AFL-CIO Blog

  • Hungry for Unions: The Working People Weekly List
    Hungry for Unions: 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. America is Hungry for Unions: "America's workers are recognizing something fundamental: there is promise and power in coming together. Gallup just reported that two in three Americans approve of labor unions, the highest mark since 1965. Among adults under 34 and people of color, that approval is even higher: three in four support unions. This report should come as no surprise—unions have always been the most effective way for workers to speak in a collective voice. America is hungry for unions, and this Labor Day, the Senate must heed our call and pass policies that protect our rights on the job." How Female Construction Workers Fight Workplace Discrimination: "The three women shared their stories over Zoom during a Lean In Circle for Tradeswomen, one of 76 launched nationwide and in Canada this year by the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and Lean In, the women’s advocacy group started by Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. About 700 tradeswomen are participating the program, designed to help them navigate persistent bias and harassment on construction sites, from unwanted sexual advances to being assigned lesser duties like traffic control or fire watch." Building Trades Leader: Any Politician Who Doesn’t Back the PRO Act Shouldn’t Get Labor’s Support: "On September 1, Jimmy Williams Jr. officially became the president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). At 43, he is the youngest president in not only IUPAT’s history, but also within the building trades unions and any major affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Williams has big plans for his tenure: to diversify his union, grow and strengthen the labor movement and, of course, pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act—the most sweeping labor legislation since the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)." AFL-CIO President Tells Striking Mondelez Workers in Henrico That It Is 'Fed Up with the Way You Have Been Treated': "American union workers are fed up with skyrocketing inequality and runaway corporate greed, and they are standing up for their rights, the new president of the AFL-CIO federation said. Liz Shuler told about two dozen striking workers at Mondelez International Inc.’s bakery plant in eastern Henrico County on Wednesday afternoon that their sacrifice is important for all workers. 'The entire labor movement is the symbolism here that they’re standing up for,' said Shuler, who became the first woman to lead the AFL-CIO when she took over last month following the death of longtime president Richard Trumka." Passage of the PRO Act is Best for Workers: "As a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) who has worked under collective bargaining agreements for more than four decades, I know first-hand the importance of labor unions that helped build our nation’s middle class. I started at the General Electric Aircraft Engine Plant in Albuquerque, and I know workplace safety, fair wages, and a collective voice in the workplace are just a few of the reasons workers join a labor union. Such workers’ rights are so important nowadays as we know we need to expand our American middle class. While unions have had successes, there’s more work to be done for those wanting to join. Participating in union organizing campaigns all across the country, including in the West, I’ve seen the horrible lengths companies will go to in order to keep total control of their workforce. It is unacceptable and American workers deserve better. The way to empower American workers is by passing the PRO Act. It would hold employers accountable and institute civil penalties for violations of the law, including back pay and damages." Businesses Want Congress to Support Safe, Quality Jobs—So Do Nearly All Americans: "There’s nothing new about lawmakers in Washington using the business community as a shield for taking unpopular positions. As business leaders, we’ve gotten used to politicians putting words in our mouths on everything from tax policy to health care and beyond. Now, some members of Congress are once again pointing to businesses to justify their opposition to the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act—legislation which would promote safe, quality, well-paying jobs for workers across the economy. When asked about the PRO Act earlier this year, Sen. Krysten Sinema (D-Ariz.) explained: 'The way I make decisions on behalf of Arizona and for our constituents is by listening to the business leaders.'" Restaged in Front of the AFL-CIO’s National Headquarters, ‘Working’ the Musical Labors To Be a Vehicle for Activism: "'Working' is a just-kind-of-okay musical that has found its just-kind-of-ideal stage: on Black Lives Matter Plaza—in front of the national headquarters of the AFL-CIO. Holding its opening-night performance on Labor Day made for a sweet bit of resonance, too. Performed by nine polished actors in the late-summer Washington air, the 1977 show, based on Studs Terkel’s 1974 book of verbatim interviews with working people of all classes and colors, is a cabaret of everyday exertion. No opera house phantom or hip-hop Founding Father populates this piece; the characters are all ordinary folks—nannies, firefighters, receptionists, truckers—singing about their daily routines and sacrifices." Labor Day 2021: AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler Joins The Joe Madison Show: "Liz Shuler, the first woman president of AFL-CIO, joins Joe Madison to discuss the state of labor in 2021 and how workers are persevering through the COVID-19 crisis in the United States." President Shuler Joins NY Union Strong Podcast: "On Labor Day as we celebrate working people and all they do; we also take note that at no other time in recent memory has it been so vitally important to be able to have a voice in the workplace. Newly elected AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler joins us on the Union Strong podcast to talk about Labor’s priorities and what’s behind the growing support of labor unions." Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 09/13/2021 - 11:37 — Sep 13
