Native American Heritage Month Pathway to Progress: Ojibwe Women Transform Working Life in Minneapolis
History has long been portrayed as a series of "great men" taking great action to shape the world we live in. In recent decades, however, social historians have focused more on looking at history "from the bottom up," studying the vital role that working people played in our heritage. Working people built, and continue to build, the United States. In our series, Pathway to Progress, we'll take a look at various people, places and events where working people played a key role in the progress our country has made, including those who are making history right now. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we will take a look at a group of Ojibwe women who helped transform the world of work in Minneapolis-St. Paul throughout much of the 20th century.
In the early 1960s, activism among Native American populations was on the rise. The goal of federal "termination" policy was to integrate Native American tribe members into mainstream American culture with a heavy emphasis on assimilation. With little to no help coming from Washington, the struggle for Native American rights shifted to state and local fights. Those smaller fights would culminate in a wave of activism that stopped bad legislation, won legal protections and ended the termination policy. One of the key battlegrounds was Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The Ojibwe people lived in various places throughout the upper Midwest, but the combination of the termination policy, economic troubles and job opportunities opened up by American foreign policy led them to move in large numbers to Minneapolis-St. Paul. The twin cities were established in the Dakota homeland and tribal people from the prairies and northern lake country began moving into Minneapolis-St. Paul in large numbers, leading to the region housing one of the largest Indigenous populations in the U.S.
Ojibwe women generally arrived in the twin cities with families and friends although some came to search for employment on their own. Life in the city was drastically different than life on the reservation and there were intense pressures to reject their cultural ideas about work to fit in with the white population. In order to survive and prosper, they had to develop new ideas about labor, but they wanted to maintain their link to the values of the traditional Ojibwe economy.
Prior to moving to the city, many of the Ojibwe women, such as Gertrude Howard Buckanaga, worked in agriculture, such as blueberry picking or wild rice harvesting. In the early days, Howard Buckanaga and others would work in the city and travel home for the wild rice harvest. Ojibwe women, for the most part, only had high school degrees or a boarding school education. Neither prepared them for working in the city, but they found ways to transition skills they had used in agriculture to work in the city.
The longer they lived in urban areas, Ojibwe women began to attend community meetings, participate in activism and attend college to obtain higher degrees. The earliest work they found were office jobs, in the Indian Service or as teachers at government boarding schools. Those schools began training Ojibwe girls to be nurses, which led to other job opportunities. Outside that, employers often viewed Ojibwe women as only suited for domestic or factory work and discrimination against them was widespread. De facto segregation was the norm in Minneapolis-St. Paul at the time.
Low-paying jobs, discrimination and segregation put up significant road blocks and the Ojibwe women came in at the lowest rung of the economic ladder in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Social services were few and far between and often didn't serve Native Americans. This isolation forced Ojibwe women (and men) to create new patterns of participation in the workforce and other organizations and agencies to fill in where U.S. government services didn't.
One of the most important leaders to emerge from the community was Emily Peake. Peake's family included French, English and Ojibwe ancestry, and she moved to Minneapolis from the White Earth reservation. Peake signed up for the Works Projects Administration, leading her to jobs in the Minneapolis Public Library and making parachutes for Honeywell. After serving in the Women's Coast Guard, she moved back to Minneapolis and began working as a community organizer during the years of the federal termination policy.
As the Indian population in the Twin Cities grew, Peake worked together with a group of Ojibwe and Dakota sisters and brothers to create the Upper Midwest Indian Center, for which she would serve time as the executive director. The center provided social service programs for Indian workers and their families and would operate solely off of money Peake and her colleagues raised until War on Poverty grants were made available. The community center idea would soon spread to other cities and these centers not only provided social services, but they interwove Indian values and spiritual beliefs. Other community institutions would be created by Indian activists in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
These efforts would not only lead to increased community and more employment, it set the ground for larger activism as well. The Ojibwe and other Indian women active in the Twin Cities are credited as creating the opening for which the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act would be passed. Other legislation followed. Ojibwe women took leadership positions throughout Minneapolis' community life, and they pursued meaningful jobs, cared for family and children, mentored other women, and continued to grow the services that were offered. The Minneapolis American Indian Center, for example, has served more than 14,000 American Indians since it opened in 1975.
Women held the majority of the sustained leadership roles in in the Ojibwe community of Minneapolis and their visionary body of work can still be seen today in schools, Indian centers, academic curricula, social services and legislation. Their work not only increased well-being for the Ojibwe and other Indians in Minneapolis, it was instrumental in leading to greater sovereignty for Indian people across the country.
Women like Peake, Howard Buckanaga, Rose Robinson, Frances Fairbanks, Ona Kingbird, Norby Blake, Pat Bellanger, Vikki Howard and others laid a foundation for the institutions and laws that increased the quality of life for many Indians, not only in politics, but in the economy as well. As Bellanger said, "'Ojibwe women have been strong throughout everything' and 'we have kept our ways,' acknowledging the significance of the women’s work like harvesting wild rice, which 'has always gone through the women.'"
Source: Brenda J. Child, Politically Purposeful Work: Ojibwe Women’s Labor and Leadership in Postwar Minneapolis
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/26/2019 - 14:12Tags: Pathway to Progress
Red for Ed: 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:
0-3, @GovDunleavy.#akleg #akgov
Read more here —> https://t.co/4p4mZKBHaM pic.twitter.com/WuUDvVjr84
Arizona AFL-CIO:
We’re spending Veteran’s Day on the #ASARCOStrikeLine @UNITEHERE11 @UFCW99 @USWLocal937 @ibtlu104 #IUOE428 pic.twitter.com/FNuTIoGC94
— Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) November 11, 2019Arkansas AFL-CIO:
We love it when Union members run for public office! Brother Matthew Stallings is running for State House District 38. Check out his new… https://t.co/36BkVRXxRM
— Arkansas AFL-CIO (@ArkansasAFLCIO) November 7, 2019California Labor Federation:
*NEW* Report from @UCBLaborCenter --> California’s Steps to Expand Health Coverage and Improve Affordability: Who Gains and Who Will Be Uninsured? https://t.co/8zW35WivMu
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) November 19, 2019Connecticut AFL-CIO:
We were saddened to learn that Mel Olsson, former President of @UAW Local 571, passed away earlier this week. Even after he retired, he continued to fight every day for working people in Connecticut. You will be missed, brother. @UAWRegion9A https://t.co/f23kmZl1wN pic.twitter.com/jSnHdgstkg
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) November 15, 2019Florida AFL-CIO:
Last week, over a hundred new Union members were elected to public office. This website shows you what union members are currently serving and how you can get involved in helping elect more members of Organized Labor to represent working people.https://t.co/0p30RiAmbC
— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) November 15, 2019Georgia AFL-CIO:
Today we also met UAW retiree George, who’s 94 years old, who started working in 1947, when the plant first opened, and retired in 1987. #1u pic.twitter.com/NBSzBRRgM2
— AFL-CIO Georgia (@AFLCIOGeorgia) November 19, 2019Idaho AFL-CIO:
I just added my name to stand with @The_AFM musicians! #1u #BandTogether Add your name and write one here: https://t.co/HhC6lOvenn
— Idaho State AFL-CIO (@IdahoAFLCIO) November 19, 2019Indiana State AFL-CIO:
Thousands of teachers are at the Indiana Statehouse!
They’re joining together to demand the public schools our students deserve. #RedForEd pic.twitter.com/liCXdwxBb5
Iowa Federation of Labor:
Inside IBEW’s Efforts To Help Hotel Workers Unionize In Dubuque https://t.co/XUDGk4KavF pic.twitter.com/rRwerRICe2
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) November 19, 2019Kentucky State AFL-CIO:
“Hoover emphasized a concern that several legislators of both parties have about the bill — that it will likely diminish the retirement... https://t.co/sGobvVaB40
— Kentucky AFL-CIO (@aflcioky) May 7, 2019Maine AFL-CIO:
Congrats to the operating technicians at @WABI_TV5 on their new contract! https://t.co/QgGvGZfb6H #mepolitics
— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) November 19, 2019Metro Washington (D.C.) Council AFL-CIO:
‘MD/DC AFL-CIO president Donna Edwards: "We are at one moment in time"’ on #SoundCloud #np https://t.co/0auguUHwuM
— MetroDCLaborCouncil (@DCLabor) November 18, 2019Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Hennepin County’s first labor-trafficking case ends in guilty plea https://t.co/O3NvJSPr9J Welcome news for workers. #1u
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) November 19, 2019Missouri AFL-CIO:
A more cooperative relationship between workers and management would result in a more sustainable system for supporting the middle class. https://t.co/oR7dzver4x
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) November 17, 2019Montana AFL-CIO:
Mary Munger was a nurse by trade and an activist by calling. Her advocacy gave nurses in Montana the right to collectively bargain and improved working conditions for the profession statewide. She will be missed. https://t.co/fJ1naQiZBC
— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) November 18, 2019New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
From Pres. Glenn Brackett: Congratulations on a successful Election Day! video at https://t.co/CxERWrlKfN
— NewHampshire AFL-CIO (@NHAFLCIO) November 7, 2019New Mexico Federation of Labor:
Wow! So surprising that fair wages don’t kill businesses!
Time for the excuses to stop, and #FightFor15 @INAFLCIO @AFLCIO https://t.co/J9PIA2M1qY
New York State AFL-CIO:
The #UnionStrong podcast Episode 23: The @wrkingTheater explores how plays about bus drivers and baristas, postal workers and police officers help amplify the voice of workers in NYC @IBEWLocal3 @DC37 @32BJ Episode 23: The Working Theater https://t.co/JefNpn3ik5
— NYSAFLCIO (@NYSAFLCIO) November 13, 2019North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
The GOP’s latest gerrymander ought to be the last straw for NC https://t.co/oMIum4Q1S8 #ncpol via @ncpolicywatch #ncpol #fairmaps
— NC State AFL-CIO (@NCStateAFLCIO) November 19, 2019North Dakota AFL-CIO:
#LegacyFund #UniversalSchoolLunch @NBCNightlyNews @LesterHoltNBC https://t.co/YF2NQ3HRh4
— North Dakota AFL-CIO (@NDAFLCIO) November 17, 2019Ohio AFL-CIO:
Take time to enjoy the huge win for working people! https://t.co/jlDLOUp5OS pic.twitter.com/6ONxuaahwU
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) November 18, 2019Oklahoma State AFL-CIO:
Great turnout for the OK Building and Construction Trades Apprenticeship open house! pic.twitter.com/4T8Gv9gDWZ
— Oklahoma AFL-CIO (@OK_AFL_CIO) November 15, 2019Oregon AFL-CIO:
Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor writes in the NW Labor Press about the importance of recognizing graduate employees’ work and why grads at universities around the state are fighting for a fair contract. #1u #UnionStrong https://t.co/GV0icFeaRB
— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) November 19, 2019Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
Equal Pay is a central foundation of workers’ rights and we are proud to be joined by @RepSims and his legislation to support equal pay! pic.twitter.com/Ju8izeaHRD
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) November 19, 2019Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
#1U #Apprenticeship #apprenticeships #apprentices #Labor https://t.co/m9P8Rw11sS
— Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) November 19, 2019Texas AFL-CIO:
.@UAW sister Pauline sharing her story and how her union organized during the #UAWStrike in Dallas @AFLCIO @TexasAFLCIO #1u pic.twitter.com/qbkPMlC0Ez
— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) November 16, 2019Virginia AFL-CIO:
Virginia Democrats could repeal right-to-work. It shows how America is changing. - The Washington Post https://t.co/EvdddLhHVN
— Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) November 19, 2019Washington State Labor Council:
"(This) is an egregious attack on one state’s employment law and states’ rights generally." https://t.co/OO9CWftV50
— WA State AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) November 11, 2019West Virginia AFL-CIO:
“W/1 of the biggest organizing victories since WV became a RTW state, nurses are sending a resounding message to working people across WV that forming a Union is the best way to shift the balance of power away from corporations & toward the people.” #wvpol https://t.co/vyertUROO4
— West Virginia AFLCIO (@WestVirginiaAFL) November 14, 2019Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
What to know about the legal fight over who should be on Wisconsin's voter rolls, https://t.co/w2KlEGf7g6
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) November 19, 2019 Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 11/22/2019 - 09:56Colombian Workers Launch General Strike
Colombia's workers, students, and rural, indigenous and Afro-descendant communities will join together in a national general strike tomorrow, Nov. 21. Unlike the strikes many of America's workers have participated in increasingly in the past five years, Colombians are not striking against any single employer or industry.
