AFL-CIO News

A Series of Firsts: Worker Wins

Wed, 10/24/2018 - 08:19

A Series of Firsts: Worker Wins NNU

Our latest roundup of worker wins begins with more victories for working people in digital media and includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.

Thrillist Editorial Staff Approves First Union Contract: After a contentious campaign that included the first-ever strike authorization at a digital news site, the editorial staff at Thrillist unanimously ratified its first union contract, which cements financial gains and improves workplace protections. Lowell Peterson, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East, said: "The hard work of the WGAE negotiating committee, backed by the solidarity of the entire bargaining unit, have made this excellent agreement possible. Collective bargaining works; people who craft content can make concrete improvements in their pay and working conditions by unionizing, and can gain a real voice on the job."

Writers at Salon Unanimously Ratify First Collective Bargaining Agreement: About the victory, Lowell Peterson, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East, said: "Our collective bargaining agreement with Salon marks the Guild’s seventh contract in digital media. We won important gains including minimum rates of pay that result in a third of the unit receiving an average increase of 11%. There will also be guaranteed across the board increases for all employees, based on the average pay, which will further reduce inequality among colleagues. In addition, the agreement includes just cause, a process for terminations and guaranteed severance. We are pleased to finalize a collective bargaining agreement with one of the pioneers in digital journalism, a company that is committed to continuing its important mission in changed times."

Omaha World-Herald Votes Overwhelmingly to Affiliate with The NewsGuild: By a vote of 71-5, reporters, copy editors and photographers at the Omaha World-Herald have voted to join The NewsGuild. The new union will represent more than 80 journalists and negotiations with BH Media Group, which owns the paper, are expected to begin in coming months.

Registered Nurses in Tucson Join National Nurses United: Registered nurses at St. Joseph's Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson, Arizona, have voted by 72% to be represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU). The new unit will represent 550 registered nurses at St. Joseph's and another 450 at St. Mary's. National Nurses United (NNU) Director Bonnie Castillo, RN, said: "On behalf of our members nationwide, I welcome you and want you to know that we are thrilled to have you on board. We are proud of RNs at St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s Hospitals for taking this historic step to unite with your RN colleagues to elevate standards for patients and nurses."

Registered Nurses at HCA-affiliated Hospitals Reach Tentative Contract Agreement: Some 7,000 registered nurses represented by National Nurses United have tentatively reached a new contract agreement that would cover nurses in Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada and Texas. NNU Director Bonnie Castillo said: "On behalf of our members across the nation, I extend a hearty congratulations to the nurses at these HCA-affiliated hospitals, for winning agreements that honor and support optimal patient care. These new pacts clearly demonstrate what nurses can accomplish when we are persistent and unified, including in environments that are hostile to collective bargaining rights. Your powerful patient advocacy is an inspiration to us all."

Flight Attendants at Miami Air Ratify New Contract: Flight attendants working at Miami Air voted by 93% to ratify a new five-year contract. The 100 flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, will get immediate pay raises and per diem and improved work rules. AFA Miami Air President Natasha Glasper said: "Miami Air Flight Attendants stood together throughout negotiations and a year ago authorized a strike if necessary. Today, we ratified a new contract that will provide much needed wage increases for Flight Attendants and their families."

Pennsylvania Steelworkers Win New Contract: Members of the United Steelworkers at Universal Stainless & Alloy Products in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, ratified a new five-year labor contract. The contract includes wage increases over the life of the contract, strengthens health care and pension contributions, and preserves vacation scheduling, seniority and other benefits for the 245 workers covered by the new agreement.

Columbia Postdoctoral Workers Join United Auto Workers: More than 70% of the 1,000 postdoctoral workers who voted at Columbia University supported joining UAW. Columbia Postdoctoral Workers-UAW becomes the first certified postdoctoral union at a private university. Alvaro Cuesta-Domínguez, a member of the organizing committee, said: "We made history. We would like to expand our voice to the national level. We would like to have a voice regarding issues such as federal science funding and making the research environment a more equitable and a diverse work space."

Flight Attendants Win Safety Guarantees in FAA Reauthorization Bill: Congress passed a new five-year FAA reauthorization bill that includes a number of safety priorities pushed for by flight attendants, including 10-hour minimum rest breaks to combat fatigue, forever keeping knives off of planes, keeping voice calls off of planes and banning e-cigarettes. AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson said: “Flight Attendants cheer the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 with a provision to combat Flight Attendant fatigue by increasing minimum rest from 8 hours to 10 hours. This bill closes a safety loophole while improving Flight Attendant health and achieving equal minimum rest with our flight deck counterparts."

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/24/2018 - 09:19

Tags: Organizing

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Chris Smith

Tue, 10/23/2018 - 12:29

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Chris Smith AFL-CIO

This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we are taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Rep. Chris Smith from New Jersey.

Here are some of the key reasons why Smith is one of the best candidates for working people in 2018:

Supports Collective Bargaining. A proven friend of working people, Smith has supported the labor movement at every turn since he was first elected in 1980. He was the original sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act and still maintains that all workers should have the right to join a union.
Defended Public Service Workers. Smith condemned the Supreme Court’s attack on public service workers in Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31. He pushed to ensure public employees have the right to organize.
Protecting Davis-Bacon and Project Labor Agreements. Smith supports the Davis-Bacon Act, which ensures fair wages on construction projects and project labor agreements that set important safety and skill standards.
Opposed Tax Bill that Hurt New Jersey. Smith fought against anti-New Jersey tax changes, such as President Donald Trump’s federal cap on property tax deductions, which raise taxes on working families.
Supports Public Education. Smith is a champion of students and teachers and will take on the corporate agenda to gut funding of our public schools. He will increase funding for public education so that all of our kids, not just those who can afford it, have the opportunity to go to college or learn a skilled trade.
Repairing Roads and Bridges. Smith has a proven record of securing vital funding to improve our transportation infrastructure. He supported funding to continue the Gateway Tunnel project, which would not only improve transit across the state but also help grow our economy.

