Demanding Jobs and Freedom: 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.

Lee Saunders: The Latest Assault on Working Parents: “This is a blatant, targeted attack on working people. It’s an attack on children who deserve a safe space to learn and grow. It’s an attack on all of the childcare providers—thousands of whom are AFSCME members—who rely on this funding to keep their doors open. And it’s an attack on every working parent who counts on reliable, affordable childcare so that they can go to work each day and earn a living.”

Growing Number of Education Groups Criticize Impact of ICE Operations on Students: “American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said in an emailed statement that immigration enforcement needs reform ‘immediately,’ including more protections for schools, and urged lawmakers to work together to avoid a shutdown.”

CWA’s Cummings Urges Union Members to Unite, Fight Back in Battle for Soul of Democracy: “Communication Workers of America (CWA) International President Claude Cummings Jr. is urging union members to unite and fight back in today’s battle for the soul of democracy. Cummings was the keynote speaker for the 46th Annual Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Awards banquet in St. Louis. The event was held Jan. 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 union hall. Here are some excerpts from his lively speech: ‘We, as Black trade unionists, know that the Labor Movement and the Civil Rights Movements are two sides of the same coin. As Dr. King was declaring that he had a dream, many forget that the stated purpose of the March on Washington was to demand jobs and freedom: economic and social justice.”

Unions Sue FEMA Over Work Force Cuts They Say Threaten Readiness: “A coalition of unions, scientific groups and local governments filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking to block the Federal Emergency Management Agency from cutting its staff, arguing that, by doing so, agency leaders are violating laws mandating that FEMA maintain capabilities to respond to disasters. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, seeks to block the dismissals of hundreds of contract workers at FEMA that began at the start of the year. About 1,000 employees were expected to lose their jobs this month, although the agency paused the cuts last week in anticipation of a winter storm that raged across the country, according to internal FEMA emails reviewed by The New York Times.”

SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin Talks AI, Residuals, Pensions and More Ahead of 2026 Labor Negotiations with AMPTP: “SAG-AFTRA will head into another round of labor negotiations with the major Hollywood studios in around two weeks, led by newly elected leader Sean Astin. ‘My mission going into this negotiation is to make sure that the companies spend as much time as necessary to fully hear the issues that each of our groups represent,’ he recently told Deadline in a sit-down ahead of next month’s formal start to negotiations.”

AFGE Demands Resignations of Noem, Miller Following Member’s Slaying: “The nation’s largest federal employee union on Monday called for the resignations of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over the two officials’ statements denigrating VA nurse Alex Pretti just hours after he was slain by a U.S. Border Patrol agent Saturday. Trump told reporters Tuesday that Noem would remain at her post, saying, ‘I think she's doing a very good job.’”

Workers Unionize at Columbus-Based Jeni’s Ice Cream: “Workers across eight central Ohio ice cream shops have voted to unionize. The 81 employees across Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams shops in central Ohio voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union local chapter. According to the Ohio AFL-CIO, a union advocacy coalition, Jeni’s workers voted with a nearly 2-1 margin to unionize on Jan. 14. ‘We respect our employees’ rights and the outcome of this election,’ a spokesperson for Jeni’s said. ‘As negotiations begin, we will engage in good faith, and work constructively toward an agreement.’”

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/30/2026 - 12:35

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Blizzard Quality Assurance Workers Ratify Video Game Union Contract with Microsoft; Secure Wage Increases and Other Benefits

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.

A strong majority of quality assurance workers at Blizzard Entertainment’s Albany, New York, and Austin, Texas, locations overwhelmingly voted to ratify a union contract at Microsoft. The workers are represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA) locals 1118 and 6215, respectively.

The three-year contract includes guaranteed wage increases; enhanced regulations around the usage of AI and generative AI in the workplace; protections on fair crediting and name recognition on shipped video games; reasonable disability accommodations without discrimination or retaliation; protection to immigrant workers from unfair discipline and loss of seniority while streamlining legal verification; restrictions on mandatory “crunch time” or excessive overtime hours; and other benefits.

