01/14/2026 - 7:30pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: West Virginia Mine Wars Museum Staff Join UMWA
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 the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum have been sworn in as members of Mine Workers (UMWA) Local 1440.
The museum is the largest exhibition in the United States about a series of bloody clashes in the early 20th century between coal companies and miners seeking fair working conditions. Local 1440’s union hall is just blocks from the museum itself (which was previously owned by the union) and the site of a historic shootout during the Mine Wars. These newly minted members will be part of UMWA District 17, which has a powerful legacy of militant labor history.
“We are honored and excited to represent the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum staff as members of the United Mine Workers of America,” said UMWA International President Brian Sanson. “These workers protect and share the story of sacrifice, solidarity, and courage that defines our union. We are proud to stand with them, to represent them, and to welcome them home to the UMWA family.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 01/14/2026 - 09:55
01/14/2026 - 7:30pm
We Are Stronger Together!: 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.
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Illinois AFL-CIO:
Maine AFL-CIO:
Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
Michigan State AFL-CIO:
Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Missouri AFL-CIO:
Nevada State AFL-CIO:
New York State AFL-CIO:
North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
Ohio AFL-CIO:
Oregon AFL-CIO:
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
Texas AFL-CIO:
Virginia AFL-CIO:
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO:
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 01/13/2026 - 13:40
01/14/2026 - 7:30pm
Workers Deserve A Secure Retirement: What Working People Are Doing This Week
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.
Actors' Equity:
Swing Day 2025 is Wednesday, January 21! Time to study up on some swing terminology. Today, let's look at the basics... What is a swing? #EquityTeamSwing
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— Actors' Equity Association (@actorsequity.bsky.social) January 14, 2026 at 11:09 AM
AFSCME:
Alliance for Retired Americans:
Amalgamated Transit Union:
American Federation of Musicians:
American Federation of Teachers:
To our educators, healthcare professionals and public employees: You faced down incredible challenges this year with grace and grit. Thank you for fighting for our schools, our hospitals, our communities and our future. Wishing you a season filled with peace, love and solidarity.
01/13/2026 - 6:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Pittsburgh City Workers Secure a New Minimum Wage, Stronger Grievance Language and Other Gains
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.
Members of AFSCME Local 2719—part of AFSCME Council 13—who work for the city of Pittsburgh have overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new contract.
Highlights of the agreement include a new minimum wage, stronger grievance language, a sick bank for members in times of need, longevity payments, preferential bidding opportunities for all city jobs for AFSCME members and more. Members stood together and ensured there were no significant givebacks in the three-year deal. And if that weren’t enough to celebrate, AFSCME also succeeded in expanding the contract’s coverage to new bargaining unit positions.
“Our local members showed up, not only at the bargaining table through our bargaining team, but also at the ballot box to have their voices heard,” said Craig Sippel, president of Local 2719. “We as a team put in the work, and it paid off big for our members.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 01/13/2026 - 10:30
01/13/2026 - 12:00am
‘Let Us Work’: 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.
Union Leaders Celebrate Palomino Solar Groundbreaking: “Leadership from three local labor unions, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 575, the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 83, and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 18, are celebrating the official start of construction on the Palomino Solar Energy Project in Highland County. The 200 MWAC facility marks a major win for skilled labor and local community investment, bringing hundreds of good-paying jobs, world-class apprenticeship and training opportunities, and approximately $1.8 million in annual property tax revenue to the county.”
Northern Maine Medical Center Nurses Vote to Keep Union: “Registered nurses at Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent voted Wednesday night to re-certify their union, rejecting an effort backed by hospital management to dissolve the group, according to the Maine State Nurses Association. The nurses, who formed the union in 2024, are represented by the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United. The re-certification vote marks the second time nurses have voted in favor of union representation.”
Rady Children’s Hospital Healthcare Staff Votes to Unionize: “Healthcare workers at Rady Children’s Hospital voted on Tuesday to join the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) union. Employees with Rady Children’s Hospital voted from Dec. 11 to Jan. 6 to join the union. SEIU-UHW represents 120,000 healthcare workers in California, including 6,000 at Sharp HealthCare, 550 Planned Parenthood staff and 400 dialysis workers in the San Diego region.”
DreamWorks Remote Team, Netflix and ‘Ted’ Show Production Workers Vote to Unionize with the Animation Guild: “DreamWorks Animation (DWA) remote workers across the United States, feature production workers at Netflix Animation Studios and production workers on the show ‘Ted’ have officially voted to unionize with the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) and the Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700), in an effort to ensure fair pay and treatment for all animation workers. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ballot count for DWA remote workers resulted in a majority ‘yes’ vote in favor of union representation with the Animation Guild. DreamWorks Animation studio will formally recognize the remote bargaining unit under TAG and begin the process of negotiating a contract.”
AHL and Players’ Union Reach Tentative Deal on Collective Bargaining Agreement: “The American Hockey League (AHL) and Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) announced a tentative collective bargaining agreement Wednesday afternoon. The CBA must still be ratified by the PHPA’s membership and approved by the AHL’s board of governors. The AHL has been playing without a new CBA this season.”
