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It Wasn’t Even Close: The Working People Weekly List

It Wasn't Even Close: 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. University of Oregon Student Workers Union and University of Oregon Reach Tentative Agreement: “After a strike that lasted more than a week, the University of Oregon Student Workers union and the university itself have announced that they have come to a tentative agreement on a labor contract. Student workers at the University of Oregon walked off the job in the morning of April 28, after 11 months of failed negotiations with the university.”Union Groups Needed 140k Utahns to Support a Referendum. They Got More Than a Quarter Million Signatures: “In the end, it wasn’t even close. Labor groups had 30 days to get 140,478 signatures to put a referendum on the ballot asking Utah voters if they want to repeal a new law barring public employee unions from negotiating contracts with their government employers. They ended up with 251,590 valid signatures, making it the most successful signature-gathering effort in state history, according to the lieutenant governor’s office, racking up nearly 100,000 more names than the previous record set by the 2018 medical marijuana initiative.”Unions Push Congress to Help Bring Back NIOSH Staff: “A coalition of 28 labor unions is calling on congressional lawmakers to ‘fulfill the promise of a safe job’ by helping in the effort to reverse staffing cuts at NIOSH. In an open letter to the lawmakers, the unions, including the AFL-CIO, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, United Mineworkers of America and United Steelworkers, write: ‘Fifty years ago, our elected leaders made that promise to every working family in America by establishing NIOSH, OSHA, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which were all entrusted by Congress to have distinct and imperative responsibilities that have allowed us to make critical progress over time.’”Entertainment Unions ‘Prepared to Fight Back’ Against Trump-Ordered Elimination of NEA, NEH and CPB: “The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition within AFL-CIO said it is prepared to fight back against Trump’s proposed cuts that would eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH), and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Trump’s 2026 ‘Skinny’ Budget Request went out last week, continuing his attacks on nonprofit arts organizations such as National Public Radio and PBS. ‘Unions are prepared to fight back again against efforts to eliminate the NEA, NEH, and CPB,’ said Katie Barrows, Communications Director at the Department of Professional Employees at the labor union in a statement released Wednesday.”On Teacher Appreciation Week, Union Leaders Say Teachers Are Underpaid and Under Attack: “American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said with their skill sets and the amount of time they dedicate to their jobs, public school teachers could earn about 24% more than their current pay working in non-teaching jobs in the private sector. But teachers often stay in the profession ‘because they're making a difference in the lives of kids,’ she said. Weingarten added, ‘You're seeing this over and over and over again that people in communities know the importance of teachers and the importance of public schools. That's why teachers are one of the most trusted professions in the country. But they need to be supported 365 days a year, not just one day a year.’”AFL-CIO’s Shuler, 100 Days in, Challenges Trump Refusal to Follow Constitution: “As Republican President Donald Trump again verbally trashes the U.S. Constitution, both AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and the public, in a new poll by the Pew Research Center, are calling him out for what he is—a serious threat to democracy. Shuler says he is an ‘autocrat’ and the people are telling pollsters he is a ‘dangerous dictator.’ ‘We do not fall in line for autocrats,’ declared Shuler.”Not All Students Go to College. We Need to Make That OK: “For years, America’s approach to education has been guided by an overly simplistic formula: 4+4—the idea that students need four years of high school and four years of college to succeed in life. Even with this prevailing emphasis on college, around 40% of high schoolers do not enroll in college upon graduating, and only 60% of students who enroll in college earn a degree or credential within eight years of high school graduation.”Labor Goes All in for Kilmar: “AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler highlighted Abrego Garcia’s case as well as that of Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk in a statement, while condemning President Donald Trump’s unlawful overreach. ‘The Trump administration also has illegally targeted our fellow workers—union members like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was separated from his family in Maryland and sent to a prison in El Salvador without due process, and Rümeysa Öztürk, detained while walking to dinner in Massachusetts and thrown into a detention center thousands of miles away, despite neither of them having committed a crime,’ Shuler said, before invoking a well-known labor slogan. ‘An injury to one is an injury to all. When Trump targets immigrant families like Kilmar’s and Rümeysa’s, he targets all workers.’” 'It Makes Me Feel Angry': Workers Forced Out by Trump and Musk Speak at MSNBC Town Hall: “Federal workers who were forced out of their jobs by President Trump and Elon Musk speak out in a live MSNBC town hall—‘100 Days of Trump: Forced Out Federal Workers.’ See the workers talk with Stephanie Ruhle and Jacob Soboroff about their experience and what these actions mean for all Americans.” Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/13/2025 - 11:16Continue reading→