Since the Colombian labor movement convened the strike some seven weeks ago, this broad alliance of social justice organizations have come together to express their belief that the government of President Iván Duque is taking the country in the wrong direction: suggesting reforms that would reduce even further workers' access to decent work, labor rights and social security, increasing repression and violence against the most vulnerable Colombians and refusing to move forward with the peace process negotiated three years ago. Along with other human rights and social justice organizations based in the United States, the AFL-CIO and some affiliates are sharing with Congress a joint letter of support for this strike and the right to strike and protest as fundamental to building and sustaining democracy.
Unfortunately, some elected leaders, right-wing parties and Colombia's former president Álvaro Uribe and his supporters have described the strike as illegal and unpatriotic. Even worse, the government has conducted raids into the homes and offices of groups organizing the strike and militarized many likely sites of citizen mobilization. Given Colombia's history of violent repression of legal and peaceful protest, the international community has expressed deep concern about Colombia's capacity and will to protect and respect the rights of its citizens exercising those rights and commitment to the peace process.
We stand with Colombian workers, their unions and their communities in demanding respect for fundamental human rights before, during and after the national strike.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/20/2019 - 11:23Tags: Colombia
Work Doesn't Hurt: Labor Podcast and Radio Roundup
In addition to the AFL-CIO's own "State of the Unions," there are a lot of other podcasts out there that have their own approach to discussing labor issues and the rights of working people. Here are the latest podcasts from across the labor movement in the United States.
AFT in Action: "In the first of three episodes addressing workplace violence, our state federation president teams up with the head of the Connecticut AFL-CIO to introduce the topic to union members. Together, Jan Hochadel and Sal Luciano help lay the groundwork for the future discussions, which will focus on efforts to prevent assaults on health care professionals and public school educators.Their guest for this episode is Connecticut Council on Occupational Safety and Health (ConnectiCOSH) Co-Chair Steve Schrag, who has for decades advocated for better workplace and community conditions. He provides important history and offers valuable context, as well as insightful answers to members' questions about previous and ongoing efforts to ensure that 'work doesn't hurt.'"
Building Bridges: The Making of a Democratic Economy, Part 2: "Ted Howard, co-founder of the Democracy Collaborative, and Marjorie Kelly, author of 'The Divine Right of Capital' and 'Owning Our Future,' have teamed up to co-author 'The Making of a Democratic Economy,' a clarion call for a movement ready to get serious about transforming our economic system."
Heartland Labor Forum: Medicare for All: "We’ll do a primer on Medicare for All. We’ll ask Dr. Anand Bhat how it would work, whether taxes will go up, if there are hidden costs and, if, as a number of candidates for president say, employer-paid health insurance is better, and if we have it, we shouldn’t give it up. Thursday at 6 p.m., rebroadcast Friday at 5 a.m. on KKFI 90.1 FM or streaming."
LABOR LIVE@5: Joe Uehlein and the U-Liners: "First Tuesdays, 5 p.m. on WPFW 89.3 FM. Part of Union City Radio in D.C. Classic labor songs and U-Liner originals, plus Joe talks with Chris about the role of music in the movement and hope for the future."
Labor History Today: Precarious Work in the Movies: "Tom Zaniello talks with Sherry Linkon about his next book, an exploration of media accounts of precarious work, ranging from Edward R. Murrow's famous 1960 documentary 'Harvest of Shame' to the storytelling of modern video games. Kalmanovitz Associate Director Lane Windham on 'The Uprising of the 20,000' in 1909. October was LGBTQ History Month and for this week’s Cool Things from the Meany Archive, Chloe Danyo digs into the archive’s Pride At Work collection and comes up with a historic pamphlet on organizing for lesbian and gay rights in unions."
UCOMM Live: Trump Gets Booed, a Sign of Things to Come?: "AFGE's president is taking a leave of absence after accusations of sexual harassment. Should we cover stories like this? Some say yes, some no, we discuss. Trump is getting booed everywhere he goes, and unemployment is up in important swing states. Chance the Rapper is now the Chicago Teachers favorite after his appearance on SNL. The UAW's president is forced out after leaders listened to last week's show. Elizabeth Warren's education plan is a game changer and the Mets hire Carlos Beltran. Listen to UCOMM Live Thursday's at 4 on Facebook,Twitter and YouTube or anytime on UCOMMLive.com."
Union City Radio: Bus Driver Strike, Virginia Election Wins and More: "Weekdays at 7:15 a.m. on WPFW 89.3 FM. Flexing labor's muscle: Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan; 'Shut it down!' say striking bus drivers; Transdev cuts health insurance for strikers, walks away from table; labor gets out the vote on Election Day; AFSCME demands safe staffing in Maryland."
Union Strong: Keeping New York Moving: "TWU Local 100 is in a contract fight with the MTA. We cover everything from the Trash Train competition to the trash email that went public, all on the day of a massive rally taking place tonight in NYC."
Willamette Wake-Up: Vincent Blanco: "Our KMUZ labor radio segment this month will feature an especially inspiring interview with Vincent Blanco Jr. of Oregon's American Federation of Teachers. Brother Blanco will be talking about workers in the Portland Community College system and their fight for union contracts, universal health care, some basics of union organizing and social justice, his union's response to the Janus decision and the PERS crisis and much more. This really is a great conversation, so please tune in on Friday, Nov. 22, at around 8:10 a.m. PST on KMUZ. The station is at 88.5, 100.7."
Your Rights at Work: Virginia Elections, Union Veterans Council, Union Plus and More: David Stephen, new political director at the Metropolitan Washington Council; Doris Crouse-Mays (Virginia AFL-CIO president): Labor helps flip Virginia to blue; labor's agenda in 2020; William Attig (executive director, Union Veterans Council): Veterans on the Rise mission on Veterans Day; Jill Cashen (vice president at Union Plus): expert legal help; David Schloss (Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis): Case closed. Thursdays 1-2 p.m. on WPFW 89.3 FM.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/18/2019 - 09:55Tags: Podcast
Protect Survivors: What Working People Are Doing This Week
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.
Actors' Equity Association:
Together, the City That Sings and Kentucky’s largest city form a thriving Liaison Area that boasts nearly 4,000 work weeks for members. Check out the 2018 Regional Theatre report to read more about the #Cincinnati / #Louisville Liaison Area - https://t.co/jxh5Xxv1C1 pic.twitter.com/xdMJz95h9A
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) November 14, 2019AFGE:
In the final installment of our 5-part series on the #WhiteHouseSecretMemo, we reveal the administration’s secret plan, laid out in black and white, to wipe out federal employee unions. #1u https://t.co/d67I2zwIMh pic.twitter.com/85DJqg1GB9
— AFGE (@AFGENational) November 13, 2019AFSCME:
AFSCME has long stood with immigrant workers and their families, especially Dreamers, whose future is being weighed by SCOTUS. A ruling against Dreamers would be nothing less than a betrayal of new Americans by their government. #HomeIsHere https://t.co/YpaFG9iTOX
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) November 13, 2019AFT:
.@rweingarten: The contract is proof positive that by working together, we can help make the school an even better place for kids to learn and thrive. It treats educators as the professionals they are – and provides the resources to back it up. https://t.co/keE3HD8dqW
— AFT (@AFTunion) November 14, 2019Air Line Pilots Association:
We appreciate our Advocates for advancing the pilot profession! https://t.co/Vf7nD9QSM3
— ALPA (@WeAreALPA) November 14, 2019Alliance for Retired Americans:
Nearly 80% of Americans say prescription drug prices are unreasonable. Will Congress take action, or will they fall prey to wealthy pharmaceutical lobbying money? It's time for us to make sure lawmakers put #PeopleOverPharma! https://t.co/gwiYXpi1rz pic.twitter.com/dId0fnSQaD
— Alliance Retirees (@ActiveRetirees) November 13, 2019Amalgamated Transit Union:
#HSR drivers, city still far apart on key contract issues: union - #Hamilton https://t.co/5sZoRoslyc #Labour pic.twitter.com/fALcs4O69f
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) November 14, 2019American Federation of Musicians:
"They’re making billions & claiming poverty. People value music in movies," said @ChrisABmusic, an orchestrator, negotiating committee member, & #UnionMusician. #BandTogether #1u ✊?✊?✊??️?? https://t.co/xpfvCyhG13 via @WSJ
— AFM (@The_AFM) October 8, 2019American Postal Workers Union:
Interest Arbitration is re-starting. This morning Clerk Craft Director Lamont Brooks gives evidence on bargaining unit work in Level 18 offices, and responses to USPS management on "flexibility" and their proposal to expand two tier working. #APWUnited #GoodContractNOW pic.twitter.com/57cbd0ZK3d
— APWU National (@APWUnational) November 14, 2019Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
Our APALA staff showing up for our DACA + TPS siblings at the #HomeisHere March! Immigrants are our teachers, our nurses, our first responders, & other vital members of our communities. Losing DACA would hurt us all.
DONATE to support DACA: https://t.co/Gng4Ebz0wM pic.twitter.com/iIIhn5SGxD
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Today in 1970, 75 ppl lost their lives after Southern Airways Flight 932 crashed into a hill just short of the Tri-State Airport in WV. The plane was carrying 37 members of the Marshall University football team, 9 members of coaching staff, 25 boosters, & 4 flight crew members. pic.twitter.com/p6DXytnGoi
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) November 14, 2019Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
This BCTGM Local 68 retiree is committed to pushing the Senate to pass the #ButchLewisAct (S.2254) to #SaveOurPension - join Sister Moog and take action TODAY: https://t.co/ApE4dAf4eZ pic.twitter.com/DvFGd6HdJv
— BCTGM International (@BCTGM) November 6, 2019Boilermakers:
#Boilermaker craftsmen are #union taught for a reason, let's keep it that way. #SaveApprenticeshipWeek #BNAP #Boilermakers @NABTU
Murph Jamerson member of @Boilermakerslocal363 pic.twitter.com/nTtVgC5qXM
Bricklayers:
Registered Apprentices gain an average of $300,000 more over the life of their career than non-apprenticeship participants. #Brick apprentice Matt of BAC Local 7 CO agrees. #Union Apprenticeships Matter. #SaveApprenticeshipWeek#NationalApprenticeshipWeek #NAW19 #1u https://t.co/vsoUniwn73
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) November 13, 2019California School Employees Association:
"After I joined, I was able to meet different people all over the world and different walks of life. I think it helped me really understand that we are so different, but we are all connected in some way or another." -Margaret Ortiz, Navy, Claremont Chapter 200 pic.twitter.com/WSFFZ5jerL
— CSEA (@CSEA_Now) November 13, 2019Coalition of Black Trade Unionists:
Black vets epitomize the sacrifice and glory of African American patriotism: From the first war fought on U.S. soil to world wars fought on foreign soil to battles in Vietnam and being lynched in Jim Crow South. Today we salute CBTU veterans and all military families.#VeteransDay pic.twitter.com/f5WBXyqdTo
— CBTU (@CBTU72) November 11, 2019Coalition of Labor Union Women:
I’m with @SenFeinstein to support S. 2843 because native survivors deserve justice! Please co-sponsor! #S2843. #VAWA2019 pic.twitter.com/fir6IsTmq5
— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) November 14, 2019Communications Workers of America:
#NAMD2019 (@statemedicaid) Attendees:
Problems at MAXIMUS have impeded vulnerable Americans from accessing health services they desperately need.
