News

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UC Resident Doctors Win Historic Statewide 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. 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 - 09:43Continue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Half Price Books Workers in Minnesota Join UFCW 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. 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.” Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 07/22/2026 - 09:43 Tags: OrganizingContinue reading→

Solidarity in Action: 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. California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:Talk about solidarity in action! When the workers of Rodney Strong Vineyards held an action outside the vineyard’s disco party, more than 250 people from the community showed up to show support for their fight to be recognized as a union! #UnionizeCalifornia pic.twitter.com/YtjDc8kWdk— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) July 21, 2026Illinois AFL-CIO:“By making it harder and harder for workers to organize and bargain collectively, the rich seized more and more income and wealth, destroying the US middle class." https://t.co/gc4Zf7ggIJ— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) July 20, 2026Michigan State AFL-CIO:More unions = higher incomes. It’s that simple. pic.twitter.com/lxfjEWx3VF— Michigan AFL-CIO ✊ (@MIAFLCIO) July 20, 2026Minnesota AFL-CIO:Paid leave fills a gap for many workers whose jobs did not come with these benefits. Now mothers and fathers can spend 12 weeks of important bonding time with a newborn, while an adult child can take 12 weeks to care for a sick parent. #mnleg https://t.co/CVnphCD1U2— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) July 16, 2026Missouri AFL-CIO:Great group of Labor Brothers & Sisters in Springfield talking to voters about Voting NO on Amendments 4 & 5! Amendment 5 raises your taxes and Amendment 4 locks those tax hikes in FOREVER. pic.twitter.com/Ddf4fa1q5j— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) July 19, 2026Montana State AFL-CIO:Working families in Montana are feeling the squeeze and the math simply isn't adding up. pic.twitter.com/FLxMtx3hYU— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) July 13, 2026Nevada State AFL-CIO:Back-to-school fair brought to you by @SEIU1107! Families received backpacks, school supplies, and access to valuable community resources, helping ensure local students are prepared for a successful year ahead💟📝📚✂️ pic.twitter.com/wITBJA3vSw— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) July 20, 2026Oregon Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO:Queer rights are labor rights! pic.twitter.com/DM6hW5hJdS— Oregon Labor Federation, AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) July 19, 2026Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:Congratulations to our siblings in @IBEW614 who voted this weekend to ratify a new contract with PECO.https://t.co/mBe7huXR9T— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) July 20, 2026Texas AFL-CIO:🚨 ACTION ALERT: Our labor movement stands in solidarity with Austin @ATUComm members fighting for a fair contract!@CapMetroATX board members need to be fighting for workers! Add your name ⬇️ #ATXhttps://t.co/gjw9SMZBGK— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) July 21, 2026Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:‼️WA state primary ballots officially drop today 🗳️Check out WSLC’s endorsed pro-worker candidates before you fill out your ballot ✅For the full list of endorsed candidates, go to ➡️ https://t.co/Msj3Xw88ia pic.twitter.com/u5ZKQwaiGh— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) July 17, 2026Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:Endorsement: Rebecca Cooke in Congressional District 3 https://t.co/sq9YYjsNYN— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) July 21, 2026 Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 07/21/2026 - 12:15Continue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Dallas Workers Organize with SMART 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. 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. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 07/21/2026 - 10:53 Tags: OrganizingContinue reading→

