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Women's History Month Profiles For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country.  Here are the members we've featured so far:Brittney DavidsonPatricia ReddingSylvia J. RamosPaige Cisco Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/05/2025 - 10:37 Tags: Women's History MonthContinue reading→

Women's History Month Profiles: Paige Cisco For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Paige Cisco of the United Steelworkers (USW). Paige Cisco, USW Local 689 member and active Woman of Steel, has worked at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Ohio for almost seven years and is a fierce activist for worker health and safety. As the full-time health and safety representative for her local and an active worker trainer for the USW Tony Mazzocchi Center, Cisco educates union members about health and safety every chance she gets. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/05/2025 - 10:27 Tags: Women's History MonthContinue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: University of California Workers Strike Over Management Intimidation 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. Tens of thousands of University of California (UC) system health care and research workers who are members of AFSCME Local 3299 and University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA (UPTE-CWA) Local 9119 staged a multiday strike last week to protest the administration’s unfair labor practices.Powerful, coordinated actions took place across all 10 UC campuses and five medical centers, as well as clinics and research laboratories. Both unions cite lack of meaningful movement on wage provisions as a major sticking point during ongoing negotiations with UC management. Research has shown that this share of the UC workforce that would be income eligible for limited government housing subsidies has nearly tripled since 2017. Instead of working toward a fair deal with AFSCME and UPTE-CWA, administrators have chosen to continue illegally restricting the freedom of members’ protected union activity, forcing nearly 60,000 staff to walk off the job.“We all want to be in the center, taking care of patients, taking care of students, back in our research stations and we want to be doing that work. We don’t want to be out here,” said Michael Benaron, an UPTE-CWA member and physician assistant at UC Santa Barbara Student Health. “We just deserve the dignity of getting paid fairly well for the work that we do. The UC, it’s a world-class institution, and they should be paying world-class wages when we fight.”“UC is attempting to silence our voices on the job — but we refuse to be silenced,” said Christopher Contreras, head custodian at UC Santa Cruz and a member of AFSCME. “Many of us work two or three jobs, seven days a week, while commuting up to two hours just to make ends meet. One job should be enough. It’s time for a change. We take care of UC. UC should take care of us.” Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/05/2025 - 09:53 Tags: StrikesContinue reading→

Protect Our Kids: 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. Alaska AFL-CIO:On March 2nd, a full-page ad was placed in the ADN in which thousands of Alaskans showed their unwavering support for our state's federal employees. Our delegation must fight against this ill-advised, indiscriminate, and illogical mass firing of federal employees. #akleg pic.twitter.com/OQwPescLky— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) March 4, 2025California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:The @CaliforniaLabor movement stands in solidarity w/ educators, faculty, students, & community allies who are mobilizing all across the country to protect education funding + good union jobs!@CFTunion #MarchinMarch pic.twitter.com/sDo4X4an9r— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) March 5, 2025Colorado AFL-CIO:KGNU Labor Exchange - The joy of organizing with Karli McClure & Nate Paer, SEIU 105 mental health workers; guest Host Ben Ullrich. Karli and Nate helped build the union at Mental Health Partners (now Clinica Family Health). 6:00 PM 88.5 FM or online https://t.co/9Uz9Ney6oX— Colorado AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIOCO) March 3, 2025Connecticut AFL-CIO:HAPPENING NOW: Members of the New Haven Federation of Teachers and their community partners are rallying to #ProtectOurKids, stand up for our schools & fight for our communities! @AFTunion pic.twitter.com/1vduurtwue— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) March 4, 2025Florida AFL-CIO:👏👏👏 https://t.co/6yjdFjaV0T— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) February 26, 2025Illinois AFL-CIO:We’re kicking off #TradeswomenTakeOverSpringfield. Last night, volunteers came by the office to stuff packets and get ready for today. This morning, we are at the Department of Labor discussing how to recruit and retain more women in the trades. pic.twitter.com/k56m0XF2ED— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) March 5, 2025Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO:Women have always had to fight twice as hard as men for less rights, less pay and less respect in the workplace. As we celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth let's recommit our fight for equality! pic.twitter.com/CqpYAMoan2— Iowa AFL-CIO ✊ (@IowaAFLCIO) March 1, 2025Kentucky State AFL-CIO:HB 398 puts workers at risk and protects bad employers. Your voice matters. Stand up for workplace safety in Kentucky!