked a security guard to call 911. Paramedics arrived and took the man to the hospital. Thanks, Joseph! #Heroes #1u pic.twitter.com/Wg6cPESyjC
— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) January 23, 2020National Domestic Workers Alliance:
Last week, NDWA leaders in Vancouver met with @HerreraBeutler about the personal importance of passing the national #DomesticWorkersBillofRights! Thank you for listening to our stories. We strongly encourage you to become a co-sponsor of this important legislation! pic.twitter.com/T6l8RXd07h
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) January 23, 2020National Federation of Federal Employees:
2019 was an huge year for our union and federal employees across the country.
Take a look at some of our biggest wins. #NFFE #IAMAW #1u https://t.co/1cLXat3wL0
National Nurses United:
"We joined the union so that we can have a stronger voice on #SafeStaffing." ??
Welcome to the #UnionStrong family! ✊ https://t.co/oPZu8nmz4d
National Taxi Workers Alliance:
NYTWA taxi medallion owner-drivers packed @TheNCUA board meeting in VA this morning to make our demands for debt relief heard. pic.twitter.com/vaDjuWV1GJ
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) January 23, 2020The NewsGuild-CWA:
And we're off to a strong start in 2020! Three weeks into the new year, journalists at 5 publications have announced union drives with @NewsGuild @CWAUnion: Sports Illustrated, South Bend Tribune, Springfield News-Leader, Miami New Times & Phoenix New Times. https://t.co/tjRIad8JwA pic.twitter.com/bfXq9BV7Na
— NewsGuild (@newsguild) January 23, 2020NFL Players Association:
These community superheroes together impacted thousands of lives through donations and special events. One of them will earn $100,000 for their charity as the Alan Page Community Award winner! @GenoSacks @BCarr39 @bcope51 @demario__davis @Bwagz pic.twitter.com/BK2Obb4j0s
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) January 22, 2020North America's Building Trades Unions:
Hosting construction career fairs is a great way to show today’s youth that a #BuildingTrades union career is secure, safe & reliable ?
“A lot of us are told that college is our only option, but it’s really neat to see that it’s not"https://t.co/UPgi2SifS5
Office and Professional Employees:
Best of luck to our union family in Nevada, which is growing larger by the day! @NVAFLCIO #1u https://t.co/9PIXoujNXY
— OPEIU (@OPEIU) January 21, 2020Painters and Allied Trades:
#TBT In January 1970, the union got a name change - from "Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America" to “International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades." It would take another 30 years to settle on the IUPAT. In 1970 and 2020, we're fighting for working people. pic.twitter.com/7lN11UDf7k
— GoIUPAT✊? (@GoIUPAT) January 23, 2020Plasterers and Cement Masons:
Read about 7 interesting construction industry trends — especially #1, Virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality, where the #OPCMIA International Training Fund Apprenticeship Program is on the cutting edge of the technology of the future!https://t.co/vYffyph9d1
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) January 22, 2020Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:
Congrats @TheWNBPA on new contract! Fair pay, work/life balance & workplace protections are what all unions bargain for so that our members can do their jobs without distractions. Like PASS members @ FAA & DoD. And like DC's own @WashMystics WNBA champs! #1u #unionsolidarity
— PASS (@PASSNational) January 15, 2020Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
R.I.P. to Charlie Mae Brown Snowden, a 35-year employee at @Saks Fifth Avenue in Chicago and officer with RWDSU Local 291.
Read more about her amazing life: https://t.co/OAtLAf7X4K pic.twitter.com/S6uqM4i2u2
SAG-AFTRA:
And a few more from the #SeeHer platform at the 2020 @SAGawards. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/J4c5BiXvZS
— #SeeHer (@seeher2020) January 21, 2020Seafarers:
#1u #JonesAct #Puerto Rico #Maritime #Unions
PMCs & Affiliates Deliver Badly Needed Relief to Puerto Rico Earthquake Victims https://t.co/IIhX9LQ9PC
Solidarity Center:
Union power, pass it on! pic.twitter.com/RdC9CcFpuN
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) January 23, 2020Theatrical Stage Employees:
Our @GolfChannel crews continue to fight for a safe and fair contract ✊ Let them know you stand with them! https://t.co/5b6pi9EiU8
— IATSE (@IATSE) January 23, 2020Transport Workers:
"Our society can rewrite the rules to put power in working people's hands, and strengthen our democracy, ensuring that no one is left behind." https://t.co/ZheD6v4uV2
— TWU (@transportworker) January 23, 2020Transportation Trades Department:
After reuniting a lost boy with his family, MTA bus operator Tyrone Hampton said - and as many transit workers know - the good deed was just part of doing his job. https://t.co/81wtYcP8ek
— Transp. Trades Dept. (@TTDAFLCIO) January 19, 2020UAW:
"Overhauling the North American Free Trade Act may have been a start, but the work has just begun."
Read the latest Labor Voices from UAW President Rory Gamble >>> https://t.co/S9OqZC9dwm
Union Veterans Council:
Shout out to the members of @PASSNational and @AFGENational working on the @AFLCIO #MLKconf day of service! pic.twitter.com/x4X1tGntue
— Union Veterans Council (@unionveterans) January 18, 2020UNITE HERE:
"Is [@Marriott's] 'Make a Green Choice' about sustainability, or reducing labor costs? Real change, or customer-assuaging greenwashing?"@Sierra_Magazine investigates. READ: https://t.co/czaUxxqykV#GreedyChoice pic.twitter.com/ERHAndqs7M
— UNITE HERE (@unitehere) January 21, 2020United Food and Commercial Workers:
Every year our @UFCW75 members in #Ohio honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy and continue his work to help hardworking families build a better life.
