Investing in Infrastructure: The Working People Weekly List

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

Transit Agencies Must Replace Most Maintenance Workers This Decade: “The public transit industry employs 430,000 workers and is anticipating 243,000 job openings for mechanics over the next decade, according to a report from TransitCenter. The industry should build on successful partnerships between agencies, labor unions and high schools and colleges to recruit a more diverse maintenance workforce, the report says.”

UC Medical, Service Workers Picket for Higher Pay, Housing Help: “Thousands of UC workers, including hospital technicians, custodians, gardeners, security officers and parking attendants picketed on UC campuses and medical centers Wednesday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The employees, represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299, are demanding higher pay and help with housing. The union has been negotiating a new contract since January. The workers said their wages have not kept up with inflation and rising rents, according to the Chronicle.”

SIU School of Medicine Ratifies New Contract with Union Workers in Springfield: “After long negotiations and bargaining, the SIU School of Medicine has come to an agreement about their contracts with their employees. After 14 months of negotiations, the school and the AFSCME Local 370 agreed to and ratified a new contract on Tuesday. Nearly 800 employees work in positions represented by the union, according to AFSCME. The new contract includes a sustainable pay increase in addition to the 17.2% increase the school has made since 2019.”

Meet the Michigan Workers Supporting Biden Over Trump: “Union workers are standing behind President Joe Biden’s efforts to invest in manufacturing, infrastructure, and clean energy—and sounding alarms over what another Trump administration could mean for Michigan’s middle class. John Coleman has already decided which candidate will earn his vote in this year’s presidential election. As a union organizer for metal workers across Michigan, he said it was a relatively simple decision that all boiled down to an even simpler underlying philosophy: ‘We support people who support labor. Period,’ Coleman, of Traverse City, told The ‘Gander.”

Investing in Infrastructure Helps Everybody: “My family is my life, and I’m grateful that the Biden administration’s infrastructure legislation was written with families like mine in mind. Not only is it expected to create 2 million jobs per year through the course of a decade, it incentivizes companies to hire union workers and pay non-union laborers a fair prevailing wage. This protection of wages for millions of workers gives us a real chance to grow the middle class, and marks the difference between delivering jobs and building careers.”

Nurses Are Pushing Back on AI in Health Care. Here's Why: “According to a new survey from National Nurses United (NNU), 60% of nurses don't trust their employers to prioritize patient safety when implementing new artificial intelligence (AI) technology. For the survey, NNU gathered responses from over 2,300 RNs and members of the organization between Jan. 18 and March 4. In total, 40% of nurses said their employer had introduced ‘new devices, gadgets, and changes to the electronic health records’ over the last 12 months. Half of respondents also said that their employers used algorithms based on electronic health record (EHR) data to determine patient acuity and need for nursing care.”

SAG-AFTRA Applauds Scarlett Johansson for Rebuking OpenAI Over Voice that Sounded Like Her: “SAG-AFTRA, the labor union that represents thousands of Hollywood actors, commended Scarlett Johansson for publicly calling out OpenAI for using a voice that sounded ‘eerily similar’ to hers in its new GPT-40 model. ‘We thank Ms. Johansson for speaking out on this issue of crucial importance to all SAG-AFTRA members,’ a spokesperson for the guild said in a statement Tuesday. ‘We share in her concerns and fully support her right to have clarity and transparency regarding the voice used in developing the Chat GPT-40 appliance ‘Sky.’’ ‘SAG-AFTRA members are among the most talented and often most recognizable people on the planet,’ the union spokesperson added. ‘That is why we’re strongly championing federal legislation that would protect their voices and likenesses—and everyone else’s as well—from unauthorized digital replication.’”

Postdocs Unionize at Albert Einstein College of Medicine: “Postdoctoral researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, a private nonprofit institution in the Bronx, have unionized with a 152-to-32 vote. Einstein Researchers United, the new union, said postdocs voted Wednesday and Thursday. It said it will represent about 230 workers. The union is affiliated with the UAW. Brandon Mancilla, director of the UAW region that contains New York City, said in a news release that the postdocs ‘overcame intense opposition from the Einstein administration to win their union.’”

Flight Attendants Union Meets in Atlanta Amid Push to Unionize at Delta: “Leaders of the Association of Flight Attendants are holding their national convention this week in Atlanta, the hometown of Delta Air Lines—the union’s white whale it has sought for decades to organize. The airline industry is highly unionized, and the AFA represents cabin crew members at more than a dozen carriers. But Delta, nestled in the more union-averse South, has remained an anomaly among the nation’s largest carriers with pilots as Delta’s only major unionized group. Holding the convention in Atlanta was a decision ‘to go somewhere meaningful,’ said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants.”

Resident Assistants at Tufts, Barnard Form Unions to Improve Their Jobs: “As my sophomore year at Tufts University comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on enjoyable moments and my accomplishments that have occurred over the course of the school year. One of the achievements I’m most proud of is that my union—the United Labor of Tufts Resident Assistants, part of OPEIU Local 153—ratified our first contract. The union contract was the result of about seven months worth of negotiating with the Tufts administration over resident assistants’ pay, benefits, and working conditions, and we ratified the contract with 96% ‘yes’ votes. What excites me the most, though, is knowing we’re part of a wave of resident assistants organizing at campuses across the country.”

Workers at Better Buzz Coffee in Hillcrest Vote to Join UFCW Local 135: “Workers at Better Buzz Coffee’s Hillcrest location voted overwhelmingly Friday to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 135, the union announced. Baristas, trainers and shift supervisors, who organized under the name Better Buzz United, cast ballots in an election held by the National Labor Relations Board. The workers had cited concerns about wages, benefits, scheduling and overall workplace safety as reasons for seeking union representation.”

Disneyland Character Workers Vote to Unionize with Actors’ Equity: “Another union is coming to Disneyland. On Saturday, a majority of the amusement park’s character workers voted to unionize with Actors’ Equity Association in a National Labor Relations Board vote, ushering more employees at Disneyland into the union fold. Nine hundred and fifty-three workers voted ‘yes’ to join Equity, while 258 voted ‘no.’ The parties now have several days to file any objections, and if none are submitted, the results will be certified. ‘They say that Disneyland is ‘the place where dreams come true,’ and for the Disney cast members who have worked to organize a union, their dream came true today,’ Actors’ Equity Association president Kate Shindle said in a statement on Saturday.”

