AFL-CIO

Happy Election Day, Kenneth! Go Vote for Harris-Walz

Posted in: AFL-CIO

Happy Election Day, Kenneth! Go Vote for Harris-Walz

Democracy is at the heart of America’s labor movement—and now it’s time to cast our votes.

We’ve still got a ton of work to do for Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and our pro-union candidates up and down the ballot before the polls close tonight. We all know this election will be close. Your voice truly can make the difference.Make a plan to vote! Start by looking up your polling location.Learn more about which pro-worker candidates have been endorsed by the AFL-CIO.Learn about your state’s voting rules.If you have any problems voting or see something strange at your polling location, contact our Election–Voter Protection Hotline:English: 866-687-8683Spanish/English: 888-839-8682Asian Languages/English: 888-274-8683Arabic: 844-925-5287Once you’ve voted, please tell all your friends and remind them to vote, too. Send a text or email. Post on your favorite social media account. Make a call to check in. If you find someone who needs a ride or a babysitter, please pitch in and help.And if you have some spare time today, grab your phone and make calls to our key union contacts in battleground states, reminding them to vote. You don’t even need to leave your desk or couch.Unions know how to get things done. Let’s go win big.

Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 11/05/2024 – 10:04

Happy Election Day! Go Vote for Harris-Walz

Posted in: AFL-CIO

Happy Election Day! Go Vote for Harris-Walz

Democracy is at the heart of America’s labor movement—and now it’s time to cast our votes.

Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 11/05/2024 – 10:04

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UFCW Members at Fred Meyer and QFC Ratify New Contract

Posted in: AFL-CIO

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UFCW Members at Fred Meyer and QFC 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.

After months of negotiations, members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555 who work at Fred Meyer and QFC stores in Oregon and southwest Washington overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract.Fred Meyers workers in Portland went on strike in August in response to multiple unfair labor practices. The agreement covers more than 11,000 members and ensures higher wages, stronger health care and a stable retirement. Additionally, the new contract improves the process to address contract violations.“Our new contract gives me peace of mind knowing that my healthcare is protected and my wages will keep up with the rising cost of living,” said Dale Russell Cronin, a Fred Meyer worker and Local 555 board member. “I’m especially thankful for the improvements in dental benefits and retirement. It feels good to know we are a fighting union and when we work together, we win.”

Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 10/31/2024 – 10:48

Ignore the Polls. This Election Is Within the Margin of Effort.

Posted in: AFL-CIO

Ignore the Polls. This Election Is Within the Margin of Effort.

Gwen Mills is the international president of UNITE HERE, the hospitality workers union. Before becoming the union’s first-ever female president earlier this year, she served as secretary-treasurer and political director, overseeing UNITE HERE’s swing state field canvass programs.I’m not anxious about the results of the election.

Don’t get me wrong, as the leader of a union of 275,000 hospitality workers in thiscountry, the outcome in November will have massive implications for us. Will we spendthe next four years on defense, fending off attack after attack as Trump and his alliesattempt to crush unions, deport our immigrant members, and take away women’srights? Or will we be able to stay on offense, with a Harris administration that enablesus to focus on improving wages and working conditions in the hospitality industry?We could spend a lot of time trying to read the tea leaves on races that are within themargin of error. Or instead of being anxious, we can instead focus our energy on themargin of effort. My union, UNITE HERE, is choosing the latter.UNITE HERE is running the largest independent labor-led canvass operation in thecountry. Over 1,400 housekeepers, cooks, dishwashers, concessions workers, andmore have already knocked on over 2 million doors. By election day, we’ll be more than2,000 strong, aiming to hit at least 3.5 million doors in ten key battlegrounds.Close elections are won or lost on the ground. Billions of dollars will be poured into theairwaves, generating a cacophony of noise that many voters are desperate to tune out.The answer to cutting through the noise? A real person, from your community, knockingon your door to have a face-to-face conversation. It’s old-fashioned, lowercase “d”democracy. Neighbors talking to neighbors about the issues in their daily lives.We’re not your typical paid canvass. Our own union members—workers who areleaders among their co-workers, who know how to organize—take a leave of absencefrom their jobs to work full-time as canvassers. Every day, they’re out in theircommunities talking to other working-class voters with similar demographics about realkitchen table issues.When our members, predominantly women of color and immigrants, knock on theirneighbors’ doors, they bring a unique credibility. Through cycles of investment in realdoor-to-door organizers, we win elections, and we build the movement needed to pushthe winners to deliver for working people.For that reason, our canvassing program is about more than the immediate election.When we knock on doors in Philadelphia, our first question in hard-hit neighborhoods is:“Do you have a job?” We open the conversation with what’s really on their mind, andconnect people to hospitality training opportunities, pathways to a good union job. Andwe discuss politics and get out the vote.Gregory Moody was born and raised in North Philadelphia. He joined our hospitalitytraining program in 2022 and was trained as a cook. He was then hired at the stadiumsand became a member of UNITE HERE Local 274. Earlier this year he went on strikewith his coworkers to fight for fair wages, health benefits, and respect. Now he’sapplying the organizing skills he learned with the union to canvassing full-time forHarris, talking to his neighbors about their future.Nancy Chávez is a dishwasher at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and a member of CulinaryWorkers Union UNITE HERE Local 226. She’s a leader among her coworkers, andshe’s knocking on doors, talking to her neighbors about the economy and the fact thatLatinos can make the difference in this election.Kearra Rosales, a member of UNITE HERE Local 11, works alongside her aunt andgrandmother at the Downtown Doubletree in Los Angeles as a front desk agent. Lastyear she went on strike to protect healthcare and secure her grandmother’s access toinsulin. Now she’s knocking doors in Tucson for Kamala Harris to improve healthcareaccess in working class communities.The ground game is often dismissed, seen as a last-ditch effort. It shows in the $165million fundraising shortfall that grassroots groups are facing. But when elections arethis close, canvassers like Gregory, Nancy, and Kearra can make the critical differencewith voters who share their experiences and are on the fence about who to vote for, orwhether to vote at all.In 2020, Democrats won the decisive states of Nevada, Arizona, and Pennsylvania byjust 124,608 votes combined. UNITE HERE mobilized over 440,000 infrequent voters tovote for Biden, including 125,000 who had not voted in the previous presidentialelection. In Nevada and Arizona, the number of these voters exceeded the margin ofvictory. That is the margin of effort.So in these final six days, don’t sit around fretting about the polls. Go knock on somedoors, or support groups that are.

Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 10/30/2024 – 13:56

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Fred Meyer Workers Agree to New 3-Year Contract After Strike

Posted in: AFL-CIO

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Fred Meyer Workers Agree to New 3-Year Contract After Strike

Thousands of Portland-area Fred Meyer employees went on strike in early September. Members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 555, the largest private sector union in Oregon, voted “overwhelmingly” to ratify a new three-year contract. The contract covers 4,500 workers for Fred Meyer and QFC stores in Oregon and southwest Washington. The contract provides higher wages, stronger health care, stable retirement and allows the union to better address contract violations.”This agreement ensures significant wage increases, maintains industry-leading healthcare coverage, enhances dental benefits, and strengthens retirement security for more than 11,000 workers,” Local 555 said.”This contract is a victory for members of Local 555, who showed strength and solidarity throughout the entire fight,” said Dan Clay, president of UFCW Local 555. “It was won by union workers coming together and by a community standing with them.”

Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 10/29/2024 – 09:53

Get Out the Vote: In the States Roundup

Posted in: AFL-CIO

Get Out the Vote: 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:Life gets busy. Plan to vote at a time that best suits you! 🗳️Click the link below to find an early voting location near you. https://t.co/VxxbMInGim— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) October 25, 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:It was great seeing so many union volunteers & elected officials out walking for @WillRollinsCA — Eight of our @californialabor Vice Presidents made it out today! Big turnout from @udw_union @CFTunion @CSEA_Now @UFCW @CAFirefighters @TheIronworkers @IBEW & more! pic.twitter.com/BISEsZEGij— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) October 26, 2024Colorado AFL-CIO:Did you know union members get a free t-shirt when they volunteer with us? 👻 Join us today, link in bio pic.twitter.com/G9ZtOs63gp— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) October 24, 2024Connecticut AFL-CIO:Union members are getting out the vote for pro-worker candidates in Waterbury today! #LaborVotes #GOTV pic.twitter.com/YLHYAdHJDa— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) October 26, 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:A big weekend in Rockford for their 5th annual Labor Recognition Banquet. Thank you RUL President Sara Dorner, IL AFL-CIO President Tim Drea and UAW President Shawn Fain for reminding us that labor wins when we harness the power of a unified movement and voice. #1u pic.twitter.com/Tq4B7FUqQU— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) October 28, 2024Maine AFL-CIO:Today one of union canvassers knocked on our 20,000th door of the campaign season! Our goal is to knock on 25,000 doors to talk to voters about pro-labor legislative candidates in key battleground districts by the election. pic.twitter.com/PX2FJM0Ybq— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) October 24, 2024Massachusetts AFL-CIO:Working people are ready to elect @KamalaHarris, @JoyceCraigNH, @MaggieG603, and @ChrisPappasNH in New Hampshire! Huge crowd on the doors in Nashua this morning with the @NHAFLCIO #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/MH6RbQASs5— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) October 26, 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:Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham writes: “Project 2025 calls for rolling back more than a century of progress that created America’s middle class. In effect, the American Dream could become a nightmare for working people.” https://t.co/nxT7S9F0vS #BetterInAUnion— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) October 28, 2024Missouri AFL-CIO:We had a great labor walk last weekend for @Shirleymata60 and @MaggieforMO! pic.twitter.com/sntNLgPDw1— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) October 27, 2024Montana State AFL-CIO:In the 2022 election, 6% of the Montana electorate effectively elected 88% of our State House, and 36 candidates had no opponent in the General election. That’s why we need elections that put voters first. For more information visit: https://t.co/jk4tIOFO8L #mtpol #mtnews pic.twitter.com/khXjDfcWW0— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) October 24, 2024Nevada State AFL-CIO:“We are the ones who knock on doors!” What a treat to have Breaking Bad’s @BryanCranston help kickoff one of our final canvass launches. 