On May 29, the 45th annual convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists voted unanimously to support democracy and denounce what activists around the world are calling a legislative coup in Brazil. President Dilma Rouseff, re-elected by 54 million Brazilians in 2014, was leading the fourth consecutive Workers’ Party government, whose policies had lifted more than 40 million people out of poverty in the majority black nation, the largest black country outside of Africa.

The strongest protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer working people are found in a union contract. Working people in unions have fought hard to make sure that employers cannot discriminate against people. This includes helping pass laws that protect LGBTQ working people, especially transgender people.

Every week, we'll be bringing you a roundup of the important news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here's this week's Working People Weekly List.

One of the great benefits of joining the military is the opportunity to learn skills that benefit a soldier after their service is completed. Some soldiers, such as Specialist Tanya Preddy and Sergeant Alyssa Tamayo, prepare for careers that provide good jobs while breaking ground at the same time. Preddy and Tamayo just became the first women to graduate Fort Campbell’s Veterans in Piping program in Kentucky.

The U.S. economy added 38,000 jobs in May and unemployment fell to 4.7%, down from 5.0% in April, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Violence on the job is a serious and widespread safety and health problem for millions of working people. Workplace violence is the second leading cause of job-related death in the United States and is responsible for an increasing number of serious injuries. The rate of injuries stemming from workplace violence has increased over the last several decades, while the overall rate for job injuries has declined.

President Barack Obama says yes, we should. Speaking Wednesday in Elkhart, Indiana, he called for increasing Social Security benefits for both current and future retirees:

We can’t afford to weaken Social Security. We should be strengthening Social Security. And not only do we need to strengthen its long-term health, it’s time we finally made Social Security more generous, and increased its benefits so that today’s retirees and future generations get the dignified retirement that they’ve earned.

In a recent sermon, Pope Francis condemned bosses who exploit workers and the so-called ‘prosperity gospel’ that teaches that profits are more important than people.

Negotiators from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Communications Workers of America (CWA), representing nearly 40,000 striking Verizon workers, announced they have reached a tentative contract with Verizon.

Communications Workers of America (CWA) issued the following statement in response to the agreement reached between striking workers and Verizon last week.

Each week, we take a look at the biggest friends and foes of labor. We celebrate the workers winning big and small battles, and we shame the companies or people trying to deny working people their rights.

You might be able to drastically lower your student loan payments to as little as $0 a month.

No, really.

I don’t mean to be rude, but please don’t thank me or any living veteran for their service today. Not today.

Every week, we'll be bringing you a roundup of the important news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here's this week's Working People Weekly List.

United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo W. Gerard issued the following statement today after the U.S. International Trade Commission decided to initiate action on the complaint filed by U.S. Steel Corp. under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The petition was filed at the ITC on April 26, seeking relief from China’s unfair and illegal practices in the steel sector.

The AFL-CIO demanded today that student loan debt servicer Navient disclose its corporate spending on lobbying activity. The labor federation delivered a proposal during Navient’s annual shareholder meeting calling on the company to disclose all of its lobbying efforts and expenditures. 

For centuries, unions have been at the forefront of fighting for and winning safer protections for working people. Horrific workplace tragedies such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and the Hawks Nest Tunnel disasters are reminders of the need for unions.

Not that long ago, it seemed unrealistic to think that labor walks could be completed 100% electronically. But on Saturday, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s Committee on Political Education (COPE) achieved that goal when the Mercer County Central Labor Council completed a walk without a single paper packet being distributed!

On the anniversary of the last time the federal minimum wage was increased to $7.25, it's timely to go over some basic facts on the minimum wage. 

Here are 10 important figures to remember when we talk about the minimum wage (after the jump). 

Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff to the summer holiday season. While the day honors those who have given their lives defending the nation, the weekend also marks the start of grilling season. Here’s some union-made food and drink to get your barbecue off to a great start.