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: NABTU Launches Lean In Circles for Tradeswomen
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: NABTU Launches Lean In Circles for Tradeswomen Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, led by President Greg Regan, have launched a series of Lean In Circles for Tradeswomen events. More than 75 events already have taken place or are scheduled for later this year in the United States and Canada. More than 700 women are participating in the program. The circles give tradeswomen the chance to voice their concerns about persistent bias and harassment in the industry and helps them navigate the associated challenges, such as being assigned lesser duties to unwanted sexual advances. Lean In Circles for Tradeswomen is a joint program from the North America's Building Trades Unions, LeanIn.Org, the AFL-CIO and Build Together, a workforce development program from Canada’s Building Trades Unions. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 09/13/2021 - 09:50 — Sep 13
  • Hungry for Unions: What Working People Are Doing This Week
    Hungry for Unions: What Working People Are Doing This Week Actors' Equity: AFGE: AFSCME: Alliance for Retired Americans: Amalgamated Transit Union: American Federation of Teachers: American Postal Workers Union: Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA: Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers: Boilermakers: Bricklayers: Coalition of Black Trade Unionists: Coalition of Labor Union Women: Communications Workers of America: Department for Professional Employees: Electrical Workers: Fire Fighters: Heat and Frost Insulators: International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers: International Labor Communications Association: Ironworkers: Jobs With Justice: Labor Council for Latin American Advancement: Laborers: Machinists: Maritime Trades Department: Metal Trades Department: Mine Workers: Musical Artists: National Air Traffic Controllers Association: National Association of Letter Carriers: National Day Laborer Organizing Network: National Domestic Workers Alliance: National Federation of Federal Employees: National Nurses United: National Taxi Workers Alliance: NFL Players Association: North America's Building Trades Unions: Office and Professional Employees: Painters and Allied Trades: Plasterers and Cement Masons: Professional Aviation Safety Specialists: Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union: Roofers and Waterproofers: SAG-AFTRA: Solidarity Center: The NewsGuild-CWA: Theatrical Stage Employees: Transport Workers Union: Transportation Trades Department: UAW: Union Label and Service Trades Department: Union Veterans Council: UNITE HERE: United Food and Commercial Workers: United Steelworkers: United Students Against Sweatshops: Utility Workers: Working America: Writers Guild of America, East: Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 09/09/2021 - 13:07 — Sep 9
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFGE Marks 20th Anniversary of the TSA with Campaign to Expand Workers’ Rights
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFGE Marks 20th Anniversary of the TSA with Campaign to Expand Workers’ Rights Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. This Saturday will be 20 years since the 9/11 terror attacks. The labor movement will mark this occasion as a time of solemnity and remembrance. But it is also a time to commend the work of the people who keep the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) running every day and the flying public safe. AFGE members are marking the 20th anniversary of the creation of the TSA with a week of action. Transportation security officers’ (TSOs’) pay scale is broken and the union is pushing to fix it. AFGE is fighting for a bill in Congress that would give TSOs Title 5 workplace rights. Click here to view the social media toolkit and click here to take action. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 09/09/2021 - 09:18 — Sep 9
  • Celebrate Labor Month 2021! In the States Roundup
    Celebrate Labor Month 2021! 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 Twitter. Alabama AFL-CIO: Alaska AFL-CIO: Arkansas AFL-CIO: California Labor Federation: Colorado AFL-CIO: Connecticut AFL-CIO: Florida AFL-CIO: Georgia AFL-CIO: Indiana State AFL-CIO: Iowa Federation of Labor: Maine AFL-CIO: Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO: Massachusetts AFL-CIO: Michigan AFL-CIO: Minnesota AFL-CIO: Missouri AFL-CIO: Nevada State AFL-CIO: New Hampshire AFL-CIO: New Jersey State AFL-CIO: New Mexico Federation of Labor: New York State AFL-CIO: North Carolina State AFL-CIO: North Dakota AFL-CIO: Ohio AFL-CIO: Oklahoma State AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO: Rhode Island AFL-CIO: Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council: Texas AFL-CIO: Virginia AFL-CIO: Washington State Labor Council: West Virginia AFL-CIO: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 09/08/2021 - 12:40 — Sep 8