Workforce Intermediaries Advance Equity and Diversity Through Apprenticeship

As we kick off National Apprenticeship Week, it is more important than ever to shine a light on the ways government agencies, employers and joint labor-management programs can focus their resources on fostering greater equity, diversity and inclusion in the American workforce. Registered apprenticeship programs are a big part of the answer. Workforce intermediary partnerships that promote and operate apprenticeship programs are powerful vehicles for delivering career opportunities.

A new report by the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute and the Jobs with Justice Education Fund profiles a number of workforce intermediaries that reach into disadvantaged communities and mobilize joint funds and industry expertise to help women and people of color advance in their careers and improve diversity in aerospace, health care, hotel and hospitality, steel, transportation and advanced manufacturing.

Workforce intermediary partnerships bring together the needs and resources of multiple employers in a region or industry, and provide essential input from workers and unions to customize the skills training, apprenticeship and educational services required for employers to meet their workforce needs and workers to access career ladders. The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee, for example, works with hundreds of employers in Washington State to develop curriculum and customize apprenticeship programs. This year, AJAC helped place formerly incarcerated individuals in good-paying aerospace jobs. An AJAC pre-apprenticeship program for high school students has graduated more than 300 young people over five years. Some 20% of the graduates were women and 53% were people of color.

The story of Grace Rutha highlights the power of apprenticeship implemented by intermediaries. A former reporter in Kenya, forced out of her country by an oppressive regime, she came to Philadelphia to seek a better life, but became unemployed and ended up living in a homeless shelter. While volunteering for a community organization, she discovered a community health worker apprenticeship program co-sponsored by a university and the District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund. After a few months on the job, with the help and guidance of a mentor, she gained the experience to intercede with HIV patients and protect their health without continually going to the emergency room. Now Rutha earns enough to have her own apartment and she serves as a co-instructor in an educational program of Philadelphia FIGHT. She and others are profiled in the Advancing Equity report.

The report lists 18 best practices in workforce diversity as identified by the JWJ Education Fund in its work with North America’s Building Trades Unions. "Hire watchdogs and grant them authority," the organizations advise, for example, while keeping up the "push for consistent public pressure from community groups."

Expanding apprenticeship in manufacturing and the hotel and hospitality industries is a prime activity of the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute, which has a five-year contract with the U.S. Department of Labor to operate the Multiple Industry Intermediary (MII) Project.

For us, every week is National Apprenticeship Week. We will continue to use our education and training programs to create opportunity and upward mobility for workers of all backgrounds. Please join us in supporting this important work.

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 11/09/2017 - 11:25

Republicans Defeat the ‘Stop Outsourcing of American Jobs’ Amendment

When the House Ways and Means Committee debated the GOP tax bill yesterday, Republicans voted down the “Stop Outsourcing of American Jobs” amendment offered by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas).

The “Stop Outsourcing of American Jobs” amendment would require that multinational corporations looking to invest offshore pay the same tax rate as small businesses or domestic companies investing here in America. The amendment was defeated on a party-line vote, with 16 Democrats voting in favor and 23 Republicans voting against.

This is what Rep. Doggett had to say in support of his amendment:

“President Trump has made stopping the outsourcing of American jobs a central element of his promise to the American people. Unfortunately, like his promise to have Mexico pay for his unnecessary wall, it’s very much a broken promise. 

“It is flat wrong that the corner pharmacy should have to pay a rate that is substantially higher on its operations than Pfizer on its operations. My amendment ensures that both are treated the same way—that we tax profits earned abroad the same way that they are taxed here at home.

“All my amendment does is treat people who earn profits abroad the same way as those who earn profits at home. We’re not against profits; we’re not against maximizing profits; just pay your fair share. When you set up a system, as has been done in this bill, that creates one rate abroad that could be zero and at home it is 20 percent, guess where this money is going to flow? It will flow out of America, just like the jobs will flow out of America.

“If you believe in keeping our jobs at home, and believe we have lost too many already, don’t create a system that the only jobs that it will add are more tax lawyers and more CPAs to find ways to dodge taxes. They have dodged enough. They have dodged $100 billion a year.”

Under the Republican tax bill, a small business that creates jobs on Main Street USA would pay U.S. taxes on its profits at a rate of 20%, while a big corporation that outsources those same jobs to Ireland or Switzerland would pay NO U.S. TAXES on the profits it earns from outsourcing. The Doggett amendment would apply the same U.S. tax rate to profits from outsourced operations and domestic operations.

Reducing the U.S. tax rate on offshore profits to 0%—which is basically a subsidy to companies that outsource jobs—would cost $205 billion over 10 years. Even worse, the GOP tax bill would encourage foreign countries that want to attract offshore investment to lower their corporate tax rate or to create tax-free export processing zones. The more other countries lower their corporate tax rates to attract offshore investment, the bigger the tax subsidy for offshoring this bill will provide. The GOP tax bill creates a powerful incentive for big companies to outsource jobs, and it is an incentive that will grow over time.

Tim Schlittner Wed, 11/08/2017 - 14:59

Labor-Backed Candidates Win Big in Tuesday’s Elections

It was a big night for labor’s agenda as pro-worker candidates won election from coast to coast Tuesday. 

NJ AFL-CIO

In Virginia, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam handily defeated Ed Gillespie as AFL-CIO-endorsed candidates won throughout the commonwealth. Virginia AFL-CIO President Doris Crouse-Mays hailed the victories: 

“Today, Virginia’s voters turned out in record numbers to stand with working people and reject the hateful, divisive rhetoric that has taken over the airwaves throughout the campaign. Virginia voters have spoken—we must work toward a commonwealth that puts working families first and prioritizes real issues that impact our lives each and every day. All students must have quality public education and job-training opportunities. All workers must be guaranteed fair wages, safe working conditions and the freedom to join in union. And all Virginians must have access to quality, affordable health care no matter where they live.

“We are proud to stand with you all and elect Ralph Northam, Justin Fairfax, Mark Herring and a host of delegates in districts from Blacksburg to Hampton and so many places in between. Voters came together to enact real change in our commonwealth by flipping control in at least 15 house districts despite our heavily gerrymandered lines."

In New Jersey, Democrat Phil Murphy defeated Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, one of several key victories for labor in the state. New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charlie Wowkanech said union solidarity made it possible:

“The results of New Jersey’s critical gubernatorial election are in, and the election of Phil Murphy as governor and Sheila Oliver as lieutenant governor speaks to the unmatched mobilization efforts of organized labor and the New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s political program that is unparalleled by any other in our state or nation.

“Let’s be clear: what made the difference tonight was our unified labor voice, comprised of support from thousands of union volunteers, national, state and local affiliates, central labor councils and Building Trades councils. We had an opportunity to show strength and solidarity and we did. We joined together every Saturday for labor walks, made calls at evening phone banks and delivered thousands of mail pieces around the state. There is no question that our 1-million-member-strong state labor movement determined the outcome of this election.

“Working people needed a victory and organized labor delivered. The results of this election make clear that the New Jersey labor movement will lead the way forward for the rest of the nation, securing needed reforms that promote job creation, quality education, skills training, modernized infrastructure, affordable health care, equitable taxation, and a sustainable and secure retirement future for all New Jersey families."

Other labor-endorsed candidates winning office include:

43 rank-and-file union members were elected to public office in New Jersey

Labor leader Teresa Mosqueda was elected to the Seattle City Council

Labor-endorsed candidates win election across North Carolina 

Tim Schlittner Wed, 11/08/2017 - 09:26

UNITE HERE Women Reflect on International Assembly UNITE HERE

In October 2017, members of UNITE HERE Local 1 served as delegates to the 3rd International Trade Union Confederation World Women’s Conference/Women’s Organizing Assembly in San Jose, Costa Rica.