To learn more about Smith, visit his website.

Portions of this post originally appeared at the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/23/2018 - 13:29

Tags: Elections 2018

Dispatches from Hurricane Michael Relief Efforts in Florida

Tue, 10/23/2018 - 11:13

Dispatches from Hurricane Michael Relief Efforts in Florida AFL-CIO

AFL-CIO National Media Manager Carolyn Bobb was given access to see how a multifaceted union disaster response comes together. What follows is her experience documenting a four-day period of Hurricane Michael relief efforts in the Florida Panhandle.

The Florida AFL-CIO, Florida Education Association (FEA), Teamsters and other labor organizations are a formidable team as Hurricane Michael relief plans come together. The state federation office in Tallahassee is the command center. Over an intense short period of time, Florida AFL-CIO President Mike Williams coordinates relief efforts with both seasoned experts and eager volunteers. The experts are led by Teamsters National Disaster Relief Coordinator Roy Gillespie who, along with Teamsters Local 991 Secretary-Treasurer Jim Gookins and Teamsters Local 769 Business Agent David Renshaw, will bring together hundreds of people in person, on the phone and over email and text to prepare for the difficult job ahead.

Thursday:

You’re probably wondering where all the supplies for distribution come from. For this first round of distribution, most of the supplies are purchased at Costco, with money donated through the Florida Workers Relief Fund. We hit the Costco in Tallahassee about 10 a.m., with our own personal shopper. For the next five hours, he takes us around the store and we load six pallets of nonperishable food, paper products, batteries, flashlights, gas cans and other necessities.

Donations also are secured. Nine thousand loaves of bread are donated by Bimbo Bakeries, Kroger throws in 60 pallets of water and Borden donates tea. Over the next several days, the donations and purchases are loaded into a 28-foot Ryder truck and a 24-foot refrigerator or "reefer" truck, and team members volunteer their time driving around the Panhandle bringing relief to hundreds.

Friday:

Meet up time is 6 a.m., but hundreds of hours have gone into planning a four-stop distribution of food and supplies that spans some 350 miles and 16 hours. Before heading to the first of three stops organized and staffed by teachers from FEA, we make a new, quickly organized cold stop to pick up 300 20-pound bags of ice.

We’re now heading to Eastpoint and are pretty sure the road conditions won’t be a problem. The energy at the first stop is amazing. We’re at the K-12 Franklin County School, where we’re met by more than 40 teachers, students and volunteers who’ve come out to help their community even though many have damage to their own homes.

"This is about everybody coming together and trying to do their part to ensure that these families get back on their feet, to get our kids back in school and to get our teachers and educational support professionals back to work," said FEA President Fedrick Ingram.

Our next stop is at a school in Altha, where numerous people are still without power and our wish for the sun to stay behind the clouds is not granted. Word has made it to some that there will be supplies available, but since the location is a bit off the main road, a lady hops in her car and drives around town directing people to us. It works, and there is soon a steady stream of cars lining up for supplies. We continue to be amazed by all the volunteers.

We notice a couple of guys doing a lot of unloading. They’re not with the team, so we ask how they knew about this. They say they didn’t, they were just heading out to cut up some more trees and saw we could use the help, so they stopped by and did just that. The other stand-out volunteer is a six-year-old boy. He lifts boxes as heavy as his little arms can carry and makes trip after trip to hand out the supplies, all with a huge smile on his face. We learn that he even volunteered on his birthday, and we all agree that he should have two parties to celebrate when things get a little more back to normal.

Our third stop is at a Communications Workers of America (CWA) hall in Chipley. There, the hall is set up to store and distribute items. We need to improvise a bit on ice distribution and leave this site early to make a pickup. No worries though, teachers think fast on their feet, and within about 20 minutes, several coolers are at the location to hold the ice before it’s handed out.

We keep trudging ahead. While in Altha, we learned we will add a stop at a church that one of Gookins' stewards had been contacted from earlier that day. We are able to deliver some much-needed water. Seeing the grateful looks on all the faces when we arrive is heartwarming. We are able to leave some nonperishable food and paper products, too. One of the best helpers is a kid nicknamed "Hot Rod."

Another thing really sticks with us from this site. As we’re getting ready to drive off, a man taps on the window. He wants to make sure we have a place to stay and offers his house. That selfless spirit is what we observed all day from countless people. It is a long, rewarding day.

We get back to Tallahassee a few minutes before 9 p.m., just in time to make it to the Costco for the truck to be loaded with the supplies for the next two days.

View pictures of Friday's efforts.

Saturday:

Today, we head to Panama City and Port St. Joe—two cities that received different types of severe damage from the storm. As we go through Blountstown on the way to Panama City, we see trees, roofs and entire buildings destroyed by the nearly 150 mph winds that Michael packed. Once in the city, it’s eerie to see boats turned over and department stores destroyed. We see the air conditioning unit of the Sears building completely exposed.