Read the new report on @MAXIMUS_news' Medicaid management failures: https://t.co/TulGJucSvU pic.twitter.com/n51Nqg54OE
Department for Professional Employees:
Musicians create a critical part of movies and tv shows. They deserve a fair return on their work, and that includes receiving streaming residuals. #1u #BandTogether https://t.co/pWOcZuHEPE
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) November 14, 2019Electrical Workers:
#IBEW apprenticeships provide solid middle-class career opportunities and all without a dime of student debt. #SaveApprenticeshipWeek pic.twitter.com/PUgpiC956K
— IBEW (@IBEW) November 14, 2019Farm Labor Organizing Committee:
— Farm Labor Organizing Committee (@SupportFLOC) November 13, 2019Fire Fighters:
Quincy, IL fire stations do their part to help prevent cancer among #firefighters https://t.co/vUxEGol9vw
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) November 14, 2019Heat and Frost Insulators:
Hands-on training and real world experience go a long way in developing a talented professional. They also happen to be pillars of the Insulators Union nationally recognized Registered Apprenticeship Program! @USDOL #SaveApprenticeshipWeek
— Insulators Union (@InsulatorsUnion) November 14, 2019International Labor Communications Association:
#ILCA2019 is high-tech and live thanks to @MachinistsUnion, whose skilled staff is livestreaming our plenary https://t.co/OIGz6QpuDa
— Labor Communications (@ILCAonline) November 14, 2019Ironworkers:
It's #NationalApprenticeshipWeek. But it's also National #SaveApprenticeshipWeek! Raise your voice to protect the construction industry from mediocre training and preserve the Registered Apprenticeship Program that is widely regarded as the gold standard for training. pic.twitter.com/jpssFZ3nkG
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) November 12, 2019IUE-CWA:
— IUE-CWA (@IUE_CWAUnion) July 5, 2019Jobs with Justice:
The future may seem uncertain for working people right now, but when we join together and have a voice in our workplaces and our economy, we can work to build a better future for working people. https://t.co/EOIBlUHwSP
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) November 14, 2019Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
Meet Shelby Herrera, one of our 2019-2020 #Trabajadoras Fellows and a member of the Tarrant County LCLAA chapter. To learn more about our Fellows follow us on Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn. pic.twitter.com/63MyOHdfBF
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) November 13, 2019Laborers:
The skilled Building Trades registered #apprenticeship programs have been a path to the #middleclass for generations of Americans. #NAW19 #ApprenticeshipWorks #SaveApprenticeshipWeek
Learn more about LIUNA's apprenticeship: https://t.co/0hGdbD4c6X pic.twitter.com/PPNjespl37
Machinists:
ICYMI: @TCUnionHQ Vice President Jack Dinsdale this week testified before a House subcommittee about a changing culture at @Amtrak, adding that the nation’s passenger rail corporation today includes workers living “in fear for their livelihood and careers” https://t.co/lZHelo9wrF
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) November 14, 2019Metal Trades Department:
A dozen unions lean on Congress: Fix or oppose USMCA
— Leaders of 12 unions are urging House lawmakers not to vote on the USMCA until significant improvements are made on labor and enforcement. Without changes, the leaders warn they will oppose the pact. https://t.co/47cnaAUdlk
Mine Workers:
Happy Veterans Day to all who have served and are serving today. pic.twitter.com/Ev1wpzhPeh
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) November 11, 2019Musical Artists:
The artists of @HoustonBallet stand behind the artists of Nevada Ballet Theatre, and support their decision to to form a union and join AGMA! #WeAreAGMA #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/TrjLKmhvUc
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) November 13, 2019National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
Retired member Pat Burke and Northern California TRACON (NCT) Legislative Rep Alton Pamintuan attended an event for California Congressman Doug LaMalfa. "We spoke to both Congressman LaMalfa and his Chief of Staff Mark Spannagel, at great length," said Pamintuan. pic.twitter.com/9QPD2kikFO
— NATCA (@NATCA) November 14, 2019National Association of Letter Carriers:
Did you miss the coverage of the 2019 NALC Heroes of the Year Awards? All speeches and awards are available on NALC's YouTube channel: @thepostalrecord!
Link: https://t.co/y0luOC8Bkt #NALC #Heroes #PostalProud pic.twitter.com/lkK5IQz9Mk
National Domestic Workers Alliance:
If the courage of these folks doesn’t bring you to tears... #HomeisHerepic.twitter.com/T9k4Az01YP
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) November 13, 2019National Federation of Federal Employees:
“In addition to the physical safety of our members, I became concerned about their psychological well-being, too,” said Cassandra Buckhanan, president of NFFE Local 1956. https://t.co/LawlFKmJqW
— NFFE (@NFFE_Union) November 8, 2019National Nurses United:
Union #nurses at @UChicagoMed brave the cold today to participate in a strike vote.
We don't want to be on the picket line; we want to be with our patients.
But we'll do what it takes to fight for the #SafeStaffing patients need — and we will win! pic.twitter.com/9ReyL6EdWX
National Taxi Workers Alliance:
NYTWA ED Bhairavi Desai: "New Jersey is sending a message that the state's labor laws aren't dictated by corporations. It's time for New York to follow."
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) November 14, 2019NewsGuild-CWA:
"The new company has a nine-member board that includes no current or former journalists." https://t.co/I3xjDf7VcS pic.twitter.com/Is4Gm7XfhK
— NewsGuild (@news_guild) November 14, 2019NFL Players Association:
.@Joe_MainMixon linked up with @StrikesForKids to host 20 youth from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati @BGCGC to bowling, unlimited arcade fun, pizza, and brand new bikes. pic.twitter.com/b5OZu2XmHx
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) November 13, 2019North America's Building Trades Unions:
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s almost that time ??
To some, next week is #NationalApprenticeshipWeek… But for us? It’s National #SaveApprenticeshipWeek!
Let’s hear your take on what makes registered apprenticeship the BEST training system around ? pic.twitter.com/6g8qOlTpMU
Office and Professional Employees:
Q: Why are working people working longer hours with less to show for it?
A: Because working people aren’t writing the rules.
This #NationalRunForOfficeDay, commit to building a future worth fighting for. #1u https://t.co/7KsW9i4Dgf
Painters and Allied Trades:
The Trump Administration enables their operatives to strike again. This is just another sign that he is completely inept in oversight - and that IRAPs have been a scam since the beginning. #SaveApprenticeshipWeek #IRAPs https://t.co/aDmNGCsIr9
— GoIUPAT✊? (@GoIUPAT) November 7, 2019Plasterers and Cement Masons:
On this Veterans Day, the #OPCMIA salutes our many members and all others who served in our armed forces. They deserve more than our words — they deserve our deeds, including fully staffing and fully funding the VA. #VeteransDay #stafftheva #1u https://t.co/lQofBKMg95
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) November 11, 2019Printing, Publishing and Media Union:
#Solidarity to @HearstUnion, and we will be using this bingo for ALL of our campaigns! #CantFoolUs #UnionYES #1U https://t.co/DLJrOR53Ta
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) November 14, 2019Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:
Thank you @KYComer for spending time w dedicated public servants @FlyLouisville. PASS members at Federal Aviation Admin committed to their jobs & keeping flying public safe. So glad you could see these federal employees doing their important work! #aviationsafety #publicservice https://t.co/T4PrdoQgQQ
— PASS (@PASSNational) November 12, 2019Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers:
BREAKING: Over 500 Workers at @GeneralMills Reach Tentative Agreement – Narrowly Avoiding A Strike
"Our membership stood strong" said Tim Sarver, a General Mills worker of over 35 years.
Read more: https://t.co/nDCwr41bm5 pic.twitter.com/MOs7sWHKiL
Roofers and Waterproofers:
Not sure what fall protection equipment to use for your residential construction project? This website can help! It’s organized by equipment type and phase of construction to make searching easy. https://t.co/g7sPv0njwj #roofersafety365 pic.twitter.com/oQ229GzX1h
— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) November 14, 2019SAG-AFTRA:
Robert De Niro to Be Honored with 2019 SAG Life Achievement Award https://t.co/NgPXQWDiW7 pic.twitter.com/xzXqzxjOlm
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) November 12, 2019Seafarers:
Urgent regional cooperation needed to tackle rising piracy attacks in Gulf of Guinea https://t.co/qdGxmagUSQ
— Seafarers Union (@SeafarersUnion) November 12, 2019Solidarity Center:
30,000 #Bangladesh garment workers were laid off btwn Jan-Sept, with 59 garment factories closing. @FashionRev @cleanclothes @GLJhub https://t.co/ozudWCqOv1
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) November 14, 2019TCU/IAM:
Today at 10am, Congress will finally hold power to account....
TCU Nat. Vice President Jack Dinsdale will be testifying about Amtrak's union-busting campaign. Tune in live!https://t.co/pVP3DxgvRT
CC: @TTDAFLCIO @AmtrakCouncil @transportworker @MachinistsUnion
Theatrical Stage Employees:
We represent over 140,000 skilled craftspeople, united by our commitment to winning better workplaces, being the best at our crafts, and improving the lives of entertainment workers and their families. pic.twitter.com/kwvfRN2P8z
— IATSE (@IATSE) November 12, 2019Transport Workers:
Congress directed the @USDOT and @FAANews to implement a minimum 10-hour rest period for flight attendants over a year ago. TWU is proud to stand with @iamtransport and @APFAunity to demand these rules go into effect immediately https://t.co/TXuxBRRqyG
— TWU (@transportworker) November 13, 2019Transportation Trades Department:
.@RepStephenLynch to #Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson: we expect those who work for Amtrak be treated with respect. We have high expectations for Amtrak and you aren't meeting those expectations. @TransportDems pic.twitter.com/YhQsZhZS6I
— Transp. Trades Dept. (@TTDAFLCIO) November 13, 2019UAW:
Lula’s freedom today is a victory for democratic principles and the right to legal due process as affirmed by Brazil’s Supreme Court.
We thank the thousands of UAW members who sent personal notes to Lula during his unjust detainment. A luta continua! https://t.co/S7hOLgYxmO
Union Veterans Council:
OPERATION VETERANS OUTREACH WASHINGTON DC https://t.co/xRIeILjKJP
— Union Veterans Council (@unionveterans) November 13, 2019UNITE HERE:
Airline catering workers shouldn’t have to choose between paying their bills or getting medical
treatment.
Tell @AmericanAir: One Job Should Be Enough! #AirportStrikeAlert | #1job | #1u | #unitehere |@unitehere
Sign here: https://t.co/wx5Fgga8DT
United Food and Commercial Workers:
Grocery companies claim self-checkout machines free up workers to be able to focus more on customers.
The reality is this: They're reducing work schedules, understaffing stores, and putting customers to work. #1u #futureofwork https://t.co/ApAjE9W85U
United Steelworkers:
USW Mourns Passing of District 12 Director Robert LaVenture https://t.co/Jm6xLbXIsZ #USWUnity
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) November 14, 2019United Students Against Sweatshops:
Local Spotlight! We want to spotlight a training on Anti-Oppression and a Collective Liberation hosted by USAS Local uscscale “We believe that oppression does not allow anyone to be a full human being whether they… https://t.co/9KT9Ywp0Wb
— USAS (@USAS) November 12, 2019Utility Workers:
A solid education, passionate instructors, and on-the-job training are just a few of the things you’ll experience as an apprentice. @UWUA_P4A pic.twitter.com/4Jrzq99wY0
— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) November 13, 2019Working America:
While impeachment hearings seem to be on everyone's mind right now, Working America Exec Director @MattMorrisonWA reminds us that it's not going to be the voting issue for many undecided working class voters in 2020 battleground states. #ImpeachingHearings https://t.co/3hpB9jTBNh
— Working America (@WorkingAmerica) November 14, 2019Writers Guild of America, East:
"More than 400 film and TV writers including John Oliver, Samantha Bee and Amy Schumer have signed a petition urging @NYGovCuomo to sign the Television Diversity Tax Credit Bill." #RepresentationMatters https://t.co/B4adIx6Tu3
— Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) November 12, 2019 Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 11/14/2019 - 11:12‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: Serving Those Who Served
On the latest episode of “State of the Unions,” podcast co-hosts Julie Greene Collier and Tim Schlittner talk with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig about his work connecting the labor movement and the veterans community.
Listen to our previous episodes:
- A conversation with union member and Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.) about strikes, trade, health care, LGBTQ equality and the freedom to form a union.
- A chat with Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (IUPAT, IAM) about his path to power and the experiences that have shaped his life and career.
- Talking to Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) about worker power, automation, trade and his decision to stay in the U.S. Senate.
- Checking in with AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council Executive Director Brad Markell about the UAW strike at General Motors and interviewing Veena Dubal, an associate law professor at UC Hastings College of the Law, whose work helped pave the way for passage of A.B. 5, the landmark pro-worker legislation in California.
- SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris discussing the future of work, sexual harassment and her journey from young actor to labor leader.
- North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Chief of Staff Mike Monroe exploring the Department of Labor proposal that would undermine world-class apprenticeships in the construction industry.
“State of the Unions” is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and anywhere else you can find podcasts.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/13/2019 - 13:35Tags: Union Veterans Council, Podcast
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: National Nurses United
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is National Nurses United.
