Hands off Medicaid: 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:
We are pleased to announce that we have reached a deal on a new Development Agreement! Work on this agreement may resume immediately. Read our press release for details - https://t.co/OkO4ClwZll pic.twitter.com/a8405Cblcd
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) February 27, 2025
AFGE:
AFGE will challenge any unlawful terminations of our members and federal employees across the country.https://t.co/CM2zsuFe3W
— AFGE (@AFGENational) February 22, 2025
AFSCME:
A big welcome to nearly 5K supervisors who work for the State of Maryland. They overwhelmingly chose @AFSCMEMaryland as their union. https://t.co/krF8jmds3V
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) February 27, 2025
Alliance for Retired Americans:
BREAKING: Retirees affected by WEP/GPO repeal can expect to get retroactive payments backdated to January 2024 by the end of March, according to SSA officials. https://t.co/HdQIgj1wIf
— Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) February 27, 2025
Amalgamated Transit Union:
Tonight, International President John Costa hosted a virtual town hall for our Local President/Business Agents in the U.S. to acknowledge and strategize around the landscape of the first month of the Trump administration and the impact on our members and industry. The town hall… pic.twitter.com/rmODAH7Uch
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) February 27, 2025
American Federation of Musicians:
More than 1,000 musicians joined together to release this album, in protest to the UK government’s proposed changes to copyright law, which would allow artificial intelligence companies to use artists’ copyrighted work without permission. #isthiswhatwewant…
— AFM (@The_AFM) February 26, 2025
American Federation of Teachers:
Hands off Medicaid: Send a letter here https://t.co/MWHtW0cJIw#DontCutMyMedicaid pic.twitter.com/y3Tb2sOmWZ
— AFT (@AFTunion) February 21, 2025
Boilermakers:
“As data centers and AI-driven energy demands surge, the Boilermakers are positioned at the forefront of emerging energy technologies.” - Johnny Baca, Director, M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund. Read more from IBB's presence at PowerGen2025. ➡️ https://t.co/VXdP4pOoay pic.twitter.com/3qhEvLHbyp
— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) February 27, 2025
Bricklayers:
We were thrilled to be a part of the 30th annual Bowling for Gold tournament hosted by the Community Services Agency!
The BAC sent 5 teams to help in raising money for union members and their families in need!#BestHandsInTheBowlingLanes #SkilledTrades #Apprenticeships pic.twitter.com/7l6ltGgHSH
— Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union (@IUBAC) February 27, 2025
Communications Workers of America:
Solidarity with @UPTECWA members on strike! https://t.co/8TlDRoQjbO
— CWA (@CWAUnion) February 26, 2025
Department for Professional Employees:
Solidarity with @WGAEast/@MSNBCunion members! https://t.co/vyZo61vxGO
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) February 26, 2025
Electrical Workers:
Good choice! https://t.co/435m1D5ze7
— IBEW (@IBEW) February 26, 2025
Fire Fighters:
🚨 Big win for fair pay! After a hard-fought battle, Osceola, Fla., battalion chiefs will now receive the overtime pay they deserve. 👏 #UnionStrong #FairPay #IAFF
https://t.co/zcHjNw9dQ5
— International Association of Fire Fighters (@IAFFofficial) February 27, 2025
Heat and Frost Insulators:
Become a Union Member 💪
Whether you have experience working in the Insulation industry or are new to the trade — now is the time to earn a higher wage & better benefits.
➡️Learn more & become a member today: https://t.co/yjahHngRTW#InsulatorsUnion #Insulators #InsulatorPride… pic.twitter.com/QlXF7OlH6l
— Insulators Union 🦎 (@InsulatorsUnion) February 26, 2025
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
IFPTE stands in Solidarity with Postal Workers and denounces any efforts to privatize our Postal Service https://t.co/Os8dNlCb7t
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) February 22, 2025
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
@AttorneyMartinez delivers an important message for the immigrant community from Capitol Hill during the reintroduction of The American Dream and Promise Act pic.twitter.com/kSc1TjAuHD
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) February 27, 2025
Labor Heritage Foundation:
🔥 Powerful speeches & inspiring music at last night’s MLK “Gonna Take Us All” Ball! 🎶✊ A packed crowd at McGinty’s heard from Jamie Raskin, Sara Nelson & more, pushing back against attacks on workers. “By all means, keep moving.” #MLK #Solidarity #1uhttps://t.co/a7W04NGNud pic.twitter.com/mFCZ8DlkZa
— Labor Heritage (@LaborHeritage1) February 26, 2025
Laborers:
#TBT to LIUNA apprenticeship back in the day!
Our commitment to world-class training has never changed, but wow—our facilities sure have! From then to now, #LIUNA has been building stronger workers, safer job sites, and brighter futures.
#ThrowbackThursday #apprenticeship pic.twitter.com/ub3IBwVeBi
— LIUNA (@LIUNA) February 27, 2025
Machinists:
An overwhelming UNION YES from 60 Unifi Aviation (owned 49% by @Delta) ground handling workers based in San Jose, Calif., who last week voted to join our union!