But, when we arrive at our distribution site, the same resiliency and energy rises up from the teacher volunteers. In addition to the supplies we’ve secured, this is where we learn what 9,000 loaves of bread looks like. It’s massive! And it’s all needed. Roy learns of a neighborhood a couple miles away that was hit really hard where many residents don’t have transportation to come to the distribution site. No problem. He grabs a truck and a driver and heads over to the neighborhood to drop off some bread. A crowd soon gathers—not to grab the bread—but to help unload it. Panhandle spirit.

As we near the drop off site in Port St. Joe, we see the remnants of what a 14-foot storm surge looks like. Rooms full of furniture and drywall are out on the streets after flood waters ravaged the homes. However, we are pleasantly surprised by the distribution site itself. It is a large building where numerous groups have come together to store and hand out supplies. The back of our truck is opened and, immediately, members of the National Guard are there to quickly unload it.

I’ve mentioned Gillespie and his connections. Well, he starts talking to the folks from Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and they agree to discuss a partnership. More resources are always needed.

After seeing so much devastation, Saturday ended in the best way possible. One of Gillespie's numerous connections had emailed him about a cousin he hadn’t been able to reach more than a week after the storm hit. He heard Gillespie's team was heading to Port St. Joe and asked if he could swing by his house and check on him.

We went by the house and nobody was home. The next door neighbor said he’d seen him since the storm and that he may have left with a relative. Feeling hopeful, Gillespie leaves his card and asks him to call him when he returns home. About a hour into the trip back to Tallahassee, Gillespie's phone rings, and he gives a thumbs up. It was the man calling to say he’s fine and had lost his phone. Like most of us, he doesn’t know people’s numbers by heart so he couldn’t contact anyone. Gillespie connects a three-way call and the cousins are able to have a special reunion. This is truly one of the best phone calls we’ve ever heard.

View pictures of Saturday's efforts.

Sunday:

We saw only one distribution event on Sunday, but major excitement was packed into that 45 minutes. As we drove with Gillespie over the past couple days, he tells us to be ready for the unexpected, that sometimes we are going to have to improvise. Today is that day.

At the previous events, tables were set up and we were able to unload the supplies in an orderly fashion. This time, there are no tables. What that means is people can come right up to the truck, so we have to switch up our method. That means Williams hops into the truck and starts the frantic unloading of supplies as people are yelling out their needs. It is intense, and by the end of the event, we have helped more than 100 people in less than an hour.

We make two more stops that day—the first at a local church in need of bread. The second is at the Florida People's Advocacy Center—a group that increases social and economic justice throughout Florida by facilitating and providing training in civic engagement at the state Capitol. Disaster relief is not part of their normal activities, but there was nothing normal about Hurricane Michael, so they’re stepping up to help with distribution. While at this site, we are able to schedule a delivery for Monday morning of 150 bags of ice to Second Harvest Food Bank in Tallahassee.

Over the previous four days, we heard from numerous people we met about how difficult the long-term recovery from Hurricane Michael will be. We don’t know exactly what the months and years have in store, but we know we have the support of thousands of union brothers and sisters who are stepping up to help. We are back to work this week planning more events, and you can help by donating to the Florida Workers Relief Fund.

View pictures of Sunday's efforts.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/23/2018 - 12:13

Reaching the Unorganized

Fri, 10/19/2018 - 12:01

Reaching the Unorganized DPE

The results of a recent Department for Professional Employees (DPE) campaign with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU) demonstrate that low-cost social media advertising is an effective way to generate quality organizing leads.

DPE partnered with NPEU — formerly the International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees (IFPTE) Local 70 — on a campaign to promote NPEU and inform nonunion professionals about the benefits of joining together in union. A large component of the campaign was inexpensive advertising on digital platforms. The campaign resulted in more than 60 organizing leads over eight months with advertising costs of just under $2,600.

The campaign was inspired by the findings of DPE’s October 2016 survey of nonunion professionals. The survey found that a majority of nonunion professionals want to join a union, but only 31% know a fair amount or more about unions representing professionals. For professionals who want to join a union, most do not know which union is right for them. DPE created the NPEU campaign with the goal of bridging this information gap.

With the campaign, DPE wanted to test different digital tools to determine which were effective at making a union accessible to the professionals it sought to recruit and getting the union’s message in front of potential members. Ultimately, the measure of success was whether the campaign could generate organizing leads for the union — which it did.

Understanding the components of the campaign and what made it successful can help to inform one way unions can reach potential members.

NPEU is a union of nonprofit employees whose employers include the Center for American Progress (CAP), the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR). The focus of the campaign was to actively inform nonunion progressive nonprofit employees that there was a union for them and encourage them to connect with NPEU. Additionally, the vast majority of NPEU’s potential members fall squarely within the demographic and political categories that indicate they would vote in large numbers for union representation in the workplace.

The first step in the campaign was to make NPEU more accessible to potential members, which required a rebranding effort. At the time, NPEU was IFPTE Local 70 and part of the rebrand was to change its name to the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union. The union also got a new logo and website. Building a union identity and website that reflected the membership and spoke to similarly employed professionals was key to connecting with potential members.

In addition to the rebrand and website, DPE sought to explore whether the information gap between potential members and a union could be filled with low-cost paid advertising. DPE believed potential NPEU members would be more responsive to targeted messages about the gains made by nonprofit professionals in NPEU as opposed to general messages about the value of joining a union for all professionals. DPE based campaign messaging on conversations with current members and survey data for nonunion nonprofit professionals. With this messaging, DPE crafted ads that spoke specifically to progressive nonprofit professionals. Centrally, DPE also wanted members to be able to tell their personal stories highlighting what being part of NPEU has done for them. NPEU members told their stories using blogs and social media and shared their NPEU experience with their networks. Ultimately, DPE wanted potential members who clicked on a paid advertisement on social media or Google to visit the NPEU website where they could learn more and reach out.