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/29/2024 - 10:07

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Legal Worker Union Ratifies Contract Offer After Historic 13-Week Strike

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Last week, 72% of participating union members at Mobilization for Justice (MFJ) voted to ratify a new contract, which will end the union’s nearly three-month strike—the longest New York City legal services strike since 1991—upon ratification by the MFJ Board.

MFJ Union is part of the Legal Services Staff Association, a unit of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) and covers attorneys, paralegals, social workers and other staff. The new agreement secured major victories, including many of the unit’s core demands like double-digit raises for MFJ’s lowest paid workers, improved benefits and expanded workplace protections. Members were forced to strike after management responded to their offers with demands for givebacks, antagonistic counter-proposals and repeated violations of their duty to bargain in good faith. Workers held the picket line for months to force the nonprofit legal services and advocacy organization to honor its own mission and values.

“It’s disappointing that MFJ Management put its staff and clients through months of unnecessary hardship when it was in their power to meet these demands all along,” said Brenden Ross, a bargaining committee member and staff attorney in MFJ’s Mental Health Law Project. “But they underestimated us. Our members fought hard, had each other’s backs, and we won an incredible contract.”

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/29/2024 - 10:00

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Georgia Blue Bird Workers Approve Their First Union Contract

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

United Steelworkers (USW) members at Blue Bird Corp. in Fort Valley, Georgia, voted to approve a three-year contract that will provide the more than 1,500 covered workers with at least a 12% raise. Some of the lowest-paid workers at the company will get raises of more than 40%. The contract also requires the company to contribute to a retirement plan for workers, share profits, and improve health and safety.

“Federal investments like these must come with a seat at the table for workers,” said USW District 9 Director Daniel Flippo. “Our union has a long history in the South fighting for better wages and working conditions in a variety of industries, but for too long, corporations and their political cronies have tried to characterize the South as a place where they could run away from unions, cut corners and pay workers less.”

Blue Bird received $40 million in federal aid to build electric school buses, and President Biden said acting Labor Secretary Julie Su helped bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/28/2024 - 09:49

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Ligaya Domingo

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Ligaya Domingo of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA).

Ligaya Domingo has served the labor movement in every capacity from organizer and shop steward to lead negotiator and local representative. As the current racial justice education director of SEIU Local 1199NW, she is transforming labor culture, leadership development and coalition relationships. She started as a union organizer in AFL-CIO’s Union Summer Program in 1996. She is also trustee of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW's multi-employer training fund. She serves on the national executive board for APALA as president.

Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 05/26/2024 - 10:51

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Marlan Maralit

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Marlan Maralit of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Marlan Maralit serves on the APALA National Executive Board as an at-large member and was trained as a professional organizer through the APALA Organizing Institute's three-day training. His experience has been informed by the migrant Filipino farmworkers of the 1960s. Maralit works as a lead organizer with the AAUP, an affiliate of AFT, and has organized faculty throughout the country. He is currently organizing a full-time faculty unit of nearly 1,000 people in the Midwest that started during the pandemic and is nearing a representation election for collective bargaining.

Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 05/25/2024 - 10:51

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Tracy Lai

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Tracy Lai of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Tracy Lai has served in multiple capacities as an elected officer of AFT Local 1789 and AFT Washington. She received the 2023 Philip Vera Cruz Lifetime Achievement Award from the APALA and the 2024 Engaged Scholar Award from the Association for Asian American Studies.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/24/2024 - 10:51

Worker Wins: A Bright Future of Worker Empowerment

Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. 

Postdocs Form Union at Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Postdoctoral researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, one of New York’s most prestigious research institutions, have won their union election in a landslide victory. Einstein Researchers United-UAW will represent about 230 workers who make crucial contributions to public health, climate science and many other areas. Newly minted members say that union representation will allow them to enjoy workplace rights, improved benefits, more family-friendly policies and practices, and will create conditions where their work is valued. Rohan Misra, a postdoc fellow in the genetics department, said that “despite the fact that postdocs drive the world-class research produced at Einstein, I’ve witnessed firsthand the lack of support many of us face in addressing our needs, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. Our international status compounds these challenges, making fair pay and adequate support crucial.”

Hillcrest Better Buzz Workers Vote to Join UFCW: Workers at Better Buzz Coffee’s Hillcrest location in San Diego voted on Friday to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135. Better Buzz is one of the largest local coffee chains in San Diego County, with locations in Southern California and more new branches opening in Arizona. The unit includes baristas, trainers and shift supervisors, who organized under the name Better Buzz United. Workers started discussing unionizing in January—with core concerns including low pay, inconsistent scheduling and lack of benefits like health care and PTO—then filed a union election petition in April. “I’m extremely grateful to all of my coworkers for showing up and showing out in support of granting workers a voice,” said barista Jackson Ducksworth in a Local 135 press release. “This is another step towards a bright future of worker empowerment!”

AFGE and TSA Sign Historic New Contract: AFGE and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) signed their first union contract last week under expanded collective bargaining rights recently extended to airport screeners by the Biden administration. This contract is a huge victory for transportation security officers (TSOs) who, for nearly two decades, have lacked many of the key labor rights guaranteed to most federal employees and were also some of the lowest paid in the federal workforce. Agreement wins include a more streamlined grievance process and arbitration rules, improved pay and expanded work-life balance policies like shift trading. The deal also memorializes the recently expanded bargaining rights, given that the change occurred administratively, which will protect these rights from being simply reversed by a future administration. “The TSA has existed for over 20 years, and there has never been a contract like this in its entire history. When the agency began, we weren’t even allowed to join a union, much less negotiate a contract,” said Hydrick Thomas, president of AFGE Council 100, which represents TSOs nationwide. “This new contract includes rights that are a huge step forward from the early days of the TSA. As the rights of the workers at the TSA have improved, so has turnover at the agency. More experienced TSOs mean a more secure flying experience for air travelers, and the new rights achieved by our members mean more employees will make serving the flying public a long-term career.”

