National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Melissa Reyes
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Melissa Reyes.
Melissa Reyes has been a member of IBEW Local 379 for six years. She serves as an officer of the local, a trustee for the Southern Piedmont Central Labor Council and is the district rep for RENEW, an IBEW young worker initiative. Reyes is a passionate advocate for labor and works to inspire others to do the same.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/08/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFL-CIO HIT Investments Build Human Infrastructure
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 debate over human infrastructure—the societal and economic fundamentals that allow working people to prosper—is heating up. While many would prefer to focus solely on physical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, workers know that basic needs like child care are just as important so people can work. Building affordable housing and creating good construction jobs are perfect examples of why Congress must invest in human infrastructure, said AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT) CEO Chang Suh. “At its most basic level, the infrastructure debate is about the level of importance we as a nation place on how we drive forward—both literally and in the broader sense,” Suh wrote in a column published in HousingWire.
He emphasized the benefits of using union labor to build affordable housing, drawing on the example of HIT’s Old Colony project in Boston. For years, HIT has been working to restore and reimagine the public housing project. Suh said: “The reinvention of Old Colony is the product of union [members] earning wages and benefits on which they can support a family. In partnership with the Boston Housing Authority, local labor organizations have sponsored job training and apprenticeship preparation for young people and displaced workers seeking new career opportunities. It is a success story in human infrastructure, which has reaped benefits for workers, residents and citizens throughout the city’s economy.” Click here to read more.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/08/2021 - 09:32Your Story Matters: 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.
A. Philip Randolph Institute:
Good morning APRI family! Today is World Day for Decent Work and the purpose is to highlight the impact of Covid on garment workers and the global campaign to achieve social protection for this workforce.https://t.co/LAN7bfkRFA
— APRI National (DC) (@APRI_National) October 7, 2021Actors' Equity:
Equity Assistant Eastern Regional Director Russell Lehrer told News 6, "The reopening of shows really indicates the long-term commitment that Walt Disney World has to the Orlando community and to our members."https://t.co/iyOK0xiflt
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) October 7, 2021AFGE:
Congratulations are in order!
Twenty-one AFGE members and their families are finalists of the 2021 @FedsHelpingFeds merit-based scholarship competition. #1u https://t.co/v7rCpvlxCE
AFSCME:
Today’s actions by @POTUS Joe Biden and @SecCardona will ensure that the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program finally delivers on its promise to alleviate crushing student loan debt for more than half a million public service workers. #PSLF https://t.co/Vqh6k70bIy
— AFSCME ✊ Pass the #PROAct (@AFSCME) October 6, 2021Alliance for Retired Americans:
We must save USPS for the millions of Americans, particularly seniors, who rely on the post office for delivery of critical goods and services.
It's not optional. #FireDeJoy #PostalBanking https://t.co/1xOeYxonV7
Amalgamated Transit Union:
Accessible, safe, and affordable #publictransit is critical for rural communities where many don’t have cars. https://t.co/gGOrc6SPVR #1u #Transit
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) October 7, 2021American Federation of Teachers:
Poverty can threaten children’s physical and emotional foundation. An expanded #ChildTaxCredit cuts child poverty in half. Tell Congress to make the investment & pass the #BuildBackBetterAct. #ThinkBabiesandAct pic.twitter.com/QysnvmYVUw
— AFT (@AFTunion) October 7, 2021American Postal Workers Union:
1 in 5 households is underbanked. #Postalbanking could fix that & generate much needed revenue for the @USPS https://t.co/OeLjdZ80yS
— APWU National (@APWUnational) October 4, 2021Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
Today's the day we make sure at least THREE other people in our lives are #VoteReady.
Ask them (1) are they registered to vote and (2) do they have a vote plan.
Check out everything you need here: https://t.co/n7vVjGlRzN pic.twitter.com/VS3FpMsFaf
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
The month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When breast cancer is detected early with adequate diagnosis and treatment, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured.
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) October 1, 2021Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
Kellogg Locals are still working on establishing their strike funds. At the moment we have 2 of the four linked here: https://t.co/IqPUwHAtS5
Will update as others go up!#KelloggStrike #1u pic.twitter.com/ScgkMEoFBm
Boilermakers:
This is worth some ? credit!
L-13 (Philadelphia) #Boilermaker Charlie Long won 2nd place in Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Division of Fish and Wildlife’s 2020/2021 Hunting Photo Contest! https://t.co/Vdc1URSORm#BoilermakersUnion pic.twitter.com/F5AjOGVqhi
Bricklayers:
Best hands in the business! #skilledtrades #1u https://t.co/rAJM26WoQz
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) October 6, 2021Coalition of Labor Union Women:
It’s #InternationalSafeAbortionDay and past time to remove policies like the #HelmsAmendment that restrict access to abortion. No matter where they live, people need access to #reprohealth services, including abortion because #AbortionIsEssential. #28Sept #RepealHelms pic.twitter.com/verIGCFis2
— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) September 28, 2021Communications Workers of America:
Today, @CWAUnion, @SEIU, & @UNITEHERE airport workers will speak with Members of Congress to share the impact low wages and inadequate benefits have on their lives, passengers, and the overall safety and effectiveness of the nation’s aviation system. https://t.co/TqElfeYqiW
— CWA (@CWAUnion) October 7, 2021Department for Professional Employees:
"Borrowers who devote a decade of their lives to public service should be able to rely on the promise of Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The system has not delivered on that promise to date, but that is about to change for many borrowers." #PSLF https://t.co/tZ5vENQdiE
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) October 7, 2021Electrical Workers:
— IBEW (@IBEW) October 7, 2021Fire Fighters:
Enter the IAFF Best Pink T-Shirt Design Contest #IAFFinPinkhttps://t.co/KrC7G8hcWK pic.twitter.com/jbDR3QPAc0
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) October 7, 2021Heat and Frost Insulators:
Mechanical insulators provide installation and maintenance services for a wide range of projects from nuclear power plants to car manufacturing facilities. Find out more about the trade and the possible career opportunities here: https://t.co/DxgG8H911q
— Insulators Union ? (@InsulatorsUnion) October 6, 2021International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
"This month is [when] I pause to acknowledge the contributions of those who have fought for #livingwages, #workersrights, and #equity in my lifetime. These traditions are aligned with the labor movement...to this day."#HispanicHeritageMonth #UnionPride pic.twitter.com/ieZ7POOo33
— IFPTE Local 21 (@IFPTE21) October 4, 2021Ironworkers:
Iron Workers Local 29 Training Center in Portland held a hands-on event to celebrate SteelDay in partnership with the AISC. Engineers and other professionals tried their hands at being an ironworker for a day! https://t.co/1dzdVrUEdn
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) October 5, 2021Jobs With Justice:
3...2...1...and here we go ?