Another component to the campaign was earned media. Past experience has shown that potential members often learn about a union representing their profession when they read about an organizing victory or contract gain in the news. Many then reach out about organizing their own workplace. For the NPEU campaign, articles and op-eds about NPEU were featured in The Washington Post, The Hill, Bloomberg BNA and the Metro Washington Council’s Union City newsletter. Each time there was a mention leads ticked up. Actively engaging the media about unions and earning press hits should be part of any campaign focused on generating organizing leads.

During the campaign one of the leads received by NPEU turned into a new unit that was voluntarily recognized. Many of the over 60 organizing leads resulted in ongoing conversations with potential members. NPEU and DPE agreed the campaign was a success.

The results show that generating organizing leads from nonunion professionals interested in forming a union is possible using a tailored approach combined with a diverse communications effort. DPE continues to work with its affiliate unions to devise and deploy creative methods to make their unions accessible and reach potential members with a positive union message.

Unions and union staff interested in learning more about the campaign can contact DPE President Jennifer Dorning at jdorning@dpeaflcio.org or DPE Communications Manager Katie Barrows at kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org.

This post originally appeared at Medium.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/19/2018 - 13:01

Tags: Organizing

State of the Unions: The Working People Weekly List

Fri, 10/19/2018 - 09:21

State of the Unions: The Working People Weekly List AFL-CIO

Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s this week’s Working People Weekly List.

Introducing the 'State of the Unions' Podcast: "The AFL-CIO has launched another tool to bring you the issues and stories that matter to working people. Our new podcast, 'State of the Unions,' officially debuted today with an interview with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician who helped expose the Flint, Michigan, water crisis."

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Martin Heinrich: "This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we've been taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Sen. Martin Heinrich from New Mexico."

The U.S. Needs to Do More to Protect Basic Labor Rights in Honduras: "The U.S. Department of Labor recently issued a 'progress' report on the Honduran government’s implementation of an action plan (MAP) negotiated between the parties in 2015. The MAP was developed in response to a complaint filed in 2012 by the AFL-CIO, Honduran unions and Honduran nongovernmental organizations under the Central America Free Trade Agreement’s (CAFTA) labor chapter, which included cases concerning child labor, illegally low pay, and denial of the right to organize and to bargain. The U.S. government found that nearly every claim in the petition was supported by the evidence and that the Honduran government had in fact routinely failed to enforce its laws."

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Paulette Jordan: "This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we've been taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Idaho gubernatorial candidate Paulette Jordan."

National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Baldemar Velásquez: "Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Baldemar Velásquez."

Labor Union Launches Its Biggest-Ever Digital Ad Campaign: "A major national union is launching its largest-ever digital advertising campaign less than three weeks before Election Day, hoping to provide a last-minute assist to more than two dozen labor-backed candidates. The effort from the AFL-CIO will reach 10 million voters across 15 states, officials with the group said, using Google, Facebook and Instagram ads."

Labor Group Says Asian-Americans Can Help Flip Red Districts: "The headline in the online site Here and Now read: 'California Democrats hope Asian-American voters can help flip red districts.' Alvina Yeh agrees, from labor’s point of view, but adds the Dems—and the GOP—don’t know how and don’t want to reach those voters. She says labor is stepping into the void. In her organization’s case, that’s in five key swing states: California, Minnesota, Nevada, Virginia and Pennsylvania."

Nexstar Highlights Labor 2018: "Nexstar Media Group—and its 170 plus local TV stations—highlighted the AFL-CIO's aggressive efforts to mobilize voters in the final three weeks before Election Day. AFL-CIO Mobilization Director Julie Greene discussed the federation's field, TV, radio and direct mail programs and explained why the stakes of this election are so high for union members and all working people."

Working People Need Answers on Latest North American Trade Deal: "It seems every talking head in Washington has been in a frenzy recently, rushing to either glorify or condemn the new North American Free Trade Agreement, known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. But the truth is that it is still too early to pass any final judgment. It helps to understand that for a quarter of a century, NAFTA has wreaked havoc on the lives of working people across North America. More than 850,000 jobs in the United States have been shipped overseas. Mexican workers have toiled under poverty wages and repressive conditions, while large corporations have used that labor abuse as a twisted justification to slash pay and reduce benefits in the United States and Canada."

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/19/2018 - 10:21

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Martin Heinrich

Thu, 10/18/2018 - 08:29

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Martin Heinrich AFL-CIO

This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we've been taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Sen. Martin Heinrich from New Mexico.

Here are some of the key reasons why Heinrich is one of the best candidates for working people in 2018:

His father Pete was an immigrant who served in the U.S. military before becoming a lineman with the Electrical Workers (IBEW), so Heinrich grew up in a union household.
As Albuquerque City Council president, he fought to raise the minimum wage, institute community policing and create green building codes.
In the Senate, he serves on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where he is leading efforts to create good jobs and a cleaner energy future.
Heinrich also serves on the Armed Services Committee where he has worked tirelessly to help service members and veterans get prepared for the careers of today and tomorrow.
He has worked to close the gender pay gap.
Heinrich has fought to raise the federal minimum wage to $15.
He has worked with local businesses and national labs to develop new products and businesses that create local jobs.
Heinrich wants to expand investment in education and infrastructure.
He has championed renewable energy investments in New Mexico to export clean energy to other states, creating more jobs in the process.
Heinrich created public land protections that have helped fuel the state's outdoor recreation industry, creating thousands of jobs.
He secured job retraining benefits for laid-off miners.
Heinrich is working to allow Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug costs for seniors.
He wants to expand Medicare, Medicaid and other programs to provide access to quality health care.
Heinrich helped win a delay in the so-called Cadillac Tax on many union health plans and is working to eliminate the tax altogether.
He helped close the Medicare Part D "donut hole."
Heinrich supports comprehensive immigration reform that protects Dreamers and includes an earned and fair path to citizenship.
He voted to strengthen education benefits for veterans and their children.