“At a time when layoffs are hitting our industry hard, today is another big step in building a better future for video game workers at every level,” said Local 1118 member and Blizzard Albany quality analyst Brock Davis. “For quality assurance testers, this contract provides us wages to live on, increased job security benefits, and guardrails around artificial intelligence in the workplace.”

“After nearly two decades in the video game industry, it feels great to work with my fellow union members in ratifying a fair contract that makes it easier to see a real, long-term career in this work,” said Local 6215 member and Blizzard Austin senior quality analyst Matt Gant. “This agreement gives us a better working environment with increased pay, benefits, and layoff protections that include recall rights and ensures that quality assurance work remains a stable and respected role for the workers who will build games long after us.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/02/2026 - 10:13

We Proudly Celebrate Black History Month

Black History Month is a time for reflection and recognition as we celebrate the Black labor leaders and union members, both past and present, who have advanced real change.

The struggle for equity absolutely continues, and our task of protecting our fundamental rights remains as important as ever. The labor movement plays a critical protective role against the Trump administration and its enablers as they attack diversity, equity and inclusion policies and programs, attempt to trample our rights, and whitewash our history. 

We’ll feature the stories of new Black History Month labor leaders and activists throughout the month here.

President Trump likes to say he is delivering for working people. He promised on the campaign trail to protect “Black jobs.” But like so many of his promises, this is an empty one. In fact, we have been living with the effects of Trump’s policies since he took office a year ago, and the only thing he has delivered for us is employment uncertainty and financial insecurity. 

Black unemployment has now surged to more than 7%, nearly double the country’s overall unemployment rate. For both Black Americans as a whole and Black women in particular, unemployment has reached its highest level since 2021 and will likely continue to grow. 

Most Americans say they’re still struggling just to make ends meet. President Trump promised to “make America affordable again,” but instead, his administration and its allies in Congress spent the past year driving up costs, holding down wages and letting jobs disappear—including good-paying jobs that would help keep energy bills from skyrocketing. 

We’ll keep fighting to hold the Trump administration accountable when it pushes anti-worker, anti-Black policies. That’s why we need your help to tell Congress to fix the affordability crisis now. Please make a call.

Trump’s economy may be working for his billionaire buddies, but for the rest of us, it’s a disaster. It’s time to take our country back to ensure that Black workers—and all workers—finally get the fair shot at getting ahead that we deserve.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, wrote that “we are…tied in a single garment of destiny.” And that remains true today. We are all connected in the same struggle for dignity as working people—no matter our race, nationality or immigration status. What affects one of us affects all of us.

That is at the heart of the civil rights and labor movements—a connection rooted in shared values and the pursuit of economic and racial justice through solidarity, collective action and nonviolent civil resistance. 

Together, we will advance the march toward progress. Stay strong. Stay united.

P.S. I recorded this video message for Black History Month. Please take a look and share:

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/02/2026 - 15:50

Tags: Black History Month

Black History Month Profiles

For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively 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.

Here's who we've featured so far:

• Raquel Caines of OPEIU

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/02/2026 - 10:30

Tags: Black History Month

Black History Month Profiles: Raquel Caines

For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively 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 Raquel Caines of the Office & Professional Employees (OPEIU).

Raquel Caines is a shop steward and group coordinator at United Federation of Teachers, where she has worked for seven years. “What we can learn from both labor and black history,” she said, “is if you fail to define yourself, you will live by other people’s definition of you. It is important that we are in a moment where history is not watered down.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/02/2026 - 10:17

Tags: Black History Month

Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: AFSCME

This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we’ve covered all 64 of our affiliates. Next up is AFSCME.

