Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Massachusetts Teachers Association: Rally Against MCAS Tests
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) hosted a rally on May 24 at the Jacobs School in Hull, Massachusetts in a show of support for a teacher facing sanctions after refusing to provide the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests.
The MTA, Massachusetts Association of School Committees and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents are all opposed to requiring the MCAS this year, suggesting that local diagnostic tools would be more effective in determining learning loss. The organizations cite concerns about students’ mental health and about the loss of learning time in an already truncated year. This year, the tests will also measure the quality of students’ WiFi connections, their access to technology, the stability of their housing and the amount of COVID-related trauma they have endured.
“The MTA and allies are continuing to fight by raising public awareness about the negative impact of high-stakes testing on students and by advocating for a bill to end the state’s MCAS-based high school competency determination forever,” stated the organizations.
“If state and federal bureaucrats refuse to cancel the MCAS, parents can take charge to protect their children. They can opt out—refusing to let their children be subjected to this unnecessary, stressful and racially biased test in the middle of a pandemic.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 06/01/2021 - 09:33Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Memorial Day: Honoring U.S. Military Personnel Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice
Today is Memorial Day. There are more than 1 million working union veterans in the labor movement—found within every affiliated union of the AFL-CIO. For many of those veterans and their families, today is a day of reflection and remembrance. It’s up to all of us to honor the memories of those we celebrate today and to be there for our sisters and brothers who might be having a tough day.
Let’s be clear: Memorial Day isn’t Veterans Day. Veterans Day is a day that honors the service and sacrifice of all U.S. military veterans. Memorial Day is set aside explicitly for those U.S. military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
There’s nothing wrong with using this long weekend to attend a BBQ and have a good time. But we should collectively take a moment to remember the true purpose of the day and also remember that many will be grieving.
We’ve lost too many veterans, overseas and at home due to the traumas of war. This year, the Union Veterans Council is using its microphone on Memorial Day to talk to union veterans who might need help or may know someone in need of help, and the council will include resources for veterans struggling with mental health or substance abuse.
We hope that you will join us in spreading this message.
Substance Abuse
Too many veterans have died due to struggles with substance abuse after returning home. On this Memorial Day, let those in your life who are struggling know there are resources available. Let them know, they have your support. Visit the Veterans Administration (VA) for more.
Mental Health
Today is a particularly hard day for veterans and military families. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, there are support systems here for you. Please visit the VA for more.
Other Resources
- VA: Substance Use Treatment for Veterans
- VA: Veteran Suicide Prevention
- VA: Guide to Mental Health Services for Veterans and Families
- VA Hotlines
- Quit VET: Any veteran receiving health care through VA is eligible to use the Quit VET quitline. Call the quitline to speak with a tobacco cessation counselor. Call 1-855-QUIT-VET.
- Veterans Crisis Line: The Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans and service members in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat or text. Call 1-800-273-8255 or chat online.
- War Vet Call Center: The War Vet Call Center is a confidential call center where combat veterans and their families can call to talk about their military experience or any other issue they are facing in their readjustment to civilian life. Call 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387).
- Women Veterans Call Center: The Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) provides VA services and resources to women veterans, their families and their caregivers. You can also chat online anonymously with a WVCC representative. Call 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-829-6636) or chat online.
Tags: Union Veterans Council
Build Back Better With Unions: 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.
PRO Act Builds It Back Better With Unions: "The American Jobs Plan is not threatened by America’s labor movement. It is strengthened by us and the inclusion of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Let’s clarify a few points. First, the PRO Act will not “force Americans” into anything. Instead, it will give workers the choice to form a union through a free and fair election. That’s not a power grab—just workplace democracy. Not only is the PRO Act strong policy, it’s good politics. A recent Morning Consult poll found a staggering 73% of voters—including 59% of Republicans—support the right to collectively bargain. The PRO Act will strengthen and expand that right. That’s why, in a rare bipartisan vote, the House passed the PRO Act in March."
Biden's American Jobs Plan Builds Back Better for Michigan: "Michigan sits at a transformational moment as we take steps to emerge from this terrible pandemic—not just in winning the battle against COVID-19, but using our recovery to recharge the state’s economy and put people to work as we begin to heal. As leaders with the Michigan AFL-CIO and Michigan League of Conservation Voters, we acknowledge that the labor and environmental movements haven’t always seen eye-to-eye. But one thing we can agree on: Michigan has an incredible, once-in-a-generation opportunity to build back better together."
Dayton Public Schools Announces Dayton-Miami Valley AFL-CIO's Take Kids Fishing Day': "The Dayton-Miami Valley AFL-CIO is hosting their annual 'Take Kids Fishing Day' set for Saturday, June 19, 2021. Get the kids outdoors for fun-filled hours of fishing and a free picnic lunch! (child, grandchild, neighbor or friends invited)."
Biden Taps Union-Side Labor Atty. For Fifth NLRB Seat: "President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated labor lawyer Gwynne Wilcox to be a member of the National Labor Relations Board, tapping a union-side practitioner to fill the long-vacant fifth seat on the panel."
The Final Straw’: How the Pandemic Pushed Restaurant Workers over the Edge: "Restaurant chains and industry groups say a shortage of workers like Conway is slowing their recovery, as the sector tries to get back on its feet amid sinking COVID cases, falling restrictions and resurgent demand in many areas around the country. All described the pandemic as an awakening—realizing that long-held concerns about the industry were valid, and compounded by the new health concerns. And forced to stop working or look for other jobs early on in the pandemic, many realized they had other options."
The U.S. CDC's Mask Guidance Ignores the Risks Workers Face Every Day: "The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) announcement last week that fully vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks or socially distance came as a great relief to millions of people who have been vaccinated. But it has also led to confusion and chaos in workplaces and other locations where vaccinated and unvaccinated people mix. Public health agencies like CDC are charged with protecting the health of populations, not just individuals. With its recent masking recommendation, the CDC is forgetting its basic public health mission, holding back our efforts to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, and increasing the danger that workers face."