The 17th annual Jobs With Justice Awards Celebration is underway ???
Follow along on this thread as we honor those who brought #EssentialWorkers into the spotlight ?#AC2021 pic.twitter.com/bVJxrzFLkj
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
Our country’s caregiving crisis has been exacerbated by Covid-19 and much of that responsibility has fallen on women. President Biden's proposed public investments in care could get women back to work and fuel economic recovery. Read about it belowhttps://t.co/Bm5LahSMZr
— Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (@LCLAA) October 5, 2021Laborers:
Our nations infrastructure cannot wait! #LIUNA members have been waiting for an #infrastructurebill like the #BIFDeal for over a DECADE. Get it done! #LIUNABuilds #BIFDeal #USProgressives pic.twitter.com/7C3VYmuaQZ
— LIUNA (@LIUNA) October 7, 2021Machinists:
✊ Let's send some solidarity to @DistrictLodge54 members in West Virginia! #1u ✊https://t.co/SMAWrK5Zuh
— Machinists Union | Pass the #PROAct (@MachinistsUnion) October 1, 2021Metal Trades Department:
Did you know that of the US workforce that Latin and Hispanic female workers are the fastest growing labor force population. Latin and Hispanic women make up 16% of the female population in the workforce. 62.8% are mothers working full-time as well.#HispanicHeritageMonth
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) October 5, 2021Mine Workers:
Thank you @RepAndyLevin for your support! These miners and their families are facing some of the worst tactics since the days of company towns and company stores. #warriormetswrong #onedaylonger https://t.co/zLMcl4Ck74
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) October 1, 2021Musical Artists:
The AGMA Opera and Concert Choristers Caucus (OCCC) invites ALL AGMA singers to a discussion on maintaining vocal health with TWO industry professionals. Monday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Register here: https://t.co/S9I0e6eLCp pic.twitter.com/q0mrIOU3d2
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) October 6, 2021National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
The dates for the 18th Biennial Convention in Houston are now set: It is scheduled to begin on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. CST and then conclude the next day, Friday, Dec. 10, no later than 2 p.m. CST. Here are answers to other questions you might have: https://t.co/jlWPt09Zpu
— NATCA (@NATCA) October 6, 2021National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-CWA:
ABC Master Agreement Negotiations - Bulletin #7#nabet #union #negotiations pic.twitter.com/vMFvJTa4Mw
— NABET-CWA (@NABETCWA) October 2, 2021National Association of Letter Carriers:
Letter carriers who are disabled military veterans are guaranteed certain rights associated with medical appointments for service-related conditions. Learn more.
? Read: https://t.co/TBluhPvH9A
? Listen: https://t.co/MTv43u8ImO pic.twitter.com/pTXegTEgPD
National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
For the past 3 consecutive months, workers from across CA have launched a 12 mile Caminata Por Respeto y Papeles – a 12 mile march demanding respect for the 12 million immigrant workers denied equal rights. #CaminataPorRespeto #WorkerMigrantJusticehttps://t.co/ZbEf7Euu3u
— NDLON (@NDLON) October 5, 2021National Domestic Workers Alliance:
Jamie left her job because she had to take care of her daughter with disabilities. The story she told @VP is shared by millions of women across the country. Congress needs to do the right thing and fully fund care infrastructure. https://t.co/IYo0sea8dN
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) October 7, 2021National Nurses United:
"Time and again, people have let their guard down only to see the virus take hold again."
Nurses know: We can emerge from this pandemic if take a multiple-measures approach to infection control. #GetVaccinated #WearAMaskhttps://t.co/llx4GMd11t
National Taxi Workers Alliance:
Day 19.@NYCCouncil is here for stated meeting and so are we ? ? ? pic.twitter.com/o4UzMQ10K6
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) October 7, 2021NWSL Players Association:
This is not business as usual. #NoMoreSilence pic.twitter.com/9GKkZW09g3
— NWSLPA (@nwsl_players) October 6, 2021NFL Players Association:
Kicking off our Week 4 #CommunityMVP runner-ups is @Iamxavienhoward, who made sure Miami youth stayed fresh and cool by donating backpacks filled with school supplies and treating them to Italian ice at his IcyyExpress shop.
?: @FinsOffTheField pic.twitter.com/5FWJJyCRVt
North America's Building Trades Unions:
“The fact is that union #BuildingTrades jobs are for ANYONE.”
Take a few minutes and watch our newest tradeswomen recruitment video!
?: https://t.co/3NOORvDtbs pic.twitter.com/LOf9PRvSBq
Office and Professional Employees:
Museum employees are sick and tired of being exploited. Solidarity with @BMAUnion in their fight for job security and fair pay! #1uhttps://t.co/qAnoHLdnoi
— OPEIU ║ #PassThePROAct ✊ (@OPEIU) October 6, 2021Painters and Allied Trades:
"I'm a drywall finisher by trade that started out non-union fresh out of high school, then I got into our union's apprenticeship program. Our union changed my life. I was able to buy a home and provide for myself and my family. That's what our union did for me." pic.twitter.com/jn6AWr7pXD
— IUPAT | Pass the PRO Act! (@GoIUPAT) October 7, 2021Plasterers and Cement Masons:
The Cement Masons Joint Apprenticeship Training Program is a proud participant in the St. Louis Building Union Diversity (BUD) pre-apprenticeship program, which graduates 91% of students and places 82% in construction trade employment. A great success!https://t.co/fGEROrJhsD
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) October 2, 2021Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
Throughout the pandemic, essential workers have faced unprecedented hazards on the job. It’s never been clearer that we must prioritize health & safety for all workers! #HealthSafety4All #WDDW2021 pic.twitter.com/jhOAGuRybT
— RWDSU (@RWDSU) October 7, 2021Roofers and Waterproofers:
Falls are preventable! https://t.co/yxaaxjPo0t has a number of resources to help you prevent falls, including videos and webinars on a variety of fall-related topics. To view the collection, visit: https://t.co/T2ZVKmKfAD #roofersafety365
— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) October 6, 2021SAG-AFTRA:
We are here to support SAG-AFTRA members navigating an experience of sexual harassment in the entertainment and media industry. Your story matters. You are not alone.