Name of Union: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

Mission: AFSCME members provide the vital services that make America happen. They work to ensure dignity and security for public service workers across the country. By organizing new members, they build their capacity to strengthen public services, improve working conditions, negotiate decent wages, and safeguard pensions and health benefits.

Current Leadership of Union: Lee Saunders was elected AFSCME president in 2012, the first African American to hold that position, after previously serving as secretary-treasurer and in many other roles with AFSCME since 1978. He was raised in a union household in Cleveland. His mother was a member of the American Association of University Professors, a teacher at a community college and a community organizer. His father was a union bus driver for the city. Elissa McBride serves as secretary-treasurer. AFSCME has 34 international vice presidents serving different regions.

Members Work As: With hundreds of job categories, members work in behavioral health, corrections, early childhood education, emergency services, environmental stewardship, health care, higher education, home care, child care, housing, human services, K-12 schools, law enforcement, libraries, museums and other cultural institutions, nursing, probation and parole, public administration, public works, legal services, transportation, sanitation, and more. 

Industries Represented: States, cities, counties, other local governments and schools, as well as the federal government and private employers performing public services.

History: During the depths of the Great Depression, a group of state employees in Madison, Wisconsin, formed what would later become the Wisconsin State Employees Union/Council 24 in an effort to defend the state’s civil service system and stand up to political cronyism. Four years later, in 1936, the American Federation of Labor granted a charter for AFSCME, which united the Wisconsin group with numerous others that had formed across the country after the success in Madison.

At the end of 1936, the union had 10,000 members. Growth was difficult at first, but by 1946, the union stood at 73,000 members. The merger that formed the AFL-CIO brought AFSCME another 40,000 members.

AFSCME was active in the struggle for racial justice in the 1960s, during the presidency of Jerry Wurf. The 1968 strike of AFSCME sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, was a signature moment in civil rights and labor rights history. It was in Memphis, in support of the sanitation workers’ struggle, that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

AFSCME continued to grow during the 1970s and 1980s, with a focus on bringing together independent associations of public employees in an effort to harness the collective power of so many voices. Almost 60 associations, representing 450,000 people, joined AFSCME by affiliation or merger, pushing total membership past the 1 million mark.

AFSCME’s growth across the country gave the union a more powerful voice when it came to fighting injustice. In September 1981, AFSCME’s 60,000-member delegation, the largest from any single union, led the march at the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Day, a massive demonstration in Washington, D.C., demanding fair treatment for workers. That same year in San Jose, California, AFSCME Local 101 staged the first strike in the nation’s history over the issue of pay equity for women. The action attracted national media attention and helped spark the pay equity movement.

For decades, corporations, billionaires and their allies have engaged in a coordinated and well-financed effort to weaken the power of public sector unions such as AFSCME. In 2018, in a case called Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, the most business-friendly Supreme Court in history ruled in favor of anti-worker forces, overturning decades of precedent to make the entire public sector “right to work.” Many pundits predicted this would be a death blow. But because of the work put in by AFSCME, together with other public sector unions and the AFL-CIO, AFSCME has emerged in the strongest possible position. No politician or judicial decision can contain the collective power of working people. Hundreds of thousands of fee payers have converted to AFSCME members since early 2014.

Current Campaigns: AFSCME People works to elect candidates who will fight for AFSCME members and priorities. The AFSCME GO campaign is the union’s response to the attacks on public services and public service workers by anti-union lawmakers, the new administration and billionaires. The AFSCME Cultural Workers United campaign has given 50,000 workers at museums, libraries, zoos and other cultural institutions a voice on the job.

Community Efforts: From credit cards to credit counseling, AFSCME Advantage offers union members and their families a wide array of financial products to meet their everyday needs. AFSCME awards several scholarships for members and their families. AFSCME provides members with training and education. AFSCME publishes a daily news blog. AFSCME sells merchandise in their online store.

Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, blog

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/02/2026 - 14:22

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Slate Editorial Staff Ratify New Contract That Establishes Bargaining Unit’s First AI Protections

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.