9 days left and we’re giving it everything we’ve got for the #HarrisWalz ticket 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/orLEdt8mks— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) October 27, 2024New York State AFL-CIO:At least 140 Trump advisers contributed to Project 2025. See how the plan would impact workers: https://t.co/i1RPsRIgSU— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) October 27, 2024North Carolina State AFL-CIO:We want the best education and the brightest future for our children, but how will Trump’s #Project2025 impact kids in North Carolina? Let’s break it down. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/2YcBTJNHoO— NC State AFL-CIO // #CountMeIn (@NCStateAFLCIO) October 25, 2024Ohio AFL-CIO:It’s never too early to talk about re-electing @SherrodBrown. Thanks to these @UAW members who were up at at the plant gates at 6am to talk with their coworkers about Sherrod and voting #YesOnIssue1 to end gerrymandering in #Ohio pic.twitter.com/1M4N7tkoRV— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) October 28, 2024Oregon AFL-CIO:The Oregon AFL-CIO is proud to endorse @RepTawnaSanchez for Oregon’s 43rd House District.Learn about all of Oregon’s labor endorsed candidates at https://t.co/B1B90w7Rqn.#ORpol #Labor2024 #Election2024 #Endorsement pic.twitter.com/xGrnZjyHWq— Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) October 28, 2024Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:Thank you to card-carrying union member Dr. Jill Biden for helping us GOTV with the Delaware County CLC, @PFTLocal3, and @UFT!When we vote, we WIN!#labor2024 pic.twitter.com/gxLKUthhpT— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) October 26, 2024Texas AFL-CIO:Reminder: ALL workers – regardless of race, religion, or immigration status – deserve a living wage, the right to collectively bargain, and freedom from exploitation.Don’t let billionaires like Trump and Elon Musk divide us. We are strongest when we stand together.— Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) October 28, 2024Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:An evergreen reminder from @IAM751’s Jon Holden:“All workers deserve a defined-benefit pension. It is a righteous fight to try to win it back.”🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/mqV5Ll45bE— Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) October 24, 2024Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:“Our union rights are definitely under attack, but not just union rights. All of our rights are under attack,” Freeman said. “We can’t let this man back in office.” https://t.co/7HFArljOEm— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) October 28, 2024

Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 10/28/2024 – 10:29

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Musicians at Baltimore Chamber Orchestra Reach New Labor Agreement

Posted in: AFL-CIO

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Musicians at Baltimore Chamber Orchestra Reach New Labor Agreement

After 15 months of negotiations, musicians at the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra (BCO) ratified of a new two-year collective bargaining agreement. The musicians are represented by the Musicians’ Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 40-543. The new agreement has updated how the orchestra runs operations, including the creation of assistant principal positions within the orchestra’s string sections, more equitable practices to the orchestra’s audition policies, and standardizing the minimum number of players in each section of the orchestra.“The BCO’s musicians are grateful for the collaborative spirit in which this contract was negotiated,” said BCO’s principal viola and member of the BCO Players’ Committee, Chiara Kingsley-Dieguez. “While there is still more work to be done, this agreement is an excellent first step toward our goal of ensuring fair and equitable treatment of our musicians. We believe our orchestra has a very bright future and we look forward to working together with BCO’s management and board in the years ahead to accomplish our shared goal of presenting concerts of the highest musical quality in an environment that is warm and welcoming to everyone in our community.”

Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 10/28/2024 – 10:03

Worker Wins: Our Workers Help Move America

Posted in: AFL-CIO

Worker Wins: Our Workers Help Move America

Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.