Get the deets on the severe union-busting campaign these workers faced to get their union 🔽👀https://t.co/t1S1RetmQa
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) February 26, 2025
Mine Workers:
The January/February issue of the journal proudly features Belinda Biafore as its Associate Membership Spotlight.
Belinda Biafore is an Associate Member and long-time supporter of the United Mine Workers. Sister Biafore is the former West Virginia...https://t.co/5tMbj1wAGI
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) February 27, 2025
Musical Artists:
AGMA Joins the Human Artistry Campaign to Advocate for the Rights of Artists in the Age of AI: https://t.co/c7MToluWjw @human_artistry pic.twitter.com/DfOcw6CSf6
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) February 26, 2025
National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
Here’s what NATCA members accomplished last week pic.twitter.com/erXC7jAdZW
— NATCA (@NATCA) February 25, 2025
National Association of Letter Carriers:
ICYMI ➡️ The Social Security Administration announced that the agency will begin to pay retroactive benefits & will increase monthly benefit payments for those impacted by the WEP & GPO. For more info about this #SocialSecurityFairnessAct update, visit: https://t.co/icGoaW0Fdr
— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) February 27, 2025
National Domestic Workers Alliance:
Domestic workers are the cornerstone of a healthy economy. Yet, they have been excluded from our federal labor protections for far too long.
We must recognize their essential work and invest in a care infrastructure that genuinely supports the livelihoods of all Americans. pic.twitter.com/wuwZXN4hYI
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) February 26, 2025
National Nurses United:
Nurses condemn the senseless, unacceptable violence at UPMC Memorial in Pennsylvania and @HCAhealthcare Florida Palms West Hospital.
Our employers must adopt nurse-led #WorkplaceViolencePrevention plans and safe staffing to protect staff and patients.https://t.co/L6Qv5G3ZRl
— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) February 25, 2025
NFL Players Association:
The 3rd edition of the NFLPA Team Report Cards is here! 📊
With free agency ahead, these insights help players evaluate workplace conditions across all 32 teams. Progress is happening, but there’s more work to do.
See the full list of team grades here: https://t.co/Dkn4WES7mn pic.twitter.com/WpgG218vVV
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) February 26, 2025
North America's Building Trades Unions:
“It makes all the sense in the world to work to recruit more women into the trades. Women want all the same Middle Class wages as men, and they want safety and a voice on the job. Women are good union members, and when unions are stronger, the Labor Movement is stronger.” -…
— The Building Trades (@NABTU) February 27, 2025
Office and Professional Employees:
OPEIU Local 40 nurses at Rochester Henry Ford Hospital are currently facing a critical situation, fighting for a fair contract after TWO LONG YEARS of negotiations with two different administrations.
Stand in solidarity with nurses → https://t.co/MtMMrdBSl2
— OPEIU | #UnionStrong (@OPEIU) February 27, 2025
Painters and Allied Trades:
This Black History Month, we honor the relentless fight for justice that began with the Black Lives Matter movement. From breaking barriers within our union to standing shoulder to shoulder for equality, we push for a future where every life is valued and every voice heard. pic.twitter.com/O6Bevz9ul3
— IUPAT (@GoIUPAT) February 20, 2025
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:
On @CNN @PASSprezdc Spero talked safety critical jobs @FAANews represented by PASS & the PEOPLE! "It seems to be a pattern of cyberbullying—let’s call it that. Folks are rattled, they are shaken. Instead of concentrating on their jobs, it's chaos & panic"https://t.co/7s8xsi5z5Y
— PASS (@PASSNational) February 24, 2025
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
CONTRACT VICTORY: congrats to @RWDSU Mid South Council members at Fresh Mark in Salem, Ohio! These workers recently ratified a new contract that includes the largest wage increases of any prior union contract at their facility!
Learn more: https://t.co/LFcmxkVAgj pic.twitter.com/BaAYHiHZln
— RWDSU (@RWDSU) February 27, 2025
Roofers and Waterproofers:
Join a #union, and chances are you'll live longer and happier! Makes sense...
- higher wages,
- quality benefits, like health insurance,
- better workplace safety standards,
- less stress knowing you'll receive a pension in retirement.https://t.co/SckxkfKUA3
— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) February 26, 2025
SAG-AFTRA:
We are deeply saddened by the death of Gene Hackman and his wife. The SAG Award- and five-time Oscar-winner was among the finest actors of his generation. His tremendous legacy of work will live on. May he #RIP. #SagAftraMember since 1959 https://t.co/hlBf038ieq
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) February 27, 2025
Service Employees International Union (SEIU):
💥Tariffs & deportations don’t protect workers—they divide us while corporations profit. The real solution? International solidarity. We must stand together across borders to fight exploitation and build power! pic.twitter.com/GGaD02L6rb
— SEIU (@SEIU) February 27, 2025
Theatrical Stage Employees:
Revitalizing America’s arts, media, and entertainment industries starts with investing in the people who make it happen.