UAW Gets More than 10,000 Signatures to Organize 10 University of California Campuses: "A quiet campaign by UAW organizers at the University of California ended Monday with more than 10,000 signed cards officially submitted to authorities that would create the Student Researchers United-UAW, representing more than 17,000 higher education workers. These union activists are not required to hold a formal election and can, instead, submit the signed 10,441 cards to California's Public Employee Relations Board in Oakland. Researchers marched down to the office at 1330 Broadway carrying a banner just after 2 p.m. Signatures will have to be certified as union organizers await instructions on next steps."
Unions Are Essential to Racial Justice: "As the president of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE), I lead a coalition of 24 national unions representing more than four million professionals. Through bargaining for pay, benefits, and working conditions, our affiliates’ members have created sustainable, family-supporting careers in their industries. While these workplace improvements have raised standards for all professionals, employees of color tend to see some of the greatest gains from union membership. Black union members earn 26% higher wages and are more likely than employees of any other race to be union members. Both of these factors help to narrow the wage gap between Black and white employees. Additionally, while union employees do better than their nonunion counterparts within every racial group, union membership impacts the accumulation of wealth more for nonwhite families than for white families. Nonwhite union families have almost five times the median wealth as their nonunion counterparts."
Shuler, Levin: Pro Act Would Have Stopped Amazon’s Tactics at Bessemer: "In a stark illustration of how current U.S. labor law is tilted against workers, two experts on changing it—AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler and Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich., a former top union organizer—say the Protect The Right To Organize (Pro) Act would have basically outlawed Amazon’s high-pressure tactics that defeated the union organizing drive at its big warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. And they also added, in a Zoom press conference on May 20, that one defeat won’t stop organized labor’s campaign to both organize the behemoth and to increase union density in the deep-red, union-hostile South. 'In the deep South, there’s a racist streak of dividing Black and white workers, and it’s called 'right to work,'' Shuler declared. So-called RTW laws, a favorite of union haters in the corporate class and the radical right, first arose in the South in the 1940s for just that purpose.'"
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/28/2021 - 14:52Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Pima Area Labor Federation Distributes More than 36,000 Pounds of Food to Working Families in Need
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
On Saturday, May 8, the Pima Area Labor Federation (PALF), in partnership with Bright Star and the congregation of Rising Star Baptist Church as well as Jobs with Justice Tucson Chapter, facilitated PALF’s first Labor to Neighbor event. Union members from all of PALF’s affiliates participated in a massive food distribution of more than 36,000 pounds of fresh food. It highlighted the absolute best of labor in southern Arizona. Designated a politician- and law enforcement–free event, members of the community were able to receive support without fear of harassment, with no questions asked. That decision proved vital, as every pound of food found a family in need.
“This was a first for our federation, and we look forward to building on this work. We are forever indebted to the love and solidarity from our union siblings at the Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation, who made this possible. We’re also deeply appreciative of our affiliate, IBEW Local 570, and Gilbert Electric for securing use of the forklift. We’re inspired by every union member who gave their Saturday to support our greater community and hope this is just the beginning for Labor to Neighbor,” said Trish Muir (IBT), chair of the Pima Area Labor Federation.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/28/2021 - 09:07Tags: Community Service, COVID-19
Level the Playing Field: What Working People Are Doing This Week
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.
Actors' Equity:
The touring provisions of the existing SET Agreement and Production Contract will be extended until May 1, 2022. Learn more about the details of this extension in the member portal – https://t.co/1dgGbjMA3Q pic.twitter.com/g4ZERnYaTM
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) May 27, 2021AFGE:
AFGE President Everett Kelley joined striking @MineWorkers at #WarriorMet in Alabama today to let them know that AFGE members have their backs! #Solidarity #Strike pic.twitter.com/2L9asFg2FI
— AFGE (@AFGENational) May 27, 2021AFSCME:
Today’s news out of San Jose is shocking and horrifying. We pray for the safety of members of Local 1101 and others who were outside the light rail yard. And we are grateful for the fearless first responders of United EMS Workers – AFSCME Local 4911 who rushed to the scene. https://t.co/ZRa1tBGkgT
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) May 26, 2021Alliance for Retired Americans:
Our country, our democracy and our people benefit when workers have a strong voice at work.
The Senate must pass the #PROAct now! https://t.co/O32iH3QynR
Amalgamated Transit Union:
The ATU mourns with our Local 265-San Jose, CA sisters, brothers, their families and their community. https://t.co/XCg3lgVWPN #SanJoseStrong #1u #UnionStrong
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) May 27, 2021American Federation of Musicians:
Musicians Win Union Coverage for @HBO #TheGildedAge. Our #musicians stood up to a global media giant and made them do the right thing. @The_AFM is grateful for the solidarity of sister unions and the actors who insisted musicians be recognized by the union https://t.co/T4LGrlRz84
— AFM (@The_AFM) May 25, 2021American Federation of Teachers:
Thank you @rosadelauro and @RepKClark for your testimony on #paidleave and #childcare. Your experiences, your leadership and your voices will continue to lead the way to get national #paidleave and #childcare for all families.
— AFT (@AFTunion) May 27, 2021American Postal Workers Union:
There's no time like the present! Postal management is trying to slow down your mail. But if we work together, we can stop the slowdown. Send a comment to the PRC & USPS here. #SaveThePostOffice https://t.co/pq240nchH3
— APWU National (@APWUnational) May 26, 2021Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
#APAHM Untold Stories
Spotlighting historian and activist Yuji Ichikoa!
He is most well known for working with Emma Gee to coin the term "Asian American." He was fundamental to archiving the Asian American experience.
