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Get to Know AFL-CIO's Trade Departments: Transportation Trades Department This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our trade departments. The series will run weekly until we’ve covered each of the departments. Next up is the Transportation Trades Department (TTD). Name of Department: Transportation Trades DepartmentMission: As America’s largest transportation labor federation, representing 39 unions and millions of public and private sector workers, TTD is devoted to protecting and creating good union jobs, expanding collective bargaining, and advocating for federal investments that modernize transportation and infrastructure systems. Current Leadership: Greg Regan serves as president. He was first elected to the position in 2021 and was reelected in 2025. Prior to his election as president, Regan served as TTD’s secretary-treasurer and senior legislative representative, and oversaw TTD’s work in aviation, passenger rail and procurement. He is a leading labor expert on issues related to transportation, safety and infrastructure. Before joining TTD, Regan spent six years working for Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York and served as her chief of staff.Shari Semelsberger serves as secretary-treasurer. She was elected alongside Regan in 2021 and reelected in 2025. Her career at TTD spans over 26 years; she began in an administrative role and has grown with the organization to now handle finances, manage operations and guide TTD’s future success.Affiliated Unions: AFGE; AFT; Air Line Pilots Association; Amalgamated Transit Union; Association of Flight Attendants-CWA; Boilermakers; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen-IBT; Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division-IBT; Communications Workers of America; Electrical Workers; Elevator Constructors; Fire Fighters; IAM Union; International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers; International Longshoremen’s Association; Ironworkers; Laborers; Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association; Masters, Mates & Pilots; Mine Workers; National Air Traffic Controllers Association; National Association of Letter Carriers; National Conference of Firemen and Oilers-SEIU; National Federation of Public and Private Employees; Office and Professional Employees; Operating Engineers; Painters and Allied Trades; Plasterers and Cement Masons; Professional Aviation Safety Specialists; Railroad Signalmen; Sailors’ Union of the Pacific; Service Employees International Union; SMART Transportation Division; Train Dispatchers; Transport Workers Union; Transportation Communications Union-IAM; UAW; UNITE HERE; United Steelworkers.Current Campaigns/Policy Agenda: Read TTD’s policy statements, federal comments, letters to Congress and more to see how they advocate for America’s unionized transportation workforce. TTD gives the Larry Willis Leadership Award annually to a public servant or community leader who demonstrates commitment, dedication and advocacy on behalf of transportation workers.Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/27/2026 - 14:40Continue reading→

Advocating for Better Working Conditions: 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. Nearly 10,000 UC Doctors to Unionize, Advocate for Better Working Conditions: “Nearly 10,000 attending doctors in the University of California system have announced their effort to unionize at a Thursday news conference outside the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. The campaign, UC Doctors United, is a joint effort between doctors in the UC system and Service Employees International Union Doctors United, a union that currently comprises 45,000 doctors and 1.2 million healthcare workers nationwide.”Labor Board Certifies Union Election at SSM Health St. Mary’s in Madison: “The National Labor Relations Board has certified the union election for hundreds of nurses at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison. Nurses at the hospital voted 574-63 to unionize with the Service Employees International Union of Wisconsin back in June. After the vote, SSM Health filed objections to the conduct of the election with the National Labor Relations Board. In a decision released Wednesday, the NLRB found that the proof SSM offered in its objections was ‘insufficient to sustain’ them. The objections were overruled ‘in their entirety.’”QVC Hosts Join SAG-AFTRA with 80% Approval Vote: “Hosts from QVC Group have voted to join SAG-AFTRA. TV hosts working across QVC, HSN and Omni Channel voted to become a part of SAG-AFTRA in a National Labor Relations Board vote tallied Thursday that saw 80% vote in favor of joining the labor union. The news comes just a month after the QVC Group hosts presented a petition to QVC Inc. management on June 15 to recognize the union based on demonstrated supermajority support.”Berkeley: Staff at Hilton Hotel Seeking to Join International Hospitality Union: “Staff at Graduate by Hilton hotel properties in Berkeley are seeking to join a local Bay Area chapter of Unite Here, an international union representing hospitality workers, as soon as the end of the month. About 40 workers in positions such as housekeeping, restaurant servers, bartending, front desk agents and others, are seeking to join Unite Here Local 2, which represents over 15,000 hospitality workers in the Bay Area, according to a union spokesperson.”Brooklyn Defender Services Strike Ends After Tentative Labor Deal Reached: “The threat of a mass citywide public defender strike wreaking havoc on the city’s courthouses appeared to be averted on Tuesday after striking attorneys reached a deal on a new labor contract with the city’s second-largest public defender group. Unionized members of Brooklyn Defender Services ended their strike after a tentative agreement for a new labor contract was reached late Tuesday night, both BDS and the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys—UAW Local 2325 confirmed.”How Labor Unions Are Tackling AI and Midterm Elections: “‘Marketplace Morning Report’ host Kimberly Adams wanted to learn more about how the AFL-CIO is approaching AI ahead of the midterms. She spoke with the federation’s recently re-elected president, Liz Shuler. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation. Kimberly Adams: You told some world leaders at Davos that if we don't manage the transition to AI well, people could revolt. Say more. Liz Shuler: Wow, good research. We've been working on this issue of AI and how it relates to work for several years, and it's now starting to get more attention, thankfully. But if you see what's already happening to jobs and what AI is already displacing, and multiply that times infinity. That's going to create a lot of harm and a lot of disruption.”Agricultural Worker Justice Act Gains UFCW Support: “The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), endorsed the Agricultural Worker Justice Act sponsored by Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety. Welch reintroduced the legislation along with the Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers & Ranchers Act on July 20. ‘The US Department of Agriculture spends billions of dollars every year buying food, and that food should not come from companies that mistreat their workers,’ said UFCW International President Milton Jones. ‘The Agricultural Worker Justice Act ensures that food and agricultural companies that exploit workers cannot do so on the dime of American taxpayers.’”Workers at Swaybox Studios, Home to Batman Animated Movie, Vote to Unionize: “Workers at a Louisiana-based studio working on an ambitious Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and DC Studios project in the Batman universe have voted to unionize with IATSE.Creatives at Swaybox Studios, which is presently working on Dynamic Duo about former Batman sidekicks (a.k.a. Robins) Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, voted to join the crew union IATSE in an election that concluded on Tuesday. Eighty-four eligible workers at the New Orleans-based studio voted to join the union, while 35 voted against the move.”AFL-CIO Opposes College Sports Bill Moving in Congress: “A House bill called the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) had been introduced in July 2025 by Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida) and championed by Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-Oregon). AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler denounced it as ‘union-busting policy in action’ because it would have allowed schools to have ultimate control over athletes’ name, image and likeness, and empowered the NCAA—not state legislature—to set rules on athlete compensation. The bill was set for a House vote in early May. Bynum revoked her support. The bill was later pulled off the agenda.”UFCW Backs Passage of Federal Bill to Legalize Cannabis: “The UFCW is backing the reintroduced federal cannabis legalization bill, saying the proposal would expand labor protections for cannabis workers while creating opportunities for people harmed by the War on Drugs to participate in the industry’s growth.”The American Federation of Teachers Has Outlined Its Latest Priorities: “Delegates reelected President Randi Weingarten to a 10th two-year stint leading the organization. Unlike the NEA, the AFT does not place term limits on officers. Delegates also re-elected Fedrick Ingram as secretary-treasurer, and Evelyn DeJesus as executive vice president. First elected in July 2008, Weingarten’s tenure has been surpassed only by Al Shanker, who served as AFT president from 1974 through 1997.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/27/2026 - 11:19Continue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: New Flyer-NFI Parts Workers Ratify First Contract 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. Members of IUE-CWA Local 83600 in Louisville, Kentucky, have voted to ratify their first collective bargaining agreement with New Flyer-NFI Parts.These workers produce bus, motorcoach and transit shuttle parts for the multinational bus manufacturer. Members’ new five-year contract builds upon the New Flyer national agreement that was reached earlier this year. Highlights of the deal include wage increases, protections against unexpected health care premium hikes, 100% company-paid dental and vision insurance, new just-cause protections, the introduction of paid maternity leave, and more.“Working class people around Kentucky are not only organizing unions but also winning,” said Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Dustin Reinstedler in a social media post. “Instead of sitting around and waiting on something to trickle, we stand up and fight back with our coworkers. We exercise our freedoms to collectively bargain which leads to worker power. Thank you to each person employed at New Flyer who has that kind of courage to say enough is enough. Congrats on an exceptional first contract!” Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 07/24/2026 - 09:40Continue reading→