Name of Union: National Nurses United (NNU)
Mission: To win workplace and health care justice here in the United States and globally by building the nation’s most powerful union of direct-care registered nurses and by fostering a social movement of nurses allied with the patient public. To achieve these goals, NNU aims to unionize all direct-care registered nurses (RNs) in the United States; promote effective collective bargaining representation to all NNU affiliates to advance the economic and professional interests of all direct-care RNs; organize that collective power to compel the health care industry, governments and employers to be accountable to patients and not solely profits; expand the voice of direct-care RNs and patients in public policy, including the enactment of safe nurse-to-patient ratios and patient advocacy rights in Congress and every state; protect and advance the practice of nursing so that RNs can fully exercise their professional judgment to provide safe, effective, therapeutic care; and campaign to win health care as a human right through a Medicare for All system.
Current Leadership of Union: Bonnie Castillo, RN, serves as executive director of NNU, as well as executive director of NNU’s largest founding affiliate, California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC). Before being named executive director, Castillo held multiple leadership roles over two decades within the two organizations, including director of the Health and Safety program, director of the Registered Nurse Response Network, an NNU-sponsored program that sends RN volunteers to provide medical assistance after disasters and catastrophes, and director of government relations for CNA/NNOC—among other positions. An intensive care unit nurse for many years, Castillo played a key role in helping unionize her own hospital and naturally transitioned into organizing and representing registered nurses on a larger scale.
NNU is also ultimately governed by an elected, 19-member RN executive council headed by a Council of Presidents consisting of nurses Deborah Burger, Zenei Cortez and Jean Ross.
Number of Members: 150,000
Members Work As: Primarily direct-care registered nurses, but some affiliates also represent ancillary hospital workers.
Industries Represented: Public and private medical institutions, including some Veterans Health Administration facilities.
History: With more than 150,000 members across the country, NNU stands as the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in U.S. history.
National Nurses United was founded in December 2009 to create an organization to build a powerful, national movement of direct-care registered nurses. NNU unified three of the most active progressive nursing organizations. The vision resulting from the founding convention focused on advancing the interests of direct-care nurses and patients, and winning health care justice for all.
Over the past decade, NNU and its affiliates have achieved significant success. In addition to those states represented by its founding affiliates, NNU members now include thousands of registered nurses in Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, Texas, Missouri, North Dakota and Arizona—many from states traditionally considered hostile to union organizing. NNU has organized tens of thousands of non-union nurses, making it one of the most successful organizing unions in America. NNU RN members also focus on negotiating strong collective bargaining agreements that set the highest workplace, practice and economic standards for their states as well as the entire country. In the legislative arena, NNU has sponsored major federal legislation, including national safe RN-to-patient staffing ratios, a bill to improve and expand Medicare for All in the United States, and stronger protections against workplace violence.
Current Campaigns: NNU currently has numerous active campaigns, including: unionizing nurses all across the country, RN-to-patent ratios, preventing workplace violence, Medicare for All, health and safety and environmental justice.
Community Efforts: NNU nurses believe that allying with our patients and the public is key to winning our goal of health care justice. To that end, many of our campaigns include working in coalition with local communities. On a national and global scale, an NNU project, the Registered Nurse Response Network, sends registered nurse volunteers to disaster-stricken areas to provide assistance and emergency care. Nurses have helped victims of floods, earthquakes and fires within the continental United States, as well as Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Haiti, the Philippines and Guatemala.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/12/2019 - 12:20Building the Battleground Bench: Union Members Elected to Office Across the Great Lakes Region
While the labor movement was busy helping to elect pro-worker candidates in important elections in Kentucky and Virginia this week, union members themselves were on the ballot, and they were elected to local offices across the country at an impressive rate. This result was especially pronounced in the battleground states in the Great Lakes region, where an energized union candidates program helped carry union members to victory.
In Pennsylvania, organized labor helped elect its endorsed candidate to the Superior Court in the Commonwealth and elected hundreds of union members to local offices. Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder, himself a victorious union member candidate for auditor in Carroll Township in York County, recognized the significance of the program. “There is no better way to ensure that working people are represented than through the election of card-carrying union members,” Snyder said. “It's not enough to elect supporters of workers' rights, we must elect champions of workers' rights. Today, we did just that."
More than a dozen union members were elected or re-elected to local office in the Cleveland area on Tuesday night, bringing the number of members within the North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor holding public office to over 40. Harriet Applegate, executive secretary of the North Shore AFL-CIO pointed out how supporting union member candidates can immediately have an impact on public policy. “No one understands the needs and interests of working people better than our members themselves,” she said. “When our members are empowered and have the resources to win local elections, it brings a whole new perspective to the halls of government.”
The Greater Northwest Ohio AFL-CIO helped to elect members to City Council seats in Toledo and Maumee, among other local offices. Across the state, the Ohio AFL-CIO supported 51 union member candidates in the election and 32 won their races. “The whole purpose is to support candidates who believe in collective bargaining, who believe the economy is not some mystical thing but rules put in place by those we elect,” said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga. “Those rules can create living wage jobs, project labor agreements, collective bargaining laws and a fight for fair trade.”
Enough is Enough: 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:
Pres. of the Alaska AFL-CIO @vincebeltrami responded: “Unfortunately, I am not surprised at all by AG Clarkson's attempt to derail the Recall Dunleavy effort. I've said it before and I'll say it again; both Governor Mike Dunleavy and AG Clarkson have got to go.” #akleg #akgov
— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) November 5, 2019Arkansas AFL-CIO:
Thank you for our #oneLRSD #onelrsd #lrea sign at the Arkansas AFL-CIO office!! ? Solidarity with our LR Sisters, Brothers and Siblings. ✊ @ Arkansas AFL-CIO https://t.co/Ll6eIjNfxf
— Arkansas AFL-CIO (@ArkansasAFLCIO) November 3, 2019California Labor Federation:
Gig companies like @Instacart have been cheating workers out of wages since their inception. Enough is enough. We stand in strong #Solidarity with Instacart workers & shoppers demanding better wages, tips and pay transparency! #AB5 https://t.co/2hIfWmAvEx @GigWorkersRise
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) November 4, 2019Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Operating Engineers Local 478's Kyle Zimmer: "Deaths on the job site from opioid overdoses are quickly approaching the totals of the other [job site] death categories alone. That is totally, 100%, unacceptable" @NABTU https://t.co/SUt2Z7YJPu
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) October 30, 2019Florida AFL-CIO:
Across the country fracking has proven dangerous to our environment, clean water and worker safety on the job.
SB 200 is a step in the right direction for Florida. Florida AFL-CIO supports a full ban on this dangerous practice.https://t.co/Dg6VmnNx5T
Indiana State AFL-CIO:
"You don't feel as respected when you're not compensated.”
Join teachers at the Indiana State Capitol on Nov. 19th! #RedForEd https://t.co/LIqyZo4MB2
Iowa Federation of Labor:
Abby Finkenauer Lifts Up Labor Issues At First Fish Fry | Iowa Starting Line https://t.co/v2V3cVcqyk
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) November 4, 2019Maine AFL-CIO:
Students standing up for workers' rights — it's a beautiful sight to behold! https://t.co/WGONEpDOgo #mepolitics
— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) November 5, 2019Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
“We stand with you and we will be here until the end fighting alongside you! Let’s get justice!” -President @StevenATolman in #Dedham #1u #solidarity pic.twitter.com/UAH1l0TOa6
— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) October 26, 2019Metro Washington (D.C.) Council AFL-CIO:
UFCW, AFSCME, and and IBEW canvassers for Derrick Mallard in Bowie City Council race this morning pic.twitter.com/GDy8msTKYG
— MetroDCLaborCouncil (@DCLabor) November 2, 2019Minnesota AFL-CIO:
FRIDAY: Solidarity Rally for Striking Carley Foundry Workers https://t.co/DYrsx1HjAo Let's support these striking @steelworkers! #1u @MPLSRLF pic.twitter.com/RJKcH1ijXG
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) November 5, 2019Missouri AFL-CIO:
A fair economy needs unions. #1u https://t.co/LZ04hOwHIx pic.twitter.com/puVKBTfauL
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) October 26, 2019Montana AFL-CIO:
While working people appreciate the ability to step across the aisle and get things done, pushing through this flawed piece of legislation to create that facade would be a giant mistake. No new NAFTA until it's fixed! #1u https://t.co/D3SDZ0TM7O
— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) October 29, 2019Nebraska AFL-CIO:
President Martin spoke at UA 464 community service HEATS ON project this morning in Lincoln. #1u pic.twitter.com/F59bovKzWt
— NE State AFL-CIO (@NEAFLCIO) November 2, 2019New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
Advocates Call For Federal Infrastructure Spending At New Exeter Wastewater Plant https://t.co/SpA4n4OMfM
— NewHampshire AFL-CIO (@NHAFLCIO) November 5, 2019New Mexico Federation of Labor:
#UnionStrong is true. Many times over the last couple years we have given life to that strength!
We Are #1u
Great work to @CTULocal1 and @SEIU73 throughout the strike and continuing to fight for the students and community in Chicago!@AFLCIO @AFTunion https://t.co/LXYY1gJacz
New York State AFL-CIO:
#UnionStrong Podcast Ep 22: Keeping New York Moving - @TWULocal100 is in a contract fight with the MTA. We cover everything from the Trash Train competition to the trash email that went public, all on the day of a massive rally taking place tonight in NYC.https://t.co/2rma0JElLm
— NYSAFLCIO (@NYSAFLCIO) October 30, 2019Ohio AFL-CIO:
Thanks to @IUE_CWAUnion President and #Ohio @AFLCIO Executive Board Member Carl Kennebrew for explaining why the #NewNAFTA needs to work for working people!https://t.co/lxQQTCYzfk
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) November 5, 2019Oklahoma State AFL-CIO:
Number of the day: 98.6% - Funded ratio of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System as of June 30, 2019, indicating the plan had virtually all the funding it needed to pay all future retirement payments earned as of that day.
— Oklahoma AFL-CIO (@OK_AFL_CIO) November 5, 2019Oregon AFL-CIO:
"If you want a fair workplace, you have to fundamentally change the structure of power. And that’s what a #union is. A union is an equalization of power." #1u #unionstronghttps://t.co/Lu75tXeL9i
— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) November 3, 2019Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
Today, Philly has made an incredible step in demanding dignity for ALL workers. So proud of these brothers and sisters, and President Eiding's incredible leadership! https://t.co/1en4wine5q
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) October 31, 2019Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
#1U #NationalDonutDay. Be sure to buy one made by #UnionWorkers at #StopAndShop #Shaws #EastsideMarketplace https://t.co/4U8E9WIzwM
— Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) November 5, 2019Texas AFL-CIO:
Our @steelworkers brothers and sisters on the?strike line in Amarillo need our help! Please make a donation to the solidarity fund to help buy strike supplies. Click to donate: https://t.co/pK3BYn6Ay1 https://t.co/xkqkk1PHdf
— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) November 4, 2019Virginia AFL-CIO:
#UnionPower all across the state of Virginia.8 Saturdays straight and all the days in b/twn have been filled w/ knocking ?s & ?banking over 230,000 union members across the Commonwealth to ensure working ppl are getting the representation they deserve! #GOTV #VOTE #NOV5 #1u pic.twitter.com/3GspsznVwA
— Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) November 2, 2019Washington State Labor Council:
Yep. Sounds about right.#NumberOne #UnionStrong https://t.co/lrqYqAK0TU
— WA State AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) November 4, 2019West Virginia AFL-CIO:
To those interested in running for the WV Supreme Court, please contact us. @WVStateBar ? pic.twitter.com/PfkjpKC2q4
— West Virginia AFLCIO (@WestVirginiaAFL) October 14, 2019Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
Remembering Phil, https://t.co/1PZVxiOGws #WIunion #1u pic.twitter.com/02aVIg7oGi
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) November 4, 2019 Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/05/2019 - 13:53Trump’s SEC Chairman Proposes to Disenfranchise Investors and Reduce Shareholder Democracy
In a partisan 3-2 vote, the Trump administration’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed to curtail the rights of investors to file proposals for a vote at company annual meetings. If adopted, these changes will hinder shareholder proposals by union members and their pension plans to hold corporate management accountable.
"We strongly oppose the SEC's shareholder proposal rule changes that will limit the ability of working people and their pension plans to have a voice in the companies that we invest in," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA). The proposed changes include dramatic increases in stock ownership requirements and vote resubmission requirements.
Corporate CEOs of the Business Roundtable and the Chamber of Commerce have long wished for these changes to the shareholder proposal rule. In a 2017 letter to the SEC, the AFL-CIO showed how these proposed rule changes will undermine efforts to increase corporate responsibility for environmental, social and governance issues.
