Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Nebraska AFL-CIO Rallies with Meatpacking Workers in Lincoln
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 April 8, Nebraska State AFL-CIO President/Secretary-Treasurer Martin spoke at a rally in Lincoln, Nebraska, with members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 293 who are in the middle of contract negotiations with Smithfield Foods. Smithfield has refused to negotiate for COVID-19 protections and is opposing any state legislation. Martin talked about how passing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is vitally important in guaranteeing workers the right to negotiate for better working conditions without fear or intimidation by our employers. Some 50 people showed up in the rain to show their support for the workers.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 04/15/2021 - 09:25Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Build Back Better with Unions: 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:
— APRI National (DC) (@APRI_National) April 8, 2021Actors' Equity:
Learn more about Equity's terms for the use of archive recordings and remote work, effective through December 31, 2021 -https://t.co/MUB60Meckj pic.twitter.com/qh8HLJYBJo
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) April 14, 2021AFGE:
Thousands of COVID-19 cases that were previously denied will be reviewed by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. As a result, more families are more likely to receive the benefits they deserve.
Our union stands ready to help! https://t.co/nBAFpFxkRh
AFSCME:
After years of leading the fight for civil rights from outside the Department of Justice, @vanitaguptaCR and @KristenClarkeJD are now poised to lead and reshape it. Read more on why senators must #ConfirmGupta and #ConfirmClarke. https://t.co/ywZLx8bDgk
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) April 13, 2021Alliance for Retired Americans:
Wealthy pharmaceutical corporations are starting to feel the heat on drug pricing.
Congress must keep the pressure on by doing things like requiring Medicare to negotiate lower prices. https://t.co/jju7QIiE3h #LowerDrugPricesNow #LetMedicareNegotiate
Amalgamated Transit Union:
Transit workers have been #frontlineheroes keeping their communities and economies moving during the pandemic. https://t.co/OEzjYksvyg via @NBCNewsTHINK #1u #Transit
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) April 14, 2021American Federation of Teachers:
ICYMI: You can watch last night's conversation with @EPAMichaelRegan, @JaneFonda, and @VarshPrakash on climate change, green jobs, and more at the link below.
Want to do more? Text THRIVE to 69238 to join our text list & take action! #TimeToTHRIVE https://t.co/HKmF30z9M4
American Postal Workers Union:
"American Rescue Plan lays the foundation for robust cash support for American workers and families..the country lacks the infrastructure to get the cash to people quickly & cheaply. If we are serious about building back better then now is the time." https://t.co/K4yLAc3OXA
— APWU National (@APWUnational) April 13, 2021Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
Join us on April 21 for The #JusticeForJeyasre Vigil to honor the life of Indian garment worker & union member Jeyasre Kathiravel, who organized in her workplace against gender based violence before her untimely death. @GLJhub @ilrf @asia_floorwage https://t.co/rOVvwLog2S pic.twitter.com/l4GSH2jDNB
— Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (@APALAnational) April 13, 2021Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Working mothers have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have faced job and economic losses, and been forced to choose between caring for a family member or keeping their job. The impact will last for years unless Congress takes action. #HFANow #paidsickdays
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) April 13, 2021Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
We cannot rely on a Democratic majority alone to make this happen! That is why we are flooding the Senate phone lines to demand they protect our right to organize.
Call your Senators NOW and tell them to PASS THE #PROAct! ? 866-832-1560 pic.twitter.com/0L2koDtwcs
Boilermakers:
We are so proud of our #Boilermaker sister, Martina Taite ? who was selected as an April @NABTU_TWBN Tradeswomen Hero! Read more about Sister Taite: https://t.co/F6f2d2OSnb pic.twitter.com/JaLU7xV5tP
— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) April 12, 2021Bricklayers:
Fact: Getting a #COVID19 vaccine, wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, and washing your hands are all needed to stop the pandemic. #WeCanDoThis Get the facts at: https://t.co/3CdIJLfFdG pic.twitter.com/rAQ1AhX5Gn
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) April 13, 2021Coalition of Black Trade Unionists:
We will never comply with our oppression. Never! https://t.co/9zujR3j7Bx
— CBTU (@CBTU72) April 11, 2021Coalition of Labor Union Women:
NOW Watch the Care Can't Wait Summit, highlighting the importance of domestic workers. We need better care infrastructure -- universal child care, paid leave, & care jobs as union jobs.
Watch here: https://t.co/MYPqS2LKVH pic.twitter.com/hlHi91kD8V
Communications Workers of America:
— CWA (@CWAUnion) April 14, 2021Department for Professional Employees:
"Unions... could offer people power — the ability to mobilize their members and their members’ friends and neighbors in a way corporations couldn’t. And we need that kind of countervailing power more than ever." ??? https://t.co/HdCwIlb7MA
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) April 14, 2021Electrical Workers:
Green jobs should be good jobs. That’s why the #IBEW is working with Dominion Energy to ensure offshore wind power project grows the middle class. https://t.co/2HycQLt05U #LaborStandardsNow
— IBEW (@IBEW) April 14, 2021Farm Labor Organizing Committee:
Great words from our founder and President! https://t.co/N6Y6T1uwtx
— Farm Labor Organizing Committee (@SupportFLOC) April 14, 2021Fire Fighters:
We have 21 work groups looking at program areas, operations and services with an eye towards improving how our union delivers for our members. Visit https://t.co/A6tfGQ5kKf #IAFFStrong pic.twitter.com/mPwiLMXYo7
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) April 14, 2021Heat and Frost Insulators:
Here is what you can expect from us when you start a career with the Insulators Union: secure retirement, livable wage, health insurance and room for advancement. Watch as this job changed these people's lives: https://t.co/9j9gPG2Jjz
— Insulators Union ? (@InsulatorsUnion) April 14, 2021International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
We welcome @BrookingsUnion and @UrbanInst_Union to their new union and call on management to IMMEDIATELY recognize these unions and start negotiations. #1u https://t.co/AjImgpCn1Z
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) April 13, 2021Ironworkers:
The recently passed coronavirus relief package will pay benefits through 2051 for MEP plans that were headed toward insolvency, many of which affect the construction industry.https://t.co/d0144gpQ3d
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) April 5, 2021Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
85, 82, 63, 60, or 55 cents are NOT numbers on paper, they are vivid evidence for supporting the #PaycheckFairnessAct in order to diminish the #WageGap https://t.co/4fdt3nnDgG pic.twitter.com/oLLPSdmxwT
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) April 14, 2021Laborers:
#ICYMI: @LIUNA Local 66's own Joe Smith, Jr. is the new @WorldBoxingOrg Light Heavyweight champ!
Smith won with a majority decision over Maxim Vlasov, 115-112, 115-113, 114-114.
Joe showed what it means to be #UnionStrong.
