Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Labor Leaders File Ballot Proposal That Would Make Colorado a Just-Cause Employment State
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Leaders at the Colorado AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 105 have proposed a ballot measure that would make Colorado the second state in the country to have just-cause employment.
In 49 U.S. states, employers can fire a worker at any point, for any reason (or no reason at all). Initiative 43 would prohibit companies with more than eight staff from terminating or suspending a worker without performance reason—including things like repeated policy violations and gross insubordination. If the measure makes it on to the 2026 ballot and Colorado voters pass it, workers also would be able to sue for wrongful dismissal and employers could be required to reinstate workers, pay them back pay and cover the fees incurred by workers’ attorneys.
“Colorado workers should expect common-sense workplace protections that prevent them from being unfairly fired,” said Dennis Dougherty, executive director of the Colorado AFL-CIO. “Bad-faith employers arbitrarily fire workers to undermine worker rights, derail union organizing and take in record profits.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/20/2025 - 08:39Worker Wins: A Long, Hard-Fought Victory
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
San Joaquin County Nurses Ratify New Contract: Members of the California Nurses Association, an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), who work for the San Joaquin County health system voted overwhelmingly last week to ratify a new three-year contract. Registered nurses (RNs) secured this victory after going on a one-day unfair labor practice strike earlier this year and issuing another notice of a work stoppage that was set to begin March 9. Highlights of the deal include improved safety provisions, stronger nondiscrimination language and competitive wage increases. “This has been a long, hard-fought victory for San Joaquin County nurses,” said Kelly Mertz, an RN in the trauma department, in an NNU press release. “With this contract, San Joaquin County can be a competitive health care employer—meaning it can recruit and retain experienced nurses and avoid staffing crises. Our collective union power, our solidarity, and our commitment to each other and to patient safety brought this monumental contract to reality. We have once again proven that when nurses stand up and fight for what is right, we win.”
SAG-AFTRA Reaffirms Commitment to DEI and Accessibility: In the wake of studios rolling back equity pledges under the Trump administration, SAG-AFTRA’s national board passed a resolution this weekend acknowledging the vital role that diversity and accessibility plays in the entertainment industry and reaffirmed the union’s commitment to these principles. In recent weeks, major studios have silently scrubbed their websites of DEI commitments and dropped commitments to equitable hiring and promotion practices as the White House rails against these initiatives in both the federal and private sector. SAG-AFTRA pushed back against this trend and highlighted the union’s historic commitments to the authentic portrayal of the “American Scene,” which references a contract clause that affirmed a nondiscrimination policy across productions. “For decades, SAG-AFTRA has advocated for equal employment opportunity within the entertainment and media industry, including meaningful representation of historically underrepresented communities and holding employers accountable to their commitments,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland in a joint announcement. “That advocacy continues unabated, and is as important now as it has ever been. We will be engaging directly with employers to reaffirm their obligations under the various SAG-AFTRA contracts and that they remain in full compliance with those commitments.”
Federal Court Orders Reinstatement of Fired Probationary Federal Employees: On Thursday, a U.S. District Court judge ordered the immediate reinstatement of fired probationary workers at the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, the Interior, Energy, Defense and the Treasury and mandated that these agencies must immediately cease termination of probationary staff. Additionally, the judge also barred the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from giving any guidance to federal agencies on which employees should be terminated. The plaintiffs in this case include AFGE, AFSCME, the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) and multiple advocacy groups. “AFGE is pleased with Judge [William H.] Alsup’s order to immediately reinstate tens of thousands of probationary federal employees who were illegally fired from their jobs by an administration hell-bent on crippling federal agencies and their work on behalf of the American public,” said Everett Kelley, national president of AFGE, in a press release. “We are grateful for these employees and the critical work they do, and AFGE will keep fighting until all federal employees who were unjustly and illegally fired are given their jobs back.” “Public service workers are the backbone of our communities in every way,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders in a press release. “Today, we are proud to celebrate the court’s decision which orders that fired federal employees must be reinstated and reinforces they cannot be fired without reason.”