Learn more:https://t.co/r1cbvY1pxW#WhoWeAre pic.twitter.com/AV5cNn2Frp
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
We have reached a historic pre-hire agreement for U.S.-based Flight Attendant jobs at the new low-cost, long-haul start up airline, Norse Atlantic Airways. The airline expects to create a minimum of 700 good Flight Attendant jobs in the U.S. 1/3 https://t.co/sBPBO4bKIq
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) May 27, 2021Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
“I come from a union family and unionism is in my blood. I am not just a union member – but I live a union life, through and through. It is who I am.”
Read this fun feature on Bill Andre, Local 116 (Auburn, N.Y.) Business Agent/Financial Secretary here ?? https://t.co/fH0WZENC2h pic.twitter.com/DuAm2CZkZE
Boilermakers:
Keep an ?️ out for the monthly issue of the IBB Update that hits inboxes Friday ? Not subscribed? Sign-up for #BoilermakersUnion news updates at: https://t.co/6rInXnDk2V pic.twitter.com/Yz3pHzjDOF
— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) May 27, 2021Bricklayers:
Let’s make sure we’re ready to #BeatTheHeat https://t.co/k8Vsno8NHB
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) May 21, 2021Coalition of Black Trade Unionists:
George Floyd shook up the world. But he left it to us to change it. #GeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter #BLM pic.twitter.com/f0EEmCF6AB
— CBTU (@CBTU72) May 25, 2021Coalition of Labor Union Women:
Black Womxn Thriving survey launched May 10. Let's get as many black womxn to participate as possible! https://t.co/vYZg8tyACu #BlackWomxnThriving #BWTResearchFund #ThrivingNotSurviving #WeAreBlackWomxnThriving #EveryLevelLeadership
— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) May 25, 2021Communications Workers of America:
Yes. We need affordable broadband for all built and serviced by union workers. https://t.co/BOE3pzPShZ
— CWA (@CWAUnion) May 25, 2021Department for Professional Employees:
"Union members earn on average 20 percent to 50 percent more annually, gain more benefits and experience greater employment stability than nonunion members." #1u https://t.co/jb6hvs4RJ5
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) May 27, 2021Electrical Workers:
This summer, give road workers a break. pic.twitter.com/Kr2jB5cg0v
— IBEW (@IBEW) May 27, 2021Fire Fighters:
We will be hosting an informative FREE webinar in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on the COVID-19 vaccine and answer questions from members. https://t.co/alganu3xWU pic.twitter.com/VJzyBcKsqi
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) May 27, 2021Heat and Frost Insulators:
ICYMI -- WE ARE GREEN!!
We know that properly installed mechanical insulation saves money, improves lives and protects the environment. This isn’t “the latest thing” to us as cost efficient, energy friendly insulation has been our lifeblood since 1903. ?https://t.co/e2LQQ3moBE https://t.co/Y76ZIzc7dJ
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
IFPTE Statement on the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Shootings https://t.co/ZhcxtOPJhg
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) May 26, 2021Ironworkers:
Ironworkers from local 433 are working on the MSG Sphere at The Venetian multi entertainment center in Vagas! pic.twitter.com/HQUZ8j9Mc1
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) May 20, 2021Jobs With Justice:
"Workers at Amazon fulfillment centers are getting seriously hurt at rates more than DOUBLE the industry avg"
Instead of spending $ on fixing their workplace injury problem, AMZ is spending >$8 billion buying MGM Studios + the Bond franchise. #Prioritieshttps://t.co/sI1hUW8dcU
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
LCLAA Applauds the Biden / Harris administration for supporting and restoring Temporary Protected Status for Haiti. Read our Statement https://t.co/yX1Z1oilgw #TPSforHaiti #TPS pic.twitter.com/zXR17bkNpz
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) May 24, 2021Laborers:
Terry O’Sullivan, General President of #LIUNA made the following statement today on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Mark-up of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021.
READ STATEMENT HERE: https://t.co/cotzfDqHfu pic.twitter.com/BcIN8bWhJi
Machinists:
The IAM joins the country in honoring the victims of our @ATUComm union family at the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in San Jose, CA by lowering the flags to half-staff at the Machinist Union Headquarters. We mourn with you. pic.twitter.com/g7SNHdvA9V
— Machinists Union ✈️?? (@MachinistsUnion) May 27, 2021Metal Trades Department:
Now more than ever workers deserve to be heard when facing discrimination, unfair labor practices, intimidation, etc. while on the job. Workers deserve the right to organize without fear. Tell your Senator to say "YES" to the #PROact today!https://t.co/fs3y2icY2l
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) May 27, 2021Mine Workers:
Source: https://t.co/aEjSO79HD6
Photo Credit: Haeden Wright
"The United Mine Workers of America said 11 members were charged with trespassing at a Warrior Met Coal Inc. mine in Tuscaloosa County on Tuesday evening.." https://t.co/pkBwnUSOfj
Musical Artists:
JUST ANNOUNCED! AGMA and the SDC have released a Special Guidance on Vaccinations and Testing to help employers of AGMA and SDC members balance the unique risks of COVID-19 to performing artists. Continue reading: https://t.co/7rsvabVwrm pic.twitter.com/GWjYShHuRr
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) May 24, 2021National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
We congratulate all recipients of this year's NATCA scholarship.
Out of the 21 scholarship winners, Myah Bauman, daughter of Charles Bauman (Minneapolis-St. Paul ATCT, MSP), was given the President's Award, a $2,000 scholarship. Read Bauman’s full essay: https://t.co/lhRBeV2RfF pic.twitter.com/NGavMviBxo
National Association of Letter Carriers:
Six or seven days a week, letter carriers deliver paychecks, bills and medications across the country. Contact your representative to support H. Res. 114, which continues six-day delivery for all business and residential customers. Learn more: https://t.co/GQWWh16Fcb pic.twitter.com/CF70afr9V0
— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) May 27, 2021National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
Please share this important statement, and stand in support of the delivery workers in NY who are directly affected and organizing. Negotiating without workers is not worker organizing. Nothing about us, without us/ Nada sobre nosotros, sin nosotros #DeliveristasUnidos ✊?✊?✊? https://t.co/2rcS0gwDno
— NDLON (@NDLON) May 25, 2021National Domestic Workers Alliance:
Migrant workers and undocumented people who call our nation home have gotten us through the past year, and they deserve a pathway to citizenship. Security and dignity for immigrant workers now! #PeoplesRecovery pic.twitter.com/zUK5rdu6GK
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) May 27, 2021National Nurses United:
Multiple measures — including masking — are needed to curb #Covid19.