Congrats Champ! https://t.co/fMjRZ7wnbe
Machinists:
Wage improvements, health and wealth increases, stronger job protection language - just a few reasons why nearly 50 machinist members who support the C-26 and UC-35 aircraft programs, voted unanimously for a new four-year IAM contract. https://t.co/QIzv3Z01a3
— Machinists Union ✈️?? (@MachinistsUnion) April 14, 2021Metal Trades Department:
Did you know that the number of women-owned businesses have grown by approximately 21%? However businesses owned by women of color have grown by about 43% and continue to grow. #DiversityMonth pic.twitter.com/xxuZlZI12E
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) April 14, 2021Mine Workers:
President Roberts discusses the need for the ongoing strike at Warrior Met Coal in Alabama.#UnitedWeStand #MinersSavedWarriorMethttps://t.co/wZKvH1iNVm
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) April 13, 2021Musical Artists:
We are doing our best to rebuild this industry from the inside out, through the use of our collective voice during these negotiations. We are the architects for a better Met, and a more equal, just, and safe opera industry. Cont. reading: https://t.co/qloJqkoq4P pic.twitter.com/uB2MLbP4xd
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) April 12, 2021National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
A pilot, flying in IMC in February 2020, encountered some instrument failures & needed help. Kansas City Center (ZKC) member, experienced pilot, and Central Region Archie League Medal of Safety Award winner Sarah Owens was the perfect person to help. https://t.co/YFLEkrranE pic.twitter.com/Mdpev1T7Zl
— NATCA (@NATCA) April 14, 2021National Association of Letter Carriers:
Looking for some creative kids activities this weekend? Our free printable activity book is great for homeschool or even a fun travel activity! Learn about letter carriers while you complete our activity book. Download today, or we can send a printed copy. https://t.co/FBVCZeW6G3 pic.twitter.com/mteeAT6eqx
— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) April 13, 2021National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
We can sign petitions, donate, support organizers on the ground, and keep making our voices heard to make it known that this violence cannot be tolerated any longer. https://t.co/4Aehhjduwy
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) April 14, 2021National Federation of Federal Employees:
Continued support for feds and their families fighting through the #COVID pandemic, strengthening civil service protections, and fixing RIF procedures were just a few of a myriad of topics discussed at yesterday's meeting with House and Senate leadership.https://t.co/Gys6cJJazD
— NFFE (@NFFE_Union) April 13, 2021National Nurses United:
⏰New public webinar⏰
We Mourn and We Fight: RNs Rise Up Against Anti-Asian Violence
As the nation reels from an upsurge in racist & sexist attacks on #AAPI communities, join #nurses & community leaders as we honor those lost to acts of violence.
RSVP?https://t.co/0f4ikavxcX pic.twitter.com/H3WMuYVHPj
National Taxi Workers Alliance:
Today is Day 27. The 9th day in our 9 day protest cycle. Join us as we protest and march for a proposal that actually solves our debt crisis, and as we hold a prayer for our 9 brothers fallen to suicide and a prayer for our future. 1PM to 3PM City Hall (Broadway and Murray) pic.twitter.com/51hnEw3Nj9
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) April 14, 2021NFL Players Association:
When it comes to pushing for change, we’re not sitting on the sidelines. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/Qs36OPY63x
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) April 14, 2021North America's Building Trades Unions:
“When I finished my apprenticeship, I just felt like it was the ??????? ?????????????? ???? ? ??? ?? ???.”
Read about this @TheIronworkers member and her pathway into a #BuildingTrades career!https://t.co/drZ6mofOR8
Office and Professional Employees:
Building back better means addressing the wage gap. Addressing the wage gap means passing the PRO Act. https://t.co/08qpNwQWN5
— OPEIU ║ #PassThePROAct ✊ (@OPEIU) April 13, 2021Painters and Allied Trades:
Apprenticeships have positively transformed millions of lives like those featured in this video.
Our union is determined to give the opportunities and benefits our apprenticeship program can provide to as many people as possible. pic.twitter.com/UqgWoQEUMu
Plasterers and Cement Masons:
“A $2.1 trillion boost to public infrastructure spending over a decade could create 2.3 million jobs by 2024 and inject $5.7 trillion into the economy by 2029, according to an S&P Global report from last May.” #InfrastructureNow #AmericanJobsPlan https://t.co/aKdl1GAmvr
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) April 14, 2021Plate Printers and Die Stampers:
Plumbers and Pipe Fitters:
Printing, Publishing and Media Workers:
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:
PASS stands w/ @RWDSU & all workers @BAmazonUnion who fought for better work life, one that treats employees w/ dignity & respect. We support filing of Objections & ULP charges. PASS-represented employees at FAA want Amazon packages on planes/drones packed by union hands. #1u
— PASS (@PASSNational) April 9, 2021Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
BREAKING: RWDSU is formally filing Objections and ULP charges against Amazon’s blatantly illegal conduct during the @BAmazonUnion election. We won’t rest until workers’ voices are heard fairly under the law--and when they are, we believe they will be victorious. #BAmazonUnion #1u pic.twitter.com/blj1tvNOtf
— RWDSU (@RWDSU) April 9, 2021Roofers and Waterproofers:
Prevent falls from ladders. Download the NIOSH Ladder Safety app and use the angle measuring tool to set your ladder at the proper angle. https://t.co/OJc3s7vzGj #roofersafety365 pic.twitter.com/1bthC17QHs
— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) April 14, 2021SAG-AFTRA:
SAG-AFTRA Members,
Today we kick off a weeklong series of events to shine a spotlight on razing barriers and ending discrimination in the industry. We're calling it #STOPTHEHATE week. pic.twitter.com/UZwwPa5ozY
Seafarers:
CS Dependable Rescues Boater in Pacific - Seafarers International Union #1u #maritime #rescue https://t.co/fAxueIavuF
— Seafarers Union (@SeafarersUnion) April 8, 2021Solidarity Center:
In Latin America, #domesticworkers—mostly black women & indigenous women—are breaking decades of intergenerational oppression & forging new paths thru holistic leadership training, expanding their strength by connecting w/ each other—Adriana Paz @IDWFED https://t.co/PHfy2D5V2i pic.twitter.com/M1Vp1QR252
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) April 14, 2021TCU/IAM:
Great meeting w/ Martha from @RepRaskin's office for #RailDay2021! Looking forward to working w/ Congress to increase staffing levels at the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) and promote freight rail jobs across America! pic.twitter.com/mGuPhn774a
— Transportation Communications Union/IAM (@TCUnionHQ) April 14, 2021The NewsGuild-CWA:
Hello, @NYTGuildTech! This is great news for tech workers and for journalism. Welcome to The NewsGuild @CWAUnion family. https://t.co/vphgK74N4m
— NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) April 13, 2021Theatrical Stage Employees:
Let's ensure every employee has the right to bargain collectively without fear or intimidation. Let's pass the #ProAct! pic.twitter.com/X11OEg5htK
— IATSE // #PROAct (@IATSE) April 14, 2021Transport Workers Union:
Hats off to the TWU Flight Attendants at Flight Services International for securing and ratifying their all important first contract. The final piece of a successful organizing drive is securing a collectively bargained agreement with the bosses. #1u
— TWU (@transportworker) April 14, 2021Transportation Trades Department:
.@POTUS has long been an advocate for America’s railroads and the working people who help operate and maintain them. Read about Biden’s history as an avid Amtrak rider and advocate in this @BusinessInsider article. https://t.co/aQ9Y7OEGlT
— Transp. Trades Dept. (@TTDAFLCIO) April 13, 2021UAW:
55 of the largest US companies paid $0 in income tax last year, despite making more than $40.5 billion in profits.
It's time to close the loopholes and make sure everyone, including big corporations, pays their fair share. https://t.co/LMKL70u4zF
Union Label and Service Trades Department:
Richmond passes ‘hazard pay’ law to boost grocery worker pay during the pandemic – Silicon Valley https://t.co/hDJAm2K4OP
— Union Label Dept. (@ULSTD_AFLCIO) April 8, 2021Union Veterans Council:
#BLM pic.twitter.com/JtwwROc0qq
— Union Veterans Council (@unionveterans) April 13, 2021UNITE HERE:
For workers at Graton Casino, a raise means a better life. Going back to college to get your degree. Being able to afford your kid's braces.
We're proud to represent workers at Graton Casino. Every employer should follow its lead.
pic.twitter.com/jME6LajSbW
United Food and Commercial Workers:
ICYMI: @UnitedUfcw hosted a webinar featuring @DoloresHuerta engaging in a conversation around the future of Latinxs in the labor movement. #UnionStrong #1u
— UFCW (@UFCW) April 14, 2021United Steelworkers:
Tell your Representative to vote YES on H.R. 1195! https://t.co/2pVP0k2Bz4
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) April 14, 2021United Students Against Sweatshops:
Workers on the frontlines have been called “heroes” but the U.S. continues to have some of the most appalling anti-worker laws. Let’s change that with the #PROAct and let’s continue fighting on the ground for labor justice! #PROActNow #1u #WorkerPower #CancelStudentDebt pic.twitter.com/8wEz9B3ivJ
— USAS (@USAS) April 9, 2021Utility Workers:
Workers are demanding better workplaces and a voice on the job, and America's current labor laws simply aren't designed to help them accomplish that goal.
