Bill Bumpus Somerville MA - An injury to one is an injury to all

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Over 300 Workers at Auto Parts Supplier Yanfeng Vote to Join UAW

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.

More than 300 workers at the Yanfeng USA’s Riverside facility outside Kansas City, Missouri, voted to join the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 710. This is the sixth Yangfeng facility to organize with the UAW, joining more than 1,000 union members at the company’s facilities in Highland Park, Romulus and Monroe, Michigan; Ontario, Canada; and McCalla, Alabama.

The Yanfeng workers are organizing to put an end to low pay, the lack of seniority rights, understaffed shifts and little to no work-life balance. Workers of color also claim to have been discriminated against by management.

“This struggle was about fair treatment for every worker and holding management accountable,” said Sharon Gilliam, a Yanfeng worker who helped lead the organizing drive. “We want every worker to be educated and informed of their rights and to empower them on the shop floor, and this is the first step.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/08/2023 - 10:02

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: David Kim

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is David Kim of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS).

David Kim, an airway transportation systems specialist at the Federal Aviation Administration, is a union contract representative in Georgia and a member of one of two PASS bargaining teams currently in negotiations with the FAA. After serving his country in the Marines and the Army National Guard, he remains dedicated to public service and his union.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/05/2023 - 10:26

Economy Gains 253,000 Jobs in April; Unemployment Down Slightly 3.4%

The U.S. economy gained 253,000 jobs in April, and the unemployment rate was down slightly at 3.4%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This strong jobs report shows there is still room to expand job opportunities for Americans. Wage growth continues at levels that are consistent with low levels of inflation.

In response to the April job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:

#JobsReport don't like to see rising mean and median duration in unemployment. The longer it takes to land a job the more workers get discouraged. With the drop in Black men's labor force participation these are causes of concern. @AFLCIO @rolandsmartin

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 5, 2023

#JobsReport the Black unemployment rate reached a record low 4.7%, but more importantly, while the Black employment-to-population ration dipped to 60.0, for two months running, it's virtually the same as for whites 60.3%. @kairyssdal as some doubted this equity could happen.

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 5, 2023

#JobsReport despite the rebound in net construction employment to another record high, unemployment in construction is still high at 5.0%. Good thing @POTUS has the Infrastructure bill in place--which House Republicans are insisting must be repealed. @AFLCIO

— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) May 5, 2023

April's biggest job gains were in professional and business services (+43,000), health care (+40,000), leisure and hospitality (+31,000), social assistance (+25,000), financial activities (+23,000), government (+23,000), and mining (+6,000). Employment was little changed over the month in other major industries, including construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, information, and other services. 

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for teenagers (9.2%), Black Americans (4.7%), Hispanics (4.4%), adult men (3.3%), adult women (3.1%), White Americans (3.1%) and Asian Americans (2.8%) showed little or no change in April.

The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) was little changed in April and accounted for 20.6% of the total people unemployed.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/05/2023 - 09:59

CAP Report: Unions Build Wealth for Working People

A new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) shows that union membership helps build wealth for working-class families. The report concludes that "unions are a crucial means for building wealth among the working class and reducing racial wealth gaps for workers without four-year college degrees."

Other key findings from the report include:

• The median wealth for working-class union households ($201,240) is nearly four times that of nonunion working-class households ($52,221).
• Being a union member helps close the wealth gap between working-class and college-educated households. 
• Working families of color see the largest percentage of gains from union membership.
• For all races, working-class union families are far more likely to own homes.

The report concludes: "[T]here is a long way to go to ensure that workers are able to join unions and have access to the many ways by which union members can boost their wealth. Policymakers at the federal and state levels must properly implement these laws to encourage joint labor-management partnerships for training and safety, for example. Policymakers should also design industrial policies that benefit all of the working class, particularly those who are employed in services. Finally—and most directly—policymakers need to reform labor law to make it fairer and easier for workers to form a union and bargain collectively, and they can start by passing the PRO Act."

Read the full report.

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/04/2023 - 11:00

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Capt. Robin Kim

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Capt. Robin Kim of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

Capt. Robin Kim of Alaska Airlines is an 11-year ALPA member and serves as a local council representative. In this role, he builds upon the collective unity of fellow pilots to serve as their advocate in various matters affecting their careers. He also was appointed to the initial Youth Aviation Initiative Panel of the Civil Air Patrol, volunteering to help young people across the nation achieve their dreams to fly.

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/04/2023 - 09:59

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Yvonne Brooks: Making History

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.

As the labor community celebrated International Workers’ Day, the United Way spotlighted the history made by Yvonne Brooks, the president of the Georgia State AFL-CIO:

“Yvonne was named to her post in a few months ago, after serving as Treasurer of Georgia’s AFL-CIO for 11 years. She’s only the second Black woman to lead a state AFL-CIO federation in America. She’s a role model for me, so I was honored to have a chance to sit down with her to talk about her experiences. 

“It all started with her mother, a formidable woman who recently passed away at 102 years old. ‘She was a union member, and helped organize two of her workplaces,’ Yvonne recalled. ‘I didn't even know this until way (into) my career. It was always in my blood, being a union member.’ Her mother, who came from a family of 10 children, was always an advocate, looking out after others—a trait Yvonne has inherited as well. 

“Yvonne started out as a steward in her workplace, a state and city juvenile detention center in St. Louis. After historic flooding hit the city in 1995, she and her colleagues worked long hours to make sure the youth were safe and taken care of. The state gave everyone a bonus after that, but her department fell through the cracks. ‘This is when I caught the organizing bug,’ she recalls.”

Continue reading.

 

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/04/2023 - 09:30

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Mai Xiong

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Mai Xiong of the United Steelworker (USW).

Mai Xiong is a health care worker and the recording secretary for USW Local 9600 who has been crucial to the Bargaining Committee. She helped design a T-shirt that included a message of solidarity in multiple languages, which inspired Hmong workers who finally saw themselves represented. It made a huge difference in galvanizing the group and winning a great contract.

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/03/2023 - 15:01

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Actors' Equity Association Membership Ratifies New Unified Touring Agreement with The Broadway League

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.

Actors’ Equity Association and The Broadway League officially have a new contract governing touring productions, following ratification by vote of Equity membership. The new touring agreement will be in effect through Sept. 7, 2026.

“Creating a new, unified touring agreement has been a long-term goal, and it was a massive undertaking," said Kate Shindle, president of Actors' Equity Association. "Thousands of collective hours—from the negotiating team, from Equity staff, from committees, from our members who mobilized to an historic degree—went into pouring this foundation that we can now build upon. We made some major gains: more competitive salaries, producer-paid housing options across the entire touring landscape, meaningful increases in per diem and some new models for coverage, so that the show can go on without the need for actors and stage managers to work when we're sick or injured. The new contract contains advances in equity, diversity and inclusion, paid sick leave for everyone in the Equity company and safeguards for those who need reproductive and gender-affirming care. Touring is hard, and living on the road full time presents unique challenges. We will continue to focus on improving quality of life for the actors and stage managers who commit to bringing world-class theatre to communities across the country. I am grateful for the sustained, passionate and creative work of everyone who contributed to this negotiation."

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/03/2023 - 09:57

Honoring Those Who Died on the Job: 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.

Workers Memorial Day Honors Those Who Died on the Job: “The country’s largest labor union is calling for stronger safety protections for workers after a new report found more than 5,000 people died on the job in 2021, including 105 in Wisconsin. The AFL-CIO details the findings in the latest installment of its annual report evaluating health and safety conditions for the country’s workers. According to the report, 343 workers die each day in the U.S. from hazardous working conditions, with the fatality rate rising in 2021 to 3.6 per 100,000 U.S. workers. In 2021, 5,190 workers were killed on the job, the union estimates, while another 120,000 died from job-related diseases.”

Wildcat Materials Employee Strike Ends with New Contract Agreement: “Employees of a Columbia construction supply company returned to work Thursday after a eight-day strike. Wildcat Materials employees, who are members of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 955, voted unanimously to ratify their contract Thursday morning, according to a news release.”

Senate Panel Advances Biden Labor Nominee Julie Su: “The AFL-CIO is fighting back, running ads in Arizona and D.C. backing Su’s efforts to counter wage theft in California. The ads tell viewers that workers are ‘tired of getting ripped off by big corporations.’ The labor federation is also mobilizing its members to lobby senators. ‘We’re going to defend Julie against these baseless corporate special interests attacks,’ AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler told reporters last week. ‘Every senator, especially those that haven’t yet said that they’ll vote yes, needs to be aware of how much this confirmation means to working people’s lives.’”

Bustle Digital Group, Writers Guild East Reach First Union Contract: “Bustle Digital Group and the Writers Guild of America, East have reached a tentative agreement with management on a first union contract, the publisher announced Wednesday. BDG says it won guaranteed minimum salary increases, strong benefits, and fair severance and protection from layoffs in its two-year contract fight. More details will be made public when the contract is ratified by members.”

Storytellers at a Los Angeles Planetarium Join the Union Representing Broadway Actors: “The planetarium lecturers at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles have unionized. They hope that doing so will help preserve their longstanding tradition of live storytelling.”

Julie Su Is a Champion for Workers Everywhere. The Senate Must Confirm Her: “President Biden’s nomination of Julie Su for Labor secretary presents an opportunity to appoint an experienced, historic, and committed leader who has dedicated her career to advocating for workers’ rights. Her nomination comes at a crucial time, as the country emerges from the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and workers across America are exercising their constitutional right to form a union in the face of corporate opposition and union-busting. At this critical juncture, workers need a strong advocate in the Department of Labor.”

Paper Mill, Union Workers Agree on Labor Contract: “There’s a new labor contract for workers at a Lyons Falls paper mill. Twin Rivers paper company and the United Steelworkers Local 956 have agreed on a new 3-year deal. There are 44 union workers at the mill. Twin Rivers bought the facility in 2016. It was the Burrows Paper Corporation.”

The Bank Crisis Is the Latest Argument to Expand Postal Service Banking: “Since the government is already in the business of supporting the banking system, the people ought to demand a system that is designed to better serve the public interest and the common good. Any debate about the future of banking in the United States should first take a page from the history of postal banking. During its 55-year existence, beginning in 1910 by an act of Congress, the U.S. Postal Savings System became one of the largest depository institutions in the country. It served as a safe harbor during the Great Depression and provided simple and reliable basic banking services, especially in rural communities.”

Goddard College Workers Reach Contract Agreement, End Strike: “After 28 days on strike, staff at Goddard College in Plainfield have struck an agreement with the administration that union members are calling a success. After a nearly month-long strike, unionized staff at the school reached an agreement and are now back on the job. ‘We’re all very happy to be back, and it’s been a long month for sure,’ said Trevor Utton, a union organizer.”

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 05/03/2023 - 08:39

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: 29,000 Machinists Members at United Airlines Ratify Industry-Leading Labor Agreements

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.

Approximately 29,000 United Airlines workers, members of the Machinists (IAM), have ratified labor agreements with the industry’s best wages and stronger job protections. Members ratified five contracts covering fleet service, passenger service, storekeeper, maintenance instructors, and fleet technical instructors and related, and maintenance instructors. The 118 members in the security guard and central load planners classifications have not ratified their contracts. IAM will continue to work on next steps for these members.

Highlights of the ratified contracts include industry-best wage rates; the insourcing of five previously outsourced locations; protection of full-time employment and opportunities; the permanent prohibition of outsourcing for 17 additional U.S. locations; increased lead and specialty premiums; an extended system of no lay-off protection for tens of thousands more IAM members; an early opener of next negotiations and a signing bonus.
 
“The IAM has once again set the bar for airline workers across the industry,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richie Johnsen. “We continue to have success reaching agreements that secure our work and turn into airline jobs into family-sustaining careers.”

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/02/2023 - 12:07

In Recognition of Caregivers, White House Readies to Help Nursing Home Workers

Last month, President Biden announced comprehensive government actions to improve access to quality child care and long-term care. The executive order, signed by the president, directed an array of federal programs at the departments of Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs, and other departments to do more to meet the care needs of working families who rely on either paid or unpaid caregivers to participate in our economy and our society.

The president’s announcement, which comes during Care Workers Recognition Month, is a landmark effort to highlight the role of care work in our economy. As the president noted, one in five Americans is a caregiver, helping raise a child or caring for a person with a disability, either at home or in a nursing home.

The attention on caregiving comes naturally for this president. During his remarks at the signing event, he recalled the help he needed raising his sons after his first wife and daughter died in a car crash and the care he and the first lady provided to their parents near the end of their lives. For many people, however, the hardest part is finding a caregiver. We will need millions of new caregivers to meet the needs of our aging society. 