These priorities would protect workers’ earnings, uphold safety and fair labor standards, and secure vital funding for cultural projects and productions. pic.twitter.com/TPb94CpKFA
— IATSE // #IASolidarity (@IATSE) February 27, 2025
Transport Workers Union:
TWU International Pres. Samuelsen greeting the hard-working members of Local 234 who operate & maintain the @SEPTA system in Philly. L234 secured a solid contract last year after a strategic & intense campaign with a strike authorization vote. @TwuSamuelsen pic.twitter.com/hmzxlVY1N6
— TWU (@transportworker) February 26, 2025
Transportation Trades Department:
Allies from across the labor movement joined @NALC_national in their rally yesterday to show this administration that we will fight to save the postal service. #FightLikeHell pic.twitter.com/kOn9K3Tx0d
— TTD | America's Transportation Unions (@TTDAFLCIO) February 25, 2025
UAW:
"Chants of 'What’s disgusting? Union busting!' could be heard all along Eastern Parkway. People from other institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, were present to support their colleagues." @UAWRegion9Ahttps://t.co/77xP3F9p2r
— UAW (@UAW) February 27, 2025
Union Veterans Council:
Veterans feel ‘left behind’ and ‘disparaged’ after Trump’s government cuts: Iraq Veteran
Once again, the Union Veterans Council is on the frontlines, fighting for those who fought for us. https://t.co/Jp6ROkU3Jw via @msnbc
— Union Veterans Council🪖✊ (@unionveterans) February 27, 2025
UNITE HERE:
Black History Month Leader Spotlight ✨
Pierre Whitaker, Lead Service Attendant & UNITE HERE Local 23 Amtrak Chapter President—"For over a century we have been at the forefront of the fight to have our work respected, and despite many challenges, today we are stronger than ever." pic.twitter.com/WAHYgZkeN7
— UNITE HERE Local 23 (@unitehere23) February 26, 2025
United Food and Commercial Workers:
Nearly 100 @UFCWLocal152 members at Berks Foods have ratified a strong new contract!
The 3-year contract includes annual wage increases, a longevity bonus, affordable health benefits, improved vacation policies, & extended funeral leave.
➡️ https://t.co/ULa0ImD45B pic.twitter.com/Oq9LpoefeI
— UFCW (@UFCW) February 27, 2025
United Steelworkers:
Nellie Carabello, a former public sector worker and proud SOAR activist, shares how an eye-opening experience with harassment led her to embrace union activism. Hear her story in the latest Solidarity Works podcast—first in a series with SOAR activists! https://t.co/I6lC6EgKdt pic.twitter.com/OYnaGD85ni
— United Steelworkers #EverybodysUnion (@steelworkers) February 27, 2025
Utility Workers:
🛬 ICYMI: Our well-trained union siblings from @afa_cwa were heroes when Delta flight overturned in Toronto. https://t.co/MgEmY15fgB
— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) February 26, 2025
Writers Guild of America East:
Are you ok with the workers behind shows like Alone, The First 48, and Pawn Stars being disrespected by mgmt with substandard union contract proposals? Neither are we! The time for @WeAreITVA to agree to a fair contract is NOW.
Sign the petition: https://t.co/TFWxB0PbSI #1u
— Writers Guild of America East (@WGAEast) February 27, 2025
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/27/2025 - 12:45Black History Month Profiles: Willie Douglas
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Willie Douglas of the Bricklayers.
Willie Douglas on what it meant to him to work on the Emmett Till house restoration project: “This project was an honor and a privilege to be a part of! It is a great feeling to know that, moving forward, my work and the work of our BAC apprentices will be mentioned in the same sentence as this historical landmark that is the home of one of the people that helped start the civil rights movement. The murder of Emmett Till was one the most horrendous things that has taken place in American history, but the result of what it sparked is truly amazing. I know that I would not have gotten this opportunity had it not been for the union and people like Hector Arellano trusting and believing in me. I am grateful and appreciative for his confidence in me to get this job done as well as every one of my union brothers and sisters that had a hand in this project.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/27/2025 - 10:01Tags: Black History Month
Black History Month Profiles: Elizabeth Ward-Robertson
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Elizabeth Ward-Robertson of the Seattle Education Association.
Since joining the Seattle Education Association (SEA), an affiliate of the Washington State Labor Council and the Martin Luther King Jr. Labor Council, Elizabeth Ward-Robertson has played a pivotal role in advancing educational support and equity. She began her union advocacy work serving as the treasurer of the Seattle Association of Educational Office Professionals before being elected as president. She now serves as the elected director of the SEA Center for Racial and Social Justice, emphasizing equity and inclusion within the education system, fighting for equity for SEA members and the students they serve. Ward-Robinson centers equity in her work, striving to uplift SEA members and support marginalized communities.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/27/2025 - 10:01Tags: Black History Month
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Reconsidered Goods Thrift Store Workers Unanimously Vote to Form Union
Working people across the United States regularly step 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.