UNITE HERE Local 1 was invited to share about the "Hands Off Pants On" campaign and recent legislative victory in Chicago. Local 1’s delegation included Tina Graham, Ofelia Martinez and Kasey Nalls, rank-and-file members who helped survey nearly 500 women working in Chicagoland hotels and casinos about sexual harassment, the results of which gave rise to the "Hands Off Pants On" campaign. The final day of the conference included a screening of the video featuring President Jorge Ramirez of the Chicago Federation of Labor and other male union leaders speaking out about sexual harassment. Also in attendance was award-winning playwright Eve Ensler, who interviewed the UNITE HERE Local 1 team for a new project about workplace sexual violence.

Get the inside scoop from the UNITE HERE Local 1 team members! Read their reflections about the ITUC Women’s Organizing Assembly:  

Tina Graham:

I felt proud to represent UNITE HERE Local 1 at the ITUC Women’s Organizing Assembly and share our "Hands Off Pants On" campaign with women from around the world. It was incredible to feel the love and support from them as we talked about what we accomplished here in Chicago. In fact, the first day of the conference was the day we officially won a new city law to protect hotel workers from sexual harassment and assault! Another highlight was when we were interviewed by the playwright, Eve Ensler. I shared about my experiences working as a room attendant in a Chicago hotel and about our "Hands Off Pants On" campaign to end sexual violence in the hospitality industry. I know our "Hands Off Pants On" campaign will change the lives of women in hospitality for the better. And now our work is helping push something bigger—a global movement to make work safe and fair for all working women. I’m so proud to be a part of it.

Ofelia Martinez:

At the Women’s Organizing Assembly of the ITUC, I learned how important it is for us to continue to organize and bring a message of hope and strength to working women around the world. Wherever we find sexual violence, we will assert our rights and will not keep quiet. The conference reminded me that when we unite, we are a force that can change the world.

Kasey Nalls:

My favorite part of the conference was meeting people from all over the world and learning how much we have in common [regarding] the struggles we go through as women. The strength and power of all the women as one in that room was phenomenal. I felt very proud that women union leaders from many different countries were interested in understanding our "Hands Off Pants On" campaign, the steps we took, and the different approaches that were used to bring awareness to the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace. It was amazing to talk with Eve Ensler during the conference. I am proud that my union sisters and I are a part of her new project about gender violence at work, where our stories will be brought to life. I am forever grateful and blessed to have the opportunity to take part in such an event.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/07/2017 - 10:50

Tags: ITUC

A Giant Tax Cut for Corporations That Outsource Jobs

The Republican tax bill would give a giant tax cut to big corporations that outsource jobs.

Under the bill, a business that creates jobs on Main Street USA would pay U.S. taxes on its profits at a rate of 20%, while a big corporation that outsources those same jobs to Ireland or Switzerland would pay NO U.S. TAXES on the profits it earns from outsourcing.

Why is this so?

Currently, the United States taxes all profits of U.S. corporations, whether earned in the United States or in a foreign country, at the same rate of 35%. However, a corporation that earns profits in a foreign country does not have to pay U.S. taxes on those earnings until it repatriates them to the United States.

The GOP tax bill changes this system so a U.S. corporation that earns ordinary profits in a foreign country never pays any U.S. income taxes on those profits. By "ordinary," I mean earnings from active operations in foreign countries, not domestic profits earned in the United States that the company disguises as foreign profits through the use of accounting gimmicks.

Reducing the U.S. tax rate on offshore profits from 35% to 0%—basically a subsidy to companies that outsource jobs—would cost $208 billion over 10 years.

Even worse, the bill would encourage foreign countries that want to attract offshore investment to lower their corporate tax rates or to create tax-free export processing zones. The more that other countries lower their corporate tax rates to attract offshore investment, the bigger the tax subsidy for offshoring this bill will provide. This also would render the decision to lower the U.S. domestic corporate tax rate to 20% meaningless for "competitiveness" purposes.

The GOP tax bill creates a powerful incentive for big companies to outsource jobs, and it is an incentive that will grow over time. The bill also would put small businesses that cannot move jobs or profits outside the United States at a competitive disadvantage.

That's why the GOP tax bill is a job killer and a gift to outsourcers.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/07/2017 - 10:02

The Faces and Stories of TPS Workers AFL-CIO

Many of the working people in the country through the Temporary Protected Status program have been in the United States legally for years. Now they are at risk of having their status and work permits cruelly stripped away.

These are people we work with every day. Read their stories and watch them speak at the recent AFL-CIO Convention.

Marvin Monge: "I was born in El Salvador. I've been working in the United States for 20 years, and I am an organizer for the International Union of Bricklayers under TPS. I am a proud member of the Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, but I may lose my work authorization. I'm not going forward. I'm going backward. I could become undocumented again, and I don't know how to go back to the shadows. There are people out there who appreciate what our unions are doing."

Ericka Lopez: "I was born in El Salvador. I've been working in the United States for 17 years. I worked in laundries, but now I am a union organizer under TPS, and I'm a proud member of UNITE HERE. When I listen to this government, I feel worried and scared for me and my family, because I don't want to live in the shadows."  

Francis Garcia: "I was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. I've been working in the United States for 22 years as a guest room attendant under TPS, and I'm a proud member of UNITE HERE. Very proud! I have three kids who were born here in Arizona, and I'm a little bit nervous."

Marie Parfait: "I was born in Haiti. I've been working in the United States for 15 years as a dishwasher under TPS, and I'm a proud member of UNITE HERE, Local 355, Miami. I have five kids and 12 grandchildren. Without your help, I may lose authorization to work next year."

Watch these working people tell their stories as part of the AFL-CIO's New Citizen Celebration:

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/06/2017 - 14:03

The Republican Tax Bill is a Job Killer AFL-CIO

My name is Michael J. Smith. I am here to tell you why the tax bill is a JOB KILLER.

Up until March of 2016, I was employed at the Nabisco bakery in Chicago.

I had worked there nearly five years and am unemployed today because Nabisco/Mondelēz sent my job and the jobs of over 500 others at the bakery to Mexico.

That happened because our trade and tax laws make it easy and profitable for companies to outsource our jobs. During last year’s election, I heard a lot of politicians say it was time to change the rules to bring jobs home.

But now I see this tax bill and here’s what it says: It says that from now on, Mondelēz, a U.S. company, will pay no taxes in the United States on its profits from its Mexican plant where my job went. But it will pay taxes on the profits from its plants here in the U.S.—a 20% tax. What do you think will happen to my brothers and sisters still working in the U.S. under those rules?

Literally, this tax bill wants to pay companies like Mondelēz to move jobs like mine out of the United States. I can't believe it.

So let me say to the people who wrote this tax bill—you must think I am nothing more than a chance to make some more money. And so is the next worker like me whose life will be destroyed if this bill passes, and corporations move more jobs and profits offshore in pursuit of the tax breaks in this bill for outsourcers.

My name is Michael J. Smith and I am not a mere statistic. I deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. I pay taxes and I demand Congress not reward companies like the one that outsourced my job with billions of dollars in tax breaks.

Let me say this one more time—this tax bill is a JOB KILLER. Someone said it is CUT CUT CUT.  What it cuts is jobs.

