Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Kentucky Labor Steps Up to the Plate to Help Communities
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.
Think “solidarity,” that old union byword, is just an empty phrase these days?
Think again.
Better yet, talk to Tim Morris, executive director of the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council (GLCLC), and to Liles Taylor, Kentucky State AFL-CIO political coordinator.
They’ll clue you in about scores of union members from coast to coast who have donated about $300,000 to help their Kentucky union brothers and sisters who were among the victims of deadly tornadoes that ravaged western and south central Kentucky on the night of Dec. 10-11.
Morris and Taylor volunteered to head the Union Member Disaster Relief program. It's a four-way partnership between the GLCLC, the state AFL-CIO and the Kentucky and Metro United Way. The program provides money for paying bills and for food, clothing and shelter for union families in need.
The relief effort is personal for Morris and for Tim Sanders, a member of Louisville United Auto Workers Local 862. He's also labor liaison to Metro United Way.
Morris grew up in Ohio County. Sanders is a Hart County native.
One of the twisters struck Hartford, the Ohio county seat, as well as nearby Centertown and Olaton. But the tornado missed Horse Branch, where Morris's mother, brother and sister-in-law live. That tornado or another one roared through Munfordville, the Hart County seat, and also damaged Hardyville, Canmer and Horse Cave, the latter near where Sanders grew up.
Morris turned 37 on Dec. 11. He knew nothing of the massive tornado system dubbed “the Beast” until he saw shocking news reports on TV at home in Louisville. The tornadoes killed 80 Kentuckians and left a 165.7-mile long trail of destruction in their wake.
Fearful for his family, Morris frantically tried to phone his mother but couldn’t get through. She called him about 2 a.m., Louisville time.
She had good news: all the family had survived unhurt, and their homes were undamaged. “Waking up on my birthday knowing that everybody was alive and okay was the best birthday present that I could ever have,” Morris said.
Sanders still has aunts and uncles in Hart County. "Luckily, none of them were hurt," he said. "But the tornado took out some barns within a couple of hundred yards of where they live."
Sanders is quick to praise the nationwide response disaster relief program. "It's incredible that labor unions are sacrificing and making commitments to help people they don't even know."
He explained, "We are processing everything through the United Way of Kentucky, which encompasses the entire state. They are in our office."
Sanders said his role "is bringing people together. For example, I am also a UAW member. We have a local (2164) there in Bowling Green at the Corvette plant."
Parts of Bowling Green also sustained severe tornado damage. So Sanders reached out to Kelsey Bragg with Local 2164. "She's going to be an advocate for us by going out and seeking families and letting people know that to utilize these funds, they need to apply for them."
Said Taylor, who lives in Midway, which the tornadoes spared: “It is extremely rewarding to help our union brothers and sisters and their families in their time of need. It’s been amazing to see the resiliency of those impacted and the selflessness they express. Often when we tell them that the funds are available to them, they tell us to give the money to someone else in greater need.”
Besides dispatching financial and other aid, Morris and Taylor supply important information, such as how to get help from federal and state agencies and where to find housing, food, clothing and other supplies.
Union members harmed by the tornadoes can apply for Union Member Disaster Relief assistance by filling out an online form that’s on the state AFL-CIO website. Clicking on “DISASTER” will take them to the form: https://ky.aflcio.org/disaster
The form also has a link for donations. Checks with "Union Disaster Relief" in the memo line may be mailed to: United Way of Kentucky, P.O. Box 4653, Louisville, KY 40204-0653.
Morris said it may take from two to five years for the devastated areas to rebuild and recover fully. “But we are going to keep on assisting folks until our funds run out.”
The fund got a big boost last month when the UAW chipped in $134,000 to the United Way of Kentucky. "We are our brothers' keepers. We are our sisters' keepers," Louisville WDRB TV quoted Mark Dowell, a member of UAW Local 862 and UAW Region 8 Southeastern CAP representative and Retired Workers CAP representative. "When one of us hurts, we need to jump in and help each other...we love each other just like brothers and sisters in our own family. So if somebody...needs help, we're going to be there for them. So that's what makes me a proud union member today, and I will die a proud union member."