NNU's certified industrial hygienist breaks down the science behind why nurses are demanding the @CDCgov revise their latest guidance for vaccinated people. pic.twitter.com/s3uSRiiebT
National Taxi Workers Alliance:
Uber driver Samassa Tidiane: “If this bill passes it will be even harder to support my family. This fake bargaining bill would roll back the clock to before 2017 when we didn't get paid for wait times and we'd sometimes go hours with no passengers making zero dollars...
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) May 27, 2021NFL Players Association:
Today @TG3II's community efforts have awarded him recognition from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ? With support from Todd + @YG, the Telehealth Van has successfully connected over 5,000 families to doctors, therapists and caseworkers virtually. #CommunityMVP pic.twitter.com/Z35d37QhtX
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) May 26, 2021North America's Building Trades Unions:
NABTU’s 2021 Virtual Legislative Conference is right around the corner ??
Visit our website to learn more and register today!
?: https://t.co/pF04sPrEJz pic.twitter.com/Q6zOkroPWL
Office and Professional Employees:
ICYMI: @153Local organizer @decafdana penned a great piece in @thenation on union organizing, museums, and the myriad barriers in the way of substantive progressive change in the industry. #1u @newmuseum_union https://t.co/yeTHMk65iJ
— OPEIU ║ #PassThePROAct ✊ (@OPEIU) May 26, 2021Painters and Allied Trades:
Our union’s trades build transformational infrastructure that shapes how we live like hospitals, schools, bridges and water systems.
Throughout our 134-year history, we've uplifted millions of families & are determined to give the same opportunity to as many people as possible. pic.twitter.com/p8MotPqkkJ
Plasterers and Cement Masons:
“The Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge ... is perhaps the most important bridge in the nation’s capital... [It] epitomizes the infrastructure at the heart of the [American Jobs Plan].” — @EleanorNorton #OPCMIA Local 891 https://t.co/K2oacKiHcu
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) May 26, 2021Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
If not now, when? If not you, who? It’s always the right time to change your workplace for the better. Contact an organizer today: https://t.co/XZoh0VIN9V #1u pic.twitter.com/aGkfWTJCag
— RWDSU (@RWDSU) May 27, 2021SAG-AFTRA:
In this #StopAsianHate panel clip, #sagaftramember Brian Tee reminds us of the power of self-advocacy and the responsibility we each share in bringing about accountability on set and in society. #AAPIHeritageMonth pic.twitter.com/KHJ6Sl2ldL
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) May 27, 2021Seafarers:
Ms. Mayte Medina elected as International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee Committee Chair https://t.co/ig0sHFqDIy via @maritimecommons
— Seafarers Union (@SeafarersUnion) May 26, 2021Solidarity Center:
Workers, esp. women, have been at the forefront of the struggle for #democracy in #Belarus. A union leader in Minsk describes how it happened in The Solidarity Center Podcast, now available on Youtube! #Belarushijackinghttps://t.co/766UgikIv5
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) May 27, 2021The NewsGuild-CWA:
We join news organizations worldwide and everyone who cherishes press freedom in denouncing the Belarus government's use of military aircraft to ground a civilian plane and arrest a journalist-passenger.https://t.co/DZ7yk1mynq https://t.co/URFe5zbncf
— NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) May 27, 2021Theatrical Stage Employees:
Meet Gary Lam, Editor of @IATSE891. He is actively involved in the Local's training initiatives and outreach for young and less experienced nonunion members that helps members be successful in the entertainment industry. #AAPIHM
Read Gary’s story here: https://t.co/WtNobWymdV pic.twitter.com/ytkDYoEmaZ
Transport Workers Union:
.@SouthwestAir and all airlines must do more to protect the flight attendants, in-flight crewmembers, and other airline workers who face this type of behavior every day. We can’t allow this to continue happening. https://t.co/kqtlYE6O6X
— TWU (@transportworker) May 27, 2021Transportation Trades Department:
Read our full statement on the unanimous passage of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 by the @epwcmte here: https://t.co/MX5NrNjwCC
— Transp. Trades Dept. (@TTDAFLCIO) May 26, 2021UAW:
“We in the UAW look forward to starting discussions with General Motors regarding their joint venture to produce batteries in Ohio and Tennessee so workers will have a voice at the table in order to create good-paying union jobs and benefits.” - UAW Vice President Terry Dittes https://t.co/KoZKcpwhmV
— UAW (@UAW) May 25, 2021Union Label and Service Trades Department:
VP Harris convenes first White House labor task force meeting | Construction Dive https://t.co/9WORl6qSwB
— Union Label Dept. (@ULSTD_AFLCIO) May 21, 2021Union Veterans Council:
We’re proud to lend our voices to the 1,100 @MineWorkers striking at #WarriorMetCoal. Our voices are louder and our words are stronger when we join together. #Labor #1u pic.twitter.com/IXM8IM8uMS
— Union Veterans Council (@unionveterans) May 26, 2021UNITE HERE:
STATEMENT from UNITE HERE President @DTaylorUH on San Jose shooting:
UNITE HERE grieves the loss of @265Atu Union members murdered today in yet another horrific & devastating act of gun violence that took the lives of eight working people at the VTA light rail yard. pic.twitter.com/Tz9MbMxDY4
United Food and Commercial Workers:
As we honor #GeorgeFloyd today, @UFCW is standing with our union’s frontline workers across the country, united in saying #BlackLivesMatter
Congress must turn these words into action and pass #JusticeInPolicing Act now. We cannot wait any longer. https://t.co/v9nFaphPHx
United Steelworkers:
RT - @ExxonMobilBTA is rewarding our hard work & sacrifice by forcing us off our jobs in a #ULPLockOut while we’ve kept them making millions instead of a #FairContract pic.twitter.com/dmeFuI6aRY
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) May 27, 2021United Students Against Sweatshops:
Where were these "priorities" when workers at Amazon supplier Hulu Garment were robbed of $3.6million in legally owed severance when they were tricked into resigning? @Amazon if you really mean this, why don't you #PayYourWorkers now? https://t.co/oyxxtr1I92
— USAS (@USAS) May 26, 2021Utility Workers:
UWUA will never forget the brave servicemembers we’ve lost.
