AFL-CIO
Pride Month Profiles: John Henry Jr.
Pride Month Profiles: John Henry Jr.
For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today’s profile is John Henry Jr. of AFSCME.
As president of AFSCME Local 2191, John Henry Jr. represents the workers of Columbus (Ohio) Public Health. He has spent his career in HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevention, where he has seen the importance of dignity, safety and a real voice on the job. As a proud third-generation union member, Henry believes Pride and the labor movement share the same purpose: standing together for human dignity, equality and the freedom for every worker to be respected for who they are.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 06/25/2026 – 10:25
Tags:
Pride
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Health Care Professionals in New Jersey Ratify New Contract
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Health Care Professionals in New Jersey Ratify New 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 United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 152 who work at Cape Regional Physicians Associates (CRPA) in New Jersey have secured a powerful new collective bargaining agreement.The three-year contract covers nurses, medical assistants, receptionists and clerical staff who work at dozens of offices across Cape May County. Highlights include across-the-board raises for all staff, yearly wage increases, a new health care plan and clarifying provisions around paid time off (PTO).“Wages and healthcare are usually at the forefront of most negotiations. While we were able to secure good increases and savings to healthcare, language around PTO was the most important issue for CRPA employees. I couldn’t be more proud of our negotiating committee who worked with our bargaining team to create meaningful changes to PTO language that gives our members the flexibility they deserve,” said Chad Brooks, Local 152 bargaining representative.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 06/25/2026 – 10:18
Your Seat at the Table: In the States Roundup
Your Seat at the Table: 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.
Alaska AFL-CIO:Today, during a meeting of the Alaska AFL-CIO, Vice Presidents voted to endorse @MaryPeltola for U.S. Senate and @BillHillAK for U.S. House. Vice Presidents expressed their firm belief that Mary Peltola and Bill Hill will always put the priorities of working Alaskans first. pic.twitter.com/OZYFOXdw0m— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) June 18, 2026California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:Scabby the Rat made an appearance at the @USW_Local_5 Solidarity Monday protest outside the Marathon refinery, where workers have been fighting for a fair contract for two months! pic.twitter.com/yl9ulw7Ufj— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) June 23, 2026Illinois AFL-CIO:Congratulations to the nearly 20 graduates in @HIRE360Partners’s Will County Cohort for Illinois Works! Thank you to Rep. Larry Walsh for speaking with our graduates and supporting legislation to improve key training programs like this. pic.twitter.com/J3fihqmjm8— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) June 22, 2026Maine AFL-CIO:Gov Paul LePage relentlessly waged a war on workers, eliminated collective bargaining rights, blocked min wage increases, demonized public workers & robbed workers’ pensions to give the rich a tax break. We can’t let him do the same thing in Washington. pic.twitter.com/n8SG2bEOnz— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) June 23, 2026Massachusetts AFL-CIO:This week, MA AFL-CIO President @chrissylynch29 was sworn into the State Workforce Development Board and the Clean Energy Technology Board of Directors. The future of work is now, and President Lynch will ensure that union members have a voice at all levels of government. pic.twitter.com/Fvy20TcInk— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) June 17, 2026Michigan State AFL-CIO:Your reminder that unions give you a seat at the table, and the power to use it 💪 pic.twitter.com/DPcPNBTvs8— Michigan AFL-CIO ✊ (@MIAFLCIO) June 23, 2026Minnesota AFL-CIO:Happy #Juneteenth from Minnesota’s Labor Movement. Today we commemorate our nation abolishing slavery and recommit ourselves to strive towards racial and economic justice. pic.twitter.com/ViixkaliP5— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) June 19, 2026Missouri AFL-CIO:In Missouri, 9.9% of rural Missourians lack health insurance, as do 6.9% of urban residents.Missouri needs leaders who will make healthcare more affordable for EVERYONE. https://t.co/4KaMe1WOrz— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) June 23, 2026Nevada State AFL-CIO:Today we celebrate Juneteenth, which marks the day the last enslaved people in the US learned they were free, more than 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. We honor the resilience of Black Americans, & recognize that the fight for equality & justice continues. pic.twitter.com/CqY24gEHVX— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) June 19, 2026New York State AFL-CIO:TODAY is the NYS Primary. If you haven’t voted, make a plan to get to your poll site before 9pm. Elections impact the standard of living & quality of life for all working people, so make sure your voice is heard! Poll site search & labor’s endorsements: https://t.co/3B0OPS3e3w pic.twitter.com/jKCd6ayVjr— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) June 23, 2026Oregon Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO:”A strong labor movement is the only way to tackle the challenges of a modern economy, technology, and AI in a way that centers workers” – Oregon Labor Federation President Graham Trainor pic.twitter.com/nYmOZ76P0U— Oregon Labor Federation, AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) June 18, 2026Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:“We are the foundation of this district, and we’re not asking for the world here. We’re asking to not live in poverty, and we’re asking to help maintain our health insurance,” said Tim Finucan, 32BJ SEIU Pennsylvania state director.https://t.co/NnLZQeHIBg— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) June 17, 2026Texas AFL-CIO:✊ TEXAS UNION WIN: More than 200 DART paratransit workers – represented by @ATUComm – just won huge raises in a historic union contract!That’s the union difference! #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/33PUNEi2CK— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) June 22, 2026Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:Solidarity with our @UniteHereLocal8 siblings ‼️ON STRIKE‼️at Embassy Suites in Seattle! Join them on the line or donate to their strike fund to support their fight for fair wages and safety on the job. Details ⬇️ https://t.co/7kKWFZebEM— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) June 18, 2026Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:Local childcare centers brace for state funding cuts. Study finds that many may close as a result. https://t.co/YOStlZ8Ud3— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) June 23, 2026
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 06/23/2026 – 12:32
Pride Month Profiles: Kimberly Holdridge
Pride Month Profiles: Kimberly Holdridge
For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today’s profile is Kimberly Holdridge of the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Kimberly Holdridge serves proudly as the president of the Florida AFL-CIO. She has been an IATSE Local 631 organizer and leader in the labor movement for over 35 years following service in the U.S. Air Force. Within a state whose government continues to attack, minimize and restrict the freedoms of LGBTQIA+ individuals, Holdridge has remained undeterred and unabashed in her pride.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 06/23/2026 – 10:21
Tags:
Pride
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Asian Americans Advancing Justice Workers Ratify Landmark First Contract
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Asian Americans Advancing Justice Workers Ratify Landmark 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 Washington-Baltimore News Guild, TNG-CWA Local 32035, who work at Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) have successfully ratified their first collective bargaining agreement.After more than a year and a half of negotiations and a one-day walkout in March, AAJCollective has reached its inaugural contract, which includes major wins, such as a higher salary floor, a transparent wage step scale, preservation of remote work, expanded paid parental leave, a prohibition on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement entering AAJC workspaces and more.“This contract is proof of what workers can achieve when we stand together,” said the AAJCollective bargaining committee. “Civil rights organizations must model the values they preach. We are proud to have won an agreement that protects our workers and strengthens the mission we all came here to serve.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 06/23/2026 – 10:14
Unions Helped Shape the Nation: The Working People Weekly List
Unions Helped Shape the Nation: 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.