Jeff Wiggins, state AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer, and Jerald Adkins, president of Working Strategies LLC, are two of many others who are helping with the program.
Wiggins, from Reidland, a Paducah suburb, said the Union Member Disaster Relief effort is more proof that “union people have good hearts. They give until they can’t give any more. They volunteer their time, their services, their expertise. Labor steps up to the plate to help communities.”
He and Adkins, from Frankfort, have traveled throughout western Kentucky helping distribute aid and videoing the destruction. "Upon awakening on Dec. 11 and seeing news clip after news clip of the devastating tornado damage in western Kentucky the night before, I knew immediately that I needed to do something to help all of the union members who had lost cars, houses and even family members."
He said Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan phoned him on Dec. 13. "He said that they needed immediate help in western Kentucky to determine the needs of all the union members who were impacted by the storm and that they were going to partner with the United Way of Kentucky to raise funds for those members impacted."
Adkins soon made the first of many trips to western Kentucky to survey the destruction. "I also visited union members while they were in the process of trying to dig through and salvage sentimental items. I knew that even though we couldn't bring back their houses, every penny raised through the program would be instrumental in helping those folks with immediate relief in paying their mortgage or rent, paying their utility bills, putting food on the table and buying essentials for everyday living."
"It was amazing to see how quickly the fund grew, and it made my heart feel good knowing that 100% of this fund was going to union brothers and sisters and their families who were in desperate need."
This post originally appeared at the Kentucky State AFL-CIO.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/15/2022 - 09:29Women's History Month Profiles: Jaclyn Agredano
This year, 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 Jaclyn Agredano of the Utility Workers (UWUA).
Jaclyn Agredano is a leader with UWUA Local 132 who is stepping up to build her leadership skills in a male-dominated field. She attended UWUA's Train the Trainer program in July. Agredano is a shop steward and was recently appointed chair of the Women’s Caucus Committee of Local 132.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/14/2022 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Actors’ Equity Releases Report on Diversity and Inclusion
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.
Actors’ Equity Association (Equity) has issued a report tracking the demographics of how its members are hired for acting and stage management work, and how much they were paid during 2020. The study, entitled Theatre at a Crossroads: Hiring Bias and Wage Gaps in 2020, found that there were persistent job and pay gaps for its members of color. It also revealed that male workers were paid more than their female and nonbinary counterparts for the same amount of work.
“We are disappointed by the realities of the data: while there was some incremental progress here and there in 2020, the theatre fell far short of fulfilling its promises of diverse and inclusive hiring,” said Kate Shindle, president of Equity. “We call on everyone who makes hiring and pay decisions in the theatre to demonstrate their commitment through their actions as well as their words.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/14/2022 - 09:28Women's History Month Profiles: Bobbi Stover
This year, 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 Bobbi Stover of the Mine Workers (UMWA).
Bobbi Stover is a UMWA nurse at New River Health. "I love being a member of the UMWA because I have a voice in my workplace that I otherwise would not have. Being in the union ensures that I have a seat at the table when it comes to my wages and benefits," Stover said.
Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 03/13/2022 - 09:36Women's History Month Profiles: Helena Thornton
This year, 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 Helena Thornton of the Machinists (IAM).
Helena Thornton is the first woman president of IAM Victory Lodge 1725 in Charlotte, N.C. A member of the North Carolina State AFL-CIO's Carolina Labor School Class of 2014, Thornton has been a shop steward, recording secretary and auditor in her union. "I'm truly a full-blown machinist," said Thornton, always eager to talk about the benefits and power that come from being in a union, even to her kids and grandkids. "They'll say, 'Everything you say is union,' because it is! If you don't have a union, it's going to be hard for you."
Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 03/12/2022 - 09:287 Ways the American Rescue Plan Helped Working Families
One year ago, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law. The spending package was targeted at getting working people the support they needed during an unprecedented economic and global health crisis. This was a historic achievement that brought so many often marginalized groups front and center.
Here are seven ways the American Rescue Plan helped working families:
1. It provided $350 billion in aid to state, local, tribal and territorial governments to help deal with the budgetary impact of the pandemic.
2. It provided some $86 billion in financial assistance to struggling multiemployer pension plans, which the plans will not have to repay, to cover all benefits due through plan year 2051, with no cuts to accrued benefits.
3. It subsidized 100% of health care premiums for COBRA-eligible individuals who lose their job or had their hours reduced, who will not have to pay any premiums, for six months.
4. It expanded the child and dependent care tax credit to $4,000 per child or $8,000 for two or more children, and made the credit fully refundable.
5. It provided $39 billion for child care, including $15 billion in grants to states to help low-income families afford child care and help essential workers regardless of their income level. It also gave $24 billion in state grants to child care providers.
6. It provided $200 million for pandemic-related worker protection activities at the Labor Department, half of which went to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to support OSHA enforcement and worker training in high-risk sectors such as meat processing, health care, correctional facilities and agriculture.
7. It provided $386 million to create a rapid retraining program for veterans who are unemployed because of the pandemic.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/11/2022 - 13:40Tags: American Rescue Plan
Women's History Month Profiles: Maryam Chudnoff
This year, 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 Maryam Chudnoff of AFSCME.
Maryam Chudnoff is a registered nurse at the University of New Mexico Family Health Clinic-Southeast Heights in Albuquerque and a proud member of AFSCME. She truly embodies solidarity—not just at work, but in her community as well. With the help of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, Chudnoff and several others established a food distribution center for people in need. She knows her co-workers, neighbors and communities are stronger when we all stand together.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/11/2022 - 10:00Tags: Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Labor Joins Commemorative March from Selma to Montgomery
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.
Earlier today, the AFL-CIO and United Domestic Workers (UDW)/AFSCME Local 3930 led the fifth day of the 57th commemoration of the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, joining national organizations and leaders in amplifying the call for federal voting rights protections. In the wake of widespread attacks on voting rights and organizing rights, particularly in communities of color, hundreds of trade unionists from across the country will come together to demonstrate the labor movement’s commitment in the fight for democracy at the ballot box and to reinforce its longstanding bond with the struggle for civil rights.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition took part in today's march, passing the torch to members of the labor movement on U.S. Highway 80 outside of Montgomery. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond will help lead a rally for justice and democracy at the state capitol in Montgomery on Friday. Vice President Kamala Harris, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and AFSCME President Lee Saunders were in Selma last weekend to mark the 57th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday.” And Mine Workers (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts and Alabama AFL-CIO President Bren Riley (USW) joined today’s march.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/11/2022 - 09:30Women's History Month Profiles: Mary C. Turner
This year, 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 Mary C. Turner of National Nurses United (NNU).
MNA President Mary Turner has become a recognizable face for front-line workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her role as a COVID-19 ICU nurse, she has testified in numerous hearings, talked to dozens of reporters and served on President Biden's COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, representing front-line workers everywhere.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/10/2022 - 10:00Tags: Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: UWUA Urges Preparedness for Cybersecurity Threats to Utilities
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.
With the tragic news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, security professionals in the United States have been urging Americans to do what we can to protect ourselves from the risk of cyberattacks. Members of the Utility Workers (UWUA) have been helping to lead the way to protect our utilities’ cybersecurity but said we still have far to go.
The union shared a message with its members: “We urge all UWUA members that if you are witnessing any security practices that concern you at your workplace but are worried about being retaliated against for speaking up, reach out to your UWUA rep immediately. You have a right to be able to raise your concerns without consequences.”
Click here to watch a recent report from CBS’ “60 Minutes” on cybersecurity in America’s electrical grid.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/10/2022 - 09:30Working People Oppose Putin's Invasion of Ukraine
AFL-CIO joins the global labor movement in condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and we stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Here is what working family organizations have said about the invasion of Ukraine:
AFL-CIO:
The AFL-CIO condemns the violent invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military. We stand in solidarity with the workers and their families who are impacted by the devastation, and offer our condolences for lives that have been lost.
We join the global labor movement and our allies in calling for an immediate end to President Vladimir Putin’s military aggression, and we support extensive economic sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union, particularly those focused on Putin and his protectors. These sanctions should be strengthened, by excluding Russia from the SWIFT international banking system and by taking effective multilateral action against tax havens and financial secrecy laws that protect Putin and his enablers. We further call on all U.S.-based corporations doing business in Russia to publicly condemn Putin’s government while calling for an end to the attack on Ukraine. We stand ready to assist the Biden administration in its efforts to implement and strengthen these measures, and we call on global leaders to build toward reestablishing peace and democracy in Ukraine and the region.
Ukrainian unions have struggled for decades to guarantee the internationally recognized right to organize and bargain collectively. They have been at the forefront of campaigns to protect working people from precarious or “informal” work; fight climate change while preserving jobs and livelihoods; and end gender-based violence and harassment and employment discrimination against LGBTQ+ workers. Unions have courageously fought corruption that is widespread in the Ukrainian economy. All these brave efforts by Ukraine’s unions are now threatened by the Russian military invasion, which is destroying the basic democratic rights of freedom of association, assembly and speech that are necessary for all effective trade union action.
The Russian government’s invasion of Ukraine flagrantly violates international law and undermines the right of Ukraine and of all nations to self-determination free from the threat of violence. The consequences of the attack on Ukraine are vast—tens of thousands of lives may be lost, millions may be displaced. Countries will need to house, feed and support the many refugees fleeing the violence. President Putin’s war jeopardizes international peace and global economic recovery. Workers and their families are still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, and can ill afford the higher oil and food prices and further disruption to the supply chains this war will cause.
Going forward, the global community must come together immediately to reestablish a common security framework that ends violent conflicts and prioritizes investments in shared economic security, including jobs and basic social protections. The AFL-CIO stands ready to support policies that will bring security, peace and democracy, and we will provide continued solidarity and support to the people of Ukraine.
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary Sharan Burrow:
We mourn for those who have lost their lives and offer our deepest condolences and solidarity to those who have lost loved ones or been injured.
The imposition of sanctions by governments which support democracy and the rule of law is both inevitable and justified, and should focus particularly on the entourage of President Putin, who is leading Russia down this destructive path and threatening peace in Europe and the world.
We call for world leaders to take urgent and definitive steps to initiate dialogue and find a peaceful solution to this crisis in line with the Charter of the United Nations.
European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) General Secretary Luca Visentini:
We strongly condemn the war, which hits people and workers first, and advocate for dialogue, peace and democracy to be reestablished immediately.
Europe must stand strong against Putin’s aggression and put maximum pressure on his regime, and entourage in particular, to bring about peace and dialogue.
We cannot allow policy to be shaped by violence, and we expect world and EU leaders to protect Ukraine’s integrity as well as the security of all other countries in the region.
With over 100,000 people already displaced, Europe needs to prepare to welcome refugees, and we acknowledge the pledges already made by several EU member states.
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International President John Costa:
The ATU joins the trade union movement and rest of the world in standing in solidarity with the people and workers of Ukraine as they endure an unwarranted attack by Russia. We have watched as courageous Ukrainians, including its president, resist this occupation and fight bravely for their country. Our thoughts are with our brothers and sisters in the Ukrainian unions as more than a hundred Ukrainian civilians have already lost their lives with hundreds injured. Many more could die in this brazen act of aggression in violation of international law.
The ATU has among our ranks people from all over the world. We believe that all people and nations should be free from threats of violence. This unprovoked assault threatens democracy, security and peace not only in Ukraine but across Europe and the entire world. War is not the answer. We join the global community and our allies in calling for an end to President Putin’s military aggression and support the call for a unified response and diplomatic solution to bring an end to these senseless attacks on Ukraine.