Disneyland Character Workers Vote to Form Union with Equity: An overwhelming majority of the Disneyland Resort cast members who bring the magic of the amusement park to life voted to form a union on Saturday with Actors’ Equity Association (Equity). The new bargaining unit—named Magic United—includes about 1,700 workers who perform as beloved characters at the park, as well as the staff members who supervise interactions between park visitors and characters and train these performers. Disneyland is already a highly unionized workplace with staff in different roles represented by a number of different unions, but character workers have long been one of the few departments without collective bargaining power. Equity already negotiates on behalf of performers in shows at Walt Disney World and in Disney theatricals on Broadway and on national tours. “They say that Disneyland is ‘the place where dreams come true,’ and for the Disney Cast Members who have worked to organize a union, their dream came true today,” said Equity President Kate Shindle in a press release. “These workers are on the front lines of the Guest experience; they're the human beings who create lifelong memories when your kids hug a character, or when your family watches a parade roll by the castle. The next step will be to collaborate with them about improving health & safety, wages, benefits, working conditions and job security. After that we will meet with representatives of the Walt Disney Company to negotiate those priorities into a first contract.”

Biden Signs Labor-Backed, Bipartisan FAA Bill into Law: President Biden signed into law a bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill on Thursday that aims to improve aviation safety while strengthening protections for both passengers and airline workers. H.R. 3935, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, will address the air traffic controller staffing crisis, strengthening protections for flight crew, modernizing mental health and medication protocols for pilots, creating a national plan to enhance recruitment, hiring and retention in the civil aviation workforce, and more. Major labor unions across the aviation industry have hailed this legislation as a clear and meaningful win for safety and worker rights. “This reauthorization of the FAA is a victory for workers, and the AFL-CIO is thrilled by its passage,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler in a press release. “While rejecting harmful policy changes, this bipartisan agreement strengthens safety standards, supports workforce growth and enhances aviation infrastructure….The AFL-CIO is proud to work with our allies in Congress and all the aviation unions of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, on this reauthorization.”

New Flyer Workers in Alabama Ratify Union Contract, a Triumph for Labor in the South: IUE-CWA members at New Flyer's Anniston, Alabama, facility overwhelmingly ratified their first contract with near unanimous agreement. The agreement will raise the pay of most workers by 25% to 38% by 2026, includes language to restrict forced overtime, expands paid time off to include more parental leave and codifies Juneteenth as a contractual holiday. Workers at New Flyer—a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s largest bus and coach manufacturers—formed their union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) earlier this year. They were able to organize free from managerial interference because of a labor peace agreement CWA negotiated with the company in 2022. Additionally, thanks to the tireless advocacy work of community-allied organizations like Jobs to Move America, New Flyer also agreed to a community benefits agreement that would hold it accountable for instituting hiring and promotion practices that would help boost historically disadvantaged groups. This victory is not just a win for workers at the company, but also a beacon of hope for Southern workers across industries. "I think this will put New Flyer on the map as one of the better-paying jobs in the area. With the union now in place, it will also make it a great place to work,” said Marcus King, a worker at New Flyer, in a CWA press release. “The union will bring equality and a safer environment for us workers. This is the beginning of a legacy that will last for generations, and I am proud to have been part of getting this started.”

UW Student Workers Reach a Deal with University After One-Day Strike: After thousands of academic student employees (ASEs) at the University of Washington (UW) went on strike Tuesday, the bargaining team of International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 4121 announced later that night that they had reached a tentative agreement. The union has been working diligently in bargaining sessions with university administrators since February, securing deals on all provisions except wages. UW academic student employees—including teaching assistants, researchers, tutors and others—voted nearly unanimously in April to authorize a strike and hit the picket lines early Tuesday morning to pressure administration to give them the fair pay they deserve. By 9 p.m. of the same day, they had reached a deal. Wins include the largest raises the bargaining unit has ever won in a contract, $0 health care premiums maintained, paid leave time for immigration appointments and hearings, grievance timeline improvements and more.

Natural Grocers Workers in Oklahoma Win Union Election: After years of organizing, workers at Natural Grocers in Norman, Oklahoma, voted to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1000 on Thursday. Staff have been working toward this victory since 2021, enduring hourslong captive-audience meetings from notorious union-busting consultant firm the Crossroads Group and retaliation against pro-union workers. But despite these tactics, newly minted UFCW members are emerging victorious. Core concerns that have animated organizing efforts include fair pay with regular raises, quality health care coverage, protections for pregnant workers, job security and improved bereavement leave—specifically language that is inclusive of co-workers who have passed. “I want a union because I care deeply for my coworkers, my store, my community, and the future of the company,” said Natural Grocers staff member Bridget Burns. “I believe that a union provides a more accessible feedback representation system for workers and that this would enable the company to better uphold their founding principles.”

WGA Members at Sesame Workshop Ratify New Contract: On Friday, members of Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) at Sesame Workshop overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement. The 35-member bargaining unit at Sesame Workshop secured a groundbreaking expansion of the Writers Guild of America’s (WGA) jurisdiction over programs made for platforms such as streaming and social media, minimum rates increases, protections against artificial intelligence, better paid parental leave benefits, increased minimum script fees and huge improvements to new media residuals. “Congratulations to our Sesame Workshop writers, who won groundbreaking protections that will allow them to continue creating children’s media,” said WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. “Make no mistake—these historic gains mark an important step in organizing animation. Writing for children’s media and animation isn’t easier than other forms of screenwriting, and those workers deserve the same protections.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/23/2024 - 14:12

Tags: Organizing

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Christopher Reed

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Christopher Reed of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC).

Christopher Reed, president of NALC Branch 5561, comes from a proud union family. Reed takes his role representing and defending letter carriers and their collective bargaining agreement seriously, and he takes pride in helping new letter carriers get settled. He is also a mentor and assistant coach to a back-to-back state championship-winning high school boys rugby team. Reed is of Samoan and Tongan descent, was raised in Hawaii and loves serving his community and the customers along his route.

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/23/2024 - 10:04

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Postdocs Form Union at Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Postdoctoral researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, one of New York’s most prestigious research institutions, have won their union election in a landslide victory.

Einstein Researchers United-UAW will represent about 230 workers who make crucial contributions to public health, climate science and many other areas. Newly minted members say that union representation will allow them to enjoy workplace rights, improved benefits, more family-friendly policies and practices, and will create conditions where their work is valued.

Rohan Misra, a postdoc fellow in the genetics department, said that “despite the fact that postdocs drive the world-class research produced at Einstein, I’ve witnessed firsthand the lack of support many of us face in addressing our needs, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. Our international status compounds these challenges, making fair pay and adequate support crucial.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/23/2024 - 09:58

Keep Pushing! What Working People Are Doing This Week

Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.

