Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Afroja Khatun

For Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians 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 Afroja Khatun of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU).

Afroja Khatun is a shop steward, trustee, health plan representative and vocal champion of her union, the New York Metro Area Postal Union (APWU Local 10). A natural leader, she was recruited to observe and then lead her local’s new hire orientation classes. She received the local’s 2025 Committee on Political Action award for her commitment to promoting rank-and-file political engagement.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/18/2026 - 10:20

Service & Solidarity Spotlight:D.C. Pottery Studio Workers Vote to Form Union

Working people across the United States regularly step 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.

Staff at All Fired Up, a Washington, D.C., paint-your-own pottery store, won their National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election to form a union with Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU’s) Workers United.

Workers, under the name All Fired Up Workers United, voted unanimously to organize on Monday. Staff cited low wages and a lack of benefits as core motivations for their effort. Despite a lack of support from the business owner, sudden layoffs after the public announcement of the union drive and concerning comments made by the owner’s family during the election, workers stood strong and refused to back down.

“All Fired Up Workers United is proud to announce that our workers unanimously voted “Yes!” for the union at today’s [NLRB] facilitated election,” the union said in a social media post. “Big thanks to all of our workers who voted, [Workers United, Mid-Atlantic Regional Joint Board] for their support and expertise, and [Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America] for cheering us on. We’re excited to prepare for contract negotiations! The real work is about to begin.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/18/2026 - 10:14

Tags: Organizing