Women's History Month Profiles: Anne Feeney
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 Anne Feeney.
Feeney, who died of COVID-19 in February, was a major player in the folk music circuit and the first woman to be president of a musician’s union. In her iconic music career, she performed more than 4,000 shows throughout the United States and Europe and collaborated regularly with artists like Pete Seeger, John Prine, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Her anthem "Have You Been to Jail for Justice" is sung on picket lines and in jail cells worldwide. She regularly performed at union halls, on picket lines and at rallies. She also graduated with a law degree and practiced law for more than a decade, primarily representing refugees and survivors of domestic violence.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/15/2021 - 09:30Tags: Women's History Month
Women's History Month Profiles: Samantha Lippert-Kendall
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 Samantha Lippert-Kendall.
After graduation from college, Lippert-Kendall found success in the building trades. She successfully completed the Registered Apprenticeship Program with the Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU) and works as a mechanic. The member of Local 2 leads by example and has become a valued member of the union.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/15/2021 - 09:29Tags: Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: UNITE HERE Local 11 Celebrates Serving 3 Million Meals to the Community
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 March 3, Hospitality Training Academy and UNITE HERE Local 11 hospitality workers (pictured above), in partnership with local Los Angeles hotels and event venues, celebrated an incredible milestone of 3 MILLION meals served through their "Serving Our Community" program.
The visionary program was launched during the pandemic to help bring meals, which have been a lifeline through the now yearlong pandemic, to approximately 10,000 homebound seniors, people experiencing homelessness and low-income families. By partnering with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and the city and county of Los Angeles, the program also provided more than 1,000 jobs to recently laid-off union and nonunion hospitality workers, including taxi drivers who serve as the delivery drivers.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/15/2021 - 08:36Tags: Community Service, COVID-19
Women's History Month Profiles: Leeann Foster
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 Leeann Foster.
Leeann Foster is the epitome of a Woman of Steel. She is a new international vice president for the United Steelworkers (USW), one of two women leading North America’s largest industrial union. She leads USW’s major bargaining in the paper sector, heads the Women of Steel Leadership Development Program and was integral in the 2005 merger with PACE and USW. Foster co-chairs the IndustriALL Global Union Federation Pulp and Paper Sector Working Group and is a commissioner in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/12/2021 - 09:30Tags: Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Solidarity Center Launches Podcast
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.
This week, the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center launched its new podcast, which is an interview show that highlights and celebrates the individuals working for labor rights, the freedom to form unions and democracy across the globe. The show is hosted by Shawna Bader-Blau, who serves as executive director for the Solidarity Center. The Solidarity Center works in more than 60 countries helping working people overcome the challenges we face: poverty, wages, lack of legal protections, discrimination and abuse.
In the debut episode Bader-Blau is joined by Brenda Modise, a union activist with FEDUSA in South Africa, to mark International Women's Day. Modise talks about how union women around the world successfully pushed the International Labor Organization for adoption of Convention 190 to end gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) at work and about how unions in South Africa are part of a wide feminist network campaigning to end GBVH there.
Learn more at The Solidarity Center Podcast, or find the show on Spotify, Apple, Stitcher or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/11/2021 - 15:34Tags: Podcast
20 Ways the American Rescue Plan Helps Working People
This week, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion bill to help fight the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Biden signed the law, which will provide significant assistance to the American people during this unprecedented crisis. Here are 20 ways the American Rescue Plan will help working people:
1. Funds public health: Provides $48.3 billion for testing, contact tracing and personal protective equipment (PPE); $7.5 billion for vaccine distribution; $5.2 billion for procurement of vaccines and supplies; and provides $10 billion to expand domestic production of PPE, vaccines and medical supplies under the Defense Production Act.
2. Increases workplace safety: Provides $200 million for pandemic-related worker protection activities at the Labor Department, half of which would go 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.
3. Provides relief for state, local and tribal governments: Provides $350 billion in aid to state, local, tribal and territorial governments to help deal with the budgetary impact of the pandemic.
4. Reopens schools safely: Provides $125 billion in state grants to help local educational authorities reopen K-12 public schools safely, address instruction loss and support students as they recover from the effects of the pandemic. Provides $39.6 billion to colleges and universities and their students, at least half of which must be spent on emergency financial aid grants.
5. Makes direct payments: Provides $1,400 in direct payments to individuals making less than $75,000 and married couples making under $150,000, and for dependents claimed on federal tax returns.
6. Extends unemployment benefits: Extends pandemic-related unemployment assistance that was set to expire on March 14, including the current $300 supplement to unemployment benefits, for another six months through Sept. 6. Provides that the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits received by taxpayers making less than $150,000 will not be subject to federal taxation.
7. Provides relief for multiemployer pensions: Provides approximately $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.
8. Fully subsidizes COBRA: Subsidizes 100% of health care premiums of COBRA-eligible individuals who lose their job or had reduced hours, who will not have to pay any premiums, for six months. The employer or health plan can claim a refundable tax credit against their Medicare payroll tax liability for the cost of the premiums.
9. Provides payroll support to the airline and aerospace industries: Provides $15 billion for the wages and benefits of employees of airlines and contractors in the airline industry, on terms similar to airline payroll support in previous legislation: no layoffs or pay cuts through Sept. 30 or whenever the assistance is exhausted, whichever is later, and the continuation of current restrictions on stock buybacks, dividend payments and executive pay. Provides another $3 billion to create a payroll support program for aviation manufacturers.
10. Boosts transportation: Provides $30.4 billion for grants to transit agencies, which can be used for operating expenses, including payroll costs and PPE, and $1.7 billion for Amtrak in fiscal year 2021, including funding to recall furloughed workers and restore the frequency of long-distance routes.
11. Extends the Paycheck Protection Program: Extends eligibility for the PPP forgivable loan program to more tax-exempt groups, including 501(c)(5) labor organizations. Creates a new $28.6 billion grant program for restaurants.
12. Reduces child poverty: Expands the child tax credit through 2021, increasing the maximum credit to $3,600 for each child younger than 6 and $3,000 for other children, and making the credit fully refundable.
13. Expands tax credits for child and dependent care: Expands the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to $4,000 per child or $8,000 for two or more children, and makes the credit fully refundable. Provides $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, and $24 billion for state grants to child care providers.
14. Funds emergency paid leave for federal workers: Provides $570 million to create an Emergency Federal Employee Leave Fund to provide up to 15 weeks of emergency paid leave for civilian employees and postal workers, including those who have COVID-19, who are caring for someone with COVID-19, are looking after children during virtual classes, or are obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine. Provides $13 million for an Emergency TSA Employee Leave Fund and $9 million for an Emergency FAA Employee Leave Fund.
15. Extends sick, family and medical leave tax credits: Extends current tax credits through September 2021 and expands eligibility to include state and local governments.
16. Extends the employee retention tax credit: Extends the current tax credit through Dec. 31, 2021, and increases the percentage of wages covered for severely distressed businesses.
17. Expands the earned income tax credit: Expands the earned income tax credit for taxpayers without children for 2021 by increasing both the credit percentage and phaseout thresholds.
18. Funds veteran retraining: Provides $386 million to create a rapid retraining program for veterans who are unemployed because of the pandemic.
19. Provides housing assistance: Provides $21.6 billion for emergency rental assistance to prevent evictions and $10 billion to help homeowners avoid foreclosure; $5 billion for emergency public housing vouchers; and $5 billion to address homelessness.
20. Extends nutrition assistance: Extends a 15% increase to monthly benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through Sept. 30, 2021.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/11/2021 - 11:56Women's History Month Profiles: Kate Hunt
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 Kate Hunt.
Kate Hunt began her maritime career as an able seaman (AB) working on ferries in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1976. In 1980, she became the first female patrolman for the National Maritime Union, which later merged with the Seafarers (SIU). After the merger in 2001, she began working with SIU crews aboard military sealift command vessels, research vessels and other government-owned ships. In 2018, she was appointed to serve as vice president for SIU’s Government Services Division, a position she still holds.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/11/2021 - 09:30Tags: Women's History Month
Women's History Month Profiles: Dora Cervantes
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 Dora Cervantes.
Dora Cervantes made history with the Machinists (IAM) when she became the first woman to direct the international union’s finances. She is also the first Hispanic woman to serve as a general vice president for IAM. She has been a member of the union for more than 32 years after joining Local 2198 in Houston as a Southwest Airlines reservations agent in 1989. Fluent in English and Spanish, Cervantes helps teach the Spanish Leadership series at the IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Education Center.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/10/2021 - 09:34Tags: Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Rockford United Labor Volunteers Answer Call for Vaccination Effort
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
A new COVID-19 vaccination site in Winnebago County, Illinois, has the capacity to vaccinate 2,500 people per day. But county officials organizing the program realized they needed help in setting up all those appointments. That’s when Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli put out a call for volunteers to Rockford United Labor President Sara Dorner (AFSCME), and she went to work finding groups to help out. “I reached out to the [American Association of University Women], League of Women Voters, NAACP and a lot of our partners in the community that we’ve worked with on other issues,” Dorner said. Those groups, along with The Salvation Army, Women’s March Rockford and Rockford Today Network, wasted little time signing up. “I’m watching the spots get filled up as I sit with my computer open,” Dorner said. Together, they logged 160 volunteer efforts, inoculating thousands of residents.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/10/2021 - 08:34Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Asking for Basic Protection: 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.
Alabama AFL-CIO:
Solidarity with #BAmazonUnion comes in from all across the country! #1U https://t.co/syXLd4ywwa
— Alabama AFL-CIO (@AlabamaAFLCIO) February 23, 2021Alaska AFL-CIO:
Workers should never have to choose between their safety and feeding their families.
We will continue to fight for safe work places and give working people a collective voice to address workplace injustices without the fear of retaliation. #akleg https://t.co/mtoPnEJkbL
California Labor Federation:
There is no one more qualified to join the @USDOL leadership team than @JulieSuCA. She's spent a lifetime in the trenches fighting for low-wage workers, immigrants and people of color. Her historic nomination must be approved https://t.co/9z151Y8CrX
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) March 8, 2021Colorado AFL-CIO:
Senator Bennet, thank you for supporting the Sanders amendment on a $15 dollar minimum wage. @SenatorBennet #FightFor15 #MinimumWage #RaiseTheWage pic.twitter.com/Q1XhDNYUZa
— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) March 5, 2021Connecticut AFL-CIO:
A woman's place is in her union! And a union contract is one of the best ways to promote pay equity. Women in unions earn 23% more than those without the protection of a union. #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/6IibSOBD9U
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) March 8, 2021Florida AFL-CIO:
This morning, House Bill 947 and House Bill 835 passed the Florida House Government Operations Subcommittee on party-line votes. Stand up for frontline workers: tell your representative to vote NO on HB 947 and HB 835. https://t.co/xNdKy7CcwG pic.twitter.com/7MRhLi94RI
— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) March 8, 2021Georgia State AFL-CIO:
Tonight, the US House is expected to vote on the PRO Act—a generational opportunity to transform our woefully outdated labor laws.
Thank you to @DPGChair, @RepHankJohnson, @repdavidscott, and @SanfordBishop for your continued support for this bill & Georgia's unions! pic.twitter.com/dqlVfwWu5l
Indiana State AFL-CIO:
We can always count on Tom Morello to bring us musical inspiration ✊? https://t.co/CvbCqB3Pbl
— Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) March 7, 2021Iowa Federation of Labor:
It was a busy funnel week up at the Capitol! Be sure to check out @HirdPete's summary, including the major bills we're tracking that are moving forward in the legislative process. pic.twitter.com/pGxTIysYG3
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) March 8, 2021Kansas State AFL-CIO:
Bad JANUS bill from KS Legislature set to have a hearing in RTW Kansas.https://t.co/kHR5WG45Jo
— Kansas AFL-CIO (@KansasAFLCIO) February 20, 2021Maine AFL-CIO:
Rest in Power, Professor Scontras. Your lifelong work to tell the history of our collective struggles has been a tremendous gift to all Maine workers.
It’s now up to us to build on your legacy & help future generations to understand & value this history. https://t.co/5ROizE8vnX
Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO:
Our tax code needs to work for workers. https://t.co/C87JGDhNbR
— Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO (@MDDCStateFed) March 4, 2021Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
“At my old job there was a union, and they would protect me.” -Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex #1u #Solidarity #UnionStrong
— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) March 8, 2021Michigan AFL-CIO:
"Loosening or eliminating restrictions right now would be the worst possible move": this morning in @BridgeMichigan, President @RonBieberMI provides some necessary context and pushback on the CEO campaign to force workers back into offices: https://t.co/TlwzPBBXcf
— Michigan AFL-CIO ? (@MIAFLCIO) March 9, 2021Minnesota AFL-CIO:
As Chauvin trial begins, Labor calls for justice & protecting free speech https://t.co/fHAy12PTWW #1u pic.twitter.com/uasApi3PkF
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) March 9, 2021Missouri AFL-CIO:
A proposed constitutional amendment to make Missouri a “Right-to-Work” state is being challenged by a lawsuit filed today in Cole County Circuit Court. https://t.co/cP3DbFqCnc
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) March 5, 2021Montana AFL-CIO:
Our statement regarding defeating "right-to-work" today! #mtleg #mtpol pic.twitter.com/6iSCB2h2pw
— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) March 2, 2021Nebraska State AFL-CIO:
Meatpacking worker advocates ask senators for more virus protections. "We are just asking for basic protection and enforcement, if Companies are following these practices, there should be no opposition." NE State AFL-CIO Pres. https://t.co/rfcZQ2oV93 via @JournalStarNews
— NE State AFL-CIO (@NEAFLCIO) March 2, 2021New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
Montana got it done and said NO to "right to work." ?
New Hampshire, it's our turn.
All "right work" does is suppress wages, lower workplace safety standards and reduce the quality of public services.
It's time to call your rep and let them know: SB-61 is WRONG for NH. https://t.co/TKctEmVqvR
New Jersey State AFL-CIO:
— New Jersey AFL-CIO (@NJAFLCIO) March 1, 2021New York State AFL-CIO:
Prioritizing Worker Related COVID-19 Issues Remains our Focus https://t.co/g2H6MiITsy
— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) March 8, 2021North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
Frontline essential workers are now eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and our vice president, Andre Barnett (@UFCWLocal1208) got his today. Be like Andre: Find your spot. Take your shot!
Learn more at https://t.co/5jDRDyxvXL. #1u @UFCW @ncdhhs pic.twitter.com/6maVa2YctY
North Dakota AFL-CIO:
"Right to Work" is a misleading term used by corporate special interests to push an agenda that undermines workers freedom to join together for a meaningful voice in their workplace. @SenKevinCramer is wrong to sponsor a national "Right to Work" bill. pic.twitter.com/Qc5ePE6IIM
— North Dakota AFL-CIO (@NDAFLCIO) March 3, 2021Ohio AFL-CIO:
On behalf of so many #Union retirees, we say #ThankYou to the fierce fighter for the #MiddleClass, @SenSherrodBrown https://t.co/Y3O7J67MTH
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) March 8, 2021Oklahoma State AFL-CIO:
Happy International Women's Day!
We are dedicating this year to Fannie Webster!
Fannie was inducted into the OK AFL-CIO's Labor Hall of Fame, Nov. 20, 1991.
She was known as "The Number One Volunteer" and donated countless hours of service to the OK Labor Movement & OPEIU 330. pic.twitter.com/D8SCh4MB0M
Oregon AFL-CIO:
Thank you to everyone who showed up in Oregon City and Salem today to hold Congressman Kurt Schrader accountable and #PassThePROAct #ORpol #1u @ United States Government Schrader Kurt https://t.co/WeRTZDGPHo
— Oregon AFL-CIO / PASS THE PRO ACT (@OregonAFLCIO) March 8, 2021Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
"The PRO Act isn't political or controversial. Our freedom to organize for a better shot at the American dream is a universal rallying cry that I am proud to support."
Thank you to @RepBrianFitz and to all of the PA Representatives who are co-sponsoring the #PROAct. pic.twitter.com/qSt7cC4A0E
Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
Overall, states that have increased minimum wages remain far more robust than the rest of the country https://t.co/3GoWPjtUzA via @bopinion #1u #FightFor15 #MinimumWage
— Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) March 2, 2021Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council:
Our statement on today's Senate passage of SJR 0002. Now, we turn our fight to the House, which will begin hearing this harmful resolution on Wednesday. #StopSJR0002 #TNLeg #1u pic.twitter.com/x2mViyXNet
— Tennessee AFL-CIO (@tnaflcio) March 8, 2021Texas AFL-CIO:
PRESS RELEASE: On #InternationalWomensDay TX AFL-CIO Elevates Women — On Our Building. In a vibrant display of public art, our HQ is featuring 13-foot-tall artistic renderings of two union women who have worked heroically through the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://t.co/lWB8qEhvbx pic.twitter.com/MwSalcbMQT
Virginia AFL-CIO:
Attorney General @MarkHerringVA creates Virginia’s first worker protection unit — read all about it: https://t.co/qkyFrrDPAF
— Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) March 4, 2021Washington State Labor Council:
An important step toward making our state's broken upside-down tax system more fair. Thank you to all the Washington State Senators who voted "yes." #1u #waleg https://t.co/WYv6zJn0LX
— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) March 7, 2021West Virginia AFL-CIO:
It's OK for stores, restaurants and bars, but not the people's Legislature??? https://t.co/TRjTHIfgfz
— West Virginia AFLCIO (@WestVirginiaAFL) March 6, 2021Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) March 8, 2021 Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/09/2021 - 10:17Women's History Month Profiles: Ethel Everett
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 Ethel Everett.
Ethel Everett has been an active leader with SEIU Local 509 for 30 years, serving as a union activist, steward and regional vice president for the local’s Department of Children and Families Chapter. She is vice president of the Massachusetts chapter of AFRAM, SEIU’s African American Caucus, and sits on the AFRAM Eastern Region Board. She also serves as a board member for the Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation (WMALF) and co-chairs the WMALF Racial Justice Committee. She’s a committed union leader who always engages her members and is a strong advocate for social and economic justice in her union and community.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/09/2021 - 09:30Tags: Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: New Jersey State AFL-CIO: Operation Feed Atlantic City Continues to Give Back to Those 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.
New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech reports that union solidarity brought sunshine and much-appreciated meal kits to laid-off workers in Atlantic City through Operation Feed Atlantic City on Feb. 25.
The food distribution, sponsored by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions, the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Agency and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, was one in the labor movement’s continuing series of support programs for the Shore community that has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Volunteers from UNITE HERE, Operating Engineers (IUOE), Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), NYSNA Shore Nurses and other affiliates dedicated their day to smoothly checking in the 2,000-plus recipients, directing traffic safely and loading the groceries and other goods into waiting trunks and hatchbacks.
“It’s been more than 11 months since the casinos and other entertainment venues were first shut down,” Wowkanech said. “Ever since then, we’ve been here to stand with our brothers and sisters and the whole Atlantic City community to help them keep food on their tables while we work to bring the city back to life.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/08/2021 - 15:45Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
‘Everyone in the Community Is Cheering Us On’: 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.
‘Everyone in the Community Is Cheering Us On’: "As lead organizer in the potentially historic effort to unionize 5,800 Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, Josh Brewer heads a small army of organizers for the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. Brewer recognizes that it’s a high-stakes campaign—it’s the first time a union has sought to unionize all the workers at an Amazon warehouse in the United States. Bessemer, a suburb of Birmingham, was once a thriving union community, with steel mills, coal mines, and a Pullman railcar factory. Brewer, 33, is an ordained minister who gravitated from the pulpit to union organizing because he saw it as a more effective way to lift struggling Americans. The National Labor Relations Board mailed out the unionization ballots on February 8; they are due on March 29, and only then will the ballots be counted. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.”
Right-to-Work Fails Muster: "Al Ekblad, executive secretary of the Montana AFL-CIO, said that in his three decades in and around the labor movement, it was the first time a major piece of right-to-work legislation had hit the House floor. 'It was a defining moment for the people that came to participate as citizen lobbyists,' Ekblad said. 'It’s going up for a vote, so there’s certainly a sense of apprehension until the vote takes place. Nobody’s foolish enough in this world to anticipate that the victory is guaranteed.'”
Nurses Condemn Gov. Abbott’s COVID-19 Decision Lifting Safety Measures Now as 'A Death Sentence': "National Nurses United today condemned the decision of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to remove public safety measures needed to reduce infections, hospitalizations, and deaths amidst a still-virulent pandemic, a decision nurses warn will cost the lives of Texas residents. 'We are appalled that Gov. Abbott could take such an ill-advised step at a time when people are still dying, and the virus continues to spread throughout Texas, including in communities where our members live and work,' said NNU President Jean Ross, RN. 'For the highest public official in the state to tell people to ignore all precautions will only result in avoidable increased pain, suffering, and deaths. It is a shockingly irresponsible decision.' NNU concurs with the statement by Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy, said Ross, that Gov. Abbott’s decision to lift a statewide mask mandate 'would put lives of working people in jeopardy and directly lead to more deaths from #COVID19.'”
Amazon Workers Bombarded with 'Anti-Union Propaganda' Amid Historic Drive: Union President: "Despite the national spotlight, workers at the warehouse continue to endure grueling and unsafe working conditions as well as aggressive anti-union propaganda, said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which has organized the union drive. 'It's horrible for workers there,' he says. 'Workers are being bombarded with anti-union messages.' 'If you're sitting on a toilet in an Amazon bathroom, they have placed at eye level anti-union propaganda,' he adds.”
Amazon Workers’ Union Drive Reaches Far Beyond Alabama: "Players from the National Football League were among the first to voice their support. Then came Stacey Abrams, the Democratic star who helped turn Georgia blue in the 2020 election. The actor Danny Glover traveled to Bessemer, Ala., for a news conference last week, where he invoked the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s pro-union leanings in urging workers at Amazon’s warehouse there to organize. Tina Fey has weighed in, and so has Senator Bernie Sanders. Then on Sunday, President Biden issued a resounding declaration of solidarity with the workers now voting on whether to form a union at Amazon’s Bessemer warehouse, without mentioning the company by name. Posted to his official Twitter account, his video was one of the most forceful statements in support of unionizing by an American president in recent memory. 'Every worker should have a free and fair choice to join a union,' Biden said.”
After Stimulus, Biden to Tackle Another Politically Tricky Issue: Infrastructure: "Richard L. Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO, who joined other labor leaders in a meeting in February to discuss infrastructure withBiden, said the president was uniquely positioned to understand the importance of the issue from the perspective of working Americans. 'He was born a blue-collar baby and he’s going to get buried a blue-collar baby,' Mr. Trumka said. A big, bold infrastructure bill, he said, was 'a racial justice bill, a Covid safety bill and the most important climate bill of all time, all in one.'”
Biden Expressed Solidarity with Alabama Workers Attempting to Unionize an Amazon Warehouse: "President Biden expressed solidarity with workers attempting to unionize an Amazon facility in Alabama in a video released Sunday that emphasized his broad support of the labor movement—without explicitly backing their cause or naming the company itself. Around 6,000 workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, a former steel town outside of Birmingham, are voting over the next week on whether they want to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/08/2021 - 15:17Women's History Month Profiles: Royetta Sanford
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 Royetta Sanford.
Royetta Sanford oversaw the first international women’s conference for the Electrical Workers (IBEW) in 1997. Since then, she convened a committee on women’s issues and launched a department within the IBEW International Office that focuses on women’s and civil rights. She then served as the first director of that department. Sanford recently retired from her position as director of human services for the IBEW.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/08/2021 - 09:38Tags: Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Labor Movement Fighting Anti-Asian Racism in All Forms
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.
Anti-Asian racism has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working people condemn this vile behavior as a stain on our nation. We will continue to fight these injustices.
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance National President Monica Thammarath (NEA) stated, “It is not right that Asian Americans are afraid to be alone in public, especially our elders who live in poverty and depend on access to community services, and our young people who live in places where there are few community spaces to turn to. We grieve for the elders who have been assaulted in Chinatowns across the nation. We grieve for Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old Thai man who was attacked on one of his daily walks in San Francisco. We send our love to Noel Quintana, a 61-year-old Filipino American who was attacked on a Manhattan subway car, and to the 52-year-old Chinese American woman who was attacked outside of a Flushing bakery. We grieve for Christian Hall, a Chinese American teenager who was murdered by the Pennsylvania State Police. We grieve for Angelo Quinto, a 30-year-old Filipino American who was murdered by Antioch, California, police. Our communities are hurting, and we are more agitated than ever to create change.”
“The entire labor movement is appalled by the continued rise in anti-Asian racism across the country. Acts of physical violence, yelling of racial slurs and intimidation tactics used against our Asian American friends, family and communities must be called out and stopped,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA). “Anti-Asian rhetoric is only hurting our nation more during this pandemic, and we all must stand up and condemn in the strongest terms possible that racism in any form is unacceptable.”
“Racism in any form is wrong. Plain and simple. I have been so incensed to see the attacks on our Asian brothers and sisters that I could just scream,” said Clayola Brown (Workers United), AFL-CIO civil rights director and A. Philip Randolph Institute president. “For those of us of color who have endured systemic racism for 400 years, it is scary to see this unrelenting targeting and denigration happening to another group. The kind of ugliness we’ve seen happening to members of the Asian community as they simply go to the store or gather in a park to visit is disgusting and must be stopped. To watch elderly people come under attack and no one come to their aid shows we still have so much more work to do. Humanity must prevail. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘The time is always right to do what is right.’ We must all take responsibility to make sure that no one is targeted, tormented or harassed because of their ethnicity. Until we learn that lesson, we all pay the price for racism.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/08/2021 - 08:38Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Economy Gains 379,000 Jobs in February; Unemployment Down to 6.2%
The U.S. economy gained 379,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate fell to 6.2%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In response to the February job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
Most of February's job gain (moving right on the chart) came from leisure & hospitality, higher wage industries (moving up on the chart) posted milder job gains (professional services including temps, education and health, retail trade), or modest job losses. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/QUfY0MvLlo
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 5, 2021State and local government employment declined in February. As in the Great Recession, state and local government employment is a big drag on a healthy recovery. It is vital the Senate pass @POTUS American Recovery Act now and get state and local governments the assurance to hire pic.twitter.com/2G7xCGLISh
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 5, 2021The share and the number of long term unemployed continue to climb. This makes clearing the labor market difficult and slow. Extended unemployment benefits will be necessary to keep these workers engaged even as the labor market improves. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/yvfwXfjWjv
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 5, 2021The long-term unemployed ARE heterogenous, they are NOT just production and service workers. The longest unemployment spells are for managers and professionals and they are almost 1/4 the long-term unemployed. This is why solutions aren't easy. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/LnF6ng6lwC
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 5, 2021From the flow data for February (from January), women were less likely to enter the labor force from not being in the labor force, but more likely to exit unemployment to find jobs. The unemployed were more likely to find jobs than to quit looking. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/8SPVStIMMd
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 5, 2021The Black unemployment rose in February for all the wrong reasons, the share employed fell. Black women (over 20) rose from 8.5 to 8.9%. The unemployment rate for Black men (over 20) 10.2% is higher than the high school dropout unemployment rate of 10.1% @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/3UBIpQY35y
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 5, 2021245,000 of this months payroll gains (out of 379,000) went to women, but his doesn't show in the household survey (they are not similar surveys and do not necessarily cross-walk) for Black women, who reported a drop in employment. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/diEYCp4NaJ
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) March 5, 2021Last month’s biggest job gains were in leisure and hospitality (+355,000), health care and social assistance (+46,000), retail trade (+41,000) and manufacturing (+21,000). The biggest losses were in construction (-61,000), local government education (-37,000), state government education (-32,000) and mining (-8,000). Employment changed little in other major industries, including wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities and other services.