Actors' Equity:

This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re celebrating by showcasing organizations that uplift the voices and labor of AAPI workers. Check out the @APALAnational- the first & only national organization of AAPI workers! https://t.co/DncwrU348D

— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) May 21, 2024

AFGE:

Congratulations to AFGE TSA officers @AFGETSAC100
for a new, historic, 7-year contract that provides unprecedented workplace rights.https://t.co/oGogH47YYi

— AFGE (@AFGENational) May 21, 2024

AFSCME:

Staffing shortages in California hospitals draws 400 people — including @unacuhcp members — to a Sacramento rally this month. https://t.co/HRbuVMefIJ

— AFSCME (@AFSCME) May 21, 2024

Alliance for Retired Americans:

Insulin copays are capped at $35 a month for Medicare beneficiaries now, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. https://t.co/Py16F1PXlK

— Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) May 21, 2024

Amalgamated Transit Union:

Another day, another attack. Our members deserve better protection on the job. #NotOneMore https://t.co/NSfzi9mK6Q

— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) May 22, 2024

American Federation of Teachers:

Good morning from the Capitol! We’re here with @thesbpc and our allies to call on Congress to hold MOHELA responsible for their bad student loan practices. 

Follow along with the hashtag #FireMOHELA. pic.twitter.com/I5fhKIsKHj

— AFT (@AFTunion) May 22, 2024

American Postal Workers Union:

Northeast Regional Coordinator Tiffany Foster reminds us, “We all we got” when it comes to fighting back against management’s changes that negatively impact the postal service. https://t.co/xg11RoJnmO

— The American Postal Workers Union - APWU (@APWUnational) May 21, 2024

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:

Our hearts are with the passengers and crew of Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321. 

"Turbulence is a serious workplace safety issue for Flight Attendants, and today we are sadly reminded it can be deadly." Statement from @FlyingWithSara: https://t.co/ESREaIuaQG

— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) May 21, 2024

Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:

The BCTGM continues to fight for Hearthside workers in London, Ky. Objections to the election have been filed related to federal labor law violations which occurred DURING the May 7-8 vote. #HFSworkersunited https://t.co/NOjNk8HQ9c

— BCTGM International (@BCTGM) May 22, 2024

Boilermakers:

Check out this cool "day in the life" from the Boilermakers National Apprenticeship Program: https://t.co/w1Xje1PN77

— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) May 21, 2024

Bricklayers:

Juan, a member of BAC Local 23 OH/WV/KY/MD who earned his #welding certification last year at our @IMI #training center, returned for a #refractory course
“I appreciate that no matter how experienced you are, without proper training, you'll always be at a disadvantage," Juan said pic.twitter.com/W0o69kC2xh

— Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union (@IUBAC) May 22, 2024

Communications Workers of America:

Solidarity with @TCGunionCWA.
Shame on @eBay. https://t.co/Fx95TtNWah

— CWA (@CWAUnion) May 20, 2024

Department for Professional Employees:

"From what I’ve seen, having a legally protected voice in our workplace has improved morale, working conditions, and fostered more of a community amongst resident assistants here at Tufts." https://t.co/7bKkrkmObO

— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) May 21, 2024

Electrical Workers:

"Our public servants at every level of government are crucial to ensuring that the important functions of our nation are carried out...Congress must guarantee the rights of these employees to organize and collectively bargain." - @RepBrianFitz https://t.co/KHiJq8h8gF

— IBEW (@IBEW) May 22, 2024

Heat and Frost Insulators:

Local 22 Houston members have been volunteering all over the area, helping those affected by the recent severe storms and flooding. Thank you to everyone from Local 22 who stepped up and helped their fellow community members in need. pic.twitter.com/rMxqisZ50i

— Insulators Union 🦎 (@InsulatorsUnion) May 21, 2024

Jobs With Justice:

Keep pushing! The labor movement must take this opportunity to not only support courageous workers organizing shop-by-shop, but also boldly demand industry-wide interventions that create a friendlier terrain for unionization.

Solidarity to workers on the frontlines in AL! ✊❤️ https://t.co/pk2Hn1wtpn

— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) May 17, 2024

Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:

Thanks to all those who attended and supported the LCLAA- WESTCHESTER CHAPTER's Scholarship and Dinner Dance last weekend. Congratulations to all awarded friends and family!
Thank you for making a difference and supporting our students! #UnionStrong #latinoworkers pic.twitter.com/FJeNONrsIL

— LCLAA (@LCLAA) May 20, 2024

Labor Heritage Foundation:

LABOR ART OTW: Battle of Deputies Run
By Brooks Turner; 2023, from the 1934 & Now: Connections of the Minneapolis Truckers’ Strike of 1934 art exhibit. https://t.co/5xtGDhENOK pic.twitter.com/N5QNGjP4wZ

— Labor Heritage (@LaborHeritage1) May 21, 2024

Laborers:

Proud to be Laborers! We're not just building structures, we're building communities. Together, we RISE #LaborersRising #LIUNACares pic.twitter.com/HYOnhZW3p2

— LIUNA (@LIUNA) May 21, 2024

Machinists:

Right now Missouri candidate for the U.S. Senate @LucasKunceMO is talking to the Midwest States Conference of Machinists about his union connection, pro-labor beliefs, and the legislation we need to fight for in Missouri and the U.S.⚙️💪🗳️ 

“We have to pass the #PROact, we have… pic.twitter.com/F8qN2VkimX

— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) May 21, 2024

Metal Trades Department:

IAM International President Brian Bryant Joins President Biden to Announce Increased U.S. Tariffs on Chinese Goods in Bold Move to Protect U.S. Jobs - IAMAW https://t.co/fGJacRRXbD

— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) May 15, 2024

Musical Artists:

Announcing the AGMA AAPI Caucus: https://t.co/UQHmuPSGCU pic.twitter.com/Yyif7wd625

— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) May 21, 2024

National Air Traffic Controllers Association:

The @PSUWorldCampus and NATCA alliance provides our members with a 5% discount on all tuition rates and college credit for completion of certified NATCA Academy courses. Visit https://t.co/uLTJFZvGs2 and find the Penn State logo under the "Education/Kids" tab for more info! pic.twitter.com/kS5ezFfNCc

— NATCA (@NATCA) May 21, 2024

National Association of Letter Carriers:

Chances are, you have already heard your supervisor ask, “What took you so long?” But did you know that there are NO time standards for things like loading your vehicle or set pace at which a carrier must walk? Check out this thread to learn more.⤵️ pic.twitter.com/BXA5xZcUnq

— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) May 21, 2024

National Domestic Workers Alliance:

When there aren’t workplace protections in effect for domestic workers, their safety is at risk.

This is why federal protections for domestic workers are long overdue. We must pass the federal #DomesticWorkersBillofRights today. https://t.co/fMs5dnRCKD

— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) May 21, 2024

National Nurses United:

There are just some things experienced nurses using clinical hands-on judgement will catch with a patient that A.I. has not proven itself capable of. 

What are some examples of things you've notice? #TrustNursesNotAI pic.twitter.com/dU4T5FA1U0

— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) May 21, 2024

North America's Building Trades Unions:

“We have seen gains in physical safety that were once unimaginable, become the standard for success. It’s time to bring the same mindset, resources, and innovation to the issue of mental health + suicide prevention.” - President Sean McGarvey🧠https://t.co/tz96sxPSVd pic.twitter.com/m7JsoXiWse

— The Building Trades (@NABTU) May 22, 2024

Office and Professional Employees:

Christina Grady is an OPEIU Local 29 shop steward at Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld. A member since 2019, Grady also serves on her local union’s executive board. We are proud to recognize her accomplishments and contributions this #AAPIHeritageMonth! pic.twitter.com/Ra2J3Y5faR

— OPEIU | #UnionStrong (@OPEIU) May 15, 2024

Painters and Allied Trades:

Since 2023, there's been a 23% rise in young Americans joining the trades.

If you're looking for a career with zero debt, come join our union's apprenticeship program and learn a skilled trade that can positively transform your life! pic.twitter.com/vWgcYKQGNk

— IUPAT (@GoIUPAT) May 21, 2024

Plasterers and Cement Masons:

GOP state labor policies:
TX: Gov. Abbott signed a law nullifying local rules requiring water breaks for outdoor workers
FL: Gov. DeSantis signed a law forbidding local govts from setting heat exposure rules for workers. And more. A must-read by @ jbouiehttps://t.co/RMNCvmre6J

— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) May 21, 2024

Pride At Work:

pic.twitter.com/3WYG4uMIf8

— Pride at Work (@PrideatWork) May 17, 2024

Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:

PASS expects FAA to comply w/telework language in Reauthorization. Reinforces telework proposals union has made at bargaining table. FAA should live up to administration "most union friendly in history." @FAA_Mike @SecretaryPete @POTUS @AFLCIO @TTDAFLCIO https://t.co/13rkUlENph

— PASS (@PASSNational) May 17, 2024

Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:

Did you know that many Kraft/Heinz products are RWDSU #UnionMade? @RWDSU Local 705 members in Holland, Michigan produce Heinz ketchup, mustard, relish, vinegar, BBQ sauce, and Taco Bell sauce! pic.twitter.com/TOTBzSdiyy

— RWDSU (@RWDSU) May 22, 2024

Roofers and Waterproofers:

When using a step ladder, NEVER stand on or above the top step! Learn more about using ladders safely: https://t.co/cd87kLTQs3 #roofersafety365 pic.twitter.com/01TaVwtxT2

— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) May 22, 2024

SAG-AFTRA:

#SagAftraMembers, your voices were heard loud and clear as #AB1836 cleared the Assembly floor without a single NO vote. We thank you for your engagement on this crucial issue! Next stop: the Senate. Together, we can close the A.I. loophole and protect artists' rights! https://t.co/qf2PWpYWgs

— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) May 21, 2024

Solidarity Center:

📄NEW REPORT JUST RELEASED: @ILAW_Network and @EqualRights dig in on the underlying causes of why #WorkplaceDiscrimination persists & how countries can take proactive measures to both prevent discrimination and address it when it occurs.

Read here: https://t.co/GKmfwtQ4MV

— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) May 21, 2024

The NewsGuild-CWA:

If passed, SB1327 would dramatically improve the capacity of CA's newsrooms to deliver news that preserves democracy and informs communities.

We applaud CA lawmakers for finding innovative solutions to support journalists and recognizing the importance of our industry ✊ https://t.co/TbUZEYZJTN

— NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) May 21, 2024

Theatrical Stage Employees:

Today we lift up proud @ICGLocal600 member and #APIHeritageMonth spotlight, Betty Chow. Betty has been an IATSE member for 25 years and enjoys serving as a resource in ICG, Local 600 for her fellow IA kin to thrive and succeed. Betty, we’re proud to have you in our union family! pic.twitter.com/0UKie2yzIE

— IATSE // #IASolidarity (@IATSE) May 22, 2024

Transport Workers Union:

The TWU wholeheartedly supports @TransportGOP & @TransportDems efforts to prohibit transit agencies' use of federal $ on rolling stock from Chinese manufacturers, a critical issue for TWU Local 234 in Philadelphia. Now we need Senate action! https://t.co/Ujpi6eW5FB

— TWU (@transportworker) May 22, 2024

UAW:

Members of UAW Local 3520 in Statesville, NC wear red for solidarity. #StandUpUW #Solidarity pic.twitter.com/xme5KFRnP1

— UAW (@UAW) May 22, 2024

Union Label and Service Trades Department:

As states roll back child labor protections legal violations have soared. https://t.co/g2vU92r7Gu

— Union Label Dept. (@ULSTD_AFLCIO) May 20, 2024

Union Veterans Council:

Hear Executive Director @willattig's message of global solidarity with the workers of the Confederation of Free Trade of Ukraine(@CFTUU ).#UnionStrong #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦✊ https://t.co/bM7eNsfaJY

— Union Veterans Council🪖✊ (@unionveterans) May 16, 2024

UNITE HERE:

Workers have the right to organize a union.
And workers @hyattregency Boston have demanded a fair process to decide on unionization, free from harassment or intimidation.@Ruthzee @EdforBoston pic.twitter.com/uSuIEuhkM5

— UNITE HERE Local 26 (@UNITEHERE26) May 20, 2024

United Food and Commercial Workers:

Read it and weep📚

Workers at Shelf Life Books in Richmond, VA, have announced that they officially unionized with @UFCW400, making them the first booksellers in Richmond to form a union. 