UFCW Members Ratify Utah’s First Cannabis Union Contract: United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 99 members who work at Utah-based dispensary WholesomeCo made history last week when they ratified their contract, becoming the state’s first cannabis industry workers to do so. Workers first organized with UFCW in November 2023 as part of the union’s larger national Cannabis Workers Rising campaign. The history-making deal includes guaranteed wage increases over the contract lifetime, company-provided insurance coverage, paid meal breaks, a ratification bonus and other huge wins. “With the ratification of this historic contract, WholesomeCo will continue to be a great place to work while helping raise the standard of living for employees industry-wide,” said Local 99 President Jim McLaughlin.
IATSE Secures Tentative Agreement for Off-Broadway Workers: After a two-month strike, the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and the Atlantic Theater Company said Monday that they had reached a tentative agreement (TA) covering production workers. The bargaining unit spans nearly 100 workers at the off-Broadway nonprofit theater who will soon vote on whether to accept the TA terms. Stage crew handle vital roles for performances at the New York City venue like audio, videography, hair and makeup, costuming, props, carpentry and lighting. “The proposed agreement includes significant compensation increases including comprehensive benefits that both parties believe reflect the essential contributions of the production crew to Atlantic Theater Company’s success,” said IATSE in a press release. “Ultimately, after extensive discussions and dialogue, the Atlantic Theater Company is poised to become the first not-for-profit theater company producing solely Off-Broadway in history to have a union agreement covering production classifications.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/19/2025 - 12:09Tags: Organizing
Women's History Month Profiles: Rachelle Martin
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Rachelle Martin of AFSCME.
Rachelle Martin does so much it’s hard to know where to begin. She’s the single mother of two daughters, the co-chief steward at the Washington State Department of Health, a Washington Federation of State Employees executive board member, as well as the president of a fiscal sponsorship nonprofit, all while attending graduate school for her master’s degree in public administration. Her work as the first woman president of the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council is truly incredible.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/19/2025 - 10:00Tags: Women's History Month
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Video Game Workers Launch Industrywide Union with CWA
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
In an historic development, workers across the United States and Canada are launching United Videogame Workers-CWA Local 9433 (UVW-CWA), a direct-join, industrywide video game union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) in partnership with the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).
UVW-CWA builds off of mobilization following the Game Developers Conference in 2018, which was a launching pad for the start of Game Workers Unite, an international grassroots organization dedicated to labor organizing the video game industry. The launch of UVW-CWA also coincides with the fifth anniversary of CODE-CWA, which has helped more than 6,500 tech and video game workers organize to join the union since 2020.
“The creation of this union was not done in isolation; it’s a cumulative effort by the thousands of video game workers who have been fighting for years to redefine what it means to stand together and reclaim power in one of the largest and highest-grossing industries on the globe,” said Tom Smith, CWA’s senior director of organizing. “These workers are taking a bold stand, joining together to build power for the workers behind the games we all know and love.”
“Our mission is to take back our lives, our labor, and our passion from those who treat us like replaceable cogs; to empower our fellow workers; to link up arms with the laid off, with the freelancer, with the disillusioned contractor, with the disenfranchised and the marginalized, with the workers laboring invisibly to keep this industry afloat,” reads UVW-CWA’s mission statement. “We are going to create a game industry that works for us, one that nourishes its talent and invests in its future, rather than constantly seeking short-term profits. We are the ones that make the games, so we must be the ones that set the terms of how we work.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/19/2025 - 09:50Defend the Public Postal Service: In the States Roundup
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on X.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
BREAKING: The Alaska House just voted to pass HB 69, which would increase the BSA by $1,000.
