Service + Solidarity Spotlight: USW Members Help Fellow Kentuckians Recover After Massive Tornado
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 550 at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant are helping those who lost everything after a huge tornado and other storms churned through western Kentucky the night of Dec. 10, 2021. The tornado killed at least 77 people in Kentucky and left a trail of debris across a large swath of the region. While it did not claim the lives of any Local 550 members or retirees, at least one person lost a relative in the storm. In the wake of the tornado, Local 550’s membership voted to donate up to $5,000 for disaster relief, and members are using vacation time and paid time off to help with clean-up efforts and to aid those who were displaced.
Local 550 member Greg Enlow took off work for the remainder of 2021. His house in Mayfield, Kentucky, missed the mile-wide, 190 mph twister by two blocks, but he understands that the entire community will have to rally behind those who were less fortunate. “I’m trying to help people out where I can and get things back to normal as quickly as possible,” he said. Enlow said that several union members were on the ground early in the morning of Dec. 11 to bring water and other aid. “I was overwhelmed how the membership took care of people, me especially.”
Click here to make a donation to support union members and families in Kentucky who were impacted by the recent storms.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 01/10/2022 - 09:40Economy Gains 199,000 Jobs in December; Unemployment Down to 3.9%
The U.S. economy gained 199,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate declined to 3.9%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In response to the December job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
Another sign employers are not as intensive in hiring as they whine about shortages, is that Black labor force participation is flagging again. Black workers are the most sensitive to tight labor markets and the cost of job search. @AFLCIO 2/2 pic.twitter.com/WgSLdokBiS
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 7, 2022Average wage growth of 4.7% was near the same for many sectors, except low wage workers--those in leisure & hospitality got the big boost 14.1%. Lower wage industry wages are rising faster than higher wage industries, and out pacing inflation. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/1z19eie9PO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 7, 2022Last month’s biggest job gains were in leisure and hospitality (+53,000), professional and business services (+43,000), manufacturing (+26,000), construction employment (+22,000), transportation and warehousing (+19,000), wholesale trade (+14,000) and mining (+7,000). In December, employment showed little or no change in other major industries, including retail trade, information, financial activities, health care, other services and government.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (3.6%), adult women (3.6%) and White Americans (3.2%) declined in December. The jobless rates for teenagers (10.9%), Black Americans (7.1%), Hispanics (4.9%) and Asian Americans (3.8%) showed little or no change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) declined in December and accounted for 31.7% of the total unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/07/2022 - 09:56Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Federal Firefighters Secure New Benefits and Safety Measures
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Firefighters who work for the federal government will enjoy new benefits and safer working conditions with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), recently signed into law by President Biden. A priority provision for the Fire Fighters (IAFF) in the 2022 NDAA will permit federal firefighters to voluntarily swap shifts. It also establishes a new parental bereavement leave benefit and requires the Department of Defense to prevent the use of toxic chemicals in firefighting foams.
“The demanding 72-hour workweek required of our federal fire fighters is nothing short of brutal. I know firsthand just how difficult it can be to tend to personal or family matters without the flexibility of shift trades,” said General President Edward Kelly. “Correction of this oversight is long overdue, and I am confident this legislative victory will go a long way in resetting the work-life balance of those impacted. I am also very pleased that our federal brothers and sisters will have access to a new parental bereavement leave benefit available to them following the loss of a child. Perhaps most importantly, the provisions around toxic [perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)] will provide additional tools to extinguish cancer from the fire service.”
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/07/2022 - 09:56On Jan. 6 Anniversary, Congress Must Act to Strengthen Our Democracy
On the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection of 2021, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler called on Congress to defend against assaults against our democracy and strengthen voting rights for all Americans.
In a statement, Shuler said:
One year ago today, we watched in horror as a violent mob, many carrying banners proclaiming white supremacy and anti-government slogans, attempted to block the peaceful transfer of power by storming the U.S. Capitol. On that day, so many of us felt powerless watching the violence unfold. But we are not powerless, and the lesson of the Jan. 6 attack cannot be forgotten. The very people who witnessed firsthand our democracy under assault now have the opportunity to strengthen our system of government, not weaken it. Congress must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 and the Freedom to Vote Act to protect the right of every American to cast our vote and have that vote counted so that every eligible voter has a say in who represents them.
If we learned anything from that day a year ago, it is that democracy is fragile and must be protected. Our 12.5 million members are motivated, we are mobilizing and we are organizing to hold our elected officials accountable to defend voting rights and democracy for all.
Shuler also released the following video:
Other labor leaders, representing millions of working people, also weighed in on the anniversary of 1/6...
Actors’ Equity Association:
It has been one year since a violent mob stormed the Capitol in an effort to overturn the results of a free and fair election. At the time, Equity called for accountability, not just for the rioters but for the politicians who incited or condoned their actions.
We support the continued prosecution of the insurrectionists. However, this does not address what precipitated the events of January 6, leading to severe injuries and deaths, the desecration of our seat of democracy and a nation watching as white supremacists marched the Confederate flag through its hallowed halls. We urge that the Congressional investigation continue, and that anyone who aided or abetted the insurrection, wherever they may be, also face justice.
Crucially, this assault showed us that there are ways in which our democracy is vulnerable. The right to vote is sacred and Congress must protect it. We urge the passing of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.
Continued action is necessary to ensure our government is one that serves all of its constituents, and not those who show the most force.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley:
On this day last year, I called the events of January 6 what they were—a desperate attempt by a desperate man to use political violence to cling onto power after a clear defeat at the ballot box. Every patriotic citizen was outraged by that brazen effort to deny our fellow Americans that most fundamental, God-given right—to choose our own leaders—and instead leave our nation in thrall to a fantasy and an impostor to the presidency.
But the attack on our democracy, on our unalienable rights, and on truth itself did not begin on January 6, 2021. Neither did it end among the shattered glass on the steps of the Capitol building. For years, the ringleaders of the January 6 attacks spread lies about America’s government and the public servants who make it work. They set about to destroy the independent unions, like mine, which represent those law enforcement officers, food inspectors, doctors and nurses, case workers, emergency response personnel, and so many more.
They told Americans that if government scientists produce a report that politicians don’t like, those politicians shouldn’t deal with the truth. They should ignore it, censor it, or have the scientists’ jobs shipped to another state. They told us that government workers don’t need a merit system, or due process, or union rights, or a contract, because their only qualification should be loyalty to the president.
They told us that if the predicted path of a hurricane wasn’t politically expedient, it was just fine to take out a marker and change it. Sure, they said, others may have facts, but we’ve got alternative facts. Every step of the way, as they got more Americans to go along with these smaller, less significant attacks on the truth, they became more confident they could get away with one last big one.
Instead, they failed. Today, these same malign actors are once again hard at work, spreading more lies and discord, trying to guarantee their own success by sabotaging our democracy, propelled forward by no higher purpose than their own lust for power and fear of accountability.
In this, they will fail again. In 2020, we turned out in record numbers to make sure our votes were counted, and the will of the people prevailed. That is our story. That is who we are as Americans. In this country, the voters decide the outcome of our elections. Not a handful of politicians, and not a violent mob.
We the people will never surrender our democracy.
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International President John Costa:
A year ago today, insurrectionists attacked the foundation of our democracy, the U.S. Capitol, and the certification of our free and fair elections. That day now lives in infamy. While we were all shocked by the violence of the insurrection, democracy nevertheless prevailed.
The work ahead consists of doing whatever we can to defend and protect it. We must continue to summon the courage to stand up to all the hate and extremism that attempts to divide our country. We must treat each other with respect and decency, regardless of our differences. Working together as one, we can continue to recover from this pandemic, fight for justice, and ensure voting rights for all.
We must never forget that we’re better as a country than what took place on January 6th.
The ATU offers our thoughts and prayers to everyone still mourning the loss of their loved ones who defended our democracy that day.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders:
On January 6, 2021, when a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol because they didn’t like the outcome of a free and fair election, democracy itself came under attack.
This attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power was not an isolated incident. It was part of a larger movement to undermine our governing institutions, to spread dangerous misinformation, to restrict access to the ballot box and disenfranchise millions of Americans.
One year later, we must remain vigilant about defending the pillars of our system. And that means giving more citizens a voice in the political process, so that the government reflects the truest, fullest will of the people. That’s why AFSCME is fighting for swift passage of both the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Arcane U.S. Senate rules should not prevent a majority of senators from protecting and enhancing our most precious rights as Americans.
These issues matter to AFSCME members, who have historically sustained our democratic infrastructure as champions for voting rights, civil rights and workers’ rights. And last January 6, AFSCME Council 20 members who work at the Capitol were put in harm’s way but continued to serve with pride even as their lives were threatened.
The insurrection that took place a year ago today was a reminder that survival of American democracy can never be assumed; it must always be safeguarded and strengthened, no matter how difficult the struggle.
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten:
One year ago today we witnessed firsthand an attack on our country: an insurrection by political extremists at the U.S. Capitol.
I was in Washington, D.C., blocks from the Capitol building, which I can see from my office. I watched on television, along with the rest of the country, as throngs of violent protesters, intent on stopping the certification of the 2020 presidential election, defaced our government and threatened the very core of our democracy. I knew that it was a pivotal moment for America and our fundamental promise of free and fair elections.
We’re one year out from that treacherous day, and Congress has yet to pass meaningful reforms to secure the right to vote and protect the integrity of our elections. Meanwhile, states and counties are passing their own laws meant to disenfranchise voters and undermine those who are responsible for counting votes and running fair elections. If we care about our democracy and our way of life, we can’t sit idly by.
I’m a civics teacher who has the honor of serving as the president of the American Federation of Teachers. As I reflect on what the anniversary of the insurrection means, I’m grounded in those two things. At Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., I taught about the values underlying our democracy. The people are supposed to decide who governs them: Eligible Americans get to vote, their votes are tallied, and win or lose, we respect the outcome of the election. One of the many great things about America is that, despite our differences, we believe in peaceful protest, peaceful transfer of power, and the right to vote. And my students, who fiercely debated these fundamentals, learned that debate can be fierce but still respectful, based on ideas and facts, not bullying or misinformation.
But Donald Trump and his enablers went into overdrive when the 2020 election was called for Joe Biden, determined to undermine these precepts of our democracy. They are trying to choose who can vote because they don’t like how the majority of people voted. They are trying to make it harder for those they think will vote by restricting access to voting. They actively tried to throw out legitimate votes, mostly votes of people of color, because they didn’t like how they voted. They’re trying to redraw districts so that they choose the voters, the voters don’t choose them. And now they’re bullying and threatening election officials across the country—because of supposed voter fraud that didn’t happen.
Trump’s claim that the election was stolen—his “big lie”—is a fabrication. There is no evidence to support that claim; in fact, the evidence refutes it. It’s been rejected by the courts. It’s been disproven by independent experts. His supporters’ plan is to repeat the lie so often that people start believing it.
That’s the lie that laid the groundwork for the insurrection. Thousands of people believed Trump and stormed the Capitol in an act of domestic terrorism that caused millions of dollars in damages, led to several deaths, including of Capitol police, and hurt our nation. And that is the lie that fuels potential future violence against our democracy and the people who tend to it.
As Congress continues to investigate the attack on the Capitol, I want to be clear that our commitment to democracy is as strong as ever. That’s why we’re fighting for key pieces of legislation that will help make America better. We need the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to ensure the right to vote is protected for all Americans. Arcane Senate rules like the filibuster must not stand in the way of securing these fundamental rights. We need the Protecting Our Democracy Act to secure our nation from future abuses of power like Trump’s. We need the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act and the Build Back Better Act to help workers across the country recover from this pandemic. And we need to support the full investigation being done by the bipartisan Jan. 6 committee.
There are people across the country wondering what they can do right now to help protect our democracy. Here are a few places to get started:
First, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Tell them that the Senate needs to pass voting rights legislation now. Our tool will help you do that.
Second, for educators and parents who want to teach and learn about democracy, there are free lesson plans and resources from Share My Lesson.
Third, call your senators and tell them it’s time for the Senate to work on behalf of the American people. Tell them they cannot let a handful of politicians hide behind obscure Senate bureaucracy to block votes to protect our elections and our fundamental freedoms. It’s time to fix the Senate and protect our right to vote. Call now: 202–224–3121.
Finally, make sure you read up on fascism and how democracies fall. For the last few years I’ve recommended Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny. It’s a great starting point for people who want to learn more and be able to discuss what’s happening in this country.
I hope we all take time to reflect on the events of last Jan. 6—the day our democracy almost died—and recommit ourselves to fighting the misinformation and lies that make this a perilous time for our way of life.