"The right to petition corporate management by filing shareholder proposals is an integral part of shareholder democracy in the United States,” Trumka explained. “The SEC should protect the rights of working people as the real main street investors, not the interests of overpaid and unaccountable corporate CEOs."
For more information about the efforts of SEC Chairman Jay Clayton, nominated by President Trump, to disenfranchise investors and reduce shareholder democracy by curtailing the shareholder proposal rule, please visit the Investor Rights Forum.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/05/2019 - 11:36Standing Up Against Corporate Greed: 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.
UAW Members at GM Ratify New Agreement: "The longest and largest automotive strike in decades came to an end this week as UAW members employed by General Motors Co. ratified the tentative agreement between the union and the automaker. Nearly 50,000 UAW members went on strike Sept. 16 seeking fair wages, affordable quality health care, profit sharing, job security and a defined path to permanent seniority for temps. With the victory of the UAW members, working people across the country lauded the strikers and thanked them for standing up against corporate greed."
‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: Flexing Labor’s Muscle: "On the latest episode of 'State of the Unions,' podcast co-host Tim Schlittner talks to union member and Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.) about strikes, trade, health care, LGBTQ equality and the freedom to form a union."
LGBT History Month Pathway to Progress: The Founding of Pride At Work: "History has long been portrayed as a series of 'great men' taking great action to shape the world we live in. In recent decades, however, social historians have focused more on looking at history "from the bottom up," studying the vital role that working people played in our heritage. Working people built, and continue to build, the United States. In our series, Pathway to Progress, we'll take a look at various people, places and events where working people played a key role in the progress our country has made, including those who are making history right now. In honor of LGBT History Month, we will take a look at the founding of Pride At Work."
Egregious Worker Rights Violations Cause Thailand to Lose Trade Benefits: "On Friday, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced it will withdraw preferential tariffs for many imports from Thailand due to egregious, ongoing worker rights violations in the country. As highlighted in submissions by the AFL-CIO going back to 2013, the government of Thailand actively retaliates against workers and allows the worst forms of exploitation and abuse, including forced labor, to proliferate throughout its economy."
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: National Air Traffic Controllers Association: "Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the National Air Traffic Controllers Association."
Union Apprenticeship 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."
Building Pathways: 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."
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association: "Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association."
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/04/2019 - 12:30
A Boss Is a Boss: Labor Podcast and Radio Roundup
In addition to the AFL-CIO's own "State of the Unions," there are a lot of other podcasts out there that have their own approach to discussing labor issues and the rights of working people. Here are the latest podcasts from across the labor movement in the United States.
Belabored Podcast #186: 'A Boss Is a Boss': Two organizers discuss recent efforts to unionize nonprofit workers. Plus: an interview with Chicago teacher Kenzo Shibata about the first day on the picket line. With Sarah Jaffe and Michelle Chen.
Building Bridges: 'Analyzing Bernie Sanders’ Workplace Democracy Plan': "Shaun Richman is an In These Times contributing writer and the program director of the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center for Labor Studies at SUNY Empire State College. Senator Bernie Sanders has announced his Workplace Democracy Plan to build worker power on the job by protecting unionizing and strikes by workers. In many ways it goes back to the intent of New Deal Legislation, which has been seriously weakened over the years by right wing legislation and court decisions. But it also builds on them calling for new private and public sector workers rights and forms of union representation that transcend the National Labor Relations Board framework of enterprise based contract bargaining."
CTU Speaks! 'Five Days Later!': Five days into the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) strike, Jim sits down with Cook County Commissioner, CTU member and former middle school teacher Brandon Johnson. Brandon puts the strike in historical context and helps us understand it as a potential pivot point for the city, while also underscoring the ways that CTU has been impactful for labor and education across the country.
Heartland Labor Forum: 'Disappearing the Poor and the New Servant Economy of Wealth Jobs': "The Trump administration wants to redefine who is poor. Experts say they want to disappear the poor. Then, Mark Muro of Brookings Institute will talk to us about wealth work. That’s the growing number of jobs in what’s called the 'new servant economy.' Thursday at 6 p.m., rebroadcast Friday at 5 a.m. on KKFI 90.1 FM or streaming."
Labor History Today: 'Immigrant Girl, Radical Woman': "On this week’s show: Robbin Légère Henderson talks about her grandmother, Matilda Rabinowitz Robbins, on the Tales from the Reuther Library podcast. Henderson shares stories from Robbins’ autobiography, Immigrant Girl, Radical Woman: A Memoir from the Early Twentieth Century, explaining how the optimism of a 13-year-old immigrant from the Ukraine was soon undone by the realities of working in garment sweatshops on the East Coast, leading to Matilda Robbins’ brief but influential role as a labor organizer for the International Workers of the World from 1912 to 1917. She was one of only two women organizers for the IWW during its early years, along with Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. Plus a clip from 'Mother Jones in Heaven,' a one-woman musical by Si Kahn, starring Vivian Nesbitt as 'Mother' Jones, with musical accompaniment by John Dillon, recently performed at The Robin Theatre in Lansing, Michigan."
Union City Radio: Airs weekdays at 7:15 a.m. on WPFW 89.3 FM. Bus drivers strike in Lorton, Virginia; hotel workers settle in Baltimore; STRIKE! The game of worker rebellion; Washington, D.C., residents urged to testify at City Council health committee hearing; D.C. janitors approve contract.
Union Strong: "TWU Local 100 is in a contract fight with the MTA. We cover everything from the Trash Train competition to the trash email that went public, all on the day of a massive rally taking place tonight in NYC."
Willamette Wake Up: Features an interview with Graham Trainor, the new president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. We cover racism and sexism, some features of labor's program in Oregon, the recent Oregon AFL-CIO convention, and some of labor's challenges and opportunities. KMUZ is at 100.7 or 88.5 in the Keizer-Salem-Turner area, or at https://kmuz.org regardless of where you are. Our labor segment will run at around 8:10 a.m. on Friday morning.
Working History: Making the Woman Worker: "On SLSA's latest Working History podcast, 'Making the Woman Worker,' Eileen Boris discusses her new book, Making the Woman Worker: Precarious Labor and the Fight for Global Standards, 1919-2019, the history of the International Labor Organization's labor protections for women, domestic and home workers in the global north and global south, and ongoing fights to recognize precarious labor from the care economy to the gig economy."
Your Rights At Work: Health care in southeast D.C. with Ward 8 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Chris Hawthorne, District of Columbia Nurses Association nurse Roberta Lenoir and organizer Djawa Hall with SEIU 1199. Plus latest labor news updates. Thursdays 1-2 p.m. on WPFW 89.3 FM.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/04/2019 - 12:20Tags: Podcast
Economy Gains 128,000 Jobs in October; Unemployment Up Slightly to 3.6%
The U.S. economy gained 128,000 jobs in October, and the unemployment rate increased slightly to 3.6%, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In response to the October job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
Unemployment rates for whites and Blacks continue to converge, last year, Black over white unemployment was 6.2:3.3 and now is at 5.4:3.2. A reminder of what some @federalreserve argued couldn't happen without extreme inflation. Full employment is good for everyone @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 1, 2019After last year's revisions downward, and a continuation of the trend to start the year, the good news is @BLS_gov has revised August and September numbers up a combined 95,000. This brings average payroll gains to 176,000 over the last 3 months; a good sign. @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 1, 2019Jobs in food services continue to grow--despite the industry whining about increased minimum wages. Last month @BLS_gov reported gains of 48,000 with a 3 month average gain of 38,000. The House has passed @BobbyScott bill to #Fightfor15, but Mitch McConnell--crickets. @AFLCIO
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 1, 2019September and October, Local government employment has finally recovered to its July 2008 level, over 11 years ago. That means we still have fewer @AFSCME @IAFFNewsDesk, @AFTunion per person than back then. Lower public investment is not good. @AFLCIO @RepRoKhanna pic.twitter.com/z9eiDemkDk
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 1, 2019Part of the average wage problem is that lower than average wage industries (the bottom half of the graph) are showing much greater job gains (the farther right on the graph) than higher wage industries: Why state minimum wage increases are pushing up wages. #Fightfor15 @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/igabWzyQyP
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 1, 2019It is troubling that despite many improvements in unemployment rates, long term unemployment remains a bigger problem than before 2008. It helps explain the frustration many people experience, despite low unemployment rates. @AFLCIO #JobsReport pic.twitter.com/jOr7WwzpQe
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 1, 2019Despite a slightly accelerated rate of job growth the last 3 months, the broadest measure of labor market slack (including those who are part-time but want full-time work and discouraged workers) has been essentially flat. @AFLCIO #JobsReport pic.twitter.com/Se0UyzMiiS
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 1, 2019#OneJobShouldbeEnough @IWPResearch @HeidiatIWPR 5.7% of women are working two jobs, and the number working two full-time jobs is up over last October. #Fightfor15 America needs a raise. @BobbyScott got the House to pass a raise, Mitch McConnell is doing nothing! @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/NjWZlsnUdN
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 1, 2019The problem for the long-term unemployed is not easily explained by some skill bias, since unemployment rates for all education levels have fallen back to 2008 levels--though the college educated are a slight bit higher. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/AseiIaI9D4
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) November 1, 2019Last month's biggest job gains were in food services and drinking places (48,000), professional and business services (22,000), social assistance (20,000), financial activities (16,000), and health care (15,000). Manufacturing employment decreased by 36,000 and federal government employment was down 17,000 as a large group of temporary census workers completed their work. Employment in other major industries, including mining, construction, wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, and information, showed little change over the month.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for teenagers (12.3%), blacks (5.4%), Hispanics (4.1%), adult men (3.2%), whites (3.2%), adult women (3.2%) and Asians (2.9%) showed little or no change in October.
The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) declined in October and accounted for 21.5% of the unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/04/2019 - 10:21‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: Flexing Labor’s Muscle
On the latest episode of “State of the Unions,” podcast co-host Tim Schlittner talks to union member and Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.) about strikes, trade, health care, LGBTQ equality and the freedom to form a union.
Listen to our previous episodes:
- A chat with Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (IUPAT, IAM) about his path to power and the experiences that have shaped his life and career.
- Talking to Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) about worker power, automation, trade and his decision to stay in the U.S. Senate.
- Checking in with AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council Executive Director Brad Markell about the UAW strike at General Motors and interviewing Veena Dubal, an associate law professor at UC Hastings College of the Law, whose work helped pave the way for passage of A.B. 5, the landmark pro-worker legislation in California.
- SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris discussing the future of work, sexual harassment and her journey from young actor to labor leader.
- North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Chief of Staff Mike Monroe exploring the Department of Labor proposal that would undermine world-class apprenticeships in the construction industry.
- A discussion with Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Montserrat Garibay (Education Austin/AFT-NEA) in the wake of the deadly mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.
“State of the Unions” is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and anywhere else you can find podcasts.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/30/2019 - 11:49Tags: Podcast
UAW Members at GM Ratify New Agreement
The longest and largest automotive strike in decades came to an end this week as UAW members employed by General Motors Co. ratified the tentative agreement between the union and the automaker. Nearly 50,000 UAW members went on strike Sept. 16 seeking fair wages, affordable quality health care, profit sharing, job security and a defined path to permanent seniority for temps. With the victory of the UAW members, working people across the country lauded the strikers and thanked them for standing up against corporate greed. Here's what people said:
Terry Dittes, UAW vice president and director of the UAW-GM Department:
General Motors members have spoken. We are all so incredibly proud of UAW-GM members who captured the hearts and minds of a nation. Their sacrifice and courageous stand addressed the two-tier wages structure and permanent temporary worker classification that has plagued working class Americans.
We want to once again thank our members’ families and their local communities for their outpouring of support. Our members not only joined together in solidarity but felt the support of their whole community throughout this important stand.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA):
I’ve never felt prouder to be a union member. Backed by millions of brothers, sisters and friends across the country, UAW members stood together to win the fair treatment that they’ve earned over years of selfless sacrifice. I commend the UAW’s national negotiators for standing firm to deliver on what their members demanded and hope this will bring an end to one of the most courageous fights I have ever seen.
This is the latest victory in a wave of collective action happening across America. Working people won’t allow greed to dictate our lives, and we won’t tolerate a system that’s been rigged against us. Bosses everywhere should take note—we’re not going to take it anymore.
UAW:
Today, after five weeks of intense negotiations, the UAW GM National Negotiators and UAW GM Vice President Terry Dittes announced the achievement of a Proposed Tentative Agreement with General Motors.