The editorial staff at Slate Media ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) that establishes guardrails around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the newsroom. The 55-member bargaining unit unanimously approved the latest three-year contract, which marks the third since the staff unionized in 2018.

The contract establishes protections against the implementation of AI as well as guidelines for the development of a public-facing editorial policy on its use. Management will be required to provide advance notice and details before introducing any generative AI tool in an editorial capacity, and members can remove their byline from any AI-related editorial asks that they believe would compromise editorial integrity. The company must also work directly in consultation with the union to develop editorial guidelines and review processes for the use of AI in an editorial context. Any unit member whose position is materially affected by the introduction of editorial generative AI will receive an additional three weeks of severance and another month of insurance.

Other highlights include guaranteed raises for unit members in 2026, an increase in the lowest minimum salary from $58,000 to $66,000, minimum severance tripled from two to six weeks, bereavement leave doubled from five to 10 days, parental leave increased from 13 to 16 weeks, hostile environment training and antidoxxing tools, and guaranteed severance and coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) for separation from the company due to editorial differences.

“The Slate Union is proud to ratify a new contract with management,” the unit members said in a joint statement. “We’re thrilled to have secured better parental leave and severance, raised salary minimums and annual increases, added new positions to the unit and introduced a brand new AI article. This contact improves the livelihoods of all our members, and we hope it helps set even better standards for all of those in our industry.”

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/30/2026 - 10:07

Tags: Organizing

Worker Wins: Real Progress for Working Families

Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.

Providence Saint John’s Health Center Nurses Ratify New Contract with Improved Benefits: California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) members who work at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract on Friday. The three-year deal contains major wins like education investments, improvements to staffing, commitments to workplace equity and inclusion, 100% match contributions for 401(k) plans and more. “We now have a contract that will make it easier to recruit and retain experienced nurses. This is essential to patient safety,” said Liz Wade, a registered nurse in the labor and delivery unit and member of the negotiating team. “Expanded education for nurses will ensure that we stay current with new developments.”

IAM Union Members Approve New Agreement, Securing 3.5% Raises: After two weeks on strike in freezing conditions, members of IAM Union Local 1211 secured a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with manufacturing company Parker Lord. Workers bravely held the line in the local’s first work stoppage in more than five decades, when members walked out against the former Lord Corporation. Since Parker Hannifin acquired the company in 2019, members say that conditions have worsened and wages have failed to keep up with the cost of living. This new deal establishes yearly 3.5% raises, additional paid holidays and parental leave, improved retirement eligibility and more. “These gains represent real progress for working families,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “This agreement proves what IAM members can accomplish when they stand together and refuse to back down. The members of Local 1211 showed remarkable solidarity, and their unity delivered real economic improvements and renewed respect on the job.”

Environmental Defense Fund Workers Win Union Election: Workers at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) overwhelmingly voted Friday to form a union with the Washington-Baltimore NewsGuild (WBNG), Local 32035 of The NewsGuild-CWA. This victory marks a major industry win: The bargaining unit, EDF Together, is now the largest environmental nonprofit union in the United States. Workers publicly launched their organizing efforts on Dec. 2 and, despite lack of voluntary recognition from management, displayed powerful unity in their election victory. “Supporting staff from the ground up gives us the foundation we need in order to address the complex challenges of the climate crisis,” said Jess, a program coordinator. “With this result demonstrating a clear mandate from staff, my colleagues and I are excited to move swiftly into bargaining our first contract.”

Production Workers at Arena Stage Vote to Join IATSE: Backstage production workers at Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage have overwhelmingly voted to join the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). The stagehands, wardrobe staff, scenic workers, makeup professionals and hair crew who make world-class performances at one of the country’s leading regional theaters will be represented by IATSE locals 22, 772, 798 and United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829. This victory has been four years in the making, and members are eager to bargain for the fair working conditions, job security and a collective voice they deserve. “This is an amazing step for the workers at Arena Stage and Washington, D.C. in general,” said Nicholas Arancibia, vice president of Local 22. “This is the third regional theater in the Washington D.C. area to win recognition with IATSE in the last six years. Workers are stepping up and making sure everyone is taken care of and has a path forward for a better life through a union.”