This is a huge win for Alaska's working families. #akleg #RaiseTheAKBSA pic.twitter.com/EIHvA3F6S1
— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) March 12, 2025
Arizona AFL-CIO:
Today Union members joined Veterans at the Tucson VA Hospital rallying against VA employee layoffs 💪 Currently, over 2,400 VA workers have already been laid off, with an alarming plan to eliminate an additional 80,000 jobs. @AFGENational pic.twitter.com/Ss4Fv7bNHT
— Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) March 15, 2025
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
CA @AsmSadeElhawary introduced AB 1331 (sponsored by @CaliforniaLabor ) - which bans California employers from using invasive surveillance technology to monitor their workers in private, off-duty areas, such as the break room, the bathroom or an employee’s personal vehicle. The… pic.twitter.com/wRRjiqAGl9
— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) March 18, 2025
Colorado AFL-CIO:
This Women’s History Month, we recognize the astonishing legacy of “Flaming” Milka Sablich, a true labor champion and leader in the 1927 coal miners strike right here in Colorado. l pic.twitter.com/JKyTJ2PWbh
— Colorado AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIOCO) March 15, 2025
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Powerful labor town hall with Senators Murphy & Blumenthal. We are fortunate in CT to have two strong Senators fighting every day for working people. But make sure to continue reaching out & telling your stories about how federal cuts and freezes will impact working families. pic.twitter.com/vrXMg1nIX4
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) March 17, 2025
Illinois AFL-CIO:
NEXT WEEK: Chicago Climbing Gym workers at First Ascent have announced their intent to form a union. Join them for a night of climbing and solidarity on March 20, from 7-9 PM, to show management that the labor movement has their back.
Sign up:https://t.co/tGkihAHdUR pic.twitter.com/w5qF2GErSe
— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) March 15, 2025
Maine AFL-CIO:
Join postal workers & letter carriers for rallies to protest attempts to privatize the USPS!
@APWUnational Bangor & Portland - Thurs, March 20, 2025@NALC_National Portland - Sun, March 23, 2025 https://t.co/R7zAMaL7JW
— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) March 17, 2025
Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We are remembering many leaders who built and grew the labor movement. Also thankful for the Massachusetts labor family, which was well represented at our union night fundraiser for the Steven A. Tolman Addiction Fund with the Dropkick Murphys on Friday. pic.twitter.com/LJFl5TLuvl
— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) March 17, 2025
Michigan State AFL-CIO:
It’s time for lawmakers — Democrats and Republicans — to put politics aside and work together to get pro-worker bills that have already passed the legislature signed into law.
Call on the MI House and Gov. Whitmer to do right by working families: https://t.co/HLCYuDtE8X pic.twitter.com/hSaEE1jy96
— Michigan AFL-CIO ✊ (@MIAFLCIO) March 18, 2025
Minnesota AFL-CIO:
"Folks who claim to represent Minnesota businesses, like the @MN_Chamber, will try to tell you #PaidLeave is bad for business. As a thriving small employer and retailer, I can tell you that it is just the opposite." #mnleg https://t.co/CBGmrqGBDK
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) March 17, 2025
Missouri AFL-CIO:
Seven different #Unions introduced students to career paths at a career pathway showcase last month, this is a great way to offer alternatives to a four-year college and encourage trade apprenticeships! https://t.co/2cMauV0GWp
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) March 16, 2025
Nebraska State AFL-CIO:
Thursday March 20th 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Start at the southeast corner of 10th& Pacific St., and move to the northeast corner of 13th & Pacific St.
Omaha pic.twitter.com/g1oGR27lEB
— NE State AFL-CIO (@NEAFLCIO) March 13, 2025
New York State AFL-CIO:
On the latest episode of the #UnionStrong podcast we sit down with @NYSDOLCommish to discuss the key workforce elements in the Governor's budget proposal, including worker protections, investments in childcare, workforce training initiatives, and more: https://t.co/cmbjDWkuwV
— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) March 12, 2025
North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
We support @NC_Governor Josh Stein's call for a pause on scheduled corporate and personal income tax cuts for millionaires and the wealthy few in order to invest in families and workers instead. #ncpol #1u pic.twitter.com/8KtoT2yEvA
— NC State AFL-CIO (@ncstateaflcio.bsky.social) (@NCStateAFLCIO) March 13, 2025
Oregon AFL-CIO:
As an Oregon Department of Human Services worker with @seiu503, Holly Smith works with Oregonians at the lowest income levels in our state. SB 916 is for striking workers who are already in impossible positions.
