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Strike Totals Remain High: 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. Brightline's 'Onboard Service' Employees Vote to Join Union: “About 100 Brightline employees will join the Transport Workers Union (TWU) following a vote with the National Mediation Board last month. In a news release after the Jan. 14 vote, the Transport Workers Union of America said, ‘this is the largest newly organized group of railroad workers nationwide in over 20 years.’”Actors’ Equity And The Broadway League Reach Agreement On Thorny Issues Around New Work Development: “Actors’ Equity Association has reached a deal with the Broadway League on a new five-year Development Agreement, resolving an eight-month strike prohibiting Equity members’ participation in early stages of development work. The National Council of Actors’ Equity Association, the labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, announced today that it had voted to ratify a new five-year Development Agreement, concluding an eight-month strike against The Broadway League, the trade organization representing theater producers and owners.”The U.S. Postal Service Is More Efficient Than You Think. Privatizing It Could Cause Problems for Many: “‘The Postal Office remains the most affordable way to ship,’ Brian Renfroe, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, told CNN. ‘The destruction of any part of the public service we provide is going to have one bottom line result for the customers, it’s going to cost more and take longer to get there.’ ‘It really comes down to the core meaning of a public service,’ he said. ‘The Post Office is going to serve you at the same cost no matter where you are. That really should be the very definition of a public service.’”Reconsidered Goods Unionizes: “Reconsidered Goods is nestled on the corner of the Food Lion on Spring Garden Street, across the street from Pho Hien Vuong. Unlike its surrounding businesses, Reconsidered Goods is a 501c nonprofit organization that takes donated materials and helps divert them from landfills, putting them into the hands of artists, makers, teachers, children, and other reuse advocates to create something new. Their mission is to promote sustainability, environmental awareness, community engagement, and creative expression through reuse, education, and the arts. Unfortunately, despite the organization’s noble morals, the staff of Reconsidered Goods have had enough. Due to safety regulations, lack of training, and more the workers have banded together to try and unionize to get these policies changed.”Workers at D.C.'s St. Anselm Secure Unionization as STARR Group Challenges Vote Outcome: “Hundreds of employees at some of D.C.'s most lucrative restaurants are overjoyed following the news of their union vote. On Friday, St. Anselm employees voted 51-42 in favor of unionizing. In mid-January employees with five restaurants: Le Diplomate, Pastis, and St. Anselm, operated by STARR Restaurant Group; and Rasika and Modena, operated by Knightsbridge restaurant group, announced they were organizing a union with UNITE HERE Local 25. The unit covers the front and back of house and includes servers, bussers, dishwashers, cooks and bakers.”Keystone Ski Patrol Union Votes to Ratify New Contract Following Negotiations: “Nearly all 81 members of the Keystone Ski Patrol Union voted to accept a new contract with Keystone Resort that will last through the 2026-2027 ski season. The announcement follows months of back and forth between management at Vail Resorts and the union that formed in 2024. Union bargaining team member Jake Randall said that after workers at Keystone’s sister resort in Park City Utah went on strike, Vail Resorts was ready to come to the table. ‘We actually came to an agreement pretty quickly after the strike ended,’ Randall said. ‘We put it to a vote with overwhelming support. We did have a couple no votes in there, but the sentiment of the group is that we made a lot of progress with this contract.’”Picketing May Have Peaked but Union Strike Totals Remain High: “Unions led fewer strikes against U.S. employers last year than in 2022 or 2023, according to Bloomberg Law labor data. But the 236 walkouts called in 2024 still represent the third-highest annual total in almost two decades, suggesting that the post-pandemic trend of labor unrest is still far from over. After unions initiated only 86 strikes in shutdown-riven 2020, strikes took place with increasing frequency in the ensuing three years—from 164 in 2021 to 317 in 2022 to 356 in 2023—as workers sought to assert more control over their job security and compensation. It took until 2024 for the tide of strikes to subside (to 236) rather than rise.”Children’s Theatre Company Ratifies 1st Ever Contract With IATSE: “A state theatre company has ratified its first-ever contract with a theatre union. The Children's Theatre Company (CTC) in Minneapolis has completed an almost two-year process and come to terms with the International Alliance of Theatrical State Employees (IATSE) Local 13.” Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/28/2025 - 12:02Continue reading→