IBEW Reaches Tentative Agreement with CSX, Norfolk Southern: 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.”Austin Journalists to Vote on New Contract After 21-Hour Mediation with Gannett: After multiple years of bargaining and a final 21-hour marathon session, members of the Austin NewsGuild who work for the Austin American-Statesman in Texas have finally reached a TA with parent company Gannett. The unit is part of The NewsGuild-CWA and includes journalists and other newsroom staff who won their union election in February 2021. Members overcame Gannett’s union-busting and delay tactics and are now celebrating a major milestone in their organizing efforts. The deal includes improved minimum salaries, general wage increases, frozen health insurance premiums, job protections and more. “We are thrilled to be able to turn the page on this part of our Guild history,” said Nicole Villalpando, chair of the Austin NewsGuild. “Our members worked incredibly hard to make this happen. We went without raises, picketed, social media shamed the company, went on strike with 100% participation twice, and phone zapped the CEO to make this happen.”Machinists Members Vote to Accept Latest Textron Aviation Contract Proposal: Members of Machinists (IAM) Local 774 voted to ratify a new five-year agreement on Sunday with Textron Aviation, successfully ending a monthlong strike. The agreement covers nearly 5,000 members across three campuses in Wichita, Kansas, and secures victories in major areas of concern for workers. Highlights of the deal include a 31% overall increase in wages throughout the lifetime of the contract, new insurance premium increase caps at 3%, longevity bonuses and much more. “Our skilled members in Wichita know what it takes to make Textron Aviation products just like they know how to stick together for what’s right,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The dedication it takes to stand up with your Brothers and Sisters to fight for what you deserve is admirable, and the entire IAM is beyond proud of Local 774.” “Our members know what matters to them and used their voices as the essential tool to gain more,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Craig Martin. “Textron Aviation is a powerhouse in today’s market and needed to offer more. I am proud of our members in Wichita—they stood strong and won for their families and communities.”‘Drunk Shakespeare’ Cast and Crew Ratify First Contract: Actors’ Equity Association (Equity) and Brass Jar Productions have ratified the first union contract covering actors, stage managers, servers, bartenders and bar managers who are part of the popular show “Drunk Shakespeare” and its seasonal companion production “Drunk Dracula.” In “Drunk Shakespeare” performances, one of five actors has five shots of whiskey and then attempts to perform a major role in a Shakespearean play. The new agreement establishes important practices around workplace safety, job definitions, terms of employment and job security so performers and crew can continue to entertain audiences around the country. Drunk Shakespeare United members will now accrue health benefits, vacation and sick leave—with many workers seeing wage increases and better income stability. “Huzzah! Seeing Drunk Shakespeare United ratify their first union contract is thrilling!” said Equity President Brooke Shields. “The spirit of collaboration our members brought to the table was met in kind by their employer, and while the process wasn’t always easy, it was definitely worthwhile.”Omni Hotel Workers in Boston Ratify Historic New Contract: 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.”Montana Cannabis Workers Make History by Joining UFCW: 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.”United Health Professionals of New Mexico Members Ratify Contract: Members of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) affiliate, United Health Professionals of New Mexico (UHPNM), ratified a contract Sunday with the University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center (UNM SRMC). The union includes nurses and other health professionals who work at UNM SRMC and have been fighting for better working conditions and improved patient safety. Highlights of the agreement include wins like wage increases, job protections, the establishment of a labor-management committee that will look into safe staffing ratios and other ways to improve patient healing conditions, and more. “This contract represents basic respect for hospital professionals who work tirelessly for their patients,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “It shouldn’t have been so hard to get to this place, and the workers’ tenacity and the public’s support for their current or future caregivers moved the needle and resulted in this contract. We need hospitals to work collaboratively with their front-line workers and respect their input. When that happens, workers and patients are better off.”Asheville, North Carolina, Nurses Reach New Contract Agreement: This week, National Nurses United (NNU)–represented registered nurses (RNs) at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, voted to ratify a new three-year contract, winning measures to improve patient safety and nurse retention. This victory comes just over a month after RNs voted to authorize a strike against the HCA facility. Highlights of the new contract include substantial wage increases that will improve nurse recruitment and retention, a new program that will enhance staffing practices to ensure that nurses can take their meal and rest breaks during their shifts, new measures that will ensure nurses are “floated” (temporarily reassigned) to units similar to their normal specialty and more. “We are excited to have this new contract and ensure that our hospital is on a path to taking the best possible care of our patients and community,” said Huns Brown, an RN working in Mission Hospital’s pulmonary progressive care unit. “The devastation Hurricane Helene brought to our region underscores how Mission being the best possible version of itself is more important than ever.”

Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 10/25/2024 – 13:00

A Huge Groundswell: The Working People Weekly List

Posted in: AFL-CIO

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

Posted in: AFL-CIO

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IBEW Reaches Tentative Agreement with CSX, Norfolk Southern

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