AFL-CIO Blog

  • This Is the Story of How Workers Win
    This Is the Story of How Workers Win It has been a monumental month for American labor. UAW ratified powerful new contracts with each of America’s Big Three automakers: Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. SAG-AFTRA reached an industry-defining tentative agreement with the television and film industry studios. The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 (UNITE HERE) reached its best tentative agreements ever with three Las Vegas titans: Caesars, MGM and Wynn. And just last week, the Detroit Casino Council reached a terrific tentative agreement for thousands of casino workers in Michigan. This is all incredible news with deals that will provide life-changing gains for America’s workers. And it was made possible by the unwavering strength of union members standing united for a better future, with all of our union family and people across the country standing in solidarity with them. This moment is even bigger than these huge victories. This is about a labor movement. We’ve seen more than 300 strikes so far this year, involving more than 450,000 workers. Every industry. Every state. Working people are reclaiming their power, taking on the companies that have given them the short end of the stick for too long:
    • Look at WGA, who won an extraordinary deal for Hollywood writers with the major film and television companies.  
    • Look at OPEIU, IFPTE, and SEIU, who won a groundbreaking deal for health care workers with Kaiser Permanente.  
    • Look at the Teamsters, who won a historic deal for delivery and warehouse workers with UPS.  
    • Look at Starbucks stores all over this country. Two years ago, there were zero unions. Today, we have more than 360. And last week, the Red Cup Rebellion was the largest strike in Starbucks history.
    And we’re not done. Workers are still holding the line and standing in solidarity as one labor movement so that every worker gets the fair contract they deserve. And we are growing our movement to bring in more working people, to elect more pro-labor leaders and to lead in the future of work on key issues like artificial intelligence (AI) and green energy jobs. We can’t remember a moment when our movement had this kind of momentum. This is the story of how workers win. So this Thanksgiving, we couldn’t be more grateful for workers and activists across the country and for every single person like you who has joined the fight. It truly is better in a union. THANK YOU. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/22/2023 - 11:12     — Nov 22
  • Native American Heritage Month Profiles: Christina Riley
    Native American Heritage Month Profiles: Christina Riley Throughout Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile features Christina Riley of LIUNA. Graduating from the Northwest Laborers Apprenticeship program and continuing with ongoing training has paved the way for Christina Riley to have a successful career with endless opportunities for growth. She is grateful for the chance to mentor other members and serve as the co-chair of the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council Tribal Committee, where she collaborates with local tribes. Having been a member of Laborers (LIUNA) Local 252 for 17 years, she has witnessed LIUNA's dedication to the tribes, and she is proud to be a part of it. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/22/2023 - 09:16 — Nov 22
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: OPM Finalizes AFGE-Backed Locality Pay Bump for 32,900 Federal Workers
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: OPM Finalizes AFGE-Backed Locality Pay Bump for 32,900 Federal Workers Working people across the United States have stepped 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 Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued the final rule implementing a locality pay raise the AFGE sought for nearly 33,000 federal employees. Those working in Fresno, California; Reno, Nevada; Rochester, New York; and Spokane, Washington, are slated to get a locality pay raise on Jan. 1, 2024. New counties will also be added, so those working and living in these counties will get a locality pay bump as well. This is a direct result of AFGE pushing the Biden administration to adopt the Federal Salary Council’s pro-labor recommendations that would increase pay for tens of thousands of General Schedule employees who in 2022 made 24.09% less than employees outside the federal government doing similar jobs. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/22/2023 - 09:13 — Nov 22
  • Native American Heritage Month Profiles: Patricia Salway
    Native American Heritage Month Profiles: Patricia Salway Throughout Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile features Patricia Salway of AFGE. Patricia “Trish” Salway is a member of the Blackfeet Tribe located in Browning, Montana, outside of Glacier National Park, and her family has lived on the Blackfeet Reservation for decades. Salway also has Cree and Sioux heritage. Salway has been an employee of the Montana VA Health Care System for 22 years and a member of AFGE for the past 13 years, serving as the local’s secretary for the last six years and treasurer for the last three. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/21/2023 - 10:06 — Nov 21
  • Native American Heritage Month Profiles: DeLanna Studi
    Native American Heritage Month Profiles: DeLanna Studi Throughout Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile features DeLanna Studi of SAG-AFTRA. SAG-AFTRA member DeLanna Studi is a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation and has over 25 years experience as a performer, storyteller, educator, advocate and activist. Since 2007, she has served as chair of the SAG-AFTRA National Native Americans Committee. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 11/20/2023 - 10:04 — Nov 20