Black History Month Profiles: Alfred Winters For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black 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 Alfred Winters of the Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU). Alfred Winters is currently in his fourth year of HFIU Local 1's apprenticeship program. Since starting, he has proven to be an asset to the local. Winters works with Brand Safeway in the field. In 2024, he represented Local 1 at the Regional Apprentice Competition, showcasing both his expertise and his commitment to excellence in the trade. He serves as a delegate to the Southwestern Illinois Building Trades Council, where he plays a key role in advocating for the interests of the union. His representation of Local 1 at career fairs has been instrumental in attracting and encouraging minority workers to join the trade. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/28/2025 - 10:03 Tags: Black History MonthContinue reading→

Black History Month Profiles: Yusuf Al-Shabazz For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black 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 Yusuf Al-Shabazz of UNITE HERE. Yusuf Al-Shabazz got his start with UNITE HERE Local 11 when he helped organize to bring the union into the American Airlines (AA) airport lounges at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. He was fired unfairly from the AA Lounges for organizing the union in 2023, and his case is still pending with the NLRB. He then got a job as a cook at the Hyatt Tempe Mission Palms and now serves as a chief shop steward of his co-workers. In the recent contract fight at Hyatt, 21-year-old Al-Shabazz helped lead his co-workers out on strike. They went on to win an incredible contract with life-changing raises and a pension. His sister is also a member of Local 11 with Starbucks at the Phoenix Airport. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/28/2025 - 10:03 Tags: Black History MonthContinue reading→

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Workers at St. Anselm Secure Election Victory Despite Aggressive Union-Busting 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. 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.” Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/28/2025 - 10:02 Tags: OrganizingContinue reading→

Hands off Medicaid: What Working People Are Doing This Week Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week. Actors' Equity:We are pleased to announce that we have reached a deal on a new Development Agreement! Work on this agreement may resume immediately. Read our press release for details - https://t.co/OkO4ClwZll pic.twitter.com/a8405Cblcd— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) February 27, 2025AFGE:AFGE will challenge any unlawful terminations of our members and federal employees across the country.https://t.co/CM2zsuFe3W— AFGE (@AFGENational) February 22, 2025AFSCME:A big welcome to nearly 5K supervisors who work for the State of Maryland. They overwhelmingly chose @AFSCMEMaryland as their union. https://t.co/krF8jmds3V— AFSCME (@AFSCME) February 27, 2025Alliance for Retired Americans:BREAKING: Retirees affected by WEP/GPO repeal can expect to get retroactive payments backdated to January 2024 by the end of March, according to SSA officials. https://t.co/HdQIgj1wIf— Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) February 27, 2025Amalgamated Transit Union:Tonight, International President John Costa hosted a virtual town hall for our Local President/Business Agents in the U.S. to acknowledge and strategize around the landscape of the first month of the Trump administration and the impact on our members and industry. The town hall… pic.twitter.com/rmODAH7Uch— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) February 27, 2025American Federation of Musicians:More than 1,000 musicians joined together to release this album, in protest to the UK government’s proposed changes to copyright law, which would allow artificial intelligence companies to use artists’ copyrighted work without permission. #isthiswhatwewant…— AFM (@The_AFM) February 26, 2025American Federation of Teachers:Hands off Medicaid: Send a letter here https://t.co/MWHtW0cJIw#DontCutMyMedicaid pic.twitter.com/y3Tb2sOmWZ— AFT (@AFTunion) February 21, 2025Boilermakers:“As data centers and AI-driven energy demands surge, the Boilermakers are positioned at the forefront of emerging energy technologies.” - Johnny Baca, Director, M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund. Read more from IBB's presence at PowerGen2025. ➡️ https://t.co/VXdP4pOoay pic.twitter.com/3qhEvLHbyp— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) February 27, 2025Bricklayers:We were thrilled to be a part of the 30th annual Bowling for Gold tournament hosted by the Community Services Agency!The BAC sent 5 teams to help in raising money for union members and their families in need!#BestHandsInTheBowlingLanes #SkilledTrades #Apprenticeships pic.twitter.com/7l6ltGgHSH— Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union (@IUBAC) February 27, 2025Communications Workers of America:Solidarity with @UPTECWA members on strike! https://t.co/8TlDRoQjbO— CWA (@CWAUnion) February 26, 2025Department for Professional Employees:Solidarity with @WGAEast/@MSNBCunion members! https://t.co/vyZo61vxGO— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) February 26, 2025Electrical Workers:Good choice! https://t.co/435m1D5ze7— IBEW (@IBEW) February 26, 2025Fire Fighters:🚨 Big win for fair pay! After a hard-fought battle, Osceola, Fla., battalion chiefs will now receive the overtime pay they deserve. 