By @TylerSonnemaker for @thisisinsider:https://t.co/brFo3sZPGa
Working America:
The Marathon refinery dumped skilled local workers in MN, hurting the local economy and increasing potential safety issues.
Let’s hold Marathon accountable for their failed labor practices! #boycottMarathon & @speedway stations they own/supply. #MarathonFailsUs @BuildBetterMN pic.twitter.com/bX4OPGFc08
Writers Guild of America, East:
"It’s a big step—not just for unionization in podcasting, but also for the tech industry overall, which has been slow to take up unionization and faced union-busting tactics when they do." #1Uhttps://t.co/jrHI7sUy1t
— Writers Guild of America, East / #PROAct (@WGAEast) April 7, 2021 Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/14/2021 - 15:34Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Northern Valley Labor Council Distributes Food to Families in North Dakota and Minnesota
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 Northern Valley Labor Council in North Dakota, led by President Mark Froemke (BCTGM), plans to distribute more than 1,300 boxes of food and gallons of milk later this month for community members in need. The North Dakota AFL-CIO, the St. Paul (Minnesota) Regional Labor Federation and the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program are also sponsoring the events. Distribution will take place in Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Belcourt, North Dakota, as well as in Mahnomen, Minnesota. The union is working with Native American tribes to make sure the distribution announcement reaches those communities as well.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/14/2021 - 09:30Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: RWDSU Continues Fight to Hold Amazon Accountable
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.
Today, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) announced it is filing objections to the conduct of the election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), charging that Amazon interfered with the right of its Bessemer, Alabama, employees to vote in a free and fair election. RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum said: We demand a comprehensive investigation over Amazon’s behavior in corrupting this election….We won’t rest until workers’ voices are heard fairly under the law. When they are, we believe they will be victorious in this historic and critical fight to unionize the first Amazon warehouse in the United States.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/13/2021 - 09:00Tags: Community Service, COVID-19
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Colorado AFL-CIO Fights to End the Exploitation of Farmworkers
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 César Chávez Day, the Colorado General Assembly passed a joint resolution recognizing César Chávez. However, Colorado does not give farmworkers basic rights under the law. The Colorado AFL-CIO has been fighting to pass S.B. 21087 to make Colorado’s laws reflect our values such as dignity and respect on the job.
“In 1929, Colorado State Federation officials helped 500 beet workers at Fort Lupton apply for an AFL charter. However, the Great Western Sugar Company ran a number of members off the job. We are fighting for the same basic rights and protections for agricultural workers that those beet workers deserved 90 years ago,” said Dennis Dougherty (IBEW), executive director of the Colorado AFL-CIO.
The bill would allow farmworkers to organize, bargain and strike, granting them protections other workers get from the Colorado Labor Peace Act. It requires agricultural employers to pay overtime when workers exceed 12 hours per day or 40 hours per week. It also requires agricultural employers pay the state minimum wage of $12.32 an hour. Currently farms and ranches are exempted and are only required to pay the federal minimum wage. The bill also would limit the use of the short-handled hoe, a tool that has become a symbol of oppression because of the pain that often occurs when workers bend over to use it. It also creates new protections for whistleblowers and sets new standards for housing and health.
This bill is long overdue, and the state federation and allies are fighting to get it passed through the Legislature. On César Chávez Day, the Colorado AFL-CIO also released a video of labor activist Dolores Huerta calling on legislators to pass S.B. 21087.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/12/2021 - 09:00Tags: Community Service, COVID-19
Not A Spectator Sport: 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.
'Passing the PRO Act Is Not a Spectator Sport': AFL-CIO Leads National Day of Action: "The AFL-CIO is encouraging people to call U.S. senators on Thursday to urge them to support the passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, a historic piece of legislation that would significantly strengthen workers' right to form unions and help reverse a decades-long assault on labor waged by corporations and their political allies. 'Passing the PRO Act is not a spectator sport. All of us must act—and act today by driving calls into the Senate,' AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka said Thursday. 'From Alabama to Alaska, we are going to make our case for an economic and political system that works for working people.'"
Biden Is Rebuilding the National Labor Relations Board: "On his first day in office, President Joe Biden fired Peter Robb, the Trump-appointed general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the agency responsible for interpreting and enforcing federal labor law. A new report by the nonpartisan US Government Accountability Office (GAO) shows why Biden was right to fire Robb—and to do so quickly. The GAO found that Robb was dismantling the agency from the inside. He reduced staff size, destroyed employee morale, and failed to spend the money appropriated by Congress. This all occurred while Robb was pursuing an anti-worker, pro-corporate agenda."
Stress on the Front Lines of COVID-19: "Worry, exhaustion, constantly changing safety rules and long hours of wearing PPE are just a few things America’s health-care workers cite as the hardest parts of going to work on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Their work has saved countless lives but also taken a personal toll: 62% say worry or stress related to covid-19 has had a negative effect on their mental health. A 55% majority feel 'burned out' going to work. Nearly half of all health-care workers say worry or stress has caused them to have trouble sleeping or to sleep too much."
Black Workers Being Left Behind as Economy Recovers from Pandemic: "In March, the unemployment rate for Black workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher was 4.7%, compared to 3.6% for white Americans, according to Labor Department data that’s not seasonally adjusted. To be sure, that gap did shrink from the prior month. The disparity is nearly double between Black and white workers who graduated high school, the data show. 'If even the best-educated Black person doesn’t do as well in the economy, then that must be discrimination,' said William Spriggs, chief economist at the AFL-CIO."
The Filibuster Threatens Both Civil Rights and Workers’ Rights: "The GOP’s embrace of the filibuster to thwart President Biden’s legislative agenda reveals how the struggles to extend civil rights and labor rights are inextricably intertwined. The use of the anti-democratic device to block civil rights legislation is well known. In 1957, Senator Strom Thurman of South Carolina talked for 24 hours and 18 minutes to stall the first piece of federal civil rights legislation enacted since the Reconstruction era, a bill that empowered federal prosecutors to prevent interference with voting."
Biden’s Infrastructure Package Is Designed to Boost Unions: "Many of the new jobs are likely to be union positions, because the plan targets sectors that already have high levels of union participation, said Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department, a coalition of unions in industries such as aviation and rail transit."
Florida Labor Unions Say Proposal Will Lead to 'Disaster' for State Worker Pensions"'The people making these decisions fundamentally do not understand how pensions work,' AFL-CIO spokesman Rich Templin said. 'And the actions they are taking will prove disastrous.' Templin said over the next few days public sector labor union members will call, text, email, and talk in-person to lawmakers about the dangers lurking in the bill."
‘She-Wees’ and Plastic Bags: Amazon’s Pee Scandal Is Much Worse for Women: "Motherboard spoke to six women who have driven Amazon delivery vans during the past year. Some fast during work hours, even in the heat of the summer, to avoid wasting time finding a bathroom. Others either hold their pee for up to 10 hours, squat over trash bags, or purchase 'she-wees,' female urinals that cost roughly $13.99, on Amazon.com. An Amazon delivery driver trainer who works out of an Amazon warehouse in South Bend, Indiana, told Motherboard that drivers frequently dump bags or bottles with pee and poop on the side of the road. 'I am a trainer for my [delivery company] and I tell all the new girls to invest in a she-wee or you will not make it at this job,' she said. Motherboard granted the driver anonymity because she feared retaliation from her employer."
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 04/09/2021 - 10:16Service + Solidarity Spotlight: On the Yellow Brick Road to Success: BAC Volunteers for Community Improvement Project in Hawaii
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.