Darryl Taylor, Army veteran and @UWUA_Local_1_2 business agent, shares his reflections as we approach Memorial day. pic.twitter.com/RoxqYy1nr9
Working America:
In 2019, #Google contract workers made history by voting #UnionYes & joining the #steelworkers. 20 months later, @HCLtechUnion is still fighting unlawful delays & retaliation from $10 billion IT giant @HCLTech. Let's get them trending & help demand a fair #HCLContractNow! ✊ pic.twitter.com/BTBZEwk2vS
— Working America | Pass the #PROAct (@WorkingAmerica) May 20, 2021Writers Guild of America, East:
Congratulations, @BKMuseumUnion! #1u https://t.co/17fgQzfuyR
— Writers Guild of America, East / #PROAct (@WGAEast) May 26, 2021 Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/27/2021 - 14:05Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Kyla Hsia
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Kyla Hsia.
Kyla Hsia is a senior digital strategist at AFL-CIO and a member of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (TNG-CWA). She recently joined the AFL-CIO team after sitting at the bargaining table for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America's staff union. She thought: why isn't everyone doing this?! And so she jumped into the labor movement by joining the AFL-CIO.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/27/2021 - 09:30Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Trumka: Pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
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.
One year ago, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis. Working people throughout America—from large urban cities to small rural towns—protested peacefully, marched down streets and declared three words: Black lives matter. Today, we continue to demand action to root out systemic racism in all forms. On the anniversary of his murder, the labor movement joins our allies in calling on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This bill is not only a legislative priority; it’s our nation’s moral obligation. Elected leaders should work together with all stakeholders, including America’s unions, to finally make police reform a reality.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/27/2021 - 08:30Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Welcome to the Family: In the States Roundup
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
This will help so many communities in Alaska that rely on tourists from cruise ships to power their economy!
Thank you @POTUS, @repdonyoung, @lisamurkowski, and @SenDanSullivan!https://t.co/wwqYRdPgBH
California Labor Federation:
Supporting #HealthCareHeroes should be a no-brainer for #CALeg. We literally owe these #essentialworkers our lives. They had our backs when we needed them most. Let's have theirs now. Pass #AB650! https://t.co/UCplKA57nf
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) May 25, 2021Colorado AFL-CIO:
SB87 Agricultural Bill of Rights passes the Senate! Thank you IUPAT, CWA, the Carpenters, UFCW, SMART, the Denver Newspaper Guild, and AFSCME for coming out! Thank your Senator! Ask your House Rep. to support! @SenateDems pic.twitter.com/BgWQkIL8aq
— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) May 20, 2021Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Don't believe the millionaire migration myth #RecoveryForAllCT https://t.co/VcDjEUtqoj
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) May 24, 2021Florida AFL-CIO:
"Unions and workers advocates argue the change isn’t going to force people back into jobs, but into food lines."https://t.co/L29WeSbxV0
— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) May 25, 2021Georgia AFL-CIO:
Her legacy is big, bold and unforgettable- the repeal of Citizen’s Arrest, Cash Bail Reform, an organized community of advocates who believe in true Justice for all people, and so much more. We are forever grateful. @mmdodson loved loudly and fought so bravely. Rest in power. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/5mCS6kFpkS
— Georgia AFL-CIO // Pass The #ProAct (@AFLCIOGeorgia) May 24, 2021Indiana State AFL-CIO:
“It came as no surprise when the Indiana AFL-CIO unions released their 2021 legislative scorecard that Republicans didn’t fare well.”https://t.co/ZLbeOWdza6
— Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) May 24, 2021Iowa Federation of Labor:
The latest Iowa Daily Labor News! https://t.co/oANLqUx5GR Thanks to @AFLCIO @OPEIU @IAFFNewsDesk #1u #proact
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) May 25, 2021Maine AFL-CIO:
Great guest column by @MSEASEIU1989 member Alison Perkins!
A new study found Maine state employees make 15% less than their counterparts throughout New England.
It's time to respect public service & end the pay gap for state employees! https://t.co/tj2BHWqoQ6 #mepolitics
Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO:
One of our brothers, John Amig, from @ibew410 was seriously injured in a gas explosion in Pikesville yesterday. He is fighting for his life, and he and his family need our help. Please donate to help the Amigs get through this difficult time:https://t.co/iKiu0nXlA0
— Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO (@MDDCStateFed) May 15, 2021Michigan AFL-CIO:
Police reform is not just a practical necessity and legislative priority - it's a moral obligation.