In February, the unemployment rate increased for Black Americans (9.9%). The unemployment rates for teenagers (13.9%) and Asians (5.1%) declined. The rates for Hispanics (8.5%), adult men (6.0%), adult women (5.9%) and White Americans (5.6%) showed little or no change.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) barely changed in February and accounted for 41.5% of the total unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/05/2021 - 12:55Women's History Month Profiles: Nicole Jeup
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 Nicole Jeup.
Nicole Jeup is an integral part of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters’ (UA’s) Education and Training Department, specifically with the Veterans in Piping Program, which helps members of the military learn a trade and successfully transition into the workforce. Jeup is a true labor leader, uplifting everyone she works with and helping members of the military change their lives after completing their military service.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/05/2021 - 09:34Tags: Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: New Mexico Federation of Labor Paid Sick Leave Bill Advances to Senate Floor
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 New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO celebrated the state House’s passage of H.B. 20, the Healthy Workplaces Act (paid sick leave), by a 36-33 vote. If this bill passes the Senate, it would make New Mexico the 11th state to have some form of statewide paid sick leave.
In preparation for the vote, the federation released a poll showing that 76% of New Mexicans support a legislative proposal requiring all employers in the state to provide their employees with up to eight days of earned sick days per year to care for themselves, their children or their parents.
Vince Alvarado (SMART), president of the New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, said, “The Legislature has debated potential earned sick leave policies for years. With the governor’s leadership, it is now time to pass this policy so parents no longer have to choose between losing a day’s worth of wages or sending sick kids to school.”
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/05/2021 - 08:30Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Women's History Month Profiles: Valerie King
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 Valerie King.
Valerie King is an organizer with the Utility Workers (UWUA) and chairs the union’s Women’s Caucus. She has elevated women’s voices within the union and helped grow their visibility as members across the organization in a few short years. She did this through expanding the size of the Women’s Caucus and through organizing several successful initiatives, including the Rosie the Riveter 5K run/walk.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/04/2021 - 09:30Tags: Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Nebraska State AFL-CIO Pushes for Legislation to Increase COVID-19 Safety Measures
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Nebraska State AFL-CIO, led by President/Secretary-Treasurer Susan Martin (AFSCME), is standing up for working people in the face of the pandemic. The state federation is throwing its support behind the efforts of State Sen. Tony Vargas to increase protections for the state’s meatpacking workers. More than 7,000 workers in processing plants across the state have contracted the virus, leading to 225 hospitalizations and 27 deaths. The majority of meatpacking workers in Nebraska are Latino and immigrants. Many are refugees. Vargas’ proposal was blocked during the closing days of the 2020 legislative session, but that hasn’t stopped working people from pushing for its passage again this year. There are more than 20,000 meatpacking workers in the state, Martin said. “We’re just asking for basic protection and enforcement. If companies are following these practices, there should be no opposition.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/04/2021 - 08:30Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