American Postal Workers Union (APWU) President Mark Dimondstein:
One year ago, on January 6th and 7th, Congress, under the intense pressure of the organized, seditious and violent assault on the U.S. Capitol, rightfully completed its Constitutional duty to certify the election results of the 2020 presidential election. The aim of the attempted coup, including the intent by some in the mob to hang the sitting Republican Vice-President and the Democratic Speaker of the House, was to overturn the results of the election and disenfranchise tens of millions of voters. The APWU joins with the entire labor movement and all justice-minded people regardless of their political affiliations, in condemning this violent anti-democratic insurrection.
The siege of the Capitol was the direct result of the “big lie” promoted by former President Donald Trump that the election was stolen. While all the facts and evidence, from multiple court rulings to election audits, prove there was virtually no election fraud, the refrain of this “big lie” grows louder and continues to drive our country toward authoritarian and fascist rule.
Over the last year, the “big lie” has been the fuel for a frenzied wave of voter suppression efforts. Eighteen states have passed new laws that will make it harder for working people to vote, with new restrictions on vote by mail, early voting and drop boxes. This is all designed to suppress the powerful African-American and Latino vote, but also directed against the cherished voting rights of all working people. When the voice of working people is reduced and suppressed, Wall Street and Corporate America are the winners.
History shows us that these attacks won’t end with attempts to strip us of our right to vote. For example, just months after taking power in Germany in 1933, the Nazi fascists banned trade unions, jailed union leaders, crushed workers’ rights, exposing the fascists’ true corporate agenda. Today, our other democratic rights—the rights to free speech, to assemble, to join and form trade unions or other organizations, and more—are on the line as well. Yet, the voting rights issue is fundamental to all these other democratic rights and is thus a critical fight for our time.
Current voting rights legislation—including the For the People Act, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Freedom to Vote Act—would ensure early voting, maximum access to mail ballots, and easier voter registration, is stalled in the Senate, blocked by anti-democratic filibuster rules.
In the 2020 election, postal workers proudly carried out our civic responsibility to the people of this country by timely and securely moving millions of ballots. I urge all our members to take that same spirit to the streets and to pressure Congress, united with the AFL-CIO, community allies and the American people to protect and expand voting rights and our other democratic rights.
Our APWU family is made up of 200,000 members with varied political views and affiliations. It is one of our strengths. But whatever our diverse opinions, we should remain vigilant and united in re-committing ourselves to the struggle to advance democracy and win social and economic justice for all postal workers and working people.
Bricklayers (BAC) President Timothy Driscoll:
A year ago, we witnessed an outrageous effort to eradicate the most fundamental tenet of our country’s representative democracy—that Government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. That consent is determined through elections, where citizens across our country exercise their voice in determining their representatives. The citizens of our country exercised their most essential right in November of 2020, and collectively and definitively determined that Joe Biden would be the 46th President of our nation.
The assault on the U.S. Capitol by rioters on January 6, 2021, was an effort to extinguish the will of the voters of this country by undermining the lawful election process that has governed us for more than 200 years. In the last year, hundreds of the rioters have been arrested and their trials are ongoing.
It is imperative that the elected and public figures who were also responsible for the attack also face justice. They are culpable due to their dishonest and baseless claims, spreading lies and misinformation to confuse, anger, and divide millions.
Former President Trump, as well as his enablers and other elected officials who joined in disseminating conspiratorial falsehoods and challenging the certification of the Electoral College results forfeited their right to participate in the governing of our nation. They should no longer be able to hold public office and face prosecution where warranted.
In the last year, the falsehoods and misinformation about the 2020 election were used as justification by many state legislators pass anti-democratic legislation, undoing historic laws that strengthened our right to vote. We support the passage of voting rights legislation by Congress as soon as possible, to protect every American’s voice in their government. Without the consent of the governed, we would no longer have a democracy.
Communications Workers of America (CWA) President Chris Shelton:
The January 6 attack on our Capitol was a betrayal of our country, not just by the extremists who directly participated in the assault but also by the elected officials who spread lies about the election and encouraged the violence. We cannot let these bullies silence and intimidate us. The Senate majority must pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to create national standards that protect our rights, ensure that trusted local election officials count every vote, and prevent partisan politicians from sabotaging the results of our elections.
Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC):
A year ago, the attack on the U.S. Capitol called attention to the fragility of American democracy. Today, as the country reflects on how to safeguard institutions and political processes, agricultural workers across the nation will face brutal exploitation at the hands of corporate supply chains, while states simultaneously legislate against farmworkers’ rights to unionize. Defending democracy requires passing voting rights legislation, overhauling the systems designed to marginalize workers, and holding retailers and corporations accountable for abuse in their supply chains. On the anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, FLOC continues working to uphold democracy through fighting for farmworkers’ freedom of association and organizing against injustice.
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) President Matthew Biggs and Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson:
IFPTE President Matt Biggs: “IFPTE marks this solemn anniversary by remembering the workers that protected our Democracy last year as our Nation’s Capital was being attacked. We commend the U.S. Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and other law enforcement professionals who put their lives on the line. We thank the D.C. National Guard, who were finally given an order to help bring calm to the Capitol. We thank and honor the maintenance and service workers, and the staff on Capitol Hill, who also had their lives threatened, and who experienced extreme mental and physical consequences just for doing their jobs. In doing so, we must also acknowledge that those who incited this attack, including the former President and some elected members of Congress, continue to promote dangerous and purposeful distortions of reality, which have led to the weakening of our most sacred right—the right to vote—particularly in Black and Brown communities. As we remember that tragic day, IFPTE urges Congress to do everything in their power, including doing away with the filibuster, to protect every American’s right to vote, and to help bring accountability to not only those who stormed the Capitol, but also to those who planned and incited the deadly insurrection one year ago.”
IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson: “As a labor union we must remind everyone that our ability to protect and advocate for a Workers First agenda is dependent on a robust Democracy. IFPTE is proud to be a union that recognizes and appreciates the diverse political views of our membership, which we believe mirror the views of the larger population. We also take pride in our ability to work with elected leaders of all political stripes, putting forward the issues of importance to our members. Sadly, what happened last year was not about differences of opinion on issues. Rather, it was an attack on our Democracy and must never be allowed to occur again.”
Machinists (IAM) President Robert Martinez Jr.:
One year ago, we watched as violence overtook the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop our nation’s sacred tradition of a peaceful transfer of power. Everyday citizens, first responders and elected officials were put in harm’s way. It was an image many of us never thought we would see in the United States of America.
As a U.S. Navy veteran, like so many others who served our country, it was especially disturbing to see our democracy under attack. What happened that day was an affront to everything we stand for as a nation and as a union. While we encourage passionate debate and the right to disagree with one another, violence and hate are never the answer.
We must never forget this day. We must always protect our freedom and our democracy. Let’s move forward to protect the rights of all citizens and our sacred duty to make our voices heard at the ballot box instead of through violence.
Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P) President Don Marcus:
The crimes that took place on January 6 must not go unpunished. The attempted theft of the last Presidential election demands accountability. Those in our own government who encouraged and facilitated this disgraceful episode in U.S. history must be held no less accountable than the rioters who stormed the Capitol. Any other outcome would be equivalent to blessing a dry run on the future destruction of our democratic process.
National Nurses United (NNU) President Deborah Burger and Executive Director Bonnie Castillo:
Burger: “It is also imperative that we acknowledge the unresolved roots of this horrific assault on our nation, fueled by far-right, anti-democratic ideology, married with racism and a willingness by many of its supporters to use violence to achieve their goals, that continues to pose a substantial danger to all people in the United States. We must commit ourselves to not only repudiating the extremist conspiracy theories and rhetoric that drove this assault, but additionally to enact meaningful reforms at the federal and state levels to protect our democracy and our fundamental rights without which our nation cannot survive. Jan. 6, like Dec. 7 and Sept. 11, is truly a day that will live in infamy, one whose actions will be repeated unless we act.”
Castillo: “Priority number one is for the U.S. Senate to change its filibuster rules to allow for the passage of the voting rights bill to protect the 2022 midterms. We applaud Majority Leader Schumer for scheduling this vote by Jan. 17 and strongly urge every senator to vote to change the Senate’s antiquated rules to allow the voting rights bill to be passed into law. Given the repeated attacks on our elections by Republicans in multiple states, our very democracy hangs in the balance. Nurses know that we must have a basic commitment to a humane, multicultural society, premised on respect for everyone of all backgrounds, and a peaceful resolution and accommodation of political and cultural differences, and respect for our elections where everyone has the right to vote. That means full rejection of racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, homophobia, and other attacks on people based on their ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status. That is the only way we can begin to achieve the healing, the recovery, this nation so desperately needs.”
Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU):
As we mark the one-year anniversary of the dark day in American history when militants stormed the U.S. Capitol in a deadly attempt to overturn the will of the people, we must renew our commitment to protecting truth and democracy by ensuring voting rights for all Americans.
We must also hold those responsible for the attacks accountable, from every rioter who desecrated our Capitol to those politicians who spurred them on and continue to spread hate and extremism. We can accept nothing less than full accountability for those who continue to threaten our democracy by brazenly spreading lies about our elections and government to serve their own self-interests.
We must protect our fragile democracy by preventing partisan politics from sabotaging our elections. We demand our senators exercise their majority and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to create national standards that protect every Americans' right to vote, ensure every vote is counted and prevent partisan politicians from sabotaging the results of our elections.
UAW President Ray Curry:
Democracy can never be taken for granted. We must all, every one of us in this great nation of ours, work to protect and preserve our great Democracy. What we saw at the Capitol last January 6 was a truly sad day for our nation, but we must remember that there is much more that unites us than divides. I urge of us all to work together to move forward.
UNITE HERE:
One year ago today, over 1,000 UNITE HERE housekeepers, cooks, dishwashers & airport workers—who are mostly women & people of color—wrapped up months of full-time canvassing in Georgia. It should have been a day to celebrate an extraordinary triumph for our union—but instead we watched in fear along with our fellow Americans as our democracy was shaken to its core.
Our fight in 2020 felt like a David & Goliath struggle—our union, 98% out of work in the early days of the pandemic, helped defeat Trump in Nevada, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, and then turned on a dime to Take Back the Senate. Georgia’s Jim Crow past had always ensured that runoff elections favored Incumbents.
The stakes couldn’t have been higher. COVID relief was on the line. The future of our freedom to vote was on the line. Losing in Georgia was not an option. UNITE HERE members knew it. So, we knocked on 1.6 million doors as part of a larger 9 million-knock statewide effort to win the vote for Reverend Warnock and Jon Ossoff.
Since then, politicians have proposed hundreds of anti-voter laws to try to push us all backward—and hurt working people and people of color most. We deserve a democracy where all of us have a say in the decisions that affect our lives—no matter our race, zip code, or income. We cannot afford to go backwards. We already have enough of an uphill battle ahead of us.
We took back the Senate and it’s going to take ALL of us to hold the line in both chambers in 2022 so we can get the work done in D.C. that working people need, NOW. Si, se puede.
Utility Workers (UWUA) National President James Slevin:
Today we remember the brave Capitol police officers who died as a result of the violence that took place on January 6. We are also thinking of all of the individuals who defended democracy and upheld the election results but are experiencing pain as they relive the trauma perpetrated that day.
We strongly condemn the violence that took place one year ago. As Americans, we have incomparable freedom to voice our opinions through protest and free speech. However, we cannot resort to violence, and we cannot allow ourselves to become wrapped up in the divisive rhetoric and mistruths that surrounded the 2020 election. Facts matter; the truth matters. As leaders in our communities, we remain committed to upholding America’s great democratic ideals.
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Nursing Unions, AFL-CIO Take OSHA to Court on COVID-19 Protections for Health Care Workers
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
A group of America’s largest nursing unions, together with the AFL-CIO, filed a lawsuit today against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to compel the agency to issue a permanent standard that requires employers to protect health care workers from COVID-19 and to keep the emergency temporary standard (ETS) in place until a permanent standard is issued. OSHA announced last week that all of the nonrecord-keeping provisions of the health care ETS would be expiring, despite the massive surge of infections sweeping the nation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 803,454 health care workers had contracted COVID-19 and 3,063 had died from the disease as of Dec. 30, 2021. The petitioners include National Nurses United (NNU); the AFL-CIO; the American Federation of Teachers (AFT); AFSCME; as well as some of the nation’s other major nursing unions, including the New York State Nurses Association and the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 01/06/2022 - 09:39Just Getting Started: 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:
Call your business rep today if you have COVID-19 safety concerns about your workplace. If you’re unsure, find a list of business reps in the member portal - https://t.co/xZ1VzSIshC pic.twitter.com/hp5KbMP3gf
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) December 29, 2021AFGE:
AFGE correctional workers at Florence Correctional Complex say the nation's only supermax federal prison is severely understaffed. #1u https://t.co/GLi391qm51
— AFGE (@AFGENational) January 4, 2022AFSCME:
A new report from the @EconomicPolicy Institute shows the benefits of a strong union go beyond the workplace. In fact, as the report shows, high unionization rates correlate with other measures of economic, personal and democratic well-being. #1u https://t.co/jlaGuVH62W
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) January 4, 2022Alliance for Retired Americans:
Lawmakers haven't enhanced Social Security in 50 years.
But seniors need expanded benefits and better COLAs. #PassSecure2100 https://t.co/4Cma7Da7On
Amalgamated Transit Union:
ATU-endorsed Pennsylvania candidate for Governor @JoshShapiroPA has picked PA State Rep. Austin Davis, proud son of an ATU Local 85-Pittsburgh, PA bus driver, for Lieutenant Governor. https://t.co/L9CfOGWUDE #PublicTransit #Transit #1u
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) January 5, 2022American Federation of Musicians:
The time is now to finally change the rules that are rigged in favor of big media and ensure that musicians get paid when their work is played on the radio. Among the supporters of the #AMFA is Ken Casey, frontman of the Dropkick Murphys. https://t.co/6AOP6r6x4n #musicfairness pic.twitter.com/l9XX4RZjz1
— AFM (@The_AFM) January 4, 2022American Federation of Teachers:
"The priority is to keep [schools] open and to keep people safe."
Watch & share: @rweingarten talks to the @BBCWorld about omicron, getting back into the classroom, and what we can do to keep our communities safe. pic.twitter.com/40OKmytfFN
American Postal Workers Union:
— APWU National (@APWUnational) December 15, 2021Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
"In 2020, I took my last family photo with my parents before they moved back to Korea. I've never been good at goodbyes but the hardest part is not knowing when I will see my family again. This is why we need a #PathwaytoCitizenship." - Rachel, APALA#WeAreHome pic.twitter.com/KhWWXVFTgz
— Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (@APALAnational) January 5, 2022Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Our statement on #5G https://t.co/rQtQHdkIFp
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) January 4, 2022Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
Every little bit of solidarity helps! Thank you, @SEIU721, @LALabor and all who continue to stand with BCTGM Local 37! https://t.co/TPxg3O7ECl
— BCTGM International (@BCTGM) January 4, 2022Boilermakers:
These #Boilermakers don't get stage freight ? Read about L-83 (Kansas City, Missouri) apprentices who participated in an on stage production: https://t.co/UMXvfy22Tc#BoilermakersUnion #apprentice #BNAP #UnionProud pic.twitter.com/yINkyxvPJs
— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) January 3, 2022Bricklayers:
Happy New Year! pic.twitter.com/Y11ruCiHlk
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) January 1, 2022California School Employees Association:
We’re proud to cosponsor @Portantino’s #SB830 to make CA’s school funding more equitable for all students. “The truth is, attendance-based funding punishes students in schools that most need the state’s financial support,” CSEA President Shane Dishman told the @latimes. https://t.co/k5M9GTgA0b
— CSEA (@CSEA_Now) January 3, 2022Coalition of Labor Union Women:
Holiday Message from CLUW President Elise Bryant. (@LaborHeritage1) https://t.co/J4r8UokPII
— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) December 26, 2021Communications Workers of America:
Need help paying for internet?
The @FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet for eligible households & up to $75 per month for homes on qualifying Tribal lands. Details: https://t.co/8R7zQUVFmw.
Department for Professional Employees:
"For many American workers, the goal of true equality and opportunity at the work site is stubbornly out of reach due to anti-union laws." #1u #PassThePROAct https://t.co/q5IMjGbcjo
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) January 5, 2022Electrical Workers:
Delta Star manufacturing and #IBEW Local 2173 are shattering antiunion stereotypes every day. Check out this union success story right in the heart of the right-to-work South. https://t.co/4lHA4lwNUa
— IBEW (@IBEW) January 5, 2022Fire Fighters:
https://t.co/ahEDcVlFHk @IAFFPresident @IAFFNewsDesk
— IAFF Memorial (@IAFFMemorial) January 4, 2022Heat and Frost Insulators:
Calling all women who want equal pay, education without debt and room to grow in your position. If you said yes to these, then working for the Insulators Union is your calling! See what the job entails here: https://t.co/inecKQHji5
— Insulators Union ? (@InsulatorsUnion) January 4, 2022International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
New EPI study that SHOCKINGLY states that big tech is stealing from its workers. Shocking. https://t.co/bWmIFPbSJV
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) December 20, 2021International Labor Communications Association:
Beautiful commemorative journal https://t.co/MZiQazUkFM
— Labor Communications (@ILCAonline) December 9, 2021Ironworkers:
"An analysis (OSHA) inspections at construction jobsites has revealed that unionized construction workers face 34% fewer health and safety violations than their nonunion counterparts, and as much as 64% less across nine Midwestern states."https://t.co/AvdEFURsBI
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) January 5, 2022Jobs With Justice:
A story from 2021 to keep watching in 2022? @BAmazonUnion. Things are just getting started, y'all! https://t.co/g6pmTe78Um
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) January 5, 2022Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
¡Atención compañer@s! Today marks the kick-off of our #50for50 Membership Drive! As we move into our 50th anniversary, we are challenging you to recruit 50 new members to LCLAA!
Learn more about the drive: https://t.co/IabtPyPXYo
Take the pledge: https://t.co/XVMcS16irD pic.twitter.com/S7v7EPpCTG
Laborers:
Today’s #MemberMonday comes to you from a site visit by #Local1059 Business Rep Nathan Moniz and features members from Render Construction working on a new development in #ldnont #skilledtrades #constructionlife #liuna #constructionworker #construction #union #BuildingLondonOnt pic.twitter.com/ssFwhgc0I6
— LIUNA Local 1059 (@LiUNA1059) January 3, 2022Machinists:
The staff at SHoP Architects @arch_workers_u are just a step away from their goal of joining the IAM. Please continue to support our sisters and brothers and help them across the finish line. https://t.co/aC7QDoZSq4
— Machinists Union | Pass the #PROAct (@MachinistsUnion) January 5, 2022Metal Trades Department:
Founded in 1877, the Farmers Alliance was designed to advocate for farmers economic welfare and representation. Together, the group would help for economic opportunities within the community and to make the selling of goods a collaborative process.#LaborHistory pic.twitter.com/Vr0VkuKFVt
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) January 3, 2022Musical Artists:
AGMA’s last newsletter of 2021 was sent to members in good standing on December 23. As always, members can review ALL of AGMA’s past newsletters by visiting the newsletter archive behind the portal. pic.twitter.com/btlf1SewNU
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) January 3, 2022National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
As part of the 18th Biennial Convention, NATCA is highlighting its locals around the country which have achieved 100% membership among all of its bargaining unit employees. A total of 171 facilities made the list. View the full list: https://t.co/73cKBXLnat pic.twitter.com/mQWTUnzv3S
— NATCA (@NATCA) January 5, 2022National Association of Letter Carriers:
Congratulations to the 2021 NALC Hero of the Year Award Winners! Learn more about these letter carriers’ incredible acts of heroism in The Postal Record. Thank you to these heroes who help keep their communities safe! #HeroesDelivering https://t.co/s43SvUYIMC pic.twitter.com/LPSGFNmx0r
— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) December 20, 2021National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
Happy 2022 from all of us at NDLON!
Thank you for being with us throughout the years and supporting our campaigns, projects, and worker centers. #DALE #WorkerMigrantJustice #EndWageTheft pic.twitter.com/IzQcWEmXNq
National Domestic Workers Alliance:
The domestic worker movement is grateful for @aijenpoo and her leadership every day and can’t wait to get some care worker wins in 2022 ?https://t.co/ZvefVVsfZu
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) January 5, 2022National Nurses United:
Today, we join @AFLCIO, @AFTunion, @AFSCME, @nynurses, and @PennaNurses to petition a federal court to order @OSHA_DOL to issue a permanent standard that requires employers to #ProtectNurses and other health care workers against Covid-19. https://t.co/0KLSDifFCu
— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) January 5, 2022National Taxi Workers Alliance:
#HappyNewYear, Brothers and Sisters. Thank you for the love, solidarity and inspiration which made our 2021 triumphant. Here's to a 2022 full of victory, progress, and peace with justice. The struggle continues. See you on the picket lines!
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) January 1, 2022NWSL Players Association:
Thank you to all have donated or are considering donating to our emergency trust!
The NET will provide financial assistance to players who face financial hardship and will remove cost as a barrier to accessing mental health services.https://t.co/wSlGLZwCKo
NFL Players Association:
#GeauxTigers ?? @djchark82 will be rocking his custom socks from @forbarefeet tonight as LSU takes on the Wildcats in the @TexasBowl. What's even better? You can bid on a pair and support student athletes @lsusports while doing it.
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) January 4, 2022North America's Building Trades Unions:
"The belief that college is the only way to become successful is, in fact, not true.”
Watch this video that dissects the latest research on the growth and success of #BuildingTrades Registered Apprenticeships ? https://t.co/Y6YClvfIPa
Office and Professional Employees:
Basic working conditions, internal transparency and equity are on the minds of many #techworkers as they choose to organize, said Toy Vano, a former product manager at Kickstarter & Spotify who now helps to organize tech unions with @techunion1010. https://t.co/6JGbc3XOdU
— OPEIU ║ #PassThePROAct ✊ (@OPEIU) January 3, 2022Painters and Allied Trades:
Are you one of the millions of frustrated Americans that quit your job before the holidays and are searching for a better future?
Consider our union's apprenticeship program, which provides remarkable opportunities for all that can positively transform lives! pic.twitter.com/w3xMRp8WJ8
Plasterers and Cement Masons:
Here’s to a 2022 in which #OPCMIA members have an abundance of work, good health, and the joys of family. While we have challenges to overcome, we also have much to look forward to. Happy New Year! https://t.co/A07Bvj8HlN
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) January 1, 2022Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
.@MorePerfectUS made the worker training video your boss doesn’t want you to see! Learn about your rights on the job and common issues like wage theft. Then, give us a call if you’re ready to organize your workplace. #1uhttps://t.co/Cmh7L7KofO
— RWDSU (@RWDSU) January 5, 2022Roofers and Waterproofers:
Looking for the latest data on falls in construction? Check out CPWR's interactive data dashboards, available here: https://t.co/2g28y3V7jd #roofersafety365
— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) January 5, 2022SAG-AFTRA:
Options and exclusivity provisions are standard in TV contracts and can't be negotiated away. The #FAIRact will prohibit the use of unfair and outdated contract provisions that hold actors off the market and unable to work for unreasonably long periods of time. pic.twitter.com/90pHzU6Ptd
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) January 4, 2022Solidarity Center:
In Jaffna # SriLanka, 45 union members who completed a 3-month training in ‘Labor Law & Trade Unionism’ received certificates during a recent ceremony. Prof Sarveshwaram from the law faculty of the Univ of Colombo, conducted the course, organized by Solidarity Center. @WedabimaL pic.twitter.com/nJNGvHG8sA
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) January 5, 2022The NewsGuild-CWA:
Another Block outrage: Journalists risk their own health and safety to cover the news while the Blocks wreck their health coverage. https://t.co/fqv4uWXxa5
— NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) January 5, 2022Theatrical Stage Employees:
Take a closer look at the TTF Safety First! Compressed Gases online course. This course provides an awareness of the hazards of compressed air and of basic principles for effective control of exposures. Find it in your Safety First! account: https://t.co/4xVSesxmE9 #SafetyFirst pic.twitter.com/CTBYQHc4rW
— IATSE Training Trust Fund (@IATSETTF) January 5, 2022Transport Workers Union:
The Winter 2021 issue of the TWU Express was slightly delayed due to a paper shortage, and is being mailed out this week. If you can't wait to get your hands on one, you can read it online right now at the link below! #TWUExpress https://t.co/m6wCowkCrh pic.twitter.com/QeZlvhZ2SS
— TWU (@transportworker) January 5, 2022Transportation Trades Department:
During the supply chain crisis, the #JonesAct has helped to protect #Hawaii from higher prices and keep shelves stocked. “The necessities are still at our fingertips,” says the Honolulu ports’ representative for @MMP_Union. Learn more from the @civilbeat: https://t.co/1H9BoG12CB
— Transportation Trades Dept. (@TTDAFLCIO) January 5, 2022UAW:
"History has demonstrated that strong standards based on input from stakeholders that include American workers at the table can be an opportunity for both job retention, job creation and environmental protections." https://t.co/UqPxhTyPQp
— UAW (@UAW) December 20, 2021Union Veterans Council:
All politics start local and the UVC has natural leaders stepping up to run all over the country.
Just like @AlleghenyLabor UVC Chair and Army Vet Craig Romanovich. Craig ran for local office and was sworn in last night as Green Tree Borough Council Person, congrats! #1u pic.twitter.com/lEIkETxtYX
UNITE HERE:
We've been organizing hospitality workers for a while and guess what. Good, union jobs help counter high turnover rates!! Wow. https://t.co/d8yS3XFSAu
— UNITE HERE (@unitehere) January 5, 2022United Food and Commercial Workers:
We are grateful for all our members and #EssentialWorkers who helped us get through 2021 and will be there for us in 2022!
UFCW wishes everyone a safe and prosperous new year! pic.twitter.com/kGc2z4KB2p
United Steelworkers:
Four more Starbucks stores have filed for unionization over the past two weeks https://t.co/rr05iW7PUn
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) January 5, 2022United Students Against Sweatshops:
Announcing the next event in our Global Labor Justice Teach-In Series -“Bolivia: Evo Morales, Labor, and Indigenous Plurinationality” on Thurs, Jan 13th at 8pm ET. Stay tuned for news on our amazing lineup of panelists. All are welcome, register now! https://t.co/VepvSqbFeA pic.twitter.com/TjrpiOSJbS
— USAS (@USAS) December 23, 2021Utility Workers:
"There were periods, such as after the World Wars or coming out of the Great Depression, when working people made great contributions to society and then insisted that they be rewarded.
For the essential workers...this is another such time."https://t.co/4ePanPvCjK
Working America:
Every workplace should be a safe workplace!https://t.co/R9zQkUiCOw
— Working America | Pass the #PROAct (@WorkingAmerica) January 5, 2022Writers Guild of America, East:
Discussing your wages with colleagues is one small but simple way to identify (and start to address) wage gaps and biases at work – and you have the right to do it! #SalaryTransparency #1u https://t.co/XuG6Elk3g7
— Writers Guild of America, East / #PROAct (@WGAEast) January 5, 2022 Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 01/05/2022 - 16:30Service + Solidarity Spotlight: IUPAT Celebrates Its Proud History While Looking Toward the Future
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
2021 was a year unlike any other, and together, the unions that make up the AFL-CIO showed our strength and resolve to carry on the work we do despite enormous challenges. On New Year’s Eve, the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) released a new video, reflecting on the union’s history and spreading hope for the future. “Let us take a moment to appreciate that, despite overwhelming odds, our international union is still standing strong after another year, the 134th year of our proud existence,” the union posted on Facebook. “In 2022, let’s commit ourselves like never before to building IUPAT power, strength for our trades, and towards creating a labor movement future generations can take great pride in as unionists just like all of us are today.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 01/05/2022 - 09:46Empowering Workers: Worker Wins
Despite the challenges of organizing during a deadly pandemic, working people across the country (and beyond) continue organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. This edition begins with:
Baltimore County Public Library Employees Vote Overwhelmingly to Join IAM: Workers at the Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) had a special reason to celebrate this holiday season. It was announced last week that 460 full-time and part-time library workers voted 77% in favor of forming a union with the Machinists (IAM). The successful vote comes after years of organizing, which included the IAM winning a new state law allowing BCPL employees to collectively bargain. “This is so exciting for Baltimore County Public Library workers,” said Anita Bass, a BCPL circulation assistant III at the Essex branch. “This will empower the staff of BCPL to continue to do the important work of fulfilling BCPL’s mission and vision. We need a system in place to protect and support each other, and a legally binding contract will give us that. I believe in the BCPL mission, and I know the IAM will help us accomplish that mission.” “Baltimore County Public Library employees have always been a critical pillar to our community, and now especially during the pandemic,” said IAM Grand Lodge Representative Bridget Fitzgerald, lead organizer on the campaign. “I could not be more proud of these professionals for joining together and standing strong for what they deserve. This is a victory for them, their families and all of Baltimore County, which rightfully relies on a strong and inclusive library system.”
SHoP Architects Employees Vote to Join Machinists: Employees at SHoP Architects in New York are seeking to become the first private sector architectural workers to successfully organize since the 1940s. More than 130 eligible employees at the firm have signed cards in support of forming a union with the Machinists (IAM). The firm is known for work on the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the Steinway Tower south of Central Park, among others. Workers are seeking to reduce their workload and increase pay, after they reported working long hours for pay that doesn’t allow them to pay off the thousands of dollars of student debt those in their field often accumulate. The organizing committee has asked SHoP for voluntary recognition and wants to start a conversation with SHoP’s partners on how to address the challenges they face—and begin making positive changes. “Many of us feel pushed to the limits of our productivity and mental health,” the members of the committee said. “These conditions have become detrimental to our lives and in extension the lives of our families. These concerns are the product of larger systemic issues within the discipline of architecture and are in no way unique to SHoP. From the moment we begin studying architecture, we are taught that great design requires endless time and effort, and in turn demands the sacrifice of personal health and relationships. We are taught that architecture is a greater calling and regardless of how the client is willing to compensate us, we will perform our duty because it is critically important for the greater good.”
Air Line Pilots at Sun Country Ratify Tentative New Contract: Pilots who fly for Sun Country Airlines, members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), voted 93% in favor of ratifying a new tentative four-year agreement. The pact brings the pilots’ salaries, retirement and other work rules in line with their peers in the industry. The agreement was reached after seven months of negotiations, and reflects the growth and modernization of Sun Country in recent years. “We are proud of this contract that reflects the work we’ve done and contributions we’ve made to help the airline grow,” said Capt. Brian Lethert, Sun Country Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council chair. “We are committed to helping the company continue growing and achieving its objectives through this modern contract, which will ensure the airline is able to retain and attract pilots.”
Kellogg’s Strike Ends as BCTGM Members Ratify New Contract: After a strike that began Oct. 5, Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) members have approved a new five-year contract that includes “no take-aways; no concessions.” The workers at ready-to-eat cereal plants in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Omaha, Nebraska; and Memphis, Tennessee, voted in favor of the new agreement, which includes: no permanent two-tier system, a clear path to regular full-time employment, no plant shutdowns through October 2026, increases in pension payments and the maintenance of cost-of-living raises. “Our striking members at Kellogg’s ready-to-eat cereal production facilities courageously stood their ground and sacrificed so much in order to achieve a fair contract. This agreement makes gains and does not include any concessions,” said BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton. “Our entire Union commends and thanks Kellogg’s members. From picket line to picket line, Kellogg’s union members stood strong and undeterred in this fight, inspiring generations of workers across the globe, who were energized by their tremendous show of bravery as they stood up to fight and never once backed down....The BCTGM is grateful, as well, for the outpouring of fraternal support we received from across the labor movement for our striking members at Kellogg’s. Solidarity was critical to this great workers’ victory.”
Oregon Grocery Workers End Strike with Tentative Agreement: Grocery workers, members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555, at Fred Meyer and Quality Food Centers in Oregon ended a strike after reaching a tentative labor agreement. The new contract provides wage increases, improved workplace protections, new retirement and healthcare benefits. The stores are part of Kroger-owned supermarket chains.
WGAE Ratifies Landmark Contract with VICE: On Friday, the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced that its 160 members at VICE Media have ratified a new three-year contract that sets an increased minimum salary of $63,000 and provides minimum yearly wage increases ranging from 3% to 3.75%. The WGAE previously had four contracts at VICE representing four main editorial verticals, but the new contract combines them all into one agreement. “Thanks to a unified and strong union, workers across VICE will now work under one collective bargaining agreement,” said WGAE Executive Director Lowell Peterson. “This new contract and its substantial gains are a testament to the VICE bargaining committee’s diligent efforts to address the concerns and aspirations of workers at a company that continues to grow within the ever-shifting media landscape.”
Ironworkers Emerge Victorious in Strike Against Erie Strayer: After nearly three months on strike, the members of Ironworkers Local 851 in Erie, Pennsylvania, have declared victory. Management at Erie Strayer came “to the table in good faith today to meet us in our demands,” the union announced on Friday. The members of Local 851 held the line, day and night, for months in their fight for a fair contract. “This win is a testament to the power of worker solidarity, and that the best protection and future for workers everywhere is with a union contract made for workers and by workers,” the Ironworkers said in a statement. Their grit and determination to win, together with the support of the local community and the labor movement, is an example to us all.
Vodeo Games Workers Form First Video Game Union in North America: The employees at Vodeo Games have come together to form Vodeo Workers United, the first certified union of video game workers in North America. The union was organized with the Campaign to Organize Digital Employees-CWA (CODE-CWA). Thirteen workers at the video game company, including independent contractors, received voluntary recognition of their new union from their employer. With this recognition, Vodeo Workers United is set to begin bargaining a first contract. “All workers deserve a union and a say in how their workplace is run, no matter where they work, what their employment status is or what kind of conditions they work under,” said Myriame Lachapelle, a producer at Vodeo Games. “We have been inspired by the growing worker organizing within the gaming industry and hope we can set a new precedent for industry-wide standards that will better our shared working conditions and inspire others to do the same.”
OPEIU Members at MOVE Texas Ratify First Contract: Members of MOVE Texas United (MTXU), an affiliate of the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 277, unanimously ratified their first contract on Friday, having secured significant gains at the bargaining table. Highlights of the new contract include full benefits paid for by the employer, 40% employee representation on the board, a $50,000 wage floor for full-time employees and a 32-hour workweek. MOVE Texas is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underrepresented youth communities. “To begin at the start of the new year, the 47-page contract will set an unprecedented example for the labor movement in the nonprofit sector,” MTXU said after the vote. “After almost a year of negotiations between the employer and the union, MOVE Texas United can celebrate an inspiring process and several innovative strides.”
Blue Skies Ahead: TWU Members at JetBlue Ratify First Contract: Members of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) who work as flight attendants, or “inflight crewmembers” (IFCs) as JetBlue calls them, decisively ratified their inaugural contract on Monday with the airline. The union said that while successfully negotiating a first contract is not an easy feat to accomplish under ordinary circumstances, it was made even more challenging because of the COVID-19 pandemic and a skyrocketing number of assaults against aviation workers. TWU members at JetBlue have been fighting for a fair contract since overwhelmingly voting to form a union in 2018. “This is a tremendous victory for our 5,500 IFCs at JetBlue. In this time of uncertainty and peril, there is no greater security for workers than a solid contract,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “Our JetBlue inflight crewmembers are no longer ‘at-will’ employees of the carrier, but union workers whose employment is secured by an enforceable collective bargaining agreement. What a huge difference it is.” The new contract includes a grievance and arbitration system, work rule improvements, health insurance and retirement benefits, and wage increases.
Big Cartel Workers Form First Tech Union in Right to Work State: Tech workers at Big Cartel received voluntary recognition of their new union, Big Cartel Workers Union, on Monday in a groundbreaking organizing victory. Staff at the e-commerce platform for creative businesses are the first tech workers to form a union in a “right to work” state as the company is based in Salt Lake City. The union members, who are affiliated with Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Tech Workers Union Local 1010, will begin bargaining their first contract with their employer next month. “Tech workers are becoming increasingly aware of the power a union brings them at work,” said OPEIU Organizing Director Brandon Nessen. “Unionizing gives working people agency to advance not only their own interests, but the mutual interests shared by both staff and management.”
Wirecutter Union Members Reach Tentative Agreement for Their First Contract: Members of the Wirecutter Union, part of The NewsGuild of New York/CWA Local 31003, announced on Tuesday that they have reached a tentative agreement with management. The workers at The New York Times’ product review site have been fighting for their first contract for two years. They went on a five-day strike during the recent Black Friday shopping season to pressure management to stop its union-busting practices and negotiate a fair agreement. Rallying together with 100% membership participation in the strike, and with the entire labor movement and our allies backing them up, these union members now get to vote on a groundbreaking new contract that includes significant wage increases, the elimination of nondisclosure agreements in cases of harassment, and strong diversity, equity and inclusion commitments. “We’ve fought to build our power over the last two years, despite continuous union-busting from The New York Times,” the Wirecutter Union tweeted. “The result is a bargaining agreement we’re proud of.”
VTDigger Newsroom Employees Secure First Collective Bargaining Agreement: Workers at VTDigger, members of the Providence Newspaper Guild (TNG-CWA Local 31041), ratified their first-ever collective bargaining agreement. The three-year deal “establishes consistent standards, rewards longevity, guarantees minimum salaries and overtime pay, and continues to solidify the organization’s commitment to improving diversity, equity and inclusion. It has been a long and at times difficult conversation, but we had it as equals, and the organization is much stronger for it,” said Lola Duffort, co-unit chair of the VTDigger Guild. “I am delighted we have arrived—unanimously—at such a robust agreement.” The new contract includes minimum salaries, cost-of-living increases, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, overtime pay, salary increases and other benefits.
Graduate Researchers Secure Union Recognition and University of California: More than 17,000 graduate student researchers across the University of California's campuses have secured recognition from the university as members of Student Researchers United, an affiliate of the United Auto Workers (UAW). UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada said: “The UAW is proud to welcome UC Student Researchers into our union family. They have shown what is possible when workers stand together and refuse to be divided. We look forward to supporting them as they bargain a strong first contract.” Members of the union held a series of protests demanding representation, employment security, protection from harassment and other common workplace protections.
Workers at iHeart Podcast Network Join WGAE: The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) broke the news on Thursday that a clear majority of workers at the iHeart Podcast Network—the fastest-growing division of iHeartMedia—signed union cards to organize with WGAE. The guild is calling on management to voluntarily recognize the union of about 125 producers, editors, researchers, writers and hosts. The iHeart Podcast Organizing Committee wrote a letter to management explaining their decision to form a union with WGAE and expressing their desire for appropriate compensation and benefits, accountability mechanisms regarding diversity and inclusion efforts, and clear paths for advancement and job security. WGAE Executive Director Lowell Peterson said, “We are pleased to welcome the storytellers at the iHeart Podcast Network to the guild. A union is vital to ensuring podcast workers are able to build sustainable careers in an industry where their contributions have been essential to the sector’s continued rapid growth.”
Chalkbeat Workers Unanimously Ratify First Union Contract: Writers at Chalkbeat, represented by the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), voted unanimously to ratify their first collective bargaining agreement. The bargaining committee said: “Our members unanimously voted yes on our first contract because these issues were such a priority. We’re all excited to have better guidelines that we know will make Chalkbeat a better place to work. Organizing as a union has already helped our unit members feel more connected, sharing their various work experiences across the country, and working together to make sure we all have better working conditions. We’re excited that Chalkbeat ultimately heard our concerns, and we’re certain the new contract will lead to even more powerful journalism. Strong journalists make for a strong Chalkbeat.” The contract includes salary increases, minimum salary levels, paid parental leave, overtime compensation, improved health benefits, improved protections against sexual harassment, improved health benefits for transgender employees and other gains.
Actors’ Equity Secures Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Provisions in New Agreement with Purple Rose Theatre Company: Actors’ Equity Association announced on Tuesday that the union has reached a new agreement with the Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan. Equity said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to creating a safe workplace, free from the discrimination and harassment the company experienced under its previous leadership. In addition to improved compensation and work hours, the two-year contract includes strong language prohibiting bullying, discrimination, harassment and retaliation. “This contract is now one of the strongest Equity contracts in the country in terms of protecting members from discrimination and harassment, and it will be a model for other theatres,” said Equity Assistant Executive Director and General Counsel Andrea Hoeschen. “Actors and stage managers will have a safer workplace because of the courage and efforts of those who revealed a range of working conditions at Purple Rose that were inconsistent with a safe, equitable, unionized workplace.”
SRU-UAW Wins Recognition from the University of California: In a massive victory for the UAW and the entire labor movement, Student Researchers United-UAW (SRU-UAW) announced Wednesday night that the University of California (UC) has recognized their union. SRU-UAW submitted union authorization cards in May after a months-long organizing campaign. Their recognition now means the union will represent 17,000 higher education workers at all 10 UC campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. SRU-UAW members overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike in November over UC’s refusal to recognize their bargaining unit. “This historic victory was brought about by the tireless efforts of thousands of student researchers who organized to win a union and a direct response to our massive strike authorization vote,” the union tweeted on Wednesday. “Now let’s win a strong contract for all student researchers!”
Front-Line Grocery Workers Vote to Form a Union with UFCW Local 1439: United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1439 announced Monday that some 250 grocery workers at Fred Meyer in Richland, Washington, will join the union after a victorious election, marking the first time in recent history that an entire store of grocery workers in the state have done so. The organizing win now paves the way for these new union members to move forward in bargaining their first union contract to strengthen pay, benefits and working conditions. “This is an unprecedented victory, inspired by the sacrifices of essential grocery workers during the pandemic,” said Local 1439 Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Hofstader. “We hope this inspires other grocery workers to stand up and exercise their rights.”
Dancers at Ballet Idaho Vote to Join AGMA: The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and Ballet Idaho announced on Monday that the dancers of Ballet Idaho have voted to join AGMA. A vote was held on Tuesday, Nov. 30, based upon mutual agreement between the union and the performing arts company. Given the result in favor of forming a union, Ballet Idaho has recognized AGMA as the exclusive bargaining representative of the dancers. “AGMA is thrilled to welcome the dancers of Ballet Idaho into the union,” said Leonard Egert, national executive director of AGMA. “We look forward to a collaborative process with the management of Ballet Idaho, as the safety, well-being and long-term success of these artists remain a top priority for both parties.”
Carnegie Library Workers Reach Tentative Agreement on First Union Contract: After voting to join the United Steelworkers (USW) in 2019, approximately 300 workers at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh have reached a tentative agreement on their first union contract. The four-year contract covers eligible workers at 19 library branches and includes significant gains, including a voice in library decision-making, improved health and safety, pay equity for the lowest-paid workers and more affordable health care. Kira Yeversky, a clerk at the Homewood branch, said: “I’m so proud of every worker who shared their stories and fought for our first contract. They displayed true solidarity, and I can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings for all of us.”
PECSH-MNA Reaches Tentative Agreement at Sparrow Hospital: The bargaining team of the Professional Employees Council of Sparrow Hospital-Michigan Nurses Association (PECSH-MNA), an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), reached a tentative agreement with the hospital administration for a new three-year contract last Friday, averting a possible strike. The new agreement includes significant wage increases, no increases in health care premiums, a safe staffing process and contractually guaranteed access to personal protective equipment. “We truly believe that this contract will make a difference for caregivers working at our hospital, for the patients we serve and for our community as a whole,” said Katie Pontifex, RN, president of PECSH-MNA. “We are really proud of the solidarity shown by caregivers in advocating for our patients and our community.” In November, 96% of PECSH-MNA members voted to authorize a strike. Some 2,200 union members will cast their ballots in the coming days on whether to ratify the agreement.
MEBA Secures Pay Bonuses for Vaccinated Interlake Mariners: Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) President Adam Vokac announced last week that the union has agreed to a new pay policy to compensate fully vaccinated MEBA members sailing for Interlake Steamship Co. The policy doesn’t mandate vaccinations but provides a generous payment for those who are vaccinated or get inoculated against COVID-19, and sets up a system where an additional one-time payment is authorized for members if at least 85% of the fleet is certified to be fully vaccinated. The MEBA said it fully endorses this proactive and fair approach to motivate mariners to get vaccinated.
LIUNA Service Contract Workers Win Higher Wages: Hundreds of thousands of federal government contract workers will receive a pay raise as the Department of Labor’s Executive Order setting a $15 an hour minimum wage goes into effect in January. Thousands of Laborers (LIUNA) members working under service contracts for the federal government, including many supporting the U.S. military, also will benefit from this increase as well as the plan to index the minimum wage to an inflation measure, so that every year after 2022 wages will be automatically adjusted to reflect changes in the cost of living. “The Biden Administration should be commended for helping workers get ahead and ensuring that the workers who support the military and the federal government are able to support themselves and their families,” said LIUNA General President Terry O’Sullivan. “By setting a wage floor for federal contract workers with cost-of-living adjustments, many thousands of Laborers will earn higher wages now and in the future.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 01/04/2022 - 13:24Tags: Organizing
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: North Carolina AFL-CIO Releases 2021 Annual Report
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The North Carolina State AFL-CIO reflected on its many accomplishments in 2021, with the recent release of the state federation’s annual report. “We are excited to grow and strengthen the labor movement here,” said North Carolina State AFL-CIO President MaryBe McMillan (IUOE). “During the past year in North Carolina, nurses at Mission Health in Asheville won their first union contract, drivers at US Foods and researchers at the Center for Responsible Lending won union organizing campaigns, and more unions affiliated with our state federation and central labor councils.” Click here to read the report.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 01/04/2022 - 09:27Service + Solidarity Spotlight: SAG-AFTRA Mourns the Loss of Betty White
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
On the passing of acting legend and SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, leaders from SAG-AFTRA celebrated White's life.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said: “Betty was the best! A kind woman, sensitive to the feelings of all animals. A talented woman blessed with a long life. She enjoyed being recognized by her peers in her lifetime and it was well deserved. In this biz, in this town, to have that kind of longevity in one’s career is rare and wonderful. G-d bless you Betty, now you’re with all the doggies you loved and lost over the span of your 99 years!”
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said: “Having had the privilege of working with Betty on the board of a local nonprofit, I can tell you that she was as lovable, humorous and generous in person as the iconic characters that found their way into the hearts and homes of millions of Americans across generations. We have lost a truly magnificent performer and a wonderful humanitarian.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 01/03/2022 - 12:06The Top AFL-CIO Blog Posts of 2021
By any measure, 2021 was another historic year. Working people across the country continued to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, engaged in an historic wave of strikes and worked to hold the administration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris true to their promise to be pro-worker. We covered these stories and many others throughout the year and here are the top 10 most-read stories by you, our readers.
Working People Respond to Attempted Coup at Nation's Capitol (January 7): Yesterday saw an unprecedented attack on U.S. democratic institutions and working people across the country, and world, were shocked by what unfolded before us. Here are responses to Wednesday's events from across the labor movement.
RWDSU-UFCW Leads Organizing Drive at Amazon Fulfillment Center in Alabama (January 26): The strongest effort to create a union at Amazon in many years is underway in Bessemer, Alabama. Organizers with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW) have been working with employees at the Amazon fulfillment center. By December, more than 2,000 workers had signed union cards, leading to an election set to begin in February. The company is engaging in union-busting activities in response, but the workers are not backing down. Many of the organizers and the employees at the fulfillment center are Black, and the organizers have focused on issues of racial equality and empowerment as a part of the drive.
John J. Sweeney, 1934-2021 (February 2): John Sweeney, who led an era of transformative change in America’s labor movement, passed away Feb. 1 at the age of 86. Sweeney was one of four children born to Irish immigrants in a working-class Bronx neighborhood shortly after the Great Depression. His parents, James and Agnes Sweeney, worked as a bus driver and a domestic worker, respectively. Sweeney always understood the struggles and the pride of working people.
20 Ways the American Rescue Plan Helps Working People (March 11): This week, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion bill to help fight the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Biden signed the law, which will provide significant assistance to the American people during this unprecedented crisis. Here are 20 ways the American Rescue Plan will help working people.
Success in the Tech Industry: Worker Wins (March 25): Despite the challenges of organizing during a deadly pandemic, working people across the country (and beyond) continue organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. This edition begins with: “CODE-CWA's Tech Industry Organizing Efforts Lead to Union Recognition at Mobilize....”
Profiles in Courage: Celebrating AAPI Labor Activists (March 31): In the wake of the rise of hate crimes and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, we take an important pause to voice our support of our brothers, sisters and friends in the AAPI community. The AAPI community has played an important and active role in the growth, expansion and unique diversity of this country and has given the labor movement many of its true heroes. This community is our community, and we are proud to celebrate these seven labor activists—all of whom have advanced the cause of worker justice.
13 Ways the PRO Act Helps Working People (April 26): The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is a generational opportunity and the cornerstone of the AFL-CIO’s Workers First Agenda. It motivated working people this past election cycle to mobilize for a pro-worker trifecta in the U.S. House, Senate and White House. And working people won a mandate. The PRO Act was introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.) and Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (Va.), and it is landmark worker empowerment, civil rights and economic stimulus legislation, and an essential part of any plan to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession.
Richard L. Trumka’s Lifelong Devotion to Family and Democracy (August 13): Richard Louis Trumka dedicated his entire life to making sure every institution he touched—the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), the AFL-CIO, the U.S. government and the world community—served working people and the public interest, comforted the afflicted and afflicted the comfortable.