Thanks to all who joined the #Cincinnati and #Dayton march remembering #MLK. We’re proud to stand with you. #1uMLK #TBT pic.twitter.com/VcGdo02bLr
United Steelworkers:
Union Against Public Funding for Company Hiring Nonunion Custodians | Cleaning & Maintenance Management https://t.co/cqAZ2R7O1r #1u
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) January 23, 2020United Students Against Sweatshops:
VICTORY!!! USASers at the UCs have been fighting alongside @AFSCMELocal3299 workers for the past 3 years. Today, service workers signed a historic agreement that sets the highest union standard at UC. This is a major win for USAS and for workers everywhere. When we fight, we win! pic.twitter.com/iYiAQ75J3J
— USAS (@USAS) January 23, 2020United Union of Roofers and Waterproofers:
Hear workers recount their own experiences falling from ladders. https://t.co/KyrweOq0YY #roofersafety365 https://t.co/BmKqdbP2yd
— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) January 15, 2020Utility Workers:
"When you look at wages that apprenticeships and other career areas pay and the fact that you do not pay four years of tuition and you're paid while you learn, these paths really need some additional consideration." https://t.co/ZP4a9upDx7 @UWUA_P4A @ashleykgross @JonMarcusBoston
— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) January 23, 2020Working America:
In 2018, Amazon paid $0 in U.S. federal income tax on over $11 billion in profits before taxes, but somehow it's always the poor and elderly that get blamed for our budget deficit.
— Working America (@WorkingAmerica) January 23, 2020Writers Guild of America, East:
Our statement on reports that @Spotify is in talks to purchase @Ringer. #RingerUnion pic.twitter.com/xU3Lj6fnqe
— Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) January 21, 2020 Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/24/2020 - 10:23‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: Healing a Community
On the latest episode of "State of the Unions," podcast co-hosts Julie and Tim talk with Rev. Leah Daughtry, CEO of "On These Things," about Reconnecting McDowell, an AFT project that takes a holistic approach to revitalizing the education and community of McDowell, West Virginia, and how her faith informs her activism.
Listen to our previous episodes:
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Talking to Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberger about the union’s behavioral health treatment center dedicated to treating IAFF members struggling with addiction and other related behavioral challenges. The discussion also addresses the toll of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on firefighters and their families, the response of the IAFF in its wake, and the life of a firefighter.
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A chat with the podcast team on their favorite episodes of 2019.
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A discussion with Cas Mudde, a political scientist at the University of Georgia, on the resurgence of right-wing politicians and activists across the world, much of it cloaked in populist, worker-friendly rhetoric.
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Talking with Guy Ryder, the director-general of the International Labor Organization, about the international labor movement, the idea of “decent labor” and the future of work.
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A discussion with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig about his work connecting the labor movement and the veterans community.
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A conversation with Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.), a union member and Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair, about strikes, trade, health care, LGBTQ equality and the freedom to form a union.
“State of the Unions” is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and anywhere else you can find podcasts.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 01/22/2020 - 12:30Tags: Podcast
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Plasterers and Cement Masons
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the Plasterers and Cement Masons.
Name of Union: Plasterers and Cement Masons (OPCMIA)
Mission: To protect and promote the quality of the industry and the livelihood of members, to promote cement and plaster, to recruit and train skilled craftsmen to meet the demands of the industry, and to hold the union responsible to this commitment for the future of the industry and the welfare of all those who earn their living in it.
Current Leadership of Union: Daniel E. Stepano serves as the general president for the OPCMIA, a role he has served in since 2016. He first joined the union as a plasterer in 1980 in Pittsburgh for Local No. 31. After many years of service to the local and beyond, he was appointed international vice president in 2004. At that year's international convention, he was elected to serve as vice president. In 2007, he became executive vice president for the OPCMIA and was re-elected to the role before becoming president.
Kevin D. Sexton serves as general secretary-treasurer.
Members Work As: Plasterers, masons and shop hands.
Industries Represented: Members work in two major construction fields, concrete and plaster.
History: The OPCMIA is the oldest building and construction trades union in the United States, beginning during the Civil War. Leaders sought to unify various local craft unions in the trade. Once the union became active, it endorsed the eight-hour workday and instituted apprentice training and regulation. In 1887, the union became international by allowing Canadian workers to join. In 1951, Operative Plasterers were added to the name as a reflection that members did more than finish cement. For more than a century, the OPCMIA has lived by the principles upon which it was founded and upon which the OPCMIA will continue to be proud, strong and united.
Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: OPCMIA Veterans spotlights members who have transitioned from military service to their country into the industry. Plasterer and Cement Mason magazine provides news and information. The OPCMIA provides training to help working people expand their skills and pursue their goals. OPCMIA Gear offers branded merchandise for members and supporters.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, Twitter
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 01/21/2020 - 08:31A Win for Nurses and Patients: Worker Wins
Our latest roundup of worker wins begins with nurses banding together to make patients' lives better and includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. The end of 2019 saw a flurry of wins for working people, so this is the first in several posts over the next week that will cover the victories of the last quarter of the year.
California Nurses Win New Master Contract: Nearly 4,000 registered nurses at eight Tenet hospitals in California approved a new master contract. The nurses are members of California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). The new agreement enhances recruitment and retention, assures eight-hour rest periods between shifts, adequate breaks, scheduling improvements, better health and safety, wage increases, and protections for the nurses' health care. “We are very proud of what we’ve achieved with this new contract. It is a testament to what registered nurses can accomplish collectively when we stand together as committed patient advocates,” said Ginny Gary, an registered nurse at the Los Alamitos Medical Center. “This new agreement is a win for the nurses and our patients, for our families and for the communities we serve across the state.”
University of Chicago Nurses Avert Strike with Tentative Deal: The nurses, members of National Nurses United (NNU), planned for a one-day strike and the hospital said it would lock out the nurses in response. The strike was canceled when the the agreement was reached. “Both sides have been working since March on a contract that not only recognizes the valuable contributions our nurses make to our organization, but also ensures [the University of Chicago Medical Center] remains at the forefront of medical care and scientific research for years to come,” said Debra Albert, the hospital’s chief nursing officer.
Last of the Big Three Detroit Auto Makers Reaches Agreement with UAW: UAW and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) reached a tentative four-year agreement that would cover hourly workers at the company. The deal secures $9 billion of company investments that will create nearly 8,000 jobs. "FCA has been a great American success story thanks to the hard work of our members. We have achieved substantial gains and job security provisions for the fastest growing auto company in the United States," said Rory Gamble, the acting president of the UAW.