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Bethany Khan

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Bethany Khan For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Bethany Khan of UNITE HERE's Culinary Union. Bethany Khan is the spokeswoman and director of communications and digital strategy for the Culinary Union, UNITE HERE Local 226. She uses strategic communications, technology, data and digital strategy to support working families in Nevada. Since 2012, Khan's communications and digital strategy work has played a major role in the Culinary Union’s organizing, legislative, policy and electoral campaigns. In 2024, the Culinary Union, under Khan's leadership, had $70 million in earned media, uplifting directly impacted and front-line essential hospitality workers’ voices. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/13/2025 - 10:16Continue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Second City Workers Reach a Deal, Win Wage Gains

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Second City Workers Reach a Deal, Win Wage Gains Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Actors’ Equity Association announced that workers at The Second City have reached a tentative agreement with employers, avoiding the need for a strike in Chicago as authorized last week. Equity and The Second City employers had been negotiating since late February. The union and employers reached this tentative agreement with the assistance of mediator Brenda Pryor of Apex Dispute Resolution. Equity’s Central Regional Board will review the tentative agreement for ratification on May 14.“Previous wages for performers and stage managers at The Second City had fallen way behind due to inflation and the rising cost of living in Chicago,” said George Elrod, Tour Company Actor. “This deal provides a much-needed wage adjustment, while giving Second City a meaningful media package.”“I am happy that we were able to get a deal that more clearly values the workers of The Second City,” said Abby Beggs, e.t.c. Stage Manager. “Most importantly, I'm proud that we valued and prioritized our touring members and got our mainstage actors on par with the rest of the talent in the city. I believe with this deal, more and more of our actors and performers will be able to afford to do this job, and I am proud to have been a part of getting us there.” Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/13/2025 - 10:06Continue reading→

Contract Negotiations Between APWU and Postal Management Nearing ‘End Game’

May 14, 2025Contract Negotiations Between APWU and Postal Management Nearing ‘End Game’ Contract Negotiations The APWU's contract negotiations have been taking place as two other postal unions have also been in negotiations with management. The National Association of Letter Carriers finished their nearly two-year negotiations with a mediation-arbitration award issued by arbitrator Dennis Nolan on March 21. To view the award, visit: bit.ly/NALC-2025-Award Then on April 18, the National Rural Letter Carriers Association reached a tentative agreement with postal management that is now in the ratification process. Their contract expired in May 2024, four months prior to the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the USPS and the APWU. The APWU has fully studied and discussed both of these results, as the outcome of negotiations with our sister postal unions certainly have an impact, positive or negative, on our negotiations with postal management. The APWU is now seven months past the Sept. 20, 2024, expiration of our contract. As of May 14, the APWU is considering one of two paths: we will either have a new voluntary agreement, which will have been presented to the Rank & File Bargaining Advisory Committee, per the APWU Constitution, for its decision on whether to put it out to a vote of the entire membership. Or alternatively, we will have begun the process of interest arbitration to determine the provisions of a new contract. “Negotiations are never easy and never will be. However, these negotiations were complicated by the almost two-year length of time it took our sister union, the NALC, to complete their negotiation process,” declared President Mark Dimondstein. “Most importantly, the political shift in the administration and ongoing assaults  against federal workers, their unions, and union contracts, made negotiations even more difficult, as well as vital, to secure a new ratified and signed agreement.” What a Difference Worker Power Through Our Union Makes!  APWU members often view the general wage increases (GWIs), which have been relatively modest over the last 20 years, as the sole compensation package of our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Our negotiated compensation package is much more, and includes: • General Wage Increases • Full Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) • Regular Step Increases • Night Differential • Sunday Premium • Overtime, including Penalty Pay Just consider this one example of union-won results from the last nine years of three union contracts (2015, 2018, and 2021): If an APWU-represented employee was hired in August of 2015 as a Level 6 career employee, this employee is now earning $31,000 more every year based on union-secured modest GWIs, full COLA, and regular Step Increases!(Excluding overtime, increases to the Thrift Savings Plan, etc.!) This amounts to an incredible 83% increase over those nine years! Contract Negotiations Between APWU and Postal Management Nearing ‘End Game’0Continue reading→