AFL-CIO Sets Goal: 2 Million More Union Members: “At this year’s convention, Liz Shuler and Fred Redmond ran unopposed for president and secretary-treasurer respectively, and so did the federation’s 55 vice presidents; all terms of office are four years. Shuler is an Oregon native and the daughter of a PGE electrical lineman. Her involvement with the union movement started with a failed campaign to organize PGE clerical workers. She was then hired as an organizer and lobbyist for IBEW Local 125 in Portland and later joined the staff of the IBEW international. In 2009 she won election to serve as AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer, the federation’s number two office, serving alongside then-president Richard Trumka. She became president after Trumka’s death in 2021, and ran unopposed for re-election in 2022, with Redmond as her running mate, also unopposed.”Nurses at Chicago’s St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Vote to Form Union: “Nurses at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago voted in favor of forming a union weeks after six colleagues were fired just as the group prepared to unionize. About 96% of nurses eligible to cast a ballot Wednesday voted to be represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of the National Nurses United, according to the union. About 400 nurses at the hospital were eligible to be part of the union, according to the National Labor Relations Board’s website.”Seattle Art Museum Workers Vote to Unionize in Landslide Election: “Staff members at the Seattle Art Museum have officially unionized following a landslide National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election this week. The new union, Seattle Art Museum Workers United (SAMWU), will represent over 130 full- and part-time employees across its three locations, including the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park. A spokesperson for the union, Gillian Fulford, told Hyperallergic that the new bargaining unit will encompass 21 of the institution’s departments, including its curation, conservation, facilities, and education divisions.”Employees of Ocean State Media, Rhode Island’s NPR and PBS Organization, Vote to Unionize: “A majority of employees at Ocean State Media, Rhode Island’s joint NPR and PBS organization, voted to form a union with SAG-AFTRA Wednesday. Jessica Maher, SAG-AFTRA’s executive director for New England’s local chapter, said ‘we won with more than 70% yes vote and we look forward to bargaining.’ In a petition to Ocean State Media leadership delivered on May 4, a group of the organization’s hosts, reporters and producers said ‘at a time of unprecedented challenges for public media and journalism in general, we seek a more active role in decision-making about the organization and the future of our work.’”UMWA Leader Cecil Roberts Gets a Legacy Spotlight in Charleston: “A sixth-generation coal miner from Cabin Creek who went on to lead one of the nation’s most recognizable labor unions is now being celebrated with a museum in his honor in Charleston. Cecil Roberts, who served as the international president of the United Mine Workers of America for the past 30 years before announcing his retirement last year, was honored during the grand opening of the Cecil E. Roberts Legacy Museum at the UMWA District 17 headquarters along Kanawha Boulevard.”More Than 16,000 Sign SAG-AFTRA Letter Demanding Congress Pass NO FAKES Act, Which Would Ban Unauthorized AI Images and Videos: “More than 16,000 people have signed SAG-AFTRA’s open letter demanding Congress pass the revived NO FAKES Act, an anti-deepfake bill that would give individuals control over how their name and likeness are used.”Signalmen’s Union, Rail Carriers Reach Tentative Contract Agreement: “The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen and National Carriers’ Conference Committee have reached a tentative five-year national contract agreement, the NCCC announced today (June 16). The deal follows the pattern of agreements ratified by 11 other unions, including a wage increase totaling 18.8% (compounded) over five years, improved health and welfare benefits with no increased employee contribution, and accelerated earning of vacation time. Ratification by the BRS would conclude the current round of national negotiations.”Trade Apprenticeship Applications Double at Madison’s IBEW Local 159: “Student apprenticeship numbers have started to spike in Madison. IBEW Local 159 has seen their trade apprenticeship applications double in the last five years. The post-graduation trade route has seen a spike since 2023, and students at IBEW Local 159 are the most recent example. Deciding to forgo the common four-year college route has given students who go through an apprenticeship a direct path to family-supporting careers, along with getting hands-on work experience right out of high school. A recent study from the Midwest Economic Policy Institute found that union trade workers in Wisconsin make 24% more than those who graduate with a bachelor’s degree and 5% more than those with a master’s.”America 250: Exploring How the UAW and Other Unions Helped Shape the Nation: “As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, the role of the labor movement is being celebrated by many of those in our workforce. Countless stories dating back to the beginning of unionization are taking center stage as we reflect back. From the Chrysler sit-down strike of 1937, this drum is just one of many labor artifacts preserved at Wayne State University, part of our nation’s story.”UAW Members at American Axle Ratify Pending Contract: “Members of UAW Local 2093 voted on Sunday to ratify a tentative agreement with American Axle in Three Rivers, Michigan, the union said. The tentative agreement with the United Auto Workers local was announced on June 10. Members went on strike after their contracts ended on May 31, less than a month after voting to authorize a strike. Members voted by 80% to ratify the new contract, the union said.”‘Historic’: Kansas City Public Schools Teachers Win 5% Raise: “Kansas City Public Schools teachers will receive a 5% base salary raise after the school board approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the Kansas City Federation of Teachers, the district’s teachers union. Superintendent Jennifer Collier called the raise ‘historic.’”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 06/22/2026 – 10:23
Get to Know AFL-CIO’s Trade Departments: Department for Professional Employees
Get to Know AFL-CIO’s Trade Departments: Department for Professional Employees
This is the first 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. First up is the Department for Professional Employees (DPE).