#ORPol #ORLeg #SB916 #OregonLabor #OregonAFLCIO pic.twitter.com/FplFtEp3f9
— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) March 14, 2025
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Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
Losing jobs and a weakened economy were not on the ballot. We voted for American workers, to protect good-paying union jobs, and build an economy that works for everyone, not just billionaires. #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/J2tPlqndmt
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) March 13, 2025
Texas AFL-CIO:
#HB1078 is a common-sense bill to help veterans get information on the benefits they've earned!
USW (@steelworkers) Local 759 President Raj Penn & USW Local 13-2001 President Aquarius Johnson testified in support of the bill at the hearing ⬇️ #txlege pic.twitter.com/884QbvvHiX
— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) March 17, 2025
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:
These virtual sessions are free, and offered on March 20, April 30, and May 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Click the link below for more info ⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/DpPyOeklkn
— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) March 18, 2025
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
Early voting for Wisconsin election starts Tuesday: How to vote for Supreme Court, other April races https://t.co/386hAvSDFe via @journalsentinel
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) March 17, 2025
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/18/2025 - 10:07Women's History Month Profiles: Sue Martin
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Sue Martin of AFSCME.
Sue Martin is the first female president/secretary-treasurer of the Nebraska State AFL-CIO and a member of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE)/AFSCME Local 61. She helped lead successful ballot initiatives to increase the minimum wage and institute paid sick leave in Nebraska. With her admirable dedication and passion for the state’s labor movement, Martin is highly regarded by Nebraska affiliates, elected officials and coalition partners.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/18/2025 - 09:59Tags: Women's History Month
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Unions Representing USPS Workers Respond to DeJoy’s Agreement with DOGE
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
In response to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s agreement with Elon Musk’s DOGE, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) President Brian Renfroe released the following statement:
NALC is aware of the agreement between the Postal Service, [General Service Administration] and DOGE to assist with ‘identifying and achieving certain efficiencies.’ We remain in contact with the Postal Service regarding DOGE’s efforts at USPS and any potential impact on NALC members. The safety of our members always comes first. That includes their information and data….
Common sense solutions are what the Postal Service needs, not privatization efforts that will threaten 640,000 postal employees’ jobs, 7.9 million jobs tied to our work, and the universal service every American relies on daily.
American Postal Workers Union (APWU) National Executive Board released the following statement:
Members likely heard the recent news of an agreement between the Postmaster General and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by the un-elected billionaire Elon Musk, and not established by Congress. It is no surprise that DOGE has set its sights on the people’s Postal Service….
The APWU position is clear: There is no legitimate role for DOGE in the USPS or any other Federal agency. The public Postal Service was created by Congress as an independent government agency with robust oversight from the Office of Inspector General, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and the Board of Governors, as well as Congressional Committees.
The National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), an affiliate of the Laborers (LIUNA), released the following statement:
Mail Handlers have seen the DOGE team dismantle federal agencies, impacting services provided to Americans across the country, and are therefore rightly concerned about the potential impact on the work of the Postal Service generally and the work of the more than 54,000 dedicated mail handlers across the country….Privatizing the Postal Service will threaten customers’ ability to receive packages and letters ranging from Social Security checks, necessary medications, government correspondence, and mail from loved ones….
The NPMHU will remain cautious and vigilant and is prepared to fight against any ill-conceived attempts by DOGE to dismantle this American institution.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/18/2025 - 09:47Women's History Month Profiles: Sandra Parker-Murray
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Sandra Parker-Murray of the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
Sandra Parker-Murray is the secretary-treasurer for CWA Local 7777 in Denver. She is a fierce organizer and political advocate. She brings her years of experience as a front-line telecommunications worker and delivery driver into her work, ensuring that workers’ voices do not get lost. She is active in Colorado Independent Drivers United, part of CWA Local 7777 focused on building power for drivers in rideshare, delivery, taxi and limousine services. She can often be found advocating at the Colorado State Capitol.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/17/2025 - 10:01Tags: Women's History Month
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Workers at Pushkin Industries Secure First Union Contract
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The 12 Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members have secured their first collective bargaining agreement with podcast company Pushkin Industries. The contract was approved unanimously and establishes a minimum salary of $73,000, guaranteed raises, and guaranteed IP negotiation for shows where unit members write, research and host their own ideas; provides artificial intelligence protections; enshrines Quiet Weeks in August and December; provides 16 weeks fully paid parental leave, a minimum 12 weeks of severance, and a laptop; establishes protections for remote and hybrid employees; reports on the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion work; and establishes Just Cause among other provisions.