American Federation of Musicians (AFM):
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada profoundly condemns Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine. We express our unwavering solidarity with the brave Ukrainian people and their elected government during this horrific time. We are concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian toll resulting from the barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine, and we pledge our resolute support to those in Russia who at great risk are protesting military aggression against Ukraine. We pray for an immediate end to the devastation and express our condolences for the unnecessary loss of life.
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten:
This unprovoked and unjustified Russian invasion is not just an assault on the democratic people of Ukraine, but also a flagrant violation of international law. We condemn it unreservedly because it traduces the fundamental principle that wars of aggression can never be the answer to disputes among nations.
Tens of thousands of innocent lives are now in the sights of an oppressive, autocratic dictator who seeks to establish Russian hegemony and military domination in Eastern Europe. Putin lives in an alternate reality where he wants to go back to the bloody age of empire. Luckily, the Biden administration understands the grievous threat he poses the world and is levying economic and diplomatic sanctions against the Russian state and its oligarchic rulers.
We stand in solidarity with our fellow unionists in the Ukrainian labor movement; with the educators, students and families in Ukraine; and with their democratic government in this moment of their trial and need.
Boilermakers (IBB) President Newton B. Jones:
The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers stands in solidarity with and praises the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the steadfastly brave Ukrainian people as they fight to maintain their nation, their identity as Ukrainians and their freedom.
We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the senseless and barbaric actions of a megalomaniac tyrant, Vladimir Putin, in invading the sovereign nation of Ukraine.
The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers will be making a financial contribution to assist the people of Ukraine. We encourage everyone to do likewise to provide relief and strengthen their efforts.
President Zelenskyy and his people are showing the world that when people organize together, they can stop even the cruelest forces of tyranny.
Fire Fighters (IAFF):
The IAFF is rising in support and solidarity with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. As their country remains under Russian attack, firefighters are standing strong on the front lines, not in battle, but protecting the lives of Ukrainian citizens.
“It is difficult to imagine the challenges firefighters there are facing as they continue to respond during a military invasion,” says IAFF General President Edward Kelly. “This union is proud to stand with them as they continue to serve their communities without hesitation. We pray they stay safe.”
As the Ukraine military is doing its job, firefighters there are responding to structure fires caused by missile strikes and searching for survivors in blown-out buildings.
The IAFF will continue to watch the situation in Ukraine and look for ways to support our Ukrainian brothers and sisters and the global community at large.
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) President Matt Biggs:
It is imperative for the labor movement in the United States and worldwide to aggressively denounce President Putin and his government for this illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, as well as their crimes against humanity by attacking innocent Ukrainian citizens. IFPTE fully supports the AFL-CIO and [the Canadian Labour Congress] for standing in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
Mine Workers (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts:
The blood of innocent Ukrainians is on [imported Russian] oil, gas and coal. The United States should not be in any way funding this war by continuing to buy Russian exports. We should be focusing on using what this nation has to offer when it comes to energy sources. I applaud Sens. Manchin, Murkowski and the other co-sponsors of [the Ban Russians Energy Imports Act] for their bold action. We are in full support.
We also need to start manufacturing products that use coal in the U.S. Right now, we ship millions of tons of metallurgical coal to China, which they in turn use to make steel and fabricate it into wind turbines and solar panels. They then ship those products back here. How does that make sense?
Let’s put less focus on relying on other countries to provide our resources and look at what our own nation provides. Let’s stop supporting anti-democratic regimes and tyrants and focus on using the resources we have right in our own backyard.
Musical Artists (AGMA) President Ray Menard:
AGMA stands in heartbroken solidarity with our family, friends and colleagues and all those impacted by the violence in Ukraine.
As a union, AGMA is founded on the principles of democracy, freedom and hope. We believe in using collective power for good. We believe most people want to leave the world better than they found it. We believe that beauty, art and fellowship will prevail, even when confronted with calculated and ruthless destruction.
In the face of tragedy and injustice, we turn to that which our members have devoted their creative lives: art that helps us understand all facets of what it means to be human, including days like today. As many AGMA members have sung on stages across the world:
“What shall I, a wretch, say then?