👏 #UnionStrong #FairPay #IAFFhttps://t.co/zcHjNw9dQ5— International Association of Fire Fighters (@IAFFofficial) February 27, 2025Heat and Frost Insulators:Become a Union Member 💪Whether you have experience working in the Insulation industry or are new to the trade — now is the time to earn a higher wage & better benefits.➡️Learn more & become a member today: https://t.co/yjahHngRTW#InsulatorsUnion #Insulators #InsulatorPride… pic.twitter.com/QlXF7OlH6l— Insulators Union 🦎 (@InsulatorsUnion) February 26, 2025International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:IFPTE stands in Solidarity with Postal Workers and denounces any efforts to privatize our Postal Service https://t.co/Os8dNlCb7t— IFPTE (@IFPTE) February 22, 2025Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:@AttorneyMartinez delivers an important message for the immigrant community from Capitol Hill during the reintroduction of The American Dream and Promise Act pic.twitter.com/kSc1TjAuHD— LCLAA (@LCLAA) February 27, 2025Labor Heritage Foundation:🔥 Powerful speeches & inspiring music at last night’s MLK “Gonna Take Us All” Ball! 🎶✊ A packed crowd at McGinty’s heard from Jamie Raskin, Sara Nelson & more, pushing back against attacks on workers. “By all means, keep moving.” #MLK #Solidarity #1uhttps://t.co/a7W04NGNud pic.twitter.com/mFCZ8DlkZa— Labor Heritage (@LaborHeritage1) February 26, 2025Laborers:#TBT to LIUNA apprenticeship back in the day! Our commitment to world-class training has never changed, but wow—our facilities sure have! From then to now, #LIUNA has been building stronger workers, safer job sites, and brighter futures.#ThrowbackThursday #apprenticeship pic.twitter.com/ub3IBwVeBi— LIUNA (@LIUNA) February 27, 2025Machinists:An overwhelming UNION YES from 60 Unifi Aviation (owned 49% by @Delta) ground handling workers based in San Jose, Calif., who last week voted to join our union!Get the deets on the severe union-busting campaign these workers faced to get their union 🔽👀https://t.co/t1S1RetmQa— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) February 26, 2025Mine Workers:The January/February issue of the journal proudly features Belinda Biafore as its Associate Membership Spotlight.Belinda Biafore is an Associate Member and long-time supporter of the United Mine Workers. Sister Biafore is the former West Virginia...https://t.co/5tMbj1wAGI— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) February 27, 2025Musical Artists:AGMA Joins the Human Artistry Campaign to Advocate for the Rights of Artists in the Age of AI: https://t.co/c7MToluWjw @human_artistry pic.twitter.com/DfOcw6CSf6— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) February 26, 2025National Air Traffic Controllers Association:Here’s what NATCA members accomplished last week pic.twitter.com/erXC7jAdZW— NATCA (@NATCA) February 25, 2025National Association of Letter Carriers:ICYMI ➡️ The Social Security Administration announced that the agency will begin to pay retroactive benefits & will increase monthly benefit payments for those impacted by the WEP & GPO. For more info about this #SocialSecurityFairnessAct update, visit: https://t.co/icGoaW0Fdr— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) February 27, 2025National Domestic Workers Alliance:Domestic workers are the cornerstone of a healthy economy. Yet, they have been excluded from our federal labor protections for far too long.We must recognize their essential work and invest in a care infrastructure that genuinely supports the livelihoods of all Americans. pic.twitter.com/wuwZXN4hYI— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) February 26, 2025National Nurses United:Nurses condemn the senseless, unacceptable violence at UPMC Memorial in Pennsylvania and @HCAhealthcare Florida Palms West Hospital.Our employers must adopt nurse-led #WorkplaceViolencePrevention plans and safe staffing to protect staff and patients.https://t.co/L6Qv5G3ZRl— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) February 25, 2025NFL Players Association:The 3rd edition of the NFLPA Team Report Cards is here! 📊 With free agency ahead, these insights help players evaluate workplace conditions across all 32 teams. Progress is happening, but there’s more work to do.See the full list of team grades here: https://t.co/Dkn4WES7mn pic.twitter.com/WpgG218vVV— NFLPA (@NFLPA) February 26, 2025North America's Building Trades Unions:“It makes all the sense in the world to work to recruit more women into the trades. Women want all the same Middle Class wages as men, and they want safety and a voice on the job. Women are good union members, and when unions are stronger, the Labor Movement is stronger.” -…— The Building Trades (@NABTU) February 27, 2025Office and Professional Employees:OPEIU Local 40 nurses at Rochester Henry Ford Hospital are currently facing a critical situation, fighting for a fair contract after TWO LONG YEARS of negotiations with two different administrations.Stand in solidarity with nurses → https://t.co/MtMMrdBSl2— OPEIU | #UnionStrong (@OPEIU) February 27, 2025Painters and Allied Trades:This Black History Month, we honor the relentless fight for justice that began with the Black Lives Matter movement. From breaking barriers