Philadelphia Public Defenders to Become UAW Members: A majority of the 200 lawyers at the Defender Association of Philadelphia voted to be represented by the UAW. The lawyers represent some 70% of those arrested for criminal offenses or probation violations in the city. In a petition to management, the attorneys said: “We have all chosen this work because we are passionate about protecting the constitutional rights of our clients and giving them a voice in a system that otherwise does not. We believe that by collectively improving our workplace, we will better serve our clients.”
New Mexico Faculty Vote to be Represented by AFT: More than 70% of faculty at the University of New Mexico (UNM) voted to be represented by AFT. More than 1,600 full- and part-time faculty across five campuses will also be members of the American Association of University Professors. The new unit, United Academics of the University of New Mexico, will begin bargaining with the university on its first contract. Hilary Lipka, a temporary part-time faculty member in religious studies, said: "This is a historic moment for faculty at UNM. Our victory reflects how important it is that the university treats faculty with dignity and respect. We look forward to sitting down with the administration and negotiating a contract that acknowledges the work and value that part-time faculty contribute to the university."
Zoellner Arts Center Stagehands Join IATSE: In a unanimous vote, stagehands who work at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania voted unanimously to join Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 200. The workers support the 200-plus annual events held at the arts center. The new unit will meet with Lehigh to begin negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement.
Los Angeles Times Newsroom Employees Reach Tentative Agreement: Nearly 500 members of the Los Angeles Times newsroom will now be represented by the L.A. Times Guild, an affiliate of The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA). The contract is more than a year in the making and will provide raises and other benefits over the life of the three-year contract. “We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved together,” said Carolina A. Miranda, co-chair of the L.A. Times Guild. “It’s a difficult time in the industry, but we’ve landed significant pay increases and a broad safety net of job protections that are some of the best in the industry. We’re grateful that Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong is actively reinvesting in The Times. This is a win for journalism and a win for L.A.”
Hormel Workers Across the Country Approve New Contract: Thousands of Hormel workers nationwide approved a new contract that strengthens wages, expands health care and increases pension security. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), which represents the Hormel workers, said: “By strongly voting for a new contract that improves wages and benefits, thousands of our hardworking members sent a powerful message this week about the power that comes from workers standing together."
Houston Mayor Signs $12 Minimum Wage for Airport Workers: After months of workers demanding that city leaders raise the minimum wage at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner signed an executive order raising the minimum wage for all airport workers in Houston to $12 an hour. The rate is a first step in pursuit of $15 an hour minimum wage at the airports in Houston. “We are excited that Mayor Turner met with airport workers and listened to their struggles, and thankful that he took action to raise wages," said Willy Gonzalez, secretary-treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 23. "This is a great step forward for Houston’s airport workers. For many of our members, this will make the difference between whether or not they can pay rent at the end of the month.
Actors' Equity Reaches Agreement with The Broadway League: An overwhelming 95% of Actors' Equity (AEA) members voted to approve the new production contract with The Broadway League. "This negotiation resulted in not only great compensation increases for our members but created new terms and conditions that provide further protections for stage managers and swings," said Mary McColl, executive director of AEA. "This is the third negotiation we have completed with The Broadway League this year. Thanks to the solidarity and support of our members, all three have been successful."
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/17/2020 - 10:52Tags: Organizing
Greater Boston Labor Council Makes History with Latest Election
The Greater Boston Labor Council (GBLC), AFL-CIO, made history last week with the election of the first woman of color to its top office. Darlene Lombos takes over as executive secretary-treasurer, replacing Richard Rogers, who officially retired after leading the GBLC for the past 16 years.
Lombos brings more than 20 years of community and youth organizing experience in the labor movement to the position. She served as vice president of the GBLC and has been the executive director of Community Labor United since 2011. A vital asset to the greater Boston community, her work continues to protect and promote the interests of working-class families and communities of color in greater Boston and throughout the commonwealth.
“I am honored to lead such an amazing group of dedicated workers in the Boston area,” said Lombos. “Rich was a true mentor and I look forward to continuing his legacy of empowering working families for years to come.”
Rogers, a member of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 391, leaves behind an impressive legacy in the labor movement. Prior to leading the GBLC, Rogers served on the staff of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO for 21 years, 12 of those as the state federation’s political director. He was the chief organizer for several influential political campaigns, including Ted Kennedy’s 1994 U.S. Senate race and the elections of Jim McGovern and John Tierney to the U.S. House of Representatives. He played an integral role during his four terms as GBLC executive secretary-treasurer in growing and strengthening the Boston-area labor movement.
In recognition of his lifetime of hard work and dedication to the movement, The Labor Guild awarded the prestigious Cushing-Gavin Award to Rogers in December 2019.
Dennis Loney Mon, 01/13/2020 - 08:26Economy Gains 145,000 Jobs in December; Unemployment Unchanged at 3.5%
The U.S. economy gained 145,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 3.5%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Preliminary data from BLS also shows, for the first time since 2010, the majority of workers on U.S. payrolls are women, underscoring the importance of addressing the gender wage gap.
In response to the December job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
@BLS_gov continues to show modest wage gains, up only 2.9 percent over the year. Combined with modest employment growth, clearly the @federalreserve was correct to reverse course on interest rate hikes it had planned beginning back in 2018. @AFLCIO #JobsReport
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 10, 2020The industries with the lowest wages (moving down the graph below the dotted horizontal line) and the greatest job gains (moving to the right from the dotted vertical line). This composition effect helps to slow overall wage growth. @AFLCIO #JobsReport pic.twitter.com/QFrHWlT2M7
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 10, 2020At 3.1% for Leisure & hospitality (mostly food service workers) and 4.2% for Retail trade, both industries where the minimum wage increases have been important, saw higher year-over-year wage growth than the average. @ernietedeschi @AFLCIO #JobsReport pic.twitter.com/D6XgCROogR
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 10, 2020The weakness in wage growth, and the deceleration in job growth contribute to this sad statistic: Employment in motor vehicle production fell from 1.005 million in December 2018 to 986,900 last month. At 3.5% unemployment selling cars should be easy. @UAW @AFLCIO @bencasselman
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 10, 2020State government (on left) and local government employment continue their climbs back to restoring the needed public investment for sustained growth. But, in December state government employment took a small dip, losing 8,000 while local employment grew 14,000. @AFSCME @AFTunion pic.twitter.com/YgVBb1QB9d
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 10, 2020Last month's biggest job gains were in retail trade (41,000), leisure and hospitality (40,000), and health care (28,000). Mining lost jobs (-8,000). Employment in other major industries—including construction, manufacturing, financial activities, transportation and warehousing, wholesale trade, information, professional and business services, and government—showed little change over the month.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for teenagers (12.6%), blacks (5.9%), Hispanics (4.2%), adult men (3.1%), whites (3.2%), adult women (3.2%) and Asians (2.5%) showed little or no change in December.
The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was unchanged in December and accounted for 20.5% of the unemployed.
Dennis Loney Fri, 01/10/2020 - 13:11‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: Collective Heroism
On the latest episode of “State of the Unions,” AFL-CIO podcast co-hosts Julie Greene Collier and Tim Schlittner talk to Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Harold Schaitberger about the union’s one-of-a-kind behavioral health treatment facility in Maryland dedicated to treating IAFF members struggling with addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder and other related behavioral challenges. They discuss the toll of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on firefighters and their families, the response of the IAFF in its wake, and the life of a firefighter.
Listen to our previous episodes:
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A chat with the podcast team on their favorite episodes of 2019.
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A discussion with Cas Mudde, a political scientist at the University of Georgia, on the resurgence of right-wing politicians and activists across the globe, much of it cloaked in populist, worker-friendly rhetoric.
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Talking with Guy Ryder, the director-general of the International Labor Organization, about the international labor movement, the idea of “decent labor” and the future of work.
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A discussion with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig about his work connecting the labor movement and the veterans community.
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A conversation with Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.), a union member and Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair, about strikes, trade, health care, LGBTQ equality and the freedom to form a union.
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A chat with Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (IUPAT, IAM) about his path to power and the experiences that have shaped his life and career.
“State of the Unions” is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and anywhere else you can find podcasts.
Dennis Loney Wed, 01/08/2020 - 14:20A Future That Works for Workers
At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, the AFL-CIO is partnering with SAG-AFTRA to host the second annual Labor Innovation & Technology Summit. The summit, led by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and UNITE HERE International President D. Taylor, brings together union, technology, entertainment and media leaders to explore how these industries intersect and the potential impact for America’s workers and for the country’s creative culture.
As the voice of working Americans, unions play a critical role in ensuring that rapidly evolving technology, which will bring so many great things to humanity, doesn’t roll over humans in the process. Recognizing that this can only be accomplished by partnering with the tech industry, the second annual Labor Innovation & Technology Summit brings together diverse voices for a frank conversation about where we are, where we’re going and the critical milestones along the way.
About the AFL-CIO Commission on the Future of Work and UnionsFor the better part of four decades, workers have been more productive than ever, creating massive amounts of wealth—but rigged economic rules, unmitigated corporate greed and unrelenting political attacks have weakened our voices, stifled our wages and eroded our economic security. Yet, as we write this report, a wave of collective action is sweeping the nation. Working people across industries and demographics are joining together for a better life. This uprising comes at a critical moment, as the astounding technologies of the digital revolution have the potential to improve workers’ lives but also threaten to degrade or eliminate millions of jobs.
The AFL-CIO Commission on the Future of Work and Unions, formed by a unanimous vote of the 2017 AFL-CIO Convention, is putting working people where we belong—at the center of shaping the economy, work, unions and the AFL-CIO.
Report AFL-CIO Commission on the Future of Work and Unions September 13, 2019 A report of the AFL-CIO Commission on the Future of Work and Unions, an initiative focused on bringing workers’ voices into the future of work debate and rebuilding worker bargaining power in an economy that is leaving too many people behind. Related ArticlesAn Open Letter to Game Developers from America's Largest Labor Organization
Kotaku
By Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
Now it’s time for industry bosses to start treating you with hard-earned dignity and respect. While you’re putting in crunch time, your bosses are ringing the opening bell on Wall Street. While you’re creating some of the most groundbreaking products of our time, they’re pocketing billions. While you’re fighting through exhaustion and putting your soul into a game, Bobby Kotick and Andrew Wilson are toasting to “their” success.
America’s Biggest Labor Federation Asks Game Developers to Unionize
Variety
By Emily Gera
A leading figure from America’s biggest labor organization penned an open letter to game developers encouraging unionization across the games industry. AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer Liz Shuler took to Kotaku with a post that asks workers in the games industry to fight for adequate pay, sensible work hours, and against toxic work conditions.
Amid Game Industry Layoffs, AFL-CIO Says It’s Time for Workers to Organize
Polygon
By Charlie Hall
On Feb. 15, just days after massive layoffs at Activision Blizzard, the AFL-CIO issued a powerful public statement of support to game developers in the United States. Also known as the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the AFL-CIO represents more than 12 million workers in 50 different labor unions, including a unit here within Vox Media. Its message, published in an open letter at Kotaku, was both simple and profound.
Activision Blizzard CEO's $30M Pay Under Fire from Labor Union: 'Like Legal Highway Robbery'
Hollywood Reporter
By Patrick Shanley
The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest federation of unions, has taken aim at Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and his annual compensation in 2018 following a massive round of layoffs earlier this year which saw nearly 800 employees lose their jobs. AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer Liz Shuler, in a statement published Tuesday, highlighted Kotick's financial compensation in 2018—which was $30.8 million, the majority of which came from stock options ($19 million)—saying, "This is like legal highway robbery."
Dennis Loney Mon, 01/06/2020 - 11:22Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: OPEIU
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the Office and Professional Employees.
Name of Union: Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU)
Mission: "To improve the lives of working families by bringing economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our communities. Acting as a strong and united voice in the workplace and in the communities in which we live, OPEIU seeks to bring the benefits of representation to all working people and their families."
Current Leadership of Union: Richard Lanigan serves as president of OPEIU. He was first appointed president by the OPEIU executive board in 2015 and was elected to the position in 2016. Lanigan worked his way through college as a union member before joining OPEIU Local 153 in 1980. After law school, he served as assistant to the OPEIU general counsel. In 1994, he was elected both as secretary-treasurer of Local 153 and joined the international executive board as vice president. Mary Mahoney has served as secretary-treasurer since 2010. OPEIU has 17 vice presidents.
Number of Members: 103,000.