To which protector shall I appeal
When even the just man is barely safe?”
—Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem
We beg for safety to return to all in harm’s way. Let compassion, unity and peace prevail. End the violence and senseless suffering.
We are all members of one union, and one family.
National Nurses United (NNU):
National Nurses United today joined with the international community and peace and human rights advocates in the U.S. and around the world to urge an immediate ceasefire and end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a return to diplomacy.
“Any invasion of another sovereign nation is a crime against humanity that always threatens to lead to an incalculable loss of lives and other long-term health consequences for the people of that nation,” said NNU President Zenei Triunfo-Cortez, RN. “As nurses, we know that war and all the suffering it produces are human calamities that are not justifiable and must end.”
“The danger of even greater escalation—which potentially involves the two largest nuclear-armed nations in the world—is particularly chilling,” Triunfo-Cortez said. “That threat should further impel all parties involved to seek a peaceful, diplomatic solution to this crisis immediately.”
NNU stands in full solidarity with the trade unions and all the people of the Ukraine now in grave danger. NNU also welcomes anti-war protests that have emerged within Russia.
While ending the bloodshed must be the immediate priority, NNU said it is also important to recognize that all nations have legitimate security concerns when foreign troops are positioned near their borders.
Any diplomatic, long-term solution should be premised on a peaceful resolution of conflict and should directly address peace and security concerns for all sovereign nations in the region.
SAG-AFTRA:
In these dark and uncertain times, with war returning to the European continent, SAG-AFTRA stands in solidarity with our colleagues in Ukraine, our fellow union members of the Cultural Workers Union of Ukraine, and all those suffering the effects of this war of aggression.
It is heartbreaking to see the stories of civilians coping with the loss of family members, friends, homes and livelihoods. Watching the humanitarian crisis unfold, it’s easy to feel despair and helplessness. But if you wish to help, there are organizations, including UNICEF and many others, that use your donations to aid those impacted by this war.
We insist that all nations recognize and respect the freedom of the press and ensure that our members and journalists of all nations working in the war zone are kept safe from harm.
The union also stands with the brave Russian anti-war protesters who are risking their own freedom to call for an end to the violence. SAG-AFTRA fervently hopes for a swift return to peace in the region.
Solidarity always.
United Steelworkers (USW):
The USW stands in international solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they withstand deadly and unprovoked violence by Russian forces. Their bravery serves as an inspiration to everyone who fights on the side of democracy and freedom.
As we seek to end this baseless war, we join with the global trade union movement in condemning the violence against Ukrainian citizens, including our Ukrainian union siblings.
We call on international leaders to remain steadfast in their commitment to stemming the aggression and holding Vladimir Putin accountable for the death and destruction he caused.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/09/2022 - 15:44Working People Champion, AFSCME Member Greg Casar Wins Texas Primary for Congress
Last week, working family champion and AFSCME member Greg Casar won the Democratic primary for Texas' 35th congressional district. From the beginning of the campaign, Casar ran on issues important to working families and voters rewarded him for being on our side.
When he won, Casar spoke about the fact that his victory wasn't for him, it was a win for a $15-an-hour minimum wage, for Medicare for All, for the PRO Act, for reproductive rights, for immigrant rights, for Black lives, for LGBTQIA+ rights, for working families. Watch his victory speech:
Video with captions 👇🏽 #TX35 #Election2022 pic.twitter.com/9WXZIENEp4
— Greg Casar (@GregCasar) March 2, 2022Casar currently serves as a member of the Austin City Council and a organizer who has worked across the state of Texas. As a member of the Council, Casar sponsored a law that gave workers in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio paid sick days and worked to raise the minimum wage for Austin's lowest-paid employees to $15 an hour while also providing them health care benefits.
Learn more about Greg Casar and his run for Congress.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/09/2022 - 11:35Women's History Month Profiles: Deanna Cain
This year, 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 Deanna Cain of the Boilermakers.