For many students who live near Kalihi Waena Elementary in Hawaii, the rainy winter months often mean walking through the mud to get to school. Now, thanks to the hard work and volunteerism of members of Bricklayers (BAC) Local 1, these students are getting a much-needed upgrade to their path to the school. The volunteer union members have started work on a new “yellow brick road” connecting nearby housing units to the school. The project also calls for fresh fruit trees to be planted along the route to school. “It feels wonderful to give back to the community and the volunteers came out not only just for the community, but for the strength of the union,” Ikaika Castillo, BAC training coordinator, told KITV.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 04/09/2021 - 09:30Tags: Community Service, COVID-19
Pass the PRO Act: In the States Roundup
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
Union or not, the PRO Act will benefit all working people in this country. It’s time to solidify the protections and rights workers were granted many decades ago. #PassThePROAct #1u
Leave a message for @lisamurkowski and @SenDanSullivan by calling 866-832-1560 pic.twitter.com/wFKL12mZaT
Arizona AFL-CIO:
✊ Shout out to the @PALF_AFLCIO on an amazing event yesterday! #PassThePROAct #Solidarity https://t.co/rYpeUUrHee
— Arizona AFL-CIO // #PassThePROAct (@ArizonaAFLCIO) April 6, 2021California Labor Federation:
The decline in collective bargaining has ripped wages from the pockets of all workers, led to exploding income inequality & widened the gender & racial pay gap. #BuildBackBetter starts with stronger unions. We need to pass the #PROAct https://t.co/k7AOnjJ3ah
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) April 8, 2021Colorado AFL-CIO:
A union contract is the single best tool we have to close racial and gender wage gaps in the workforce, and to ensure dignity and due process for workers, regardless of where we were born, who we are, or what industry we work in. #PassthePROAct pic.twitter.com/GMfkUkDAUV
— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) April 8, 2021Connecticut AFL-CIO:
.@AFLCIO President Richard Trumka: "In every corner of the country, working people are crying out for change" #1u @UnionYES https://t.co/jB5W0ZbtLX
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) April 5, 2021Florida AFL-CIO:
Happening Now: Leaders and members of @SouthFlaAFLCIO, @BRAFLCIO, @PBTCAFLCIO, and the Southwest Florida Labor Chapter call for reform for Florida's failing unemployment system. https://t.co/djohjGEBXW
— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) April 8, 2021Georgia AFL-CIO:
Union members in GA went above and beyond to elect two pro-worker, pro-union Senators.
Now as the #PROAct advances to a Senate vote, we are proud & grateful that @ReverendWarnock and @ossoff are co-sponsors of this historic, generational labor law reform bill. #1u #PassThePROAct pic.twitter.com/7EfbQ2nL8d
Indiana State AFL-CIO:
Worry, exhaustion, constantly changing safety rules and long hours of wearing PPE are just a few things America’s health-care workers cite as the hardest parts of going to work on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.https://t.co/ZrTIXGTpL5
— Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) April 7, 2021Iowa Federation of Labor:
PRO Act and Women in the Union https://t.co/mzx7igbRGK
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) April 8, 2021Kansas State AFL-CIO:
I just wrote an email to tell lawmakers to protect schools by opposing CCR SB 175. Write one here: https://t.co/LuQV5eQo60
— Kansas AFL-CIO (@KansasAFLCIO) April 8, 2021Maine AFL-CIO:
“There is no question that the company didn’t want to mess around this time. We are glad to see that Bath Iron Works came in and negotiated an honest and fair contract for Local 7 this time,” labor rep George Edwards of IAM District Lodge 4 said. https://t.co/lB31qWEvVg
— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) April 6, 2021Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
Call your Senators today and urge them to pass the #PROAct. Thank you @SenWarren and @SenMarkey for cosponsoring! #mapoli pic.twitter.com/f1xInY2t7L
— Massachusetts AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@massaflcio) April 8, 2021Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Local 405 Laborer Laura Yoder Helps Reenergize Minnesota’s Wind Farms https://t.co/DAWFF2RFrf (via @MNBldgTrades) #1u @LIUNAMinnesota
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) April 6, 2021Missouri AFL-CIO:
A great tribute to Brother McVey. Rest in Peace, Duke. https://t.co/h1vqZPsEdB
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) April 7, 2021Montana AFL-CIO:
The PRO Act will ensure that this year's defeat of "right-to-work" legislation in Montana is secured for a generation. Please join us tomorrow for a live event with PRO Act co-sponsor, Senator Jon Tester. #mtpol #1u #PROAct pic.twitter.com/0ZI0es0qf7
— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) April 7, 2021Nebraska AFL-CIO:
Please go to this link to send an email to your Senator and tell them that protecting our Nebraska meatpacking workers is important! https://t.co/Yk7v7zXIgK
— NE State AFL-CIO (@NEAFLCIO) March 31, 2021Nevada State AFL-CIO:
"Do the right thing. Put people back to work and let's save this state."
? LISTEN:
Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rusty McAllister gives testimony in #NVLeg in support of @Nicole4Nevada's #SB386 to give thousands of workers the #RightToReturn to their jobs post-#COVID19. pic.twitter.com/5fkOBrua2V
New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
HB348 will consequently reduce the quality of public services that our communities rely on to keep functioning
By targeting public sector employees specifically, this bill attacks the freedom of frontline workers to collectively bargain
Say NO to HB348. #NHPolitics
New Jersey State AFL-CIO:
The Union Veterans Council of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO today received timely updates on the PRO Act and the American Rescue Plan from a fellow veteran with union roots, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th District.https://t.co/1MJ6oPumaH
— New Jersey AFL-CIO (@NJAFLCIO) April 7, 2021New York State AFL-CIO:
#NYSBudget a Win for Organized Labor and Working People - “We thank @NYGovCuomo , Senate Majority Leader @AndreaSCousins and Assembly Speaker @CarlHeastie for passing a budget that lays the groundwork needed for our recovery." Full statement at https://t.co/YKRrzccxvA
— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) April 7, 2021North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
"It takes a lot more than a union to win a union election, it takes a movement to win here in the South," says @marybemcmillan: https://t.co/arDe157EMG #1u #OrganizeTheSouth @FrankNewsUS @PaydayReport
— NC State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct! (@NCStateAFLCIO) March 30, 2021Ohio AFL-CIO:
Members of the #Ohio @AFLCIO are excited to announce our endorsement of @sharettaforlima at the @UBCJA_Official hall. We are excited about the bright future of Lima with Sharetta leading the way! Included are @Uaw2b @GoIUPAT @steelworkers @ibew @UAPipeTrades just to name a few pic.twitter.com/No2Vieam97
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) April 8, 2021Oklahoma State AFL-CIO:
Call your legislators and ask them to vote NO on HB 2041 and HB 2083!!
Just click here: https://t.co/JL2G7BtCvQ to get in touch with your legislator. pic.twitter.com/g361ORJRTt
Oregon AFL-CIO:
Please join us to mourn all those who died as a result of workplace injury or illness and to honor their memory and legacy by dedicating ourselves to do everything we can to make work safe. https://t.co/r967aXUtz1
— Oregon AFL-CIO / PASS THE PRO ACT (@OregonAFLCIO) April 8, 2021Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
We stand with you!! ✊ https://t.co/z2XrsHRIqS
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) April 1, 2021Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
McKee to sign landmark climate legislation https://t.co/D7btSmeAAW via @projo
— Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) April 7, 2021Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council:
Thank you to the @sstandardnews for this profile of @tnaflcio President Billy Dycus! #1u https://t.co/Qu5BOsN8wB
— Tennessee AFL-CIO (@tnaflcio) April 6, 2021Texas AFL-CIO:
Labor LIVE at 5! Texas State Employees Union Car Caravan/Lobby Day https://t.co/VVfJOh8ywN
— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) April 5, 2021Washington State Labor Council:
“The war on drugs has particularly hurt Black, brown and Indigenous communities,” said Sybill Hyppolite, WSLC. “This bill provides a minimum statewide standard of protection from this punishment. This is an important step & we know more is needed to undo the war on drugs.” #WaLeg https://t.co/kzeZAsHcZO
— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) April 7, 2021Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
ICYMI: Jill Underly Defeats Deborah Kerr In State Superintendent Election https://t.co/li2xlWvTHK
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) April 7, 2021 Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 04/08/2021 - 13:52Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Massachusetts AFL-CIO Calls on Governor to Ensure Budget Supports Working Families
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Massachusetts AFL-CIO, led by President Steven Tolman (TCU/IAM), testified before the state’s Joint Ways and Means Committee to express concerns about the budget submitted by the governor.