☎️ Call your legislator now and tell them to vote NO. Call the number in the graphic or click here to be put through: https://t.co/Sa99qV0d4C pic.twitter.com/flI1VDPjmT— Kentucky AFL-CIO (@aflcioky) March 4, 2025Maine AFL-CIO:The impacted VA employees whom we’ve spoken to have served our country honorably and took great pride in their work supporting other veterans. These firings will hurt Maine veterans and undermine the services they rely on. https://t.co/yeOMV4PPxj— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) February 25, 2025Massachusetts AFL-CIO:Dropkick Murphys Union Night Fundraiser Benefitting the Steven A. Tolman Addiction Fund$65 Dropkick Murphys Tickets- Tickets Are Only Available to Union members and their guestsGet your tickets NOW at https://t.co/tA82dAM5td pic.twitter.com/wEPv6yQyES— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) March 3, 2025Michigan State AFL-CIO:STATEMENT: Trump’s Plan for America Puts Billionaires First and Workers Last “Trump’s plan for America puts billionaires first, workers last – and it’s total bullshit,” said Ron BIEBER, President of the Michigan AFL-CIO.https://t.co/g3AxWQzMSn— Michigan AFL-CIO ✊ (@MIAFLCIO) March 5, 2025Minnesota AFL-CIO:Among the protesters’ signs, one read, “DHS: Danger OSHA violators at work.” #BetterInAUnion @afscmemn5 https://t.co/iK0c85J4Eo— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) March 3, 2025Missouri AFL-CIO:Click here to read an interview with Ken Martin, new DNC chair and #Union member whose work is inspired by his #Union family and working-class upbringing! https://t.co/Avu4MmMWTR— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) March 2, 2025Nevada State AFL-CIO:Labor luncheon week #5 at the Nevada Legislature! 😋🍔🌭🌮🌯🥙🥗TYSM to this weeks’ sponsors, Nevada Faculty Alliance & @uawregion6 ♥️🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/zUCHeW2JdW— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) March 4, 2025New York State AFL-CIO:"The labor movement in this state and across this country will always fight to protect our public schools, we will always fight to protect our public education system, and we will always fight to protect our children." #ProtectOurKids pic.twitter.com/Mm8hI0oL6I— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) March 4, 2025North Carolina State AFL-CIO:North Carolina Republicans are Trying to Throw Out College Students’ Votes to Steal an Election https://t.co/FVZwcGC6m1 #ncpol #1u via @TeenVogue— NC State AFL-CIO // #CountMeIn (@NCStateAFLCIO) February 28, 2025Ohio AFL-CIO:This is what democracy looks like. There is no stronger force than worker #solidarity. We must not let Elon Musk and the billionaire class divide us while they conquer and raid our tax coffers https://t.co/B3k1sCw8Xq— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) March 5, 2025Oregon AFL-CIO:Thank you Attorney General Dan Rayfield @ORDOJ and Labor Commissioner Christina Stephenson @bolistephenson for joining us for Oregon Lobby Day 2025! #ORpol #ORLeg #OregonLabor #ExtendUItoStrikers #OregonLaborLobbyDay pic.twitter.com/2SxWgfupTi— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) March 4, 2025Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:All nine of Pennsylvania’s Republican congressmen voted to cut Medicaid—putting 800,000 Pennsylvanians at risk. We won’t stand by while working families lose coverage.https://t.co/JJY4ONfPEG— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) March 1, 2025Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council:This is an annual scholarship that is awarded to high school graduates between the ages of 17-21 who are entering their first year at a state-accredited college/university with the objective of obtaining a minimum of a 2-year degree. Apply here - https://t.co/4YcDKlD2Ub pic.twitter.com/bhS66iLMdg— Tennessee AFL-CIO (@tnaflcio) February 27, 2025Texas AFL-CIO:As someone who worked on a large-scale construction project with a PLA, our Secretary-Treasurer @AguilarLeonard knows that PLAs are essential to keeping workers safe and ensuring projects are completed on time.That's why we're urging Texas Senators to vote NO on #SB925. #txlege pic.twitter.com/MbRQgx3oP0— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) March 4, 2025Virginia AFL-CIO:Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:Washington is a wealthy state- our government should make life easier for working families, not cut childcare and other services that we depend on.Tell your legislators- no cuts to essential services! Make the ultra wealthy pay their fair share in taxes, just like the rest of us pic.twitter.com/RCiULXM9nh— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) March 4, 2025Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:Important Election Update for April 1 election https://t.co/ZBUuy8ajJk— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) March 4, 2025 Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 03/05/2025 - 01:31Continue reading→