How do we get more people to do this physically demanding and often emotionally draining work? Recruitment and retention is challenging because this important work is routinely undercompensated. The median annual income for a certified nurse assistant in a nursing home is $24,200—so low that one-third are on some public assistance. The median annual income for a home care worker is even less. 

One way to ensure caregivers are paid more is to make it easier for workers who want to join a union. We know labor law is fundamentally broken—it is simply too hard for workers to exercise our right to collective action. To support the needs of America's families and our economy, we need to make sure caregivers have a voice at work.

When it comes to nursing homes, there is an immediate opportunity to address the quality of care for residents. The Biden administration can follow through on its promise to do what previous administrations lacked the political courage to do: set a science-based, national minimum staffing standard for nursing homes that participate in Medicare and Medicaid. 

We know that powerful forces in the nursing home industry, including private equity investors, vigorously oppose a minimum staffing standard. Private equity investors often turn a profit by manipulating personnel: hiring fewer workers and slashing pay and benefits at the cost of patient care. Setting a staffing standard would mean having to pay higher wages to attract more people to the industry; it would mean paying a living wage, so working in a nursing home would be a sustainable, family-supporting job. 

Nursing home experts across the board agree that current staffing at most nursing homes is inadequate, and that poor staffing puts residents at risk for ulcers, falls, and other adverse medical events. One has to look no further than Health and Human Services' findings in 2001 for the bare minimum staffing levels needed to avoid harming patients. Yet too many nursing operators want to compromise this medically based standard of care. We are glad to work with the industry to address issues around implementation of a staffing standard, but there should be no doubt about what experts say is the best way to improve nursing home care: stop the understaffing that compromises resident care and makes caregivers pursue other work. 

The AFL-CIO commends the administration for its focus on the care economy. Making sure current federal programs are more accessible is critical for families who need care and caregivers who want to do the work. However, it is time to do more than re-direct existing resources. We need to invest new resources and set new standards for good care and workplace conditions in businesses where care is provided. This year, we can start with nursing homes and address similar policy and fiscal questions around home care and the child care workforce. Our kids, grandparents, friends and family members with disabilities deserve no less.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/01/2023 - 10:00

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Julie Su Nomination Advances; Show Your Support

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 week, the Biden administration’s nominee for secretary of labor, Julie Su (pictured, top row, third from right), advanced out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The nomination will next be considered by the full Senate.

Su is a champion for working people who will take on the toughest fights we have on issues like wage theft, the future of work, worker exploitation and so much more. She must be confirmed.

Check out our toolkit and show your support today by signing our petition to stand with Julie Su.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/01/2023 - 08:35

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: WGAE Members at BDG Win First Contract

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.

After more than two years of negotiations, Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), members at BDG (Bustle Digital Group) reached a tentative agreement with management on a first union contract. Members will vote shortly to ratify the contract, at which time details will be made public.

In a statement, the BDG Union said: “We are elated to announce that we have a deal! Our first union contract could not have been achieved without an incredible amount of solidarity and fortitude by our current bargaining unit. We also owe a deep amount of gratitude to the many workers who have either left or been let go at BDG who fiercely supported this campaign over the more than two years of negotiations. In the contract, we won guaranteed minimum salary increases, strong benefits, and fair severance and protection from layoffs. We look forward to sharing more details upon ratification.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 04/27/2023 - 10:44

Tags: Organizing

25 Things You Need to Know from the 2023 Death on the Job Report

This 2023 edition of Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect marks the 32nd year the AFL-CIO has produced a report on the state of safety and health protections for America’s workers. Over the past 50 years, there has been significant progress toward improving working conditions and protecting workers from job injuries, illnesses and deaths. The progress has become more challenging as employers’ opposition to workers’ rights and protections has grown, and attacks on unions have intensified. Big corporations and many Republicans have launched an aggressive assault on worker protections.

