AFL-CIO Blog

  • Union-Busting Is Disgusting: In the States Roundup
    Union-Busting Is Disgusting: 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. Alaska AFL-CIO: Arizona AFL-CIO: California Labor Federation: Colorado AFL-CIO: Connecticut AFL-CIO: Florida AFL-CIO: Georgia AFL-CIO: Illinois AFL-CIO: Indiana State AFL-CIO: Iowa Federation of Labor: Kansas State AFL-CIO: Maine AFL-CIO: Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO: Michigan AFL-CIO: Minnesota AFL-CIO: Missouri AFL-CIO: Montana 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: Ohio AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO: Pennsylvania 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 Mon, 02/22/2021 - 10:55 — Feb 22
  • Black History Month Profiles: E.J. Jenkins
    Black History Month Profiles: E.J. Jenkins This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is E.J. Jenkins. United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1014's Jenkins is the epitome of a union activist. He got involved through the USW's Next Generation program for young members and has since been active in civil rights, election and organizing work, and the A. Philip Randolph Institute. He won the Jefferson Award in 2018 for starting Black Labor Week, a program dedicated to educating, empowering and uplifting the community. The program began in Gary, Indiana, and has since expanded under Jenkins' leadership. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/22/2021 - 09:30 Tags: Black History Month — Feb 22
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Florida AFL-CIO: Standing Up Against COVID-19 Business Liability
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Florida AFL-CIO: Standing Up Against COVID-19 Business Liability 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. Rich Templin, the director of politics and public policy at the Florida AFL-CIO, spoke at a Florida Consumer Watch press conference on Monday about how state legislation that’s aimed at enacting sweeping COVID-19 lawsuit immunity is an excuse for big businesses and will ultimately harm workers. “The Florida AFL-CIO represents 1.3 million workers, retirees and their families,” said Templin during the conference. “Over the last couple of weeks, we have received tons of calls. Workers are afraid of this legislation, and here’s why. Where the coronavirus began, workers got very little in the form of a federal response. They got very little in the form of a state response. What they saw was a state determined to reopen too early, too quickly, and outside of the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines. But they went to work anyway, because they had to. Now the same government that gave little to no direction, that forced the reopening of the state, is asking for a blank check for business owners.” “In the middle of a public health crisis, legislation is being pushed in the Florida Legislature that, if passed, would prevent businesses that expose working people to COVID-19 from being held accountable,” said Florida AFL-CIO President Mike Williams (IBEW). “Florida has rushed through the reopening process with little regard for the safety of both essential workers and consumers. This is yet another example of leadership in our state government putting profits before people. Granting sweeping liability protections to bad actors is not only an insult to working people, it also ignores the businesses who have followed proper safety protocols to ensure the safety of their workers and customers.” Watch the full press conference here. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/22/2021 - 08:30 Tags: COVID-19, Community Service — Feb 22
  • Black History Month Profiles: Rochelle Palache
    Black History Month Profiles: Rochelle Palache This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Rochelle Palache. Rochelle Palache leads SEIU 32BJ's Connecticut District. Like many of the union’s members, Palache moved to the United States for a better life, leaving her native Jamaica after finishing high school. She attended Smith College on a scholarship and began working at the SEIU Connecticut State Council soon after graduating. Over the next 15 years, she lead successful campaigns for a $15 minimum wage, paid family medical leave and several immigrant rights bills. In 2020, she helped guide the union as members suffered layoffs in the economic downturn and faced the pandemic as essential workers. She also worked to engage the union on issues related to Black Lives Matter. Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 02/21/2021 - 08:54 Tags: Black History Month — Feb 21
  • Black History Month Profiles: Lucy Wells
    Black History Month Profiles: Lucy Wells This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only the conditions for working people in our community, but also across the country. Today's profile is Lucy Wells. Before she was eligible for union membership, Lucy Wells was active in Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 154 and has maintained involvement even while the theatre industry was shut down because of COVID-19. Over the years, she has participated in numerous actions and rallies, served on labor/management committees and helped her union grow. Wells is passionate about engaging and educating people in conversations about racial inequities and inclusion. On top of it all, she is an amazing wardrobe specialist and the first BIPOC associate wardrobe supervisor at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 02/20/2021 - 09:00 Tags: Black History Month — Feb 20