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Updated: 1 hour 49 min ago

TPP Puts Big Pharma Profits Ahead of People Like Zahara

Tue, 03/22/2016 - 09:00

Ever wonder how the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal would affect you or the people you love?

Zahara Heckscher explains how TPP will make it harder for cancer patients to afford life-saving treatment. 

Is Rick Snyder Smarter Than a 10-Year-Old? Apparently Not: Winners and Losers of the Week

Mon, 03/21/2016 - 09:00

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.

The Working People Weekly List

Sun, 03/20/2016 - 08:00

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.

Buy Union as You Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Sat, 03/19/2016 - 07:00

This weekend, many will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day by going green and grabbing a frosty brew, and Labor 411 has more than a few great options. Our beer list has topped 250 choices and if you’re putting a meal together, we’ve got some delicious savory accompaniments. Add a little green food coloring to your pint and you’re good to go. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Cambridge Takes Steps to Protect Workers from Wage Theft

Fri, 03/18/2016 - 09:00

This week, workers in Cambridge, Massachusetts, gained new protections for making sure they are paid fairly and on time. On March 14, city manager Richard Rossi signed an executive order establishing certification requirements for vendors bidding on city contracts. The measure seeks to prevent wage theft, which is the improper withholding of payment from employees and the failure to pay employees according to required schedules. Wage theft most often involves employers paying less than the minimum, contracted or prevailing wage, not paying for all hours worked, or not paying overtime for hours exceeding 40 per week. But wage theft can take many forms—employers may never send the final paycheck or may misclassify workers as independent contractors.

AFL-CIO Urges Administration to Finalize Long-Overdue Worker Protections

Thu, 03/17/2016 - 14:02

Following the U.S. Department of Labor sending the much-needed overtime rule to the Office of Management and Budget, the AFL-CIO renewed its call for final action on these worker protections to improve the lives of working people across the country. These regulations include rules on fiduciary responsibility, silica and the persuader rule.

Flint Families: 'How Do You Expect Anyone to Pay for Their Own Poison'

Thu, 03/17/2016 - 13:00

"How do you expect anyone to pay for their own poison?"

That's the question Flint, Michigan, resident Keri Webber is asking while in Washington, D.C. Webber and other families affected by the Flint water crisis are at the nation's Capitol to demand answers and solutions from Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R), who is in town to testify before Congress on the crisis.

AFL-CIO Joins International Mission Demanding Accountability and Human Rights Protections in Honduras

Thu, 03/17/2016 - 12:00

On March 3, human rights activists denounced the assassination of Berta Cáceres, a leader for indigenous rights and environmental justice with the Council of Indigenous and Popular Organizations of Honduras. The Ides of March in Honduras demonstrated once again that the shocking level of violence against activists since the 2009 coup—with some 200 murdered—has reached crisis proportions.

Report: Working Women in the U.S. Have Less than 40 Minutes of Personal Time a Day

Thu, 03/17/2016 - 11:00

new report released by the AFL-CIO reveals that more than half of working women spend less than four hours a week on themselves after fulfilling their work and caregiving responsibilities. The report is based on the results of a survey on women, which received nearly 25,000 responses from union and nonunion women across the country.

Modernization of Chicago Transit to Be Completed by Chicago's Working People

Thu, 03/17/2016 - 08:00

The Chicago Transit Board awarded a contract this week to CSR Sifang America JV to build the newest generation of Chicago Transit Authority rail cars as part of the city's modernization program. CSR has pledged to build a new rail car assembly facility in Chicago, the first new assembly of its kind in 35 years. The investment of $40 million is expected to generate 170 jobs, while also reducing maintenance costs and reducing power use through the use of more efficient technology.

Senate Should Schedule Hearing and Vote on Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland

Wed, 03/16/2016 - 12:00

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka released the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Education, Not Deportation! North Carolina State AFL-CIO Calls on DHS to Protect Immigrant Students

Wed, 03/16/2016 - 10:00

In a letter sent last week, the North Carolina State AFL-CIO demanded that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson end the ongoing practice of immigration raids that are terrorizing our communities and requested protection for the Central American teenagers who are enrolled in the state’s public schools.

Flint Families Come to Washington to Demand Answers and Solutions from Rick Snyder

Tue, 03/15/2016 - 10:15

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) will soon be in Washington, D.C., to give testimony to the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee about the Flint water crisis. But he won't be the only one arriving in the nation's capital to talk about his disgrace. Five Flint, Mich., families coping with the aftermath of the crisis also will be in Washington to share their stories. AFL-CIO and the community group Flint Rising are working to ensure these families have their voices heard, too.

The Poster Child for Corporate Greed: Winners and Losers of the Week

Mon, 03/14/2016 - 13:37

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.

Trumka: Trump Would Make Life 'Exponentially Worse' for Working People

Mon, 03/14/2016 - 12:04

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka spoke recently about the dangers of the Donald Trump (R) presidential campaign, in an op-ed in the Providence Journal and an appearance on “Matter of Fact with Fernando Espuelas.”

The Working People Weekly List

Sun, 03/13/2016 - 08:00

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.

Construction Unions Help Wounded Veteran Renovate Virginia Home

Sat, 03/12/2016 - 08:00

Last weekend, Washington, D.C.-area construction unions worked with the Wounded Warrior Project to renovate the Virginia home of a veteran wounded while serving in the Iraq War. Marine Cpl. Brandon Burns was wounded by sniper fire in Al Falluja, Iraq, in 2004, and the left side of his body has been paralyzed since. Now the man who paid a big cost in service of his country is getting much-needed renovations to his home.

Why Are Millennials Worse Off Than You Are?

Fri, 03/11/2016 - 10:11

Ever feel like you’ve been set up to fail?

IBEW 1245 Launches Public-Sector Member-to-Member Education Drive on the 'Union Difference'

Fri, 03/11/2016 - 08:00

This is just one of the tough questions that 60 Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245 public-sector member leaders tackled as they prepared to launch a new member-to-member educational drive to push back against the growing attacks against public-sector unions.

Trumka: Bad Trade Deals Kill American Jobs

Thu, 03/10/2016 - 10:30

In an op-ed that appeared in USA Today, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka explained why voters are so mad in this election.

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