“This budget must support workers who have been and will continue to report to jobs outside of their homes to ensure that the public has access to the goods and services that our society has finally deemed ‘essential,’” Tolman said. “We must also ensure that unemployed and underemployed workers who are struggling to make ends meet have access to strong social safety nets that allow them to stay in their homes, maintain their healthcare coverage, and keep food on the table.”
Among the specific concerns are provisions in the budget that would limit sick time for state employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, reduce funds for workforce development and weaken public bidding laws.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 04/08/2021 - 09:32Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: New York State AFL-CIO Backs ‘Fair Share’ Revenue Raisers
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 York labor and faith leaders joined together last week for a press conference in support of the strategic “fair share” revenue raisers in the New York State Assembly and Senate one-house budgets and are urging their adoption in the final budget. The groups are pushing the state to look past the short-term relief from the federal government and move toward sustainable revenue streams that ask the wealthy to pay their fair share and that will preserve public services once federal aid is exhausted.
According to Mario Cilento (TNG-CWA), president of the New York State AFL-CIO, “The federal aid coming into New York state will only do so much—it will help us for about the next two years, but after that, the state will be addressing budget deficits on its own. These ‘fair share’ revenue raisers would affect a tiny portion of individuals in our state while ensuring we don't harm our health care system and still help fund education, state services and our local governments into the future.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/07/2021 - 09:26Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Washington Teachers’ Union President Elizabeth Davis Passes
The Washington, D.C., metro area labor movement lost one of its most outspoken leaders Sunday night when Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) President Elizabeth Davis died in a car crash.
Davis had been “at the forefront of public education advocacy and reform, leading the WTU’s transformation into a social justice, solution-driven organization dedicated to advancing and promoting quality education for all children,” WTU said in a release Monday morning. Davis worked hard at “improving teaching and learning conditions and aggressively amplifying the voice of teachers in the dialogue around issues of teaching and learning,” the union added. “We are confident that her legacy will continue to shape the WTU as well as education across the district.”
“Elizabeth Davis fought every single day, not just for her members, but for all the city’s students and parents,” said Metro Washington Council (MWC) President Dyana Forester. “As a D.C. parent myself, and also as a lifelong city resident and labor activist, Sister Davis was a constant inspiration to me and to so many others. The thoughts and prayers of the Metro Washington Council go out to her family, her union and to all whose lives were touched by Liz. Her loss is shared by the entire local labor community, and we shall carry on her legacy of battling for justice even as we mourn her passing.”
Davis was a longtime member of the MWC’s Executive Board.
The first time Davis stood up to D.C. school administrators was in the 1960s, The Washington Post reported. “Davis, then a teenager, staged a walkout at Eastern High to protest the lack of African American history and culture in her school’s curriculum. Hundreds of students joined her. And it worked, she said. The curriculum changed.”
“That was the beginning,” Davis told the Post in an interview in February. “It was exciting. It was exhilarating. We were organizing.”
This post originally appeared at Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO.
This post originally appeared at Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/06/2021 - 16:09Solidarity Works: 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:
Ok Florida family, lets try to support minority owned business when we can. These young ladies are in Tallahassee, FL
Meet the Leo Sisters, Owners of Plant-Based Eatery Bourne Brilliant #AfroTech https://t.co/TLreFMHopY
Actors' Equity:
Equity members now have an additional way to access the online harassment hotline. Lighthouse now offers an anonymous reporting app available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play store.
Read more in the member portal - https://t.co/apKzJubpzg pic.twitter.com/lXhuGO3h5Q
AFGE:
Thank you for joining! https://t.co/3XFOoZFWCK
— AFGE (@AFGENational) April 1, 2021AFSCME:
AFSCME library workers support the Build America’s Libraries Act. The measure would provide $5 billion to upgrade our nation’s library infrastructure. Investing in libraries not only benefits the institution but its community as well. https://t.co/5Appmd0WXD
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) April 6, 2021Alliance for Retired Americans:
Workers deserve a say about their wages, benefits, etc.
You can tell your Senators to make that a reality by passing the #PROAct. https://t.co/XBGThS3mrY
Amalgamated Transit Union:
#1u #Labour #HazardPay #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/r6r0a7K08e
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) April 6, 2021American Federation of Musicians:
Rockers, orchestral musicians, freelance and recording musicians can rest a bit easier now knowing the AFM-EPF plan to reduce benefits has been negated. https://t.co/ulukTyF30h #UnionMusician
— AFM (@The_AFM) March 30, 2021American Federation of Teachers:
AFT President Randi Weingarten Mourns Passing of @WTUTeacher Leader Elizabeth Davis https://t.co/7LmWG2mFjT
— AFT (@AFTunion) April 5, 2021American Postal Workers Union:
We stand arm in arm with our @MineWorkers family, who are on strike at Warrior Met Coal.
Company executives are getting bonuses but they won't make a fair deal with the people whose hard work built the company.
Support the Warrior Met Strike! #UnitedWeStand pic.twitter.com/B7Qa5Jx6X7
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
Join us on April 21 for The #JusticeForJeyasre Vigil to honor the life of Indian garment worker & union member Jeyasre Kathiravel, who organized in her workplace against gender based violence & harassment before her untimely death. @GLJhub@ilrf@asia_floorwage pic.twitter.com/D6qgd9dEFl
— Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (@APALAnational) April 5, 2021Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Thanks to your action, Piedmont Flight Attendants (and all Piedmont employees) won COVID pandemic leave! Flight Attendants from across the industry sent thousands of letters to American Airlines Group management. We won't stop fighting until sick bank is restored! #1u pic.twitter.com/LsdZoSII5H
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) April 5, 2021Boilermakers:
2020's ⏪ 1920's. Take a look back at #Boilermaker history and you'll see some similarities in hardships unions faced: https://t.co/oRYr7lWDws pic.twitter.com/tYGbTtVPsz
— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) April 5, 2021Bricklayers:
BAC Local 1 Hawaii Apprentices are helping turn a muddy path for students into a fruit tree-lined yellow brick sidewalk. #BuildingLives #BuildingCommunities https://t.co/lDT5O7pdmr
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) March 30, 2021Coalition of Labor Union Women:
Join @CLUWNational on April 21 for the Justice for Jeyasre Vigil in solidarity with garment workers to end gender-based violence and harassment in the global garment supply chain. @GLJhub @ilrf @asia_floorwage
#JusticeForJeyasre
RSVP Here: https://t.co/qi2nwRnDHz pic.twitter.com/AI4enlBveo
Communications Workers of America:
— CWA (@CWAUnion) April 2, 2021Department for Professional Employees:
Many professionals want to exercise their right to form a union, but can't. The PRO Act must become law so more employees can exercise this fundamental workplace right! #1u pic.twitter.com/WOEin3qBrC
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) April 6, 2021Electrical Workers:
"A boss’ promises are temporary, but a union contract is in writing." https://t.co/1Jzd7pB3eo
— IBEW (@IBEW) April 6, 2021Fire Fighters:
In the first 90 days, our transition team of local, state and provincial leaders will be reviewing the effectiveness of all IAFF programs, services, projects and practices. #ReadyToLead pic.twitter.com/TLPs19k1Rk
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) April 6, 2021Heat and Frost Insulators:
A skilled union insulation workforce can provide unique, custom insulation-fabricating solutions for the cutting, die-cutting, slitting or sawing required for any project's specifications regardless of complexity. https://t.co/UxJnXYtAcb
— Insulators Union ? (@InsulatorsUnion) April 6, 2021International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
IFPTE, NPEU Among Unions Urging Education Sec. Cardona to Take Immediate Action on Public Service Loan Forgiveness https://t.co/B1rQwgWwiX
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) April 1, 2021Ironworkers:
The recently passed coronavirus relief package will pay benefits through 2051 for MEP plans that were headed toward insolvency, many of which affect the construction industry.https://t.co/d0144gpQ3d
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) April 5, 2021Jobs With Justice:
The Neverending Headline (pls make it stop, @POTUS) pic.twitter.com/nagNKhSJmC
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) April 6, 2021Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
GA Familias Unidas filed an Imminent Danger complaint with OSHA on behalf of multiple workers employed by Foundation Food Group.@LCLAAWestCntyNY @gafu_org @CFLCLAA @LCLAAConnectic @LCLAAWstchstrNY @CFLCLAA @lclaalosangeles @ChicagoLCLAA https://t.co/3XrgGS3HMI
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) March 29, 2021Laborers:
#TransportationTuesday - The time is NOW to fix America's failing #infrastructure #BuildBackBetter pic.twitter.com/IfnZ3Pxe2N
— LIUNA (@LIUNA) April 6, 2021Machinists:
As one of the largest industrial and transportation unions in North America, we applaud @POTUS for the worker-first #AmericanJobsPlan.