“We’re proud of this contract, and we think it reflects the strength of the community we’ve built at Pushkin and is an essential part of the movement to build better standards across the industry,” the union said. “We’re grateful to leadership for working with us throughout this process and for investing in our future together. The unit is looking forward to it!”
Pushkin was co-founded by Jacob Weisberg and Malcolm Gladwell and produces podcasts like "Revisionist History," "Deep Cover," "Broken Record," "Against the Rules with Michael Lewis," and "Where’s Dia?"
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/17/2025 - 10:01Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: American Guild of Musical Artists
This is the first post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates again. The series will run weekly until we’ve covered all 63 of our affiliates. First up is the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).
Mission: AGMA is committed to protecting and advancing the employment and artistic rights of its members. Through the negotiation and enforcement of approximately 70 collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) nationwide, AGMA ensures fair wages, safe working conditions and a higher quality of life for the artists who bring the performing arts to life.
Current Leadership of Union: Ned Hanlon serves as president. The other officers are J Austin Bitner (secretary-treasurer), Brian August (staging staff vice president [VP]), Helena Brown (choristers, actors and staff performers VP), Antuan Byers (dancers VP), Andrew Stenson (soloists VP), Andres Garcia (Eastern and Southern Region VP), Katharine Goeldner (New York Region VP), Cameo Humes (Midwestern Region VP) and Jennifer Wallace (Western Region VP).
Current Number of Members: More than 6,500.
Members Work as: Singers; dancers; staging staff; and faculty, staff and instructors in opera, ballet/contemporary dance and choral performance across the United States.
Industries Represented: Opera, ballet and contemporary dance, and concert choral performance.
History: AGMA formed in 1936 as an organization of solo musical artists. In August 1937, the union was granted a charter from the Actors and Artistes (4As) to cover the fields of grand opera, concert and recital. AGMA pursued a campaign to organize artists throughout the country, and the first CBA that the union successfully negotiated that fall was with the Association of California Symphony Orchestras. Today, the union, led by the AGMA Board of Governors and supported by AGMA’s professional staff, negotiates and enforces more than 70 CBAs throughout the country and continues to set industry standards, even for nonunionized companies.
Current Campaigns and Community Efforts: AGMA actively supports its members through a variety of initiatives and resources. The union maintains an up-to-date list of auditions relevant to members, provides visa consultation services and offers contract enforcement and negotiation support. AGMA runs several member-led caucuses, including the AGMA Black Caucus, Opera and Concert Choristers Caucus, and Staging Staff Caucus, fostering community and advocacy within the union. The AGMA Relief Fund provides critical financial assistance to members in need. The union also offers educational webinars and a monthly newsletter and enables access to Union Plus and the Entertainment Community Fund resources. Additionally, the union now sells union-branded merchandise to promote solidarity and awareness. AGMA continues to mobilize around key labor issues, including fair wages, arts funding, workplace protections and organizing efforts in the performing arts.
Learn more: Website, Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, X.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/17/2025 - 09:40Women's History Month Profiles: Julie Stein
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Julie Stein of the United Steelworkers (USW).
Julie Stein began her career in 1984 as a laborer at the Appleton Coated paper mill in Combined Locks, Wisconsin. As a member of USW Local 2-144, she served in various elected positions. In 2006, Stein came to work for the USW and was actively involved in the Women of Steel and political programs. Today, Stein serves as director of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) program, helping USW members engage in lifelong activism.
Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 03/16/2025 - 09:44Tags: Women's History Month
Women's History Month Profiles: Michelle Christen
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Michelle Christen of the Utility Workers (UWUA).