Members Work As: Healthcare employees, including registered nurses and podiatrists, clerical workers, credit union employees, nonprofit employees, teachers, Minor League Baseball umpires and helicopter pilots.
Industries Represented: OPEIU members work at credit unions, hospitals and medical clinics, insurance companies, higher education, nonprofits, transportation, shipping, utilities, hotels, administrative offices and more.
History: The American Federation of Labor granted the first clerical federal charter to Local 1 of the Stenographers, Typists, Bookkeepers and Assistants Union in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1906. Membership grew slowly until the passage of the Wagner Act in 1935. The legislation granted collective bargaining rights to working people and propelled thousands of clerical employees to form dozens of clerical unions. In 1936, Mollie Levitas called for a resolution recognizing an international union of office workers. Nine years later, AFL granted a charter to the Office Employees International Union (OEIU), which had 22,000 members. In 1965, after the AFL merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, the OEIU rebranded as the Office and Professional Employees International Union. In the following decades, the union grew at a fast rate, reaching 110,000 members by 2010.
Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: White Collar Magazine provides news and information for office workers. The OPEIU Nurses Council brings together members of the union who work in nursing to address mutual concerns. OPEIU members have access to a free college assistance program and national 401(k) and health plans for local unions to negotiate into their employer contracts. The Rising Stars initiative seeks to create and network OPEIU youth programs across the country. The OPEIU Store sells merchandise branded with the union's name and logo.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 12/30/2019 - 08:32Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: NFL Players Association
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the NFL Players Association.
Name of Union: NFL Players Association (NFLPA)
Mission: "To pay homage to our predecessors for their courage, sacrifice and vision; [to] pledge to preserve and enhance the democratic involvement of our members; [to] confirm our willingness to do whatever is necessary for the betterment of our membership—to preserve our gains and achieve those goals not yet attained."
Current Leadership of Union: DeMaurice Smith serves as executive director of the NFLPA. He was elected unanimously in 2009 and re-elected in 2012, 2015 and 2017. Prior to serving the NFLPA, Smith was an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and counsel to former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder. Eric Winston is currently serving his third term as NFLPA president. Mark Herzlich serves as treasurer and the NFLPA has nine vice presidents: Sam Acho, Lorenzo Alexander, Zak DeOssie, Thomas Morstead, Russell Okung, Richard Sherman, Michael Thomas, Adam Vinatieri and Benjamin Watson.
Number of Members: More than 2,000.
Members Work As: Active or retired members of the National Football League (NFL).
Industries Represented: Players in the National Football League and retirees.
History: The NFLPA began in the mid-1950s, when disgruntled players asked Creighton Miller, the general manager of the Cleveland Browns, to help them form a players' association. Miller was reluctant at first, but soon began working with key players across the league and by November, the majority of players had signed authorizations to allow the new NFLPA to represent them. They met that month and came up with a few proposals–among them: a minimum salary of $5,000, a requirement for teams to pay for players' equipment and the continued payment of salaries for injured players.
The NFL refused to respond to the early proposals until the 1957 Supreme Court ruling in the case Radovich v. NFL, which found that the league was subject to antitrust laws. As a result, the owners quickly and quietly granted many of the NFLPA's demands out of fear that the players would file another antitrust suit if the owners didn't start to cooperate. Still, the owners continued to drag their feet on implementing the new proposals and player frustration grew again. Owners also ignored new proposals from the NFLPA, such as the creation of a pension plan, hospitalization and other benefits. The NFLPA threatened another antitrust suit and the owners again responded immediately, establishing hospitalization benefits, medical and life insurance and a retirement plan.
In the 1960s, labor relations between players and the NFL became strained because of the new American Football League (AFL). The owners attempted to prevent players from using the AFL as leverage by adding a clause that revoked pensions for players who went to other leagues. Another threatened lawsuit forced pension coverage to be provided to all 110 players who were in the league when benefits were introduced. When the NFL and AFL merged in 1966, the former AFL players weren't represented by the NFLPA. The next time the NFL rejected pension demands, the players were locked out and then went on strike. That strike led to the first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for NFL players, although the former AFL players were still not included in the agreement. The two players associations joined together in 1970 and filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to become a recognized union.
The ensuing decades saw a continuous back and forth as players looked to build more leverage in the growing sport where their play on the field drove the massive financial gains of the owners. In 1971, the NFLPA hired its first executive director and established a headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 1976, the NFLPA won a court case that eliminated the Rozelle Rule, which prevented player movement from team to team, even when contracts expired. Beginning in the late 1970s, the CBAs were often surrounded by strife, with players engaging in several strikes and owners responding in 1987 by fielding teams of replacement players while the NFLPA was on strike.
A shift occurred when Gene Upshaw was elected as the NFLPA’s executive director in 1983. The future of the organization was now driven by the players, who finally were gaining the full voice they had long asked for. Free agency was a top issue, particularly during the 1987 strike and afterward. In another antitrust suit filed in the wake of the strike, the courts ruled that if players were in a union and using their right to strike, they didn't have the right to pursue antitrust lawsuits as individuals. In response, the NFLPA de-certified in 1989 and re-formed as a professional association. This allowed various antitrust lawsuits to go forward and, after years of conflict, a compromise settlement was finally reached in 1993. As a result, the players finally won meaningful free agency and a guaranteed percentage of gross NFL revenue.
That year, the NFLPA re-certified as a union and things were relatively calm for nearly two decades until the collective bargaining agreement expired in 2011. Once again, the NFL rejected player requests, the NFLPA de-certified and filed another antitrust lawsuit against the league. The owners proceeded to lock out the players. When the 2011 CBA was agreed upon, the re-certification of the NFLPA was a part of the agreement.
The current CBA, which expires in 2020, features a major shift toward player health and safety. The NFLPA also established the Trust as a separate organization dedicated to helping former players and the NFL created the Legacy Benefit, which will pay $620 million to former players for their contributions to the NFL.
Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The NFLPA offers a variety of programs to help players with continuing education, personal finance, healthy lifestyles, maximizing on-field performance, career development and business opportunities. The NFLPA also sponsors programs for former players.