Let's #BuildBackBeter with union workers.https://t.co/JIZnNF0LV8
Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association:
— M.E.B.A. (@MEBAUNION) March 29, 2021Metal Trades Department:
The Viscardi Center is a non-profit organization that seeks to change ablest views and to improve education and employment for people with disabilities, as well as to empower them. It was founded by John D Kemp who is President and CEO of The Viscardi Center. #DiversityMonth pic.twitter.com/Kppmnr1fn3
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) April 6, 2021Mine Workers:
“Going on strike is a difficult thing to do, but they have shown tremendous unity on the picket lines. Their story is being told across the world right now, and it is one of strength, determination and solidarity." - #UMWA President @CecilRoberts https://t.co/LEnKvt4gSN
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) April 6, 2021Musical Artists:
We completed our 8th week of bargaining at the Met last week. Our work is far from done, and so, we are committed to continue bargaining beyond the original eight-week period. Now, we restart the clock. https://t.co/llBsWDHffq pic.twitter.com/oL53x99rtL
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) April 5, 2021National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
For #MothersDay, NATCA is proud to give the spotlight to the incredible women who dedicate their lives to ensuring the safety of the NAS and the families lucky enough to call them “Mom.” Email publicaffairs@natcadc.org with the name & facility of the mom you're celebrating! pic.twitter.com/mSu6I5qn12
— NATCA (@NATCA) April 6, 2021National Association of Letter Carriers:
Team NALC will be participating in the #ToughMudder 5k for @MDAorg on Oct. 16!
Donate: https://t.co/eVGma11tC4
Register: https://t.co/u40nNMjB1V#Deliverthecure #NALC pic.twitter.com/IcbQ4ZlysA
National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
Impt Thread from @ArribaLasVegas on the need for action from @USDOL to truly protect Las Vegas workers from abuse at Unforgettable Coatings ⬇️ https://t.co/2WTWaOrEaq
— NDLON (@NDLON) April 6, 2021National Nurses United:
.@CDCDirector: A central part of a science-based #pandemic response is understanding how the virus is transmitted. We urge you and @CDCgov to follow the science and fully recognize aerosol transmission of #Covid19 now! pic.twitter.com/h2wKMMyZjt
— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) April 5, 2021National Taxi Workers Alliance:
Protest Camp
Community Kitchen
Everyday Didi & Tilakji cook us meals. Vinodji brings chai. Gyatsoji brings food. Richard serves. Everyday fellow New Yorkers join us & we eat together. Sometimes w stories. Sometimes in silence. We're not going anywhere til justice is won. pic.twitter.com/1TbECBigwp
NFL Players Association:
April is Financial Literacy Month and players are about to drop some jewels ⬇️ @GoalsetterCo https://t.co/2quS9h6NjF
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) April 6, 2021North America's Building Trades Unions:
Read about how Angel George launched her #BuildingTrades career through the West Virginia Women Work program!
“A lot of women who walked in on the program didn’t have a lot of confidence. But by the time they left, they would shine. They’d glow."https://t.co/vUQgnW6tWr
Office and Professional Employees:
Honoring Dr. King's righteous vision means raising the minimum wage, passing the #PROAct, and affirming the dignity of work. #1u https://t.co/p1POtO1BwS
— OPEIU ║ #PassThePROAct ✊ (@OPEIU) April 5, 2021Painters and Allied Trades:
37% of newly formed unions still don't have a contract 2 years after winning their election because employers stall and refuse to negotiate entirely.
The PRO Act creates a mediation and arbitration process to ensure a first contract is reached for newly formed unions. pic.twitter.com/zn8wed3zOh
Plasterers and Cement Masons:
The #AmericanJobsPlan:
$115 billion for highways, roads and bridges
$25 billion for airports
$17 billion for inland waterways and ports
$213 billion to build and retrofit more than 2 million homes#InfrastructureNowhttps://t.co/tw5rGSN55s
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:
“When we talk about infrastructure & sustainment investment in the country...it is very important that we do not forget about the airspace system & its backbone, the facilities & the equipment that make the system available 24/7/365" @FAANews Bradley Mims https://t.co/wTELcN6R69
— PASS (@PASSNational) April 2, 2021Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
Our members in fashion retail can help you find the perfect outfit for any occasion - and they know that solidarity is always in season. #1u #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/5KJngRpJqX
— RWDSU (@RWDSU) April 6, 2021SAG-AFTRA:
Susan, you are not only one of NPR's founding mothers but a legend! You have deftly guided listeners through every national news story for the last half century, and are a union leader and mentor to so many who follow in your footsteps. You have our heartfelt thanks and congrats! https://t.co/u3JRCkGLCW
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) April 6, 2021Solidarity Center:
Seeking to ensure temp health care workers get permanent status, the Health Care Union in Ramallah #Palestine won an agreement w/ the govt for workers with daily contracts to get fixed contracts. After the govt didn't fulfill its promise, workers have waged sit-ins & rallies. pic.twitter.com/VRyzXlkHKq
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) April 6, 2021The NewsGuild-CWA:
Congratulations and welcome to The NewsGuild @CWAUnion family! https://t.co/orLlQhxTwv
— NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) March 31, 2021Theatrical Stage Employees:
If you believe that all workers deserve the right to join together in union and bargain for better conditions, supporting The #PROact is a no-brainer. pic.twitter.com/e2JcznGrnM
— IATSE // #PROAct (@IATSE) April 5, 2021Transport Workers Union:
To create good jobs, we need to enact stronger labor standards and finally put an end to union-busting. The TWU is ready to work with @POTUS and Congress to expand transit labor protections and increase wages in clean energy and infrastructure. #AmericanJobsPlan pic.twitter.com/MR4SFQMRKF
— TWU (@transportworker) March 31, 2021Transportation Trades Department:
Railroads think that they can boost profits by cutting the number of workers operating trains, but this puts workers & communities at serious risk. This is why Pres. Biden has called for #2CrewTrains & we agree: the Rule of 2 is essential. @TransportDems https://t.co/LtKlgPYH4h
— Transp. Trades Dept. (@TTDAFLCIO) April 5, 2021UAW:
The UAW reported yesterday solid financials and steady membership numbers in the face of the 2020 pandemic. Read more: https://t.co/UKCm76ViGE
— UAW (@UAW) April 1, 2021Union Veterans Council:
Supporting veterans means ensuring that they have access to good-paying jobs.