We deserve better.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 11/03/2017 - 13:09

The Economy Gains 261,000 Jobs in October, and Unemployment Was Little Changed at 4.1%

The U.S. economy gained 261,000 jobs in October, and unemployment was little changed at 4.1%, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This continues the recovery of the labor market at a tempered rate, which means the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee should continue to let the economy grow and not raise interest rates.

In response to the October jobs numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:

#jobsreport wages fell, September to October, over the year only rose 2.4%, with 3.0% boost in productivity no reason for Fed to raise rate

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 3, 2017

 

#jobsreport a big part of the October increase was the 89,000 job bounce-back for food establishments closed by Harvey and Irma @AFLCIO

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 3, 2017

 

#jobsreport on the good news side, part-time wanting full-time, long term unemployed numbers fall, job quitters up @AFLCIO

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 3, 2017

 

#jobsreport Over the year, unemployment rates fall for all major occupation groups, especially construction and production workers @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/sIk6PbHBIN

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 3, 2017

 

#jobsreport labor force participation rates continues downward trend--no surprise that supply won't increase without wages @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/yruVxmWnBj

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 3, 2017

 

#jobsreport broadest measure of unemployment (including involuntary part-time, discouraged workers) falls to level near pre-2008 @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/VX3ZWhbiWP

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 3, 2017

#jobsreport uncertainty from attacks on Medicaid, payrolls at nursing care facility down 12.2K from last year, but edges up in Oct. @AFLCIO

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 3, 2017

 

Why 45's tax plan is bad: @AFSCME state and local employment edge up only 4,000, but with drops in state education and local non-education,

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 3, 2017

 

Why 45's tax plan is wrong: corporations with record profits and massive cash balances have not used them to raise pay so far @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/vnQFHT6aK0

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 3, 2017

Last month's biggest job gains were in food services and drinking places (89,000), professional and business services (50,000), manufacturing (24,000) and health care (22,000). Employment in other major industries, including mining, construction, wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities and government, changed little in October.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult women (3.6%) and whites (3.5%) declined in October. The jobless rates for teenagers (13.7%), blacks (7.5%), Hispanics (4.8%), adult men (3.8%) and Asians (3.1%) showed little change.

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was little changed in October, and accounted for 24.8% of the unemployed.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 11/03/2017 - 12:30

A Watershed Moment for Working People

On Wednesday, congressional Democrats released the labor portion of their "Better Deal" initiative. In response to the plan, AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka said:

This morning, I had the privilege of standing with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as they rolled out their plans to strengthen the freedom to join together in a union. We were joined by other labor leaders, including the presidents of AFSCME, AFT, CWA, UFCW and NEA, and by other leaders in the House and Senate who have championed workers’ rights.

This is the first time in recent memory that Democratic elected officials as a caucus have made strengthening workers’ freedom to join together and negotiate with their employers a centerpiece of their policy platform. These leaders forcefully made the case that for our economy to work and for communities to prosper, we need a strong and vibrant labor movement, and that it is in the country’s interest to strengthen workers’ freedom to join together and negotiate better wages, benefits, safety and retirement security.

This action follows on the decision by delegates to the 2017 AFL-CIO Convention to vote unanimously last week to press for a Workers' Bill of Rights, including rewriting the rules to make it more possible for workers to join together and form unions.

As working people face relentless attacks by corporate special interests trying to weaken workers’ bargaining power and rights, it is critically important for the labor movement and its allies to have a positive vision and agenda to rally around, fight for, and hold elected officials accountable to. Today’s announcement of A Better Deal is a great example of this sort of action.

Read Trumka's remarks from the release event.

In introducing the plan, AFSCME President Lee Saunders said:

Unions are more important than ever to a thriving middle class, to shared prosperity, to an economy that works for everyone, not just a few. I'm proud, I'm pleased to be working with Senate Democrats toward those goals.

AFT President Randi Weingarten said:

This is a 'which side are you on' moment. You think about what Leader Pelosi said before. Look at what some people, the GOP leadership in the Congress, are doing this week, they are trying to get tax giveaways to the rich who have already rigged the economy against working people all throughout the economy. And here we stand very proudly with the Democratic leadership, who's actually saying we care about the individuals.

NEA President Lily Eskelsen García said:

I am so proud this morning to be up here speaking about the rights of working people—to organize for educators and for the parents of the students that we serve. Unions have always provided that pathway to the middle class, and we're needed more than ever now that we are deep into an era where the economy is more and more rigged in favor of the wealthy and the powerful. We know as unions succeed, families and communities succeed.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) said:

We all worry about the decline of the middle class. And the Number One reason for the decline of the middle class is the assault on unions and on labor that's occurred over the last 30 years. Labor unions created the middle class. Before the labor unions, there were a few rich people and a lot of poor people, but not that big a middle class. And the whole big beautiful middle class that America prides itself on was done by the sweat of the predecessors of these folks who organized people and fought—it didn't come easy—for better wages and better benefits and better retirement.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) said:

And I am literally here as the granddaughter of an iron ore miner and the daughter of a teacher and a newspaper worker, and the first woman elected to the Senate from my state. That wouldnt've have happened except for unions. So I really view these union members, in my life, as my role models and my example. And I think that's what we should expect from the federal government and from our president.

Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.) said:

Employers who threaten or retaliate against workers who want to exercise their right to form a union or join a union should be held accountable.

Rep. Bobby Scott (Va.) said:

I stand with my colleagues from the House and the Senate in support of a better deal for working people that includes restoring the freedom of workers to negotiate for their fair share.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) said:

The productivity gains of the American worker have not gone to the American worker. Instead they've gone to the privileged few, to the wealthy and to the well-off, to millionaires and billionaires, to special interest corporations. It should always be the case if you work hard and play by the rules, you can provide a comfortable living for your family. But for far too many Americans, that basic contract has been broken.

Key parts of the plan include:

• A "federal law that provides public workers with the same rights and freedom to engage in collective bargaining as their private-sector counterparts," designed to prevent the piecemeal erosion of collective bargaining rights that have taken off in Republican-run states since 2011.
• A ban on state "right to work" laws altogether, as "they have been found to reduce union membership by up to 10% and have resulted in lower wages and decreased access to employer-provided health care and pensions."
• Making it easier to strike with a "ban [on] the permanent replacement of striking workers."
• Providing remedies to workers (regardless of their immigration status) for violations, and providing strong penalties against CEOs and companies that interfere with workers' freedom to join together and negotiate.
• Expanded coverage so more workers have the freedom to join together.

Watch the full press conference releasing the plan:

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 11/03/2017 - 10:50

The Top Reasons Why the Republican Tax Bill is Bad for Working People Gage Skidmore

Working people have forced the House GOP to stall the release of a bad and unpopular plan to slash taxes for the rich by cutting services and tax breaks for working families. America’s labor movement will fight every attempt by Donald Trump to give preference to millionaires and billionaires and hand working people the tab. Here are the top ways the Republican tax bill will hurt working people:

1. This bill is a job killer. The GOP tax bill would give companies a huge tax break for outsourcing. U.S. taxes on offshore profits would be eliminated, giving big corporations even more incentive to move jobs offshore.

2. Republicans are proposing to (partially) pay for tax cuts with drastic cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and education. The GOP budget includes $5 trillion in budget cuts, including $1.5 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, an increase in the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67, and an end to Medicare’s guarantee of health coverage.