Michelle Christen serves as the second vice president of UWUA Local 601, which represents approximately 1,200 customer service workers at Public Service Electric & Gas in New Jersey. She has been instrumental in negotiating labor contracts, including an agreement ratified in April 2023 that secured a 13.64% wage increase over four years and recognized a bilingual call center position with additional compensation. In 2022, she collaborated with Local 601 members to organize fundraisers for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, contributing to cancer research and support.
Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 03/15/2025 - 09:46Tags: Women's History Month
The Department of People Who Work for a Living: 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.
AFL-CIO Rolls Out Week of Mass Action vs. Trump’s War on Workers: “Taking the fight against the GOP Trump regime’s war on workers from Congress and the courts but also to the streets, the AFL-CIO’s new Department of People Who Work for a Living—a title satirizing Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency—plans a week of actions nationwide from March 17 to 23, 2025. The events will include town halls; mass mobilization to descend on congressional offices (especially those of its ruling Republicans); a ‘democracy board,’ where people can share stories of the personal impact of the Musk-Trump carnage; and flooding Capitol Hill with calls and e-mails.”
Trump Administration Must Rehire Thousands of Fired Workers, Judge Rules: “A federal judge on Thursday ordered six federal agencies to rehire thousands of workers with probationary status who had been fired as part of President Trump’s government-gutting initiative. Ruling from the bench, Judge William J. Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California went further than he had previously, finding that the Trump administration’s firing of probationary workers had essentially been done unlawfully and by fiat through the Office of Personnel Management, the government’s human resources arm. He directed the Departments of the Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy and the Interior to comply with his order and offer to reinstate any employees who were improperly terminated. His order stemmed from a lawsuit brought by employee unions who challenged the legality of the mass firings.”
Second Federal Judge Orders Temporary Reinstatement of Thousands of Probationary Employees Fired by the Trump Administration: “A second federal judge ruled Thursday that thousands of probationary employees laid off en masse by the Trump administration must be temporarily reinstated to their jobs. The new temporary restraining order from Senior Judge James Bredar, an Obama appointee, covers 18 agencies and will last two weeks, as a challenge to the terminations from Democratic state attorneys general moves forward.”
More than 1,000 March in D.C. Against Possible Health Care Cuts: “According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the House Republicans’ budget goals can’t be reached without cuts to Medicaid. Millions of Americans rely on Medicaid, including children, older adults, people with disabilities and low-income adults. ‘Why would we do that to folks? That is cruel,’ Jackson-Hill said. ‘It’s evil. It’s hatefulness at a scale I have never seen before. And it’s actually our government doing it to us.’ Analilia Mejia is co-executive director for the Center for Popular Democracy, which organized the demonstration. ‘Taking away those resources will not happen silently, and we will not stand for it,’ Mejia said. ‘We are going to push through this budget reconciliation.’ She was impressed with the turnout, which included members of the nation’s largest nurses union, National Nurses United (NNU).”
Whole Foods Workers Push Forward on Union Effort: “That unionization effort by workers at the Amazon-owned grocery chain will receive a hearing from a regional National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) panel on Wednesday, which is likely to be appealed by the company and to head to the full NLRB later this year. ‘I was on the right side of the law,’ United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776 President Wendell Young IV told Supermarket News.”
Weingarten (President of the American Federation of Teachers [AFT]: Trump’s Education Department Crusade Is a Cowardly Betrayal of America’s Children: “Many of America’s global competitors—and adversaries—are no doubt cheering President Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education. They know that countries who outeducate the rest of the world will outcompete it. And now brand-new Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Trump want to neuter, if not completely shutter, the entity that helps give all children in the United States access to the great public school education they deserve. On Tuesday, the department announced plans to cut nearly half its staff. McMahon says these catastrophic firings, alongside hundreds of so-called buyouts, are about ‘efficiency, accountability and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents and teachers.’ The reality is far more cowardly.”
Labor Board Member Returns to Work Six Weeks After Trump Fired Her: “The first Black woman to chair the NLRB returned to the agency Monday with a hero’s welcome after a judge ruled the previous week that she was illegally fired. Dozens of staff members cheered, clapped and waved signs that read, ‘Welcome back, Gwynne,’ as Wilcox returned to the independent federal agency charged with protecting employee rights.”
