AFL-CIO
A Huge Groundswell: The Working People Weekly List
A Huge Groundswell: 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.
J.D. Vance Is A ‘Scab’ For Crossing Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Picket Line: Union: “Vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance (Ohio) crossed a virtual picket line by publishing an opinion piece in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday, according to the union whose workers are on strike at the newspaper. Jon Schleuss, president of the NewsGuild-CWA, told HuffPost that there was no excuse for Vance, the running mate of former President Donald Trump, not to be aware of the strike that just entered its third year.”How Trump Could Bankrupt Social Security: “It’s important to be aware that one effect of Donald Trump’s economic proposals, if enacted, could be to drive Social Security into bankruptcy, impoverishing many older Americans—not in the distant future, but within around six years. And while I have in the past assumed that Social Security will be bailed out if necessary, that looks less certain in the antidemocratic nation we may become if Trump wins.”Why Gender May Be the Defining Issue of the Election: “‘We’re all protecting our hearts right now, having been through this before,’ said Liz Shuler, the first woman elected to lead the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the country. ‘We’ve come further, even since 2020, with women leading in ways we’ve never seen before. To not be able to cross that ultimate threshold of the highest position of power in the world would be a sucker punch.’ Her union federation, one of the Democrats’ most powerful backers, is tracking a 32-point difference in support for Ms. Harris over Mr. Trump among its female members in internal surveys.”Modern-Day Rosie the Riveters Are Backing Kamala Harris: “As Liz Shuler, the first woman president of the AFL-CIO, told The 19th, the strides women and people of color are making in the trades are at risk. ‘We’ve seen the patterns of the Trump administration,’ she said. ‘Even just the rhetoric of DEI hires being negative, when in fact, we’re making progress, and we’re starting to elevate the awareness and the commitment of these companies to hire more women.’ A lot of initiatives aimed at making the workplace more inclusive and welcoming to women are voluntary, and not mandated. ‘We don’t want to actually give [these companies] ammunition to start getting rid of these programs,’ she said.”Trump is Anti-Worker. Here Are 10 of His Most Shocking Anti-Worker Statements: “Many people failed to realize that Donald Trump has a long, ugly history of making anti-worker and anti-union statements. He has at times insulted workers, saying their wages are too high, saying their work is so easy that a child can do it. The former U.S. president has also sought to sabotage labor by saying union members shouldn’t pay their dues and successful union leaders should be fired. Trump has also sought to trick workers by making wonderful-sounding promises that he couldn’t possibly make good on. Below are Trump’s 10 most shocking anti-worker and anti-union statements.”Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su Criticizes Donald Trump’s Labor Record at IOP: “Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su slammed former President Donald Trump for ‘faux populism” and hypocrisy on labor issues ahead of the 2024 presidential election at a Harvard Institute of Politics forum on Monday. Though Su declined to address the former president by name, she argued that ‘hypothetically,’ opposition to overtime pay, sexual harassment, and support for Elon Musk are incompatible with a ‘pro-worker’ position. ‘I don’t care how many McDonald’s drive-throughs you pretend to work at,’ Su said, referencing Trump’s Sunday visit to a Philadelphia McDonald’s where he served fries and answered questions through the drive-through window. Su was joined by Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO to discuss the future of the American Labor Movement. Brett Story and Stephen Maing, directors of ‘UNION’—a documentary film that followed the unionization of Amazon workers in Staten Island, New York—were also on the panel.”Prominent Black Union Leaders Warn About Trump’s Project 2025 Platform: “Two prominent Black union leaders, Communications Workers President Claude Cummings and James Curbeam, chairman of the Teamsters Black Caucus, are warning African-American voters—and everyone else–about the threat of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and specifically about his platform, Project 2025. Their cautions were part of a wide-ranging discussion of that tome, created by the radical right Heritage Foundation, an ideological think tank which hates workers, women, LGBT people and people of color, among others. A former Trump regime official led the project and others of his ilk, plus GOP President Ronald Reagan’s Attorney General, Edwin Meese, populated it with their recommendations.”AFL-CIO Reports Huge