Go to https://t.co/0i4cJQwSbd to learn more. pic.twitter.com/b7AMZK2uAu
Seafarers:
SIU's Heindel Among 2021 AOTOS Honorees - Seafarers International Union https://t.co/S19EBp9N6l #aotos #maritime #1u
— Seafarers Union (@SeafarersUnion) September 30, 2021Solidarity Center:
"The #COVID19 pandemic has upended all our lives, and threatened the health and wellbeing of nearly everyone on the planet...it has changed how we all live in our lives and vitally, put workers’ rights firmly on the agenda"—Mary Robinson, former pres of Ireland @BHRRC event pic.twitter.com/jP6w7OMOux
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) October 7, 2021The NewsGuild-CWA:
"Journalism is a pillar of democracy. If journalists feel threatened doing their jobs, important stories may go untold, and democracy is undermined." https://t.co/poN17g9bx8
— NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) October 6, 2021Theatrical Stage Employees:
With members working across the country if you are on a job with work place abuse, please contact the @IATSE safety hotline.
(844) 422-9273 https://t.co/XH5oVHVr4K
Transport Workers Union:
We need the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act now! The future of Amtrak and passenger rail depends on it. https://t.co/mxx6cFi81o
— TWU (@transportworker) October 7, 2021UAW:
#BBBA, #UNIONMADE #DemsDeliverJobshttps://t.co/3Wshk78BTe
— UAW (@UAW) October 5, 2021Union Veterans Council:
Did you know-Union vets earn over $12k more annually then union non union vets?
“So our challenge is, in the labor movement, to connect the dots for people to show that when you stand up through a union, that you’re better off”-@lizshuler #1u https://t.co/I53lkfxfmJ
UNITE HERE:
*** UPDATES ON THE @HELLOFRESH UNION DRIVE // HOW YOU CAN HELP ***
1) HelloFresh workers in two factories have filed for an NLRB election. This means they have indicated to the boss that they need a union! ✊?
2) Since then, HelloFresh has used anti-union tactics. ??
United Food and Commercial Workers:
As the co-founder of @UFWupdates, César Chávez dedicated his life to fight for the rights of workers, immigrants & Latinos.
To honor #HispanicHeritageMonth, we're spotlighting Latinx activists whose contributions helped shape the labor movement.
Learn who they are:
United Steelworkers:
In 2020, @AboutKP @KHNews @KFF @KPMemberService made $ 2.2 BIL in operating profit while frontline workers @AHCunions @Steelworkers fought daily life or death struggle & now are forced to fight for RESPECT! #FairContractNow! #BestJobsBestCare #SafeStaffingSavesLives pic.twitter.com/ae6kMXVXMN
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) October 7, 2021Utility Workers:
“The dangers of lead to the human body have been well-known for decades, but the process of removing old lead service lines from private property has crept along slowly — primarily due to lack of funding.” https://t.co/HG8nNwRZiA pic.twitter.com/pymrv44d2b
— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) October 6, 2021Working America:
Today, the White House Labor Taskforce meets to discuss how the Administration can use existing rules and new policies to boost union organizing in the workplace. It's a welcome priority that working people desperately need to see fulfilled. #1u https://t.co/lqt3SBsCJg
— Working America | Pass the #PROAct (@WorkingAmerica) October 7, 2021Writers Guild of America, East:
Tonight, Oct 7, 7pm ET / 4pm PT
Inclusion Through an Animated Lens: Balancing the Brand with the Story
(via Zoom)@WritersGuildF, @mpac_national & @wia_animation host a discussion on how diversity is an integral part of storytelling, casting and more. https://t.co/4tPcfFo8V5
National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Ricardo Castañeda
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Ricardo Castañeda.
Ricardo Castañeda is an outstanding member of the midwestern music community. He has a distinguished performance career as a soloist (National Symphony of El Salvador), orchestral musician (Chicago Sinfonietta, Broadway in Chicago, Mexico City Philharmonic) and educator (Northern Illinois University, Benedictine University), and continues to work tirelessly toward enriching the musical lives of young people in his role as the program director at the renowned Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Wisconsin.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 10/07/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: APWU Opposes USPS Changing Mail Delivery Standards
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 U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has implemented changes as of Oct. 1 that will slow down mail delivery for tens of millions of people and affect billions of pieces of mail. That date marks the first day of the new service standards for first-class mail and periodicals, which USPS management is implementing as part of its 10-year plan. The changes lengthen the delivery target from the previous two- and three-day standard to as many as five days for many pieces of mail, depending on distance of travel. The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) called it a step backward for USPS and for the millions across the country who rely on speedy mail service.
“The people deserve the prompt, reliable and efficient mail service promised under the law,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “Postal workers are proud to serve our communities every single day. We believe management’s response to months of poor performance should be to improve service and regain the public’s trust, instead of this focus on moving the goalposts and slowing service standards. We’ll stay united with the public until the service standards and postal performance reflect the needs of the public for quality and fast service.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 10/07/2021 - 09:30A Decadeslong Struggle: Worker Wins
Despite the challenges of organizing during a deadly pandemic, working people across the country (and beyond) continue organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. This edition begins with:
In Historic First, RWDSU-UFCW Organizes Farmworkers in New York: The New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) certified Local 338 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW) on Sept. 27 as the union to represent 12 agricultural workers employed at Pindar Vineyards in Peconic, New York. This is the first union certification for farmworkers in New York since the 2019 passage of the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act, which grants agricultural and farmworkers the right to collectively bargain. Local 338 first filed to represent the vineyard’s field workers on May 28 of this year. “For the first time we can call farmworkers in New York State union members. For far too long, farmworkers have worked to nourish our communities without necessary workplace protections for themselves or their families,” said RWDSU-UFCW President Stuart Appelbaum. “It was a decades-long struggle to win farmworkers’ right to organize in this state, and now workers at Pindar Vineyards are seeing the seeds they planted come to fruition by becoming the first in the state to be recognized as a union.”
SAG-AFTRA and Telemundo Agree to Tentative Three-Year Deal: SAG-AFTRA members working at Telemundo have agreed to a tentative new contract that expands residuals and other forms of pay, enhances overtime and rest periods, and strengthens protections against sexual harassment and abusive behavior. “The fact that Telemundo is the largest employer of Spanish-language talent in the United States makes this agreement all the more significant and impactful,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. “It contains meaningful and tangible gains—both in terms of safety provisions and compensation—that can improve the quality of members’ lives. Thank you to Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland for his great work on behalf of members.”
UAW Members at John Deere Reach a Tentative Agreement with Significant Gains: The UAW announced on Saturday that the union has reached a tentative agreement with John Deere for a new contract. The union said it has made significant progress in negotiations, though more details have not been released as the proposed contract now goes to UAW members for a vote on Oct. 10. “Our UAW–John Deere national bargaining team worked tirelessly to create substantial gains for members,” said UAW President Ray Curry. “We want to thank the UAW bargaining team and their families who sacrificed time apart on behalf of UAW members.” “Substantial hard fought gains and protections were achieved due to the efforts of the UAW negotiators supported by the solidarity of our members,” said Chuck Browning, UAW vice president and director of the union’s agricultural implement department. Last month, UAW members who work for John Deere had voted to authorize a strike. More than 12,000 workers will be covered under the new contract.
Doctors Hospital of Manteca RNs to Join California Nurses Association/NNU: Some 200 registered nurses at Doctors Hospital of Manteca in California voted overwhelmingly last week to join the California Nurses Association/NNU (CNA/NNU). “We are so proud of our RN colleagues at Doctors Hospital,” said CNA/NNU President Cathy Kennedy, RN. “In joining together with the 100,000 other CNA members across California, you have taken a bold and dramatic step to strengthen protections for your patients, your families, your co-workers and all Californians.” Insufficient staffing and wages, and eroding patient care motivated the Manteca nurses to seek union representation. They join the 5,500 registered nurses represented by National Nurses United (NNU) at 14 hospitals operated by Tenet Healthcare, one of the largest for-profit hospital chains in the United States.
SAG-AFTRA and NPR Agree on New Nationwide Contract: More than 500 National Public Radio (NPR) audio and digital public media professionals, represented by SAG-AFTRA, overwhelmingly approved a new successor contract last week. Highlights from the contract include significant gains in fully paid parental leave, commitments on advancing diversity and inclusion in hiring practices, a more equitable salary system, more transparency in the promotions process, and wage increases. “Congratulations to SAG-AFTRA members at NPR on their new contract,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. “The power of collective action was on display for all to see with the successful ‘Wherever we are, we make NPR’ social media campaign. It demonstrates what’s possible when members stay engaged and stand together. We thank NPR for recognizing the significant contributions of our SAG-AFTRA members.”
CWA Scores First Combined Organizing and Contract Victory in Banking Industry in 40 Years: Workers at Beneficial State Bank, who are members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), set the example for how to organize in the banking industry to become the first union of bank workers to successfully form a union and negotiate a contract in 40 years. CWA predicts this will be the beginning of a larger trend in the industry and that other workers will copy the example set by the Beneficial State employees. The bank employees organized to improve poor conditions that include chronic understaffing, unreasonable employee performance metrics and dehumanizing company policies.
USL Players Association Reach Landmark Agreement with USL: Players in the United Soccer League (USL) announced they reached an agreement in principle on a collective bargaining agreement for the USL Championship, its top division. The new framework would continue through 2025, and the USL Players Association (USLPA) said the new agreement will increase the league’s investment in players and improve the overall experience for players. The agreement establishes a minimum compensation structure for players, new standards for player contracts, per diem rates and public appearance fees, new requirements for working and living conditions, and a new grievance procedure. “Today is a great day for the growth of soccer in North America,” said USLPA executive committee members Tommy Heinemann, Connor Tobin and Trey Mitchell. “This Agreement is the culmination of nearly three years of work and negotiation towards meaningful progress for players. It will elevate the status and professional standards of the USL, and significantly improve the compensation levels and working conditions of professional players. The unwavering commitment and engagement from the player pool have allowed us to secure an agreement that will substantially change what it means to be a USL Championship player.” The USLPA was recognized as the official representative of the players in 2018 and is the largest professional soccer players association in North America.
Brookings Institution Staff Secure Voluntary Recognition of New Union: Workers at the Brookings Institution have secured voluntary recognition by management of their new union, Brookings United. The union is a member of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union Local 70, an affiliate of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees (IFPTE). The Brookings United Organizing Committee said in a statement: “We are extremely excited to begin this new chapter in Brookings’s rich 100-year history. This has been a team effort since the beginning, and we are incredibly proud and inspired by the hard work it took to get to this turning point. With the recognition of our union, we will be setting a new standard for representation in the workplace. Our strength as contributors is rooted in our shared mission of promoting workplace diversity and inclusion, ensuring Brookings is competitive among peer organizations, and expanding work opportunities for staff to better prepare the next generation of leaders. This union is a much needed step forward in achieving those goals. We are looking forward to beginning contract negotiations with our colleagues in service of our mission.”
Shoal Creek Strike Leads to Victory for Miners: Members of the Mine Workers (UMWA) Local 1948 ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Peabody Energy, which runs the Shoal Creek coal mine in Alabama. The workers had been on strike since Oct. 4, 2020. More than 60% of the members voted to ratify the new agreement, which includes wage increases, health care protections and a ratification bonus. "This will provide an economic boost not just for our members and their families, but also to the communities where they live," said UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts. "And it provides a roadmap to settling the six-month strike at Warrior Met Coal in the same region."
New Contract Secured by IBEW Local 1253 Includes Pay Raises: After months of stalled negotiations with the National Electrical Contractors Association, an arbitration panel has approved a new three-year contract for members of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1253 in Maine. “It was very tough going, but the negotiating team of [Local] 1253 was steadfast, we didn’t waiver and we didn’t settle,” said Chuck Fraser, the lead negotiator on the bargaining team. The contract includes raises of 3.7%, 3.4% and 3.3% over the next three years. “The decision didn’t reach our targeted goal, but it’s acceptable. We were shooting for $6, but we’ve had some pretty significant raises in recent contracts,” Fraser said. “For the history of the local, what we’ve received is pretty unprecedented.” The arbitration panel settled on a $5.30 per hour increase over the course of the contract.
45,000 TSA Officers Win Right to Appeal Adverse Actions: After 20 years of fighting for the same right to appeal adverse actions, transportation security officers (TSOs) at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have finally won. AFGE has pushed for decades to make sure that TSOs get full workplace protections, better pay and unconditional access to appeals at the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board for adverse actions such as removals, lengthy suspensions and demotions. Managers at TSA and most federal workers already have the ability to appeal covered adverse actions, and now TSOs will finally have the same rights. “Today is an exciting day for our union and TSA officers across the country,” said Hydrick Thomas, president of AFGE TSA Council 100, which represents more than 45,000 TSOs at nearly 450 airports across the country. “For 20 years, we’ve been fighting to have the same appeal rights as our managers and fellow federal employees at different agencies throughout the government. We’ve been fighting to be treated as equals, nothing more, nothing less.”