— UAW (@UAW) October 16, 2019The National Negotiators, elected by their local unions, achieved major wins for members in the Proposed Tentative Agreement. The negotiators voted to recommend the National Council accept the Proposed Tentative Agreement as the agreement represents major gains for workers.
— UAW (@UAW) October 16, 2019The number one priority of the national negotiation team has been to secure a strong and fair contract that our members deserve,” said UAW Vice President Terry Dittes, Director of the UAW GM Department.
— UAW (@UAW) October 16, 2019There is no change to health care and no additional costs to members in the UAW-GM Tentative Agreement. #Bargaining2019 pic.twitter.com/vn68vIybiv
— UAW (@UAW) October 18, 2019The UAW-GM Tentative Agreement provides a defined path to permanent seniority for temporary workers and includes improved time off policies and new restrictions on GM's use of temporary employees. #Bargaining2019 pic.twitter.com/HI81ltsdeR
— UAW (@UAW) October 19, 2019The UAW-GM Tentative Agreement maintains and extends the benefits of the current Legal Services Plan. #Bargaining2019 pic.twitter.com/1p1G0MuV6q
— UAW (@UAW) October 20, 2019UAW General Motors members ratified the 2019 Collective Bargaining Agreement this evening ending the longest automotive strike in 50 years. https://t.co/Ijap4brQdX
— UAW (@UAW) October 25, 2019Indiana State AFL-CIO:
The #UAWStrike in photos ? https://t.co/h6TLUjmpnf
— Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) October 29, 2019Florida AFL-CIO:
After one of the longest strikes in modern history, UAW members achieved their goals of better pay and fair treatment. The strike shows that when we fight together, we win! https://t.co/xGQwI7TFHd
— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) October 29, 2019 Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/30/2019 - 08:41LGBT History Month Pathway to Progress: The Founding of Pride At Work
History has long been portrayed as a series of "great men" taking great action to shape the world we live in. In recent decades, however, social historians have focused more on looking at history "from the bottom up," studying the vital role that working people played in our heritage. Working people built, and continue to build, the United States. In our series, Pathway to Progress, we'll take a look at various people, places and events where working people played a key role in the progress our country has made, including those who are making history right now. In honor of LGBT History Month, we will take a look at the founding of Pride At Work (P@W).
Prior to 1969, the labor movement mostly ignored issues that affected LGBTQ working people. The events at Stonewall Inn and the rebellion that followed woke up many in the ranks of labor to the need to step up efforts to include all workers, including our LGBTQ siblings. After Stonewall, unions began to recognize that discrimination based on sexual orientation was another assault on working people, one that victimized union members and weakened efforts at solidarity among working families.
As the 1970s began, the AFT was the first union to pass a resolution against discrimination based on sexual orientation. In 1974, the Teamsters worked with the LGBTQ community members in San Francisco on a boycott against the anti-union Coors Brewing Co. Over the next few decades, support for LGBTQ rights in the labor movement continued to grow. The AFL-CIO passed a resolution that called for legislation to ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. More and more unions started creating LGBTQ caucuses and opened up space for LGBTQ workers to be activists and open about their sexual orientation.
While some unions took the lead, the labor movement was largely silent on issues related to LGBTQ rights and issues. This lead LGBTQ union activists to come together to form Pride At Work. The activists met in New York in 1994, the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion. Earlier efforts at organizing had led to groups such as the Lesbian and Gay Labor Alliance (in the San Francisco Bay Area), the Lesbian and Gay Labor Network (New York) and the Gay and Lesbian Labor Activists Network (New England). Efforts such of these would eventually be consolidated into a larger LGBTQ workers organization, Pride At Work. In 1997, the organization was officially recognized by AFL-CIO as a constituency group.
Among Pride At Work's first campaigns were efforts to pressure Chrysler to ban anti-LGBTQ discrimination. Chrysler made the requested changes in 1999 and Ford and General Motors soon followed. Domestic partner benefits were gained a year later. Later, in 2005, P@W successfully convinced the AFL-CIO to support marriage equality. In 2012, the AFL-CIO supported the legal case that led to the national legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
Today, Pride At Work continues to educate the labor movement and wider culture about the importance of unions for LGBTQ workers and the value those workers provide employers. Pride@Work also supports electoral candidates that support LGBTQ workers and helps LGBTQ working people run for political office.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/29/2019 - 11:55Tags: Pride at Work
Egregious Worker Rights Violations Cause Thailand to Lose Trade Benefits
On Friday, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced it will withdraw preferential tariffs for many imports from Thailand due to egregious, ongoing worker rights violations in the country. As highlighted in submissions by the AFL-CIO going back to 2013, the government of Thailand actively retaliates against workers and allows the worst forms of exploitation and abuse, including forced labor, to proliferate throughout its economy.
Numerous reports document rampant forced labor in the fishing sector, however, extreme worker rights violations are present throughout the Thai economy, with both Thai workers and migrant workers facing repression and abuse. The government severely limits all workers’ ability to form and join unions, does not enforce collective bargaining and prevents workers from striking. The meager protections that do exist are not enforced.
The Thai government targets independent labor leaders and activists. The government fined seven leaders of the State Railway Union of Thailand (SRUT) $760,000 for protesting unsafe conditions following a deadly train derailment in 2009. In November 2018, the State Railway began deducting the fines from its monthly pay or retirement checks, leaving some with as little as $9 a month in take-home pay. The fines have been condemned by Thailand’s own National Human Rights Commission, but the Thai government has only increased repression in the past months. In February, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, a body that is supposed to investigate high-level government corruption, began to investigate SRUT leaders over their health and safety initiative. They are now being prosecuted under the criminal code.
Employers are allowed to retaliate against workers who organize with impunity. When companies illegally fire workers who try to organize, Thai labor officials often pressure the workers to accept meager buyouts. Mitsubishi Electric’s Thai subsidiary sent workers who tried to form a union to military re-education camps, forced them to issue personal public apologies to the company and eventually locked out all union members. Thailand’s Labor Relations Committee issued a ruling that the locked-out workers should be reinstated, but the company simply ignored it without consequence. Companies can even bring criminal defamation claims against workers and advocates who publicize abuses. For example, migrant workers who reported severe abuses at the Thammakaset chicken farm have been repeatedly sued by the company.
Thai laws enshrine systemic discrimination against migrant workers, including barring them from forming unions, which creates a vulnerable underclass ripe for exploitation. Trafficked migrant workers are trapped at sea, sometimes for years, forced to sleep in cramped quarters and fed as little as a plate of rice a day. Those too ill to work are sometimes thrown overboard. Unfortunately, human trafficking and forced labor are not confined to sea work, but appear across the economy, including in agriculture, construction and domestic work.
These abhorrent practices must end. Thailand was the second largest recipient of preferential trade benefits under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in 2017. The decision to suspend benefits sends a strong message that countries should not seek a competitive advantage in global trade by artificially lowering labor costs through oppression. This is a rare example of a U.S. trade policy that attempts to create incentives to protect and respect human rights, and it is welcome news that is finally being applied in Thailand. Workers should share in the wealth they create, and we hope that the economic pressure of GSP suspension will lead the Thai government to change course and allow workers to exercise their fundamental rights.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/28/2019 - 12:39Tags: Thailand
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
Name of Union: National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).
Mission: To advance the status, professionalism and working conditions of all air traffic controllers and other aviation safety-related employees through collective bargaining, political action and other lawful concerted activity.
Current Leadership of Union: Paul Rinaldi has served as president of NATCA since 2009. He is the sixth person to hold that position. In July 2018, Rinaldi won re-election to serve an unprecedented fourth three-year term. Prior to being elected president, Rinaldi served as executive vice president for three years. He previously served as an air traffic controller at the Dulles International Airport control tower for 16 years. Working with Rinaldi, Trish Gilbert serves as executive vice president. She also has been in that position since 2009 and is serving an unprecedented fourth term. Prior to her election, Gilbert worked for 21 years as an air traffic controller at Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center. Rinaldi, Gilbert and 10 regional vice presidents make up NATCA’s National Executive Board.
Number of Members: 15,878.
Members Work As: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers, traffic management coordinators and specialists, flight service station air traffic controllers in Alaska, staff support specialists, engineers and architects and other aviation safety professionals, as well as Department of Defense and private sector Federal Contract Tower air traffic controllers.
Industries Represented: All aspects of aviation safety in the United States.
History: In 1968, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) formed. The union represented air traffic controllers until 1981 when it went on strike, and President Ronald Reagan fired all of the striking controllers.
In the mid-1980s, with the help of AFGE, the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association and John F. Thornton, who had been active in PATCO, FAA controllers began organizing a new union. The NATCA founding convention was held in late 1986. In addition to forming the new organization, this organizing effort brought solidarity back to the profession. In 1987, NATCA was certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority as the exclusive representative of air traffic controllers.
NATCA quickly realized the importance of how politics affect federal employees’ rights, pay and working conditions. In 1989, it embarked on its efforts to become a legislative and political powerhouse.
Throughout the 1990s, NATCA worked zealously to transform pay for controllers, working with Congress to exclude FAA from the statutory pay system in 1996, and ultimately negotiating a new pay system based upon air traffic volume and complexity in 1998.
The same year, NATCA became a direct affiliate of the AFL-CIO and organized the FAA’s Engineers and Architects bargaining unit, its first unit of non-operational FAA employees.
In 2006, after several months of bargaining, the FAA walked away from the table in order to exploit a provision of the 1996 collective bargaining law and, on Labor Day weekend, unilaterally imposed terms and conditions of employment, including a 30% cut to the pay bands at that time. This attempt at union busting only made NATCA stronger. The membership rallied and became more politically active. Solidarity soared as Rinaldi coined the phrase, “our collective spirit is their enemy.”
Shortly after President Barack Obama was sworn in, he ordered the parties back to the table and a fair collective bargaining agreement was reached in short order. NATCA then moved forward with half-a-million grievances that reached the arbitration stage during the imposed work rules.
NATCA worked hard to change the law to ensure that no work rules would ever be imposed again, and Congress passed binding mediation-arbitration for all future negotiations.
The 2009 agreement allowed NATCA to forge a new collaborative relationship with the FAA, working together to develop and implement new technologies and procedures to make the National Aviation System (NAS) safer and more efficient. The parties developed the “Partnership for Safety,” which includes programs to address safety concerns in the operation, fatigue education and awareness, managing distractions in the NAS, and professional standards, among other things.
Always pushing the envelope for federal sector bargaining, NATCA’s 2016 agreement with the FAA formalized the collaborative process to ensure that it was not subject to the political winds.
Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: Every day, NATCA members control more than 70,000 flights as over 2 million passengers move through our NAS. Most of NATCA’s members are federal employees, and NATCA fights to protect federal workers and their rights. NATCA has long advocated for a stable, predictable funding stream that supports air traffic control services, staffing, hiring and training, long-term modernization projects, preventative maintenance and ongoing modernization to the physical infrastructure of the United States. Current stop-and-go funding jeopardizes the safety, efficiency and capacity of the NAS. This year’s 35-day government shutdown pushed the system to the brink of unraveling.
Although NATCA is busy with its advocacy efforts 365 days a year, its advocacy culminates each year at its annual lobbying event NATCA in Washington.
NATCA’s commitment to safety and training is on display each year with its Communicating For Safety (CFS) event that has become the world’s largest aviation safety conference. At CFS, NATCA presents the Archie League Medal of Safety Awards to recognize the best saves by controllers and other aviation safety professionals each year.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/28/2019 - 11:17Building Pathways: In the States Roundup
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter.