Worker Wins: A Huge Step Forward Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. Alaska Flight Attendants Overwhelmingly Ratify Contract: Late last week, Alaska Airlines flight attendants—who are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA)—ratified a new three-year contract with 95% of members in favor of the deal. With a remarkable 91% voting participation, this industry standard-setting deal is being celebrated across membership. Highlights of this agreement include double-digit raises for the 7,000-member bargaining unit, boarding pay, company 401(k) match increase, higher per diems and more. “This contract will immediately and significantly improve the lives of Alaska Flight Attendants,” said Jeffrey Peterson, AFA-CWA MEC president at Alaska Airlines in a press release. “Alaska Flight Attendants’ solidarity pushed management to recognize our critical role to the safety and success of this airline. This contract also raises the foundation for the new joint Alaska-Hawaiian negotiations following the merger.”NBC Digital NewsGuild Secures Tentative Three-Year Contract Deal: Editorial staff at NBC News, NBC News NOW and Today, represented by NewsGuild of New York, TNG-CWA Local 31003, reached a tentative agreement (TA) with the network on Friday. The scope of the deal covers approximately 300 digital staff who work as reporters, producers, editors, designers, videographers and in other roles. This victory has been years in the making: NBC NewsGuild members first organized in 2019 and, if this TA is ratified, it will be their first contract. The contract includes wins like the establishment of minimum salary floors, job security protections, an end to forced arbitration in cases of discrimination and harassment, and more. “This contract is a huge step forward for journalists at NBC News,” said Tate James, documentary video editor and unit chair in a NewsGuild of New York press release. “We will now have the job security essential to fighting for transparency and accountability without fear.” “NYGuild members contribute to the reach and value of NBC News every day,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “I’m glad that NBC is finally recognizing their essential work by agreeing to a contract that enshrines the wages and workplace protections they deserve.”Maryland State Supervisors Overwhelmingly Vote to Join AFSCME: In a victory more than a year in the making, nearly 5,000 supervisors who work for the state of Maryland have voted to form a union with AFSCME Maryland Council 3. State supervisors worked with AFSCME to pass legislation last year that granted them collective bargaining rights in Maryland. “With our AFSCME union, we as supervisors can finally have a say in workplace policies that affect us, such as expanded hours, how our scheduling works, how comp time works, and more,” said Michael Lawson, acting assistant superintendent and a bus maintenance supervisor at the Maryland Transit Administration. “We are experts at how our agencies and offices operate, and now we have a seat at the table to weigh in on decisions that shape our work, our services, and our agencies.”Equity Reaches New Developmental Work Agreement with Broadway League: The National Council of Actors’ Equity Association (Equity) voted last week to ratify a new five-year Development Agreement with The Broadway League, ending an eight-month strike against early-stage development work. This agreement is used during the development of new works by members of The Broadway League—the trade organization representing theater producers and owners—before entering into an intended Production Contract engagement. The previous version of this contract expired in February of last year, after which the union unanimously voted to authorize a strike. Highlights of the new agreement include a cumulative pay increase of over 8%, more pre-production time for stage managers and the establishment of a new joint working group between the union and employers. “Today is a day to celebrate the hard work of Equity’s team in getting us back into the rehearsal halls and making some magic,” said Equity Negotiating Team Chair Stephen Bogardus in a press release. “The talent and commitment our members bring to their work is vital in transporting what’s on paper to the stage, and Development work sessions are a crucial step in that process. This was a long strike, but it was worth it. I know our members are looking forward to digging into the work we love doing while being more fairly compensated for that labor.”Victory: Federal Court Finds Firing of Probationary Federal Employees Illegal: On Thursday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a temporary restraining order