Groundswell, Lead for Harris Among Unionists: “From constant contact with its large ground game of activists and canvassers, the AFL-CIO reports a huge groundswell and a large lead for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris among unionists and their families. But unionists will keep pounding the pavements, making the phone calls, and distributing union literature about kitchen-table issues, federation President Liz Shuler said in an hour-and-a-half press conference on October 18, discussing election prospects and issues that move voters. That’s because, as Shuler said, unionists and their families make up a fifth of the electorate in the key swing states of Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, and Wisconsin. ‘We have [Republican nominee Donald] Trump at around 19% and Harris at around 64% in our field numbers, with the rest undecided,’ Shuler said near the end of the discussion. ‘But we’re still talking to every member.”AFSCME Members Rally to Warn Voters About Trump’s Anti-Worker Project 2025: “AFSCME members rallied here on Oct. 5 to sound the alarm on Project 2025, Donald Trump’s extremist plan to undermine critical public services and roll back the freedoms of working people and retirees. In front of a giant shredding truck, hundreds of members of AFSCME, the Arizona AFL-CIO and National Nurses United (NNU) joined local elected officials and others to detail how Trump’s Project 2025 would ‘shred’ Arizonans’ freedoms, crush unions, eliminate overtime protections, repeal the $35 cap on insulin for seniors, and end negotiations for lower prescription drug prices. Members tore apart signs that read, ‘Medicare,’ ‘Lower Prescription Drug Costs’ and ‘Freedom to Retire with Dignity’ to illustrate how Trump’s anti-worker agenda threatens the issues we care about most. ‘You’ve heard what Project 2025 is all about and make no mistake about it, they will do it if they are victorious in November,’ said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. ‘But the Labor Movement stands in their way. And we’re going to do what we do best…we communicate, we connect, and we educate and mobilize and organize!’”‘Almost All Worker Protections You Can Think of Are Threatened’: Donald Trump’s Potential Second Presidency Could Catastrophically Doom Laborers’ Rights: “Attorney Brian Petruska warned The Huffington Post that a second Donald Trump presidency could deal a devastating blow to workers’ rights and labor protections in the United States: ‘The changes—not to engage in hyperbole—are potentially catastrophic. Almost all worker protections you can think of are threatened.’ ‘We’re looking at going back to pre-1930s labor law in this country,’ claimed Petruska, an attorney for the Laborers’ International Union of North America. ‘I’m not exaggerating. That’s literally what’s happening.’”Omni Hotel Workers in Boston Vote to Ratify New Contract, Will Return to Work Monday: “After months of negotiations with Omni hotels and about a week of over 600 workers on strike in Boston, the union unanimously approved a tentative contract agreement Sunday to send those employees back to work Monday morning. The tentative agreement was reached late Friday night and ratified Sunday afternoon. The president of UNITE HERE Local 26 says it’s a historic contract—the best they’ve ever had—and now they’re celebrating.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 10/25/2024 – 11:00
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IBEW Reaches Tentative Agreement with CSX, Norfolk Southern
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IBEW Reaches Tentative Agreement with CSX, Norfolk Southern
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.
The Electrical Workers (IBEW) announced that the union had reached a new five-year tentative agreement (TA) on Tuesday with rail-based freight transportation company CSX and Norfolk Southern, one of the country’s largest freight railroad operators.The TA covers approximately 4,000 workers and is subject to a ratification vote by membership. Highlights include an 18.77% compound wage increase over the lifetime of the deal, improvements to vacation benefits, and a new option for workers to carry over a certain amount of unused paid sick days.“This new agreement is a historic step forward for rail workers across the nation, and I’m proud of the efforts of IBEW railroad members in helping secure a fair deal,” said IBEW International President Kenneth Cooper. “Our workers help move America, and this agreement recognizes the value they bring to the rail industry.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 10/25/2024 – 10:30
A Vote for Union Work: What Working People Are Doing This Week
A Vote for Union Work: 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:Congratulations to the workers of Drunk Shakespeare United, who have unanimously ratified their first Equity contract! pic.twitter.com/oZ376D9XQw— Actors’ Equity (@ActorsEquity) October 21, 2024AFGE:.@AFGEPrezKelley getting a crowd of union members fired up at today’s @NCStateAFLCIO Labor GOTV canvass in Raleigh, NC! pic.twitter.com/jFaP5PCyPT— AFGE (@AFGENational) October 19, 2024AFSCME:Following months of negotiations and solidarity actions, Washington state workers who are members of @wfsec28 are celebrating a strong new contract. The two-year agreement includes strong wage raises and expanded leave. https://t.co/Vmc0Xu11Yl— AFSCME (@AFSCME) October 21, 2024Alliance for Retired Americans:Today a conservative think tank released an alarming report revealing that Donald Trump will wreak havoc on Social Security over the next decade if he’s re-elected. Read our 🧵 below to learn more. (1/5)— Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) October 21, 2024Amalgamated Transit Union:Congrats to our Local 1738-Latrobe, PA, on ratifying their strong new contract. #ATUStrongerTogetherhttps://t.co/gwd4y1XmiH— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) October 21, 2024American Federation of Teachers:Historian Heather Cox Richardson shares her insightful “Letters from an American,” unpacking what shapes our history and its implications. With the presidential election looming, she warns that we could be on the brink of losing our democracy. https://t.co/U4bUtu5IHV— AFT (@AFTunion) October 22, 2024Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:Elections are just one day, but they matter for years and sometimes decades. @FlyingWithSara talks about the stakes of this election and the differences between the two candidates as they relate to our jobs. pic.twitter.com/MyyR8OyUKY— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) October 21, 2024Boilermakers:The Fall 2024 Reporter is hot off the press! 🗞️ Watch for yours, or find it online: https://t.co/1d8UfYYrKF pic.twitter.com/smgwHnce5R— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) October 18, 2024Bricklayers:A vote for Kamala Harris is a vote for union work!#VoteUnion #KamalaHarris2024 https://t.co/dEGvKvsiBd— Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union (@IUBAC) October 22, 2024Coalition of Labor Union Women:ALL THE VOTING WOMEN: Put a vote on it!(Music video w/lyrics by Lynn Marie Smith & Elise Bryant to the tune of @Beyonce’s All the Single Ladies)✊🏽 ✨ pic.twitter.com/6nryEkhHLU— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) October 21, 2024Communications Workers of America:Solidarity with @NYTGuildTech! https://t.co/WNhxIhBBdV— CWA (@CWAUnion) October 22, 2024Department for Professional Employees:Congrats!👑🍻🎉 https://t.co/AKwN2EUZk3— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) October 21, 2024Electrical Workers:#IBEW reaches tentative contract with @CSX and @nscorp https://t.co/3cw0F7Cg5q— IBEW (@IBEW) October 22, 2024Heat and Frost Insulators:To our Brothers & Sisters recently impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton — know that there is help. If you are a member in need of assistance, please contact our International Office for support. We’re looking to help! Let us know your community’s status & any… pic.twitter.com/yAFmtTtmSq— Insulators Union 🦎 (@InsulatorsUnion) October 10, 2024International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:Jobs With Justice:UNION is coming to theaters across the U.S. this month!Directed by @mainmaing and @brettpstory, @unionthefilm follows the @amazonlabor’s historic journey to victory.🎟️ Learn more and get tickets: https://t.co/ZEkvVC9Zdc. pic.twitter.com/HxMeqG46JI— Jobs With Justice (@jwjnational) October 17, 2024Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:🚨 Our latest video breaks down how Project 2025 pushes a conservative agenda that threatens to harm the Latino community and marginalized families across the country. pic.twitter.com/S3FkHjjjuD— LCLAA (@LCLAA) October 22, 2024Labor Heritage Foundation:WEEKEND LABOR ARTS CALENDARCheck out our Arts Calendar https://t.co/DIczSFlyeN pic.twitter.com/vLZDFz5YVe— Labor Heritage (@LaborHeritage1) October 20, 2024Laborers:14 days until the election! We’ve got to show up and vote for @KamalaHarris and @Tim_Walz to protect their lives in OUR future and #UNION way of life. Make your voice heard! #Vote #GOTV pic.twitter.com/qinW2uPo9G— LIUNA (@LIUNA) October 22, 2024Machinists:Over 400 members of IAM Local 660 (District 9) in Eaton, Illinois, have taken a stand against Eaton B-Line, striking for fair wages. #UnionStrong #StrikeAlert https://t.co/vxw2T8fkdB— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) October 22, 2024Maritime Trades Department:MARINERS, JONES ACT TANKERS COMMENDED FOR RELIEF EFFORTShttps://t.co/DCppqEv6oM— Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO (@Maritime_Trades) October 22, 2024Musical Artists:Well if it isn’t the consequences of your union-busting actions…https://t.co/TiJiQ5J46W pic.twitter.com/Z8AOLYvvVb— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) October 22, 2024National Air Traffic Controllers Association:Registration is now open for NATCA’s 2nd Biennial Activism and Training Expo (ATX), Dec. 9-12, at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. A