AFL-CIO Blog

  • Demand Justice: What Working People Are Doing This Week
    Demand Justice: 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: AFGE: AFSCME: Air Line Pilots Association: Alliance for Retired Americans: Amalgamated Transit Union: American Federation of Musicians: 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: Farm Labor Organizing Committee: Fire Fighters: Heat and Frost Insulators: International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers: Jobs With Justice: Labor Council for Latin American Advancement: Laborers: Longshoremen: Machinists: Metal Trades Department: Mine Workers: National Air Traffic Controllers Association: National Association of Letter Carriers: National Domestic Workers Alliance: National Federation of Federal Employees-IAM: 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: SAG-AFTRA: Seafarers: Solidarity Center: TCU/IAM: 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 Steelworkers: United Students Against Sweatshops: United Union of Roofers and Waterproofers: Utility Workers: Working America: Writers Guild of America, East: Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/28/2020 - 12:59 — Aug 28
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: IUPAT Members Donate School Supplies to Students in Rockford, Illinois
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: IUPAT Members Donate School Supplies to Students in Rockford, Illinois 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. Members of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 30 delivered backpacks and school supplies to more than 450 children set to return to classrooms at Lewis Lemon Elementary in Rockford, Illinois, next week. The items were purchased by the union and The Patch Foundation. City Mayor Thomas McNamara joined IUPAT members who made their delivery of the donated supplies on Monday. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/28/2020 - 09:40 Tags: COVID-19, Community Service — Aug 28
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Bloomingdale—‘We Must Not Be Satisfied by Platitudes and Cosmetic Change’
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Bloomingdale—‘We Must Not Be Satisfied by Platitudes and Cosmetic Change’ 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. Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale (AFT) issued a statement on Monday in reaction to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man who was shot in the back in Kenosha: “We were shocked by yet another police shooting of an unarmed Black man in Kenosha. Video shows a Kenosha police officer shooting Jacob Blake multiple times in the back at point blank range as he tried to get into his car. The horror was magnified by the presence of Mr. Blake’s young children in the vehicle. This is a shameful day for Kenosha, Wisconsin, and our nation. “The Wisconsin AFL-CIO extends deepest sympathy to Mr. Blake and his family and hope for his quick and complete recovery. Black Lives Matter. The time is long overdue to address systemic racism and police violence against communities of color. “In this unprecedented time in America, we must not be satisfied with platitudes and cosmetic change. We must take a hard look at the factors that have led to Black people unjustly facing violence at the hands of those charged with protecting us and take meaningful steps to address them.” Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 08/27/2020 - 11:20 Tags: COVID-19, Community Service — Aug 27
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: St. Paul Regional Labor Federation Holds Job and Resource Fair
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: St. Paul Regional Labor Federation Holds Job and Resource Fair 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. The St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, led by President Kera Peterson (IAM), held a job and resource fair to connect displaced workers with good union jobs in industries like construction, manufacturing, public schools, health care, hospitality, retail and public services. In addition to connecting job seekers with union jobs, the labor council has held information sessions on local and national union history and the advantages of union membership. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/26/2020 - 10:20 Tags: COVID-19, Community Service — Aug 26
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: SAG-AFTRA Keeps Members Educated About Safe Reopening
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: SAG-AFTRA Keeps Members Educated About Safe Reopening 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. SAG-AFTRA hosted a livestream event this month on the return to work in the entertainment industry. The presentation comes when productions around the country either are preparing to reopen or already have done so. In her opening remarks, SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said, “It’s really important that [members] are empowered and understand what’s taking place so you can decide if you feel safe enough to go back to work.” The event highlighted the work the union has done with its employers and other unions to ensure workers in the entertainment sector can return to work as safely as possible. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/25/2020 - 09:24 Tags: Community Service, COVID-19 — Aug 25