3. But the GOP tax bill still won't be paid for, so we can expect Republicans to demand more budget cuts that hurt working people in the future. The Republican budget allows for $1.5 trillion in tax cuts that are not paid for in the first decade, and these tax cuts are structured to cost even more in future decades. First the Wall Street millionaires throw themselves a party, then they stick the rest of us with the tab.

4. The GOP tax bill would increase taxes on many middle-class families, and most of its tax breaks would go to the top 1%. According to independent analysis of the previous version of the GOP tax plan, 30% of households making between $50,000 and $150,000 would pay more in taxes, while the richest 1% would walk away with 80% of the tax breaks. Republicans have made some adjustments to their tax bill, but it still is heavily weighted toward the top.

5. The GOP tax bill would punish states that make the kind of investments that create good jobs. Republicans are proposing to repeal the deduction for state and local income taxes, making it harder for states to raise enough money to invest in high-quality education, infrastructure and good jobs, and would lower property values.

6. The GOP tax bill would encourage high-income employees to avoid taxes by setting up pass-through businesses, robbing billions of dollars from Social Security and Medicare. Employees in the top tax bracket could reduce their tax rate to 25% by setting up pass-through businesses, meaning they no longer would pay Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes.

7. The GOP tax bill would tax long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities. Eliminating the tax deduction for medical expenses would force many middle-class Americans who are chronically ill to pay thousands more in taxes each year and spend down their resources to qualify for Medicaid, and would prevent millions of Americans from deducting out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses from their taxes.

8. The GOP tax bill would kill construction jobs. Limiting the mortgage interest deduction at $500,000 would discourage construction of new houses.

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 11/02/2017 - 15:09

The Purpose for Which I Rise: What I Saw at the 2017 AFL-CIO Convention AFL-CIO

Michael Gillis is a field communication specialist for the AFL-CIO. This is his recap of the AFL-CIO 2017 Convention in St. Louis last week.

I saw an election that renewed a leadership team that inspired me in profound ways. I saw a man whose confidence and calm drive I can emulate in my endeavors. I saw a woman whose competence and resolve emboldens me to pursue justice for myself and the least of my brothers and sisters. I saw another man whose back story makes me embarrassed to have ever filed a complaint about my own privileged life. I have been reintroduced to leadership that I can follow into the battles ahead.

I met a newspaper reporter who proudly announced to me that she was a member of two labor unions—one for her job reporting the news and another for her role as an adjunct professor at a local university. Her reporting was impeccable, and her pride as a union member reminded me why we fight.

I saw a labor leader denounce his own white privilege to make the case that the labor movement needed to do more to defend people of color. I saw another selflessly face down authority to stand up for a crowd of people demonstrating against clear injustices. I saw hundreds of people following her lead.

I saw a look in the eye of a veteran that told me that he’s made sacrifices that I cannot begin to fathom. I saw businessmen and women tell their story of their vision and achievement, all done through a foundational belief in the American worker.

I saw a woman whose professionalism and commitment to public health drove her to stand up for children whose lives are threatened by reckless and greed-driven policy making. I heard her announce her allegiance to the labor movement and explain how that gave her the courage to do what she did.

I saw a man rise to credit the labor movement for giving him the courage to come out as a gay man late in life. I saw a colleague power through a disease that has ravaged her body to add her voice toward our purpose. And I saw another literally sing the blues.

I saw countless people rise to share the stories from their own experiences. I saw them cry. I saw them laugh. I saw them resolve to make the world a better place.

All of this took place in St. Louis, the Gateway to the West. The labor movement is passing through a moment in time when threats and opportunity are abundant. And we are passing through an arch that bends toward social and economic justice.

For what purpose do I rise? I rise because I know I stand on the shoulders of many who went before me. I rise because I walk in the midst of contemporary heroes. I rise because I need to join the fight. And I need to win.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/30/2017 - 11:29

Tags: 2017 Convention

Trumka, Shuler and Gebre Re-Elected; Four New Members Join AFL-CIO Executive Council

At the AFL-CIO 2017 Convention last week, federation officers—President Richard Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler and Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre—and the Executive Council—made up of 55 vice presidents—were elected, with four new members joining the council.

Four new members joined the AFL-CIO Executive Council. Click on the links to learn more about the new members.

George E. McCubbin, AFGE District 12: “I’m honored to be joining the AFL-CIO Executive Council and look forward to working with my fellow union leaders to organize more workers and better engage with all union families.”

Vonda McDaniel, Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee: “Vonda McDaniel serves as president of the Nashville Central Labor Council. A native Nashvillian, she grew up in the First Baptist Church at Capitol Hill where her family remains active members. The church was an early center of organizing during the civil rights movement, and the legacy and memory of that movement helped shape her belief from early on that ordinary people can make extraordinary change. Vonda has been a member of the United Steelworkers Local 1055 since 1992. For 10 years, she served the members of that local by administering member benefits and helping members navigate benefits and services.”

Gwen Mills, UNITE HERE: “Gwen Mills was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, and earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and public policy at Cornell University. She joined UNITE HERE in 2000 and organized a broad-based community and political alliance for Yale University strikes, contract campaigns and organizing drives. In 2008, she led members from locals across the country to southern Virginia in an innovative registration, engagement and turnout program focused on African American voters. As the Connecticut political director until 2015, Gwen’s team focused on electing rank-and-file members to municipal office, resulting in the election of New Haven’s first female African American mayor, first female African American City Council president (a union member) and first Democratic governor in 20 years. Gwen served as the political director of UNITE HERE from 2015-2017 and was elected secretary-treasurer in 2017.”

Charlie Wowkanech, New Jersey State AFL-CIO: “I am humbled and honored to immediately begin serving as a national AFL-CIO vice president, and I look forward to the opportunity to build a national labor movement that is stronger and more durable than ever before. I fulfill this role not only with pride and the greatest sense of responsibility to working families across this nation, but also with a deep gratitude for the union members of New Jersey, whose work and solidarity has made this possible.”

The full list of Executive Council members elected at the AFL-CIO 2017 Convention:

• Stuart Appelbaum, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union/UFCW
• James Boland, Bricklayers
• James Callahan, Operating Engineers
• Capt. Timothy Canoll, Air Line Pilots Association
• Gabrielle Carteris, SAG-AFTRA
• J. David Cox, AFGE
• Harold Daggett, Longshoremen
• Eric Dean, Ironworkers
• RoseAnn DeMoro, National Nurses United
• Bhairavi Desai, National Taxi Workers Alliance
• Mark Dimondstein, American Postal Workers Union
• David Durkee, Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers
• Cindy Estrada, UAW
• Leo W. Gerard, United Steelworkers
• Lawrence J. Hanley, Amalgamated Transit Union
• Lorretta Johnson, AFT
• Newton B. Jones, Boilermakers
• Gregory J. Junemann, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers
• D. Michael Langford, Utility Workers
• Richard Lanigan, Office and Professional Employees
• Matthew Loeb, Theatrical Stage Employees
• Robert Martinez, Machinists
• Elissa McBride, AFSCME
• George E. McCubbin, AFGE District 12
• Vonda McDaniel, Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
• Sean McGarvey, North America's Building Trades Unions
• Mark McManus, Plumbers and Pipe Fitters
• Gwen Mills, UNITE HERE
• Sara Nelson, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
• Terry O'Sullivan, Laborers
• Lori Pelletier, Connecticut AFL-CIO
• Marc Perrone, United Food and Commercial Workers
• Jorge Ramirez, Chicago Federation of Labor
• Fred Redmond, United Steelworkers
• Kenneth Rigmaiden, Painters and Allied Trades
• Paul Rinaldi, National Air Traffic Controllers Association
• Clyde Rivers, California School Employees Association
• Cecil Roberts, Mine Workers
• Fredric V. Rolando, National Association of Letter Carriers
• Michael Sacco, Seafarers
• John Samuelsen, Transport Workers
• Lee A. Saunders, AFSCME
• Robert A. Scardelletti, TCU/IAM
• Harold Schaitberger, Fire Fighters
• Joseph Sellers Jr., International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers
• Christopher Shelton, Communications Workers of America
• Bruce R. Smith, Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers
• DeMaurice Smith, NFL Players Association
• Lonnie R. Stephenson, Electrical Workers
• D. Taylor, UNITE HERE
• Baldemar Velasquez, Farm Labor Organizing Committee
• Randi Weingarten, AFT
• Dennis D. Williams, UAW
• Diann Woodard, School Administrators
• Charlie Wowkanech, New Jersey State AFL-CIO