Here are 25 things from the 2023 Death on the Job report you need to know:

1. There were 343 workers who died each day from hazardous working conditions.
2. There were 5,190 workers who were killed on the job in the United States in 2021.
3. An estimated 120,000 workers died from occupational diseases.
4. The job fatality rate increased to 3.6 per 100,000 workers.
5. Black workers died on the job at the highest rate in more than a decade.
6. Latino workers continue to be at greater risk of dying on the job than all workers.
7. Employers reported nearly 3.2 million work-related injuries and illnesses.
8. The true impact of COVID-19 infections due to workplace exposures is unknown.
9. Limited data show that more than 1.5 million nursing home workers have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 3,000 have died.
10. Workplace violence, musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive motion injuries and occupational heat illness continue to be major problems, but data no longer is reported annually to track and understand these important issues.
11. Underreporting is widespread—the true toll of work-related injuries and illnesses is 5.4 million to 8.1 million each year in private industry.
12. The cost of job injuries and illnesses is enormous—estimated at $174 billion to $348 billion a year.
13. States with the highest fatality rates in 2021 were Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana, Louisiana, Alaska and New Mexico.
14. Industries with the highest fatality rates in 2021 were agriculture, forestry, and fishing and hunting; transportation and warehousing; mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; and wholesale trade.
15. More than one-third of workplace fatalities occurred among workers ages 55 and older.
16. Workers 65 and older have 2.3 times the risk of dying on the job as other workers, with a job fatality rate of 8.4 per 100,000 workers.
17. Many children, mostly migrants, have become the focus of stark exploitation, working in dangerous conditions.
18. Twenty-four children younger than 18 and 350 adults younger than 25 years old died on the job in 2021.
19. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) resources in fiscal year (FY) 2022 still are too few to be a deterrent: There are 1,871 inspectors to inspect the 10.8 million workplaces under the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s (OSH Act's) jurisdiction.
20. Federal OSHA has 145 additional inspectors than in FY 2021—but still only enough to inspect workplaces once every 190 years.
21. There is one inspector for every 77,334 workers.
22. The current OSHA budget amounts to $3.99 to protect each worker.
23. Penalties in FY 2022 still are too weak: The average penalty for a serious violation was $4,354 for federal OSHA. The average penalty for a serious violation was $2,221 for OSHA state plans.
24. The median penalty for killing a worker was $12,063 for federal OSHA. The median penalty for killing a worker was $7,000 for state OSHA plans.
25. Only 128 worker death cases have been criminally prosecuted under the OSH Act since 1970.

The report also provides suggested policies to address these problems. Read the full report.

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/26/2023 - 10:34

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Our Veterans’ Sacrifices Are Under Attack

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 veterans community was devastated last week when House Republicans proposed legislation that would cut 22% from the Veterans Affairs budget, setting back improvements and care that has been fought for in recent decades. The cuts would essentially gut veterans care.

In recent years, veterans have seen improvements in health care, including better access to medical visits and shorter wait times. The new proposal would roll back those gains, leading to 30 million fewer veteran outpatient visits, 81,000 lost jobs at the Veterans Affairs. Veterans won't be able to get appointments for care, wellness visits, cancer screenings, mental health services and substance use disorder treatment. The plan also cuts funding to military cemeteries, meaning 18,000 eligible veterans would lose the ability to be buried with full military honors. The lower budget would prevent construction on health care facilities veterans need, cut housing for veterans, increase food insecurity for veterans, and eliminate job training and other support to homeless veterans.

This proposal fails to honor the memory of all veterans, but veterans are ready to fight for their benefits. The Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO, is calling on all of our affiliates and allies to lift up the message of #HandsOffVeteranBenefits. 
 

Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/26/2023 - 10:16

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AFSCME’s Saunders: Now More Than Ever, Library Workers Must Have a Seat at the Table

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.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement recognizing National Library Week, which runs from April 23-29, 2023:

“Whether they’re introducing us to our next favorite book or teaching new skills like how to code or start a business, library workers are the backbone of our communities. So much of the important work they do is behind the scenes—from managing online collections to archiving our history to building bookshelves and maintaining libraries’ physical space.
 
“While these workers have ensured the library is a welcoming space for all, they deal with tremendous challenges. When the opioid epidemic spiked, library workers learned how to use Narcan so they could save lives. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many libraries stayed open to ensure that people were able to access the vital services they provide. Now, these front-line heroes are facing both budget cuts and censorship threats that hurt their ability to protect their communities and preserve our freedoms. If that’s not enough, widespread staffing shortages are making library workers’ jobs harder than ever.
 
“This National Library Week, we must respond to this moment by continuing to organize for respect and dignity. With a seat at the table, union library workers have the power in numbers they need to negotiate for improvements that benefit themselves and their communities. For many Americans, the library is one of the only places where they can seek refuge and find help, and they’re counting on us to keep library doors open.”

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/25/2023 - 10:22

Bad for Working People: 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.

Majorities of Adults See Decline of Union Membership as Bad for the U.S. and Working People: “Majorities of Americans continue to see the long-term decline in the share of workers represented by unions as a bad thing for both the country and working people in the United States, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted from March 27 to April 2.”

The Economy Alone Can’t Fix the Racial Divide in Labor: “The Black unemployment rate fell to 5% in March, the lowest since the U.S. government began collecting the data in 1972. Also, its ratio to the White unemployment rate is one of the smallest on record. That’s progress and another sign that a strong labor market is helping people on the margins. Progress on racial equity, however, must not be left to the ups and downs in the economy alone. Lasting changes in policies and workplaces are necessary, too, and they may need to differ some across groups of workers. The Black-White gap in men’s participation has essentially closed, so why does a sizable unemployment divide remain? The answer is complex. William Spriggs, a professor at Howard University and chief economist for the AFL-CIO, says we should be wary of simple explanations like fewer Black men go to college. In fact, Black men with an associate’s degree have a higher unemployment rate than White men with only a high school education, except in a strong labor market. More than personal characteristics affect the employment gap. Raj Chetty, a professor at Harvard University, and his co-authors found that growing up in poorer neighborhoods—as Black men are likely to do—reduced upward economic mobility of Black men relative to White men.”

New Report Highlights Challenges Still Faced by America’s Working Women: “‘We were thrilled to work with IWPR to help produce this critical report. It reaffirms that women can and must play an important role in revitalizing America’s manufacturing sector,’ said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. ‘These findings provide us with an invaluable blueprint to ensure that women have equal access to these careers and the resources we all need to succeed, including far better child care and paid leave policies.’ ‘It also underscores how essential it is that these are good union jobs,’ said Shuler. ‘That union women were far more likely to report being treated equally at work in terms of pay, benefits and scheduling is noteworthy. Unions help women to thrive and create environments where we can use our collective voice to transform our workplaces. Recruiting and supporting women is essential for guaranteeing that our nation re-enters the world stage as a powerhouse for manufacturing, innovation and technology.’”

Let's Go, Julie Su: 'Modern-Day Frances Perkins' Tapped to Lead U.S. Dept. of Labor: “‘If you’ve been paying attention the past 18 months, you know workers across America are having a moment,’ writes Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO. ‘Julie Su will help workers at the highest levels of power, too—the same way 90 years ago, the country’s first female labor secretary, Francis Perkins, did pioneering work under Franklin Delano Roosevelt to define the New Deal.’”

Saunders: AFSCME Working Its Way Back from COVID’s Impact: “The State, County and Municipal Employees union is working its way back from the huge cuts in local and state jobs the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic imposed, union President Lee Saunders says. And, he adds, the governors, mayors and county officials he regularly talks with and works with desperately seek workers to fill thousands of vacancies. If they find them, that could benefit AFSCME. Saunders reviewed that state of his union, which now has 1.4 million members, in an informal walk-and-talk with several reporters at a small reception on the top, private floor of a D.C. bar. He explained that when the five-justice Republican-named majority ruled in the Janus case that every single state and local worker in the country could become a ‘free rider,’ commentators expected AFSCME and other public worker unions to take a big hit or worse. The right-wing foes of unions, of course, rooted for a collapse in worker power. It didn’t happen. If anything, at least in the private sector, union numbers are growing as workers used newfound strength to fight back against exploitation by unionizing, leaving for better jobs, or both. Saunders said AFSCME weathered Janus because the union prepared in advance, going to a million members on a nationwide listening tour. It used responses to adjust its goals and tactics.”

Actors' Equity Members and League of Resident Theatres Ratify New Agreement: “Actors' Equity Association and the League of Resident Theatres have ratified a new four-and-a-half-year agreement. Key provisions of the contract include meaningful salary increases and growth in all three job categories: chorus, principals and stage managers. The new agreement also widens equity, diversity and inclusion protections, including regarding hair styling and costuming, and expands protection surrounding bullying, discrimination and harassment. The contract also expands flexibility in media and community outreach, enabling theatres to rebuild and grow audiences. The contract also creates additional opportunities for the development of new artistic work at LORT houses.”

Unemployment Is Low. Inflation Is Falling. But What Comes Next?: “‘For this tiny moment, we finally see what a labor market is supposed to do,” said William Spriggs, a Howard University professor and chief economist for the AFL-CIO And the workers benefiting most from the labor market’s current strength, he said, will be the ones who suffer most from a recession. ‘You should see from this moment what you are truly risking,’ Spriggs said. With inflation already falling, he said, there is no reason for policymakers to take that risk. ‘The labor market is finally hitting its stride,’ he said. ‘And instead of celebrating and saying, This is fantastic, we have the Fed hanging over everybody and casting shade on this unbelievable set of circumstances and saying, Actually this is bad.’”

Rutgers University Strike Suspended After Tentative Deal Reached: “The historic strike at Rutgers University is reportedly over as a tentative deal clears the way for thousands of teachers and students to go back to work and back to class. Just after midnight Saturday morning, a tentative agreement was reached after a historic five-day strike at New Jersey's state university. Class will be back in session for the school's 67,000 students starting Monday.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/24/2023 - 07:53

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Help Win Fair Wages for Union Members at CBS News Streaming

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.

Writers Guild of America, East, members at CBS News Streaming are currently in negotiations with CBS for a renewed contract. Determined to get a fair deal, these workers are facing a challenge in securing fair wages, and they need your help. 

The workers at CBS News Streaming deserve a fair contract that reflects industry standards and the rising cost of living. CBS management is still holding out on items important to the CBS News Streaming Union, including salary minimums in line with current salaries and fair wage increases. 

Now is a critical time in their campaign. Please join their fight by sending a letter to CBS management today, demanding they agree to a fair contract with fair wages. 

Send a letter to CBS management now.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/24/2023 - 07:39

WATCH: Julie Su’s First Hearing

Julie Su just overcame her first big hurdle on the road to becoming our next secretary of labor, and workers are standing behind her. We thought you’d be interested to hear how it went.

Here are some of our highlights:

Julie Su's story is a firsthand account of what so many across the globe endure in search for a better life.

We want a Secretary of Labor who can look working families in the eye & honestly say "I understand” over a shell for corporate America.#StandWithSu pic.twitter.com/UEzTrblNHP

— AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIO) April 20, 2023

With Julie Su as Deputy Secretary of Labor, the @USDOL has RAPIDLY expanded apprenticeship opportunities for all Americans, from the trades to cybersecurity to teacher apprenticeships.

These life-changing opportunities must continue & another reason why we #StandWithSu! pic.twitter.com/LeXV5CN1xn

— AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIO) April 20, 2023

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The results with having a pro-worker @USDOL Secretary of Labor speak for themselves: Our U.S. economy has added a record 12.6 million jobs, unemployment is less than 4 percent. All while labor force participation has returned to pre-pandemic levels. #StandWithSu! pic.twitter.com/lZcqqzYsQH

— AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIO) April 20, 2023

Workers deserve a labor secretary who will fiercely defend working people. Join more than 10,000 union members and sign our petition to #StandWithSu.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 04/21/2023 - 14:12

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: BCTGM Files Charges Against Aspire Bakeries for Flagrant Labor Violations

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.

BCTGM Local 37 (Los Angeles), has filed federal charges against Aspire Bakeries, for multiple labor law violations committed during an organizing campaign at the company’s Ontario, California bakery. Aspire Bakeries produces Otis Spunkmeyer, La Brea Bakery and Oakrun Farm Bakery brands, and is owned by the private-equity firm Lindsay-Goldberg.

Not long after workers at the California bakery approached Local 37 organizers, the company hired a high-priced union busting firm to put a stop to the employees’ efforts. According to BCTGM Organizing Director John Price, the company’s union busters committed numerous offenses including spying on union activities, harassment and intimidation of union supporters. “These are clear and outrageous violations of federal labor law. Employees were denied their legal right to join the BCTGM because of the company’s blatant disregard of federal law,” Price said.

BCTGM called on Lindsay-Goldberg to put a stop to Aspire’s use of union busters, but Lindsay-Goldberg executives refused to meet or speak with the union.

“Lindsay Goldberg management refused to talk to us, despite the fact their Aspire Bakeries subsidiary was knowingly violating federal laws and denying their workers the protected right to a free election,” said BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton. “Private equity companies like Lindsay Goldberg are used to hiding behind their portfolio companies and acting with impunity. Those days are over. Lindsay Goldberg owns Aspire Bakeries and is responsible for Aspire’s anti-worker actions.

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 04/20/2023 - 10:17