As the business manager/secretary-treasurer of IBB Local 290 at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Deanna Cain rose through the ranks to become the Boilermakers' first female business manager (she is now serving in her third uncontested term) and has proactively advocated for women at the shipyard since starting work there in 1994. Her activism started early when she spoke up to get gloves sized properly for women at her workplace, and today she continues helping women navigate such issues as sexual harassment.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/09/2022 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Twin Cities Educators Fight for Safe and Stable Schools
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.
Union educators in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, are fighting for safe and stable schools that students deserve. Despite days of public bargaining and mediation, members of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT)/AFT-NEA Local 59 went on strike this morning. The union of teachers and support professionals is calling for systemic change and is fighting an administration that remains entrenched in an unacceptable status quo.
Greta Callahan, president of the MFT teacher chapter, declared: “We are the defenders of public education and we’re not going to slow down, or give up, until we make real progress addressing the mental health crisis in our schools, reducing class sizes and caseloads so students are receiving the individualized attention they need, and increasing educator compensation so that we don’t continue to lose staff, especially educators of color, to surrounding districts and other professions.”
On Monday night, the St. Paul Federation of Educators/AFT-NEA Local 28 announced that it had reached a tentative agreement for a new contract with the city’s school district. The 3,600 union members in St. Paul avoided having to go on strike after securing a fair contract.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/09/2022 - 09:28Women's History Month Profiles: Linda Smith
This year, 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 Linda Smith of the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU).
Linda Smith has been a member of OPEIU Local 381 for more than 40 years. She has been the administrative assistant for the Central Oklahoma Labor Federation for 11 years and sits on the Greater Oklahoma City Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women's board as the corresponding secretary. Smith has dedicated her life to helping her union sisters, brothers and siblings.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/08/2022 - 10:00Women's History Month Profiles: Jessica Akers
This year, 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 Jessica Akers of the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU).
Jessica Akers, the secretary-treasurer of OPEIU Local 105, made history in 2021 when she became the first woman and youngest person ever to be elected president of the Arkansas AFL-CIO.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/07/2022 - 10:00Tags: Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFGE Launches Website in Fight for COVID-19 Hazard Pay for Federal Employees
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.
AFGE, led by National President Everett Kelley, continues its aggressive fight to secure hazard pay for federal employees who were exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace. Eligible employees can join a class-action lawsuit brought by AFGE and Heidi Burakiewicz of the law firm Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch (KCNF). A new website has been launched that will allow employees to join the lawsuit.
Federal court rules require each person to sign up individually to participate in the class-action suit, and AFGE and Burakiewicz are making it that much easier by launching HazardPayLawsuit.com.
“Every federal worker who was exposed to this virus while on the job is entitled to compensation for the dangers they encountered,” Kelley said. “But in order to be part of the lawsuit, each employee must fill out the paperwork online to join the case.”
Unless an employee’s position classification includes exposure to infectious diseases as a condition of employment, federal employees are eligible to join the lawsuit if they were exposed to COVID-19 in the course of their work. The lawsuit was filed in March 2020 and seeks 25% hazardous duty pay for general schedule employees and an 8% environmental differential pay for wage grade employees.
“Federal workers who risked their lives and their families’ lives while performing their jobs absolutely should be compensated for the hazards they faced,” Burakiewicz said. “We encourage all federal employees who had to leave the safety of their homes to go to work during the pandemic to join our lawsuit by registering online today.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/07/2022 - 09:35Women's History Month Profiles: Julie Landsman
This year, 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 Landsman of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).
Julie Landsman, a horn player and member of AFM locals 802 (New York City) and 47 (Los Angeles), is a distinguished performing artist and educator. At a time when women rarely held principal positions, Landsman was the first woman to win a position in The Metropolitan Opera's Met Orchestra brass section in 1985, in part due to the existence of fully "blind" auditions. An outstanding role model for her students, many who now hold prominent positions in major orchestras across the country, she has had a most impressive award-winning career.
Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 03/06/2022 - 10:00Tags: Women's History Month
Women's History Month Profiles: Bernie Burnham
This year, 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 Bernie Burnham of the Minnesota AFL-CIO and Education Minnesota.
Bernie Burnham took office in February 2022 as the 10th president of the Minnesota AFL-CIO and the first person of color to serve in that position. Prior to her election to lead the state federation, Burnham was vice president of Education Minnesota, which is affiliated with both the AFT and NEA, since 2019. She spent 14 years as an elementary school teacher and was actively involved in the labor management process in the Duluth Public Schools for nine years, four of those prior to being elected president of the Duluth Federation of Teachers.
Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 03/05/2022 - 10:00Tags: Women's History Month
Economy Gains 678,000 Jobs in February; Unemployment Falls to 3.8%
The U.S. economy gained 678,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate dropped to 3.8%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Continuing strong job creation numbers are a clear sign that the worker-friendly policies implemented by President Biden are having a positive impact on working people.
In response to the February job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
The increased pace of hiring has continued the recovery of the labor force participation rates, especially for Black men, now at 69%, up from 66% last year, and now virtually equal to White men at 70.5% This shows hiring is picking up and there is still room for growth @aflcio
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 4, 2022
For the second month, Black and White labor force participation rates have been equal. The rapidly recovering Black labor force participation rate shows that hiring is strengthening and there is still room for the labor market to grow back to its pre-COVID levels @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/oeyDXlZys6
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 4, 2022
The Black unemployment rate fell, for good reasons, from 6.9 to 6.6%; labor force participation rose, with more successes finding jobs than stuck unemployed, the share employed rose from 57.7 to 58.1% (Still worse than the high school dropout unemployment rate of 4.3%) @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 4, 2022
The V shaped recovery of the private sector labor market is closing fast on the pre-COVID peak, but the bigger gap in total payroll is caused by the slow recovery in the public sector (a drag again as in the Great Recession recovery) @AFSCME @AFTunion @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/7Ql8j4uqp3
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 4, 2022
The recovery in payrolls (moving right) was shared in all industries (high and low wage), but were led by Leisure & Hospitality which suffered the greatest COVID job losses (hidden within gains in manufacturing are losses in motor vehicle caused by stalled supply chains) @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/UopGVNI7JS
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 4, 2022
Average hourly wages were up 5.1% over last February, but up 11.2% in the lowest wage industry, Leisure & Hospitality on the strength of 21 states having raised their minimum wages on January 1--meaning low wage workers are beating inflation @AFLCIO https://t.co/g3MckqXQhr pic.twitter.com/tI1PsFis0V
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 4, 2022This month 347,000 of the 678,000 payroll jobs added went to women (51.2%), over last February, women have gained shares in construction, wholesale trade, retail trade and transportation & warehousing--a shift toward higher wage industries @CLUWNational @AFLCIO @IWPResearch pic.twitter.com/gTH1XEGOGd
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 4, 2022The success of those not in the labor force in January in landing jobs in February suggest at least 2.5 million women should have counted as unemployed rather than not in the labor force. 75% of those who entered the labor force found jobs. The labor market can grow more @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 4, 2022And while the economy is recovering fast, Economic Policy Institute’s senior economist Elise Gould and President Heidi Shierholz explain in a CNN op-ed that we need to ensure it works for everyone.
Last month’s biggest job gains were in leisure and hospitality (+179,000), professional and business services (+95,000), health care (+64,000), construction (+60,000), transportation and warehousing (+48,000), retail trade (+37,000), manufacturing (+36,000), financial activities (+35,000), social assistance (+31,000), other services (+25,000), wholesale trade (+18,000) and mining (+9,000). Employment showed little or no change over the month in information and government.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for Hispanic Americans (4.4%) and adult men (3.5%) declined in February. The jobless rates for teenagers (10.3%), Black Americans (6.6%), adult women (3.6%), White Americans (3.3%) and Asian Americans (3.1%) showed little or no change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was essentially unchanged in February and accounted for 26.7% of the total unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/04/2022 - 10:45Tags: Jobs Report