Making Things Better for All of Us: 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. Wausau Approves Metro Ride Contract with Phased Wage Increases: “Wausau City Council members unanimously approved a two-year labor agreement Tuesday that provides phased wage increases for Metro Ride employees and revises several leave policies. The agreement with Local 1168 of the Amalgamated Transit Union is retroactive to July 1 and runs through June 30, 2028. The council approved it 11-0 after the Human Resources and Finance committees each recommended the contract unanimously.”North Alabama Area Labor Council Holds Organized Labor Lunch and Unveils 'Workers’ Agenda': “On July 7, the North Alabama Area Labor Council, or NAALC, AFL-CIO, and the North Alabama Building and Construction Trades Council hosted an Organized Labor Lunch and Learn in Huntsville. More than a dozen local political candidates, lawmakers and community leaders attended, including two Huntsville City Council members and two state representatives. Labor leaders discussed challenges facing working-class Alabamians, explained the role of unions and introduced the North Alabama Workers’ Agenda, a high-road policy blueprint.”The Case for Tripling Union Membership: “Union membership in the U.S. ticked up in 2025, breaking a decades-long trend of declining unionization. But today’s unionization rate doesn’t reflect the tens of millions of workers who want a union but can’t get one. This report examines what we stand to gain if we triple current union membership to 30%—restoring it to 1950s levels, when union strength delivered rising wages, narrowing racial wage gaps, and a thriving middle class.”Opera Colorado Signs First-Ever Union Contract with AGMA Chorus and Artists: “Opera Colorado and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) announced today their first-ever collective bargaining agreement. The parties reached an agreement on June 18, and it was ratified by AGMA's Board of Governors on July 13.”Three Denver Music Venues Are Unionizing: “Late last month, audio engineers who work at the Federal Theatre, the Oriental Theater, and HQ Denver voted to unionize despite the venue owners’ request to turn down the organizing effort. Keegan McKenzie, an engineer who supported the union-shop proposal in conjunction with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees‘ area affiliate, IATSE Local 7, sees the results as a win-win situation. ‘I think everybody getting together and taking stock in the workplace will make things better for all of us,’ he says.”Northeast Wisconsin Youth Explore Skilled Trades at Green Bay Summer Trades Academy: “More than 20 Northeast Wisconsin youth kicked off WRTP | BIG STEP's Summer Trades Academy this week with a full day of hands-on learning at SMART Local 18 and IUPAT District Council 7 training centers in Green Bay. The Green Bay Summer Trades Academy is hosted at the Mavid Construction and HJ Martin Training Center and is funded in part by the Green Bay Packers Foundation. Through partnerships with local unions, contractors, and industry leaders, students are gaining firsthand exposure to high-demand careers in Wisconsin's skilled trades.”AFL-CIO's Sweeney Honored on Field 7: “John J. Sweeney, a son of immigrants from County Leitrim, started in the Bronx and rose to the heights of the AFL-CIO presidency, was honored Monday at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Field 7. ‘Moving beyond traditional memorials, in partnership with City of New York—NYC Parks, Goal 2 Goal is coordinating a community wide clean-up of soccer fields to provide youth with a safe, professional space to grow and compete,’ said Victor Mooney of Goal 2 Goal. ‘Goal 2 Goal has dedicated this day to Brother Sweeney,’ he added.”Roxanne Brown: We Work. They Play Games: “Terry Stickles supported the successful union drive at JSW Steel in Mingo Junction, Ohio, last year, then went to the bargaining table eager to hammer out his first contract with the company and set a course for the future. His co-workers, also new members of the United Steelworkers (USW), felt the same urgency. But JSW chose to play around instead, offering few meeting dates to union negotiators, taking hours to review even basic contract proposals, and cutting bargaining sessions short for no good reason.”Pueblo Firefighters’ Union Helping First Responders Who Lost Their Homes: “Firefighters in Pueblo are rallying to help their own after learning that multiple firefighters lost their homes in the Aspen Acres Fire while they were deployed on the front lines helping others. The wildfire has burned 97,000 acres, and hundreds of homes have been lost, impacting residents across the area—including some of the first responders tasked with battling the blaze. ‘You get a little bit of survivor’s guilt,’ said Tim Trujillo with the International Association of Firefighters Local 3 in Pueblo. Trujillo described one firefighter who lived in Beulah and was on a 48-hour shift when the fire started. The firefighter was able to go work the fire but couldn’t get back to his own home.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/20/2026 - 15:06Continue reading→

Get to Know AFL-CIO's Trade Departments: Union Label and Service 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 Union Label and Service Trades Department (UL&STD). Name of Department: Union Label and Service Trades DepartmentMission: To promote the products and services produced in America by union members—especially those products and services identified by a union label, shop card, store card and service button.Current Leadership: Richard Kline serves as president. Union Label has 13 vice presidents: Debby Szeredy, Nicole Rhine, James B. Wood, Derrick Kualapai, John Daniel, David Beard, Kenneth W. Cooper, Amy Martin, Frank Lima, David Woods, Dora Cervantes, Fedrick C. Ingram and Jordan Esopa.Affiliated Unions: Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU); American Federation of Musicians (AFM); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); American Postal Workers Union (APWU); Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM); Railroad Signalmen (BRS); Communications Workers of America (CWA); Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); Ironworkers; Fire Fighters (IAFF); Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU); IAM Union (IAM); Boilermakers (IBB); Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Longshoremen’s Association; Novelty and Production Workers; Bricklayers (BAC); Operating Engineers (IUOE); Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC); Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU); Plasterers and Cement Masons (OPCMIA); Seafarers (SIU); International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART); United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA); UAW; United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW); Mine Workers (UMWA); Roofers and Waterproofers (Roofers) and Utility Workers (UWUA).Current Campaigns/Policy Agenda: UL&STD maintains Do-Buy and Don’t-Buy lists as well as a database of union-made products and services. The department publishes its printed newsletter, the Label Letter, and Rich’s Label Blog six times per year. Its Walk in My Shoes feature allows rank-and-file union members to submit a day in their lives, helping illustrate the rich, diverse tapestry of hard-working people who make up the American labor movement. The department urges its affiliates to submit their products and services to the database and contact the department if any listed product is no longer union-made.Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, Instagram Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/20/2026 - 14:48Continue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Brooklyn Bowl Stagehands Vote to Join IATSE 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. 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.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/20/2026 - 10:15 Tags: OrganizingContinue reading→