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/30/2017 - 10:14

Tags: 2017 Convention

Professionals Win Together Kaveh Sardari, AFL-CIO

Professionals Win Together: AFL-CIO Resolution Recognizes DPE’s 40 Years of Helping Professionals Join Together and Win originally appeared on Medium. 

On Wednesday morning, under the blue glow of the lights in St. Louis’ America’s Center, the leaders and members of America’s unions voted to recognize the dramatic growth of professionals in unions and professionals’ role in the future of the labor movement.

The delegates to the AFL-CIO Convention adopted Resolution 36, Celebrating DPE: 40 Years of Growing Professional Union Membership. The resolution recognized the 40th anniversary of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) — the AFL-CIO trade department composed of 23 unions representing employees in professional and technical occupations — and its success increasing professional union membership.

The introduction of the resolution reads:

“Over the course of the last 40 years, DPE and its affiliates have helped grow union membership by organizing professionals — now 42 percent of the labor movement.”

In the last 40 years, there’s been over a 20 point jump in the number of professional union members. When the trade department was being established professionals were less than 18 percent of union members, today professionals are 42 percent of the labor movement.

“When DPE was being created many were skeptical about whether professionals would be drawn to unions, but the skeptics were wrong,” said DPE President Paul E. Almeida.

Organizing victories that have helped fuel the growth of professional union membership within DPE affiliate unions and the entire labor movement have happened with DPE support. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), a union of professionals working in education, healthcare, and public service, has seen its membership grow from 450,000 to 1.7 million in the last 40 years. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) representing employees in the federal and Washington, D.C. government has seen a surge in professionals joining their union as well.

“Professionals should be part of nearly every union’s organizing strategy because I guarantee you they are interested in union membership and they already make up a growing share of union membership,” said AFGE President J. David Cox.

It doesn’t seem like professionals will stop joining unions any time soon, in fact, the number of professionals joining unions could soon increase. A DPE commissioned survey conducted last fall by Hart Research Associates found that a majority (56%) of non-union professionals would support joining a union at their current job. This combined with recent organizing successes among digital journalists, graduate employees, doctors, and non-profit employees reveals that professionals will likely be the face of the labor movement of the future.

“The results of the DPE survey of non-union professionals conducted last fall reinforce what my union has been seeing in its organizing campaigns: professionals very much want to join unions,” said Cox.

As the coalition of unions that organize and represent professionals, DPE supports its affiliate unions in their efforts to organize and negotiate collectively. DPE has been able to identify and understand what professionals want from unions through its survey of non-union professionals and program series on the future of the professional workforce. Through practical, action-oriented resources, DPE is able to disseminate this information and help affiliates implement its findings about professionals. A few examples of these resources include DPE’s organizing guides Growing Your Union: Engaging Professionals Through New Hire Orientation and Extend the Invitation: A 10 Step Approach to Internal Organizing.

“In DPE’s 40 year history, it has proven tremendous assistance to affiliates in providing research on what works in organizing professionals and helping us all share our best practices and work together,” said Cox.

“Working with all of its affiliates, federal government employees, teachers, building trades, performing arts, engineers, you name it, they can pull people together into conversation and get leaders to understand one another’s issues and how those issues are relevant to everything that they’re doing,” said International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) President Greg Junemann of DPE’s work.

 

A core DPE principle is that by working together we can build a strong, dynamic labor movement. To make this a reality, DPE provides ways for affiliate unions to collaborate and share experiences. By facilitating collaboration, DPE has helped affiliates share expertise, technology, ideas, and resources, which has resulted in better contract wins and more organized professionals. DPE also guides coordination on public policy and advocacy issues of mutual concern.

“DPE’s advocacy on issues like arts funding, copyright, visa reform, and international trade has moved us forward in ways we never could have achieved alone,” said Executive Vice President of SAG-AFTRA Rebecca Damon. “SAG-AFTRA is stronger today because DPE provides a collaborative space for us to work with and learn from a diverse array of professionals, including teachers, lawyers, doctors, utility professionals, stage directors, engineers, sales professionals, and many others.”

Professional and technical jobs are the careers and organizing opportunities of the future. As employment in other sectors has declined or stagnated, employment in professional and technical occupations continues to grow. Over 80 percent of the new jobs created in the last 15 years were in professional and technical occupations, and in the last 45 years professionals have grown from a quarter of the workforce to 38 percent.

The resolution’s closing statement could not be more true:

“While professionals were not the face of the labor movement of the past, it is clear that the future is professional.” Jackie Tortora Fri, 10/27/2017 - 08:02

Tags: 2017 Convention

Highlights from Day Four of the AFL-CIO 2017 Convention Kaveh Sardari, AFL-CIO

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka opened the fourth day of the AFL-CIO 2017 Convention talking about the Workers' Bill of Rights:

Sisters and brothers, working people need a bill of rights.

A collective bargaining agreement for America. 

This will serve as a platform for our members to rally around. It will give prospective members a clear statement of our values. And it will provide political candidates and elected officials with a litmus test for our support. 

We simply refuse to accept the reality of struggling to make ends meet in the richest country in the world at its richest point in history. And so we demand rights that ensure we are able, through our work, to lead better lives.

Read more about the Workers' Bill of Rights and other resolutions adopted at today's convention:

• Resolution 1: Workers' Bill of Rights: "AFL-CIO calls for the creation of a Workers' Bill of Rights."
• Resolution 9: Rewriting the Rules: Making the Freedom to Join Together and Negotiate a Reality for All Workers: "AFL-CIO will undertake the process of fundamentally reforming America's labor laws in order to make the freedom to join together and negotiate a reality for all workers."
• Resolution 19: Diverse and Inclusive Leadership for a Thriving Labor Movement: "The AFL-CIO must recommit itself to diversity and inclusion at all levels and in all parts of our movement. It’s clear that resolve is not enough; we need accountability and action."
• Resolution 20: Full Employment and a $15 Minimum Wage: "The AFL-CIO supports a $15 minimum wage and full employment."
• Resolution 23: Safe Jobs-Every Worker's Right: "The right to a safe job is a fundamental worker right and a core union value. Every worker should be able to go to work and return home safely at the end of the day."
• Resolution 26: The Solidarity Center-Twenty Years of Standing Up For Workers Around the World: "In honor of its 20th anniversary, we recognize the achievements and role of the Solidarity Center in the fight for global justice, and call on convention delegates and unions to become a sponsor of the next 20 years of Solidarity Center programs, participate in Solidarity Center exchange programs and contribute expertise to its programs, and  join solidarity campaigns led by the Solidarity Center to protect trade union rights around the world."
• Resolution 27: Resolution Celebrating Ullico Inc.'s 90th Anniversary: "The AFL-CIO recognizes the critical role Ullico has played as a financial services provider to the American labor movement and working men and women; and congratulates the Ullico Family of Companies on 90 years of service to working people and the labor movement, and looks forward to working with the Ullico Family of Companies in the years to come."
• Resolution 36: Celebrating DPE: 40 Years of Growing Professional Union Membership: "Professional and technical members are part of almost every union. Regardless of their concentration of professional members, all DPE affiliate unions recognize that professionals need to see themselves in their union and in the labor movement."
• Resolution 38: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Museum and Memorial: "The AFL-CIO endorses and supports the efforts of the NLEOMF to honor the law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty by permanently etching their names on the memorial and the museum’s effort to build mutual respect and foster cooperation between the public and the law enforcement profession."
• Resolution 50: War Is Not the Answer: "The AFL-CIO promotes and advocates for a foreign policy based on international solidarity of all workers, mutual respect of all nations and national sovereignty, and calls upon the president and Congress to make war truly the last resort in our country’s foreign relations, and that we seek peace and reconciliation wherever possible, calls upon the president and Congress to bring the war dollars home and make our priority as a nation rebuilding this country’s crumbling infrastructure and will advocate for the necessary federal funding to meet the needs of veterans by providing them comprehensive services for health care, housing, education and employment, and to establish outreach to at-risk veterans who may not be availing themselves of existing programs."

See all the resolutions that were adopted at the convention.

More about today's convention:

International Convention Guests Visit Granite City and Learn How Bad Trade Policies Affect Illinois Steelworkers: "More than 60 international labor guests attending the AFL-CIO convention in St Louis crossed the river to Granite City, Illinois, to visit the United Steelworkers Locals at the US Steel plant that has operated there for decades."

A Workers' Bill of Rights Passed at the AFL-CIO 2017 Convention: "At the 2017 AFL-CIO Convention, the delegates passed a resolution calling for the creation of a Workers' Bill of Rights. Speaking in support of the resolution, President Richard L. Trumka said...."

Imprisoned KCTU President Han Honored with Human Rights Award, Global Labor Movement Calls for His Release: "At the AFL-CIO convention in St. Louis, President Richard Trumka honored the imprisoned president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), Han Sang-gyun, with the George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award. Han has been in jail since December 2015, serving a three-year sentence for defending trade union rights and fighting back against corporate corruption and the repressive government of former President Park Geun-hye."

Professionals Win Together: "This morning, under the blue glow of the lights in St. Louis’ America’s Center the leaders and members of America’s unions voted to recognize the dramatic growth of professionals in unions and professionals’ role in the future of the labor movement."

Check out the videos that were played during today's plenary session:

Watch a playlist of all the videos from plenary sessions:

Check out the highlights from day one, day two, and day three of the convention.

Watch video highlights of the convention:

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/25/2017 - 15:45

Tags: 2017 Convention

International Convention Guests Visit Granite City and Learn How Bad Trade Policies Affect Illinois Steelworkers Brian FinneganMore than 60 international labor guests attending the AFL-CIO convention in St Louis crossed the river to Granite City, Illinois, to visit the United Steelworkers Locals at the US Steel plant that has operated there for decades.

More than 60 international labor guests attending the AFL-CIO convention in St. Louis, Mo.,
crossed the river to Granite City, Ill., to visit the United Steelworkers Locals at the U.S.
Steel plant that has operated there for decades.

Granite City and its Labor Temple that serves as the union hall for United Steelworkers (USW) Locals 1899, 50 and 68, have an illustrious place in U.S. labor history and progressive politics. These days, however, the community is feeling the impact of short-sighted trade policies that lead to fewer good jobs and local resources.

The week before Christmas in 2015, the plant was idled and laid off more than 2,000 people because of years of these bad trade laws and weak enforcement. This has allowed unfair competition that distorts markets and prices of steel. As the economy recovers from the 2008 financial crisis, demand for U.S.-made steel lags behind. Even with heavy investment in state-of-the-art production, U.S. plants can't compete with companies that have financial backing from governments like that of China.

There are now about 600 workers at the plant, but as one worker said to the visitors, "We're not making any steel here. We're finishing the steel made somewhere else."

The international labor leaders told similar stories of job losses due to dumped steel in Jordan, Egypt, and the Ukraine. As USW President Leo Gerard made clear, “the fight is not worker against worker, it is workers united around the world to fight against rigged rules that reward corporate greed.”

While he was a candidate and now as president, Donald Trump has claimed he would take action to defend U.S. production and workers from such unfair trade. But the administration has taken no action to enforce rules that would put the Granite City plant back online and workers back in the plant.

"We won't stop pushing this government to fix the trade laws and take action to stop illegal dumping of foreign steel until this plant and many others like it are up and running again," Gerard told the international visitors.

See more action from the AFL-CIO convention.

 

Jackie Tortora Wed, 10/25/2017 - 12:53

Tags: 2017 Convention

Imprisoned KCTU President Han Honored with Human Rights Award, Global Labor Movement Calls for His Release AFL-CIO

At the AFL-CIO Convention in St. Louis, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka honored the imprisoned president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), Han Sang-gyun, with the George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award. Han has been in jail since December 2015, serving a three-year sentence for defending trade union rights and fighting back against corporate corruption and the repressive government of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

Each year since 1980, the AFL-CIO has recognized outstanding examples of the international struggle for human rights through trade unions. Han is honored for his perseverance in the face of anti-democratic repression and leadership in a transformational period in Korean history.

Accepting on Han’s behalf, KCTU Vice President Kim Wook-dong said, "Our movement has been at the forefront of calling for democratic change in our country and challenging the corruption of CEOs and our former president."

Han has spent his life fighting for the rights of workers. During South Korea’s years of military rule in the 1980s, Han helped organize a union in his auto manufacturing plant. He went on to lead that union in an occupation of the auto plant with 1,700 other workers, demanding an end to layoff and severance concessions.

Kim continued: "Together, we need to continue the struggle. We look forward to deepening our solidarity and strategic partnership with the AFL-CIO and all its affiliates."

In honoring the powerful work of Han, the KCTU, Dennis Williams, president of the UAW, reminded the audience that: "Repression of workers and unions has no place in a democracy."

Under Han’s leadership, workers mobilized against anti-worker labor legislation and government corruption in a series of massive peaceful demonstrations. The movement forced the ouster of Park Geun-hye, former president of South Korea, and led to corruption charges for her and the heads of a number of powerful Korean conglomerates, but not before authorities arrested Han and other activists after riot police disrupted a march.

South Koreans voted in a new, more pro-labor administration under South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The labor movement is keeping the pressure up on the Moon administration to release Han and other labor activists, end regressive labor laws and hold Korea’s major corporations accountable.

Guy Ryder, director-general of the International Labor Organization, emphasized the importance of labor rights everywhere--not just in Korea--calling out the U.S. government for its failure to ratify conventions guaranteeing workers the freedom to join together in unions and negotiate with their employers.

From the United States, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, to Brazil and Egypt, and everywhere workers are under attack, Korean workers have shown that collective action can create real, far-reaching change.

In recognizing the magnitude of the work of Han and the KCTU, Trumka wondered how many in the audience would be brave and committed enough to go to jail so their brothers and sisters could have a chance for a better life. He also noted a point of hope. "The last time we gave the Meany-Kirkland award to someone who couldn’t come due to repression [Napoleon Gomez of Mexico’s Los Mineros], we won the fight. We are hopeful Han will soon be free as well."