It's great to see @MISenate GOP & @MISenDems working together on proactive reforms that will build trust, increase accountability and transparency, and improve policing. https://t.co/phWCil7uA9
Minnesota AFL-CIO:
One year ago today, Minnesotans and people across the world saw George Floyd murdered at the hands of a police officer. As a Labor Movement committed to racial and economic justice, we remember George Floyd and far too many others who should still be alive today. (1/2)
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) May 25, 2021Missouri AFL-CIO:
When union members run for office, we all win. If you are considering a run for ANY office in the future, start by contacting your local labor club. https://t.co/OmYfzzZhE4
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) May 22, 2021Nevada State AFL-CIO:
#PassThePROAct to secure:
? Bigger paychecks
? Better benefits
? Safer working conditionshttps://t.co/nRGeE4IJQb pic.twitter.com/6bnXHbRL7v
New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
Let's be clear: "Right to work" is WRONG for New Hampshire's working families. Have you called your rep yet to tell them to vote NO on SB-61? It's not too late. #NHPolitics
Call using this form NOW ? https://t.co/tarkDOLXJa
New Jersey State AFL-CIO:
— New Jersey AFL-CIO (@NJAFLCIO) May 24, 2021New York State AFL-CIO:
“On behalf of the 2.5 million members of the NYS AFL‐CIO, I express my deep disappointment that the producers of the @HBO miniseries ‘The Gilded Age’ are denying musicians the right to union representation,” said Mario Cilento, Pres. of the NYS AFL-CIO. https://t.co/BFihzemx3D
— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) May 22, 2021North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
Solidarity! Duke employees representing multiple unions express grievances at virtual Duke Workers United speak-out https://t.co/fxvseUccIC @DUPWorkersUnion @WBNG32035 #1u
— NC State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct! (@NCStateAFLCIO) May 19, 2021Ohio AFL-CIO:
Just think, come January 2023 #Ohio can have the two most pro-worker, pro-#Union Senators in the country! @TimRyan has already transformed the Mahoning Valley to the Voltage Valley. Imagine what he and @SenSherrodBrown can do for all of us.https://t.co/EdJib4tBv8
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) May 25, 2021Oregon AFL-CIO:
"The Senate Cannot Be the Graveyard for Labor Law Reform Again" - Op-ed from AFL-CIO President Richard Tumka & Oregon's own Senator Jeff Merkley!https://t.co/T9TrCo19ec
— Oregon AFL-CIO / PASS THE PRO ACT (@OregonAFLCIO) May 24, 2021Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
Welcome to the family!✊✊✊ https://t.co/eCh2BVvwkG
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) May 25, 2021Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
Reed backs postal reform plan aimed at financially saving the USPS https://t.co/xTBjbSVmsJ #1U #USPS
— Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) May 25, 2021Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council:
Are you interested in helping us defeat the "Right to Work" constitutional amendment next year? We are building a database of folks who are committed to taking action!
Click below to take our short survey and let us know how you'd like to help. ⬇https://t.co/k6BQCAhkuu
Texas AFL-CIO:
The BIG BAD Bill #SB14 is set for a debate tomorrow in the #txlege. SB 14 is a "preemption" bill that would make it impossible for our cities and counties to pass local laws requiring worker safety policies like rest breaks.
Take action now-->https://t.co/OrCaqVDltt pic.twitter.com/CUqQW22bXV
Washington State Labor Council:
A must read from ST @aprilr_sims: “We are sacrificing the future of our movement if we refuse to meaningfully engage in the fight against systemic racism in policing, in our justice system, and in our unions. I choose to engage.” #BlackLivesMatter #1u https://t.co/EbIVH2YbSJ
— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) May 25, 2021West Virginia AFL-CIO:
“The so-called ‘Paycheck Protection’ Act discriminates against organized public employees who seek to ensure safe workplaces and fair treatment by their employers, and was passed by this legislative majority purely out of spite.” #wvpol https://t.co/bZm4rlarL5
— West Virginia AFLCIO (@WestVirginiaAFL) May 21, 2021Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
A camp cook, a store owner, a devoted father: The stories of migrant workers at a Wisconsin canning plant who died of COVID https://t.co/38L6uLx9Kt
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) May 25, 2021 Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/26/2021 - 11:33Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Liza Cruz
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Liza Cruz.
Cruz is a housekeeper and shop steward at the Embassy Suites by Hilton. She worked on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also caring for her children and elderly mother. Cruz is a Union leader in UNITE HERE Local 8. She helped organize her hotel in 2018 and has led her coworkers in fights to reduce workload and demand respect for housekeepers, particularly during the difficult conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/26/2021 - 09:30Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFM Files Charge Against HBO for Firing Musicians Requesting Union Representation
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) on Friday filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge against HBO for federal labor law violations. In its charge, the union said that the company fired musicians after they asked to be represented by AFM. “The producers of the HBO miniseries ‘The Gilded Age’ are violating workers’ rights to select the union of their own choosing, to negotiate with that union, and permit the musicians to work under a fair contract that respects industry standards for professional musicians,” stated AFM International President Ray Hair. “Musicians deserve the same consideration as any other worker in film and TV production, and it is unconscionable that a multibillion-dollar corporation would deny musicians wages, benefits and working conditions that are provided under AFM agreements.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/26/2021 - 08:27Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Susan Minato
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Susan Minato.
Susan Minato is co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, which represents more than 30,000 workers in the hospitality industry in Southern California and Arizona. Minato and a core group of leaders transformed Local 11 into a nationally-recognized labor movement leader in training rank-and-file leadership to win union growth, social justice policy, and electoral politics. The union was instrumental in the transformation of California to a blue state and continues to innovate in the areas of economic justice for working families. Under Minato's leadership, UNITE HERE Local 11 played a critical role in the leading the ground operation in Arizona for the 2020 election successes of President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, as well as the 2020 Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs for Ralph Warnock and Jon Osoff.
Minato is a 4th generation Japanese American. She started her career in worker justice as a labor lawyer for the Utility Workers (UWUA) and later left law to become an organizer. She has worked for UNITE HERE Local 11 since 1993. She is an International Executive Vice President for UNITE HERE, chair of trustees of the Hospitality Training Academy in Los Angeles, and on the executive boards of the Arizona AFL-CIO, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and the UCLA Labor Center.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/25/2021 - 09:30Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Texas AFL-CIO Denounces Gov. Abbott for Ending Unemployment Benefits
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
On May 17, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Texas will cut off $300 per week of federal unemployment insurance benefits on June 26.
The announcement is part of a trend in which at least 20 Republican governors (but no Democrats) have stopped the supplements, which were otherwise set to expire Sept. 6 under the American Rescue Plan.