Join Webinar on Tuesday, May 13 at 7PM ET to Protect Our Postal Pensions!

May 12, 2025Postal and Federal Pensions are at risk – APWU will be hosting a Legislative webinar on Tuesday, May 13 at 7-8PM ET titled Protect Our Pensions: Fight Back Against Proposed Retirement Cuts to explain its devastating impacts and how we can combat them. Postal and Federal Pensions are at risk – On April 30, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform voted to advance a number of significant cuts to the retirement benefits of postal and federal workers, that are now advancing through Congress. APWU will be hosting a Legislative webinar on Tuesday, May 13 at 7-8PM ET titled Protect Our Pensions: Fight Back Against Proposed Retirement Cuts to explain its devastating impacts and how we can combat them. RSVP for the webinar by clicking here, and continue reading to find out more about its negative impacts if passed into law.    RSVP for Protect Our Pensions Webinar Protect Our Pensions Webinar Tuesday, May 13 7PM ETContinue reading→

Get to Know the AFL-CIO’s Affiliates: American Postal Workers Union

Get to Know the AFL-CIO's Affiliates: American Postal Workers Union This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we've covered all 63 of our affiliates. Next up is the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). Name of Union: American Postal Workers UnionMission: Through collective bargaining, legislative action, and mobilization of members and the public, APWU fights for dignity and respect on the job for postal workers throughout the postal industry—for decent pay and benefits and safe working places, for defense of the right of the people to public postal services, and for solidarity with all workers, at home and abroad.Current Leadership of Union: Mark Dimondstein was elected president of APWU in 2013 and is serving his fourth three-year term. He began his postal career in 1983. In 1986, he was elected to the first of six consecutive terms as president of the Greater Greensboro (N.C.) Area Local. Beginning in 2000, he served as APWU's national lead field organizer. He won AFL-CIO's Southern Organizer of the Year Award in 2001. Debby Szeredy serves as APWU’s executive vice president, and Elizabeth “Liz” Powell serves as secretary-treasurer.Current Number of Members: 222,000Members Work As: Postal clerks with more than 170 different position descriptions and can be found performing work at retail windows, mail processing, call centers, bulk mail entry, sales retention, and administrative office environments; maintenance; motor vehicle service craft workers who transport mail and maintain postal vehicles; and support services members at information technology/ accounting service centers, operating services facilities, mail equipment shops and material distribution centers; professional nurses employed by the Postal Service; private sector workers including mail haul drivers and mail transport equipment service center employees.Industries Represented: Members are active and retired workers for the USPS, as well as private-sector workers employed in the mailing industry.History: The American Postal Workers Union was founded on July 1, 1971, when five postal unions merged after the Great Postal Strike in 1970. The two largest unions involved in the merger were the United Federation of Postal Clerks—which represented employees who "worked the windows" at post offices and workers who sorted and processed mail—and the National Postal Union—who represented postal workers in multiple crafts. The National Association of Post Office and General Service Maintenance Employees, the National Federation of Motor Vehicle Employees and the National Association of Special Delivery Messengers were the other three unions who merged to create the APWU.Before the Great Postal Strike, early postal unions essentially had no collective bargaining rights, with wage increases dependent on the whims of Congress, i.e. "collective begging." As a result, postal workers were chronically underpaid, barely making enough to make ends meet.Workers grew increasingly frustrated with Congress’ inaction, and on March 18, 1970, thousands of New York City postal workers walked off the job in protest, starting the Great Postal Strike. During the strike, mail service ground to a halt, and the plight of postal workers was brought to the public’s attention. The strike was soon settled, with Congress approving a 6% wage increase and other gains for postal workers.The strike motivated the enactment of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which granted unions the right to negotiate with management over their wages, benefits, and working conditions.Since that first contract almost 50 years ago, the APWU has fought for dignity and respect on the job for the workers they represent, as well as decent pay and benefits and safe working conditions. As a result, the postal unions have achieved unprecedented job security provisions.Current Campaigns: APWU is a partner in U.S. Mail Not for Sale, a worker-led campaign that brings together labor unions, elected officials, member organizations of A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service, community supporters, and the public to fight plans to sell the public Postal Service to the highest bidder. APWU is also a partner in A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service that fights back against efforts to dismantle the USPS. APWU has many current campaigns to protect the workers and customers of the USPS, including fighting: against privatization, to build union power, for a fair and decent contract protecting their entire bargaining unit, to save the post office, and to promote safe postal jobs. APWU is also pushing for postal banking as a way to expand basic financial services to those whose needs are unmet by the corporate-dominated financial sector and protect them from the predatory payday loan and check-cashing industry.Community Efforts: The American Postal Workers Accident Benefit Association provides insurance and pays benefits to postal workers and their families in the case of accidental death or disability. The E.C. Hallbeck scholarship provides educational benefits for children of APWU members, while the vocational scholarship program helps the children of APWU members pursue trade, technical, vocational, or industrial occupations. The Postal Employees Relief Fund helps postal workers and their families recover from natural disasters and house fires. The APWU sells branded merchandise in their online store.Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/12/2025 - 13:02Continue reading→