Alabama AFL-CIO:
Senior Senator from Alabama in the making! #alpolitics https://t.co/E4dUuHqQ7N
— Alabama AFL-CIO (@AlabamaAFLCIO) October 14, 2019Alaska AFL-CIO:
Congrats to @NEAAlaska member Jesse Bjorkman for winning a seat on the KPB Assembly. Your dedication to students, parents, educators and now citizens of the KPB is just what working people need! #solidarity #1u pic.twitter.com/wIQaO6mTvA
— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) October 15, 2019Arkansas AFL-CIO:
It is a rainy Saturday in Minneapolis but the Women Build Nations ladies did not let that keep them from a HUGE banner parade this afternoon. #1u #nabtu #ARLabor #ARUnions #womeninthetrades https://t.co/foFHsrKhO3
— Arkansas AFL-CIO (@ArkansasAFLCIO) October 5, 2019California Labor Federation:
SF Court Engineers are fighting for their first contract! For years, the JCC has treated Engineers as second-class citizens with substandard training, low pay & no voice on the job. Rally w/ workers & support their struggle! More details here: https://t.co/D0rWSYSpCV @sflabor #1u
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) October 15, 2019Connecticut AFL-CIO:
In 2016, the CT Building Trades, in concert with the United Labor Agency, launched "Building Pathways CT," to put women and men through seven weeks of pre-apprenticeship training to qualify them to work in construction. @NABTU https://t.co/tAJkRYeNcC
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) October 15, 2019Florida AFL-CIO:
“We still hope to hear about what Gov. DeSantis plans to do to retain experienced teachers who have devoted years to their students." Fedrick Ingram, President of the Florida Education Association said on the proposed raise.https://t.co/Ry1byxx9en
— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) October 14, 2019Indiana State AFL-CIO:
Poverty-level pay, harsh working conditions and gender discrimination are commonplace on the farms and plantations that supply tea, fruit and vegetables to the world’s supermarkets. #1u https://t.co/gddDll4wu0
— Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) October 14, 2019Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO:
Were Iowa GOP Legislators At ALEC Gerrymandering Panel? - Iowa Starting Line https://t.co/F7LbJi0gPC
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) October 4, 2019Maine AFL-CIO:
Check out the new Weekly Maine Labor News ➡️Ellsworth Nurses & Techs Fight for a Fair Contract, Maine AFL-CIO 32nd Biennial Convention & more! https://t.co/F0w8tv5RHD #1U #UnionStrong @AFLCIO @MeNursesUnion #mepolitics
— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) October 10, 2019Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
Fighting for justice for women, immigrants, and low wage workers. @UNITEHERE26 members show us today with their strike at the Battery Wharf and everyday There Is Power in a Union! @billybragg #1u #solidarity #strike pic.twitter.com/zrYXetbJoM
— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) October 4, 2019Metro Washington (D.C.) Council AFL-CIO:
Bailey the picketing pooch, on the @UAW picket line in White Marsh pic.twitter.com/D7ECJsiCm8
— MetroDCLaborCouncil (@DCLabor) October 15, 2019Michigan AFL-CIO:
We will continue to stand in solidarity with our UAW brothers and sisters. We know that when they win their fight for fair pay and affordable health care that it will be a victory for all working families. #StandWithUs #GMstrikehttps://t.co/AAZrtM29zQ
— Michigan AFL-CIO (@MIAFLCIO) October 9, 2019Minnesota AFL-CIO:
AP analysis: Most states lack laws protecting LGBT workers https://t.co/KtacGkBUPx Minnesota has many protections on the books because workers advocated for them and we had lawmakers who listened. Another reason why elections matter. #1u #mnleg pic.twitter.com/0o68d3tgo2
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) October 15, 2019Missouri AFL-CIO:
Congrats to our friend @walshgina! https://t.co/GnGiaxeuvR
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) October 6, 2019Montana AFL-CIO:
The PRO Act would provide clear definitions and tests for when a worker is an employee, an independent contractor, or a supervisor, and when a boss is an employer. Tell @GregForMontana to support working Montanans and vote yes on H.R. 2474. pic.twitter.com/bC3hQM27ja
— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) October 14, 2019Nebraska State AFL-CIO:
The Nebraska State AFL-CIO is 63 years old today!
— NE State AFL-CIO (@NEAFLCIO) October 8, 2019New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
Watch Pres. Glenn Brackett at today's NHDP Convention addressing 15,000 friends and allies at https://t.co/OQB8giXmQC. pic.twitter.com/WCm0GIk2CC
— NewHampshire AFL-CIO (@NHAFLCIO) September 7, 2019New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO:
We stand with @UA_UNM as they prepare to vote!#Solidarity #1u https://t.co/Qj79kCjG7j
— NMFL (@NMFLaflcio) October 15, 2019New York State AFL-CIO:
#UnionStrong volunteers out walking doors this weekend for local candidates that support working people! Check with your local Union or Area Labor Federation for volunteer opportunities. pic.twitter.com/hGAUlDE0Xd
— NYSAFLCIO (@NYSAFLCIO) October 12, 2019North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
#ncpol #1u #elections pic.twitter.com/mPOBCaPRC3
— NC State AFL-CIO (@NCStateAFLCIO) October 6, 2019Ohio AFL-CIO:
#Ohio @AFLCIO President Tim Burga talks to what @TheDemocrats have done and are doing for @AFLCIO #Union members and all working people. Like @DNC Chair @TomPerez stated today, with these issues on the forefront, we are a battleground state pic.twitter.com/yQGhTPdNYY
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) October 15, 2019Oklahoma State AFL-CIO:
Check out our October Newsletter with information on The Future and Unions, Oklahoma Labor Hall of Fame, this years YELL Conference, Organizing Training, Union Made Halloween and more!
Check it out here: https://t.co/N1dYjUN2cS
Oregon AFL-CIO:
Our newly elected president Graham Trainor sat down with @OregonBusiness to share insight into why unions are rising up for workers' rights and where our movement is headed.#1u #UnionStrong #OregonLaborhttps://t.co/xCYWVfj23G
— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) October 15, 2019Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
Union members at @Mack trucks are standing up for living wages and respect for worker dignity! Show them your support! @UAW strong ?! pic.twitter.com/NLBnnnD2HL
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) October 14, 2019Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
Read this week's E-News: https://t.co/v6umLj1t77 #1U #Union #Unions #UnionStrong #Solidarity #AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/QWyADYu0Bi
— Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) October 10, 2019Texas AFL-CIO:
A historical marker went up to commemorate farm workers who went on strike in June of 1966. https://t.co/jllzP0BtzS via @kiii3news
— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) October 14, 2019Virginia AFL-CIO:
Unions Sue @USDA Seeking to Halt New Pork Processing Rules -- Read why here: https://t.co/XWFHPGVLAS @USDAFoodSafety @UFCW #UnionStrong #SafetyFirst #WorkerSafety pic.twitter.com/DN5Td7QYjf
— Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) October 8, 2019Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:
WSLC President Larry Brown joins business and environmental leaders in urging NO on I-976: "This isn’t just about commute times, it’s also about jobs." #NoOn976https://t.co/NIvEQGG6O8
— WA State AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) October 14, 2019West Virginia AFL-CIO:
To those interested in running for the WV Supreme Court, please contact us. @WVStateBar ? pic.twitter.com/PfkjpKC2q4
— West Virginia AFLCIO (@WestVirginiaAFL) October 14, 2019Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
Milwaukee bus drivers are pretty much superheroes at this point, https://t.co/5qh0JOboN4
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) October 13, 2019 Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/25/2019 - 14:55Union Apprenticeship 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:
This Friday on the campus of Savannah State, the Savannah State chapter youth program will be having a meet and greet on campus to discuss the importance of being a part of this organization! Please let all know to stop by our table on campus this Fri during Homecomings Yard Fest pic.twitter.com/q0myjLBKxV
— APRI National (DC) (@APRI_National) October 21, 2019Actors' Equity:
Equity members have voted to ratify the tentative agreement with the Broadway League for a new contract – the last step required to approve the new contract.
Visit the Member Portal for more details - https://t.co/S5cppuLfmC pic.twitter.com/CkXzfOE0sU
AFGE:
"I am convinced that the path now chosen, if allowed to continue, will leave veterans with fewer options, a severely weakened VA, and a private health care system not designed to meet the complex requirements of high-need veterans." -- Former VA Secretary David Shulkin #SaveOurVA
— AFGE (@AFGENational) October 23, 2019AFSCME:
AFSCME members help make the wheels of a unique bus go round https://t.co/vjAH8QERMY pic.twitter.com/f51YswuzbI
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) October 22, 2019AFT:
It's time for @ChicagosMayor to keep her promises to Chicago's students & educators and #PutItInWriting in the contract. RT to support @CTULocal1 & @SEIU73! #FairContractNow #FundOurFuture pic.twitter.com/9V7cOFhycn
— AFT (@AFTunion) October 16, 2019Air Line Pilots Association:
The FAA has FAILED to meet a key AVIATION SAFETY DEADLINE set by Congress last year. Congress mandated the full implementation of #SecondaryBarriers on all newly-manufactured passenger aircraft to prevent another 9/11-style terrorist attack. Implement secondary barriers NOW. pic.twitter.com/AtFcO7VZiP
— ALPA (@WeAreALPA) October 17, 2019Alliance for Retired Americans:
Indiana Alliance Member Pam Alvey needs 20 prescriptions to treat her diabetes and other chronic conditions. She has to pay more than $2,000 a month for her medicine. Retirees can't afford this any more. We need #LowerDrugCostsNow! #HR3 pic.twitter.com/YeTdo6A033
— Alliance Retirees (@ActiveRetirees) October 16, 2019Amalgamated Transit Union:
International President John Costa joined with @AFLCIO Exec. VP Tefere Gebre, @MineWorkers President Cecil Roberts and union members in Northern Virginia to rally support for ATU Local 689 Cinder Bed workers. #TogetherWeFightTogetherWeWin pic.twitter.com/IUlfnsGZDP
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) October 19, 2019American Federation of Musicians:
Musicians outside @NABShow again today. @Disney, @MGM_Studios, @NBCUniversal, @Sony, @Viacom, & @WarnerMediaGrp need to respect musicians by paying us fairly for ALL of our work on ALL platforms ALL the time! #1u #BandTogether ✊?✊?✊??? pic.twitter.com/lnA047Qg84
— AFM (@The_AFM) October 17, 2019American Postal Workers Union:
APWU Assistant Clerk Craft Director (B) Lynn Pallas-Barber testifies now about the need for improvements in the contract specifically for PTF and PSE issues. #GoodContractNOW #APWUnited pic.twitter.com/Qc909BNoum
— APWU National (@APWUnational) October 23, 2019Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
APALA stands in solidarity with striking Chicago Teachers and Staff! ✊?#CTUSEIUStrike #FairContractNow @CTULocal1 @SEIU73
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How can you help?
✔️Attend your local picket line!
✔️Donate: https://t.co/aGyOFqFRwx
✔️More ways you can support: https://t.co/mhIXTe1k5E pic.twitter.com/td9A1CHvAr
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
In response to @afa_cwa's advocacy and Members of Congress, the Federal Aviation Administration told lawmakers it agrees that passenger aircrafts should carry “opioid antagonists - naloxone - in emergency medical kits.” https://t.co/1JkwC4OT9X
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) October 22, 2019Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
“What Washington doesn’t understand is that workers sat at the negotiating table and gave up raises because they were counting on these pensions when they retired.” -@SenSherrodBrown #SaveOurPensionshttps://t.co/AJ2ZcRS8w3
— BCTGM International (@BCTGM) October 23, 2019Boilermakers:
Great, easy-to-understand piece by @CarbonWrangler on industrial impact on climate change, and solutions. Give it a read: https://t.co/wVTasXyRL2 #CCUS
— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) October 22, 2019Bricklayers:
Union #apprenticeship works. #1u https://t.co/jMGUIuSCie
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) October 22, 2019California School Employees Association:
Bus safety and the safety of students and classified employees is incredibly important to CSEA.