chance to deepen your knowledge and expand NATCA’s influence. #NATCAATX Read more about #NATCAATX 2024 here. https://t.co/aWAcqEiEGt pic.twitter.com/prTtrVbiP8— NATCA (@NATCA) September 20, 2024National Association of Letter Carriers:While delivering along his route, Branch 1259 carrier Jack Young has been able to get to know friendly faces like Rockport, TX resident Keith. One day, Jack saw Keith experiencing a seizure in the middle of the road, so he stopped his truck, shaded Keith with his umbrella, and… pic.twitter.com/67qhNGq3uU— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) October 21, 2024National Domestic Workers Alliance:WATCH 📽️: Georgia Organizer Dionne Davis and our Executive Director, @JennOStowe, discuss one of our core goals at NDWA: a federal #DomesticWorkerBillofRights. pic.twitter.com/LtDLOPMhPS— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) October 21, 2024National Nurses United:So exciting to see the effectiveness of infection control in practice! 🤓https://t.co/hmr7z5dh7y— NationalNursesUnited (@NationalNurses) October 22, 2024National Taxi Workers Alliance:This year, @Uber & @lyft tried to cheat drivers out of $200+ million by manipulating the data that @nyctaxi uses to calculate driver pay.And TLC might actually let them get away with it.Tomorrow, drivers will lead a motorcade to City Hall to demand the money they earned. pic.twitter.com/V6LC8FqxaQ— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) October 22, 2024NFL Players Association:.@ernestjones53 passes the #CommunityMVP torch to @denzelward 🤝 pic.twitter.com/s90bysbuCt— NFLPA (@NFLPA) October 19, 2024North America’s Building Trades Unions:President McGarvey toured jobsites in Philly to chat with hundreds of building trades members about how @KamalaHarris has had our backs, and the importance of voting on November 5th.Get the facts, and vote for the candidate that truly cares about the working class. VOTE UNION. pic.twitter.com/WCgiRIf73V— The Building Trades (@NABTU) October 18, 2024Office and Professional Employees:Solidarity with @TheWNBPA in their fight for a transformational contract that respects players’ work, reflects the league’s growth, and improves working conditions for every single player on every single team. ✊🏀#WNBPA #BetOnWomen https://t.co/uoWY4E8Rel— 🎃PEIU | #UnionStrong (@OPEIU) October 21, 2024Painters and Allied Trades:When someone shows you who they are, believe them. pic.twitter.com/736YNgVMnG— IUPAT (@GoIUPAT) October 22, 2024Plasterers and Cement Masons:#OPCMIA members: Make your voices heard.@OSHA_DOL: 📣🔥 Have something to say about our proposed rule on heat injury and illness prevention in outdoor and indoor workplaces? Comment period is open until December 30, 2024. Submit your comments here. ⤵️ https://t.co/pnKkBhGRNn pic.twitter.com/9p3oSXFaMw— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) October 22, 2024Pride At Work:Have you voted yet or are you voting at the polls on Election Day? Now’s the time to make your voter plan and shout it out! 🗳️#Vote #GOTV #prideatwork pic.twitter.com/TKQNIfVZ1g— Pride at Work (@PrideatWork) October 21, 2024Professional Aviation Safety Specialists:At the @IFATSEA 52nd General Assembly opening ceremony , @PASSprezdc Spero welcomed attendees. “Our roots with IFATSEA run deep. We have been a member of the organization since PASS was founded in 1977,” President Spero shared with the group. @FAANews pic.twitter.com/Hp6uiu2sBn— PASS (@PASSNational) October 21, 2024Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:The final weeks of the election are upon us! Join us at the RWDSU offices for regular phone banks for Harris-Walz, Mondays and Thursdays from 6-8 PM, through the election.RSVP for Monday: https://t.co/zPK2hVNlPgRSVP for Thursday: https://t.co/pjp2FL4Pjq pic.twitter.com/k4g0XYTNTt— RWDSU (@RWDSU) October 22, 2024Roofers and Waterproofers:Did you know? https://t.co/yxaaxjykYt has a growing collection of resources in Spanish to help prevent falls. All of the resources can be found at: https://t.co/jxGu2jV5n7 #roofersafety365 pic.twitter.com/oJJ8VLNJU8— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) October 21, 2024SAG-AFTRA:Well-deserved! 👏 Congrats to SAG-AFTRA Vice President, Small Locals Suzanne Burkhead on receiving the Howard Keel Award, which recognizes exceptional union service. #SagAftraStrong 💪 pic.twitter.com/6oK6hjnFD1— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) October 22, 2024Solidarity Center:Are you a student or professional journalist? Participate in the 2024 Global Media Competition on Labour Migration organized by the ILO and its partners!