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States.  Here are the union members we've featured so far this month:Angie NguyenIli MeaoliKristy PhamKevin AncongDr. Amanda LoweryDoug FulpMabel WongCheck back throughout the month for more. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/12/2025 - 09:33Continue reading→

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Mabel Wong

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Mabel Wong For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Mabel Wong of OPEIU. Mabel Wong, a member of Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 153, has worked at Seton Hall University's library for 36 years, providing services to the university and global communities via the interlibrary loan program. "Being a union member provides a collective voice to fight against discrimination and harassment, for fair wages and benefits, and safe working conditions.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/12/2025 - 09:23Continue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Push Back Against Proposed Elimination of the NEA, NEH and CPB

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Push Back Against Proposed Elimination of the NEA, NEH and CPB Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition within the Department for Professional Employees (DPE) released a statement on Wednesday condemning the Trump administration’s budget proposal calling for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).The coalition is made up of 12 national unions that represent workers in the arts, entertainment, and media industries, and is led by DPE. Trump’s 2026 budget request calls for the wholesale elimination of the NEA, NEH and CPB, as well as other federal and regional cultural agencies.“Unions are prepared to fight back again against efforts to eliminate the NEA, NEH, and CPB,” said the AEMI coalition. “Nonprofit arts, humanities, and public media enjoy broad, bipartisan public support because they power local economies in every state and expand access to quality artistic and educational content across communities….Private money cannot fully replace federal funding. Eliminating the NEA, NEH, or CPB will lead to the loss of good, middle-class jobs.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/12/2025 - 09:13Continue reading→

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Doug Fulp

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Doug Fulp For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Doug Fulp of HFIU. Doug Fulp, business manager of Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU) Local 132 in Hawaii, has been a steadfast advocate for fair wages, solid pensions and dependable health care for all members. His unwavering commitment to standing up for the “small guys” across the islands has made a lasting impact for working families. Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 05/11/2025 - 09:46Continue reading→

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Dr. Amanda Lowrey

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Dr. Amanda Lowrey For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Dr. Amanda Lowrey of AFSCME. Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA/AFSCME) member Dr. Amanda R.K. Lowrey has been working in food safety in Honolulu since December 2009. Dedicated to protecting the community from foodborne illnesses and conserving Hawaii’s fragile ecosystems, Lowrey’s work has helped to revive the state's local shellfish industry. Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 05/10/2025 - 09:46Continue reading→