To learn more about Heinrich, visit his website.

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 10/18/2018 - 09:29

Tags: Elections 2018

The U.S. Needs to Do More to Protect Basic Labor Rights in Honduras

Wed, 10/17/2018 - 15:00

The U.S. Needs to Do More to Protect Basic Labor Rights in Honduras AFL-CIO

The U.S. Department of Labor recently issued a “progress” report on the Honduran government’s implementation of an action plan (MAP) negotiated between the parties in 2015. The MAP was developed in response to a complaint filed in 2012 by the AFL-CIO, Honduran unions and Honduran nongovernmental organizations under the Central America Free Trade Agreement’s (CAFTA) labor chapter, which included cases concerning child labor, illegally low pay, and denial of the right to organize and to bargain. The U.S. government found that nearly every claim in the petition was supported by the evidence and that the Honduran government had in fact routinely failed to enforce its laws.

While a handful of the 17 cases in the 2012 complaint have been resolved due to the intervention of the U.S. government, the situation in Honduras is fundamentally unchanged. The majority of cases in the complaint are unresolved, particularly in the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, employers commit new systematic violations. Despite an important new labor inspection law and the hiring of new inspectors, labor law continues to be violated routinely without meaningful consequences. While fines have been increased and levied, none are actually being collected, nor are the violations being resolved. Since 2012, we have seen numerous unions busted—some with government involvement and all without government action to provide a remedy. Violence against trade unionists remains a serious problem. For example, in 2017, a worker and union member at a melon exporter was attacked and wounded with a machete as a consequence of his union activity. Trade unionists also have suffered in post-election violence. No one has been held accountable for these crimes. In the coming weeks, we will provide a detailed report card on the MAP.

After focusing on progress, the current U.S. government report concludes that much work remains to be done, with persistent shortcomings in enforcement. The report names a few of the most notably intransigent employers violating the law such as Kyungshin Lear in auto parts and SurAgro-Fyffes in produce. Just as employers such as Hanesbrands and Pinehurst in the maquila sector have been freed from targeted enforcement after remediating previous violations, those employers who remain in violation should be effectively targeted for increased enforcement. The report also raises, for the first time, the issue of ongoing violence against unions, yet fails to hold Honduras and its employers accountable for the failures documented in the workers' 2012 petition and 2015 U.S. government report.

Over 6.5 years, the governments of the United States and Honduras have consulted regularly on the MAP and have implemented a number of capacity-building programs. However, conditions on the ground for most Honduran workers remain just as dire as they were in 2012. Workers trying to use trade agreements to defend their rights have seen this before. A CAFTA petition to defend workers in Guatemala lingered in the enforcement system for over nine years before being dismissed without any improvement in conditions. The same cannot happen here. We urge the U.S. government, therefore, to move to the next step in the dispute settlement process to show that the steps taken so far are woefully insufficient to establish respect for basic labor rights in Honduras.

The above photo was taken at a memorial for Berta Cáceres, a Honduran labor activist who was murdered in 2016.

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/17/2018 - 16:00

Tags: Honduras

Introducing the 'State of the Unions' Podcast

Wed, 10/17/2018 - 11:12

Introducing the 'State of the Unions' Podcast AFL-CIO

The AFL-CIO has launched another tool to bring you the issues and stories that matter to working people. Our new podcast, “State of the Unions,” officially debuted today with an interview with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician who helped expose the Flint, Michigan, water crisis.

One in four Americans listen to podcasts on a monthly basis. “State of the Unions” will capture the stories of workers across the country. It’s hosted by two young and diverse members of the AFL-CIO team: Political Mobilization Director Julie Greene and Executive Speechwriter Tim Schlittner. A new episode will drop every other Wednesday featuring interesting interviews with workers and our allies across the country, as well as compelling insights from the podcast’s hosts.

Learn more about Julie and Tim in their inaugural episode and check out their interview with Dr. Hanna-Attisha.

The upcoming schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, Oct. 31: Mayor Dahlia Vertreese (IUOE) of Hillside, New Jersey.
Wednesday, Nov. 14: Post-election recap and analysis.

“State of the Unions” is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and anywhere else you can find podcasts.

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/17/2018 - 12:12

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Paulette Jordan

Wed, 10/17/2018 - 07:03

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Paulette Jordan AFL-CIO

This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we've been taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Idaho gubernatorial candidate Paulette Jordan.