— CSEA (@CSEA_Now) October 22, 2019Coalition of Black Trade Unionists:
Breaking Now:
Statement from @RepCummings’s wife, Maya, on his passing: “He worked until his last breath because he believed our democracy was the highest and best expression of our collective humanity and that our nation’s diversity was our promise, not out problem.” R.I.P. #1u pic.twitter.com/NcKpUc1Ev7
Coalition of Labor Union Women:
CLUW Convention Reax https://t.co/I3zmksIUFY #CLUWSNAP2019
— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) October 19, 2019Communications Workers of America:
GREAT NEWS! After round-the-clock bargaining, CWA Local 1298 has reached a tentative agreement with Frontier Communications! The TA includes job security, raises, no increase for healthcare, & more - visit https://t.co/S2X6VPr9mh for more details. Congrats & GREAT WORK, 1298!! ? pic.twitter.com/BWO7eDfG0J
— CWA District 1 (@CWADistrict1) October 21, 2019Department for Professional Employees:
Banning salary histories is an important step in closing the wage gap. #wagegap #1u https://t.co/1aDEk3YeNE
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) October 23, 2019Electrical Workers:
Congratulations to the San Diego New Children's Museum employees on voting to join the #IBEW. @ibew465 pic.twitter.com/lHYFjmgpyo
— IBEW (@IBEW) October 21, 2019Farm Labor Organizing Committee:
Some of you signed a petition calling for 5 eastern NC farms to stop the human rights/labor abuse on their farms. If you still haven't signed, click below. Here is an update from the Rocky Mountain Telegram: https://t.co/8vwGVwHLWu https://t.co/miAxiysgkT
— Farm Labor Organizing Committee (@SupportFLOC) October 22, 2019Fire Fighters:
RT @Durham668: Our inaugural #FireOps101 event was a HUGE success. Thanks to all involved! @PFFPNC @DougWStern @CityofDurhamNC @IAFFNewsDesk
Click here ⬇️ to see the videohttps://t.co/1hzDfOuRmR pic.twitter.com/BO6Zioavjh
Heat and Frost Insulators:
The Trainer Enhancement program is one of the many offered by the IIIATF designed to better our instructors and their teaching techniques, as they educate the next generation of Insulators.https://t.co/dVuHCXFt2O
— Insulators Union (@InsulatorsUnion) October 23, 2019International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
We know that the best way to improve safety is more unionized engineers! That’s why we continue to #organize at @Boeing ! https://t.co/PNABenwEL4
— IFPTE (@IFPTE) October 18, 2019International Labor Communications Association:
Announcing the winners of our annual Labor Media Awards! Congratulations to our award-winning professionals #1u https://t.co/MVCMuxS8gh
— Labor Communications (@ILCAonline) October 19, 2019Ironworkers:
Ten competitors from eight states, including New Mexico, competed in the annual apprenticeship competition at Iron Workers Local 495. #apprenticeshipcompetition https://t.co/JDwIBrSHxU
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) October 17, 2019Jobs With Justice:
STRIKE! Join Jobs With Justice and the @TESACollective for a game of worker rebellion. We are excited to partner with TESA on this groundbreaking cooperative game. Click the link to support the campaign and learn more! https://t.co/oanRCt5szb pic.twitter.com/oOZtv470w5
— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) October 21, 2019Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
Meet Rachel Macias, one of our 2019-2020 #Trabajadoras Fellows and part of the Chicago Metro LCLAA Chapter. To learn more about our Fellows gollow us on Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn. pic.twitter.com/KhuOCa4zjy
— LCLAA (@LCLAA) October 22, 2019Laborers:
We are #LIUNA. A strong, proud & united group of working class warriors! LIKE & SHARE IF YOU AGREE. #FeelthePower #QOTD #WednesdayWisdom #quotes pic.twitter.com/FVaek0DJIU
— LIUNA (@LIUNA) October 23, 2019Longshoremen:
Senior @ILAUnion @TheILAmobileApp Vice President Ronald Capri Passes Away At 85. Services this Wed. & Thurs. in Union, NJ. https://t.co/P09IoScZgy pic.twitter.com/rMGGODJf89
— Int'l LongshoreAssoc (@ILAUnion) October 15, 2019Machinists:
Great to host new IAM Financial Officers at IAM Headquarters after a long week of learning at our @IAMW3Center! pic.twitter.com/jOD2Zj5n4J
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) October 18, 2019Maritime Trades Department:
The MTD urges all to pro active & support the Protecting the Right to Organize Act. #BePROActive #SupportThePROAct#PROActDayofAction #PROAct
— MaritimeTrades (@Maritime_Trades) October 16, 2019Metal Trades Department:
Are unions back? GM, Chicago teacher strikes show how unions can start winning again https://t.co/US75CmVpsR
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) October 18, 2019Mine Workers:
Retired miners at @NRDems hearing and vote on miners pension and retiree health care legislation. pic.twitter.com/whEHrxJ8Rz
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) October 23, 2019Musical Artists:
Griff Braun, AGMA’s Director of Organizing and Outreach, participated in a lively discussion this past Saturday evening with freelance dancers entitled “Freelance Dancer Round Table: Organizing for Power” #AGMA #UnionStrong #StepsonBroadway #DANC #StepsBeyondFoundation #WeAreAGMA pic.twitter.com/bFU7LM4SiC
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) October 21, 2019National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
NATCA’s NEB traveled to Detroit recently for the Strategic Leadership Meeting with FAA leadership. The NEB also met with members from the Region X Detroit Airports District Office, which has achieved 100 percent NATCA membership. Great job, #NATCAfamily! pic.twitter.com/gHAEZw3xRJ
— NATCA (@NATCA) October 23, 2019National Association of Letter Carriers:
Legislation in Pennsylvania would let any voter mail in a ballot, eliminate the ballot option for straight party-ticket voting and move voter-registration deadlines closer to elections. https://t.co/guJxSRLfND #voting
— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) October 23, 2019National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
Communities in Orange County?bring the call to action at #WeCelebrateSanctuaryHere Community Festival: Its time to #BringHumanRightsHome. Will local officials continue to enable hate groups or get on the right side of history?
#UnmaskHate #AltoSheriffs#ICEoutofLittleSaigon pic.twitter.com/wB1NA4UfSy
National Domestic Workers Alliance:
The moment that domestic workers in Philadelphia learned their hard work and organizing is paying off — we are one step closer to passing a #DomesticWorkersBillofRights in Philadelphia! pic.twitter.com/J2W5zzwDWk
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) October 23, 2019National Nurses United:
Sherry a new grandmother at 49, with stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma, raised $20 of her $20,000 goal to pay for treatment.
For every viral story of fundraising for #healthcare, there are thousands of medical campaigns that don't get funded. #MedicareForAll https://t.co/N3SrqsIa8T
National Taxi Workers Alliance:
A pattern is emerging. They also skipped a NY hearing on how gig workers are (mis)classified. https://t.co/CcYmYhMXG3
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) October 18, 2019The NewsGuild-CWA:
And all of @news_guild @CWAUnion will be rooting for you! https://t.co/EL2BA2nY8B
— NewsGuild (@news_guild) October 23, 2019NFL Players Association:
.@MackHollins and @BostonScott2 took part in the @Eagles Charitable Foundation’s Vision to Learn event, where 50 students in need received eyeglasses. pic.twitter.com/cMuBi9y3lP
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) October 22, 2019North America's Building Trades Unions:
Looks like a few Detroit high schoolers got familiar with the #BuildingTrades this week ?
More than 500 (!!) Detroit-area students attended a local event with dozens of hands-on demonstrations! Check it out:
https://t.co/b1Y2OKPG0r
Office and Professional Employees:
“Under capitalism, there really is no more powerful weapon for ordinary workers than if they can collectively walk off the job and interfere with the only thing the employer cares about,” said @rsgexp. “Which is not about their workers.” #1u https://t.co/mkE9HEae99
— OPEIU (@OPEIU) October 23, 2019Painters and Allied Trades:
When workers live in fear of deportation, they don’t feel they can report unsafe work conditions, and contractors exploit and abuse workers. A climate of fear only leads to worker injury and death. #hardrockhotel https://t.co/9gE2TzOIOf
— GoIUPAT✊? (@GoIUPAT) October 22, 2019Plasterers and Cement Masons:
The #OPCMIA is proud to be a member of the Building Trades Alliance in Alabama and Mississippi. And we are proud of Local 148’s outstanding cement mason apprenticeship program. @southernunions #1u. https://t.co/R2VGXNTePE
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) October 23, 2019Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:
PASS in the house @CLUWNational this week! Dedicated FAA employees on leave to promote aviation safety at #CLUWSNAP2019. Great solidarity among union women; thrilled to join @lizshuler & others to organize & educate! @AFLCIO #1u #unionsolidarity #aviationsafety #publicservice pic.twitter.com/jqM5PGiklu
— PASS (@PASSNational) October 17, 2019Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
Congrats to the StoryCorps workers, @CWA1180 and @lenaruthsolow who once upon a time helped organize her coworkers at Babeland to become RWDSU members! https://t.co/bhzqi19jw5
— RWDSU (@RWDSU) October 23, 2019SAG-AFTRA:
Breaking News: The #CASEAct ‘Copyright Small Claims Court’ bill passed the US House 410-6!!! This bipartisan victory wouldn't have happened without champion @RepJeffries, a passionate coalition of orgs/unions & the 1000s of artists who made their voices heard. #MySkillsPayBills
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) October 23, 2019Solidarity Center:
Incredible interactive look at families trapped in #forcedlabor at #Pakistan brick kilns. https://t.co/TcRjU5urOv
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) October 23, 2019TCU/IAM:
"We won’t take FCA’s decision sitting down. Our families and Roanoke would be disappointed if we did. And we need our elected officials to stop lying down, and stand up and fight." - Fred Owens, President of TCU Carmen Local Lodge 6016 CC:@MachinistsUnion https://t.co/gdJ4RC8er5 pic.twitter.com/IKTGZODeSu
— Transportation Communications Union/IAM (@TCUnionHQ) October 17, 2019Theatrical Stage Employees:
Broadcast strong! Officers of broadcast locals @IATSE793 @iatse745 and @IATSE795 shared ideas and best practices at the Minneapolis Officers' Institute! pic.twitter.com/Ol0MYWMxXb
— IATSE (@IATSE) October 23, 2019Transport Workers:
Today in Orlando: @JetBlue IFC New Advocates Training #AmericasFightingDemocraticUnion #OrganizeTheSkies pic.twitter.com/9CX7WEItcM
— TWU (@transportworker) October 21, 2019Transportation Trades Department:
The findings of our new report should be a wake-up call for lawmakers & transit agencies. The ride-hailing industry’s explosive growth & popularity is based on a business model that exploits workers and undermines public transportation. Learn more: https://t.co/lDsvuCBAZY
— Transp. Trades Dept. (@TTDAFLCIO) October 16, 2019UAW:
The generosity of local businesses, faith leaders, elected officials and regular citizens has allowed members to stand strong during this strike. Thank you to everyone who has contributed! https://t.co/94OWMr7KGy
— UAW (@UAW) October 23, 2019Union Label and Service Trades Department:
Gig Workers Are Forming the World’s First Food Delivery App Unions https://t.co/7NwqeEUoWt
— Union Label Dept. (@ULSTD_AFLCIO) October 14, 2019Union Veterans Council:
Great to be working with the @VVAmerica and @ConorLambPA to help save pensions for thousands veteran Coal miners. https://t.co/QofXuA7FnM
— Union Veterans Council (@unionveterans) October 22, 2019UNITE HERE:
Since authorizing a strike when released, workers at @AmericanAir hubs across the US have protested poverty conditions in the industry—including a civil disobedience action w/ over 50 arrested near @DFWAirport, AA's largest hub. ???#AirportStrikeAlert ?| #1Job pic.twitter.com/JCcdR54O0X
— UNITE HERE (@unitehere) October 23, 2019United Food and Commercial Workers:
Fact: 80% of hourly workers have fluctuating, unpredictable schedules which is incredibly disruptive to family life.
Fact: #Union workers are far more likely to have advanced notice and consistent schedules than their non-union peers.#1u #familyvalues https://t.co/irapF9gF2n
United Steelworkers:
How We Ended Up With The Myth Of The Evil Labor Union https://t.co/55Z140FksV via @TPM #1u
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) October 23, 2019United Students Against Sweatshops:
We are so excited to announce that the 23rd USAS National Convention will be held at UC Santa Barbara on February 21-22, 2020. Register here: https://t.co/iB872iv8at pic.twitter.com/DAHuvVnoin
— USAS (@USAS) October 18, 2019United Union of Roofers and Waterproofers:
Local 30 #Roofer Jessica Perez is proof of what can happen when you enter a life-changing union #apprenticeship! Thanks to partnership between Baltimore/DC Bldg Trades + Goodwill Industries https://t.co/YywAYcuqat pic.twitter.com/vxpXIWn8Xd
— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) October 22, 2019Utility Workers:
Watch fellow union brothers and sisters each week on “Brotherhood Outdoors” on Sundays at 11 a.m. ET on the @unionsportsmen Channel! https://t.co/cOb8cFCSLs
— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) October 22, 2019Working America:
THREAD: Working America’s tracking data of our OH members was featured in a @nytimes op-ed last week by former ED Karen Nussbaum about what’s on the minds of Ohio voters ahead of 2020.
Spoiler alert: it's bold policies and real economic change. (1/7)https://t.co/G2dTIlYnER
Writers Guild of America, East:
Join BROAD CITY’s @ilazer in urging @NYGovCuomo to sign the Television Diversity Bill. You can call the Governor at 518-474-1041 and tell him to sign bills S. 5864A and A. 6683A #RepresentationMatters pic.twitter.com/GP0ImCRisa
— Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) October 22, 2019 Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 10/24/2019 - 10:45