Ohio Chemical Workers Overcome Employer Opposition to Join UFCW and IBT: More than 140 workers at two INEOS Pigments plants in Ashtabula, Ohio, joined the International Chemical Workers Union Council/UFCW (ICWUC/UFCW) and the Teamsters (IBT) on Aug. 27. INEOS is a global chemical company, and INEOS Pigments is one of the largest producers of titanium dioxide in North America. This organizing victory is the result of a five-year effort to organize workers at INEOS Pigments. The company refused to recognize the ICWUC/UFCW or the IBT, and its efforts were supported by the previous administration’s National Labor Relations Board. INEOS Pigments also hired union-busting lawyers to hold captive audience meetings at the plants. Despite these obstacles and intimidation tactics, these workers persevered and formed a union because they wanted a voice in the workplace and the same benefits as some of their unionized colleagues, who are represented by the United Steelworkers (USW). “In spite of the company’s anti-union tactics, these workers stood together for a better life,” said ICWUC/UFCW President Lance Heasley. “We look forward to working with the Teamsters and having the support of the Steelworkers as we begin to negotiate a strong, first contract for these workers.”
BCTGM Ratifies New Contract with Nabisco: Members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) overwhelmingly ratified a new contract over the weekend with Nabisco, ending a strike that started last month and spread to five different Nabisco worksites across the country. Workers who make Nabisco products were demanding a fair contract that recognizes the hard work and the sacrifices they have made throughout the pandemic. “This has been a long and difficult fight for our striking members, their families and our union. Throughout the strike, our members displayed tremendous courage, grit and determination,” said BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton. “We offer our deepest gratitude to AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler for directing the full resources and power of the AFL-CIO at the federal, state and local levels in support of our striking members and our union. This support was critical to the success of the strike.”
AFGE National Leader Appointed to Defense Business Board in Historic First: AFGE reported that its national vice president, Cheryl Eliano, has been appointed to serve on the Defense Business Board. It’s the first time a union representative has ever served on the panel, which provides the secretary of defense and other senior leaders at the Department of Defense (DOD) with independent advice on best business practices for application by the department. “I am proud to be the first and only union representative ever asked to serve on the Defense Business Board,” Eliano said. “The Defense Business Board is a strategic partner in helping the Department of Defense improve its business practices, and ensuring that the voice of rank-and-file workers is included in those discussions will be an asset. I look forward to working with the other board members to develop proposals that further the interests of DoD’s mission, its employees, and the public.”
Working People Turn Back California Recall Effort: The results of the California recall election are in and we have decisively defeated the anti-union side. As of publication time, 68% of the votes have been counted and nearly 64% of voters rejected the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, compared to 36% who supported it. The labor movement helped lead the “No” campaign on the ground in the state as Newsom pursues a strong pro-worker agenda. More than 2,500 volunteer union members from across the country helped make over 1.3 million phone calls to union families in California. This result would not have been possible but for the nationwide solidarity of the labor movement. Now, our attention turns to the important policy battles ahead as well as the upcoming elections in New Jersey and Virginia.
SAG-AFTRA in Philadelphia Win First Contract After Two Years of Negotiations: SAG-AFTRA members at radio station WHYY-FM in Philadelphia overwhelmingly approved their first contract after a two-year fight. The union represents public media professionals who create content for all areas of the station, including radio, television and digital. Highlights of the contract include pay raises for more than half the unit, six weeks of paid parental leave, increased flexibility in work options and comp time and other benefits. “The wage structures we’ve set up in this contract create a path forward where one never existed before,” said shop steward Nina Feldman. “We’re proud to guarantee some mobility for our colleagues and future employees alike, ensuring that WHYY can become a sustainable place to build a career.”
CWA Wins Voluntary Recognition for Workers at EveryAction: More than 200 workers at EveryAction, a company that provides nonprofits with customer relationship management, donor management and fundraising software tools, won voluntary recognition on Sept. 3 after a supermajority of the workers signed union membership cards. The new bargaining unit includes software engineers, product managers, members of the sales team and other staffers. The EveryAction workers are now members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). “As workers at EveryAction we are committed to making the world a more just, inclusive and democratic place through technology,” said Gabby Weiss, a digital content editor at EveryAction and member of the EveryAction Workers Union-CWA. “EveryAction is a leader in the progressive tech industry and our union joins the growing movement of unionized tech companies that are ensuring their workers have a real voice on the job in order to build workplaces that reflect our values and empower all of us.”
Workers at ZF International Strike for Union Recognition: The UAW reported that workers at ZF International in Marysville, Michigan, went on strike for recognition, after the company reneged on a neutrality agreement to recognize a majority sign-up for their union. The auto parts manufacturer had employed Stellantis LLC workers at the ZF International plant in Marysville. Workers there have clearly indicated they expect to join the UAW, as the current Stellantis workers who are members of the UAW move to other locations. A majority of the workers have signed up to join the union, but ZF did not accept voluntary recognition. “It is unconscionable that the company would choose to put workers through delay tactics and efforts to avoid the union when a majority of their employees have agreed to it,” said James Harris, director of UAW Region 1. “ZF must cease these union-busting tactics and honor their workforce’s wishes by recognizing the employees’ right to bargain at this site, which has been a union shop.” It will be easier for new union members to win recognition with passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.
NNU Members at MountainView Hospital Ratify New Contract with Additional Workplace Protections: RNs picket outside MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas Registered nurses (RNs) at MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas have overwhelmingly approved a new collective bargaining agreement with HCA Healthcare that includes important new provisions for infectious disease control protections, according to National Nurses United (NNU). “We are pleased to have achieved additional health and safety protections that we have been pressing for from HCA management,” said Nicole Taylor, an RN at MountainView and a member of the nurses’ negotiating team. “These protections are essential to ensure safer conditions at our hospital.” NNU said that under the new agreement, all patients suspected of being infected with COVID-19 will be treated the same as confirmed COVID-19 positive patients, which means nurses will be provided with the same level of protection for both suspected and confirmed cases.
Actors’ Equity Reaches Contract Agreement with the Off-Broadway League: Actors’ Equity Association announced on Aug. 11 that it has reached a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Off-Broadway League. Equity and the League both said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to deliver a contract that addresses the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and includes new workplace safety guidelines and long-term financial stability for actors, stage managers and producers. The agreement also has new provisions that strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and protocols for addressing issues of harassment and discrimination. “The Off-Broadway League agreed that simply returning to work is not enough; the work needs to be safe and sustainable,” said Equity Executive Director Mary McColl. “Together we have made important inroads on wages as well as worker safety—both on COVID-19 and as it pertains to bullying, harassment and discrimination.”
Virginia Kroger Workers Overwhelmingly Approve New Contract: Working people at Kroger stores in Richmond and Hampton Roads, Virginia, voted 358-12 in favor of a new contract. The new agreement includes $27 million in wage increases, more vacation time, health care protections and other benefits. The contract, which covers 3,100 workers, was secured after the members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400, held a series of demonstrations outside local Kroger stores. “We were very surprised and happy with the changes made to the contract,” said Kroger employee and bargaining committee member Nicole Turpin.
Workers at Greenlight Bookstores and Yours Truly Stationery Stores Win Recognition to Join RWDSU-UFCW: The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW) announced on Thursday that workers at Greenlight Bookstores and Yours Truly stationery stores have won recognition for their union. Now workers at Greenlight and Yours Truly will head to the bargaining table to secure fair treatment in the workplace and fair compensation in their first union contract. “I’m excited to be an RWDSU member, especially during this wave of unionization efforts happening across the country! I’m proud to work alongside people who are committed to supporting each other and our collective well-being,” said Ienna Fernandez, a Greenlight Bookstore worker. “It’s time that Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly, Brooklyn workers are empowered to define what a safe, just, and equitable workplace looks like—especially for the most marginalized among us.” The workers’ union recognition was finalized on Aug. 23. RWDSU-UFCW will represent about 40 workers at Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly locations in Brooklyn, New York.
AFM Local 802 Secures New Contract with the Met: The members of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 802 ratified a new contract with the Metropolitan Opera on Tuesday, paving the way for performances to resume for the first time since the pandemic started. Contract negotiations had been ongoing for months and were contentious at times. Local 802 President Adam Krauthamer and members of the Met Orchestra Committee released a statement: “We are thrilled to be returning to regular performances very soon and look forward to reconnecting with our audiences at the Met, at Carnegie Hall, on tour, and at our newly established chamber music series at Weill Hall.” The new opera season is set to start in late September.
WGAE Wins Union Election at MSNBC in a First for Cable News: It was announced on Tuesday that the workers at MSNBC have voted by more than a 2–1 margin in favor of forming a union with the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE). The newly formed union said on Twitter: “Together, we have made history. This victory is the first of its kind in cable news, and we are so proud of what we’ve all accomplished together.” The 300-member bargaining unit includes writers, producers, booking producers and other editorial staff at every program airing on MSNBC and The Choice on Peacock. The AFL-CIO joins in congratulating the new members of WGAE and wishes them every success as they negotiate their first union contract with MSNBC.
Workers Win Union Rights at Colectivo Coffee: Workers at Colectivo Coffee officially won their union vote earlier this week. As a bargaining unit of about 500 workers in Chicago and Milwaukee, they had lost their first union election in a tie after a brutal anti-union campaign from Colectivo involving terminations. Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 494 contested the result and demanded the challenged ballots be counted. On Monday night, those ballots were counted and workers officially won the election by a vote of 106–99. These workers should have had the union nearly six months ago, but they've been in limbo since then as their employer dragged out the process. “Workers at Colectivo Coffee first started organizing years ago,” said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale (AFT). “The delays and obstacles to forming a union that Colectivo workers faced demonstrate the need for the U.S. Senate to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to modernize our labor law. This will ensure every worker can exercise their right to form a union, which is the only way to strengthen the American economy.”
IAM Reaches Tentative Agreement at Southwest Airlines: The Machinists (IAM) union reported last week that it has reached a strong new tentative agreement at Southwest Airlines for some 7,000 IAM-represented customer service employees. “This is a tentative agreement that will place our members at Southwest Airlines back at the top of the industry,” said Richard Johnsen, IAM chief of staff to the international president. “The IAM negotiating committee deserves the credit for fighting to ensure our members at Southwest Airlines receive the wages and benefits they bargained for at the negotiating table. I am extremely proud of our members and the negotiating committee for their patience during this process. Our members are an integral part of Southwest, and this agreement shows their value.”
Digital Producers at the Atlantic Digital Optimization Team Win Union Vote: Digital producers at the Atlantic Digital Optimization Team (DOT) have voted to be represented by The NewsGuild of New York, CWA Local 31003, in an election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board that concluded Wednesday, Aug. 11. The 21-person unit, named The Atlantic DOT Guild, consists of digital producers across five states that make up Gannett’s Atlantic Region. The vote followed an aggressive anti-union campaign by management that prompted the New York local to file unfair labor practice charges against the company, which alleges that managers illegally offered benefits to workers in exchange for rejecting the union.
ATU Metro Transit Workers in Minneapolis Vote to Approve New Contract: Members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1005 overwhelmingly voted on Sunday and Monday to ratify a new three-year contract. Some 71% of members voted in favor of the contract, which establishes a 6.5% wage increase, improved sick leave and a one-time bonus of $1,000. “We got here because Local 1005 members mobilized again and again, in the sweltering heat and freezing cold, to push back against a pattern of abuse, disrespect, and greed at Metro Transit,” ATU Local 1005 President Ryan Timlin said in a statement to the Star Tribune. Timlin added the union was disappointed that hazard pay did not make it into the agreement, as the goal of the contract was to recognize the brave contributions of the members throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/06/2021 - 16:00Tags: Organizing
National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Jonquil Garrick-Reynolds
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Jonquil Garrick-Reynolds.
Jonquil Garrick-Reynolds holds both wardrobe and stage cards as a member of IATSE Local 471. Garrick-Reynolds said growing up Dominican-Canadian in Ottawa, Canada, was challenging, and there wasn't a lot of Latin culture or Spanish spoken in her life to reinforce pride in her identity and culture. Theater gave her that sense of belonging, first as a performer, then as an IATSE stagehand and wardrobe technician.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/06/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: San Francisco Giants Ballpark Workers Secure Improved Safety, Better Wages and 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.
Food service workers at Oracle Park, where the San Francisco Giants play, voted 96.7% in favor of authorizing a strike, and members began signing up for picket duties. However, the pressure of the strike led management at Bon Appetit to agree to a transformative new contract. Nearly 1,000 workers will benefit from increased COVID-19 safety measures, affordable and inclusive health care for workers and their families, a $7-an-hour pay raise, improved hazard pay and bigger pensions.
“In my 32 years working food service at Giants games, I’ve been witness to so much history,” said Deborah Torrano, a member of the negotiating committee and a suite attendant at Oracle Park. “And now we’ve made history, too. We were ready to strike, and now our lives will change.”
The food service workers are members of UNITE HERE Local 2, and they stuck together in solidarity. Now they can focus on the upcoming baseball playoffs and not have to worry about safety and security.