Empower veterans. Pass the #PROAct.
UNITE HERE:
The Fight to Unionize Georgia’s Hospitality Industry Is Underway https://t.co/xWYAfYuqVV via @EaterAtlanta
— UNITE HERE #PROAct (@unitehere) April 5, 2021United Food and Commercial Workers:
Throughout the month of March, @UFCW135 has helped to coordinate multiple #COVID19 vaccine clinics covering hundreds of members! #UnionStrong #1uhttps://t.co/ifP0NlRaeR
— UFCW (@UFCW) April 6, 2021United Steelworkers:
How Amazon Exploited a Weakened America https://t.co/knIHHkXCFa Follow @newrepublic
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) April 6, 2021United Students Against Sweatshops:
USASers across the country: you're invited to the Spring 2021 USAS Organizing Bootcamp on Saturday, April 17th. Join us for a full day of (new & improved!) trainings on all the skills you need to fight for student and worker power on your campus. Register: https://t.co/0jscVSY1ep pic.twitter.com/LHqLDdISfd
— USAS (@USAS) April 3, 2021Utility Workers:
The pandemic has put a spotlight on workers' rights, accelerating an organizing movement that's been slowly building in recent years.
By @aliciawallace for @CNNBusiness:https://t.co/o84TeVQwcb
Writers Guild of America, East:
#Solidarity works. Congratulations to the writers of #TheChase, and thank you to the Guild members (& fans of the show) who stood with the writers since day 1. #1uhttps://t.co/yPtyDjOKhM
— Writers Guild of America, East / #PROAct (@WGAEast) April 5, 2021 Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/06/2021 - 15:28'We Have to Move Now': 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.
‘We Have to Move Now’: Biden Details His $2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan: “Mr. Biden was introduced by a union worker who deals with the electrical grid. Mike Fiore, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 29 and an employee of Duquesne Light, said the plan would mean a lot to workers who are ready to retool plants and revitalize the middle class. ‘The [plan] is directed at communities like mine. It is about opening up opportunities, revitalizing local businesses and saving jobs,’ Mr. Fiore said. ‘For decades, Pennsylvania was a global leader in manufacturing and good union jobs. It can be that way again.’”
ATI Workers Go on Strike After Negotiations Break Down: “Roughly 1,300 workers at Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) represented by the United Steelworkers (USW) union went on strike at 7 a.m. Tuesday after negotiators failed to reach a contract settlement. USW International Vice President David McCall, who chairs the talks, accused the metals giant of unfair labor practices and trying to force workers into accepting unnecessary concessions. ‘After years of loyalty, hard work and sacrifice, workers deserve more respect and consideration than ATI has shown at the table,’ Mr. McCall said in a statement Friday. ‘We will continue to bargain in good faith, and we strongly urge ATI to start doing the same.’”
Why Big Tech Shouldn’t Be Scared of Unions: “At a time when so many divisions rip Americans apart, from income inequality and wealth disparities to opportunity gaps and ethnic, religious and cultural differences, increased union membership would help to heal America by raising incomes, uniting workers and building trust just as it did in the decades following World War II, when the U.S. boasted the biggest per-capita middle class in the world. What better place to start than in the heart of America’s tech industry? It would help workers, industry and American society itself.”
I Was Fired for Trying to Unionize My Workplace. I Want Congress to Pass the PRO Act So That Never Happens Again: “For around two years, my colleagues and I had been advocating together for better benefits—like health care and child care—and reasonable sales goals. We weren’t asking for the moon—we were asking for basic respect and fair treatment as we supported the military members and veterans who bank with PenFed. We felt that unless we did this organizing, there would be no reason for PenFed CEO James Schenck to improve working conditions and make real changes to how he ran his business.”
EXPLAINER: What to Know About the Amazon Union Vote: “Nearly 6,000 Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, are deciding whether they want to form a union, the biggest labor push in the online shopping giant’s history. The stakes are high for Amazon. The organizing in Bessemer could set off a chain reaction across its operations nationwide, with more workers rising up and demanding better working conditions. Meanwhile, labor advocates hope what’s happening in Bessemer could inspire workers beyond Amazon to form a union. But organizers face an uphill battle. Amazon, the second-largest private employer in the country, has a history of crushing unionizing efforts at its warehouses and its Whole Foods grocery stores.”
Walsh Heads Already Active Labor Department: “‘Millions of workers still do not have the strong COVID-19 protections they need to be safe at work,’ declared Rebecca Reindel, AFL-CIO safety and health director. ‘Marty Walsh’s strong leadership will be needed to urgently issue a strong, comprehensive OSHA COVID-19 emergency temporary standard to set workplace safety rules, accompanied by strong enforcement to ensure workers are protected.’”
‘It Rescued Our Entire Plan Overnight.’ How Joe Biden Will Help Rockers Retire: “President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan will benefit, among other things, state and local governments, small businesses, people living in poverty and, it turns out, professional musicians hoping to retire at some point in their lives. Since musicians often work for many bosses, they fall under the purview of multi-employer pension plans—a pet cause of Ohio senator Sherrod Brown, who has been pushing to fix those types of pension plans for years. After years of introducing what was first called the Butch Lewis Act (named after an Ohio teamster), Brown worked to get his pension-salvaging plan into the American Rescue Plan.”
What the ‘Invisible’ People Cleaning the Subway Want Riders to Know: “Cleaning the New York City subway has always been a dirty job. But when the pandemic hit last spring, it became even more challenging. When Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo ordered that trains be shut down overnight for cleaning, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) turned to contractors to help undertake the monumental task of scouring the trains in the nation’s largest transit system. The thousands of workers the contractors hired—largely low-income immigrants from Latin America—were envisioned as a stopgap measure, as MTA workers were falling ill and dying of the virus. At the same time, ridership and revenue had plummeted, and the agency found itself in an intense budget crunch.”
Facing Backlash from Orlando Workers, HMSHost Is Rehiring Employees Laid Off During Pandemic: “After nine months waging an emotional campaign to get their jobs back, displaced restaurant workers from the Orlando International Airport celebrated a triumph: They’re being rehired. HMSHost, one of the country’s largest airport concessionaires, emailed former employees on Friday inviting them back, according to copies reviewed by the Orlando Sentinel. In the email, the company’s human resources department also announced a $2-per-hour wage increase and free monthly Lynx bus passes for returning employees.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/06/2021 - 10:40Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Orange County Labor Federation Holds Expungement Clinic
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 Orange County Labor Federation (OCLF), AFL-CIO partnered with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324 and hosted an expungement clinic March 18 and March 20 in Buena Park, California. This partnership allowed our labor movement to help members remove nonviolent crimes from their records. About 65 members were assisted over the two days. The OCLF is planning to make this an ongoing program to continue assisting our members in removing barriers to employment and housing, giving them a better chance at stability and dignity. AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre (UFCW) visited and assisted at the clinic.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/06/2021 - 09:58Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Economy Gains 916,000 Jobs in March; Unemployment Down to 6.0%
The U.S. economy gained 916,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate fell to 6.0%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In response to the March job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
Despite the good news on the unemployment rate falling, the share of the unemployed who are long term unemployed continued to climb. Unemployment benefit provisions in the ARP that expire on Labor Day will end while this problem still looms. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/mfcQIiPSq1
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 2, 2021This pattern is the great challenge @POTUS and his team face with their Jobs bill. The slow recovery of Black employment IS NOT because of skills or industry composition. Putting in place an extremely beefed up @USDOL #OFCCP to have presence at each construction site for starters https://t.co/sqVKVb3lf1
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 2, 2021Economists who watch the stock market are quick to point out how news stories translate to market reactions. Labor economists seem blind to the news and how it can translate to the market they watch. Its a good thing their noses are attached to their faces. https://t.co/L0oZG8ceYW
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 2, 2021If governors and mayors would use their American Rescue Plan money to return state and local government workers to their jobs, that would address the sector with the second biggest job loss. Too many governors are spending time working on legislation to suppress voters. https://t.co/a1Kss859ln
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 2, 2021A great thread to get some important points on today's #JobsReport #jobsday https://t.co/ogQ2KtSvzD
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 2, 2021Last month’s biggest job gains were in leisure and hospitality (+280,000), education (+190,000), construction (+110,000), professional and business services (+66,000), manufacturing (+53,000), transportation and warehousing (+48,000), other services industry (+42,000), social assistance (+25,000), wholesale trade (+24,000), retail trade (+23,000), mining rose (+21,000) and financial activities (+16,000). Employment in health care and information changed little in March.