🗓️ Deadline: 31 October 2024🔗 https://t.co/R6ffic23Hb #Media4HumanRights pic.twitter.com/7cWl8gd9xn— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) October 17, 2024The NewsGuild-CWA:🚨FIRST CONTRACT WIN: @AustinNewsGuild journalists at the Austin American-Statesman secured a tentative agreement last week after years of negotiations and a MARATHON 21-hour session with owner Gannett. ✊https://t.co/hkAqno13Uu— NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) October 22, 2024Theatrical Stage Employees:Happening TODAY: Join the IATSE Education and Training Department @ 3pm ET to learn about the causes of occupational hearing loss and how to prevent it.Register here:https://t.co/rdmTp5TK16 pic.twitter.com/A6lXh4AiRN— IATSE // #IASolidarity (@IATSE) October 22, 2024Transport Workers Union:”The TWU stands with @SherrodBrown because he fights for transport workers and all working people on rail safety and other vital issues.” @TwuSamuelsen 💪 https://t.co/aVHpns5rEn— TWU (@transportworker) October 22, 2024Transportation Trades Department:Today the Biden-Harris Administration announced a $4.2 billion investment in major bridge, port, rail and highway projects across the country. These projects will transform our infrastructure while creating opportunities for union workers. https://t.co/wlPKtjUZ7V https://t.co/i0Nw9Vd6KG— TTD | America’s Transportation Unions (@TTDAFLCIO) October 21, 2024UAW:Stellantis management has launched a campaign of intimidation and harassment against our members, our local unions, and the International UAW to try to get us to back down from the fight to save our jobs.We have bad news for Stellantis: we’re not going anywhere. It’s time to… pic.twitter.com/b9ZKq9J3g8— UAW (@UAW) October 18, 2024Union Veterans Council:Standing with Rep.@ChrisforPA and Major General @BillEnyart to remind everyone what’s at stake. Get out and vote—for our veterans, our unions, and our democracy. This is our fight, and your vote is your voice. Let’s protect what matters most. 🇺🇸 #GOTV #DefendDemocracy #VetsVote pic.twitter.com/2CW0pWWsY0— Union Veterans Council🪖✊ (@unionveterans) October 19, 2024UNITE HERE:Want to change your own sheets and take out your own trash?During a recent strike, Hilton provided guests with plastic garbage bags – because regular housekeeping wasn’t available.Don’t stay at a struck hotel. Find a hotel at https://t.co/JuVQwwx7oj. pic.twitter.com/pBuCv9wz2z— UNITE HERE (@unitehere) October 21, 2024United Food and Commercial Workers:In a UNANIMOUS vote, Health care hospitality workers at McKellar Place, an independent senior living facility in the city of Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada, have officially voted to join @UFCW175633.Congratulations!➡️ https://t.co/hIvblOYSBF pic.twitter.com/QKN6xRkpEX— UFCW (@UFCW) October 21, 2024United Steelworkers:Local 7600 knows that the early bird gets the worm! The more than 7,000 health care workers in Southern California are prepping for major negotiations next year by filling out bargaining surveys and building their Communication and Action Team (CAT). Way to go, siblings! pic.twitter.com/akHejY5mB3— United Steelworkers #EverybodysUnion (@steelworkers) October 21, 2024Utility Workers:Here is a lovely profile of the @UWUA310 members who traveled from Rhode Island to Florida to help with hurricane recovery. UWUA members from across the country are still restoring services in storm affected areas. #UnionStronghttps://t.co/DQL1wOFCJv— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) October 21, 2024Writers Guild of America East:We demand voluntary recognition of the A+E Nonfiction Union. Workers have made their voices heard, now it’s time for @aenetworks to respect their choice without delay or division. #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/Lk0wNjFj0C— Writers Guild of America East (@WGAEast) October 21, 2024
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 10/23/2024 – 12:32
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Omni Hotel Workers in Boston Ratify Historic New Contract
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Omni Hotel Workers in Boston Ratify Historic 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.
UNITE HERE Local 26 members unanimously voted to ratify a new contract on Sunday after months of negotiations and about a week with nearly 700 workers on strike at Omni Hotels in Boston.Members who work at the Omni Boston Seaport and Omni Parker House hotels began an open-ended strike last week to secure fair wages, better benefits and improved job security. And now, hospitality workers are celebrating a historic deal that includes $10-an-hour wage increases over the lifetime of the contract and more. This victory comes as thousands of other UNITE HERE members continue fighting for the same goals across several major cities.“For me, the most important aspect of this new contract is that everyone will get meaningful raises,” said James “Smitty” Smith, a banquet server at the Omni Parker House, in a UNITE HERE press release. “I’m glad that Omni came to the table in good faith, and we finally reached an agreement. But we’re not done until we’re all done, in Boston and everywhere else.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 10/23/2024 – 10:15
Working Every Day to Elect Worker Champions: In the States Roundup
Working Every Day to Elect Worker Champions: 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 (formerly Twitter).