Gov. Abbott’s decision to cut off the federal benefits before they are scheduled to expire harms workers and businesses in service to partisan ideology, Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy (TSEU/CWA) said.
“We can’t even imagine the thinking behind Gov. Abbott’s callous decision to strip the remaining federal unemployment insurance benefits out of the pockets of Texas working families,” Levy said. “If he took the time or had any interest in understanding the challenges working people face, Gov. Abbott would see clearly that folks across Texas desperately need these funds as they try to navigate their way through the economic carnage of the pandemic.”
“Ending these benefits is the wrong decision made at the wrong time for all the wrong reasons. Texans deserve better.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/25/2021 - 08:30Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Bettering Women's Work Lives: 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.
Local Tradeswoman Works to Better Women's Work Lives: "A global nonprofit has partnered with trade unions in two countries to help women working in construction, and it's having an impact here in Oregon. LeanIn.Org, North America's Building Trade Union, and Canada's Building Together have launched LeanIn Circles for Union Tradeswomen, a peer mentorship and training program that helps women break new ground in an industry historically dominated by men."
The Myth of Labor Shortages: "The idea that the United States suffers from a labor shortage is fast becoming conventional wisdom. But before you accept the idea, it’s worth taking a few minutes to think it through. Once you do, you may realize that the labor shortage is more myth than reality. Let’s start with some basic economics. The U.S. is a capitalist country, and one of the beauties of capitalism is its mechanism for dealing with shortages. In a communist system, people must wait in long lines when there is more demand than supply for an item. That’s an actual shortage. In a capitalist economy, however, there is a ready solution."
Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect: "April 28 marked 50 years since the law creating the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) took effect. Since then, the agency has prevented hundreds of thousands of workplace deaths. But lately progress has slowed. Every year since 1992 the AFL-CIO—the federation most unions belong to—has published a report on workplace fatalities, looking at causes, trends, and the resources dedicated to keeping workers safe. The 2021 edition of the Death on the Job report shows OSHA resources have been declining."
The Senate Cannot Be the Graveyard for Labor Law Reform Again: "For months, the eyes of our nation were transfixed on a small suburb near Birmingham, Alabama. Warehouse workers authorized the largest union election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The name of their employer is on over 5 billion packages sent annually: Amazon. As a U.S. senator and the president of the AFL-CIO, America’s labor federation, respectively, we called on Amazon to refrain from intimidation and interference in this union election. Nevertheless, the company sent grossly misleading text messages, inundated workers with anti-union propaganda and even installed a mailbox on the premises to surveil the casting of ballots. These tactics are, sadly, not new."
'This Is a Huge Step for Law Enforcement.' Police Unions Shift Stance on Protecting Bad Officers: "In response to the police killing George Floyd, 15 unions that represent law enforcement officers across the U.S. have endorsed a blueprint for policing that includes an unprecedented shift in the way unions protect bad police officers, according to a copy of the plan obtained by CNN ahead of its release this week. A committee convened by the AFL-CIO, Teamsters and Service Employees International unions Friday approved the plan that calls on more than 250,000 law enforcement members and more than 100,000 members in police-adjacent professions to intervene when another union member is doing something wrong. Unions still have a responsibility to represent members they believe are wrongfully accused, but the framework challenges local unions to look at the merits of an officer's actions when considering whether to defend them."
Working Women Need the PRO Act: "When D’Angelo learned about the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which recently passed the House and is currently in the Senate, she wondered if it could have helped her at Comcast many years ago. The legislation would make it easier for workers to form unions by making captive audience meetings and other employer intimidation illegal; it also essentially makes “right to work” laws a thing of the past. But it would do more than that, too: It attempts to fix the immense employee misclassification that plagues millions of workers across the country—workers like Jeanne D’Angelo."
U.S. Labor Leader Calls for Human Drivers in Automated Vehicles: "A senior American labor union leader will tell U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday that the government should require human operators in all self-driving passenger services to take over in the event of an emergency. Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department for the AFL-CIO, will tell a U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce subcommittee that autonomous vehicles place 'millions of jobs at risk' and any legislation to speed deployment of self-driving cars should not apply to commercial trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or more, according to his written testimony released by the panel on Monday. 'We do not allow passenger airplanes to operate without pilots or passenger rail to run without engineers, and we should use a similar approach with AVs that operate on our often-congested roadways and in complex transit networks,' Regan says in his testimony."
A Major Nurses’ Union Condemns the CDC’s New Mask Advice for Vaccinated People: "The nation’s largest union of registered nurses condemned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday for lifting mask recommendations for vaccinated people and called on the agency to 'do the right thing' and revise its guidance. Bonnie Castillo, a registered nurse and executive director of the union, National Nurses United, said the most recent guidance, which was issued on Thursday and rolled back mask recommendations and other precautions for those who are fully vaccinated, 'is not based on science.' Ms. Castillo said the new guidance would jeopardize the health of frontline workers and the general public and would disproportionately harm people of color. 'This is a huge blow to our efforts at confronting this virus and the pandemic,' said Ms. Castillo, whose union represents 170,000 nurses nationwide. 'The mask is another lifesaving layer of protection for workers,' she said."
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/24/2021 - 10:58Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Vi Nguyen
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Vi Nguyen.
Nguyen stepped in to take on the role of president of AFSCME Local 1588 when the former president retired. He is actively involved in all aspects of contract negotiations and is trying to achieve a productive and harmonious working environment. Nguyen works for the state of Connecticut's Department of Higher Education.
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Ironworkers Highlight Importance of Bridge Safety
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The I-40 bridge over the Mississippi River used to connect Tennessee and Arkansas, a major artery for traffic between the two states. That is, until a week ago when it was discovered that the bridge had a massive crack in one of its beams. The bridge has since been shut down to avoid a catastrophe.