Here are some of the key reasons why Jordan is one of the best candidates for working people in 2018:

She will look at every opportunity to raise the minimum wage gradually.
Jordan wants to expand and further develop the state's renewable energy resources, including wind, solar, water, geothermal and biomass.
She will invest in STEM education at the high school level.
Jordan plans to create public-private partnerships among universities, technology companies and the Idaho National Laboratory that will expand job opportunities in the information technology sector.
She will pursue a strategic national marketing campaign to boost the state's tourism industry and create jobs.
Jordan is proposing a plan for a statewide transportation system that will link rural areas to urban areas and increase tourism opportunities.
She will expand broadband access, particularly in rural areas and on tribal lands.
Jordan wants to implement an opt-in statewide universal preschool program to help prepare more students for participation in higher education and the workforce and create more education jobs.
She wants to improve teacher pay to make Idaho competitive with neighboring states.
As a legislator, she introduced a bill to forgive teachers' student loan debts if they worked in rural schools and she wants more programs like this to be instituted.
Jordan wants to expand advanced placement and dual-credit classes in high schools to help students be more prepared for higher education.
She favors expanding Medicaid.
She will pursue a public medical school to increase the number of doctors, nurses, physician assistants and pharmacists working in the state.
Jordan wants to expand Idaho's participation in the clean energy and sustainability sector.

To learn more about Jordan, visit her website.

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/17/2018 - 08:03

Tags: Elections 2018

National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Baldemar Velásquez

Mon, 10/15/2018 - 09:56

National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Baldemar Velásquez NC State AFL-CIO

Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Baldemar Velásquez.

Baldemar Velásquez was born in 1947 in Pharr, Texas, the son of migrant farm workers who were the second generation to work in that field in the United States. By the time he was five years old, Velásquez joined his family picking sugar beets and tomatoes. He used that experience, along with the inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi, César Chávez and Martin Luther King Jr., to pursue a career improving the lives of migrant farm workers.

At the age of 12, he led his first strike, helping migrant workers at his summer job win better wages. After high school, he attended several colleges, graduating from Bluffton College in 1969 with a degree in sociology. He continued working while in college, and in 1967, Velásquez founded the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) with his father. The initial idea behind the committee was to organize farm workers to seek improvements in pay, housing and education for pickers. Soon, Velásquez and FLOC were organizing strikes and other actions to convince growers to raise wages and improve working conditions. FLOC had significant success until the American Farm Bureau Federation convinced some growers to withdraw from the market and others to refuse to honor contracts.

In the 1970s, FLOC shifted its attention toward national and international companies, with Velásquez saying that the previous focus on local growers was a mistake and that real change would come from confronting farm-related corporations instead. The new strategy led to victories, including the 1978 strike against the Campbell Soup Co., which was the largest agricultural labor action in the history of the Midwest and which led to the first three-way contract with industry, grower associations and workers. That success led to expanded actions in the South, most notably with successful campaigns for workers at the Mt. Olive Pickle Co. in the 1990s and at R.J. Reynolds tobacco in the 2000s. FLOC became a fully chartered international union and full affiliate of the AFL-CIO in 2006.

His many years of activism on behalf of farm workers led to widespread recognition for Velásquez. In 1989, he was awarded a MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellowship. In 1994, he received the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award from the National Council of La Raza and the Aguila Azteca Award, the highest honor Mexico gives to non-citizens. He also has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from several universities, including Bowling Green State University, Bluffton University and the University of Toledo. Velásquez continues as president of FLOC today and advocated on behalf of all workers as a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/15/2018 - 10:56

An Upsurge in Collective Action: The Working People Weekly List

Mon, 10/15/2018 - 09:38

An Upsurge in Collective Action: The Working People Weekly List AFL-CIO

Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s this week’s Working People Weekly List.

AFL-CIO's Trumka Is Optimistic About the Midterms: "Big labor is optimistic about the 2018 midterm elections because, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said, progressives have been working together to oust anti-labor Republicans. 'There’s been this real upsurge in collective action where people say the political system isn’t working for me, the economic system isn’t working for me, so how am I going to make change?' Mr. Trumka said in an interview last week. 'They’ve worked with each other.'"

A Record Number of Women Are Running for Office. This Election Cycle, They Didn't Wait for an Invite: "A record number of women are running for the U.S. House, Senate and state legislatures this year—more than any other election in U.S. history. Traditionally, the major political parties scout out their potential candidates. And typically, says Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, men are sought after more than women."

AFL-CIO Says Ad Investment Marks 'Historic' Initiative in Communities of Color: "GOTV Radio Ad Airing on African American and Spanish-Language Radio. The AFL-CIO this week launched a massive get-out-the-vote campaign, airing ads on African American and Spanish-language radio in 26 targeted media markets across the country. The high six-figure buy marks the largest such investment in communities of color in the AFL-CIO’s history. The ad buy includes multiple media markets throughout Georgia, including Atlanta, Albany, Columbus and Augusta."

Why Nearly 8,000 Marriott Workers Are Striking in 8 Cities: "Thousands of hotel employees are refusing to go to work at Marriott-owned hotels in eight major U.S. cities, citing mounting frustration over stalled negotiations for higher wages and safety measures. As of Wednesday, nearly 8,000 housekeepers, bartenders, and other service workers had walked off the job at 23 hotels in Detroit, Boston, San Diego, San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, Maui and Oahu, according to their labor union, Unite Here, which represents more than 20,000 Marriott workers in the United States and Canada."

Trade Talks Episode 57: It's Fun to Discuss the USMCA—the New NAFTA: "Soumaya Keynes and Chad Bown describe key elements of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, or USMCA, announced on October 1, 2018. Beneath the spin, they analyze what the deal really does, including where new market access has been granted, and where new rules have been written. Will the new deal generate American jobs in car manufacturing? Will it strengthen Mexico's labor standards? Will it stop Canada from signing a future trade deal with China?"

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Tammy Baldwin: "This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we are taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Sen. Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin."