Union Members Ratify First-Ever Contract at Bloomington Barnes & Noble: “After about a year of contract negotiations, Barnes & Noble workers in Bloomington voted Saturday to ratify their first-ever contract. Workers at the Empire Street store join just three others in the country as members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union [RWDSU] with ratified contracts—all of which are based in New York City—and voted to approve their first contracts within the past week. ‘Workers at Barnes & Noble should be incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished together in these historic first union contracts from Illinois to New York,’ said RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum in a press release. ‘United in their fight for increased safety in their stores, it was their voices across the table that won. Now, we can finally say their longtime safety needs are codified in union contracts, which also include industry standard–setting wage increases, union health care and more.’”
Las Vegas Strip Reaches Full Union Coverage as Fontainebleau Signs First Labor Deal: “The Culinary and Bartenders Unions have reached a historic agreement with Fontainebleau Las Vegas, marking the first time in the 90-year history of the Las Vegas Strip that all casino resorts are 100% unionized. This milestone results from a yearlong process and the dedicated efforts of thousands of hospitality workers.”
Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act Reintroduced: Bipartisan Efforts to Strengthen Union Power and Protect Workers: “AFL-CIO President and Oregonian Liz Shuler also voiced support for the act, saying, ‘Americans believe in the power of unions, and tens of millions of working people would become union members tomorrow if they could. But American labor law is broken, weighted on the side of the bosses and against the workers.’ She urged elected leaders to advance the legislation to allow workers to ‘stand together and build better lives for themselves and their families.’”
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/14/2025 - 10:43Women's History Month Profiles: Christina McCafferty
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Christina McCafferty of the Electrical Workers (IBEW).
Christina McCafferty is an exemplary model of service through her work as a supervisor, steward, elected treasurer in the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus Chapter 640 and elected officer of IBEW Local 640.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/14/2025 - 09:46Tags: Women's History Month
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Unions File Lawsuit Against DHS to Stop the Illegal Termination of TSO Contract
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
AFGE, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) filed a lawsuit Thursday over the illegal and unilateral termination of a negotiated collective bargaining agreement that covers approximately 47,000 transportation security officers (TSOs).
“This attack on our members is not just an attack on AFGE or transportation security officers. It’s an assault on the rights of every American worker,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley in a press release. “Tearing up a legally negotiated union contract is unconstitutional, retaliatory and will make the [Transportation Security Administration] experience worse for American travelers.”
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/14/2025 - 09:44Women's History Month Profiles: Sandy Laemmel
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is
Sandy Laemmel’s journey with NALC spans 50 years, starting when she was a teenager running an errand to buy stamps at the post office, where a “We’re Hiring” sign changed her life. From letter carrier to steward and president of Detroit Branch 1, she has dedicated herself to helping others. Since 2022, she’s served as a national trustee. “The common thread is people,” she said. She’s been the person others relied on, but “they’ve given me more in return. It’s truly better to give than receive. From teenager to trustee, I’ve been blessed in ways words can’t express.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/13/2025 - 10:47Tags: Women's History Month
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Hundreds Rally Outside VA in Wisconsin to Stop DOGE Cuts
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Union members and community allies rallied outside the Zablocki Veterans’ Administration (VA) Medical Center in Milwaukee on Friday to protest President Trump and Elon Musk’s cuts to our critical federal workforce.
Workers at the medical center are members of AFGE Local 3, the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (WFNHP), American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 5000, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Wisconsin. Even before these latest funding attacks, nurses, supply technicians, social workers, housekeepers and other staff were already sounding the alarm about low-staffing levels impacting patient care. A recent internal memo published by the Associated Press showed that Musk’s DOGE is pushing to cut an additional 80,000 jobs—a staggering 20% of the VA department staff—which would make caring for the approximately 62,000 patients that come through the Milwaukee facility every year even more difficult.