Worker Wins: An Important First Step Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. Atlanta Plane Train Workers Ratify First CBA: TCU/IAM members who operate and maintain the Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have ratified their first-ever collective bargaining agreement (CBA). When these essential workers first voted to form a union nearly a year ago, it marked the first joint organizing campaign between TCU/IAM and the IAM Union Rail Division. This historic contract enshrines critical wins, including seniority rights, a grievance and arbitration procedure, just cause protections, an immediate 18% wage increase, a ratification bonus and more. “Winning an election is an important first step, but negotiating and ratifying a first agreement is where workers truly begin to realize the value of standing together,” said TCU/IAM National President Matt Hollis. “These members stayed united throughout the bargaining process and earned an agreement that delivers meaningful wage increases, stronger workplace protections, and a real voice on the job. We congratulate every member whose solidarity made this first contract a reality.”Audio Engineers at Three Denver Music Venues Vote to Join IATSE: Audio engineers at three independent music venues in Denver have voted overwhelmingly to join Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 7. The Oriental Theater, The Federal Theatre and HQ Denver are some of the city’s most prominent entertainment venues and key fixtures of the local rock scene. Staff at each venue voted separately and secured powerful victories at all three locations. “The live music industry has long left its crews behind. Unstable conditions, little to no benefits, and wages that fall well short of what a skilled workforce deserves,” said Local 7 President Bryant Preston. “We look forward to sitting down with the employer and getting to work on the issues these workers face every day on the job.”Wiki Workers United U.S. Branch Demands Voluntary Recognition from Wikimedia Foundation: A supermajority of workers who make possible Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects have signed union authorization cards to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and are demanding voluntary recognition from the Wikimedia Foundation. Under the name Wiki Workers United U.S./CWA (WWU-US/CWA), staff at the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia are organizing to address transparency issues and ensure that the organization is living up to its commitment to the free knowledge movement. Over 1,000 volunteers and community members who have collectively made more than 15 million edits have publicly signed petitions supporting these workers in their fight for a collective voice. “We are hopeful that the Wikimedia Foundation will honor their stated values and quickly come to the table so that we can verify that an overwhelming majority support the union. We are proud to support this group of dedicated and talented workers. We are also deeply grateful for the strong solidarity of the volunteer community, the backbone of Wikipedia and its sister projects, that has pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder with these brave workers,” said CWA Organizing Director Tim Dubnau.Long Island IAFF Local in New York Secures Contract After 16-Year Impasse: For the first time since 2010, members of Long Beach Professional Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 287, are working under a new collective bargaining agreement. The signing officially ends one of the longest bargaining campaigns in the New York local’s nearly 100-year history. Highlights of the new contract include wage increases, restructured pay charts for the city, incorporation of certain National Fire Protection Association and Fair Labor Standards Act requirements into the city’s obligations for the department, and more. “The road to get here was long and, at times, incredibly difficult. Yet through it all, our fire fighters continued to answer every call and serve this community with professionalism and pride,” said Local 287 President Sam Pinto. “Today is about recognizing what can be accomplished when people stay committed to the process and remain focused on the future.”IFPTE Members Ratify New Contract with PG&E, Including Highest-Ever Wage Increases: Members of the Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC), International Federation of  Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 20, voted to ratify a contract with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). ESC represents nearly 5,000 highly skilled professionals at PG&E, which provides utility services to 16 million California residents. “With this agreement, ESC members have secured the highest three-year wage increases of any PG&E contract in the union’s 74-year history,” said John Mader, president of ESC and of the union’s PG&E unit board. “The newly ratified contract also protects the benefits that make ESC jobs at PG&E such great careers, including our pension, health coverage and disability benefits,” Mader continued. “Members chose to extend our contract multiple times in the context of PG&E’s bankruptcy and the pandemic, so this is the first full contract ESC has negotiated in 10 years. We are proud that it is a very strong agreement and that members have overwhelmingly voted in favor of ratification.”AGMA Ratify New Contract with Opera Colorado: The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and Opera Colorado have issued a joint announcement that they have reached their first-ever contract covering these artists. The union and the opera company also agreed to a side letter governing the Artist in Residence program, Opera Colorado’s emerging artist apprenticeship program, providing it with more resources and opportunities. “After three years, we are thrilled to have reached this milestone in building a new relationship between Opera Colorado and its artists,” said Adam Da Ros, who served on the negotiating committee. “This agreement reflects a great deal of hard work on both sides and keeps artists at the center of creating opera, allowing us to move