“Ballpark workers’ fierce, determined leadership has paid off,” said Anand Singh, president of Local 2. “Workers got organized and were ready to strike, and they won a life-changing deal. Bon Appetit stepped up and set an industry standard for safe, family-sustaining jobs.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/06/2021 - 09:24Secretary of State Blinken Meets with Workers in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh played host last week to the inaugural E.U.-U.S. Trade and Technology Council meeting. Leaders from the European Union and the United States, including co-chairs of the council Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, discussed issues ranging from technology standards to global trade to supply chain security during the day-and-a-half conference.
After the last session on the second day, Blinken held a roundtable conversation with workers where they discussed trade policy, diplomacy, workers’ rights, and the issues and challenges facing America’s workers. Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 5 hosted the roundtable, with members of the United Steelworkers, United Food and Commercial Workers, Communications Workers of America, the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council, the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania and the Teamsters.
“We believe strongly—the president believes strongly—that labor groups have to be our partner in policy, that includes foreign policy,” Blinken said.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/05/2021 - 10:45Our Crews Deserve Better: 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.
‘Our Crews Deserve Better': Seth Rogen and Ryan Reynolds Share Support for Film Industry Workers: “Advocates are sounding the alarm about working conditions in the film industry and two popular Vancouver actors are sharing their support. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) recently announced that it is preparing for a nationwide strike authorization vote citing unsafe working hours, poor wages for workers in the lowest-paid crafts, and inadequate breaks. It also noted that workers on some ‘new media’ streaming projects are paid less, despite working on productions with equivalent budgets. Vancouver's own Hollywood heavyweights Seth Rogen and Ryan Reynolds have shared their support for film workers.”
IATSE Leaders Say ‘Now Is the Time to Change the Culture of Our Work Places’ as Union Gears Up for Strike-Authorization Vote: “IATSE President Matthew Loeb and the presidents 13 Hollywood locals, saying that ‘now is the time to change the culture of our work places,’ issued a joint statement Tuesday urging members to authorize a nationwide strike against film and TV production companies. The union leaders said that the strike-authorization vote, which will be held October 1-3, ‘will empower our negotiators to secure a fair deal.’ ‘We each have witnessed first-hand the physical and emotional suffering our members and their loved ones endure as a result of punishing and unrealistic schedules, and lack of rest or meal breaks,’ they said. ‘We have repeatedly seen the economic impact of inadequate rates for members who do not make a living wage, and the discounted ‘New Media’ pay rates that subsidize mature and profitable streaming businesses.’”
As COVID-19 Numbers Soar, Some Nurses Don't Have Adequate Protections, National Nurses United Says: “Hospitals and health systems must do more to be fully compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect nurses and other healthcare workers from COVID-19, says the latest survey of 5,000 RNs conducted by National Nurses United (NNU). The ETS, which includes requirements on personal protective equipment (PPE), patient and visitor screening, and employee notification within 24 hours of the employer becoming aware of exposure, is the first-of-its-kind enforceable federal COVID-19 standard that went into effect July 21. ‘We are more than 18 months into the pandemic, yet hospitals are still not doing enough to ensure the safety of nurses, patients, and other healthcare workers,’ NNU executive director Bonnie Castillo, RN, said. ‘COVID cases are surging to their highest levels yet in some areas of the country, and some ICUs are over capacity,’ Castillo said. ‘Nurses need optimal personal protective equipment. Healthcare employers must notify nurses as soon as possible when they are exposed and make it easier for RNs and other healthcare workers to get tested.’”
New York Passes Sweeping Bills to Improve Conditions for Delivery Workers: “Since the beginning of the pandemic, food delivery workers on bikes have become even more ubiquitous features of the New York City streetscape, earning low wages and often braving horrendous weather, hazardous streets and the threat of robbery to bring people their takeout orders at all hours of the day. On Thursday, the city became the first in the nation to take aggressive steps to improve those employees’ working conditions, approving a groundbreaking package of legislation that will set minimum pay and address the plight of couriers employed by app-based food delivery services like Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats.”
Low Wages, Grueling Hours, Lack of Rest: Why IATSE Is Ready to Strike: “In recent weeks, members of the union IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, have been sharing their experiences, many of them posting anonymously on Instagram stories. Camera operators, editors, grips, makeup and hair stylists, costumers, writers assistants and more have posted about low pay, exhausting hours, and dangerous working conditions.”
Study: Union Construction Apprenticeships Rival Bachelor's Degrees: “A new national study by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) has found that on average, graduates of joint labor-management (union) apprenticeship programs in the construction industry are able to achieve near wage and benefits parity with other types of workers with four-year college degrees.”
20 Years After Mine Disaster, Brookwood Miners Are Still Fighting for Safety: “As I travel the country as president of the AFL-CIO, I meet and talk with union members who are the beating heart of our country—quiet heroes like Haeden Wright. As president of UMWA Auxiliary #2245/2368, for the last six months she’s gone above and beyond to keep the strike pantry stocked, clothing donations stacked and meals delivered each week to union members. Her father was working in Mine #7 the day of the 2001 tragedy, and her husband now works at the same mine as the explosion site (which has since turned into a processing plant).”
North Carolina’s Anti-Labor Record Is a Shameful Betrayal of Our State’s People: “As late as the 1950s, North Carolina was still the least unionized state in the nation. It speaks to the decline of American organized labor that our state’s unionization rate in the 1950s, about 9%, was higher than the national unionization rate today. North Carolina’s rate of union membership today is just below 3%. Perhaps that’s why the international NGO Oxfam recently called North Carolina the ‘worst state in the nation’ for working people. Taking into account wages, working conditions and other indicators, Oxfam damned North Carolina as a working person’s hell. The response from our state’s Republican leadership was silence. After all, even the elected Labor Commissioner, Josh Dobson, has spoken to Art Pope’s John Locke Foundation about his robust support for ‘right-to-work’ laws and strong opposition to collective bargaining rights for state employees. Out of the 50 states, only North Carolina and Virginia forbid their state employees from organizing.”
Pass the PRO Act to Demand More for ALL Workers: “Unions and strong labor laws help to prevent employers from violating civil rights as protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. They also help reduce income equality, which the LGBT community faces at much higher rates than the non-LGBTQ community. Though the National Labor Rights Act (NLRA) began holding employers accountable, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act strengthens the power of the people to improve their workplace conditions, pay and benefits.”
Workers Win, Ending Mondelēz Oreo Cookie Strike: “Key issues were not just raises, but working conditions. Those sometimes included back-to-back 12-to-16-hour shifts, BCTGM said. The workers at the firm’s five U.S. snack plants, including Portland and Chicago, didn’t get all they wanted, but they got a lot from the firm and overwhelmingly ratified the contract, said union President Anthony Shelton. ‘This has been a long and difficult fight for our striking members, their families and our union. Throughout the strike, our members displayed tremendous courage, grit and determination,’ he said Sept. 18.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/05/2021 - 10:30National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Sal Herrera
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Sal Herrera.