Liz Shuler Elected President as Part of Most Diverse Leadership Team in AFL-CIO History (August 20): The AFL-CIO Executive Council today elected Liz Shuler, a visionary leader and longtime trade unionist, to serve as president of the federation of 56 unions and 12.5 million members. Shuler is the first woman to hold the office in the history of the labor federation. The Executive Council also elected United Steelworkers (USW) International Vice President Fred Redmond to succeed Shuler as secretary-treasurer, the first African American to hold the number two office. Tefere Gebre will continue as executive vice president, rounding out the most diverse team of officers ever to lead the AFL-CIO.
Do You Know Where Your Nabisco Treats Are Made? (August 25): Members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) working at Nabisco plants throughout the United States take great pride in producing the iconic products that have been a part of millions of Americans’ lives for more than 50 years. Workers at five Nabisco locations in the United States are currently on strike.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 12/16/2021 - 15:30Once in a Generation Opportunity: 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 Twitter.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
The #PROAct and #BuildBackBetter agenda is a "once in a generation opportunity to create long-term job growth and a sustainable economy while making historical strides towards climate justice." #1uhttps://t.co/HHR1M0IMG7
— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) December 15, 2021Arizona AFL-CIO:
Starbucks workers at a store in Mesa, AZ could be next to unionize. ? @SBWorkersUnited #1u https://t.co/o5iyAl2R0b
— Arizona AFL-CIO ⛄ #StrikeMás (@ArizonaAFLCIO) December 9, 2021California Labor Federation:
When we fight, WE WIN!
Congratulations, @wirecutterunion! #UnionsForAll #1u #UnionStrong https://t.co/TFYU0zGugT
Colorado AFL-CIO:
This bill leaves it up to the WORKERS themselves, not politicians, to decide whether they want to form a union and negotiate a contract. Workers should have the freedom to choose what they want instead of letting politicians decide for them.#coleghttps://t.co/p1dgkQcTip
— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) December 14, 2021Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Outrageous. The federal prison in Danbury is so understaffed that it's common for cooks, teachers, nurses & maintenance staff to be forced to fill in as corrections officers. BOP needs to increase staffing levels immediately. @AFGENational @AfgeLocal1661 https://t.co/7l0jc5MtI2
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) December 15, 2021Florida AFL-CIO:
This year members of IAM in the Space Coast, along with community and corporate sponsors, raised over $26,000 to make the holidays brighter for children in foster care with the Brevard Family Partnership! pic.twitter.com/mOooPGMx3d
— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) December 8, 2021Georgia AFL-CIO:
Georgia voters knew what they were doing when we voted for Senator Warnock. Protecting our voting rights are critical to protecting working families across the state and the country. Thank you for standing up for democracy, @ReverendWarnock! #1u https://t.co/S7hPrpCYyN
— Georgia AFL-CIO // Pass The #ProAct (@AFLCIOGeorgia) December 15, 2021Illinois AFL-CIO:
30 things President Biden has done to help workers: https://t.co/Oh9wfaBsyN
— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) December 13, 2021Indiana State AFL-CIO:
We need more labor lawyers on the bench. https://t.co/Kfsllp9R4i
— Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) December 15, 2021Iowa Federation of Labor:
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) December 15, 2021Maine AFL-CIO:
.@ibew1837 members at WGME-TV just won BIG RAISES ranging from over 5% to nearly 50% after holding out for a better offer & preparing to strike!
When we stand & fight, we win! https://t.co/UAwmUtuMqF#1u #Strikemas @AFLCIO @IBEW #Solidarity
Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO:
#kelloggstrike pic.twitter.com/IEXNqlOOkw
— Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO (@MDDCStateFed) December 12, 2021Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
Just some of the dozens of union members and community activists out volunteering on the doors with @KenzieBok & @wutrain for our @UAW sister @LydiaMEdwards! Lydia is a champion for working families and we need her in the Senate! #mapoli pic.twitter.com/jrM2JjvMdG
— Massachusetts AFL-CIO // #StrikeMás (@massaflcio) December 11, 2021Michigan AFL-CIO:
?NEVER ?? CROSS ?? A PICKET LINE? https://t.co/6idIFuvNqI
— Michigan AFL-CIO ?? (@MIAFLCIO) December 11, 2021Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Is your business struggling with the labor shortage? Consider a union https://t.co/mUm6e5pZT3 #1u pic.twitter.com/CatusvoUzJ
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) December 15, 2021Missouri AFL-CIO:
Infrastructure investment and worker empowerment are intertwined. It’s past time to build 21st-century infrastructure that powers our economy and empowers all working people, too. https://t.co/BI8S5chJZC
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) December 14, 2021Nevada State AFL-CIO:
"The immediate solution is as it always has been: unionization, collective bargaining and workplace democracy."
From @jbouie: https://t.co/CpNhUEar8m
New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
This morning saw our monthly Moral Economy Table and now onto Faith & Labor! With allies and coalition partners like these, how can we lose? pic.twitter.com/FuLZjb83RW
— NewHampshire AFL-CIO (@NHAFLCIO) December 15, 2021New Mexico Federation of Labor:
? Congratulations! Welcome to our new Sisters and Brothers in Labor#1u #Solidarity https://t.co/hPPL9742CW
— NMFL #StrikeMás ✊ (@NMFLaflcio) December 13, 2021New York State AFL-CIO:
On the latest #UnionStrong podcast, we talk with teachers who were on the @nysut Future Forward Task Force and get their insight on what their classrooms are like today and what the future of public education should look like. Listen now: https://t.co/OajUqPtwMA #BuildBackBetter pic.twitter.com/FaFECbw8Xl
— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) December 15, 2021North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
We are proud to endorse Justice Sam J. Ervin IV for N.C. Supreme Court! Learn more at https://t.co/35QlfBtLxi #ncpol #1u @ervin4supreme pic.twitter.com/hfa6Ox1xwj
— NC State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct! (@NCStateAFLCIO) December 15, 2021North Dakota AFL-CIO:
Tell Sen. Hoeven: End the Attack on Healthy School Meals https://t.co/7souauQx9p
— North Dakota AFL-CIO (@NDAFLCIO) December 2, 2021Ohio AFL-CIO:
Finally players are getting paid for their work. These #WordsofChizdom came from a losing coach who got $11+ million dollar buyout when he was fired. If winning means so much how about giving that money from losing to the team that wins a national championship. https://t.co/xLMZBygQ8q
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) December 15, 2021Oklahoma State AFL-CIO:
IATSE 484 is still on Strike!!
Join your fellow Union Members on the Line!!!#IATSE #iaSolidarity #iaWeStandTogether @local484 pic.twitter.com/cgTeHgei1E
Oregon AFL-CIO:
Not today, not tomorrow, not ever: We will not sit quietly while workers are disrespected. @FredMeyerStores and @QFCGrocery need to stop playing games with their workers, pay them fair wages, and make sure working conditions are as safe as possible. pic.twitter.com/M5xJH1hMr4
— Oregon AFL-CIO / PASS THE PRO ACT (@OregonAFLCIO) December 15, 2021Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
What do we want? Contract! When do we want it? NOW!! @IWOrganizing #StrayerStrike pic.twitter.com/mFNtcXOzlF
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) December 14, 2021Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
And get your #Booster too!
Learn more here: https://t.co/knmH0MoHU2 https://t.co/HrSH72N3XG
Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council:
Watch @UAPipeTrades Local 572 Business Manager Eric Coons discuss the Veterans in Piping Program, which connects those who have served our country with training and a pathway to a good, union job in the pipe trades. #1u https://t.co/cXHCuZRvQB
— Tennessee AFL-CIO (@tnaflcio) December 15, 2021Texas AFL-CIO:
.@musiciansofSA are banding together for fair treatment & livable wages. We're with our striking brothers and sisters in San Antonio. #TXUnionStrong https://t.co/d846b03ZCw
— Texas AFL-CIO ?❄️ #StrikeMás (@TexasAFLCIO) December 10, 2021Virginia AFL-CIO:
? BREAKING NEWS: Loudoun County employees win a strong collective bargaining ordinance! ? Our essential county workers deserve a seat at the table to strengthen their wages, benefits, working conditions, and the public services they provide. I’m proud to support their fight. pic.twitter.com/7SAp3SpgGr
— Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) December 8, 2021Washington State Labor Council:
Make sure @senatorcantwell @pattymurray know that the #BuildBackBetter Act is a priority for WA! We need meaningful investments in working people & real consequences for exploitative corporations. Call 844-994-4554 or go to https://t.co/VM1Mj5YVlj to tell Congress to act now! #1u pic.twitter.com/hvVpFTWJCL
— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) December 7, 2021West Virginia AFL-CIO:
“Manchin & Capito have the chance to stand up for West Virginia’s working class and support the president’s ‘Build Back Better’ agenda. Doing so....also would be a warning to foreign corporate interests, like Toyota, that WV’s senators cannot be bought.” https://t.co/Y2qBgTzRD5
— West Virginia AFLCIO (@WestVirginiaAFL) December 7, 2021Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
?AUDIO?: Listen to the @wispolitics panel discussion on "Rising Worker Activism & the Wisconsin Economy" featuring WI AFL-CIO President @s_Bloomingdale https://t.co/Qz49n7PiyH
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) December 15, 2021 Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 12/16/2021 - 10:26Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council Holds Toy Drive for Families of Striking UMWA Members
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Since April, more than 1,000 members of the Mine Workers (UMWA) have been on strike against Warrior Met Coal in Alabama, demanding a fair contract that recognizes their sacrifices and contributions that helped lift the company out of bankruptcy several years ago. Striking UMWA members have received support and solidarity from across the labor movement. And after holding a toy drive earlier this month, members of the Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council are spreading holiday cheer by sending dozens of kids’ toys and bikes to the families of UMWA members on strike. “Happy holidays from your family in western Pennsylvania!” the labor council tweeted. “One day longer, one day stronger!”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 12/16/2021 - 09:13Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFSCME Recognizes First Native Woman to Serve as Alaska State Trooper
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Anne Sears, a former member of the Public Safety Employees Association, AFSCME Local 803, is being honored by her union following her retirement from decades of public service as Alaska’s first native woman to work as a state trooper. In 2017, the trailblazer won an AFSCME Never Quit Service Award for going above and beyond the call of duty in serving her community. Sears, her husband, Jay, who was also a state trooper, and their colleagues were also the stars of the reality television series, “Alaska State Troopers,” which aired on the National Geographic Channel from 2009 to 2015.
“That show opened a lot of doors for me just in the villages alone because people would, of course, recognize me; they’d want to take pictures with me,” she said. “Even folks I was dealing with that I was having to arrest, eventually, after things, you know, settled down, we would talk about the show and seeing me on the show. It was an amazing thing to be a part of.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 12/15/2021 - 09:31A First: 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.
Starbucks Will Have at Least One Unionized Cafe in Buffalo, New York—A U.S. First for the Chain: “After a months-long battle, Starbucks workers in Buffalo, New York, supported efforts to unionize at least one cafe. The result marks the first successful attempt in the U.S. at unionizing within the giant coffee chain since Starbucks went public nearly three decades ago and could send ripples through the restaurant industry. Workers at the Elmwood Avenue location voted 19 to eight in favor of unionizing under Workers United New York, a branch of the Service Employees International Union.”
AFL-CIO’s Redmond Visits Teamsters Picket: “As a group of 330 Teamsters who transport sand/gravel and concrete for six different construction companies remain on strike, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joined Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks, Washington State Labor Council President Larry Brown and Secretary-Treasurer April Sims, and other Washington labor leaders on the picket line Tuesday outside Stoneway Concrete to express their solidarity. They urged the striking Teamsters to keep fighting ‘one day longer’ than their employers until they get a fair contract.”
Black Women See Unemployment Rate Fall Sharply in November, but Are Still Left Behind in Overall Labor Market Recovery: “The unemployment rate for Black women fell sharply in November, but labor market recovery from pre-pandemic levels remains uneven across race and gender lines. ‘This is the first time where Black labor force participation got rewarded with actual job growth,’ said William Spriggs, chief economist to the AFL-CIO and a Howard University professor. ‘The fact that Black workers are now showing greater success in their searches—that’s good news.’”
U.S. Labor Movement’s Next Frontier Is the Tech Industry, AFL-CIO’s Shuler Says: “The U.S. tech sector is the next frontier for labor organizing, and its workers are starting to understand the collective power unions have, President of the AFL-CIO Liz Shuler said on Friday at the Reuters Next Conference. Shuler said the labor federation—which comprises 56 affiliated unions and 12.5 million workers—wants to enable more organizing in the tech industry under her leadership. ‘What we are seeing in the tech sector is workers rising up. You look at companies like YouTube, Google, Apple. Their workers have been speaking out. They have been staging walkouts on issues like racial justice and sexual harassment,’ Shuler said. ‘You don't have the collective power that you have when you have a union, and I think tech workers are starting to connect the dots,’ she said.”