forward together with confidence and a shared belief in a sustainable future for opera in Colorado.” “A first agreement lays the groundwork for every agreement that follows,” said Tracy Jones, AGMA’s director of collective bargaining. “The time invested in this process allowed both sides to work through important issues thoughtfully, resulting in a strong contract that provides meaningful protections for AGMA artists and reflects a collaborative relationship with Opera Colorado built on mutual respect.”CWA Members Reach Tentative Agreement and Secure Historic Settlement at Piedmont Airlines: Communications Workers of America (CWA) members who work for Piedmont Airlines as passenger services staff have reached a new tentative union contract. This comes days after the union also secured a settlement agreement after years of wrongful pay practices. While the previous collective bargaining agreement (CBA) covering the CWA Passenger Services unit was in effect, Piedmont Airlines fluctuated wages at 45 stations in order to attract and retain staff. During negotiations for a successor CBA, the union became aware of errors impacting seniority and pay rate as a result of this practice. Now in addition to a new tentative agreement that ensures compensation bonuses, improved sick time rules, an additional paid holiday and other wins, workers who were impacted by the wage flexes will also be made whole.Brooklyn Bowl Stagehands Vote to Join IATSE: Production workers at Brooklyn Bowl’s flagship Williamsburg location voted 15–1 on Tuesday to form a union with Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 4. This organizing victory is years in the making—workers have been in contact with Local 4 about getting a voice on the job since 2022. “This victory shows once again that when workers come together to improve their conditions, anything is possible,” said IATSE Special Representative Joseph Juntunen. “Local 4 and [IATSE] stand ready to assist and represent stagehands and workers throughout the entertainment ecosystem to build a stronger future for all.” “Union representation for me means I have support and protection as a working-class person,” added crew member Ryan Ramirez. “Working within an organization that earns when I earn rather than being a red-line item against profitability.”Dallas Workers Organize with SMART: Workers at Dallas-area contractor Stratus Systems overcame the challenges in their path to organize with International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 68. Since 2023, the workers partnered with Local 68 organizers to build an organizing campaign through sustained outreach, relationship building and the determination of trusted worker leaders. Following worker-to-worker outreach in early 2023 that quickly turned into an organizing campaign by the end of the year, workers filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In January 2024, they lost that vote. But the organizing team rebuilt support by strengthening worker engagement, forming an internal organizing committee and expanding worker-led communication. Out of 168 workers at the company, 96 signed union authorization cards. In early 2026, organizers secured a new NLRB election, then executed an intensive campaign featuring daily strategy meetings, rapid-response jobsite outreach, worker-to-worker messaging and strong support from volunteer leaders. “Everyone was feeling excited because we knew that the workers knew the union had their backs by the workers’ smiles, honks and waves,” said organizer Yadriel Carrasquillo. The new vote was successful and the workers joined SMART Local 68.Half Price Books Workers in Minnesota Join UFCW: Workers at Half Price Books in Apple Valley, Minnesota, voted to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 663, becoming the fifth union-represented store in the state and the tenth nationwide. Staff at the book retailer chain organized to secure a powerful voice on the job. With their first union contract, members are aiming to secure higher wages, improved staffing and a seat at the table when it comes to workplace decision making. “Half Price Books is attempting to iron out the individuality that shapes our community by standardizing our roles and incorporating A.I. in our workplace,” said Drew Schmidt, a bookseller at the store. “Unionizing is our way of encouraging Half Price Books to correct its course.” “All my co-workers at the Coon Rapids Half Price Books are thrilled that the Apple Valley workers are joining us as members of Local 663,” said bookseller Terell Paris. “We know that our Union will be stronger together, and that we can use that strength to make our workplaces better.”UC Resident Doctors Win Historic Statewide Contract: Resident physicians and fellows at the University of California (UC)—who are represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU (CIR/SEIU)—reached a tentative agreement on their first statewide contract with UC Health. The 6,400-member bargaining unit began negotiations almost a year ago. After months of collective actions, the doctors won a contract that includes wage increases, preservation of fertility benefits, improved access to radiation exposure equipment, immigrant protections for patients and more. “Resident working conditions are patient care conditions,” said Dr. Gloria Tavera, a UCSF gastroenterology fellow. “With a contract that covers all residents and fellows at the UC’s, we are more united than ever in ensuring that we keep the pressure on administration to ensure that the contract language is enforced – for our futures, for the futures of those coming up behind us, and for our patients’ futures.” Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 07/23/2026 - 11:31 Tags: OrganizingContinue reading→