“Quality health care is a critical need for our veterans,” said Monica Luecking-David, a nurse at the facility and the chapter president of the WFNHP. “None of us are disposable. The VA’s mission could not be achieved without each and every one of us.”
“Federal workers and public sector workers make our country right in countless ways that too often go unnoticed until they are not there. And then our country will come unglued,” said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/13/2025 - 09:53AFT and AFL-CIO Respond to Department of Education Reduction in Force Announcement
Labor leaders and education advocates American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten and AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler condemned the Department of Education’s reduction in force announcement.
Weingarten said:
Many of America’s global competitors — and adversaries — are no doubt cheering President Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. They know that countries who out-educate the rest of the world will out-compete it. And now brand new Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Trump want to neuter, if not completely shutter, the entity that helps give all children in the United States access to the great public school education they deserve. On Tuesday, the department announced plans to cut nearly half of its staff. McMahon says these catastrophic firings, alongside hundreds of so-called "buyouts," are about "efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers.” The reality is far more cowardly.
...
A gutted department would mean fewer teachers, more crowded classrooms and increased mental health and behavioral challenges for students. We’d most likely see increased absenteeism and decreased graduation rates. Fewer students would be able to obtain the degrees or credentials they need for well-paying jobs, meaning more students would have to settle for low-wage work or simply drop out of the workforce. And many cities and states would have to increase school budgets to make up for these cuts, resulting in higher state and local taxes.
Instead, this move sends a clear message that, in Trump’s America, only kids from wealthy families are entitled to opportunity. How does that help make America great?
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My union will continue to fight to protect our kids and to fund their future, because it is both the smart and the right thing to do. Last Tuesday, we held over 100 events across the country to protect our kids.
Diverting billions from our children to pay for tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy is a callous decision that short-changes everyone. If we want to engage kids, if we want America to be a nation of “explorers, builders, innovators [and] entrepreneurs,” as Trump said in his inaugural address, then logically it follows that we should be investing more in education, not less.
The dreams of millions of kids, and the promise of America, depend on it.
Read the rest of Weingarten's statement.
Shuler said:
Firing half of the staff so that the Department of Education cannot function will jeopardize the resources, programs and protections that give millions of students the opportunity to succeed. Public schools are the cornerstones of our communities: they provide the free, universal education that working families depend on, feed and care for our kids, and create millions of good union jobs. The Department of Education provides critical support to educators and school staff, and financial aid and student loans that put college and trade schools within reach for working families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it.
Access to quality public education is a top priority for the American people, but billionaires like Elon Musk are pushing a Project 2025/DOGE agenda that only boosts the rich and powerful. We urge members of Congress to safeguard our taxpayer dollars by quickly acting to protect services that are essential to American life and provide vital support to our nation’s students, parents and educators.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/12/2025 - 12:53Women's History Month Profiles: Anna Rose Sullivan
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Anna Rose Sullivan of AFSCME.
For Anna Rose Sullivan, being a public defender is about fairness. Many of her clients lack the financial means to hire a private lawyer. Sullivan works every day to ensure that everyone—regardless of their economic background—receives fair and equal treatment under the law. And through her union, she and her co-workers have negotiated for sustainable caseloads so they can give each case the time and attention it deserves.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/12/2025 - 10:08Tags: Women's History Month
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Workers in Utah Ratify State’s First Cannabis Industry Union Contract
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Workers at WholesomeCo in Bountiful, Utah, ratified a union contract, becoming the first cannabis industry workers in Utah to do so. The workers are members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 99. The agreement provides guaranteed wage increases over three years; company-provided medical insurance coverage, dental and vision coverage; paid bereavement and parental leave; paid time off and paid holidays and meal breaks; and a ratification bonus. The contract covers delivery fulfillment agents, demand inventory agents, inventory compliance agents, pharmacy fulfillment agents, pharmacy agents and retail display agents at the Bountiful facility.
Local 99 President Jim McLaughlin said the contract was “an important milestone not just for WholesomeCo employees, but for all Utah cannabis workers. With the ratification of this historic contract, WholesomeCo will continue to be a great place to work while helping raise the standard of living for employees industry-wide.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/12/2025 - 09:54
