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Working Every Day to Elect Worker Champions: 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 X (formerly Twitter). Alaska AFL-CIO:Yesterday, President Joelle Hall participated in a forum on Ballot Measure One at the RDC breakfast. This historic initiative will:✅ Increase the Minimum Wage to $15 Over 3 Years✅ Guarantee Earned Sick Leave for Alaska's Workers ✅ Improve Worker Freedom on the Job pic.twitter.com/7Mjwd9d32S— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) October 18, 2024Arizona AFL-CIO:This morning we joined our fellow #UnionSiblings for a Labor Rally and canvass launch at Arizona Education Assiciation in support of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz!— Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) October 12, 2024California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:🚨 Stand with CVS workers, join a @ufcw324 picket line near you! ✊ https://t.co/nSH9EJzDs3— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) October 20, 2024Colorado AFL-CIO:The election is right around the corner! On November 5th, we need to show our collective powers as workers at the ballot box. We’re working everyday to elect these worker champions in November. Make sure you’re registered to vote! 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/ZLQ4Y5dgdz— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) October 17, 2024Connecticut AFL-CIO:Thanks to our incredible Connecticut @ActiveRetirees members for making phone calls and writing post cards to fellow retirees about supporting pro-worker candidates! #LaborVotes pic.twitter.com/tAmbBbH5bA— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Florida AFL-CIO:Early voting for the 2024 general election has started in several counties this morning. If you haven't voted already, find a convenient early voting location close to you at https://t.co/EugzngMA1S!— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Georgia State AFL-CIO:Need a ride to the polls? Union members and workers' rights supporters, get your voice heard. Rides provided by Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda from early voting to November 5, 2024. Schedule at https://t.co/a3DqfGznS0. 💪 #YourVoteMatters #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/xg7BggVpEb— Georgia AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOGeorgia) October 15, 2024Illinois AFL-CIO:Transportation advocates were in Springfield last week testifying on the importance of adequately funding our transit systems across IL. Access to good, public transit impacts all of us: from getting us to our jobs, our healthcare and spending time with our loved ones. #1u pic.twitter.com/3VKfsoBctO— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Maine AFL-CIO:Union member volunteers have knocked over 17,000 doors to elect pro-worker legislative candidates so far!https://t.co/TGBKBelJKD #mepolitics— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Massachusetts AFL-CIO:Don't miss the rally at South Station on Wednesday to support Keolis Commuter Rail Workers! These workers transport over 100,000 passengers in and out of Boston every weekday, yet they are the lowest paid commuter rail employees in the country. #mapoli pic.twitter.com/VVwYdSwMCj— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) October 21, 2024Michigan State AFL-CIO:This is what standing with union workers looks like. While Trump trashes Detroit, insults auto workers, and brags about denying workers overtime, Kamala Harris is fighting to save the livelihood of the working class. https://t.co/RMjc7EbkIE— Michigan AFL-CIO ✊ (@MIAFLCIO) October 17, 2024Minnesota AFL-CIO:Another great Saturday for our Labor 2024 volunteers! Want to talk to your fellow union members about our Labor-endorsed candidates? Sign up at https://t.co/RrBFREJreF #BetterInAUnion #UnionsForHarris #mnleg pic.twitter.com/qMKSbVERHW— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) October 19, 2024Missouri AFL-CIO:It's time to close the gap and secure the #PaidSickDays we deserve. Prop A also requires employers to provide 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.Vote #YesOnPropA this November to bring earned paid sick days to Missouri. pic.twitter.com/2OohA55LHz— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Nevada State AFL-CIO:Another Day Another Labor SuperWalk!When We Fight, We Win!🗳️In-Person Early Voting: Sat, 10/19 - Fri, 11/1🇺🇸Election Day: Tue, 11/5 pic.twitter.com/YEKOOjUUT1— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) October 20, 2024New York State AFL-CIO:Ready to hit the doors! #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/Er3KIeG0aT— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) October 19, 2024North Carolina State AFL-CIO:This week, the Trump-Vance campaign is making stops in North Carolina. So we’re taking this opportunity to talk about some of the top reasons why working people in NC are voting for @KamalaHarris and @Tim_Walz! 💪 🧵 #LaborVotes pic.twitter.com/kKa6PITaYM— NC State AFL-CIO // #CountMeIn (@NCStateAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Ohio AFL-CIO:We are sharing this and we hope you do, too. Not just on Twitter, but text friends and family. We can turn the corner and have a better tomorrow where the rights of every American, not just a select few, are honored. https://t.co/1JDZUoMaiD— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) October 20, 2024Oregon AFL-CIO:Join #OregonLabor this Saturday at a canvass for State Rep. and union member Hoa Nguyen and Dan Rayfield, our next Attorney General!A BBQ lunch will be provided by Portland Fire Fighters @iaff43! Sign up and get more info at https://t.co/B1B90w7Rqn pic.twitter.com/q1YjGhEZNC— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:That sea of green is going to help us GOTV in northeast PA. When we knock, WE WIN!Ready to help? 👇👇👇https://t.co/3RqtKf6D9i#Labor2024 #UnionsForHarris pic.twitter.com/TAdhlW0qdU— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) October 19, 2024Texas AFL-CIO:It's finally here!Today is the FIRST DAY of Early Vote — so get out there and fight back against the billionaires and their anti-worker puppets by making your voice heard 😤Problems voting? Call the Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE pic.twitter.com/Nr3ouOJk2g— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:Solidarity with @UniteHereLocal8 hotel workers at the Doubletree Seattle Airport and Seattle Airport Hilton!Hotel workers are on strike all over the US. Don’t cross the picket lin‼️ Check https://t.co/bciAS6IleJ before you travel. pic.twitter.com/M0XXsuZquD— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) October 18, 2024Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:Union member candidate spotlight. Dana Glasstein, candidate for Wisconsin's 22nd Assembly District, is a @WEAC member. pic.twitter.com/JZVy37sEan— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) October 21, 2024 Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/22/2024 - 13:30Continue reading→

Pushing and Kicking Those Doors Open: 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. Biden Cancels $4.5 Billion in Student Debt for Over 60,000 Public Service Workers: “President Joe Biden on Thursday said an additional $4.5 billion in student debt is being canceled for about 60,000 teachers, nurses, firefighters and others, bringing the number of public service workers to get relief during his administration to more than 1 million. More than $73 billion in loans have been forgiven under a 2007 initiative, according to an Education Department news release. Borrowers eligible for the latest round of relief should learn of their debt being cleared in coming weeks.”Boston Teachers Push for Better Wages and Working Conditions with More ‘Walk-Ins': “Boston teachers held ‘walk-ins’ outside five schools across the district Thursday morning as they continue rallying support amid ongoing contract negotiations. The Boston Teachers Union is fighting for better pay for teachers and paraprofessionals. They’re also asking for what they’re calling ‘inclusion done right’—they say the district needs to properly staff the inclusion model used in classrooms for students with special needs and English Language Learners. The union, whose contract expired on Aug. 31 right before the start of the new school year, has been in negotiations with Boston Public Schools since February. Right now, 8,000 educators are without a contract in the district.”Harris, Culinary Local 226 Are Mobilizing Their Efforts for Election Day Push in Nevada: “Before her nationally televised town hall in Las Vegas last week, Vice President Kamala Harris took part in a more private meeting. The Democratic presidential nominee made a visit to the headquarters of Culinary Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, taking photos with members and speaking about her proposals, including to tackle housing costs and price gouging. It was also an opportunity for her to remind the powerful union of their shared interests in continuing their work this fall to elect her to the White House.”Grad Students Are Unionizing in Droves. Can Postdocs Lead the Next Wave?: “When Marjorie Levinstein, 35, began working as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2021, she knew from the outset that she wanted to advocate for her fellow postdocs. At the University of Washington, where she had received her PhD in neuroscience, she saw firsthand ‘how the union really fought to improve our lives.’ But the unionization movement at her new employer, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), didn’t have that infrastructure. In July 2021, it amounted to ‘five people on a Zoom call,’ Levinstein told The Nation. Now, she’s fighting for her union’s first contract in an over-5,000-strong collective bargaining unit, which won its vote by a nearly 98% margin last year.”Petitions for Union Representation Doubled Under Biden’s Presidency, First Increase Since 1970s: “There has been a doubling of petitions by workers to have union representation during President Joe Biden’s administration, according to figures released Tuesday by the National Labor Relations Board. There were 3,286 petitions filed with the government in fiscal 2024, up from 1,638 in 2021. This marks the first increase in unionization petitions during a presidential term since Gerald Ford’s administration, which ended 48 years ago. During Trump’s presidency, union petitions declined 22%. President Joe Biden said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press that the increase showed that his administration has done more for workers than his predecessor, Donald Trump, the current Republican nominee who is vying to return to the White House in November’s election.”More Black and Latina Women Are Leading Unions—and Transforming How They Work: “‘Momentum for Black and Latina women rising into labor union leadership has picked up in the last five years. But the work began long before that by ‘our foremothers who laid this foundation and have been pushing and kicking those doors open for decades,’ according to Liz Shuler, who in June 2022 became the first woman to lead the AFL-CIO, a federation of 60 national and international labor unions. ‘The #MeToo movement, I think, has really emboldened women across the board, including in labor, to say, “You know what? I’m not going to be sitting on the sidelines,’” Shuler said. The pandemic also put a spotlight on essential workers such as nurses, service workers, and care workers, who are predominantly women and minorities.”Hotel Workers Campaign Among Latino Voters in Arizona: “‘Hello, housekeeping!’ she called, breaking into a laugh upon realizing her mistake. The 57-year-old is a member of UNITE HERE, the hospitality union, and had taken a leave of absence from her job at a nearby Hilton to go door-to-door to keep Arizona blue. ‘I like to step back and wait, so they think I’ve left,’ she said. ‘Then they open the door and here I am.’”'A True Hero': Pay Equity Crusader Lilly Ledbetter Dies at 86: “Labor unions and women's advocacy groups on Monday paid tribute to Lilly Ledbetter, the former Goodyear employee whose fight for equal pay made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress, after her death at the age of 86—with economic justice advocates hailing Ledbetter as ‘an icon.’ ‘Lilly Ledbetter simply wanted to be paid the same as her male Goodyear co-workers,’ said the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) on social media. But to workers who have benefited from the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, added the union, ‘she was a true hero.’” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/21/2024 - 15:35Continue reading→