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/25/2017 - 11:48

Tags: 2017 Convention

A Workers' Bill of Rights Passed at the AFL-CIO 2017 Convention AFL-CIO

At the 2017 AFL-CIO Convention, the delegates passed a resolution calling for the creation of a Workers' Bill of Rights. Speaking in support of the resolution, President Richard L. Trumka said:

Sisters and brothers, working people need a bill of rights.

A collective bargaining agreement for America.

This will serve as a platform for our members to rally around. It will give prospective members a clear statement of our values. And it will provide political candidates and elected officials with a litmus test for our support.

We simply refuse to accept the reality of struggling to make ends meet in the richest country in the world at its richest point in history. And so we demand rights that ensure we are able, through our work, to lead better lives.

Here's what working people said should be in a Workers' Bill of Rights:

Here are the key components of the Workers' Bill of Rights:

• A Good Job with Fair Wages: Everyone who wants to work has the right to a good job where we earn a fair return on our work and receive a wage that allows us to support ourselves and our families.
• Quality Health Care: Regardless of income, job or a pre-existing condition.
• A Safe Job: Free from harassment and violence.
• Paid Time Off and Flexible Scheduling
• Freedom from Discrimination: In hiring, firing and promotions.
• Retire with Dignity: And financial security.
• Education: Public K-12, higher education and career training that advances our knowledge and skills without leaving us in debt.
• Freedom to Join Together: To negotiate with our co-workers for better wages and working conditions, whether we are in a union or not.
• A Voice in Democracy: To freely exercise our democratic voice through voting and civic participation so that we can make sure our government stands up for this Workers’ Bill of Rights.

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/25/2017 - 10:57

Tags: 2017 Convention

Highlights from Day Three of the AFL-CIO 2017 Convention AFL-CIO

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka opened the third day of the AFL-CIO 2017 Convention talking about economic rules and an independent political voice:

Policy is what shapes the economy, and too many of those policies have produced a windfall for the rich and the well-connected and doomed millions to compete for the scraps left over. 

Brothers and sisters, this must end. 

Our movement is the great equalizer in an otherwise cruel economy.

We will find hope and opportunity for millions of working people, not inside the major political parties, but inside our movement and our communities.

I don't care if you're a Democrat, a Republican, or anything in between...if you do right by us, we will do right by you. 

Our support must be based on issues--not personalities and certainly not party registration. 

Liz Shuler spoke on the future of work:

Shortly we will present to the Convention a resolution for the AFL-CIO to form the Commission on the Future of Work and Unions so that this important work can begin with deep sectoral analysis and a plan of attack. 

Together we will embrace the urgency of this moment and ready the labor movement.

We will lift up the powerful principle...that new, different and innovative sectors of our economy and more middle class jobs...are fueled by real bargaining power and strong unions. 

In this challenging time, we have an opportunity to come together to shape the future of work as an unmistakable force for broadly shared prosperity!

This conversation about the future of work is happening literally all over the world including the International Labor Organization and the World Economic Forum.  

Our global partners are having the same debate and are asking the same questions. We know the decline in union density around the world is linked to growing inequality and impacts how much bargaining power we will have in the future world of work.  

We have to work together more closely than ever to ensure race and gender pay gaps in so many countries are closed; that we protect migrant workers and grow sustainable jobs in a greener economy. 

During the convention, the delegates approved the following resolutions:

• Resolution 2: An Independent Political Voice: "We must give working people greater political power by speaking with an unquestionably independent political voice, backed by a unified labor movement."
• Resolution 5: Commission on the Future of Work and Unions: "In planning for the future of work, we must rethink ways of building bargaining power and providing economic security for millions of Americans, and we must make sure that we as a movement are effectively organized and structured to get it done."
• Resolution 6: Making Health Care For All A Reality: "We should move forward toward making health care a basic right for everyone."
• Resolution 8: Working People Will Lead the Fight for A Global New Deal On Trade: "We must engage in comprehensive economic education with union members and the communities where working people live so that everyone understands the future of our great country is at stake. We must replace existing trade and investment deals with deals that prioritize economic justice and sustainable growth."
• Resolution 11: Solidarity and Democracy-Reaffirming the Labor Movement's Mission in the Face of the Threat of Hate: "We must stand up against hate and scapegoating wherever it appears in our nation. We seek a nation where we value each other and a labor movement that defends the dignity of all people."
• Resolution 12: Immigration and Citizenship: "The AFL-CIO rededicates itself to a concerted citizenship drive: Encouraging naturalization for the 9 million people who currently are eligible will provide concrete worker protections, expand and diversify the electorate, and help us build power to win the sweeping changes that working people expect and deserve. "
• Resolution 14: Voting Rights: Building An Inclusive Pro-Voter Democracy to Move A Winning Agenda for Working People: ""
• Resolution 17: Building Power for Working People In the Global Economy: "To meet the challenges of a globalized workplace, we must increase our commitment to working with the global labor movement to strengthen organizing capacity at the community, national and global levels, to develop effective, strategic campaigns that increase membership and bargaining power."
• Resolution 18: Tax and Budget Policies Should Put Working People First: "Working people and our unions will mobilize to advance a comprehensive public campaign on the ground, online and over the air to put working people first in the debate over taxes and the budget."
• Resolution 21: Holding Wall Street Accountable: "We have to fight back against Wall Street to protect our livelihoods and our democracy."
• Resolution 22: Immigration Enforcement: Building Community Trust: "The AFL-CIO shall continue to demand clear separation of immigration enforcement from local law enforcement and other functions of government because we want safe workplaces, campuses and communities. We call on our elected officials at all levels of government to reject the criminalization of immigrants and engage in policies that protect privacy and due process, and restore trust in our vital public institutions."
• Resolution 40: Rejecting the Privatization of Veterans' Health Care: "The AFL-CIO opposes the privatization of the Veterans Administration and joins AFGE in its effort to fight the privatization of the VA."
• Resolution 41: Federal and D.C. Government Workers Deserve Fair Treatment: "The AFL-CIO opposes the further enactment of laws to prevent workers’ livelihoods from being taken from them without just cause, and join AFGE in working to restore the principles of fair treatment and just cause for Veterans Administration employees."
• Resolution 42: Supporting an Apolitical, Professional, Merit-Based Civil Service: "The AFL-CIO opposes any attempt to undermine the apolitical, professional, merit-based civil service and supports fair pay, benefits and working conditions for civil servants provided by an enduring, objective civil service system."
• Resolution 46: Support Postal Financial Services and Postal Banking: "The AFL-CIO endorses and supports the “Campaign for Postal Banking,” including the ongoing efforts to compel the Postal Service to provide basic financial services such as paycheck cashing and electronic funds transfer, as a step toward establishing nonprofit, public postal banking."
• Resolution 47: Condemn Rising Fascism, Fight For Working-Class Unity: "The AFL-CIO condemns and actively opposes the hate mongering, intimidation and divisiveness of the fascist/neo-Nazi white supremacist groups and the political encouragement that they are receiving from the highest levels of government and we salute and support those counter-protesters, such as the 40,000 that took to the streets of Boston for equality and against the hate mongers, who are drawing a line in the sand."
• Resolution 48: Exploring New Directions for Labor in Electoral Politics: "In addition to the traditional supporting for electoral candidates who are friends and allies of workers, the AFL-CIO also pursues a strategy of advancing our core issues through referenda and ballot initiatives and propositions at the statewide and local level; studies the viability of independent and third-party politics; and explores other reasonable means of advancing the interests of labor in electoral politics."
• Resolution 55: Climate Change, Energy and Union Jobs: "The AFL-CIO will fight politically and legislatively to secure and maintain employment, pensions and health care for workers affected by changes in the energy market and the AFL-CIO believes that the United States Congress should enact comprehensive energy and climate legislation that creates good jobs and addresses the threat of climate change."