Welcome to the family! 

➡️ https://t.co/amsSJx3vyu pic.twitter.com/kvB8UzijAC

— UFCW (@UFCW) May 21, 2024

United Steelworkers:

There's still time to register for the USW Civil and Human Rights Conference this June 9-12! Visit https://t.co/h6rvQRgUeL to join the movement. pic.twitter.com/EHt1M9sk3V

— United Steelworkers #EverybodysUnion (@steelworkers) May 22, 2024

Utility Workers:

Memorial Day is more than just a long weekend. Over the upcoming holiday, we encourage UWUA members to find ways to meaningfully honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. 

Here are details for two such events in Region 1. pic.twitter.com/JUdcjqj8r9

— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) May 22, 2024

Working America:

Do you know about the federal program that helps with cooling costs and AC repairs? Stay comfortable with the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) this summer. See if you’re eligible and spread the word: https://t.co/HdcHFNx4BS #LIHEAP #WorkingAmerica pic.twitter.com/Lck8vc1KCO

— Working America (@WorkingAmerica) May 15, 2024

Writers Guild of America East:

It's time for entertainment industry workers across all crafts and departments to get the fair compensation and protections they've EARNED. 

Solidarity with @IATSE as they continue negotiations. ✊ #1u #IASolidarity https://t.co/pJ04M9tRZP

— Writers Guild of America East (@WGAEast) May 17, 2024

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/22/2024 - 08:55

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Seung Lee

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Seung Lee of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Seung Lee is APALA's treasurer, a leader of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), AFT Local 2 in New York City and a National Education Association delegate. Lee is an executive board member for UFT and a board member of APALA-New York. He is also the chair of the UFT Asian American Heritage Committee and has served as part of the UFT Political Action Committee. He previously served as the chair of the Asian Pacific Student Coalition at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/22/2024 - 08:48

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Hillcrest Better Buzz Workers Vote to Join UFCW

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Workers at Better Buzz Coffee’s Hillcrest location in San Diego voted on Friday to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135.

Better Buzz is one of the largest local coffee chains in San Diego County, with locations in Southern California and more new branches opening in Arizona. The unit includes baristas, trainers and shift supervisors, who organized under the name Better Buzz United. Workers started discussing unionizing in January—with core concerns including low pay, inconsistent scheduling and lack of benefits like health care and PTO—then filed a union election petition in April.

“I’m extremely grateful to all of my coworkers for showing up and showing out in support of granting workers a voice,” said barista Jackson Ducksworth in a Local 135 press release. “This is another step towards a bright future of worker empowerment!”

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/22/2024 - 08:42

A Huge Victory: In the States Roundup

It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on X (formerly Twitter).

Arizona AFL-CIO:

It's #NationalIfrastructureWeek along with 635 projects across Arizona, the Gila River Indian Community is receiving funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade its water infrastructure, invest in new technologies, and alleviate ongoing drought. #BuiltByBiden pic.twitter.com/iwRYkXCms9

— Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) May 17, 2024

California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:

We are proud to stand with the workers who are fighting back against the Chedraui company’s plan to close two unionized Smart & Final warehouses, forcing longtime workers to reapply for their own jobs at lower wages. We call on Chedraui to treat workers with respect! @Teamsters pic.twitter.com/jhJehbU3md

— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) May 17, 2024

Connecticut AFL-CIO:

Graduate workers at Yale, who are members of @33unitehere, have a contract! "This is a really amazing contract that’s going to be transformative for me. And I know it’s going to be transformative for a lot of other graduate workers as well." @unitehere https://t.co/AYxWYznc4H

— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) May 20, 2024

Florida AFL-CIO:

Congratulations to @ActorsEquity on this huge victory! 💪 https://t.co/527cisphjW

— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) May 20, 2024

Georgia State AFL-CIO:

🎵🎺 Celebrating #BandDirectorsDay! Props to educators shaping future maestros! Kudos to unions like AFM & NEA for backing fair treatment! 🥁✨ #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/sZxpR8IltP

— Georgia AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOGeorgia) May 20, 2024

Illinois AFL-CIO:

That’s right. We are on track to ensure all employees can walk away from non-work related political and religious meetings. Workers go to work to WORK, not to be indoctrinated. https://t.co/v1pyARbP5M

— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) May 21, 2024

Kentucky State AFL-CIO:

Announcing the Kentucky State AFL-CIO's 2024 Primary Election Endorsements#Labor2024 #KyElect #WorkingFamilies #UnionStrong #1Union pic.twitter.com/ZUhIaGGcaR

— Kentucky AFL-CIO (@aflcioky) April 16, 2024

Maine AFL-CIO:

Thank you @RepGolden @SenatorCollins & @SenAngusKing for working to protect jobs & mail delivery in rural Maine.https://t.co/EoLMrOOQe1 #mepolitics

— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) May 20, 2024

Massachusetts AFL-CIO:

The MA AFL-CIO is proud to be among founding members of the newly launched #MassSkills Coalition in partnership with the Healey-Driscoll Administration @MassLWD.

Visit https://t.co/MvMmIlRAmU to see how your organization can get involved in promoting skills-based hiring.

— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) May 16, 2024

Minnesota AFL-CIO:

“In 2023 Governor Walz and DFLers delivered the most pro-worker legislative session in more than a generation. Their work in 2024 built on those wins and continued Minnesota’s path towards becoming the best state for working people." https://t.co/vox7rtaeu5 #1u #mnleg #BestState pic.twitter.com/UiQeLIqT70

— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) May 20, 2024

Missouri AFL-CIO:

See you there! pic.twitter.com/08Hhv7WU8O

— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) May 20, 2024

Montana State AFL-CIO:

It is time to respect the incredible work of our public school teachers. #mtlabor #mtpol https://t.co/ZTu3em76AQ

— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) May 15, 2024

Nebraska State AFL-CIO:

Join us for our Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 1st at Ashland Golf Club. DEADLINE for Team Registration and Sponsorship NEXT WEEK! pic.twitter.com/ErmQxrzerS

— NE State AFL-CIO (@NEAFLCIO) May 15, 2024

Nevada State AFL-CIO:

There are 22 days left until the 6/11 Nevada primary! 