The NFLPA highlights the many charitable efforts by NFL players through its Community MVP season, honoring one player per week for his off-the-field outreach while donating $10,000 to his foundation or charity of choice.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 12/19/2019 - 08:10The Backbone of This Country: In the States Roundup
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
Our ferry workers aren't waiting around to get a lay-off notice. They are taking early retirement or leaving our beautiful state entirely to escape @GovDunleavy's self-imposed budgetary instability. This is NOT leadership.
Read the story —> https://t.co/yOH5HVsn1P#akleg #akgov pic.twitter.com/Q5rJsIrZi3
California Labor Federation:
Our *NEW* legislative scorecard is up! Congratulations to all those legislators who stood with working people ?% of the time to build a stronger middle class & protect workers from corporate greed. How does your legislator measure up? ?? https://t.co/wVrf3lJBNv #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/4cqOcMUdRS
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) December 10, 2019Colorado AFL-CIO:
#ThrowbackThursday Colorado AFL-CIO President @Josapagosa wears her grandfather’s 25 years-of-service CF&I Steel pin, lovingly transformed into a ring for Henry Jaramillo by his brothers and sisters. #1u #solidarity #hardwork #PuebloSteel pic.twitter.com/g1RbbHQROd
— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) December 5, 2019Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Important anecdote about the struggles of one low-wage worker who works 40 hours a week, but must commute 4 hours a day for work, has no health insurance, and receives no public assistance. https://t.co/LUSTKnNNoZ #FightFor15
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) December 9, 2019Florida AFL-CIO:
Life in the Magic Kingdom isn’t so magical after all. The Orlando area has some of the lowest wages in the country, and combined with a lack of affordable housing, many workers are struggling to make ends meet. https://t.co/TunvtWmjAc?
— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) December 9, 2019Indiana State AFL-CIO:
As they should! Working people are the backbone of this country. #1u https://t.co/d5xEqttN03
— Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) December 16, 2019Iowa Federation of Labor:
TAX MARCH IOWA RELEASES REPORT
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is NOT Working for Us!
Events to be held in Des Moines (Monday, 12/16) and Cedar Rapids (Tuesday, 12/17)
The bottom fifth of Iowa taxpayers gained on average... https://t.co/sIvWV6Yd0z
Maine AFL-CIO:
Check out this week's newsletter for updates from the Waterville Firefighters, an Racial Justice & Labor Workshop and more! https://t.co/cQoc8OHIIm #1U #UnionStrong #mepolitics
— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) December 6, 2019Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
The MA AFL-CIO is proud to endorse @johnmahoneyply for State Senate. For more information and to contribute to the Mahoney campaign, visit https://t.co/BCTXYFwt8I. #mapoli #vote #unionstrong pic.twitter.com/iVnmlUCxwI
— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) December 13, 2019Metro Washington (D.C.) Council AFL-CIO:
Free at last! @Janefonda welcomes Metro Council Union Cities Coordinator Chris Garlock after release from arrest at #firedrillfriday pic.twitter.com/Q7rmP661DY
— MetroDCLaborCouncil (@DCLabor) December 13, 2019Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Gov. Tim Walz to Trump on refugees: 'The inn is not full in Minnesota'. https://t.co/fjfexcIMJ2 True Minnesota values and leadership from @GovTimWalz. #mnleg pic.twitter.com/uu9tiMahdD
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) December 14, 2019Missouri AFL-CIO:
World's largest #Amoco sign and #STL landmark brought to you by @GoIUPAT Local 774! I'm sure if you have ever driven Highway 40 (as people in St. Louis call it) or Interstate 64 (as everyone else calls it) you have seen this iconic sign. It got a facelift! https://t.co/MV7lg8R49Y
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) December 14, 2019Montana AFL-CIO:
Congratulations to the @MTDems staff on their new union! #1u #UnionStrong https://t.co/q5q7BPOneM
— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) December 11, 2019New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
This year’s Linda Horan Scholarship Awards Winners! https://t.co/4oFaupmwAr pic.twitter.com/NlUbyByz76
— NewHampshire AFL-CIO (@NHAFLCIO) December 5, 2019New Mexico Federation of Labor:
We offer our deepest condolences for the family, friends and colleagues of the UPS driver shot yesterday.#1u#Solidarity https://t.co/F82Rdaiwl0
— NMFL (@NMFLaflcio) December 6, 2019New York State AFL-CIO:
For App Workers, the #GigEconomy is not a hobby, it's how they pay their bills. App workers deserve respect and the same rights and protections as all other workers. Visit https://t.co/V9xWXc32kr to take action! #EqualRights #Respect #1u #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/NaqXLgV1PX
— NYSAFLCIO (@NYSAFLCIO) December 9, 2019North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
.@JessicaHolmesNC is the Fighter We Need as NC Labor Commissioner! #1u #ncpol https://t.co/TgbIqUS44x pic.twitter.com/er8iASZsT0
— NC State AFL-CIO (@NCStateAFLCIO) December 11, 2019North Dakota AFL-CIO:
#LegacyFund #UniversalSchoolLunch @NBCNightlyNews @LesterHoltNBC https://t.co/YF2NQ3HRh4
— North Dakota AFL-CIO (@NDAFLCIO) November 17, 2019Ohio AFL-CIO:
We know thousands of #Ohio workers face the same issues. If you do, #Organize your #Union today! https://t.co/jl9wYpG4st
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) December 14, 2019Oklahoma State AFL-CIO:
Check out our December Newsletter with union made Christmas, COLA update, New Voter Portal, and more!