More about today's convention:

The Future of Work Needs Strong Unions: "We hear a great deal about the future of work. Gig economy. Deprofessionalization. Temp, part-time and on-call work. Technology. Automation. Artificial intelligence. Digitization. Deindustrialization. Unfair trade policy and offshoring. While these changes and trends take hold, we are living in an era where the rich and powerful have rigged our economy against working families through well-financed campaigns to weaken workers’ bargaining power, pass perverse 'right-to-work laws' and use the courts as a pawn to hollow out the labor movement. If the question is how we push back these ominous trends, the answer is through strong unions."

Check out the videos that were played during today's plenary session:

Some Tweets from today's sessions:

This is what international labor solidarity looks like. #aflcio17 pic.twitter.com/DUx506UCyQ

— Cathy Feingold (@AFLCIOGlobal) October 24, 2017

EVP @Tefere_Gebre "This is a country for all of us... we leave no worker behind" #1uWeRise #AFLCIO17 pic.twitter.com/Fpx2A28gK3

— NextUp (@AFLCIONextUp) October 24, 2017

EVP @Tefere_Gebre with new American Citizens and members of unions who are proud of their new country. #AFLCIO17 pic.twitter.com/syLMz4Wm79

— AFL-CIO Latino (@AFLCIOLatino) October 24, 2017

.@Tefere_Gebre we will fight for a path to citizenship. It is in the union DNA #AFLCIO17 pic.twitter.com/xtd6I4CNjm

— Cathy Feingold (@AFLCIOGlobal) October 24, 2017

The need for international solidarity is as great as it’s ever been. We must fight for social justice everywhere. #aflcio17 @RichardTrumka

— Cathy Feingold (@AFLCIOGlobal) October 21, 2017

Check out the highlights from day one and day two of the convention.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/24/2017 - 18:23

Tags: 2017 Convention

The Future of Work Needs Strong Unions AFL-CIO

We hear a great deal about the future of work. Gig economy. Deprofessionalization. Temp, part-time and on-call work. Technology. Automation. Artificial intelligence. Digitization. Deindustrialization. Unfair trade policy and offshoring. While these changes and trends take hold, we are living in an era where the rich and powerful have rigged our economy against working families through well-financed campaigns to weaken workers’ bargaining power, pass perverse “right-to-work laws” and use the courts as a pawn to hollow out the labor movement. If the question is how we push back these ominous trends, the answer is through strong unions.

But first, we have some work to do. We must look inward at our structures, our strategies, our services and our communications with working people. We must understand the most profound changes emerging in American workplaces. We must confront these seismic shifts and turn them into power and opportunity for working people. That is the message being delivered today on the floor of the national AFL-CIO convention in St. Louis where delegates are charting an aggressive course through the creation of the Commission on the Future of Work and Unions.

It is clear that many of the most powerful and best connected in our country have little trouble with what’s happening to working people. They do not agonize over the diminishing power of workers to earn a fair wage. They could care less about income inequality, the diminishment of quality jobs or the mass job losses that could follow the latest wave of technological innovation. In fact, many of them count on these things to boost their wealth.

It is up to the AFL-CIO and strong unions, convention delegates say, “to confront the economic insecurity most Americans face” – to promote and defend the “freedom of working people to make a decent living, to receive quality job and skills training, to support our families, to have work-life balance, to access important public services like good schools and quality health care, and to retire with dignity.”

The Commission’s work is critical. It will focus on re-imagining structures for giving voice to workers. Growing the labor movement. Giving millions more the power of bargaining. Tackling the dilemma of growth industries in America and across the globe growing up without unions and choosing low-road employment models. Organizing the workers on the frontline of groundbreaking companies that are making next-generation products and tackling some of the globe’s most wrenching challenges. And ensuring that innovation and new business models are not simply tools to jettison millions of good jobs but instead can fuel middle class, union job creation.

The labor movement is in its second century of navigating change in the workplace. There is nothing surprising about machines that replace people and threaten good jobs. There is nothing shocking about the emergence of new business models that take advantage of eroding standards and competitive business pressures. And there is nothing particularly novel about a CEO looking for new ways to squeeze more profits through introduction of atypical work arrangements – from part-timers to independent, on-demand labor.

There is also nothing new about the labor movement stepping up. The future of work has always been about having strong, independent unions ready to fight in the face of change and challenge. The Commission on the Future of Work and Unions gives us the process, structure and purpose we need to take on this latest wave of change.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/24/2017 - 14:45

Tags: 2017 Convention

Labor Rights Protections in Trade Deals Don’t Work

This week in St. Louis, the labor movement called for a "New Deal on Trade," which must include labor rules that protect working families, in the United States and in our trading partners. The failure of existing rules has been covered extensively here on this blog and in the news—but in case anyone needs further proof, the U.S. government recently let deadlines on cases of egregious workers' rights abuses in Colombia and Peru pass with little fanfare.

These cases underscore why workers desperately need effective protections in trade agreements, with swift and certain enforcement. Currently, governments have complete discretion over how to respond to labor rights complaints. Our current trade agreements have no deadlines, no criteria for pursuing sanctions, or even any requirement to act at all. When workers join across borders to document abuses, cases are closed without fixing the problem, or drag on for years. Workers often face serious risks to their lives and livelihoods when they come forward. The United States is sending the message that the results are not worth that risk. Unfortunately, the language recently tabled by the U.S. government for NAFTA re-negotiations does nothing to improve these long-standing shortcomings.

In Colombia, workers are being threatened, assaulted and killed with impunity. There is rampant union-busting and the majority of the workforce is stuck in abusive short-term contracts that rob workers of a fair wage and access to workers’ comp and retirement. The AFL-CIO and a coalition of Colombian unions filed a complaint in 2016. The U.S. government refused to invoke formal consultations but did recognize the serious failings in Colombia and made a series of recommendations to bring the country into compliance with labor commitments in the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Meanwhile, Colombia continues to violate workers' rights. Right now, the government is breaking its own laws by forcibly ending a strike at the airline Avianca and calling in scabs to replace workers demanding better treatment.

Last week, the U.S. government was supposed to assess progress toward implementing those recommendations, but no assessment has been released. In addition to the oil and sugar workers’ cases in the complaint, Colombia workers in many sectors face everyday violations of rights. Right now, the Colombian government is violating its own laws by forcing an arbitration well before the legally established deadline.

In 2015, Peruvian unions and the International Labor Rights Forum filed a case demonstrating that the Peruvian government was not enforcing and, in some cases, deliberately weakening labor protections in export sectors. As with Colombia, the U.S. government concluded that labor abuses existed, but opted not to invoke formal consultations. Instead, the U.S. government outlined a series of steps to bring Peru into compliance and committed to following up by June 2017. That deadline elapsed without compliance by the government of Peru and with no action from U.S. officials.

These missed deadlines do not make workers confident that this administration's approach to labor enforcement will be any different than past administrations.

As the AFL-CIO will highlight at its convention this week, working people need a New Deal on trade that includes binding labor commitments with swift and certain enforcement. The time for promises is over. The time for action to protect worker freedoms is now.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/24/2017 - 13:55

Tags: Peru, Colombia