against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and its acting director, finding that the termination of probationary federal employees was illegal because OPM had no authority to order it. The coalition of plaintiffs on the case include AFGE, AFSCME, United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) and various community ally groups. “This ruling…is an important initial victory for patriotic Americans across this country who were illegally fired from their jobs by an agency that had no authority to do so,” said Everett Kelley, national president of the AFGE. “These are rank-and-file workers who joined the federal government to make a difference in their communities, only to be suddenly terminated due to this administration’s disdain for federal employees and desire to privatize their work.” “We know this decision is just a first step, but it gives federal employees a respite,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “While they work to protect public health and safety, federal workers have faced constant harassment from unelected billionaires and anti-union extremists whose only goal is to give themselves massive tax breaks at the expense of working people. We will continue to move this case forward with our partners until federal workers are protected against these baseless terminations.”UAW Members Reach Tentative Agreement with Rolls-Royce, Averting Strike: UAW Local 933 announced that it secured a last-minute tentative agreement (TA) with Rolls-Royce late Wednesday night, right before their current contract expired. Local 933 represents over 800 workers at the Indianapolis facility where members manufacture aircraft engines for contracts with the U.S. government. Highlights of the deal include the elimination of wage tiers, profit-sharing, improved retirement benefits and a cost-of-living adjustment. In a huge victory for the bargaining unit, under this new TA, the lowest-paid workers would see a wage increase of nearly 70% over the lifetime of the contract. “Winning strong agreements is only possible when our members are organized and united,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “It only happens when the company looks over the shoulder of our bargaining team and sees an army of fired up and fed up members who are ready to do what it takes to win what they deserve. That is exactly what happened here this week when hundreds of members showed up to rally in support of their bargaining team and show the company that they were ready to strike if needed.”Workers at St. Anselm Secure Election Victory Despite Aggressive Union-Busting: In the midst of intense anti-union pressure from management, workers at popular Washington, D.C., restaurant St. Anselm successfully voted to form a union with UNITE HERE Local 25. The lucrative dining spot is operated by STARR Restaurant Group—which refused to voluntarily recognize the union earlier this month—and the new bargaining unit covers both the front- and back-of-house workers. This victory was the first of three STARR-operated restaurants in the city to hold elections to join Local 25 as part of a larger DC Restaurant Workers Rising organizing effort. Staff are celebrating this powerful victory, and are eager to sit down at the bargaining table and secure a contract with improvements to working conditions and wages. “I’m so proud of what we won today because I know it means real change is coming—in our paychecks, our benefits, and how workers at STARR restaurants are treated,” said Bridget Killburn, a baker at St. Anselm. “I’m excited for my colleagues at Pastis and Le Diplomate to join us in winning their union in the coming weeks.”Reconsidered Goods Thrift Store Workers Unanimously Vote to Form Union: On Monday, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW) announced that workers at Reconsidered Goods in Greensboro, North Carolina, voted unanimously to form a union. Staff at the thrift store have become the second retail location in the city to join RWDSU-UFCW this year after their union brothers, sisters and siblings at REI Greensboro won their election last month. But the path to get here wasn’t easy: management attempted to exclude two people from the proposed bargaining unit, forcing workers to go on strike until all eligible staff could vote. Members cited concerns like safety issues, working conditions, wages and scheduling as core focuses for when they enter bargaining. “There has been no doubt in my mind that we would win this election,” said fabric specialist Yvonne Rabel. “We’ve been working hard for over a year to build a sense of community and camaraderie with each other….Our community has been nothing but supportive of our goals to ensure a safer work environment, and we’re going to continue to work toward these goals during negotiations. I can’t say whether I expect our directors to be collaborative or not, but I’m hopeful we can work on a solution that includes the workers having a say in the decisions that affect them.” Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 03/04/2025 - 12:06Continue reading→