The Ironworkers, led by General President Eric Dean, are raising the alarm about America’s crumbling infrastructure. “The Ironworkers urge Congress to fix America’s bridges by quickly passing legislation based on President Biden’s American Jobs Plan,” the union said in a statement. “The plan would provide the funding to repair these critical bridges; and the labor, training and Buy America standards needed to ensure it is done right. It would make the traveling public safer and create good union jobs. Congress cannot delay; we may not be lucky enough to catch the next failing bridge in time.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/24/2021 - 08:25Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profiles are Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes.
Silme Domingo was born in Killeen, Texas, in 1952. His father was a Filipino immigrant who had served in the U.S. Army during World War II. The family moved to Seattle in 1960, where Silme attended high school and college.
Meanwhile, Gene Viernes was born in Yakima, Washington, in 1951, also the son of immigrants from the Philippines. His father worked as a fruit picker and in local canneries. Gene grew up working in the fields with his father before going to school. At 14, he lied about his age and joined International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 37 and worked in the cannery. He spent many of his summers working as an "Alaskero," the nickname for Alaskan salmon cannery workers. At the time, Local 37 largely consisted of Alaskeros who lived in the Seattle area and traveled to Alaska for the summer work every year.
Domingo also began working in the Alaska canneries, and before long, Domingo and Viernes were close friends. They formed the Alaska Cannery Workers' Association. In Seattle, Domingo, in particular, was active in protesting the activities of the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, and he helped organize the first protests of the Marcos regime in Seattle, along with the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KDP). Domingo would help establish the KDP chapter in Seattle.
By 1981, Domingo was secretary-treasurer of Local 37, and Viernes was a dispatcher. Along with a slate of reformers, they had taken over all of the offices except for president. The reform slate were opponents of Local 37 President Tony Baruso, who was a Marcos supporter with ties to local Seattle gangs. At the time, the Alaskan cannery industry was rife with racial discrimination, with white workers getting the best jobs as well as company-provided food and housing, while Filipino workers worked long, dangerous hours with meager food and squalid living conditions. The reformers not only ran for election as officers in the local, they engaged in class action lawsuits against the canneries.
On June 1, 1981, Domingo and Viernes were working out of the ILWU offices in Seattle when two gunmen walked into the offices and shot and killed Domingo and Viernes. Terri Mast, Domingo's partner, was left with two young daughters to raise alone. Mast fought back publicly, eventually leading to the murder convictions of Baruso and local gang members. Marcos also was found complicit in the conspiracy and a successful civil suit was brought against the dictator in the case. While we will never know what heights Domingo and Viernes could've achieved in their pursuit of expanded rights for working people and Filipinos, Mast would go on to be elected president of Local 37, cleaning up the corruption in the local. In 1987, Local 37 merged with the Inlandboatmen's Union (IBU). Mast was later elected national secretary-treasurer of IBU.
This post originally ran on the AFL-CIO blog in 2019.
Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 05/22/2021 - 09:52Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Jason Chan
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Jason Chan.
Machinists (IAM) District 751 member Jason Chan is a relentless advocate for workers' rights and justice for all. Chan is passionate in his continual desire to help others. Since joining the IAM in 2008, he worked his way up through the leadership ranks, serving in many positions from local president and business representative to his current position as chief of staff to District President Jon Holden—and he's making a difference every day.
Chan is a leader and advocate, not just for District 751, but in the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), at both the local and national level, as well as in our state and county labor councils.
He spends many weekends building wheelchair ramps for area residents and helping with other community service projects. He also raises funds for Guide Dogs of America and works on organizing drives in an effort to expand rights for more workers. Chan motivates others to get involved and helps them on the path to leadership. He strives to educate and inspire students on the importance of union membership. He is a strong advocate and a true trade unionist whose driving principle is the motto on the IAM flag: "Justice on the Job" and "Service to the Community."
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/21/2021 - 09:30Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Alaska AFL-CIO Condemns Gov. Dunleavy's Reject of Unemployment Insurance
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Alaska AFL-CIO, led by President Joelle Hall (UFCW), condemned Gov. Mike Dunleavy's decision to reject federal funds for unemployment insurance, calling the action "a recipe for disaster." Hall cited experts who reject the governor's claim that the benefits are stopping people from returning to work. "The record is clear," Hall said. "There is no proof that these benefits are contributing to a worker shortage. Instead, lack of jobs that feed a family, limited access to child care and a concern for exposure in the workplace are trapping would-be workers in a cycle of concern for their families and health and the heavy hand of government denying benefits they have paid for and to which they are entitled."
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/21/2021 - 08:30Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Kaori Ogasawara Paris
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Kaori Ogasawara Paris.
Kaori Ogasawara Paris is an Airbus A320 pilot for United Airlines who is an active volunteer for the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). At ALPA, Paris is involved with the Education Committee where she meets with women and girls who have an interest in pursuing a career as a professional airline pilot. Paris is also on the U.S. Department of Transportation's National In-Flight Sexual Misconduct Task Force as a representative from ALPA.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/20/2021 - 08:44Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Women of Steel Raise Funds and Awareness for Victims of Domestic Violence
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Women of Steel committee at United Steelworkers (USW) Local 310L in Des Moines, Iowa, recently raised $1,125 for the Soaring Hearts Foundation, a cause near and dear to their hearts. Unfortunately, the local lost one of their union sisters to domestic violence in 2014, and the foundation’s founder, Tiffany Allison, a domestic abuse survivor, helped her family and the local navigate their grief and trauma. Then in 2017, the local lost yet another sister to domestic violence, and Tiffany was once again at their side. “We have maintained a relationship with Tiffany and try to support her work,” the committee said.
The Women of Steel committee out of Local 8-957 in West Virginia also continued their campaign to keep alive the memory of their union sister Tammy Teagarden and her children, who were killed in a domestic violence incident several years ago. This year the committee filled gift bags for women and children residing at several domestic violence shelters. A special catered dinner was also provided.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/20/2021 - 08:00Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