Cleveland Institute of Music Faculty Approve First Collective Bargaining Agreement: Faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music—who are members of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 4—have ratified their first union contract. Instructors at the private conservatory voted to form a union back in 2024. Their inaugural two-year deal includes major wins around compensation, workload size, job security and professional support. “The consistent solidarity demonstrated by the faculty is the bedrock of this historic agreement,” said Leonard DiCosimo, president of AFM Local 4. “It is a tremendous honor to represent the world-class musical artists that live and work in Northeast Ohio.”

Oregon Unions Launch New Clean Energy Labor Coalition: Labor leaders from across the building trades in Oregon gathered for a press conference on Wednesday to announce the launch of Climate Jobs Oregon. This new coalition advocates for policies to increase the number of union tradespeople to help meet the state’s clean energy targets and lower utility bills. Labor partners in this campaign include the Oregon AFL-CIO; Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council; Electrical Workers (IBEW) Locals 48, 125 and 932; Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 701; Ironworkers Local 29; Laborers (LIUNA) Local 737; Oregon and Southern Idaho District Council of Laborers; International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 16; and United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) Local 290. Labor leaders collaborated with the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations Climate Jobs Institute to produce a range of policy recommendations, including increasing investments in union apprenticeship programs, collaborating with labor unions to expedite site permitting for clean energy development and more. “To meet our climate goals, Oregon needs a massive increase in workers, and those workers must be trained to the highest caliber, and safety standards, where they have a meaningful voice on the job, where they have career pathways for advancement and they have wages, benefits and a retirement plan to support their families and get them into the economy long term,” said Graham Trainor, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. “Let’s be crystal clear: Those are union jobs.”  

Geisinger Hospital Workers Ratify New Contract, Secure Raises: Members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Pennsylvania at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital have overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract. The three-year agreement includes victories like wage increases ranging from 9.25% to 20%, enhanced workplace safety, improved scheduling practices and more. Members of the bargaining unit perform a wide range of essential roles such as nursing assistants, environmental services workers, dietary aides, patient transporters, sterile processing staff, anesthesia technicians and maintenance employees. “This new contract will help us attract and keep staff so we can do the best job possible,” said Angel McConaughey, a certified environmental services specialist and union delegate. “Now I’m looking forward to working together with my coworkers to continue building our unity and strength.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 01/29/2026 - 11:51

Tags: Organizing

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IAM Union Members Approve New Agreement, Securing 3.5% Raises

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.

After two weeks on strike in freezing conditions, members of IAM Union Local 1211 secured a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with manufacturing company Parker Lord.

Workers bravely held the line in the local’s first work stoppage in more than five decades, when members walked out against the former Lord Corporation. Since Parker Hannifin acquired the company in 2019, members say that conditions have worsened and wages have failed to keep up with the cost of living. This new deal establishes yearly 3.5% raises, additional paid holidays and parental leave, improved retirement eligibility and more.

“These gains represent real progress for working families,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “This agreement proves what IAM members can accomplish when they stand together and refuse to back down. The members of Local 1211 showed remarkable solidarity, and their unity delivered real economic improvements and renewed respect on the job.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 01/29/2026 - 10:52

Building Labor’s Political Power: 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 X.

Arizona AFL-CIO:

We stand with immigrant and Indigenous workers! The Arizona AFL-CIO condemns escalating ICE enforcement that puts our communities at risk. We demand an end to the violence created by ICE enforcement and leave our communities and workplaces immediately!https://t.co/l3EmPmyEbQ

— Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) January 27, 2026

California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO: