In Houston, Working Families Seek to Reclaim King's Dream IAM

This past weekend in Houston, the AFL-CIO hosted its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference, with a theme of "Reclaiming Our Dream: Strategize, Organize, Mobilize." Hundreds of working family advocates came together to shift the rules and build power so that working communities can thrive and families can enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Here are some key tweets from the weekend:

Evelyn Smith of CWA 6222 rocks National Anthem at #1uMLK. #AFLCIO #TxAFLCIO. pic.twitter.com/pJwFQ5eykP

— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) January 12, 2018

To widespread encouragement, Fred Redmond of #USW calls out @realDonaldTrump for racist remarks about Haiti & African nations to open #1uMLK. Then moment of silence. #TxAFLCIO #AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/E7IgpAhzqc

— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) January 12, 2018

#Labor “can’t be the middle of the spear. We need to be the tip of the spear” in fighting sexual harassment., @RichardTrumka tells #1uMLK. #AFLCIO #TxAFLCIO pic.twitter.com/Apl2ws3sPL

— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) January 12, 2018

‘Colin Kaepernick had a lot to risk and yet he took action. There’s a whole lot to learn from the courage he showed. If the flag means anything, it means the right to protest and speak out’ @richardtrumka #1uMLK

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) January 12, 2018

Awesome to see so many people participating in the @AFLCIO #1UMLK inclusion workshop pic.twitter.com/WU9Bsbmpwe

— DeLane (@delane392) January 12, 2018

When asked what did you do for the least, the last & the lost, the men & women of labor can say they were there for the least, the last & the lost! @RepAlGreen reminds #1uMLK why we join together this weekend pic.twitter.com/GXvCJnQicT

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) January 13, 2018

Unionists answers the call when Community is in need.. regardless of economic status, legal status, gender or sexual identity. Unionists fight to rebuild & strengthen our communities. Dora Cervantes, Secretary General for the mighty @MachinistsUnion & @LCLAA E-board memb #1uMLK pic.twitter.com/wupylHY4Bj

— Cesar Moreno Perez (@profe_c) January 13, 2018

Union members are powering the food sorting operation at @HoustonFoodBank for our #1uMLK Day of Community Service pic.twitter.com/G3idLyKXY6

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) January 13, 2018

TWU Members working in a disaster relief food bank to provide basic needs for families. Standing together as a Union family helping those who need help in Houston. #1uMLK @transportworker pic.twitter.com/EEtXa472hg

— Gary L Shults (@ShultsGL) January 13, 2018

To honor Dr. King is to work every day to dismantle racism. #1uMLK pic.twitter.com/vs76h7TIVJ

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) January 13, 2018

Dr. King taught us how to confront an unjust power structure. Labor has the infrastructure to fight the horrible extremism we’re facing in this political moment. We know how to get it done. - @LCLAA Exec Director @Hesanche to #1uMLK pic.twitter.com/0IYBzP7z8q

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) January 14, 2018

Jaida Curtis representing @CLUWNational talks about the importance of connecting the activism of young people and seasoned organizers to build power for working people #1uMLK @AFLCIONextUp pic.twitter.com/KB266mbxm9

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) January 14, 2018

.@Rafael_Navar National Political Director for @cwaunion - We have to double down on the most important resource of our movement, our people. We have to develop political programs that turns them into future Dr. Kings and Fannie Lou Hamers #1uMLK pic.twitter.com/N6E47bLMPe

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) January 14, 2018

.@AFSCME President, Lee Saunders, talking about the #IAM2018 campaign to lift up racial justice, labor rights, & economic justice. Inspired by sanitation workers in Memphis & MLK who marched with them. https://t.co/USueMgHdrB #1uMLK pic.twitter.com/TMUpcGYuef

— APALA (@APALAnational) January 15, 2018

Even in the darkest hours I feel hope in our movement, because our movement has the most courageous and selfless leaders I have ever met - Sec-Treasurer @lizshuler introducing @APWUnational Sec-Treasurer Liz Powell, At the River Where I Stand awardee #1uMLK pic.twitter.com/AYjr7eEt14

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) January 15, 2018

“Civil Rights in 2018 is much broader than black and white.” -@rustyhicks at our @KingDayParade reception #1uMLK pic.twitter.com/rI5aYaWiEO

— The LA Fed (@LALabor) January 15, 2018

 

Working people honor the life & legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We will always march ahead, together. #1u #1uMLK #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/0nJzYcoonW

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) January 15, 2018 Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 01/17/2018 - 10:47

From Christmas Trees to Casinos: Worker Wins Culinary Workers Union Local 226

Our latest roundup of worker wins begins with a victory for Christmas tree workers in North Carolina and includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.

FLOC Helps Christmas Tree Workers in Wage Theft Victory: Working people at a Christmas tree farm in North Carolina got some cheerful news when the wage theft case they pursued with the help of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) led to a $350,000 settlement with the company.

Green Valley Ranch Continues Organizing Trend at Station Casinos: Green Valley Ranch became the fourth Station Casinos-operated property where workers voted to join together in union since 2015. More than 900 workers will be represented by the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE.

D.C. Streetcar Workers Win First Contract: After nearly two years, D.C. Streetcar workers have voted for representation by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689. The streetcar's private operators, The Midtown and RATP Dev North America, signed a deal that includes competitive wages and affordable health insurance.

Retired Mine Workers Stave Off Another Attack on Health Care from CONSOL: Some 3,400 retired miners represented by Mine Workers (UMWA) and their dependents and widows will continue to receive health care after a federal appeals court rejected an attempt by Consol Energy to stop paying retiree benefits, despite a promise to pay them in a collective bargaining agreement.

Nurses Continue to Organize Across the Country: National Nurses United (NNU) and their affiliates have continued a long string of victorious organizing campaigns by successfully organizing at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital and by ratifying a new contract at Rideout Regional Medical Center in California.

Omni Air International Flight Attendants Ratify Their First Contract: Flight Attendants at Omni Air International (represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA [AFA-CWA]), voted by 78% to ratify their first contract. The new deal includes immediate pay raises, defined schedules and work rules, and increased job security. 

New York Papa John's Workers Win Back Wages: New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a settlement with the franchise owner of three Papa John's Pizza franchise stores in Brooklyn. The owner will pay nearly $172,000 to more than 100 workers after the stores were found to have violated minimum wage and overtime laws, as well as taking unlawful deductions from workers' wages.

Firefighters Finally Secure Congressional Reauthorization of Safety Programs: Two programs designed to maintain the safety of firefighters, Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), were reauthorized as the last act of legislative business for 2017. The two programs will be each funded with $750 million, providing critical resources for firefighters in every state.

Hard Rock Las Vegas Workers Reach Settlement: After the Culinary Workers Union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the company had committed federal labor law violations, Hard Rock reached a settlement with the workers.

More Than 350 Emissions Workers in Michigan to Join UAW: After a vicious anti-union campaign by management, 366 working people at the Eberspächer emissions plant in Brighton, Michigan, will be joining UAW. The factory supplies emissions systems to CNH Industrial, Freightliner, Mack, Detroit Diesel and Volvo Trucks.

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 01/17/2018 - 09:10

King and Meany Brought Civil Rights and Labor Together for a Legacy That Continues Today AFL-CIO

Beginning in 1960, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and then-President George Meany of the AFL-CIO began a relationship that would help bring the labor and civil rights movements together with a combined focus on social and economic justice. 

Meany was an outspoken defender of individual freedom, and in March 1960, he emphasized the crucial link between the union and the civil rights movements. He told an AFL-CIO gathering, "What we want for ourselves, we want for all humanity." Meany met with King to privately discuss how they could work together. King proposed that the AFL-CIO invest pension assets in housing, to help lessen economic inequality. The AFL-CIO then established the Investment Department in August 1960 to guide union pension funds to be socially responsible investors.

The next year, King spoke to the AFL-CIO Executive Council, comparing what labor had achieved to what the civil rights movement wanted to accomplish: "We are confronted by powerful forces telling us to rely on the good will and understanding of those who profit by exploiting us. They resent our will to organize. They are shocked that active organizations, sit-ins, civil disobedience, and protests are becoming every day tools just as strikes, demonstrations, and union organizations became yours to insure that bargaining power genuinely existed on both sides of the table." At the AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention later that year, Meany made civil rights a prominent item on the agenda, and King spoke to the delegates about uniting the two movements through a common agenda, noting that African Americans are "almost entirely a working people."

Not only did the AFL-CIO provide much-needed capital to the civil rights movement, but numerous affiliates did as well. Several combined to give more than $100,000 to King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The UAW directly funded voter registration drives in predominantly African American areas throughout the South and paid bail money for jailed protesters. Meany and the AFL-CIO also used their considerable political influence in helping to shape the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Union activists were a key part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom as well. The Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO endorsed the march, as did 11 international unions and several state and local labor councils. A. Philip Randolph, then-president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, was a key organizer of the event. UAW President Walter Reuther was a speaker at the march, condemning the fact that African Americans were treated as second-class economic citizens.

King's final act in pursuit of social and economic justice was in support of the sanitation strike in Memphis, Tennessee. After his death, then-President Lyndon B. Johnson sent the undersecretary of labor to settle the strike, and the city acceded to the demands of the working people, leading to the creation of AFSCME Local 1733, which still represents sanitation workers in Memphis.

In 1964, Meany sent a letter to all AFL-CIO affiliates outlining an new pathway that would directly support housing construction and homeownership. In 1965, the Investment Department helped establish the Mortgage Investment Trust, which was the formal embodiment of the socially responsible investment plan and gave a boost to badly needed affordable housing construction. In 1984, the Mortgage Investment Trust was replaced by the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, one of the first socially responsible investment funds in the United States. Since it was created, the HIT has grown to more than $4.5 billion in net assets and has helped finance more than 100,000 affordable housing units and helped create tens of thousands of union jobs. 

The partnership between civil rights and labor launched by King and Meany has helped the country make great strides in the intervening years, and the partnership continues.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/12/2018 - 15:05

Tags: MLK conference

Celebrating the Life and Work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. California Labor Federation

Many chapters in the story of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. are well-known to Americans. The I Have a Dream speech. The Nobel Peace Prize. The Mountaintop speech. His Letter from a Birmingham Jail. His commitment to nonviolence. All the incredible accomplishments of a visionary.

Our series on Martin Luther King Jr., to mark the 50th anniversary of his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, covers some of the lesser known parts of his history. Follow the links below to discover more about this civil rights icon.

1. Jay Smith, United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals' (UNAC/UHCP's) counsel, who shared a story his mentor, Jerome A. "Buddy" Cooper, told about King's Birmingham campaign.

2. King is perhaps best known for his iconic 1963 I Have a Dream speech. Less is known about predecessors to that speech, like the one King gave to the AFL-CIO in 1961.

3. King began with prepared remarks, the most famous part of the speech containing the theme 'I Have a Dream' was created on Aug. 23, 1963, as King addressed the crowd of more than 250,000 on the Mall in Washington, D.C.

4. King accepts the Nobel Peace Prize and then joins workers on strike in Atlanta to publicize their campaign during 10 days in December 1964.

5. International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 made King an honorary longshoreman in 1967. When King was assassinated, the ILWU showed they truly regarded him as one of their own.

6. Jerry Wurf, AFSCME’s president in 1968, was a strong and consistent supporter of King, as well as the civil rights movement in general.

This post originally appeared at UNAC-UHCP.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/12/2018 - 13:00

Tags: MLK conference

Voting Rights for Millions at Risk in Supreme Court Case AFL-CIO

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a monumental case that will impact voting rights.

The case, Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI), challenges a procedure the state of Ohio uses to remove voters from the registration rolls based on their failure to vote. The precedent set by this Supreme Court case will have ramifications for voting rights for generations and, if the court decides against APRI, it could potentially harm entire swaths of the voting public.

APRI argues that Ohio’s voter purge procedure violates the National Voter Registration Act—sometimes called the Motor Voter law—which prohibits a state from removing a person from the voter registration rolls because of that person’s failure to vote. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with APRI that Ohio’s removal procedure violates federal law, which prompted Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted to ask the Supreme Court to weigh in. Under Ohio’s process, if a registered voter does not vote or update their registration during a two-year period, the county board of elections will send a postal notice to the voter asking them to confirm their registration at that address. Recipients of the notice are removed from the rolls if they neither respond to the notice nor subsequently vote during the following four-year period.

For many people—including working people and especially low-wage workers—voting is not easy and this "use it or lose it" policy is unfair. Limited voting hours, erratic job schedules, child care needs, the closing of neighborhood polling places, inadequate or inaccessible transportation and the costs associated with obtaining a photo ID, to name just a few obstacles, mean that many eligible voters are unable to cast ballots on Election Day—despite registering where necessary, being motivated to vote in the particular election and, in some cases, even arriving at the correct polling place and waiting in line. As a result, Ohio’s voter purge procedure falls disproportionately on those citizens for whom various features of the voting process already present significant obstacles to participation.

At a time when we should all be working to bring our government closer to the people, voter purges like Ohio’s disenfranchise many voters who wish to have their vote counted. A bad ruling in this case could allow states hostile toward voting rights to undermine the Motor Voter Act by purging voters from the rolls just because they did not vote in certain elections. It’s happened before, and it will keep happening unless the Supreme Court sides with APRI and with the voters of Ohio.

We need to resist these cynical and unfair attacks on our democracy. And we need to stand up for our right to vote. Our future and the future of our democratic institutions depend on it.

Pierrette "Petee" Talley is secretary-treasurer of the Ohio AFL-CIO.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 01/09/2018 - 10:46

Brews and Bites for the Playoffs

The NFL’s regular season is over, and the playoffs are here. No matter who you’re backing for Super Bowl LII, you’ll need the fridge to be stocked for all the games leading up to the big day. This list of brews and munchies will both satisfy your cravings and help boost our country’s middle class. With more than 250 ethically made beers and a ton of game-day snacks to choose from, you’ll be set to host a killer ultimate playoff-watching party that also supports good employers who treat their workers fairly.

Enjoy the games, and together we’ll eat, drink and party our way to a stronger America.

Beers

• Bass
• Beck’s
• Blue Moon
• Budweiser
• Coors
• Dundee
• Goose Island
• Hamm’s
• Henry Weinhard’s
• Keystone
• Kirin Ichiban
• Land Shark Lager
• Leinenkugel’s
• Mad River
• Mendocino Brewing
• Michelob
• Miller
• Natural Ice
• O’Doul’s
• Pabst
• Rolling Rock
• Sam Adams
• Schlitz
• Shock Top

Snacks

• Act II Popcorn
• Andy Boy Fruits and Vegetables
• Bagel Bites
• Chex Mix
• Doritos
• Fig Newtons
• Keebler Cookies
• Lay’s Potato Chips
• Orville Redenbacher Popcorn
• Ritz Crackers
• Rold Gold Pretzels
• Ruffles
• Tostitos
• Triscuit
• Wheat Thins

This post originally appeared at Labor 411.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 01/08/2018 - 16:18

Economy Gains 148,000 Jobs in December, Unemployment Unchanged at 4.1%

The U.S. economy gained 148,000 jobs in December, and unemployment was unchanged 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 Federal Open Market Committee should continue to let the economy grow and not raise interest rates.

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

Over the year, retail trade reported job loss (-67,000) as concentration of market power continued, reversing job gains of 203,000 in 2016. A sign of hyper-inequality is a collapse in retail competition @AFLCIO @UFCW

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 5, 2018

This month many minimum wage workers will get a wage increase. The food service industry--which whines those increases risk jobs- -continues job growth at a high rate, up 25,000 in December and 249,000 over the year. @AFLCIO @UFCW

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 5, 2018

For those keeping score: 2.2 million slots were added to payrolls in 2016 (thanks @POTUS44) but 2.1 million were added in 2017. @AFLCIO @CBTU72 @AFLCIONextUp @APRI_National @LVBurke @rolandsmartin

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 5, 2018

Last month's biggest job gains were in health care (31,000), construction (30,000) and manufacturing (25,000).

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for teenagers (13.6%) declined in December. The jobless rates for adult men (3.8%), adult women (3.7%), whites (3.7%), blacks (6.8%), Asians (2.5%) and Hispanics (4.9%) showed little or no change. 

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was little changed in December and accounted for 22.9% of the unemployed.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/05/2018 - 09:36

Federal Judge Dismisses Just Born Lawsuit Against BCTGM Local 6 BCTGM

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Just Born against Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 6 (Philadelphia) members who went on strike in 2016.

In a 15-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl ruled on Dec. 29 that the company failed to prove that Local 6 members violated a no-strike clause in the collective bargaining agreement.

Some 400 Local 6 members went on strike Sept. 7, 2016. Members returned to work in late October 2016, although a new contract has still not been reached and negotiations have yet to be scheduled.

While Just Born’s lawsuit said the members’ decision to go on strike violated a no-strike provision of the union contract, which had expired the previous June, Schmehl wrote that there was no evidence to conclude that the members gave up their right to strike.

Despite the ruling, Just Born has filed an appeal to the decision.

"It was a frivolous lawsuit from the beginning," said Hank McKay, BCTGM Local 6 president. McKay noted that instead of spending money on lawsuits and other legal actions against the members, Just Born "could put the money toward settling the expired union contract."

This post originally appeared at BCTGM.

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 01/04/2018 - 16:22

Priorities for the New Year: In the States Roundup

It's time once again to take a look at the battles for the freedoms of working families in the states. Here is what the unions in the states are talking about this week. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations and central labor councils on Twitter.

Arizona AFL-CIO:

Congratulations Arizona! Because of voter's decision to increase the Minimum Wage our lowest paid employees just... https://t.co/GTyYR1FY1W

— Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) January 2, 2018

Arkansas AFL-CIO:

We are ready for 2018! We hope that 2018 brings everyone opportunity, occupational safety and health! #1u #safejobs #arkansaslabor #freedomtoorganize

— Arkansas AFL-CIO (@ArkansasAFLCIO) January 4, 2018

California Labor Federation:

Powerful message from @latguild sisters and brothers ✊ Sending solidarity for their historic vote today #UnionYES #1u https://t.co/SPGvZiAVwp

— California Labor (@CaliforniaLabor) January 4, 2018

Colorado AFL-CIO:

RT and help spread the word about our 2018 Legislative Priorities Roll Out on Monday, January 8th #Solidarity https://t.co/en69s5QqMt pic.twitter.com/SoIA3EjmGv

— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) January 3, 2018

Connecticut AFL-CIO (retweet):

Join #union members in demanding electeds make #NewYearsResolution to embrace truly #FairShareBudgetCT approach, not more failed policies that shift burden onto to #WorkingFamilies' backs: https://t.co/m4egMgVncV @AFT_PE pic.twitter.com/kIuWyvUvgG

— AFT Connecticut (@AFTCT) January 2, 2018

Florida AFL-CIO:

Story via @PNS_News - We're ready to fight back. Take action with us every week of session by signing up for legislative alerts on our website: https://t.co/tDa78A8Tvyhttps://t.co/rKlONSPEIW

— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) January 2, 2018

Idaho State AFL-CIO (retweet):

Thank you once again to all the hardworking men and women in our union family who made the holidays happen for so many people, as they will continue to do throughout the year! Wishing you all a happy new year and wonderful 2018. https://t.co/1H2B8G0ySp

— UFCW (@UFCW) January 2, 2018

Illinois AFL-CIO (retweet):

Got #NewYearsResolutions for better work life balance? Might we suggest a union: pic.twitter.com/tjJqZIHRD2

— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) December 28, 2017

Indiana State AFL-CIO:

A Woman's Place Is in Her Union #1u #unionstrong https://t.co/p9GnDVY9el

— Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) January 4, 2018

Iowa Federation of Labor:

Iowa lawmakers, do your jobs and fix Medicaid problems https://t.co/kdalpLHOQn

— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) January 4, 2018

Metro Washington (D.C.) Council AFL-CIO:

Have you heard ‘(1/3/2018) Farmers unite; Horace Greeley’ by Union City Radio on #SoundCloud? #np https://t.co/4SXBeRXBuq

— MetroDCLaborCouncil (@DCLabor) January 3, 2018

Michigan AFL-CIO:

"From a business perspective, the prevailing wage is a proven tool to retain qualified workers on Michigan’s public projects and entice new recruits into the trades." -Barton Malow VP https://t.co/ttjSHK0FZc

— Michigan AFL-CIO (@MIAFLCIO) January 4, 2018

Minnesota AFL-CIO:

Minneapolis school custodians file for union election https://t.co/7643sjIGYW (via @workdaymn) @SEIULocal284 @seiumn #1u

— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) January 4, 2018

Missouri AFL-CIO:

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Census of 2016 Fatal Occupational Injuries reports there were 5,190 workplace fatalities in 2016, a seven percent increase from 2015, and notes that opioid-related deaths are on the rise in the workplace." https://t.co/d0OtjmacKy

— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) January 3, 2018

New Hampshire AFL-CIO:

.@DonnaSoucy speaking in opposition to #SB84 & standing up for #NHWorkingFamilies. @daninnis Amendment changes NH labor law & takes power away from employees & gives it to the corporations and employers! #nhpolitics pic.twitter.com/MBMBF60yHc

— NewHampshire AFL-CIO (@NHAFLCIO) January 3, 2018

New Jersey State AFL-CIO:

As we turn the page on 2017, we wanted to thank you for your solidarity and support and recognize our many collective achievements that have laid the foundation for a successful 2018. https://t.co/vDJzaNXf0m pic.twitter.com/SErAhNOrZG

— New Jersey AFL-CIO (@NJAFLCIO) December 29, 2017

New York State AFL-CIO:

Thank you to everyone working to keep us safe and warm! #UnionProud pic.twitter.com/IBrItJF90W

— NYSAFLCIO (@NYSAFLCIO) January 4, 2018

North Carolina State AFL-CIO:

Thanks to the support of our affiliates and allies, North Carolina's labor movement had much to celebrate about... https://t.co/AYVvu4W330

— NC State AFL-CIO (@NCStateAFLCIO) January 3, 2018

North Dakota AFL-CIO:

Protect our Pensions - Support The Butch-Lewis Act!
Write to @SenJohnHoeven , @SenJohnHoeven & @RepKevinCramer right here: https://t.co/u7MXMqp31q #1u #NDPol

— North Dakota AFL-CIO (@NDAFLCIO) January 2, 2018

Ohio AFL-CIO:

.@brigidekelly: State lawmakers should avoid any right-to-work proposal like the plague https://t.co/A2gyjxRRUx @AFLCIO

— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) January 3, 2018

Oregon AFL-CIO:

300 prominent female actresses, agents, writers, directors, producers and entertainment executives have formed an ambitious, sprawling initiative to fight systemic sexual harassment in Hollywood:https://t.co/hqmO738Skk

— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) January 4, 2018

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:

Working people saw victories in 2017, but we still have work to do.
Check out President Rick Bloomingdale's... https://t.co/GuhIq7LBmj

— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) January 4, 2018

South Carolina AFL-CIO:

Start saving your gas receipts tomorrow, share with members and family https://t.co/w4tw1xGXpV

— SC AFL-CIO (@SCAFLCIO) December 31, 2017

Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council:

What a way to kick off 2018! Great work, STAND UP Nashville, Central Labor Council of Nashville & Middle TN and... https://t.co/cON6CpP36A

— Tennessee AFL-CIO (@tnaflcio) January 3, 2018

Texas AFL-CIO:

Union sues AT&T on behalf of 50 laid off Austin, Bastrop employees https://t.co/3tPp45l8f4

— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) January 4, 2018

Washington State Labor Council:

Today we announced our Shared Prosperity Agenda for the 2018 legislative session that begins Monday. Check it out: https://t.co/bEpr9zaQmx #1u #waleg pic.twitter.com/xdKfEAgJLR

— WA State AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) January 3, 2018

Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:

For 13 million workers, fighting the boss just got harder, https://t.co/tzs8uCRSDl

— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) January 2, 2018 Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 01/04/2018 - 15:09

Pro-Working People Laws Catching on Around the Country

While Congress and the White House refuse to act, momentum for paid family leave legislation at the state level is growing. 

As the new year begins, New York, Nevada and Washington state are implementing paid family leave laws, and Rhode Island will join them in July. Rhode Island will bring the total number of states with a paid family leave law to eight. 

NPR breaks down the legislation going into effect relating to paid family leave:

Washington on Monday became the seventh state—in addition to Washington, D.C.—to require employers to offer paid sick leave to their workers. Rhode Island is set to become the eighth to do so later this year, when its own law takes effect in July.

Meanwhile, New York has joined the small handful of states that require employers to provide paid family leave benefits. There, as NBC reports, employees will eventually be entitled to up to 12 weeks a year once the law takes full effect.

And in Nevada, employers are now required to offer up to 160 hours of leave per 12-month period to workers who have been—or whose family members have been—victims of domestic violence.

Similarly, states are taking proactive steps to help raise wages for working families. Across the country, 18 states and 20 local governments raised their minimum wage on Jan. 1. The following were included in the wave of states that increased their minimum wage: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Washington.

AFL-CIO Policy Director Damon Silvers explained the importance of raising the minimum wage:

It puts money in motion. We've seen the distribution of income and wealth skew very much to the top of the income scale. The fact is that rich people don't spend money the way that middle-class and poor people do, and that makes our economy weak. Raising the minimum wage puts more money in the hands of people who need to spend it.

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 01/04/2018 - 13:32

A Year for Working People

Working people want equality, good jobs, smart public investments in infrastructure and education, and fair taxes to pay for it; and that’s what every aspiring political leader this year should put forward to gain our support.

At the AFL-CIO Convention this past fall, we made a blueprint for major changes in America’s economy.

We are committed to growing our unions, because the best way to win a better life is by negotiating with our employers for fair pay and benefits.

We are politically independent, which means we work for working people, not any political party. We will campaign on issues and fight to hold our elected leaders accountable.

Our focus is about creating a fair, equitable and good economy with respect for all people, regardless of whom we love, what we look like, what language we speak or where we were born.

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 01/03/2018 - 11:34

John Yarmuth Makes Kentucky State AFL-CIO's First Website 'Wall of Fame' Kentucky State AFL-CIO

This guest post from Berry Craig originally appeared at the  Kentucky State AFL-CIO. The Kentucky legislative session begins today.

"Which Side Are You On?" is a grand old union song.

Billy Thompson, United Steelworkers (USW) District 8 director, came up with a Wall of Fame-Wall of Shame banner to show which side state senators and representatives were on when they voted on those union-busting bills last January.

We think the banner is a great idea. So we're starting a complementary Wall of Fame-Wall of Shame on our website.

We want to show our union brothers and sisters how Kentucky lawmakers in Frankfort and Washington are voting on bills important to organized labor. (We invite other state federations, central labor councils and union locals to start Walls of Fame and Shame for state and federal legislators in their neck of the woods. (Click here to check us out on The Union Edge: Labor's Talk Radio.)

First up is the Republican Robin-Hood-in-Reverse tax legislation.

Like most Americans, most union members oppose the legislation, which the AFL-CIO has called "a job-killing tax plan that makes working people pay the price for massive tax giveaways to millionaires and wealthy corporations."

Not surprisingly, Kentucky Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul and Reps. James Comer, Brett Guthrie, Thomas Massie, Hal Rogers and Andy Barr voted for the bill.

Again, Rep. John Yarmuth, the only Bluegras State Democrat in Congress, came through for us and voted against the bill.

So Yarmuth's name is the first to go up on our Wall of Fame. The GOP sextet is debuting on our Wall of Shame.

We're including a percentage that shows how often legislators back the president on bills. We think that's important information because when GOP lawmakers are back in Kentucky they often promise the home folks that they're not just Donald Trump rubber stamps. Evidence shows they are, more often than not.  

The evidence comes from "Tracking Congress In the Age of Trump: An updating tally of how often every member of the House and Senate votes with or against the president." Click here to see the House score and here for the Senate score.

WALL OF FAME (voting no on the tax bill)

Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville (17.5)

WALL OF SHAME (voting yes on the tax bill)

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Louisville (96.3)

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Bowling Green (84.6)

Rep. James Comer, R-Tompkinsville (94.7)

Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Bowling Green (98.2) 

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Vanceburg (71.9) 

Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset (98.2)

Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington (94.7) 

"Reward your friends and punish your enemies," said union pioneer Samuel Gompers, the first and longest-serving president of the American Federation of Labor.

John Yarmuth is one of labor's best friends in Washington. McConnell, Paul, Comer, Guthrie, Massie, Rogers and Barr are about as anti-union as legislators get.

Paul introduced a national "right to work" law. The other six Kentucky Republicans are pro-right to work. All seven were gleeful when the Bluegrass State went right to work.

We hope our Wall of Fame-Wall of Shame will help Kentuckians who pack union cards remember, too, when the Matt Bevin-led, GOP-majority state legislature convenes in January to continue its holy war against unions and working people, and the GOP-majority Congress, egged on by Trump, stays its anti-union and anti-worker course. 

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 01/02/2018 - 10:56

Support Unions This Holiday Season AFL-CIO

The following is a list of union things to do this holiday season.

Washington, D.C. 

By Jackie Jeter, president of the Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO, and Cherri Senders, president of Labor 411

Despite the challenges the labor movement has faced with recent policy changes imposed by the Trump administration, the spirit of organized labor burned brightly in 2017 in Washington, D.C. The Nation’s Capital scored a significant victory in July when the minimum wage was increased to $12.50 per hour.

As natives and visitors well know, D.C. and its surrounding communities exhibit some of the most scenic and exciting holiday attractions in the nation, from spectacular shows at local unionized entertainment venues to outdoor and natural displays. The 2017 holiday season offers a number of different options for all ages and price ranges through the end of December and into January. We thank our union brothers and sisters for all they do to make the holiday season so memorable and joyous.

"An American in Paris" at the Kennedy Center 
When: Now – Jan. 7, 2018
Where: 2700 F St., NW, Washington, DC 
What: Award-winning stage adaptation of the classic movie, featuring the music of George and Ira Gershwin, "An American in Paris" is a remarkable combination of classic music, a timeless story and riveting dance. 
Unions: AEA, IATSE, AFM 
More Info: Click here

National Christmas Tree in President's Park 
When: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (the Jefferson Building is closed Sundays and on Christmas). 
Where: 101 Independence Ave, SE, Washington DC, 20540. First Street, SE, entrance 
What: The National Christmas Tree is part of a three-week celebration of music and festivities in the nation’s capital. The beautiful spectacle is located in President’s Park near the White House. The walkway surrounding the National Christmas Tree features trees decorated with handmade ornaments from 56 U.S. States and territories. The tree is lit by 4:30 p.m. every day. 
Union: AFSCME
More Info: Click here

Conservatory and Holiday Concert Series at United States Botanic Garden 
When: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Where: 100 Maryland Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20001
What: The conservatory is a beautiful display of a tropical paradise hosting one of the largest indoor decorated trees; it is home to an array of poinsettias and their plant cousins. 
Union: AFGE 
More Info: Click here

ZooLights at the National Zoo
When: Now – Jan. 1, 2018
Where: 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008
What: Join the thousands of visitors who make ZooLights a part of their annual holiday tradition. ZooLights includes live music performances, tasty winter treats and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. More than 500,000 environmentally friendly LED lights transform the Zoo into a winter wonderland complete with a dazzling light show set to music.
Union: AFGE
More Info: Click here

ICE! at the Marriott's Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center 
When: Now – Jan. 4, 2018
Where: 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Maryland 20745
What: A signature holiday attraction is back with a new theme in 2017! Experience favorite scenes from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" brought to life in this walk-through winter wonderland carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice.
Union: UNITE HERE
More Info: Click here

Los Angeles 

By Rusty Hicks, executive secretary-treasurer, L.A. County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and Cherri Senders, president, Labor 411

As we enter the holiday season and look back over the nearly concluded 2017, labor can take a lot of pride in what we have accomplished. Our ongoing fight for better wages, hours and benefits continues, and our committed LA union workers have joined their brothers and sisters in solidarity across a number of issues. We stood in opposition to President Trump’s executive orders involving immigration and the anticipated repeal of DACA. We participated in the Women’s and May Day Marches and helped defeat the disastrous anti-affordable housing bill, Measure S.

In addition, we graduated three cohorts from the Second Chance Pre-Apprenticeship Bootcamp, have seen workers at the Los Angeles Times take the next step toward forming a union, and welcomed the expansion of Build Your Dreams’ Lancaster factory, a move that will mean hundreds of more good union jobs for the city’s first union electric bus manufacturer. Whatever the season, we can count on L.A.’s unions to stay hawkish for positive change both throughout the city and nationally.

The holidays are always a joyous and festive time in Southern California. Our warm weather cools (at least a little), and both native Angelenos and visitors can look forward to a vast array of seasonal festivities. Whether your preference is live performance, theme parks, galleries or the outdoors, there are plenty of wonderful ways to usher in the holiday spirit, all while supporting good local jobs.

The following events are proudly staffed by union employees who are paid fair wages and treated ethically.

“A Christmas Carol” at A Noise Within
When: Now – Dec. 23
Where: 3352 Foothill Blvd., Pasadena
What: ANW’s delightfully festive, musically merry holiday tradition returns! Who doesn’t love the inspirational story of Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and Scrooge?
Union: AEA
More Info: Click here 

Holiday Sing-Along at Walt Disney Concert Hall
When: Dec. 16–23
Where: 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
What: The holidays will be awash with music at the glorious Disney Concert Hall, with concerts including a Holiday Sing-Along, the Grammy-winning 12-man chorus Chanticleer, a cappella sensations Naturally 7 and a sing-along screening of the beloved 1954 film classic “White Christmas.”
Union: IATSE
More Info: Click here 

“How the Princh Stole Christmas” at the El Portal Theatre
When: Dec. 21–31
Where: 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. 
What: The zany Troubadour Theater Co. pays tribute to the Purple One himself as they send up the music of Prince while mashing it with the story of Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Seuss’ detestably fiendish hero, the Grinch, gets a makeover he won’t soon forget, as he transforms from Green to Purple in this musical yuletide spoof. 
Unions: AFM, IATSE
More Info: Click here 

Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Magic Mountain
When: Now through Dec. 31
Where: 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia
What: Six Flags Magic Mountain lights up the season. See the park transform into a magical winter wonderland with millions of twinkling lights, carolers, holiday entertainment and your favorite thrilling rides.
Unions: AFM, IAM, IBT, UFCW, UNITE HERE
More Info: Click here

Philadelphia

By Patrick Eiding, president, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, and Cherri Senders, president, Labor 411

As we approach the end of the year and take full advantage of the joyous holiday season, we can look back over the achievements of organized labor in our great city.

Philadelphia’s working people have won some landmark victories in 2017: after four years of bargaining, campaigning and fighting off management’s attempts to impose a contract, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers won a new collective bargaining agreement with the School District of Philadelphia, and as a bonus the School Reform Commission voted to dissolve itself, to be replaced by our own, local board of education. Adjunct instructors at Temple University won their first union contract, as did RNs at Hahneman, Einstein and St Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Unions in the building trades and the hospitality industry launched major pre-apprenticeship and training programs that will help young people in Philadelphia enter stable, skilled careers as union members.

December is the time to embrace all the wonder of winter. With the holidays upon us, the city becomes a wonderland where visitors and locals alike can enjoy all the season has to offer. Whether you are lacing up your ice skates for a glide in the Winter Waterfront, shopping at the Christmas Village in LOVE Park, enjoying a seasonal themed play or concert or taking in one of our world-famous museums, it’s so easy to choose an activity that (like the events listed below) also supports good jobs and a strong middle class. While keeping up the holiday spirit, please also support the ethical consumer movement by continuing to patronize employers who treat their workers fairly.

Happy Holidays!

The Pennsylvania Ballet presents "The Nutcracker" at the Academy of Music
When: Now–Dec. 31
Where: 240 South Broad St., Philadelphia 
What: The Philadelphia Ballet presents George Balanchine’s classic, complete with giant mice, dancing snowflakes, a growing Christmas tree and an enchanted nutcracker, all of which are sure to delight the inner child in everyone.
Union: IATSE
More Info: Click here

A Very Philly Christmas December Drop In at Fairmount Park
When: Now–Dec. 31
Where: Participating historic houses include Cedar Grove, Laurel Hill Mansion, Lemon Hill Mansion, Historic Strawberry Mansion and Woodford Mansion. All houses are located within East and West Fairmount Park in Philadelphia.
What: Drop in at the historic houses of Fairmount Park, which will be decked out for the holidays. Learn interesting facts about each house and enjoy at a comfortable, relaxed pace. 
Union: AFSCME
More Info: Click here

Skate With Santa at Delaware River Waterfront
When: Now–Jan. 21, 2018
Where: 101 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia 
What: Lace up those skates and snap a portrait on ice with Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest’s Skating Santa. For a special photo on stable ground, you can plop down atop the giant Visit Philly chair for a photo that can feature the entire family.
Union: IATSE
More Info: Click here 

"It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" at Walnut Street Theater
When: Now–Dec. 17
Where: 825 Walnut St., Philadelphia
What: The holiday classic comes to life as a radio play with five actors, including an imaginative sound-effects artist. Down on his luck George Bailey gets some help from an angel who helps him embrace the spirit of the season. 
Unions: IATSE, AEA
More Info: Click here

Holiday Garden Railway at the Morris Arboretum
When: Now–Dec. 31
Where: 100 E. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia
What: Amid the evergreens at the beautiful Morris Arboretum, the popular Holiday Garden Railway showcases a miniature winter wonderland complete with a quarter-mile of model-train track, seven loops and tunnels, 15 rail lines, and model trains that cruise past scaled replicas of historic monuments and Philadelphia landmarks all adorned with thousands of twinkling lights. Friday Night Lights provide evening viewings on select nights.
Union: AFSCME
More Info: Click here

San Francisco

By Tim Paulson, executive director, San Francisco Labor Council, and Cherri Senders, president, Labor 411

As 2017 draws to a close, it’s important to take some time to celebrate the season and enjoy the true magic of the Bay Area. We have handpicked some union-staffed holiday events that will keep your family and friends smiling and in the joyous spirit of the season. Best of all, your patronage of these events is helping to support good jobs. We hope you will enjoy these events, which  bring people together from all over the Bay Area to celebrate the holidays and the splendor of our region.

Happy Holidays!

American Conservatory Theater — "A Christmas Carol" at the Geary Theatre
When: Now–Dec. 24 
Where: 415 Geary St., San Francisco 
What: Featuring a lively cast of dozens, gorgeous costumes and spooky ghosts, the Bay Area's favorite holiday tradition returns with a sparkling, music-infused production of the Charles Dickens classic.
Union: AEA
More Info: Click here

ZooLights and Reindeer Romp at San Francisco Zoo & Gardens 
When: ZooLights: Dec. 15–30, Reindeer Romp: Now–Jan. 1, 2018
Where: Sloat Boulevard at Great Highway
What: See the Zoo in a whole new light! ZooLights 2017 takes you on a magical trip with Santa Claus, reindeer and seasonal delights. Santa is sending his favorite reindeer Belle, Holly and Peppermint to spread holiday cheer. Learn what they eat and see what they look like up close and on the ground.
Unions: IBT, UNITE HERE
More info about ZooLights: Click here. More info about Reindeer Romp: Click here.

Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 
When: Now–Jan. 7, 2018
Where: 1001 Fairgrounds Drive SW, Vallejo 
What: Enjoy a breathtaking winter wonderland featuring a variety of delightful and interactive activities to help capture the holiday spirit.
Union: IAM
More Info: Click here

San Francisco Symphony Holiday Performances at Davies Symphony Hall
When: Now–Dec. 31
Where: 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
What: Multiple holiday performances including Cirque de la Symphonie, A Merry-Achi Christmas, Handel’s Messiah, Home Alone with Live Orchestra
Unions: IATSE, UNITE HERE
More Info: Click here

San Francisco Ballet presents "The Nutcracker" at War Memorial Opera House
When: Dec. 13–30
Where: 301 Van Ness Ave. (in the Civic Center), San Francisco 
What: The music soars, snowflakes swirl, flowers dance and a little girl dreams about a whole new world in a "Nutcracker" that is as unique as it is magical. 
Unions: IATSE, UNITE HERE
More Info: Click here

New York

By the staff at Labor 411

There’s no place like the Big Apple for the union holiday season! Whether you’re enjoying a classic seasonal ballet, taking in a Broadway show, kicking it up with the Rockettes or being dazzled by the lights, you will find no shortage of fabulous entertainment for all ages and price ranges. As you enjoy these seasonal favorites, be sure to send a round of holiday thanks to the union brothers and sisters who helped make it all possible. Celebrate Union Style!

Happy Holidays!

Rockefeller Christmas Tree
When: Now–Jan. 7, 2018 
Where: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City  
What: Every Christmas, thousands of New Yorkers and tourists alike travel to the brilliant nexus of town: the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. This year’s version will be the best one yet, so whether you’re stopping by for the ice skating or to enjoy the famously lit tree, you will certainly feel the magic when you witness the wonder of the 78-foot, 10-ton Norway Spruce illuminated by more than 45,000 LED lights.
More Info: Click here

Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall
When: Now–Dec. 31 
Where: 1260 Avenue of the Americas, New York City    
What: The iconic show has undergone a complete technological overhaul for 2017 and the entire production has been enhanced with updated technology, including a brand-new 8K LED wall and digital projections that will extend to all eight of Radio City Music Hall’s iconic proscenium arches. Audiences will feel like they are part of the show. 
More Info: Click here

Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Garden 
When: Now–Jan. 15, 2018 
Where: 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx    
What: This year’s exhibition showcases Midtown Manhattan’s iconic skyscrapers and other architectural wonders, including new replicas of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, General Electric Building and St. Bartholomew’s Church. 
More Info: Click here 

The New York City Ballet presents "The Nutcracker" at Lincoln Center 
When: Now–Dec. 31 
Where: 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York City     
What: As the clock chimes midnight, a brave young girl turns the tide in a battle between toy soldiers and mischievous mice, and a blizzard of ballerinas reveals a wonderful world of confection. 
More Info: Click here 

"SpongeBob SquarePants" at the Palace Theatre 
When: Now 
Where: 1564 Broadway, New York City      
What: The Undersea community comes to life in this musical adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon cartoon series. 
More Info: Click here 

Tim Schlittner Thu, 12/21/2017 - 15:44

Seven Reasons Why The Republican Tax Bill is Bad For Working People

Republicans in Congress have reached agreement on a job-killing tax plan that makes working people pay the price for massive tax giveaways to millionaires and wealthy corporations. 

Here are the main reasons the legislation is bad for working people:

1. Rigging the rules. Big banks, hedge funds and other Wall Street firms are the biggest winners from this tax bill. The richest 1% of households would receive 62% of tax cuts, and the richest 0.1% would get an average tax cut of more than $182,000. The tax bill is full of complex tax gimmicks that would encourage tax dodging while enriching lawyers and accountants.
    
2. Job-killing tax breaks for outsourcing. The Republican tax plan would lower the U.S. tax rate on offshore profits to zero, giving corporations an incentive to move American jobs offshore.
    
3. Medicaid and Medicare benefit cuts. Republican leaders in Congress already have signaled that once they’re done increasing the deficit with their wasteful tax boondoggle, they plan to use the deficit as an excuse to cut Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. The Republican budget already would cut Medicaid and Medicare by $1.5 trillion—the same price tag as the tax bill.
    
4. Tax increases for millions of working people. The average household making less than $55,000 would pay more in taxes by the year 2027. In all, 87 million households making less than $200,000 eventually would pay more.
    
5. Partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act. By partially repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), the tax bill would mean health care premiums in the individual market would rise by 10%, 13 million people would lose health insurance, and as many as 15,000 or more people would die every year.
    
6. Cuts to public education. By limiting the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, the Republican tax bill would reduce state and local funding for education, infrastructure and other essential public services we all depend on. A new backdoor school voucher program would give tax breaks for tuition at private K–12 schools. Republican leaders in Congress also plan to use the deficit they created as an excuse to cut federal funding for education and other essential services.
    
7. Taking sides. While corporations still could deduct their payments to lawyers to fight unions, working people no longer could deduct union dues or such work-related expenses as travel, work clothes, work-related education, work tools or work supplies.

Tim Schlittner Mon, 12/18/2017 - 13:24

AFL-CIO Joins CWA Call for $4,000 Wage Increase for Working People CWA

The Donald Trump administration repeatedly has claimed that its tax bill would result in a $4,000 wage increase for working people. Today, the AFL-CIO has joined a campaign by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) to demand corporations guarantee this raise in writing. The labor federation is rallying the power of its 12.5 million members and the entire union movement to support this campaign in every industry.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said:

CWA has inspired an innovative movement to demand working people get our fair share and expose the scam that is the Republican tax bill. Working people have heard the same old lies about the benefits of economic policies written by and for greedy corporations for too long. This campaign is about holding corporations and politicians accountable to their claims and getting a much-needed raise for America’s workers.

On Nov. 20, CWA sent a letter to its major employers, including AT&T, Verizon, General Electric Co., American Airlines and NBC Universal, calling on them to commit to that raise in writing. In joining the CWA’s efforts, the AFL-CIO is encouraging all unions from all sectors to join in by reaching out to their employers and encouraging all working people to sign a petition that puts employers on notice that they will be held accountable if the Republican tax bill becomes law. 

In a powerful op-ed, CWA President Christopher Shelton laid out how the Republican tax scam would hurt working people and increase the deficit by more than $1 trillion:

Republicans are on the brink of passing a massive tax overhaul, and it’s looking like the biggest con of the Trump era so far. And that’s saying a lot.

The legislation being jammed through by the House and Senate Republicans is a tax giveaway to corporations and the richest 1 percent, paid for by working and middle-income families.

Across the board, working people will be hurt by this plan, whether by the new incentives to corporations to send U.S. jobs overseas, the loss of the medical expense deduction, new taxes imposed on education benefits, the inability to deduct interest on student loans, the loss of state and local tax deductions, or the forced budget cuts to Medicare, transportation, health care and other critical programs.

Despite the double-talk from Republicans anxious to sell this plan, it’s not hard to figure out who Republicans really want to help. Why else would tax cuts for corporations and tax changes that benefit the wealthiest Americans—like the estate tax—be permanent, while individual tax cuts for middle-income families are only temporary?...

Working people know better than to believe the boss’ promises unless they are in writing. That’s why my union has asked some of our biggest employers to sign an agreement that says if the tax plan passes, working people will get their $4,000.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 12/12/2017 - 14:10

Union-Made Holiday Gift Ideas AFL-CIO

It's not too late yet to find that perfect holiday gift that carries a union label. Below is a wide range of gift possibilities, from clothes to games to sports equipment and more, made by union-members across the country.

This list is compiled from Union Plus, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor's resource site, Labor 411, the AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department (UL&STD) and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) website. Check them out for even more gift ideas.

Apparel and Accessories

• Carhartt
• Filson clothes and bags
• Garnier Fructis hair care products
• Joseph Abboud
• Nunn Bush shoes
• Phillips-Van Heusen
• Red Wing Shoes
• Shinola watches
• Winston Leather
• Wolverine boots
• More clothing and apparel

Games and Toys

• Boggle
• Candy Land
• Clue
• Connect Four
• Cranium
• Easy-Bake
• The Game of Life
• G.I. Joe
• Heroscape
• Marvel & Disney toys and games made by Hasbro
• Memory
• Mousetrap
• Mr. Potato Head
• My Little Pony
• Operation
• Play-Doh
• Rubik's
• Sorry
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Tinkertoy
• Tonka
• Transformers
• Trivial Pursuit
• Twister
• Weebles
• Yahtzee
• Check out other games and more toys

Sports Equipment

• American Athletic gym equipment
• Bell Sports
• Ebonite Bowling Balls
• Louisville Slugger
• Remington Arms
• Standard Golf Company
• Wilson Sporting Goods
• Other sports equipment

Tools

• Armstrong
• Black & Decker Tools
• Channellock
• Craftsman
• Cutco knives
• Klein Tools
• Ridgid
• SnapOn Tools
• Stanley Hand Tools
• Union Tools
• Warwood
• More tools

Stocking Stuffers

• Rayovac batteries
• Bic lighters
• Allan Traditional Candy Canes and other candies
• Boyer Mallo cups and other candies
• Brown & Haley holiday gift boxes, baskets, tins and packages
• Dare Foods Limited variety of gums, jellies, hard candy and gift tubs
• Frankford Candy & Chocolate holiday candy toys, gift baskets, tins boxes and packs
• Ghirardelli chocolates
• Hershey chocolates
• Jelly Belly
• Jordan Almonds
• Laffy Taffy
• Linette Quality Chocolates
• Nestle chocolates
• Pearson’s Candy Company
• Sconza Candy Company
• See’s Candies
• Other union-made snacks

Wine and Spirits

• Andre champagne
• Arbor Mist
• C.K. Mondavi
• Chateau Ste. Michelle
• Cook's champagne
• Gallo Estate wines
• Gallo of Sonoma
• St. Supery
• Tott's champagne
• Turning Leaf
• More wine and spirits

Beer

• Bass Pale Ale
• Beck's
• Blue Moon
• Budweiser
• Busch
• Killian's
• Kirin
• Labatt Blue
• Land Shark Lager
• Michelob
• Mickey's
• Miller
• Molson Canadian
• O'Doul's
• Olde English 800
• Pabst
• Red Stripe
• Rolling Rock
• Sam Adams
• Schlitz
• ShockTop
• More union-made beer

If You’re in the ‘Big Spender’ Category

• Cadillacs
• Ford Mustangs
• Jeep
• See more cars made by UAW and non-auto UAW-made products. 

Check out many other gift ideas from GetItUnion.com by the Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Finally, if you are traveling and stay in a hotel, make sure it is a fair hotel!

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 12/12/2017 - 13:10

Call Congress on Wednesday to Push NAFTA Talks in a Better Direction AFL-CIO

Talks that could reform U.S. trade policy that has been driving down wages and rigging our economy for nearly 25 years continue in Washington, D.C., during the week of Dec. 11-16. 

These talks are critical because they could reshape the rules of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which is called a “trade deal” but is really little more than a set of rules that promote outsourcing and give global corporations more rights under the law than ordinary families.

Join our national call-in day on Dec. 13 to tell Congress that the new NAFTA must ensure working people in the United States, Canada and Mexico the right to join together and negotiate for better wages and working conditions or the rest of the talks won’t make a difference. Dial 855-856-7545 to call.

The insidious thing about NAFTA is that unlike run-of-the-mill bad laws, it can’t be fixed by a simple vote of Congress. It takes the agreement of three countries to change it: the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Global companies that profit from NAFTA by polluting the environment and denying working people the freedom to join together to negotiate for better wages and working conditions love “trade deals” like NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership because they are hard to fix. This means that profits for these companies keep mounting, even as they deny working people raises, reduce health benefits and close entire workplaces to take jobs to countries where they can exploit workers even worse than they can here.

While some good ideas have been suggested in the NAFTA talks (including Canada’s labor proposal and the U.S. proposal to limit investor-state dispute settlement), there are other proposals that would rig our economy even further by empowering Wall Street banks and big pharmaceutical companies at our expense.

Most importantly, these talks have not prioritized fixing the deplorable labor system in Mexico, in which abusive employers conspire with “protection unions” to keep wages and benefits down while the government looks the other way. If this abusive system can’t be dismantled, ordinary working families will continue to be denied rights in Mexico, which will continue to result in job losses and lower wages in the U.S. and Canada.

You can help push these talks in the right direction!

Call 855-856-7545 on Dec. 13, when a nationwide coalition of labor, environmental, consumer, faith and farm groups are holding a #ReplaceNAFTA call-in day to demand that NAFTA renegotiations include labor, environmental and climate provisions with swift and certain enforcement.

​If you miss the call-in day, you can still join the fight by texting TRADE to 235246.  ​

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 12/12/2017 - 11:19

Tags: NAFTA

Union Members Winning Elections Coast to Coast Union Members winning elections

This week, working family advocates won electoral victories from coast to coast, with Dahlia Vertreese winning election as mayor of Hillside, New Jersey, and Myrtle Cole being re-elected as president of the San Diego City Council.

These victories are part of a larger trend, where a strong independent union movement provides the support and expertise to help ensure that when working people run for office, working people win.

Strong independent union movements at the state and local level have been growing for years, and now the impact is being felt at a national level as we define a pro-worker agenda committed to the issues that matter most to working people everywhere.

Working people win when working people run. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s record says it all. A total of 965 union members have won office in that state’s program, with an annual win ratio of more than 70%.

Successful local candidate programs have gone national. America’s largest federation of labor unions passed a powerful national resolution on political independence, by promising to train and campaign for union members to win public office.

The goal is simple: to win better lives for working people in every corner of this great nation by putting working people in leadership roles.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 12/08/2017 - 13:10

Labor Department Proposes Legalizing Wage Theft

Too many restaurant owners already break the law by stealing tips from their servers. Now the Department of Labor wants to give its blessing to this kind of wage theft.

The Labor Department is moving quickly to establish a new rule that would make tips the property of restaurant owners instead of workers.

This week, President Donald Trump's administration proposed getting rid of an existing rule that makes tips the property of servers that restaurant owners cannot take away.

Under the new proposal, restaurant owners who pay their employees as little as $7.25 per hour could do whatever they want with tips left by customers for waitstaff. Restaurant owners could even keep the tips for themselves.

The federal minimum cash wage for tipped workers—at just $2.13 per hour—is already lower than for other workers. This low subminimum wage means that tipped workers depend on tips for virtually all their take-home pay after taxes, so they receive their take-home pay directly from customers. Not surprisingly, tipped workers have higher rates of poverty, discrimination and sexual harassment. Undocumented and immigrant workers in the restaurant industry are particularly vulnerable to wage theft.

The administration’s proposal would take money out of the pockets of some of the lowest-paid workers in our country and hand it over to restaurant owners, many of them big corporations.

Does that sound familiar? This is the same kind of reverse Robin Hood scheme as the disgraceful tax bill now making its way through Congress.

We cannot let them get away with this. The administration is trying to sneak this change through without hearing from workers, customers or even employers who disagree at a time of year when tipped workers are the busiest. The deadline for comments on this proposal is Jan. 4, 2018.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 12/08/2017 - 12:49

President of IBEW Local 1253 Joins Sit-In to Fight ‘Dead-Wrong’ Tax Bill IBEW

Outraged by the GOP’s tax bill, a local Electrical Workers (IBEW) president was among five protesters who staged a sit-in and ultimately were arrested Monday at Sen. Susan Collins’ (R) office in Bangor, Maine.

"This bill gives massive tax cuts to the rich on the backs of working people. It was written by the rich and powerful for the rich and powerful," said Nick Paquet, an electrician in his second term as president of IBEW Local 1253 in Augusta, Maine. "Sen. Collins knows right from wrong, and this bill is dead wrong for Maine."

Collins has bucked the GOP party line on occasion, and Paquet thought she might do it again. As a father of four children ages nine to 19, he certainly hoped so. "To be honest, I really thought she wouldn’t vote for it, especially because of who she represents. We’re not well-to-do," he said. "We’re a very scrappy part of Maine up here, and good-paying jobs are hard to come by."

Instead, Collins joined all but one Republican in voting for the bill, which passed 51-49 in the early hours of Dec. 2. The legislation has to survive a second vote once it emerges from a House–Senate conference committee.

If Collins and at least one other GOP senator can be persuaded to change their minds, the bill would die. Paquet urged union families to "call, aggressively call" their senators to demand they oppose it. "You don’t have to do a sit-in like we did, but we really hope we inspire other union households to get involved."

A nonpartisan economic analysis predicts the national debt will soar by $1.5 trillion under the bill, which hands hundreds of billions of dollars to corporations and the rich. Meanwhile, it ends or nullifies major deductions for low-income and middle-class Americans, including medical expenses, home mortgage interest, student loan debt and union dues. An estimated 13 million people would lose health care and—contrary to GOP talking points—the bill would destroy, not create, jobs due to tax breaks that give companies incentive to move Americans’ jobs to other countries. At home, the bill would have crippling effects on federal money for infrastructure, costing many workers their livelihoods.

The Economic Policy Institute called the bill "a scam through and through," warning that in addition to its immediate consequences, "the deficits it will leave in its wake will be used to attack Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid."

Motivated by all of that, Paquet arrived at Collins’ office around 3 p.m. Monday with a nurse, a veteran [with disabilities], a retiree and an AFL-CIO mobilizer. They asked to talk to Collins by phone—she was in Washington, D.C.—but had to settle for an hour’s discussion with a staffer. Police arrested them peacefully several hours later when they refused orders to leave. They were quickly processed in and out of the county jail on criminal trespass charges. They have a Jan. 17 court date.

What upsets Paquet as much as the bill’s content is that Republican leaders wrote it in secret without public hearings or Democratic input, then pushed it through the Senate at warp speed. He doubts Collins and most other senators have read the bill’s 479 pages, let alone fully understood it before voting.

"Why this big rush?" Paquet said. "Our voices aren’t being heard—state level, federal, they really forget who they’re working for. They were elected to serve their constituents, just like I was elected to serve my members."

This post originally appeared at IBEW.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 12/08/2017 - 11:50