• Online registration deadline: 5 days before Election Day

• Register by mail deadline: Must be postmarked 28 days before Election Day

• In-person registration deadline: Available up to and including on Election Day pic.twitter.com/RD7OEoZNRh

— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) May 20, 2024

New York State AFL-CIO:

The NYS AFL-CIO endorses @DemondLMeeks for New York State Assembly District 137 pic.twitter.com/nasHehv851

— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) May 15, 2024

North Carolina State AFL-CIO:

Solidarity w/NC @CWAUnion members, who kicked off negotiations at Brightspeed Internet by holding an information picket in Greenville! https://t.co/3DhCPYXiPY via @hojungryu_ @WITN #1u

— NC State AFL-CIO // #CountMeIn (@NCStateAFLCIO) May 15, 2024

Ohio AFL-CIO:

#Solidarity forever! https://t.co/TLxMt1TulA

— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) May 20, 2024

Oregon AFL-CIO:

The #KellerAuditorium needs fixing, but it must be done in a way that doesn’t cost workers and downtown businesses their livelihoods for years to come. 

Send Mayor Wheeler and City Council a letter today: Protect downtown arts and entertainment jobs. https://t.co/pn8fo2EY2G pic.twitter.com/pDP24J4f6G

— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) May 20, 2024

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:

Day 2 of convention was electrifying!

Thank you @ActSecJulieSu, @rweingarten Weingarten, and @LizShuler for joining us to get our union members ready for the #YearOfTheWorker! pic.twitter.com/H8oSDVQgZv

— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) May 16, 2024

Texas AFL-CIO:

Today is the first day of early voting for the May 28th runoff election!

Make sure to read our list of labor-endorsed runoff candidates before you head to the polls: https://t.co/OepbqC1VGg

Let's get these workers' champs across the finish line & on the ballot in November! #1u pic.twitter.com/f22XIZxnHq

— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) May 20, 2024

Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:

President April Sims: “Our movement is proud to endorse pro-worker candidates from every region of Washington. Working people have a powerful voice that must be heard.”

Check out the 2024 WSLC endorsements at The Stand.#LaborVotes #WAelexhttps://t.co/QEU9taT0oO

— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) May 19, 2024

Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:

Campaign aims to bolster Social Security’s workforce, strengthen its benefits https://t.co/NHbbyN5fbd via @WIExaminer

— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) May 20, 2024

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/21/2024 - 10:03

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Mark Masaoka

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Mark Masaoka of the 

Mark Masaoka cut his union teeth on the shop floor at Ford-Pico Rivera, UAW Local 923, and GM Van Nuys, UAW Local 645, where he was elected to the executive board. Masaoka helped found APALA in 1992. Now retired, he is active in Nikkei Progressives, a Japanese American community group. He reconnected with UAW colleagues during the recent strike at Chrysler-parent Stellantis and helps advise California Rideshare Drivers United.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/21/2024 - 09:57

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Postdocs Form Union at Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Postdoctoral researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx voted 152 to 32 to form a union with the UAW. The new unit will represent about 230 workers.

“Despite the fact that postdocs drive the world-class research produced at Einstein, I’ve witnessed firsthand the lack of support many of us face in addressing our needs, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. Our international status compounds these challenges, making fair pay and adequate support crucial,” said postdoc fellow Rohan Misra. The new union “will allow us to advocate strongly for long-overdue improvements to workplace rights, benefits and family-friendly policies, and create a supportive work environment where our contributions are truly valued.”

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/21/2024 - 09:50

Leveling the Playing Field: The Working People Weekly List

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

Biden Signs Bipartisan FAA Bill into Law: “President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, enacting a law that aims to improve aviation safety and strengthen protections for passengers and airline workers. The legislation, which passed the House on Wednesday and the Senate last week, renews authority for the agency for the next five years and invests in air travel infrastructure nationwide.”

Biden’s Labor Report Card: Historian Gives ‘Union Joe’ a Higher Grade Than Any President Since FDR: “Joe Biden has pledged repeatedly to go further than any of his predecessors with his support for U.S. labor rights. ‘I intend to be the most pro-union president leading the most pro-union administration in American history,’ Biden said at a White House meeting in September 2021 that brought together ordinary workers, labor leaders, and government officials. He has expressed this intention many times, sometimes clarifying his goals. For example, in 2023 he said in Chicago that his administration was ‘making it easier to empower workers by making it easier to join a union.’ Based on my research regarding the history of organized labor in America, I would give Biden an A-minus for his record on workers rights.”

Another Electric Vehicle Factory Has Unionized, Boosting Labor’s Push in U.S. South: “Workers at an Alabama electric bus plant have unionized and inked a contract with significant pay raises, another win for the U.S. labor movement in the emerging green economy and the union-scarce South. The roughly 600 workers at the New Flyer factory formed a union with the Communications Workers of America earlier this year, joining a string of U.S. organizing victories at its parent NFI Group Inc., North America’s biggest manufacturer of transit buses. The contract, ratified this week, will raise most employees’ pay by 25% to 38% by 2026, according to CWA. The contract also restricts forced overtime and expands paid time off to include more parental leave and a Juneteenth holiday.”

Chicago’s Service and Cultural Workers Are Unionizing Like Never Before: “As the pandemic first sank its talons into the service industry—closing hotels, restaurants, grocers, and retail stores—service were lauded as ‘essential workers.’ Since then, they’ve been unionizing their workplaces at a speed the U.S. hasn’t seen in more than half a century. Between March 2022 and April 2024, about 290 workers at nine Chicago hotels, bars, and restaurants won union representation with Unite Here Local 1. These new contracts include a minimum wage of $25 per hour, health care coverage, and new or strengthened pensions. The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), representing 35,000 museum workers nationally, has seen similar gains.”

Are Advertising and Marketing on the Brink of a Union Wave?: “When one thinks of unions within the media industry, film and television actors and reporters likely come to mind. These sectors have been highly unionized for decades, mainly through SAG-AFTRA, NewsGuild-CWA (Communication Workers of America), the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and the Writers Guild of America. Even newer iterations of these fields—like digital journalism—have had recent organizing gains.”