Name of Department: Department for Professional EmployeesMission: DPE is a coalition of 25 national unions, collectively representing more than 4 million highly skilled professional and technical workers. Our affiliated unions span an extraordinary breadth of occupations: from health care and education to science, engineering and technology; from arts, entertainment and media to public administration—more than 300 occupations.DPE is one of six constitutional trades departments within the AFL-CIO structure. It was chartered by the federation in 1977 in recognition of the remarkable growth of professional and technical employees among union members—growth that has only accelerated as the American economy has shifted dramatically from blue-collar to white-collar work. As more professionals seek union representation, DPE’s work grows more essential—not just to those workers themselves but also to the vitality, diversification and future of the labor movement.DPE’s mission is to assist affiliated unions in achieving their objectives on behalf of professional and technical workers. They do this by offering a forum for discussion, collaboration and action; promoting organizing, collective bargaining and mutual support; demonstrating the value of union membership to professionals and the public; building alliances with advocacy organizations; fostering diversity in the professional workforce and advancing public policies that strengthen the security, well-being, and status of working professionals.Current Leadership: President Jennifer Dorning has led DPE since 2018, spearheading transformative initiatives to advance the priorities and influence of DPE’s affiliate unions. Dorning devised the strategic effort to organize progressive nonprofits, growing what began as a small unit into the robust Nonprofit Professional Employees Union. A staunch proponent of internal strength, she has prioritized member engagement through regular roundtables, empowering affiliates to build more active and effective memberships. She convenes and leads the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI)—12 national unions that together form the labor movement’s leading voice on federal policy for the arts, entertainment and media sectors. Key AEMI policy wins under Dorning’s leadership include securing unemployment coverage for hundreds of thousands of gig workers during the pandemic, achieving record federal funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and winning diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility gains at the federal level.Rounding out DPE’s leadership are three distinguished officers who bring deep experience and commitment to the labor movement: General Board Chair Fedrick Ingram, secretary-treasurer of the AFT and a nationally recognized champion of educators and public school workers; Treasurer Matt Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) and a tireless advocate for a broad range of professionals; and First Vice President Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director and chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, who has been at the forefront of landmark agreements shaping the future of work for entertainment professionals in the artificial intelligence (AI) era.Affiliated Unions: Actors’ Equity Association (Equity); AFGE; AFT; American Federation of Musicians (AFM); American Guild of Musical Artists; American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA); Electrical Workers (IBEW); Fire Fighters (IAFF); IAM Union (IAM); International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); Italian American Actors (GIAA); National Football League Players Association (NFLPA); Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU); Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS); Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU); SAG-AFTRA; School Administrators (AFSA); Seafarers (SIU); Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC); Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); United Steelworkers (USW); Utility Workers (UWUA); and Writers Guild of America East (WGAE).History: Since its founding in 1977, DPE has been the home within the labor movement where professional and technical workers find their collective voice. It is the space where unions representing nurses and engineers, journalists and musicians, educators and scientists come together to work on the common challenges their members face—challenges that cut across industries but are distinctly professional in nature: protecting the integrity of skilled work, advancing policies tailored to highly trained workers and making the case to the broader public that professionals are stronger with a union than without one.That work has paid off. Over nearly five decades, the presence and power of professional and technical workers within the labor movement has grown substantially, reflecting both the transformation of the U.S. economy and the tireless organizing and advocacy efforts of DPE’s affiliated unions. Professionals are no longer an afterthought in the labor movement—they are increasingly central to it.Looking forward, DPE’s legislative and policy work, coalition-building and support for affiliate organizing and bargaining are positioning professional workers and their unions to have the resources, representation and policy support they need to thrive. The work of DPE ensures that as the world of work continues to evolve, union professionals will be ready to meet the future from a position of strength.Current Campaigns/Policy Agenda: DPE’s federal legislative and policy agenda is built around the real challenges facing professional employees today. Their work spans several priorities.Access to a Union: DPE advocates for legislation that