In March, the unemployment rate increased for Asians (6.0%). The rates for Hispanics (8.5%) and teenagers (13.0%) declined. The rates for Black Americans (9.6%), adult men (5.8%), adult women (5.7%) and White Americans (5.4%) showed little or no change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) barely changed in March and accounted for 43.4% of the total unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/05/2021 - 15:32Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Chicago Opens Vaccination Site for Front-Line Union Members
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.
President Bob Reiter (IUOE) of the Chicago Federation of Labor and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Tuesday the creation of the country’s first vaccine site specifically for union essential workers. They are hosting the clinic at the Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 399 union hall; the clinic is a partnership between the labor council and the city. Some 1,200 union members may be vaccinated per week, with the plan to expand to 6,000 per week as vaccine supplies increase. To be eligible, you must live or work in Chicago, hold a current union card or be a union retiree, and qualify under the city’s current eligibility criteria.
“Two-thirds of our members are Black and Brown workers, and we must do everything we can to get this vaccine into arms as quickly as possible,” Reiter said. “Let’s move past this pandemic once and for all.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/05/2021 - 09:32Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: UMWA Goes on Strike at Alabama’s Warrior Met Coal
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.
Unless the parties can reach a last-minute agreement, the Mine Workers (UMWA) union is launching its largest strike since the 1990s. UMWA President Cecil Roberts lambasted the company in a press release announcing the strike at Warrior Met Coal in Alabama. “[I]nstead of rewarding the sacrifices and work of the miners, Warrior Met is seeking even further sacrifices from them, while demonstrating perhaps some of the worst labor-management relations we’ve seen in this industry since the days of the company town and company store,” he said. The union explained that workers at Warrior have made significant concessions since 2016 to help bring the company out of bankruptcy.
Roberts said: “We have always been ready to reach a fair agreement that recognizes the sacrifices our members and their families made to keep this company alive. At this point, Warrior Met is not….Despite Warrior Met’s apparent appetite for this conflict, we will prevail.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 04/01/2021 - 08:41Tags: Community Service, COVID-19
Profiles in Courage: Celebrating AAPI Labor Activists
In the wake of the rise of hate crimes and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, we take an important pause to voice our support of our brothers, sisters and friends in the AAPI community. The AAPI community has played an important and active role in the growth, expansion and unique diversity of this country and has given the labor movement many of its true heroes. This community is our community, and we are proud to celebrate these seven labor activists—all of whom have advanced the cause of worker justice.
Ai-jen Poo: Ai-jen Poo started organizing domestic workers in 1996 and helped found Domestic Workers United (DWU). In 2010, DWU was key in the passage of New York's Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights, the first law in the country to guarantee domestic workers labor protections. The next year, DWU helped organize the first national meeting of domestic worker organizations, leading to the formation of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA). Poo has been NDWA's director since 2010. Her other efforts on behalf of working people include Caring Across Generations, which campaigns for affordable health care for our aging population and for access to quality jobs for the caregiver workforce.
Larry Itliong: Born in the Philippines, Larry Itliong was a farmworker in California. In 1956, he founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union and later organized a group of Filipinos to strike against grape growers in Delano. For eight days, they were harassed and faced violence and saw no progress. Itliong approached César Chávez and the two groups joined together to launch the Delano Grape Strike of 1965 that eventually led to the creation of the United Farm Workers (UFW). Chávez became director and Itliong assistant director. He continued to organize with the UFW and the Filipino American Political Alliance until his passing in 1977.
Maf Misbah Uddin: In 1988, Maf Misbah Uddin began work as an actuary in New York City. He became active in the Accountants, Statisticians and Actuaries Local 1407, becoming president in 2000. He also became treasurer of AFSCME District Council 37. As treasurer, he improved the transparency of the union's finances. His work was vital in keeping District Council 37 on budget in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which did extensive damage to the union's headquarters. He is also founder and president of the Alliance of South Asian American Labor.
May Chen: Before moving to New York in 1979, May Chen taught high school and college courses in California and founded a day care center. In New York, she did some work for UNITE HERE Local 6. Inspired by the 1982 garment workers' strike in Chinatown, she joined the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU). There she worked on the Immigration Project, the first union-created legal advocacy department for immigrant workers. She later worked in ILGWU's Education Department and served the New York City Central Labor Council, the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, ILGWU Local 23-25, the New York Metropolitan Area Joint Board. Before retiring in 2009, she served as international vice president of UNITE HERE.
Philip Vera Cruz: Born in the Philippines, Philip Vera Cruz worked on farms before moving to the United States. In 1943, he moved to California and became a farmworker. As a co-founder of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, he was a key part of the grape pickers strike in Delano, California, in 1965. He was a co-founder of UFW and served as vice president until 1977. After that, he helped create the Farm Workers Credit Union and he was the UFW officer in charge of the Agbayani Village, a retirement community for farmworkers.
Sue Ko Lee and the Dollar Store Strikers: Sue Ko Lee worked in the National Dollar Store's San Francisco factory in sweatshop conditions in the 1930s. ILGWU began organizing the Chinese Ladies Garment Workers Union Local 361, and it won a union election in 1938. The owner immediately sold the company to a new company headed by the factory manager and a former National Dollar Store employee in attempt to set aside the contract and break the union. Lee and her fellow workers went on strike and actively organized the strike, obtaining solidarity from their White co-workers. The unified front led to a contract that improved salaries, benefits and working conditions for the workers and helped break down racial barriers in San Francisco. Lee went on to become secretary of the union local and the San Francisco Joint Board.
Velma Veloria: After graduating from San Francisco State University and working on anti-war and Filipino rights causes, Velma Veloria became an organizer for the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), ILWU Local 37 for cannery workers and SEIU. She fought for justice for Gene Viernes and Silme Domingo, ILWU local leaders who were assassinated in 1981. Later, she began working in support of political campaigns. Veloria used her experience to win a seat as a state legislator and pursued a variety of causes important to women and people of color. She organized numerous trade missions to Southeast Asia and helped strengthen relations between the United States and countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia.
Learn more and support the AAPI community:
- Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta
- Untapped Power: the Strength of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Working People
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Alaska State AFL-CIO Demands Answers on Copper River Seafoods Investigation
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Alaska AFL-CIO has called out Copper River Seafoods for workplace safety violations. Throughout the pandemic, the company has failed to effectively screen employees for COVID-19 symptoms, implement social distancing, provide barriers for employees when they could not social distance, and prevent sick and symptomatic workers from entering the facility. Officials also have revealed that even employees who had tested positive were working, despite being required to quarantine for at least 10 days.
The state federation is fighting to hold this employer accountable. Alaska AFL-CIO President Joelle Hall (UFCW) wrote in a recently published op-ed, “Recent media reports have uncovered that [state] Commissioner of Labor Tamika Ledbetter blocked nearly $450,000 in proposed fines against a seafood plant that willfully violated COVID-19 workplace safety standards and was hostile with public health officials from the State of Alaska and the Municipality of Anchorage.…Our organization stands firm in holding employers accountable for their actions—or, in this case, inactions.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/31/2021 - 08:30Tags: COVID-19, Community Service
Women's History Month Profiles: School Administrators
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.
The School Administrators (AFSA) profiled several of its members this month. Check them out:
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/30/2021 - 12:23