Check it out here: https://t.co/P3nYny11qw
Oregon AFL-CIO:
Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor issued a statement today regarding the Oregon State Senate’s negotiations on a cap and invest policy: https://t.co/z7rdyvn6gk #ORPOL #ORLEG pic.twitter.com/XuUdGmhuMC
— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) December 13, 2019Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
When workers have a voice at the table, we all win @FSnyderAFLCIO @AFLCIO #USMCA ✊ pic.twitter.com/oBvHBYHghK
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) December 10, 2019Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
If you are a RI union member who is considering running for municipal or state elective office in 2020, or who might want to serve as a campaign manager, or campaign worker, you are invited to an Open House on Wed., Jan 22, 2020. More info.-->https://t.co/6N41edMHXQ #1u pic.twitter.com/OeZTRXwiQc
— Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) December 10, 2019Texas AFL-CIO:
Pauline Mims is ready to engage her union and community on the #Census2020 Congrats on becoming a Texas AFL-CIO Census Ambassador #1u @UAW @CLUWNational pic.twitter.com/xciuqoW6Dz
— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) December 15, 2019Virginia AFL-CIO:
Wonderfully written article on the debate around repealing right to work in the Commonwealth by @nedoliver . Read it here: https://t.co/qyyCjLzQu7
— Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) December 11, 2019Washington State Labor Council:
Call Willapa Valley administrators (360-942-5855) Tell them: Settle a fair contract with striking educators! Pickets are up 7:30a-3p at 22 Viking Way, Raymond, WA. Donate to the strike fund: Willapa Valley EA c/o WEA Chinook, 5220 Capitol Blvd SE, Tumwater, WA 98501 #RedForEd #1u pic.twitter.com/TLAA5fZ3Ns
— WA State AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) December 12, 2019West Virginia AFL-CIO:
“The hospital had a policy where they bought us all a box of Russell Stover candies … Instead of doing that this year, we decided it would be better if we took all of that money and donated to charities that we pick out every year.” https://t.co/gOlKBO8iB7
— West Virginia AFLCIO (@WestVirginiaAFL) December 9, 2019Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
Find the perfect gift that carries the union label at https://t.co/EXDjYMljEX pic.twitter.com/njgqc2IXH4
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) December 13, 2019 Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 12/17/2019 - 11:25Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: National Association of Letter Carriers
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the National Association of Letter Carriers.
Name of Union: National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
Mission: To unite fraternally all city letter carriers employed by the U.S. Postal Service for their mutual benefit; to obtain and secure rights as employees of the USPS and to strive at all times to promote the safety and the welfare of every member; to strive for the constant improvement of the Postal Service; and for other purposes. NALC is a single-craft union and is the sole collective-bargaining agent for city letter carriers.
Current Leadership of Union: Fredric V. Rolando serves as president of NALC, after being sworn in as the union's 18th president in 2009. Rolando began his career as a letter carrier in 1978 in South Miami before moving to Sarasota in 1984. He was elected president of Branch 2148 in 1988 and served in that role until 1999. In the ensuing years, he worked in various roles for NALC before winning his election as a national officer in 2002, when he was elected director of city delivery. In 2006, he won election as executive vice president. Rolando was re-elected as NALC president in 2010, 2014 and 2018.
Brian Renfroe serves as executive vice president, Lew Drass as vice president, Nicole Rhine as secretary-treasurer, Paul Barner as assistant secretary-treasurer, Christopher Jackson as director of city delivery, Manuel L. Peralta Jr. as director of safety and health, Dan Toth as director of retired members, Stephanie Stewart as director of the Health Benefit Plan and James W. “Jim” Yates as director of life insurance.
Number of Members: 291,000 active and retired letter carriers.
Members Work As: City letter carriers.
Industries Represented: The United States Postal Service.
History: In 1794, the first letter carriers were appointed by Congress as the implementation of the new U.S. Constitution was being put into effect. By the time of the Civil War, free delivery of city mail was established and letter carriers successfully concluded a campaign for the eight-hour workday in 1888. The next year, letter carriers came together in Milwaukee and the National Association of Letter Carriers was formed.
The first NALC convention took place in Boston in 1889. At this point, NALC had more than 50 branches, representing 4,600 letter carriers. In 1905, the National Ladies Auxiliary was founded, allowing women to participate in the union for the first time. In the early 1900s, postal workers won the right to organize and affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. Women were first allowed to work as temporary letter carriers as many men went off to fight in World War II.
In the postwar years, NALC has focused on wages and benefits for members. In 1950, NALC began its health benefit plan. In 1964, the Nalcrest retirement community for retired letter carriers opened in Florida. The Great Postal Strike of 1970, which led to the Postal Reorganization Act, brought collective-bargaining rights to letter carriers and other postal employees. In recent decades, NALC has focused in part on legislation and on seeking commonsense legislative and regulatory reform, including the unfair 2006 congressional mandate to pre-fund future retiree health benefits decades in advance, which threatens the viability of USPS by posing an unsustainable—and unique—financial burden. NALC also has continued to regularly negotiate national agreements between letter carriers and the USPS while working to protect the safety, jobs and well-being of letter carriers. Broadly put, NALC is very active in the federal legislative and political arena to protect the interests of its members and to secure the long-term future of the Postal Service.
Read Carriers in a Common Cause, the official history of NALC.
Current Campaigns: NALC stays in regular touch with its members through The Postal Record, the monthly membership magazine; the semi-regular NALC Bulletin and the NALC Activist. The union also sends out regular notifications to members via the NALC Member App for smartphones. NALC members have access to a number of members-only benefits, such as the NALC Health Benefit Plan (though other federal employees also can join the plan), the Mutual Benefit Association insurance company, the NALC Auxiliary and the letter carrier retirement community known as Nalcrest. Union-made clothes bearing the NALC logo and other items can be purchased through the online NALC store.
Community Efforts: The NALC Disaster Relief Foundation helps those in need after disasters. The Letter Carriers' Food Drive, held the second Saturday each May, is the largest one-day food drive in the country. Letter Carrier Heroes recognize the acts of bravery and compassion that letter carriers engage in on a daily basis. NALC’s official charity is the Muscular Dystrophy Association, with letter carriers raising funds to Deliver the Cure. Carrier Alert is a community service program to monitor the well-being of elderly and disabled mail patrons. The Postal Employees’ Relief Fund helps active and retired postal employees, both management and craft, whose home, as a result of a major natural disaster was completely destroyed or left uninhabitable. The Combined Federal Campaign allows federal employees to donate to community service groups of their choice through paycheck deduction.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 12/16/2019 - 13:24A 'Vast Improvement' on Trade: The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: The Far Right Today: "On the latest episode of 'State of the Unions,' podcast co-host Tim Schlittner and guest host AFL-CIO International Director Cathy Feingold talk to Cas Mudde, a political scientist from the University of Georgia. Mudde has a new book, The Far Right Today, which takes a look at the resurgence of right-wing politicians and activists across the globe, much of it cloaked in populist, worker-friendly rhetoric."