makes it easier for professional workers to organize and collectively bargain, ensuring that the benefits of union membership are accessible to the growing professional workforce.Professional Integrity: DPE fights for policies that protect professionals’ ability to exercise independent judgment in their work, free from undue employer interference—a critical issue for workers in the federal sector, health care, science, law and beyond.Immigration: DPE advocates for high-skilled immigration policies that are fair to professional workers, both those who are U.S. citizens and those who come to this country to contribute their skills and expertise.Nonprofit Professional Employees: Through their Nonprofit Union Coalition, DPE supports the growing wave of professionals at nonprofit organizations who are choosing union representation to secure better wages, benefits, and working conditions.One of DPE’s dynamic areas of work is the AEMI. Composed of 12 national unions, the AEMI represents actors, broadcast technicians, craftspeople, choreographers, directors, journalists, musicians, performers, writers, singers, stage managers and stagehands working across both the nonprofit and commercial sectors.The AEMI focuses its federal policy efforts on championing human-centric policies that support sustainable careers in today’s AI era; advancing increased and sustainable federal support for nonprofit arts and public media; ensuring robust copyright and intellectual property protections; and improving diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility across industries.The AEMI has been an active and urgent voice in the current battles over federal arts funding, pushing back forcefully against proposed cuts and eliminations of the NEA and NEH. On intellectual property (IP), DPE and the AEMI have been leaders in advocating for strong copyright protections for creative professionals in the face of rapidly advancing AI. DPE has engaged with U.S. trade representatives, the U.S. Copyright Office and international partners on AI and IP policy—ensuring that the interests of working creators are represented at every table where the future of their work is being decided. The AEMI has also been a leading advocate for the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA), legislation that would restore fair tax treatment for entertainment professionals—a common-sense fix that the AEMI has championed in Congress with a broad coalition of unions and employers alike.Learn More: Website, Facebook, Instagram, X, Medium, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Bluesky
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 06/22/2026 – 15:44
Pride Month Profiles: Stacey Araujo
Pride Month Profiles: Stacey Araujo
For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today’s profile is Stacey Araujo of the United Steelworkers (USW).
Stacey Araujo got involved with USW Local 7-00647 when she was hired at International Paper in Illinois. She immediately wanted to run for the executive board, saying, “No one will represent me better than myself.” In addition to being a press machine operator, Araujo serves as her local’s vice president. She also recently traveled to Mexico as part of a USW delegation for an annual rally commemorating two workers who were killed while on strike.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 06/22/2026 – 10:15
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Editorial Workers at New York’s Schneps Media Launch Union
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Editorial Workers at New York’s Schneps Media Launch Union
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.
An overwhelming majority of the eligible staff of the Schneps Media Network announced the creation of a union the Independent Association of Publishers’ Employees (IAPE), Local 1096 of The NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America.Schneps Media Network is a series of hyperlocal news outlets spanning New York City and Long Island. Approximately 30 staffers across the editorial department work in New York City at amNY, amNY Law, Brooklyn Paper, The Bronx Times, Brownstoner, QNS, Noticias, New York Family, Staten Island Parent and Caribbean Life and on Long Island at the Long Island Press and Dan’s Papers, among others.“Schneps Media reporters can do a lot with a little, but we shouldn’t have to. A union contract will improve our working and living conditions, making it easier to do work that matters. With better pay, benefits, resources and editorial standards, we’ll be better equipped to do what we love, providing hyperlocal news to the communities that rely on us. A rising tide lifts all ships,” said Kirstyn Brendlen, a digital editor at Brooklyn Paper.The workers are seeking to secure competitive wages, sustainable working conditions and to strengthen the news organization’s mission of providing objective local journalism in the public interest.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 06/22/2026 – 09:35
Tags:
Organizing
Pride Month Profiles: Andrew Douglas
Pride Month Profiles: Andrew Douglas
For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today’s profile is Andrew Douglas of AFSCME.
AFSCME District Council 37 member Andrew Douglas is a dedicated labor and LGBTQIA+ advocate who founded the first-ever LGBTQIA+ committee for District Council 37, Social Service Employees Union (SSEU) Local 371 in 2024. He was appointed chair of District Council 37’s Pride Diversity Interest Group Committee in 2025, where he works to expand visibility, dignity and inclusion for LGBTQIA+ union members and spearheads District Council 37’s participation in the New York City Pride March.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 06/19/2026 – 09:30
Tags:
Pride