National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Henry L. 'Hank' Lacayo: "Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Henry L. 'Hank' Lacayo."

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Julie Blaha: "This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we are taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Minnesota state auditor candidate Julie Blaha."

Economy Gains 134,000 Jobs in September; Unemployment Down Slightly to 3.7%: "The U.S. economy gained 134,000 jobs in September, and unemployment was down slightly to 3.7%, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Continued slow wage growth means the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee is premature in raising interest rates."

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/15/2018 - 10:38

National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Linda Chavez-Thompson

Fri, 10/12/2018 - 08:14

National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Linda Chavez-Thompson Wikimedia Commons

Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Linda Chavez-Thompson.

A second-generation American of Mexican descent, Chavez-Thompson grew up in Lubbock, Texas. An oft-told anecdote from her childhood told the story of a young Chavez-Thompson convincing her father that her mother should stay home and care for the household rather than working in the fields. She and her siblings threatened to walk off the job in support of her mother. Her father agreed and Chavez-Thompson got her first organizing victory.

In 1967, she started working as a secretary at the Laborers (LIUNA) local in Lubbock. As the only bilingual staff member, she soon became the union representative for Spanish-speaking LIUNA members. Before long, she was drafting grievances for workers and representing them in administrative proceedings.

Later, she moved to San Antonio and began working with AFSCME. In 1986, she began serving as a national vice president for the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. Her accomplishments and hard work helped her become an international vice president of AFSCME in 1988, and in 1993, she was elected to serve as a vice president on the AFL-CIO Executive Council. In 1995, she won her election to become the federation's first elected executive vice president. She was the first person of color to hold one of the AFL-CIO's top three positions.

During her time as an AFL-CIO officer, Chavez-Thompson focused heavily on recruitment, particularly trying to convince more women and people of color to join unions. She also focused on teaching the importance of unions to young people. Even more successful were her efforts to partner with community groups in recruiting members and fighting back against anti-union efforts. She represented the federation and working people in a variety of organizations, including the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the United Way of America and the Democratic National Committee. She also was elected president of the Inter-American Regional Organization of Workers, a part of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.

Chavez-Thompson retired from the AFL-CIO in 2007.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/12/2018 - 09:14

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Tammy Baldwin

Wed, 10/10/2018 - 09:29

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Tammy Baldwin AFL-CIO

This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we are taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Sen. Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin.

Here are some of the key reasons why Baldwin is one of the best candidates for working people in 2018:

After graduating from Smith College, she worked on pay equity issues in the Wisconsin governor's office.
She led efforts against unfair trade deals that ship American jobs overseas.
Baldwin voted against repealing the Glass-Steagall Act, a law that could have prevented the 2008 financial crisis.
She introduced "buy American" legislation to help rebuild drinking-water infrastructure with American-made iron and steel.
Baldwin wants to make the tax system simpler and fairer, and provide working families with a tax cut.
She proposed legislation that would strengthen the research and development tax credit, spurring job creation.
Baldwin has been an active participant in the NAFTA renegotiation process and favors a renewed deal that ends outsourcing, raises wages and creates jobs.
She wants to penalize foreign countries that unfairly dump cheap products into the U.S. economy.
Baldwin helped introduce the Medicare for All Act to expand coverage and make health care more affordable for working families.
She introduced legislation to lower prescription drug prices by allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies.
Baldwin has worked across party lines to make sure that veterans can find good-paying jobs and the community support they need.
She wants to overturn the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United and will fight against dark money and unlimited corporate donations to political campaigns.
Baldwin proposed investments in infrastructure that not only repair roads and bridges, but modernize drinking water systems, rural broadband, schools, ports and waterways. The proposal would create as many as 15 million jobs.
She has fought to guarantee "buy American" provisions and worker protections in any infrastructure plan.
Baldwin has worked to secure increased training and necessary equipment for first responders.
She co-chairs a bipartisan caucus to promote workforce readiness, job training and apprenticeships.
Baldwin has been a leader in the fight to keep student loan costs low and proposed to make two years of community and technical college debt-free.

To learn more about Baldwin, visit her website.

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/10/2018 - 10:29

Tags: Elections 2018

National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Henry L. 'Hank' Lacayo

Wed, 10/10/2018 - 07:24

National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Henry L. 'Hank' Lacayo CSUCI

Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Henry L. "Hank" Lacayo.

A longtime staple of labor, political and academic circles in California, Henry L. "Hank" Lacayo was a force from his beginnings in the labor movement in the 1950s all the way up to his passing in 2017. He was born in Los Angeles in 1931 but moved to Mexico when he was young. He returned to California for high school. Upon graduating, he joined the Air Force. After his military service ended, Lacayo went to work at North American Aviation (later Rockwell International) in 1953. Within a few years, he not only became involved in UAW Local 887, he quickly rose to a full-time employee of the local and served as editor of its newspaper.

UAW President Walter P. Reuther encouraged Lacayo to continue his labor activism, and in 1962, he was elected president of Local 887, a position he held for 10 years. He represented more than 30,000 working people at Rockwell, both as union president and chief national negotiator for UAW-Rockwell contracts. His hard work led to an assistant director position for the UAW Western Region, covering nine states, along with serving as the region's political director.

In 1974, he moved to Detroit to work at UAW's national headquarters. He served as an administrative assistant to three UAW presidents and was appointed national director of the political and legislative department and later national director of the public relations and publications departments. He retired from the UAW in 1986 but continued in public life.