within our union to standing shoulder to shoulder for equality, we push for a future where every life is valued and every voice heard. pic.twitter.com/O6Bevz9ul3— IUPAT (@GoIUPAT) February 20, 2025Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:On @CNN @PASSprezdc Spero talked safety critical jobs @FAANews represented by PASS & the PEOPLE! "It seems to be a pattern of cyberbullying—let’s call it that. Folks are rattled, they are shaken. Instead of concentrating on their jobs, it's chaos & panic"https://t.co/7s8xsi5z5Y— PASS (@PASSNational) February 24, 2025Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:CONTRACT VICTORY: congrats to @RWDSU Mid South Council members at Fresh Mark in Salem, Ohio! These workers recently ratified a new contract that includes the largest wage increases of any prior union contract at their facility!Learn more: https://t.co/LFcmxkVAgj pic.twitter.com/BaAYHiHZln— RWDSU (@RWDSU) February 27, 2025Roofers and Waterproofers:Join a #union, and chances are you'll live longer and happier! Makes sense...- higher wages,- quality benefits, like health insurance,- better workplace safety standards,- less stress knowing you'll receive a pension in retirement.https://t.co/SckxkfKUA3— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) February 26, 2025SAG-AFTRA:We are deeply saddened by the death of Gene Hackman and his wife. The SAG Award- and five-time Oscar-winner was among the finest actors of his generation. His tremendous legacy of work will live on. May he #RIP. #SagAftraMember since 1959 https://t.co/hlBf038ieq— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) February 27, 2025Service Employees International Union (SEIU):💥Tariffs & deportations don’t protect workers—they divide us while corporations profit. The real solution? International solidarity. We must stand together across borders to fight exploitation and build power! pic.twitter.com/GGaD02L6rb— SEIU (@SEIU) February 27, 2025Theatrical Stage Employees:Revitalizing America’s arts, media, and entertainment industries starts with investing in the people who make it happen.These priorities would protect workers’ earnings, uphold safety and fair labor standards, and secure vital funding for cultural projects and productions. pic.twitter.com/TPb94CpKFA— IATSE // #IASolidarity (@IATSE) February 27, 2025Transport Workers Union:TWU International Pres. Samuelsen greeting the hard-working members of Local 234 who operate & maintain the ⁦@SEPTA⁩ system in Philly. L234 secured a solid contract last year after a strategic & intense campaign with a strike authorization vote. ⁦⁦@TwuSamuelsen⁩ pic.twitter.com/hmzxlVY1N6— TWU (@transportworker) February 26, 2025Transportation Trades Department:Allies from across the labor movement joined @NALC_national in their rally yesterday to show this administration that we will fight to save the postal service. #FightLikeHell pic.twitter.com/kOn9K3Tx0d— TTD | America's Transportation Unions (@TTDAFLCIO) February 25, 2025UAW:"Chants of 'What’s disgusting? Union busting!' could be heard all along Eastern Parkway. People from other institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, were present to support their colleagues." @UAWRegion9Ahttps://t.co/77xP3F9p2r— UAW (@UAW) February 27, 2025Union Veterans Council:Veterans feel ‘left behind’ and ‘disparaged’ after Trump’s government cuts: Iraq Veteran Once again, the Union Veterans Council is on the frontlines, fighting for those who fought for us. https://t.co/Jp6ROkU3Jw via @msnbc— Union Veterans Council🪖✊ (@unionveterans) February 27, 2025UNITE HERE:Black History Month Leader Spotlight ✨Pierre Whitaker, Lead Service Attendant & UNITE HERE Local 23 Amtrak Chapter President—"For over a century we have been at the forefront of the fight to have our work respected, and despite many challenges, today we are stronger than ever." pic.twitter.com/WAHYgZkeN7— UNITE HERE Local 23 (@unitehere23) February 26, 2025United Food and Commercial Workers:Nearly 100 @UFCWLocal152 members at Berks Foods have ratified a strong new contract!The 3-year contract includes annual wage increases, a longevity bonus, affordable health benefits, improved vacation policies, & extended funeral leave.➡️ https://t.co/ULa0ImD45B pic.twitter.com/Oq9LpoefeI— UFCW (@UFCW) February 27, 2025United Steelworkers:Nellie Carabello, a former public sector worker and proud SOAR activist, shares how an eye-opening experience with harassment led her to embrace union activism. Hear her story in the latest Solidarity Works podcast—first in a series with SOAR activists! https://t.co/I6lC6EgKdt pic.twitter.com/OYnaGD85ni— United Steelworkers #EverybodysUnion (@steelworkers) February 27, 2025Utility Workers:🛬 ICYMI: Our well-trained union siblings from @afa_cwa were heroes when Delta flight overturned in Toronto. https://t.co/MgEmY15fgB— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) February 26, 2025Writers Guild of America East:Are you ok with the workers behind shows like Alone, The First 48, and Pawn Stars being disrespected by mgmt with substandard union contract proposals? Neither are we! The time for @WeAreITVA to agree to a fair contract is NOW.Sign the petition: https://t.co/TFWxB0PbSI #1u— Writers Guild of America East (@WGAEast) February 27, 2025 Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 02/27/2025 - 12:45Continue reading→