Biden Tariffs Will 'Level Playing Field' for Workers: AFL-CIO President: “‘It's created an unlevel playing field for workers where you have an auto worker struggling to keep a good job in the auto industry because they're competing against a country that's taking advantage of manipulating their currency or instituting unfair practices,’ American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) President Liz Shuler tells Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi. The AFL-CIO is America's largest union federation comprised of 60 unions—both domestic and international—and over 12 million employed and retired workers. Shuler provides several examples of the methods China has used to undermine American workers, including steel and aluminum producers, while outlining the trust union leaders have in President Biden.”

New Alabama Law Punishes Union-Friendly Employers: “After Georgia approved its bill, Liz Shuler, the president of the AFL-CIO labor federation, called the legislation ‘appalling,’ and said it undermines the ‘fundamental freedoms’ of both workers and employers. Labor groups could mount legal challenges to the laws on the grounds that they conflict with the National Labor Relations Act, the federal law covering collective bargaining in the private sector. Benjamin Sachs, a labor law professor at Harvard Law School, recently told HuffPost that he believed state laws like Alabama’s will probably be overridden by the federal law.”

Unions, Lawmakers Protest Boeing Firefighter Lockout: “At a rally outside Boeing headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, IAFF President Edward Kelly, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Representative Val Hoyle urged Boeing to make a deal. Shuler said Boeing ‘is looking to establish a pattern and if we can start here with the firefighters it might trickle over to a bigger impact with another union.’ She added having skilled firefighters was crucial for Boeing. ‘What makes the company safer ultimately makes the company more trusted and more profitable,’ Shuler said.”

Trade Unions Tackle Workforce Challenges and Diversity: “Construction is a powerful engine that drives New Jersey’s economy. However, according to the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EASRCC), the appetite for creating middle-class construction jobs is not keeping pace with the supply of qualified trades people seeking a sustainable living. As a result, the industry is faced with a paradox and some challenges. Between 2022-2024, EASRCC was unable to accept nearly 14,000 individuals due to the lack of employers willing to hire them, according to William C. Sproule, the organization’s executive secretary-treasurer.”

Claude Cummings Jr.: Don't Let Congress Widen the Digital Divide: “Nearly a third of Americans who don’t have broadband say the reason is because it costs too much—and unfortunately, Congress is prepared to let that figure rise dramatically. Lawmakers have yet to renew funding for the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP, which is being rolled back as of today and will fully come to an end in coming weeks unless Congress takes action. Through the ACP, more than 23 million households have received either reduced bills or effectively free internet service. The shutdown of the ACP will hurt communities of color the most, with over 30% of Black families lacking home internet, and rural communities as well.”

Unions Struggled in the South for Years. The Economy Gave Auto Workers an Opening: “For two decades, Jeremy Kimbrell and his co-workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama could expect to hear the same thing when they raised concerns about pay, time off or working conditions: With no college degree, you should just be happy to have a job. Those days might be over. Roughly 5,000 hourly employees of the Tuscaloosa-area facility are set to vote starting Monday on whether to join the United Auto Workers. Just last month, 73% of employees who cast ballots at Volkswagen’s slightly smaller plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., opted to unionize, a first for a foreign-owned auto factory in the South. The vote in the week ahead will be a pivotal moment in the UAW’s organizing blitz in the South’s booming auto industry.”

Grocery Store Employees in Central Oklahoma City Join Union Amid Allegations of Mistreatment: “Employees at an Oklahoma outlet for a Colorado-based grocery store chain voted to unionize Thursday following a series of protests and claims of unfair treatment, especially for pregnant women and working mothers. Natural Grocers workers voted 11-9 to join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1000, a nonprofit that negotiates contracts on behalf of small businesses. Joe Lee, UFCW Local 1000 organizer, said the union will pull a handful of employees to negotiate terms.”

No Contract, No Pirouettes—Ballet Dancers Are Organizing for Labor Rights: “As they perform Swan Lake, dancers at Miami City Ballet in Florida have been facing a union-busting campaign from the company’s management. Their case went to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which ruled on May 8 in favor of the dancers seeking to unionize, clearing the way for a union election on May 14. These dancers are just one group in a wave of ballet companies unionizing with the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). But in Miami, organizing dancers endured significant challenges.”

Sesame Workshop Writers Ratify New 5-Year Contract: “It’s official: Writers Guild members at the Sesame Workshop have got a new contract. The writers ‘overwhelmingly’ approved the five-year collective bargaining agreement, the guild announced on Friday. Sesame Workshop writers reached a tentative deal in April, but not before unanimously voting to authorize a strike against the nonprofit organization. The deal was struck just in time to avoid a work stoppage.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/20/2024 - 10:19

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Cynthia Ishizaki

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Cynthia Ishizaki of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC).

In addition to delivering mail for 23 years, NALC Branch 860 member Cynthia Ishizaki has served as the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive coordinator for Hawaii for the past 20 years. In 2023, a total of 722,805 pounds of food was collected across the state of Hawaii with the help of letter carriers and community members working together under Ishizaki’s coordination!

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/20/2024 - 10:13

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Disneyland Character Workers Vote to Join Equity

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

A majority of the Disney amusement park character workers voted to join with Actors’ Equity Association (Equity) on Saturday. The vote was 953–258. The workers are seeking to address safety concerns, increase wages, adjust scheduling policies and have easier access to health insurance.

“They say that Disneyland is ‘the place where dreams come true,’ and for the Disney cast members who have worked to organize a union, their dream came true today,” said Equity President Kate Shindle. “The next step will be to collaborate with them about improving health and safety, wages, benefits, working conditions and job security. After that we will meet with representatives of the Walt Disney Company to negotiate those priorities into a first contract.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/20/2024 - 10:01

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Amy Leong

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Amy Leong of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA).

Amy Leong works as a staff organizer for the Seattle chapter of APALA. Leong has enabled the expansion of the chapter's scope and work. Her mentorship of student interns and community fellows increases the number of youth organizers in the labor and community movements.

Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 05/19/2024 - 10:42

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Mikayla Vu

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Mikayla Vu of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Mikayla Vu is a young leader who organized her workplace at Boston College. She worked with the UAW and currently works as a field representative for the AFT Massachusetts. Vu is a second-generation biracial Korean American who grew up in Michigan. Vu holds a master’s degree in history and joined UAW Region 9A as an organizer with the hopes of empowering workers and strengthening the labor movement.

Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 05/18/2024 - 10:42