Union Leaders Shuler, Henry Join V.P. Harris in Big Push for Build Back Better: “AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Service Employees President Mary Kay Henry joined Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and other progressive leaders in yet another big push to convince a balky Senate to approve Biden’s 10-year Build Back Better plan to repair many holes in the nation’s leaky social safety net. Shuler said the AFL-CIO’s members ‘will not rest’ until the BBB bill passes. They’ll concentrate on the Senate, since the House already approved BBB, technically a ‘reconciliation bill,’ affecting only taxes and spending, on party-line votes.”
Meet the Woman on the Brink of Transforming Labor in America for the Young and Reshuffling Workforce: “When Liz Shuler rides on an airplane, she often has an experience that will be familiar to most travelers: Her seat mate asks, ‘What do you do?’ Five years ago, after saying she worked for a labor union, Shuler said, most people would put their noses back in their books. Today, she's met with reactions like ‘awesome’ and ‘amazing.’ ‘There's a genuine excitement out there,’ Shuler said. It's not just airplane riders who are excited. More than 100,000 American workers at companies like John Deere and Kellogg's voted to authorize strikes in October and November to demand better pay and working conditions.”
Labor Board Calls for Revote at Amazon Warehouse in Alabama in Major Victory for Union: “Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Ala., are going to get a second shot at unionizing, after a National Labor Relations Board official called for a revote after finding that the e-commerce giant improperly interfered in the first election. The RWDSU, which is working to unionize the staff in Bessemer, applauded the decision. ‘Today’s decision confirms what we were saying all along—that Amazon’s intimidation and interference prevented workers from having a fair say in whether they wanted a union in their workplace—and as the Regional Director has indicated, that is both unacceptable and illegal,’ union president Stuart Appelbaum said in a statement. ‘Amazon workers deserve to have a voice at work, which can only come from a union.’”
Progressive U.S. Lawmakers Mark Black Friday with Calls to Pass the PRO Act: “As workers worldwide took to the streets while shoppers flooded stores for Black Friday, progressive U.S. lawmakers used the event to pressure the Senate to pass sweeping, House-approved labor rights legislation. Without calling out any lawmakers by name, AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler in late August signaled there could be electoral consequences for right-wing Democrats like Sinema who won't support ending the filibuster or passing the PRO Act. ‘Workers want to hold elected officials accountable on an agenda that they voted for. Right now that agenda is being blocked by arcane rules in the Senate. We believe that voters will take that into consideration for the next election,’ Shuler said. ‘Elected officials, if they're not listening, that's when elections end up having consequences.’”
Biden’s Nearly $2 Trillion Social Spending and Climate Bill Is a Boon for Unions: “The newer green-energy industry is largely not unionized, according to Tim Schlittner, a spokesman for the AFL-CIO. ‘We want to make sure that as we fight climate change that good union jobs are at the center of the fight,’ Schlittner said. Schlittner of the AFL-CIO called the new fines ‘the most significant step forward in labor law since the 1935 National Labor Relations Act,’ which gave workers the right to form labor unions and go on strike. ‘It’s a tremendous opportunity to rein in employer behavior that is preventing workers from freely forming unions,’ he said.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 12/14/2021 - 16:26Unions Improve Workers' Lives: 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:
Our newest report on how state and local arts agencies can be a force for change is available now! https://t.co/QnvPpL9hh4 https://t.co/vxMF2rHpDt
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) December 14, 2021AFGE:
“Employees are furious. Forcing everyone back to offices on the same date not only endangers the health and safety of employees, but it goes against the Biden administration’s call to expand telework and remote options.”https://t.co/49zrzz7Ey6
— AFGE (@AFGENational) December 13, 2021AFSCME:
“When you have staff working 16 hours a day, three or four days a week, they become fatigued. Reaction times are down, making them less aware of their surroundings. That makes for a more dangerous prison.” – Adam Barnard, president of OCSEA Chapter 4818 https://t.co/LyXMcdUzuo
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) December 13, 2021Alliance for Retired Americans:
With new nominees for its governing board, the USPS is primed to reverse the postal slowdown that occurred earlier this year.
By adding your name to our petition, you can demand that the nominees demonstrate a commitment to our Postal Service: https://t.co/e0z05XANHM
Amalgamated Transit Union:
The ATU stands in solidarity with striking Kellogg’s workers. Shame on Kellogg’s bosses for trying to permanently replace their workers for exercising their legal right to strike. #NoScabs #1u pic.twitter.com/FMt1OuWuSt
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) December 14, 2021American Federation of Musicians:
As working-class musicians, singers, dancers, actors, stagehands, and other arts workers across the country return to work, the last thing they need is a tax code that punishes them for seeking work. Tell Congress to Restore Tax Fairness for Arts Workers! https://t.co/vaHEIYIalm https://t.co/EIOn2GtMPQ
— AFM (@The_AFM) December 8, 2021American Federation of Teachers:
3rd graders can weld?? Here’s how a school district in southern Ohio is equipping students with valuable job skills. pic.twitter.com/Yjifgokqht
— AFT (@AFTunion) December 13, 2021American Postal Workers Union:
NEW: A summary of the 2021-2024 tentative agreement between APWU & USPS is now available to read.https://t.co/jZAXDrP4w3
— APWU National (@APWUnational) December 11, 2021Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
Will you support indigenous migrant workers from India?
We just need every APALA follower to donate $5
--> https://t.co/mrTKI0gco7
This would support the over 200 workers who were brought to NJ to construct a Hindu temple and faced workplace abuses. pic.twitter.com/RKjC8DLvvz
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Proud to stand with @UniteThePoor and today's Moral Monday March on Washington to take on racism, poverty and inequality to make lasting change. https://t.co/pQ3w7sYysf
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) December 13, 2021Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
A fair contract could fill those openings in seconds #justsayin#KelloggsStrike https://t.co/fBcfED26iW
— BCTGM International (@BCTGM) December 10, 2021Boilermakers:
Tuesday Newsday: In an opinion piece from the American Prospect, read how unions improve workers' lives ➡️ https://t.co/EVvmbNZEje@TheProspect #BoilermakersUnion #UnionStrong #1u
— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) December 14, 2021Bricklayers:
“This year, I’ve seen many women on the job,” Lee said. “It’s amazing to see them shooting, laying brick, casting and ramming.” Angela Lee — a refractory member of BAC Local 1 Alberta ?https://t.co/41vSfCwDen pic.twitter.com/S1Q4pLWvCz
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) December 10, 2021Coalition of Labor Union Women:
December 10 is International Human Rights Day, the day the @UN General Assembly adopted in 1948. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being. https://t.co/0LX0IrOFRH
— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) December 10, 2021Communications Workers of America:
Check out this week's CWA bargaining update! https://t.co/3UrMjvH8J1
— CWA (@CWAUnion) December 12, 2021Department for Professional Employees:
The National Endowment for the Arts does a pretty good job at supporting the arts industry but could do an even better job with more money explains @ActorsEquity President Kate Shindle pic.twitter.com/AzWI7zzsIW
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) December 14, 2021Electrical Workers:
— IBEW (@IBEW) December 14, 2021Farm Labor Organizing Committee:
Rev. Barber asked Baldemar to do the benediction at his church service yesterday morning and we receive these calls full of gratitude and humility. Faith has always played a large role in FLOC's work. Many walks of faith have stood by FLOC. #uniteforfarmworkers
Job12:22/Amos5:24 pic.twitter.com/4eMpBRxA9D
Fire Fighters:
Electrical fires are very common in the winter. Get your wiring looked at by a specialist. #IAFFsafetytips pic.twitter.com/1s4QXdRgCm
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) December 14, 2021Heat and Frost Insulators:
If you're not yet - consider subscribing to us on YouTube! All the cool Insulators are doing it. ?
While you're there, listen to LMCT Executive Director Ielmini on a labor podcast to talk about Mechanical Insulation's role in climate change. https://t.co/CSRcYRiAqP
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
EPI Report on Massive Wage Theft from H-1B Workers and Preferential Hiring Highlights the Urgent Need for Oversight, Enforcement, and Reform of H-1B Visa Program -- https://t.co/mZOGWfsqzS
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) December 9, 2021International Labor Communications Association:
Beautiful commemorative journal https://t.co/MZiQazUkFM
— Labor Communications (@ILCAonline) December 9, 2021Ironworkers:
We are proud to participate in honoring the memory of President Richard L. Trumka who devoted his life to working men and women.https://t.co/yWD4gax1FO
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) December 10, 2021Jobs With Justice:
This December, make a contribution to Jobs With Justice, help support our campaigns and make a difference for working families. Your contribution will be MATCHED $1 for $1.
Donation link ??https://t.co/q7vEZDwV6a pic.twitter.com/uRtumHFVGI
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
Today, members of Pittsburgh LCLAA are joining in solidarity with all undocumented workers to demand a #Path2Citizenship! https://t.co/eqrxdQKhrh
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) December 14, 2021Laborers:
.@LIUNA members working hard on the #NortheastBoundaryTunnel before this morning's sunrise #MemberMonday pic.twitter.com/dSevyn2AxN
— LiUNA! Mid-Atlantic (@maLiUNA) December 13, 2021Machinists:
.@IAMAWCanada's Local Lodge 3111 members ratify new contract with the Canadian Labour Congress. https://t.co/68SRUstQBL
— Machinists Union | Pass the #PROAct (@MachinistsUnion) December 14, 2021Maritime Trades Department:
HAWAII PMC THANKS KAHELE FOR JONES ACT SUPPORThttps://t.co/AG0I71qaA5 pic.twitter.com/tuk7VOx49X
— MaritimeTrades (@Maritime_Trades) December 2, 2021Metal Trades Department:
After 15 years, on December 11th, 2018, in Tar Heel, North Carolina, Smithfield Foods pork processing plant works vote to unionize. The plant is one of the largest in the world, making the unionization of the plant historic.#LaborHistory pic.twitter.com/Zf6krWXdOc
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) December 5, 2021Mine Workers:
Join us for a press conference with President Cecil Roberts, @AFLCIO President @LizShuler, @SenWarren and @SenSherrodBrown on the harm private equity firms have caused striking workers. https://t.co/YAVscAFeqe
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) December 14, 2021Musical Artists:
AGMA is ecstatic to formally introduce to you the newest members of AGMA’s professional staff! Continue reading: https://t.co/vJrQqon6j8 pic.twitter.com/RwBdSyRA8u
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) December 13, 2021National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
Oregon Congressman & House Comm on T&I (@TransportDems) Chairman @RepPeterDeFazio announced he is not seeking re-election in 2022. #NATCA President Rich Santa thanked him for having been a fierce champion for aviation safety & transportation labor. https://t.co/RTmYC6Ucmq pic.twitter.com/rQq3ZWGFqF
— NATCA (@NATCA) December 13, 2021National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-CWA:
NBC Bulletin - Master Agreement Extension & Wage Increase #bulletin #negotiations pic.twitter.com/ZrecSs6kCr
— NABET-CWA (@NABETCWA) December 4, 2021National Association of Letter Carriers:
As the holiday season continues, it's a great time to think about giving back! CFC Open Season will continue through December. Sign up to contribute through the CFC Online Donation System at https://t.co/OejYtKg1gh. pic.twitter.com/XZj9o96aAc
— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) December 14, 2021National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
Our very own Bus de la Justicia making its debut in the #FundExcludedWorkers march to @GovKathyHochul today! NYS needs $3B - No day laborer should be left behind, no worker should be left behind ✊?✊?✊?? #jornalerxs en la lucha! https://t.co/Ol8ZPYqLGZ
— NDLON (@NDLON) December 10, 2021National Domestic Workers Alliance:
There’s too much at stake for care workers for the Senate not to act. Each day they don’t take action is another day workers do not have the support they need to take care of themselves.
It’s time to get it done! https://t.co/2CCjDxshZE
National Nurses United:
If @OSHA_DOL doesn't act soon, critical protections in the Covid-19 health care emergency temporary standard will expire NEXT WEEK.
We MUST have permanent standards to #ProtectHealthCareWorkers and our communities! Add your name ⤵️ https://t.co/KNalzA3Vjm
National Taxi Workers Alliance:
Thank you @mollycrabapple for continuing to bring light to our movement and campaign. Cover story!!! We're thrilled and honored! https://t.co/PljDYdkCox
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) December 13, 2021NWSL Players Association:
#USWNT players have always been with us, but today, we officially welcome previously allocated players as members of NWSLPA as we continue to work w/ the @USWNTPlayers in our collective fight for #equalpay, #fairpay, & player safety in the NWSL & worldwide.
One Team. One Union. https://t.co/isvvVHthOu
NFL Players Association:
Less than a week after @jctretter was elected President of the NFLPA, the country went into a shutdown. Here's a look at how he navigated a CBA negotiation, COVID-19 protocols and a 17-game season–all in his first year.
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) December 13, 2021North America's Building Trades Unions:
ICYMI: Read about @CDNTrades’ new partnership with the @CFLPA & @Skillplan announced last week ?? https://t.co/z0mn9F8OG1
— The Building Trades (@NABTU) December 13, 2021Office and Professional Employees:
We’re SO proud to call @bcworkersunion the newest members of our growing union family with @techunion1010.
Tech. Workers. Deserve. A. Union.
Thanks to @bigcartel for doing the right thing. Let’s start bargaining for a stronger organization by building a better workplace ??? https://t.co/TTuRTNn86I
Painters and Allied Trades:
We agree with @POTUS - We must pass legislation that finally bans the hideous practice of replacing striking workers.
The usage of scabs is a tool of destruction that obliterates trust and destroys communities. https://t.co/9TkomteACT
Plasterers and Cement Masons:
The #OPCMIA is about family and community. In this 2021 Holiday Season video, you will see highlights of some of the ways we serve our communities and our nation, and how we support our sisters and brothers now and throughout the year. https://t.co/SocS2UBW7W
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) December 13, 2021Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:
Congrats @SBWorkersUnited on your victory in Buffalo! First step is always hardest. Every worker deserves to be treated w/ dignity, respect & have a safe workplace. Federal employees drink A LOT of coffee & it will taste a whole lot better when poured by union hands! @SEIU #1u
— PASS (@PASSNational) December 10, 2021Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
The #BuildBackBetterAct makes historic investments in working people. Not only does this landmark bill create millions of good-paying jobs, it makes healthcare, education, childcare, & housing more affordable! Learn why our union supports #BuildBackBetter: https://t.co/e7OsFTzjCo pic.twitter.com/64zd2XjMi8
— RWDSU (@RWDSU) December 14, 2021Roofers and Waterproofers:
Always inspect your fall arrest equipment for damage. If it looks like it needs repair, remove it from service and have an expert examine it. Check out more tips here: https://t.co/fOypIdxnhq #roofersafety365 pic.twitter.com/brW3qJUSVb
— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) December 13, 2021SAG-AFTRA:
Labor is represented on the @librarycongress #NatFilmRegistry with "Chicana" and "The Wobblies." Check out the list of this year's inductees. #1uhttps://t.co/t71Wc2puKM https://t.co/pMoopma8M1
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) December 14, 2021Seafarers:
Congratulations to our very own @dwheindel for a well-deserved AOTOS award. Great to see many friends from @ITFglobalunion in attendance. Sincere congrats to other honorees, too #1u #AOTOS2021 pic.twitter.com/oz1k2DlRea
— Seafarers Union (@SeafarersUnion) December 4, 2021Solidarity Center:
Fishers in #Maldives say the government must address job safety & health concerns and stop environmentally damaging practices that impact fisheries, such as land reclamation projects. #climatecrisis #JustTransition!
@theGCF @climate @WedabimaL @mtucMV https://t.co/gIqJOVgFoa
The NewsGuild-CWA:
Congratulations to the members of @VTDiggerGuild, who voted unanimously to ratify their first collective bargaining agreement with management of the nonprofit digital newsroom! https://t.co/NQPIWhGK3Q https://t.co/cuHzQzwbdO
— NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) December 14, 2021Theatrical Stage Employees:
A big IATSE thank-you to @SenSherrodBrown for his tireless support for the arts and the workers that bring them to life!https://t.co/0pleviDP84
— IATSE // #IASolidarity (@IATSE) December 14, 2021Transport Workers Union:
“As of today, our @JetBlue IFCs are no longer ‘at-will’ employees of the carrier, but Union workers whose employment is secured by an enforceable collective bargaining agreement.” - TWU International President John Samuelsen @TwuSamuelsen https://t.co/ZDJpBtbCJS
— TWU (@transportworker) December 14, 2021Transportation Trades Department:
BIG NEWS: 5,500 @JetBlue in-flight crew members just ratified their first-ever contract! The 5-year agreement will improve workplace protections and wages for these frontline airline employees. Congrats to our new @transportworker brothers and sisters! #1u https://t.co/yPtNPJ0Qdh
— Transp. Trades Dept. (@TTDAFLCIO) December 14, 2021UAW:
Expanding EV tax credits for American autos built with union labor is good policy. Call your senators (866-287-6350) and tell them to support the EV tax credit for UNION-MADE electric vehicles made in the U.S. in the Build Back Better Act. #UnionMadeEVs pic.twitter.com/nG0OVjJr5E
— UAW (@UAW) December 14, 2021Union Veterans Council:
Can we all take a moment to give this @USCG team some props, hats off! #Veterans #Military https://t.co/xhEdOCrsX7
— Union Veterans Council?✊ Pass the #PROAct (@unionveterans) December 8, 2021UNITE HERE:
NEW: Our Union of hospitality workers is honored to stand with courageous @MineWorkers on strike in Alabama. We wanted to pay tribute to the history & legacy of the UMWA, who built the American labor movement—& have stood in solidarity with us thru some of our toughest fights. ? pic.twitter.com/c3Q7gkn12y
— UNITE HERE (@unitehere) December 13, 2021United Food and Commercial Workers:
Every UFCW member can take GED classes for free!
Regardless of when you last went to school, this program provides a customized learning plan to help you prepare to pass the GED test & get your diploma.
For more details, visit: https://t.co/cKP9S4li2Z pic.twitter.com/De8ixIlzpS
United Steelworkers:
All we want for Christmas is a fair deal! Stand with our family at USW Local 40 on strike against Special Metals! Sign now: https://t.co/we9wQMU7xc #OneDayLonger #1u #strikemas pic.twitter.com/Ds8DoDgF6Z
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) December 14, 2021United Students Against Sweatshops:
Great news, y'all! Spring application for USAS regional organizers are now open! Apply at https://t.co/LwQITjuAz0
Applications will close on Sunday, December 19th at 11:59 p.m. ET. If you have any questions, reach out to staff@usas.org! pic.twitter.com/OuBrNopTnJ
Utility Workers:
“Among full-time wage and salary workers, union members had median usual weekly earnings of $1,144 in 2020, while those who were not union members had median weekly earnings of $958.“ - @BLS_gov pic.twitter.com/tbsZCwq15R
— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) December 10, 2021Working America:
Absolutely shameful behavior from @KelloggsUS! #Strikemas #1u https://t.co/O6xaMqAd5p
— Working America | Pass the #PROAct (@WorkingAmerica) December 8, 2021Writers Guild of America, East:
“Among full-time wage and salary workers, union members had median usual weekly earnings of $1,144 in 2020, while those who were not union members had median weekly earnings of $958.“ - @BLS_gov pic.twitter.com/tbsZCwq15R
— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) December 10, 2021 Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 12/14/2021 - 13:47Service + Solidarity Spotlight: CWA Passenger Service Agents Bring Attention to Passenger Rage Incidents and Encourage Civility in a New Ad
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Members of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6001 who work as airline passenger service agents in Texas released a digital ad campaign ahead of the holiday travel season to raise awareness about the increase in passenger rage incidents and to encourage civility among passengers. The ads are currently running on Facebook and Instagram.
Incidents of passenger rage, including physical and verbal assault directed toward passenger service agents, have been steadily increasing, but gaps in enforcement of federal law means that abusive passengers are often not held accountable for their behavior in airports. Watch and share this ad with friends, co-workers and family members, and encourage all passengers to be patient and understanding during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 12/14/2021 - 09:45Delivering for Working Families
A young couple is expecting their first child. They have done everything right—installed a baby-seat in their car, assembled a crib, even checked out what hospital is in their health plan’s network. When it comes to the big day, however, the young couple gets a bundle of joy and a whopping bill for thousands of dollars! Turns out the doctor who delivered the baby actually worked for a medical staffing company that contracted with the hospital and was out of network!
When you go to the hospital, you want a doctor who will deliver the best care possible, not leave you with an unexpected bill. That is why Congress passed the "No Surprises" Act—to protect workers and their families from doctors and hospitals who get even richer at their patient’s expense. Securing this landmark legislation was not easy—the hospitals and the private equity investors they work with to come up with these revenue strategies fought the legislation vigorously. Now these same groups are trying to undermine its implementation.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration issued regulations implementing the law that would effectively limit the ability of doctors that stay out-of-network from charging five to ten times what they would get from payers like Medicare. The legislation protects workers by limiting co-pays and co-insurance to whatever an in-network doctor would charge. Physicians would still be paid, but the amount that a health plan would normally pay for in-network care. By preventing a small group of physicians from charging outrageous amounts for care covered by a patient’s plan, this regulation would help keep down insurance premiums for all working families.
This legislation and the regulations needed for its implementation address a surprisingly common problem. About one in five visits to a hospital emergency room end with an unexpected bill. The practice of surprise billing has cost working families covered by employer-sponsored insurance at least $40 billion annually.
With the regulations barring this practice set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2022, the physicians and hospitals are urging the administration to halt everything and rewrite the regulations to protect their bottom line. One group of doctors in Texas is even suing the federal government to rewrite the rules.
Last week, the AFL-CIO and other groups representing workers and consumers submitted comments arguing strongly to keep the current regulations, which we think is the only way to stop surprise bills from increasing health care premiums. We applaud President Biden for standing up to the big moneyed interests in medicine; this small step in containing health care costs will protect workers from surprise bills and higher premiums down the road!
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 12/13/2021 - 10:23Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Maine’s Labor Movement Celebrates 20 Years of Food and Medicine
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The labor movement in Maine is celebrating 20 years of Food and Medicine (FAM) with a new video about the union-backed organization. FAM started in 2001 when a series of companies outsourced jobs and left some 3,000 Mainers jobless. “Food and Medicine was founded with the idea that nobody should be forced to choose [between] food, medicine and other basic necessities,” said FAM Director Jack McKay (not pictured). “That was a moral position that we had in the beginning.”
Over the years, FAM has launched a series of programs to improve the lives of working people in Maine, including Solidarity Harvest, which has taken place every Thanksgiving since 2003. FAM purchases large quantities of fresh food from local farmers and gives meal baskets to unions, churches and nonprofit organizations to distribute to laid-off workers and families in need. Solidarity Harvest is sponsored by the eastern, southern and western Maine labor councils.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 12/13/2021 - 09:44Economy Gains 210,000 Jobs in November; Unemployment Down to 4.2%
The U.S. economy gained 210,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate declined to 4.2%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In response to the November job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
Since the Pandemic, the household survey has shown higher growth than payrolls. That can reflect a return of people to self-employment and "gig" work. But, the adjusted household number grew much more in November than the payroll figure, +1.9 million compared to 210,000 @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 3, 2021Despite the strong gains by Black workers in November in the employment-to-population ratio and the drop in unemployment, the Black unemployment rate in November at 6.7% is still higher than the unemployment rate for high school dropouts that fell from 7.4 to 5.0% @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 3, 2021Women lagged in payroll employment gains in November, gains for women were 76,000. Women continued to make more gains in transportation and warehousing, but their gains in construction weakened. This is why @POTUS #BuildBackBetter needs to passed by the Senate. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/5CMX0DRFUu
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 3, 2021Labor force flow data show that the labor market rebound in November didn't help the gender gap, unemployed men were more likely to land jobs than drop out of the labor force, unemployed women were less likely to land a job than quit looking. @AFLCIO https://t.co/IPzxmzhpO2
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) December 3, 2021Last month’s biggest job gains were in professional and business services (+90,000), transportation and warehousing (+50,000), construction (+31,000), manufacturing (+31,000), leisure and hospitality (+23,000) and financial activities (+13,000). The only industry to see losses over the month was retail trade (-20,000). In November, employment showed little change in other major industries, including health care, information, mining, other services, public and private education and wholesale trade.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates fell in November for Black Americans (6.7%), Hispanics (5.2%), adult men (4.0%), adult women (4.0%) and White Americans (3.7%). The jobless rates for teenagers (11.2%) and Asian Americans (3.8%) showed little change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) showed little change in November and accounted for 32.1% of the total unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 12/03/2021 - 10:54