On Monday, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW) announced that workers at Reconsidered Goods in Greensboro, North Carolina, voted unanimously to form a union.
Staff at the thrift store have become the second retail location in the city to join RWDSU-UFCW this year after their union brothers, sisters and siblings at REI Greensboro won their election last month. But the path to get here wasn’t easy: management attempted to exclude two people from the proposed bargaining unit, forcing workers to go on strike until all eligible staff could vote. Members cited concerns like safety issues, working conditions, wages and scheduling as core focuses for when they enter bargaining.
“There has been no doubt in my mind that we would win this election,” said fabric specialist Yvonne Rabel. “We’ve been working hard for over a year to build a sense of community and camaraderie with each other….Our community has been nothing but supportive of our goals to ensure a safer work environment, and we’re going to continue to work toward these goals during negotiations. I can’t say whether I expect our directors to be collaborative or not, but I’m hopeful we can work on a solution that includes the workers having a say in the decisions that affect them.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/27/2025 - 09:59Workers Deserve Better: 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.
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
No matter who we voted for, we all know cutting Medicaid (Medi-cal) will be a disaster! Call your Congressperson today! #HandsOffMyMedicaid #handsoffourmedicaid pic.twitter.com/Y8rN2F4lQk
— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) February 25, 2025
Colorado AFL-CIO:
We are strongly opposed to HB25-1206 Local Governments Tip Offsets for Tipped Employees. This misguided and inequitable bill would cut tipped workers wages— $4/hr in Denver, more than $8000/year. #coleg #copolitics pic.twitter.com/lbczJ6PZAi
— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) February 25, 2025
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
CT AFL-CIO President @EHawthorne3 notes the hypocrisy of a bill allowing the state to require staff to work in person: "Every member of the General Assembly has effectively participated in a hearing remotely"
*This public hearing allowed for in-person & remote participation* pic.twitter.com/sBCaxsL1XY
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) February 20, 2025
Illinois AFL-CIO:
‼️ SAVE THE DATE‼️
The annual USA BBQ Bash Competition & Fundraiser is coming up in June!
June 14, 2025 | 12 - 5 pm
Torstenson Youth Conservation
Education Center
13735 Cook Rd., Pecatonica, IL 61063 pic.twitter.com/fKKMsnfMiB
— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) February 24, 2025
Kentucky State AFL-CIO:
🚨Kentucky workers deserve better. Say NO to HB 398!🚨
This bill puts profits over people, takes away local control, and puts workers' safety at risk.
Take action NOW—use this link to email your representative and demand they protect Kentucky workers: https://t.co/WHumShISv1
— Kentucky AFL-CIO (@aflcioky) February 19, 2025
Maine AFL-CIO:
"They are recklessly cutting and gutting vital services to give tax cuts to billionaires." - Matt Schlobohm, Maine AFL-CIO https://t.co/Qy6bdvCdJp
— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) February 24, 2025
Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
Great morning demanding #CareNotCuts! https://t.co/BCbQsEcrEX pic.twitter.com/4ynF6Y8EKf
— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) February 25, 2025
Michigan State AFL-CIO:
STATEMENT: Michigan Labor Movement Calls for Court to Uphold the Constitution, Rule Against Republican Speaker Matt Hall’s Unconstitutional Effort to Kill Pro-Worker Legislation https://t.co/xUYTmVavun
— Michigan AFL-CIO ✊ (@MIAFLCIO) February 24, 2025
Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Lawmakers at the #mnleg need to know that working Minnesotans won’t have our #PaidLeave delayed, rolled back, or denied. Take Action Now. #BetterInAUnion https://t.co/Q1p9ugSE6x
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) February 25, 2025
Missouri AFL-CIO:
Are you ready to vote in the March 4th primary and April 8th general elections? Find a list of Labor-endorsed candidates here and be sure to cast your #vote! https://t.co/scFV9pVAVJ
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) February 24, 2025
Nevada State AFL-CIO:
For Black History Month we are highlighting @SEIU1107 President Michelle Maese!
Michelle is a Supervisor for Clark County Child Protective Services and has been a SEIU Local 1107 member for over 15 years. pic.twitter.com/6wwN13DxVB
— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) February 24, 2025
New York State AFL-CIO:
ACTION: Cuts to federal funding will have serious consequences for working people & their families. Call your representative in Congress and ask them to vote against any budget resolution that cuts funding for healthcare, infrastructure & public education: https://t.co/uzMOArI0Pi
— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) February 25, 2025
Ohio AFL-CIO:
Making the rich and corporations pay their share of taxes will do way more than attacking veterans who work at the VA hospitals. https://t.co/Xy0ahhNzlw
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) February 23, 2025
Oregon AFL-CIO:
Today, hundreds of union members from across Oregon are meeting with legislators to advocate for #OregonLabor legislative priorities, including SB 916 which would extend unemployment benefits to striking workers.
This is what #WorkerPower looks like when we stand arm-in-arm to… pic.twitter.com/vNFCC8apEN
— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) February 25, 2025
Texas AFL-CIO:
No worker should go without pay.
Watch Jeff Ormsby, Executive Director of @AFSCME Texas Corrections, testify to the Texas Senate Finance Committee on the urgency of ensuring our correctional officers are compensated for working overtime: pic.twitter.com/B7LFBwugJo
— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) February 24, 2025
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:
West Virginia AFL-CIO:
Nothing more American like destroying a 250 year old institution.
🚨🚨CALL TO SUPPORT🚨🚨OUR @NALC_National LETTER CARRIERS!!! pic.twitter.com/ieM2KER1xV
— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) February 21, 2025
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
Federal layoffs in Madison hit dairy research, VA hospital https://t.co/2shZ6A3gkr via @CapTimes
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) February 24, 2025
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 02/26/2025 - 11:49Black History Month Profiles: Bryant Preston
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Bryant Preston of the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Bryant Preston currently serves as president of the Colorado AFL-CIO, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his longstanding involvement with IATSE. Since joining the union in 2004, he has held numerous leadership roles, including his election as business representative in 2017—a position he held until 2023. That year, he transitioned to president of IATSE Local 7 and also took on a position within IATSE International’s trade show department. In addition to these responsibilities, Preston serves as secretary for IATSE’s district that encompasses Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 02/26/2025 - 10:10Black History Month Profiles: Kirby Boyce
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Kirby Boyce of the Machinists (IAM).
Kirby Boyce began his journey as a machinist in 1999 at Pratt & Whitney’s engine facility in Cheshire. In 2004, he was elected as an IAM union steward and later served as recording secretary. The Cheshire facility closed in 2011, and Boyce moved to the East Hartford branch of Pratt & Whitney, where he joined IAM Lodge 1746. His commitment to safety led to his role as health and safety representative. In 2017, Kirby was elected president of Lodge 1746 and became vice president of the Greater Hartford Central Labor Coalition. He also served as treasurer of the Connecticut State Council of Machinists for five years. Currently, Boyce is the president of the Eastern Connecticut Area Labor Federation.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 02/26/2025 - 09:56Service & Solidarity Spotlight: NALC Rallies to Save the Postal Service from Attacks
Working people across the United States regularly step 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.
On Monday, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) held a rally in Washington, D.C., to protest potential incoming efforts by the Trump administration to privatize the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
NALC members, labor leaders and community allies gathered to defend this essential government agency after reports of a planned executive order that would fire the Postal Service Board of Governors and place the agency under the control of the Department of Commerce.
“The U.S. Post Office is a cornerstone of every community, in our largest cities and our smallest towns. It is cherished. It is trusted,” said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond. “Letter carriers are the heart and soul of the U.S. Postal Service….We’re going to fight like hell for the Postal Service. We’re going to fight like hell for our unions.”
NALC President Brian Renfroe told the crowd: “Let’s be very clear about what this is: a dedicated attack on the 640,000 dedicated people who work at the Postal Service, on the service we provide and on the hundreds of millions of Americans who rely on the service we provide every single day.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 02/26/2025 - 09:56Worker Wins: Collectively Standing Together
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Federal Court Orders DOE and OPM to Stop Sharing Private Data with DOGE Affiliates: On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Department of Education (DOE) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from disclosing sensitive personal information to employees affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The American Federation of Teachers (AFT)—which is the lead plaintiff in the case—argued that the DOE and OPM violated the Privacy Act by granting DOGE affiliates unauthorized access to systems containing sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, bank account information, health records and other private data. In a post shared to social media, AFT President Randi Weingarten said: “The Department of Education is prevented from sharing personal information of AFT members and members of the other plaintiffs with Elon Musk and DOGE. This is huge news in the fight against Elon Musk stealing our private information.” In addition to AFT, the lawsuit's plaintiffs include the Machinists (IAM), the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association and the National Federation of Federal Employees.
Oregon Nurses Vote to Approve Tentative Agreement After 46 Days on Strike: Members of the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)—an affiliate of the AFT—approved a tentative agreement with Providence Health & Services on Monday night after over a month on the picket line. The agreement covers nurses at all eight striking facilities across the state who walked off the job earlier this year to secure a contract that ensures fair treatment and working conditions. Highlights include wage increases ranging from 20% to 42% over the life of the contract, guaranteed penalty pay for missed breaks and meals, improvements to nurse workloads, and more. “This milestone represents a significant achievement for ONA nurses, marking a powerful step forward in their ongoing commitment to fair wages, safe staffing, and high-quality patient care,” ONA said in a press statement. “These hard-won agreements reflect the dedication and determination of ONA nurses who stood strong in their fight for fair treatment, safe working conditions and better healthcare for their communities.”
Children’s Theatre Company Staff Ratify First Union Contract: Front-of-house workers at the Children’s Theatre Company (CTC), who are represented by Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 13, have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. This bargaining unit at the country’s largest theater for young audiences includes ushers, ticket takers, performance supervisors, concessions leads and other critical staff who work directly with customers. Organizing began in February 2023, and by April 80% of eligible staff had signed union authorization cards. IATSE then requested voluntary recognition in December, which Children’s Theatre Company acknowledged a month later. “While bargaining began slowly, we have appreciated the consistent attention to these negotiations from CTC throughout and since the company underwent a change in both the artistic and managing director roles last summer,” said a representative from the union. “We are pleased that our work together has produced meaningful gains for member employees and strengthened CTC’s workforce.”
UFCW Strike Secures Return-to-Work Agreement; Union Will Continue Bargaining with King Soopers: United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7, which represents over 10,000 striking King Soopers workers in Colorado, announced Monday that the union secured a return-to-work settlement and will be back at the negotiating table with management. The strike-ending settlement includes provisions that ensure no workers will lose their health care during bargaining and prevent the Kroger-owned grocery chain from locking out staff so the union can resume talks over the new contract. UFCW members initially walked off the job earlier this month after management’s repeated bad-faith tactics—including intimidation, gutting retiree health benefits and illegal disciplinary threats—forced them into an unfair labor practice strike. “We have taken a big step forward and ensured that Kroger knows that staffing is a key concern to workers and customers alike,” said UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova in a press release. “We will go back to the bargaining table and continue our fight for a fair union contract for us, our customers and the communities we serve. This strike was about thousands of everyday grocery store workers, collectively standing together and facing one of the largest corporations in America and saying ENOUGH. Our strike was just the beginning of this effort and elevated staffing in grocery stores to a national level with more workers and allies joining together.”
Ski Patrol Union Reaches Tentative Agreement with Keystone Ski Resort: Members of the United Professional Ski Patrols of America (UPSPA), Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7781, who work at Keystone Resort have reached a tentative agreement (TA) on their first contract with Vail Resorts. Organized under the name Keystone Ski Patrol (KSP) Union, workers have been in negotiations with the largest resort operator in North America since September 2024. Over the course of bargaining, patrollers have staged a protest and filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. “Keystone Resort and the Keystone Ski Patrol Union are pleased to announce that they have reached a new tentative agreement through May 31, 2027,” the union and management said in a joint statement. “Together, the resort and union are looking forward to a great rest of the season.”
Labor Defeats Right to Work Legislation in New Hampshire: In a win for working people, the latest version of “right to work” legislation introduced in the New Hampshire Legislature last week has been indefinitely postponed, effectively killing the bill. Different iterations of House Bill 238-FN have been introduced dozens of times since the 1980s, all seeking to undermine union negotiating power and make New Hampshire the region’s only right to work state. “For the fortieth consecutive time, so-called ‘Right-to-Work’ is dead,” said New Hampshire AFL-CIO President Glenn Brackett in a joint statement with other labor leaders. “Once again, today, a bipartisan coalition of legislators did their job, listened to their constituents, and voted to kill House Bill 238-FN, this year’s version of the fraudulently titled ‘Right-to-Work.’ Every new legislature for the last 40 years has seen this attack on workers’ rights and every legislature, regardless of which party is in the majority, has rejected it.”
IAM Becomes First Labor Union Recognized as VSO: Last month, the IAM became the first union to be recognized as a national Veterans Service Organization (VSO) for its work advocating for veteran members across the country through IAM’s Veterans Services Program. This designation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) means IAM will get access to more vital resources, support securing benefits for members and the formal backing of the VA. It also signifies that the union is now able to increase its support of veteran members through assisting with claims, advocating for benefits, pushing for legislative changes and more. “We will now be able to grow our organization and set a new standard of care for all IAM Veterans,” said IAM Veterans Services Coordinator Richard Evans. “For the IAM itself, this recognition is a testament to our hard work, dedication, and tireless advocacy on behalf of those who have served in our military. It shows that this organization is equipped with the tools, knowledge, and resources to effectively help Veterans navigate the challenges they face after service. Whether it’s securing healthcare, disability benefits, or educational opportunities, this recognition strengthens our ability to fight for veterans’ rights and ensure they receive the care and support they deserve.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 02/25/2025 - 14:11Tags: Organizing
Black History Month Profiles: Tryshanda Moton
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Tryshanda Moton of the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association (GESTA/IFPTE Local 29).
Tryshanda Moton currently serves as president of GESTA. She is a senior aerospace systems engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. She has 25 years of proven technical expertise in various systems. Moton attended college at the University of Alabama, where she became the first African American to graduate with a bachelor's degree in physics. She completed graduate research in nuclear thermal propulsion concepts for human spaceflight missions to Mars. In 2012, Tryshanda joined GESTA and later was elected to the executive council, where she served two terms as area vice president and two terms as executive vice president.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 02/25/2025 - 09:54SOLIDARITY ALERT: NO to Dismantling the U.S. Postal Service
Here is a critical message from the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), which represents hundreds of thousands of dedicated letter carriers who deliver our mail six days a week.
Please make a call now to protect U.S. Postal Service workers’ jobs: 202-224-3121
The jobs of 640,000 U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employees are under attack. In a reported executive order, President Trump plans to fire the Postal Board of Governors and place the agency under the control of the Department of Commerce.
This is a direct attack on USPS employees, the unmatched universal service they provide and every citizen who relies on the Postal Service.
Please stand with letter carriers and all postal workers and make a call to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
202-224-3121
Please tell Speaker Johnson to put a stop to this. HELL NO to dismantling the Postal Service!
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/24/2025 - 15:04Black History Month Profiles: Tamua Newton
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Tamua Newton of the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU).
OPEIU Local 30 member Tamua Newton has worked at City of Hope—a nonprofit cancer treatment and research center in Duarte, California—for more than 20 years. She serves as a steward and is a member of Local 30’s executive board.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/24/2025 - 08:58Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Aviation Unions Sign on to Letter Urging Modernization of Air Traffic Control System
Working people across the United States regularly step 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 coalition of labor unions representing workers across the aviation and aerospace industries signed on to a letter on Wednesday urging Congress to support efforts to modernize the United States air traffic control system in the wake of recent accidents.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Transport Workers Union (TWU) and Transportation Trades Department (TTD) all endorsed the message to lawmakers. They stressed the importance of emergency funding for air traffic control technology and staffing, directing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to modernize its airspace technology, excepting the FAA from government shutdowns and other critical priorities to ensure the safety of everyone.
“The FAA’s primary mission has been, and should continue to be, ensuring the operational safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS),” the joint letter said. “Everything the FAA does must be directly tied to, and in support of, that mission. Our organizations are ready to work with you to ensure the FAA is more capable and prepared to deliver economic growth, foster American innovation, adapt to challenges, and continue to be the safest, largest, and most complex air traffic control system in the world.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/24/2025 - 08:58Black History Month Profiles: Jeffrey Michael Betts
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Jeffrey Michael Betts of the Machinists (IAM).
Jeffrey Michael Betts is a radar operator at Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Arizona, where he established the Range Operations Control Center and the Central Scheduling Program. Betts has been a member of the IAM since 2002. A retired U.S. Navy air traffic controller, he served in key training, operational and leadership roles throughout his naval career, including facility watch supervisor at NAS North Island, Alameda and Key West, and air operations supervisor aboard the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Kitty Hawk. Betts earned his Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist pin, two Navy Achievement Medals, five letters of commendation and three letters of appreciation.
Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 02/23/2025 - 09:38Black History Month Profiles: Clint Walker
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Clint Walker of the Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU).
Clint Walker has been a dedicated member of the insulation industry for more than 40 years, bringing a wealth of experience and craftsmanship to the trade. Before entering the field, he served five years in the U.S. Air Force, learning a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence. Walker remains an active tradesman, continuing to contribute his skills and knowledge to the industry. His family holds a proud legacy in the trade, as his brother was the first African American member of the local. With decades of experience and a deep-rooted passion for the craft, Walker continues to set a high standard in his field.
Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 02/22/2025 - 09:38Black History Month Profiles: Lesa Terry
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Lesa Terry of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).
Straddling genres has given Lesa Terry a deeper appreciation of her own culture, as a woman of color. “When I was learning the violin, there was something of my heritage that I was leaving behind,” she said. “Focusing on what was missing made me a much stronger player, and it made me a better teacher.” Terry joined AFM when she was in her 20s. She served on AFM Local 47's board in the early 2000s. “It was an opportunity to have a voice in my own way, and to develop an ability to express myself with a strong conviction of what I believed in and how I could help.”
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/21/2025 - 09:21Service & Solidarity Spotlight: ATU Workers Finalize New Labor Agreement with Lane Transit District; Secure Raises
Working people across the United States regularly step 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.
Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757 secured a new labor contract this week with the Lane Transit District (LTD) in Oregon. ATU and LTD both approved the contract unanimously. The agreement covers LTD's Facilities Department, which helps maintain LTD’s transportation infrastructure. The new contract includes immediate wage increases, annual wage increases on a step-based progression system, and a comprehensive benefits package for LTD Facilities Department workers and their dependents.
"Securing this first union contract is a significant victory for our new members,” said Bill Bradley, ATU Local 757’s executive board officer. “Over the next three years, this agreement will provide improved wages and the job security that comes with a strong ATU union contract. When labor and management work together in good faith, we create a stronger, more sustainable workforce for the future."
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/21/2025 - 09:20An Attack on Public Service: 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.
TWU Local 100’s New Union President Vows to ‘Take No Crap’ from MTA Management: “John Chiarello—the new president of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, which represents over 40,000 transit workers in NYC—bluntly warned the MTA that he wouldn’t be pushed around in fighting for his workers’ best interests.”
‘It’s an Attack on Public Service’ | Union Representing Postal Workers Fires Back After Trump Hints at Taking Control of USPS: “At Friday’s swearing in of Howard Lutnick, President Trump hinted at handing the United States Postal Service over to the new Secretary of Commerce. ‘He’s going to look at it,’ said President Trump of Lutnick. ‘He’s got a great business instinct which is what we need, and he’ll be looking at it and we think we can turn it around.’ Brian Renfroe is the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, the largest postal union that represents more than 200,000 letter carriers. ‘It’s an attack on working people, it’s an attack on public service. It’s literally an attack on the Constitution.’”
271,500 Workers Went on Strike in 2024: “Hundreds of thousands of workers across the United States went on strike in 2024—from health care workers in California to public school teachers in Massachusetts to telecommunications workers in the South. The most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that 271,500 workers were involved in ‘major work stoppages’ in 2024. The number of workers involved in these stoppages decreased by 41% compared with 2023 but remained elevated compared with strike activity in the early 2000s and 2010s.”
It’s (Past) Time for Oregon to Level the Playing Field: “When talk of the world’s first trillionaire takes center stage in our nation’s news cycles, you know there’s something wrong in our society. When the world’s five richest men have more than doubled their fortunes since 2020 while five billion people around the world have become poorer, it’s clear that there’s an imbalance in the economy. Even when workers use their most powerful—yet risky—tool to fight for fairness by withholding their labor in a strike, corporations often intentionally prolong the strike, starve them out, and cancel healthcare coverage to force them to accept an unfair contract settlement. Unfortunately, this can often perpetuate the ills of our society at large: corporate greed, unsafe jobs, and a culture where we are not respecting working people for their labor; the glue that makes our communities run.”
Federal Workers to Hold Public Actions in Multiple U.S. Cities on Wednesday: “Three weeks after a January 28 memo titled ‘Fork in the Road’ encouraged federal workers to accept ‘deferred resignation’ and leave their positions—and one week after a union-backed demonstration held at the Capitol—federal government union members are gearing up to hold demonstrations in cities across the country on Wednesday, February 19. Organizers are calling the coordinated events Save Our Services Day of Action.”
New DNC chair: Union Workers, Labor Leaders Will Be ‘Core to My Decision-Making’: “New Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin said Tuesday that union workers and labor leaders will be ‘core to my decision-making.’ ‘As Trump wages his war on working families, Democrats will fiercely answer the call to my favorite old union song, "Which Side Are You On?" I’ll tell you what: Democrats are on the side of the worker,’ he said. ‘We will show Americans every day that workers in fact do have more power than any billionaire.’”
Want to Defeat Trump? Support Unions: “But there’s no need to despair. A powerful force in our society has the legitimacy, resources and leverage to turn things around: organized labor. Unions can beat back Donald Trump’s attacks, expose his sham populism, and—by uniting workers around their shared economic interests—help isolate his xenophobic scapegoating. Rather than hibernate for the next four years, or limit ourselves to posting online about the president’s latest outrages, each of us can lend support to workers organizing at federal agencies, schools, Starbucks, Amazon, auto plants and beyond. Just as importantly, we can expand the labor movement’s reach by unionizing our own workplaces. It won’t be easy to counter Trump’s shock-and-awe offensive, or to fill the void left by the Democrats’ disarray. But it’s both necessary and possible.”
Delaware State AFL-CIO Announces New President: “The Delaware State AFL-CIO recently announced Nelson Hill has been elected as its new president. A dedicated labor leader with 20 years of experience fighting for the rights of working families, Hill will now lead the state federation in its mission to protect and empower union members across Delaware. Hill also serves as vice president and executive assistant to the president of UFCW Local 27, one of the largest and most influential unions in the region. His extensive experience in organizing, collective bargaining and worker advocacy has made a profound impact on the labor movement, improving conditions and securing stronger protections for thousands of workers.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/20/2025 - 13:19Black History Month Profiles: Ralphe Armstrong
For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Ralphe Armstrong of American Federation of Musicians (AFM).
Ralphe Armstrong started playing in Detroit clubs at the age of 13. One of his first gigs was at a now-demolished jazz club called the Latin Quarter Theater. “I had no idea it was a union house,” he said. And that was when his mom stepped in. “Detroit is and always was a union town. My dad was in the UAW. I come from the era when if you wanted to be in the big time, you had to join the AFM....I’ve had so many good things happen to me because I was a union member, especially doing so much TV work and recordings. But the federation looks after my interests just as much as it looks after those who have other jobs and maybe just play music for fun, or gig to make some extra money.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/20/2025 - 09:35Tags: Black History Month
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Ski Patrol Union Reaches Tentative Agreement with Keystone Ski Resort
Working people across the United States regularly step 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.
Members of the United Professional Ski Patrols of America (UPSPA), Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7781, who work at Keystone Resort have reached a tentative agreement (TA) on their first contract with Vail Resorts.
Organized under the name Keystone Ski Patrol (KSP) Union, workers have been in negotiations with the largest resort operator in North America since September 2024. Over the course of bargaining, patrollers have staged a protest and filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
“Keystone Resort and the Keystone Ski Patrol Union are pleased to announce that they have reached a new tentative agreement through May 31, 2027,” the union and management said in a joint statement. “Together, the resort and union are looking forward to a great rest of the season.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/20/2025 - 09:27