Protect Our Pensions: Fight Back Against Proposed Retirement Cuts Webinar

On Tuesday, May 13 at 7PM ET, join APWU for a Legislative webinar titled, Protect Our Pensions: Fight Back Against Proposed Retirement Cuts where we will explain the devastating impacts of these cuts and how we are fighting back. May 13, 2025 - 7:00PM to 8:00PMVirtual via ZoomNationalNoNo2025-05-14 00:00:00https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TS54LXXqQHaMS0NDxN0-ZgProtect Our Pensions: Fight Back Against Proposed Retirement Cuts WebinarClick here to register. For more ways you can take action, dial 844-402-1001 or visit apwu.org/call to urge your House Representative to oppose any cuts to postal and federal pensions. 00Continue reading→

February Contract Negotiations Update

February 13, 2025The difficult battle for a new APWU contract covering the wages, benefits, and rights of 200,000 postal workers continues. This current round of bargaining has a new and complicated ingredient: during the APWU’s ongoing negotiations with the Postal Service, the NALC reached a tentative agreement for their new contract in November 2024. Contract Negotiations The difficult battle for a new APWU contract covering the wages, benefits, and rights of 200,000 postal workers continues. This current round of bargaining has a new and complicated ingredient: during the APWU’s ongoing negotiations with the Postal Service, the NALC reached a tentative agreement for their new contract in November 2024. In January, the NALC completed the contract ratifi cation process, and the members soundly rejected their negotiated tentative agreement. As of today, Feb. 13, 2025, it appears they will likely move to interest arbitration to determine the terms of their new contract. Postal workers are weakened by the fact that the four postal unions negotiate separately. We do not have one postal union dealing with one postal management, nor do we jointly bargain together during negotiations. The APWU is actively pursuing our two-pronged strategy: keep meeting at the negotiating table to reach a new voluntary agreement, while also moving forward towards interest arbitration. Interest arbitration means that a neutral, third-party arbitrator will make the fi nal and binding decision on a new contract, including our wages and benefi ts, after a series of hearings and presentations. “While we are doing everything in our power to reach a voluntary agreement that rewards our members for their dedication and hard work, given the progress of negotiations, it is likely we will soon declare an impasse and head into interest arbitration. Stay tuned!” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. We will continue to provide regular updates on the status of APWU negotiations on apwu.org, and through news bulletins, emails, text, social media, videos, and podcasts. In the meantime, stay union strong! Wear your union gear, join contract rallies, and build union power by signing up non-members. Send management, and any arbitrator, the message that we are indeed united in our demands for a good new contract. “Union Proud, Say it Loud!” The difficult battle for a new APWU contract covering the wages, benefits, and rights of 200,000 postal workers continues. This current round of bargaining has a new and complicated ingredient: during the APWU’s ongoing negotiations with the Postal Service, the NALC reached a tentative agreement for their new contract in November 2024.0Continue reading→

Statement from UAW VP Chuck Browning on Hazardous Conditions at BlueOval SK

In response to this week’s Louisville Courier-Journal story “Chemicals, mold, bats, broken bones: Workers concerned over safety at BlueOval SK plant,” Chuck Browning, UAW Vice President and Director of the Ford Department, issued the following statement: “The recent reporting on the dangerous conditions at BOSK is infuriating. Workers are being put at risk every single day. […] The post Statement from UAW VP Chuck Browning on Hazardous Conditions at BlueOval SK appeared first on UAW | United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America.Continue reading→

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Matt Kimball

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Matt Kimball For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Matt Kimball of IATSE. Matt Kimball has been a Theatrical Stage Employees ( IATSE) member for almost eight years and has been the Political Activism Committee chair for Local 720 since 2018. In 2024, Kimball focused on working to elect candidates who support union values and ensuring IATSE members voted. Kimball has been actively involved in electoral politics and issue advocacy in Nevada since 2008.  Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/09/2025 - 09:46Continue reading→