Sal Herrera is an energic and tireless organizer for IUPAT District Council 88. Prior to IUPAT, Herrera interned with the Texas AFL-CIO. He is a first-generation Mexican American and a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in political communications. Herrera is driven by seeing workers come together to build collective power to provide for their families and their communities.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/05/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: NWSLPA Speaks Out Against Systemic Abuse
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 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) canceled its matches last weekend in response to pressure from the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) amid reports in which several coaches were accused of abusing players. Two head coaches accused of abusive behavior were fired last week, another in September, and a fourth coach resigned in July amid player complaints.
“We refuse to be silent any longer,” the NWSLPA said in a statement. “Our commitment as players is to speak truth to power. We will no longer be complicit in a culture of silence that has enabled abuse and exploitation in our league and in our sport.”
The players association demanded the league undertake an independent investigation into the allegations of abuse, and suspend any staff member who violated or failed to report a violation of their anti-harassment policy. The NWSLPA also set up an anonymous hotline for players to report abuse and is offering psychiatric assistance for current, former or future players.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/05/2021 - 09:30‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: Democracy, Safe Schools and Union Power
On this week's episode of "State of the Unions," co-hosts Tim Schlittner and Carolyn Bobb are joined by American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten to discuss back to school, the state of play on Capitol Hill and the rise of unions.
“State of the Unions” is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and anywhere else you can find podcasts.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/04/2021 - 11:00National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Dave Doporto
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Dave Doporto.
Dave Doporto, a veteran and 50-plus-year member of the UMWA, retired from Kaiser Steel in Sunnyside, Utah. He repeatedly trekked from Utah to Washington, D.C., as part of UMWA's successful fight to secure pensions and health care for mine workers.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/04/2021 - 10:30Service + Solidarity Spotlight: USW Sponsors Innovative Food Pantry for Locked-Out ExxonMobil Workers
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Since ExxonMobil locked out 620 workers more than five months ago, the Texas AFL-CIO, led by President Rick Levy (TSEU/CWA), has supported these workers represented by the United Steelworkers (USW). The corporate giant has sought givebacks from workers while it makes billions in profits, and the USW and the Texas AFL-CIO have called on ExxonMobil to bargain for a fair contract.
Since the beginning of the lockout, the office of USW Local 13-243 has been transformed into a grocery store. A dedicated room in the office stores thousands of food items, household goods, bathroom products and other donated items. Locked-out workers are able to go to the office and choose exactly the items they would need if they were in a grocery store.
“The people that come in here are keeping the fight going—walking the (picket) line each week,” said Mark Morgan, chair of the local’s bargaining committee. “It’s just one of the ways we can try to pay them back and make sure they’re taken care of.”
The flexibility of the pantry allows the USW to assist 200 people a week, and more than $80,000 worth of items have passed through the local’s office since May.
“I knew it was something that I wanted us to be able to do, but so many people came together to actually make it happen,” said Darrell Kyle, president of Local 13-243. “It’s how we support and care for one another.”
Donate Now to Support Locked-Out USW Members
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/04/2021 - 09:36National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Carlos Padilla
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Carlos Padilla.
Carlos Padilla has been a member of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 since 1993. He works as a pastry baker at Treasure Island Las Vegas. Over the years, Padilla saw co-workers harassed and hassled, and decided to step up and take a more active role in his union, a lesson he's been teaching his son: "I’ve brought my 17-year-old son to about six or seven union picket lines so far. He has been a line marshal and operated the bullhorn. To hear him on the bullhorn, I felt really proud of him. He wears a union button on his backpack when he goes to school every day, and his classmates ask him what it’s all about. He tells them: 'The Culinary Union is the union that my dad belongs to, and they fight for me and my future.'"
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/01/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Fire Fighters Run Annual Best Pink T-Shirt Design Contest for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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.
Every October, the Fire Fighters (IAFF) join other labor and community groups by going pink to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Fire Fighters don pink T-shirts and raise money for breast cancer research.
IAFF members, however, don’t just participate in Breast Cancer Awareness activities, they lead by creating the pink T-shirts worn across the country. IAFF sponsors an annual Best Pink T-Shirt Design Contest that is open to all affiliates. Designers and creative types compete to submit the best T-shirt idea—and the winner gets to see their design come to life.
Submissions to the contest this year can be made anytime between Oct. 1 and Nov. 1. Then, from Nov. 2–8, members and supporters can vote for their favorite design. The winner receives free registration to the 2022 IAFF Affiliate Leadership Training Summit and Human Relations Conference, which will be held from Jan. 9–12, 2022.
Learn more by watching this video from the IAFF.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/01/2021 - 09:30National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Rigo Valdez
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Rigo Valdez.
While in Seattle to run a multi-union strategic organizing drive, Rigo Valdez uses his position and authority to advise and deepen the Martin Luther King Jr. Country Labor Council's labor and racial equity work, notably by helping to establish a local chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. Valdez's investment in the King County, Washington, labor movement extends far beyond what he was hired to do.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 09/30/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Culinary Union Members March in Solidarity with Las Vegas Hospitality Workers
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union, led by Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Argüello-Kline, marched on the Las Vegas Strip in the first major march by the union since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 35% of the union’s 60,000 members are still not back at work 19 months later. The Culinary Union fully supports the gaming and tourism industries in Nevada and wants all hospitality workers in Las Vegas to be able to return to work.
The Las Vegas hospitality industry was built by members of the Culinary Union and other working people, and is central to the recovery of the state and local economies in the wake of the pandemic. Workers are ready to serve loyal customers with great food, quality beverages and clean guest rooms daily.
The Culinary Union has fought hard to protect its members and to date has had significant and historic success by: extending health care for 18 months for members; keeping families in homes; providing essential food and nutrition to families; enforcing members’ rights in the workplace; helping to elect President Biden; passing the first and only COVID-19 worker safety law; and passing legislation that gives hospitality workers the right to return to their jobs as the economy improves.
The march shows that Culinary Union members are ready to get back to work making Las Vegas the hospitality hub that provides some of the top entertainment and leisure in the country.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 09/30/2021 - 09:24National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Isael Mejia
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Isael Mejia.
Isael Mejia has grown Ironworkers Local 848's membership and presence from a small local office room to an entire apprenticeship facility. He also has developed an action committee to get members involved in different causes in our communities. Mejia helps lead the local central labor council, and has been appointed to different workforce development boards.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 09/29/2021 - 10:00