He created H.L. & Associates, a consulting firm representing clients in labor and management, government, community relations, senior citizen advocacy and international affairs. He actively participated in the California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) institute that bears his name, the Henry L. "Hank" Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies. He also advised presidential administrations, from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. He devoted time to civic duties, including strengthening the Ventura County Community Foundation and establishing the Destino Hispanic Legacy Fund that provides scholarships and other funding to the Latino community. Lacayo received an honorary doctorate from CSUCI and was inducted into the Pacific Coast Business Times Hall of Fame in 2012.

Check out this video tribute to Lacayo:

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/10/2018 - 08:24

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Julie Blaha

Tue, 10/09/2018 - 09:17

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Julie Blaha .

This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we are taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Minnesota state auditor candidate Julie Blaha.

Here are some of the key reasons why Blaha is one of the best candidates for working people in 2018:

As secretary-treasurer of the Minnesota AFL-CIO and former president of Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota (an affiliate of AFT), she worked across the state to help improve working conditions, increase the minimum wage and expand paid sick and family leave.
She worked with her town's economic development authority to help people have a voice in their local government and attract businesses that create jobs.
Blaha has a long track record as a union treasurer of making sure that members had clear, accurate financial information.
As a former public school educator, Blaha knows that government functions best with accurate data. As the state's auditor, she will be dedicated to the highest-quality and most accurate data.
As a math teacher, she not only educated students, but worked with parents and the governor's school finance task force to help make sure students and teachers got the resources they need and deserve.
As auditor, she will continue the state's tradition of high-quality government and will maintain high standards of transparency and honesty.
She served as treasurer of a multi million dollar organization and union negotiator, giving her the experience to lead quality governmental operations that can help the state achieve higher credit ratings, more grant opportunities and greater efficiency.
Blaha will partner with newly-elected state and local officials to make sure those leaders have the education and information necessary to successfully serve the people of Minnesota.
She has built a reputation as an honest broker, a bridge builder and a policy innovator who will be a trusted source of concrete, unbiased context and information to allow Minnesota's government to function at its best.

To learn more about Blaha, visit her website.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/09/2018 - 10:17

Tags: Elections 2018

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: The Working People Weekly List

Fri, 10/05/2018 - 11:52

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: The Working People Weekly List AFL-CIO

Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s this week’s Working People Weekly List.

National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Esther López: "Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have contributed to our movement. Today's profile features Esther López."

National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Ernesto Galarza: "Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have contributed to our movement. Today's profile features Ernesto Galarza."

Oklahoma Union Organizers and Activists 'Training Up' to Win: "Twenty-five energetic and dedicated union member activists and staff, mostly from Oklahoma, came together this past week to 'train up' on fundamental organizing principles critical to winning internal and external union organizing campaigns. The three-day training was held at the Oklahoma AFL-CIO in Oklahoma City. It was great to have so many energetic and committed organizers share their experiences about the work they are doing to organize working people. And this was a fun training!"

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: David Garcia: "This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we are taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Arizona gubernatorial candidate David Garcia."

Improving Patient Safety: Worker Wins: "Our latest roundup of worker wins begins with nurses across the country winning new contracts and includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life."

Support Locked-Out Boilermakers in Montana: "The labor movement supports members of the Boilermakers (IBB) working at Imerys Talc in Three Forks, Montana, who have been unfairly locked out while fighting against an anti-worker contract proposal. These hardworking Americans and their families have been without a paycheck or employer-provided health insurance for 62 days."

NAFTA Renegotiation: We’re Not Done Yet: "So, you may have heard that the North American Free Trade Agreement has been renegotiated. It’s definitely good that the three NAFTA countries (the United States, Canada and Mexico) are finally looking to change the NAFTA rules that have cost good jobs, made it harder to negotiate better wages, polluted our environment and generally left working people behind all across North America."

One Job Should Be Enough: "Weeks after more than 8,300 UNITE HERE members at Marriott hotels across the country voted to authorize strikes, management has still failed to resolve key contract issues, including workplace safety, job protections and a living wage. Ready to fight for their fundamental economic rights, workers are prepared to walk out without notice in San Francisco, San Diego, Oakland and San Jose, California; Oahu and Maui, Hawaii; Boston; Seattle and Detroit."

Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Ben Jealous: "This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we are taking a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Maryland gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous."

After Prop A Win, UFCW Local 655 Looks to the Future: "When working Missourians overwhelmingly defeated 'right to work' in August, they landed a gut punch to corporate interests that reverberated across the country."

A NAFTA Deal Should Create Jobs, Protect Our Environment and Safeguard Democracy: "While there are too many details that still need to be worked out before working people make a final judgment on a deal, here is a brief analysis on the trade deal text released late last night (we'll call it 'NAFTA 2018' for clarity). Working families want the United States, Canada and Mexico to go back to the table and finish a deal that creates good, high-wage jobs, protects our environment and safeguards our democracy."

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/05/2018 - 12:52

Economy Gains 134,000 Jobs in September; Unemployment Down Slightly to 3.7%

Fri, 10/05/2018 - 09:51

Economy Gains 134,000 Jobs in September; Unemployment Down Slightly to 3.7%

The U.S. economy gained 134,000 jobs in September, and unemployment was down slightly to 3.7%, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Continued slow wage growth means the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee is premature in raising interest rates.

In response to the September job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:

Labor force participation stayed flat at 62.7% (same as August) as wage gains remained modest at only 2.8% over last September. Slow wage growth, despite recent boosts in output, means higher productivity growth and falling unit labor costs. So much for the tax cuts. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/xavQ8QWRni