Alaska AFL-CIO:Yesterday, President Joelle Hall participated in a forum on Ballot Measure One at the RDC breakfast. This historic initiative will:✅ Increase the Minimum Wage to $15 Over 3 Years✅ Guarantee Earned Sick Leave for Alaska’s Workers ✅ Improve Worker Freedom on the Job pic.twitter.com/7Mjwd9d32S— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) October 18, 2024Arizona AFL-CIO:This morning we joined our fellow #UnionSiblings for a Labor Rally and canvass launch at Arizona Education Assiciation in support of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz!— Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) October 12, 2024California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:🚨 Stand with CVS workers, join a @ufcw324 picket line near you! ✊ https://t.co/nSH9EJzDs3— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) October 20, 2024Colorado AFL-CIO:The election is right around the corner! On November 5th, we need to show our collective powers as workers at the ballot box. We’re working everyday to elect these worker champions in November. Make sure you’re registered to vote! 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/ZLQ4Y5dgdz— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) October 17, 2024Connecticut AFL-CIO:Thanks to our incredible Connecticut @ActiveRetirees members for making phone calls and writing post cards to fellow retirees about supporting pro-worker candidates! #LaborVotes pic.twitter.com/tAmbBbH5bA— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Florida AFL-CIO:Early voting for the 2024 general election has started in several counties this morning. If you haven’t voted already, find a convenient early voting location close to you at https://t.co/EugzngMA1S!— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Georgia State AFL-CIO:Need a ride to the polls? Union members and workers’ rights supporters, get your voice heard. Rides provided by Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda from early voting to November 5, 2024. Schedule at https://t.co/a3DqfGznS0. 💪 #YourVoteMatters #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/xg7BggVpEb— Georgia AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOGeorgia) October 15, 2024Illinois AFL-CIO:Transportation advocates were in Springfield last week testifying on the importance of adequately funding our transit systems across IL. Access to good, public transit impacts all of us: from getting us to our jobs, our healthcare and spending time with our loved ones. #1u pic.twitter.com/3VKfsoBctO— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Maine AFL-CIO:Union member volunteers have knocked over 17,000 doors to elect pro-worker legislative candidates so far!https://t.co/TGBKBelJKD #mepolitics— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Massachusetts AFL-CIO:Don’t miss the rally at South Station on Wednesday to support Keolis Commuter Rail Workers! These workers transport over 100,000 passengers in and out of Boston every weekday, yet they are the lowest paid commuter rail employees in the country. #mapoli pic.twitter.com/VVwYdSwMCj— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) October 21, 2024Michigan State AFL-CIO:This is what standing with union workers looks like. While Trump trashes Detroit, insults auto workers, and brags about denying workers overtime, Kamala Harris is fighting to save the livelihood of the working class. https://t.co/RMjc7EbkIE— Michigan AFL-CIO ✊ (@MIAFLCIO) October 17, 2024Minnesota AFL-CIO:Another great Saturday for our Labor 2024 volunteers! Want to talk to your fellow union members about our Labor-endorsed candidates? Sign up at https://t.co/RrBFREJreF #BetterInAUnion #UnionsForHarris #mnleg pic.twitter.com/qMKSbVERHW— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) October 19, 2024Missouri AFL-CIO:It’s time to close the gap and secure the #PaidSickDays we deserve. Prop A also requires employers to provide 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.Vote #YesOnPropA this November to bring earned paid sick days to Missouri. pic.twitter.com/2OohA55LHz— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Nevada State AFL-CIO:Another Day Another Labor SuperWalk!When We Fight, We Win!🗳️In-Person Early Voting: Sat, 10/19 – Fri, 11/1🇺🇸Election Day: Tue, 11/5 pic.twitter.com/YEKOOjUUT1— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) October 20, 2024New York State AFL-CIO:Ready to hit the doors! #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/Er3KIeG0aT— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) October 19, 2024North Carolina State AFL-CIO:This week, the Trump-Vance campaign is making stops in North Carolina. So we’re taking this opportunity to talk about some of the top reasons why working people in NC are voting for @KamalaHarris and @Tim_Walz! 💪 🧵 #LaborVotes pic.twitter.com/kKa6PITaYM— NC State AFL-CIO // #CountMeIn (@NCStateAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Ohio AFL-CIO:We are sharing this and we hope you do, too. Not just on Twitter, but text friends and family. We can turn the corner and have a better tomorrow where the rights of every American, not just a select few, are honored. https://t.co/1JDZUoMaiD— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) October 20, 2024Oregon AFL-CIO:Join #OregonLabor this Saturday at a canvass for State Rep. and union member Hoa Nguyen and Dan Rayfield, our next Attorney General!A BBQ lunch will be provided by Portland Fire Fighters @iaff43! Sign up and get more info at https://t.co/B1B90w7Rqn pic.twitter.com/q1YjGhEZNC— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:That sea of green is going to help us GOTV in northeast PA. When we knock, WE WIN!Ready to help? 👇👇👇https://t.co/3RqtKf6D9i#Labor2024 #UnionsForHarris pic.twitter.com/TAdhlW0qdU— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) October 19, 2024Texas AFL-CIO:It’s finally here!Today is the FIRST DAY of Early Vote — so get out there and fight back against the billionaires and their anti-worker puppets by making your voice heard 😤Problems voting? Call the Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE pic.twitter.com/Nr3ouOJk2g— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) October 21, 2024Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:Solidarity with @UniteHereLocal8 hotel workers at the Doubletree Seattle Airport and Seattle Airport Hilton!Hotel workers are on strike all over the US. Don’t cross the picket lin‼️ Check https://t.co/bciAS6IleJ before you travel. pic.twitter.com/M0XXsuZquD— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) October 18, 2024Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:Union member candidate spotlight. Dana Glasstein, candidate for Wisconsin’s 22nd Assembly District, is a @WEAC member. pic.twitter.com/JZVy37sEan— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) October 21, 2024