Economy Gains 266,000 Jobs in November; Unemployment Down Slightly to 3.5%: "The U.S. economy gained 266,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 3.5%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics."
5 Things You Can Do to Celebrate Our Birthday with Us: "You said it's our birthday! And it is. If you've always wondered what you'd do with the AFL-CIO when we're 64, now's your chance! On this day in 1955, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations came together after a long and winding road."
A Matter of Life and Death: Labor Podcast and Radio Roundup: "In addition to the AFL-CIO's own 'State of the Unions,' there are a lot of other podcasts out there that have their own approach to discussing labor issues and the rights of working people. Here are the latest podcasts from across the labor movement in the United States."
Solidarity Forever: What Working People Are Doing This Week: "Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week."
How Labor Beat Mexico on Trade: "For AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka to declare victory on the North American trade agreement reached this week, Mexico had to lose. The point of contention was whether the AFL-CIO could send American inspectors into Mexican factories where workers weren’t being given their full union rights. Mexico hated that idea, saying it would violate Mexican sovereignty. But in the end, Mexico agreed to a small tweak: multinational three-person inspection teams that would include Mexican and American independent labor experts."
Bipartisan Support for New NAFTA Is Rare Achievement in Trade Policy: "'We have secured an agreement that working people can proudly support,' the AFL-CIO’s Trumka said a statement giving his blessing to USMCA, a contrast with his withering attacks on prior free-trade proposals. 'The trade rules in American will now be fairer.'"
AFL-CIO Endorses USMCA as 'Vast Improvement' Over NAFTA: "The AFL-CIO gave a ringing endorsement of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement on Tuesday when House Democrats announced they were satisfied with the trade deal. 'I am grateful to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her allies on the USMCA working group, along with Senate champions like Sherrod Brown and Ron Wyden, for standing strong with us throughout this process as we demanded a truly enforceable agreement,' AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.'"
Low Unemployment Rate Contradicts the Truth: No ‘Good Jobs’ and Low Wages: "The latest jobs report showed a robust 266,000 workers were hired last month, an impressive figure that kept the country’s unemployment rate at 3.2%, the lowest it's been in decades. Likewise, black unemployment was hovering around its lowest levels ever, with November’s 5.5% unemployment rate inflating by just one-tenth of a percentage point from the month prior."
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 12/13/2019 - 13:13Tags: Podcast
‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: The Far Right Today
On the latest episode of “State of the Unions,” podcast co-host Tim Schlittner and guest host AFL-CIO International Director Cathy Feingold talk to Cas Mudde, a political scientist from the University of Georgia. Mudde has a new book, The Far Right Today, which takes a look at the resurgence of right-wing politicians and activists across the globe, much of it cloaked in populist, worker-friendly rhetoric.
Listen to our previous episodes:
- Talking with Guy Ryder, the director-general of the International Labor Organization, about the international labor movement, the idea of "decent labor" and the future of work.
- A discussion with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig about his work connecting the labor movement and the veterans community.
- A conversation with union member and Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.) about strikes, trade, health care, LGBTQ equality and the freedom to form a union.
- A chat with Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (IUPAT, IAM) about his path to power and the experiences that have shaped his life and career.
- Talking to Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) about worker power, automation, trade and his decision to stay in the U.S. Senate.
- Checking in with AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council Executive Director Brad Markell about the UAW strike at General Motors and interviewing Veena Dubal, an associate law professor at UC Hastings College of the Law, whose work helped pave the way for passage of A.B. 5, the landmark pro-worker legislation in California.
“State of the Unions” is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and anywhere else you can find podcasts.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 12/11/2019 - 10:47Tags: Podcast
Economy Gains 266,000 Jobs in November; Unemployment Down Slightly to 3.5%
The U.S. economy gained 266,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 3.5%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In response to the November job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
A large part of the job growth (15.4%) came from the returning @UAW workers from their strike against GM. So, motor vehicle employment was up 41,000, but remains 2,000 lower than the month before the strike. @AFLCIO #JobsDay #NumbersDay
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 6, 2019
Once again, big gains (moving to the right) in lower wage industries (moving down). Leisure & Hospitality gained 45,000 last month (219,000 in the last four months). The 25,300 in food services puts that industry at 12.33 million compared to manufacturing's 12.87 @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/YIyFDCnadQ
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 6, 2019
Why is full employment important? Again the unemployment rate for Latino men (over age 20) at 3.0% in November equaled white men's unemployment rate. Economists insisted the unemployment gaps reflected skill gaps; @federalreserve must realize its impact on inequality @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 6, 2019
Another reason for concern about Retail: average weekly hours and average weekly payrolls fell in November. Amidst negligible job gains, this isn't a good sign for the month that includes Black Friday. @UFCW @AFLCIO #JobsDay #NumbersDay pic.twitter.com/iAn7v2GdYA
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 6, 2019
Thanks to all the states marching to a $15 an hour minimum wage, wages in leisure and hospitality were up 4.3% over the year. @BobbyScott led the House in passing a federal minimum wage hike, but from silent Mitch and Republican Senate crickets. @AFLCIO #FightFor15
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 6, 2019
In addition to tepid Retail numbers, gains in transportation for package delivery related work was good, but not great, up 8,000 for warehousing (logistics centers), 5,100 for couriers and messengers, 1,800 for support activities. @AFLCIO #JobsReport pic.twitter.com/J3yXuvDHso
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 6, 2019With tepid wage growth, this puzzle of lingering long term unemployment with low overall unemployment lingers. And, NO the long term unemployed are not a homogenous group of low skilled workers. @AFLCIO #JobsReport pic.twitter.com/GrF7Rqm1KH
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 6, 2019Last month's biggest job gains were in manufacturing (54,000), health care (45,000), leisure and hospitality (45,000), professional and technical services (31,000), transportation and warehousing (16,000) and financial activities (13,000). Mining lost jobs (-7,000). Employment in other major industries—including retail trade, construction, wholesale trade, information and government—showed little change over the month.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for teenagers (12.0%), blacks (5.5%), Hispanics (4.2%), adult men (3.2%), whites (3.2%), adult women (3.2%) and Asians (2.6%) showed little or no change in November.
The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) declined in November and accounted for 20.8% of the unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 12/10/2019 - 15:43