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 10/22/2024 – 13:30
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: CWA Ratifies Contract with AT&T
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: CWA Ratifies Contract with AT&T
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.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) ratified agreements with AT&T that cover some 23,000 employees across 11 states. Over the life of the four-year agreement, workers in the West will receive wage increases of at least 15% and those in the Southeast will get more than 19%. Wire technicians and utility operations professionals from the Southeast will receive an additional 3% wage boost under the bipartisan infrastructure law. More than 17,000 workers secured the increases after engaging in an unfair labor practice strike in August.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 10/22/2024 – 09:55
Pushing and Kicking Those Doors Open: The Working People Weekly List
Pushing and Kicking Those Doors Open: 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.
Biden Cancels $4.5 Billion in Student Debt for Over 60,000 Public Service Workers: “President Joe Biden on Thursday said an additional $4.5 billion in student debt is being canceled for about 60,000 teachers, nurses, firefighters and others, bringing the number of public service workers to get relief during his administration to more than 1 million. More than $73 billion in loans have been forgiven under a 2007 initiative, according to an Education Department news release. Borrowers eligible for the latest round of relief should learn of their debt being cleared in coming weeks.”Boston Teachers Push for Better Wages and Working Conditions with More ‘Walk-Ins’: “Boston teachers held ‘walk-ins’ outside five schools across the district Thursday morning as they continue rallying support amid ongoing contract negotiations. The Boston Teachers Union is fighting for better pay for teachers and paraprofessionals. They’re also asking for what they’re calling ‘inclusion done right’—they say the district needs to properly staff the inclusion model used in classrooms for students with special needs and English Language Learners. The union, whose contract expired on Aug. 31 right before the start of the new school year, has been in negotiations with Boston Public Schools since February. Right now, 8,000 educators are without a contract in the district.”Harris, Culinary Local 226 Are Mobilizing Their Efforts for Election Day Push in Nevada: “Before her nationally televised town hall in Las Vegas last week, Vice President Kamala Harris took part in a more private meeting. The Democratic presidential nominee made a visit to the headquarters of Culinary Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, taking photos with members and speaking about her proposals, including to tackle housing costs and price gouging. It was also an opportunity for her to remind the powerful union of their shared interests in continuing their work this fall to elect her to the White House.”Grad Students Are Unionizing in Droves. Can Postdocs Lead the Next Wave?: “When Marjorie Levinstein, 35, began working as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute on Drug Abuse in 2021, she knew from the outset that she wanted to advocate for her fellow postdocs. At the University of Washington, where she had received her PhD in neuroscience, she saw firsthand ‘how the union really fought to improve our lives.’ But the unionization movement at her new employer, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), didn’t have that infrastructure. In July 2021, it amounted to ‘five people on a Zoom call,’ Levinstein told The Nation. Now, she’s fighting for her union’s first contract in an over-5,000-strong collective bargaining unit, which won its vote by a nearly 98% margin last year.”Petitions for Union Representation Doubled Under Biden’s Presidency, First Increase Since 1970s: “There has been a doubling of petitions by workers to have union representation during President Joe Biden’s administration, according to figures released Tuesday by the National Labor Relations Board. There were 3,286 petitions filed with the government in fiscal 2024, up from 1,638 in 2021. This marks the first increase in unionization petitions during a presidential term since Gerald Ford’s administration, which ended 48 years ago. During Trump’s presidency, union petitions declined 22%. President Joe Biden said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press that the increase showed that his administration has done more for workers than his predecessor, Donald Trump, the current Republican nominee who is vying to return to the White House in November’s election.”More Black and Latina Women Are Leading Unions—and Transforming How They Work: “‘Momentum for Black and Latina women rising into labor union leadership has picked up in the last five years. But the work began long before that by ‘our foremothers who laid this foundation and have been pushing and kicking those doors open for decades,’ according to Liz Shuler, who in June 2022 became the first woman to lead the AFL-CIO, a federation of 60 national and international labor unions. ‘The #MeToo movement, I think, has really emboldened women across the board, including in labor, to say, “You know what? I’m not going to be sitting on the sidelines,’” Shuler said. The pandemic also put a spotlight on essential workers such as nurses, service workers, and care workers, who are predominantly women and minorities.”Hotel Workers Campaign Among Latino Voters in Arizona: “‘Hello, housekeeping!’ she called, breaking into a laugh upon realizing her mistake. The 57-year-old is a member of UNITE HERE, the hospitality union, and had taken a leave of absence from her job at a nearby Hilton to go door-to-door to keep Arizona blue. ‘I like to step back and wait, so they think I’ve left,’ she said. ‘Then they open the door and here I am.’”’A True Hero’: Pay Equity Crusader Lilly Ledbetter Dies at 86: “Labor unions and women’s advocacy groups on Monday paid tribute to Lilly Ledbetter, the former Goodyear employee whose fight for equal pay made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress, after her death at the age of 86—with economic justice advocates hailing Ledbetter as ‘an icon.’ ‘Lilly Ledbetter simply wanted to be paid the same as her male Goodyear co-workers,’ said the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) on social media. But to workers who have benefited from the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, added the union, ‘she was a true hero.’”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 10/21/2024 – 15:35
Urgent Union Update
Urgent Union Update
Bargaining a good contract is a union’s top priority.Based on our research of candidate proposals and positions, we’ve identified significant differences between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump that would strongly impact unions. We hope that you will share this important information from the AFL-CIO—America’s largest federation of labor unions—with your co-workers, friends, family and neighbors:Kamala Harris stands with union members and says that America’s union workers are the best in the world. She has stood on picket lines with us even before she was vice president. Her policies have helped bring new workers into unions, saved union members’ pensions, created training programs that give young people opportunities for good union jobs and increased wages, and provided better benefits in union contracts. Donald Trump, on the other hand, is pushing proposals that big corporations want like cuts to wages, overtime pay, retirement, health and safety, and more. The labor chapter in Trump’s Project 2025 Agenda, written by the chief counsel of Trump’s transition team and the head of Trump’s policy team at the Department of Labor, would eliminate public sector unions, make it illegal for companies to voluntarily recognize unions, let corporations union-bust in secret and take away unions mid-contract, eliminate the Biden–Harris rules requiring project labor agreements and Davis–Bacon prevailing wages on federally funded construction projects, and more.If Donald Trump takes office, we’re deeply concerned about pro-corporate policies that will make it harder to win gains in our next contracts, and stack the deck in favor of the CEOs.Trump and some politicians are already thinking about how to make it more difficult for workers to join a union and put our wages, pensions, health care and retirement security at risk. And just this week, he insulted UAW members by saying that making cars is so easy, a child could do it.The bottom line is this—there’s a big difference between the presidential candidates on these issues and the result of this year’s election could have major consequences for our unions.
Audrey Edmonds
Fri, 10/18/2024 – 10:12
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Montana Cannabis Workers Make History by Joining UFCW
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Montana Cannabis Workers Make History by Joining 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.
Cannabis workers at two Honey Sour dispensaries in uptown and downtown Butte, Montana, late last month voted to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1889.This election victory marks the first time Montana cannabis workers have successfully organized since the legalization of cannabis in the state three years ago. Staff initially reached out to the union with concerns about workplace safety issues—including mold and lack of running water—job security, customer well-being and more. Now members are looking forward to bargaining with Honey Sour to secure the fair working conditions that reflect their dedication and expertise.“I am incredibly proud to announce this historic achievement for us cannabis workers in Montana,” said Milo Vukovich, a Honey Sour dispensary worker. “Through today’s victory, we hope that we can pave the way for all cannabis workers in the state to receive the representation and benefits they deserve. This milestone shows just how powerful we are when we stand together, regardless of the industry.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 10/18/2024 – 09:24
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: St. Charles Bend Techs Ratify New 3-Year Contract
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: St. Charles Bend Techs Ratify New 3-Year 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.
Nearly 200 employees from the technical bargaining unit at St. Charles Bend ratified a union contract with 100% of workers voting in favor of the deal. These health care workers are members of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (AFT Local 5017). The contract includes raises, cost of living adjustments, a predictable pay scale that determines raises according to years of tenure and experience, improved language governing time off, reformed disciplinary procedures, and language to protect workers if St. Charles is ever sold to a new hospital system.“The ratification of our new contract is a positive step forward, one that will serve our community through better recruitment and retention of highly skilled health providers,” said Tyler Ecklund, a nuclear medicine technologist and member of the union’s bargaining team.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 10/17/2024 – 11:38