Nurses and Veterans to Rally Against Trump’s Job Cuts at VA Facilities: “Nurses and Veterans from across the city plan to rally in the Bronx on Thursday to denounce the Trump administration’s plans to cut tens of thousands of jobs from Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, including hundreds in New York City, according to the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United. NNU said 383 positions will be cut from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens VA facilities. According to NPR, 25,000 currently-unfilled health care positions will be eliminated countrywide. This follows the loss of roughly 30,000 positions last year due to early retirements, resignations and a hiring freeze as part of Department of Government Efficiency cuts.”
Sun Sentinel Journalists Ratify Historic First Contract: “The journalists of the SunSentinel Guild voted unanimously to ratify their historic contract with the South Florida Sun Sentinel and parent company, Alden Global Capital, offering improved pay and job protections. The two-year contract is the first for Sun Sentinel journalists in the newspaper’s 115-year history. It will provide two years of raises, a $1,500 bonus and job protections from artificial intelligence, among other benefits.”
‘I Am What I Am’: American Postal Workers Union’s New President Talks Leadership During Inflection Point for U.S. Postal Service: “Jonathan Smith took the helm of the American Postal Workers Union in November after prevailing in the 200,000-member organization’s election the previous month. Formerly president of the New York Metro Area Postal Union, APWU’s largest local, since 2012, and a member of the union since 1988, Smith assumes leadership at a time when the Postal Service both celebrates its 250th anniversary and faces a contentious debate over its future and how it will modernize. In this interview with Government Executive, Smith discusses his personal connection to postal work, how he plans to fight any effort to privatize the Postal Service and his views on Delivering for America, the 10-year overhaul plan started by former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and being continued by current PG David Steiner.”
Students Spearhead Booming Labor Organizing and Advocacy at UCSD: “UC San Diego students have been involved in the labor movement since the school’s inception, from organizing in labor unions to showing out for solidarity protests. With the establishment of the UCSD Labor Center, the student organization SPARk, and the return of the summer Student Labor Organizing Conference these past two years, labor organizing efforts at UCSD are at an unprecedented height. Student workers, union interns, and Labor Center organizers are screaming to make their voices heard. Last week, The UCSD Guardian interviewed students working for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees and the Labor Center to better understand how the UCSD community is supporting the movement.”
Building Trades Unions Rally Against Trump’s Attacks on Wind: “A statement from North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) said this move ‘kills thousands of good-paying jobs on projects that were legally permitted, fully vetted, fully funded, and already underway. These aren’t hypothetical jobs. They are real paychecks and billions in investment.’ The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) also spoke out and called the order ‘a direct attack on American workers. . . . Offshore wind projects represent thousands of good, union jobs for IBEW members who have spent years training to build and maintain this infrastructure.’ The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) highlighted the disruptive nature of these stop-work orders, saying, ‘LIUNA members plan their life around this work. Pulling the plug now—during the holidays and after years of negotiations and extensive reviews—is reckless and unfair to the men and women who build this country.’ They demanded that the administration ‘let us work—and stop playing politics with our jobs.’”
More Denver City Workers Will Begin Unionizing as Voter-Passed Collective Bargaining, New Rules Take Effect: “Thousands of Denver city employees can begin exercising their new rights to negotiate salaries and working conditions in groups at the start of 2026, more than a year after the vast majority of voters granted them union rights. While some city workers are already unionized, including in the police and sheriff departments, Referred Question 2U allows an additional 8,500 Denver employees to begin the process of collective bargaining. That measure was approved in the November 2024 election.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 01/09/2026 - 12:04
01/12/2026 - 11:30am
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Theatrical Stage Employees
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 Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Name of Union: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
Mission: To improve the lives of behind-the-scenes entertainment workers by securing fair wages, safe working conditions, strong benefits, and respect for every craft in film, television, live events, the performing arts and other sectors of the entertainment industry.
Current Leadership of Union: Matthew D. Loeb serves as international president. He was first elected in 2008 and was reelected to his fourth term in 2025. He has been a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 since 1989, Local 52 since 1996 and Local 491 since it was established in 1994. Loeb was IATSE’s first director of Motion Picture and Television Production. He also serves on UNI Global Union’s World Executive Board and is president of UNI’s Media, Entertainment and Arts sector.
James B. Wood is the general secretary-treasurer. IATSE also has 13 international vice presidents: Michael J. Barnes, Damian Petti, Michael F. Miller Jr., John Lewis, Craig Carlson, Colleen A. Glynn, Paul F. Dean Jr., Carlos Cota, Toni Burns, Apple Thorne, Chris O’Donnell, Vanessa Holtgrewe and Carl Mulert.
Current Number of Members: 170,000
Members Work As: Virtually all behind-the-scenes entertainment jobs, in crafts ranging from motion picture animators to theater ushers.
Industries Represented: All forms of live theater, motion picture and television production and postproduction, trade shows and exhibitions, television broadcasting, concerts, video games, and the equipment and construction shops that support all these areas of the entertainment industry.
History: IATSE formed in 1893 when representatives of stagehands from 11 cities met in New York. They pledged to support each other’s efforts to obtain better wages and working conditions. As technology advanced, the union moved to embrace workers in emerging crafts, expanding their movement beyond the stage to the nascent silent film industry in the 1920s. The union continues to carry this legacy through its adaptable structure and ambitious organizing goals that helped IATSE become the largest entertainment union in the world.
Current Campaigns: IATSE continues to organize workers in entertainment crafts that involve new technologies or have been historically unrepresented, including workers in visual effects, video games and off-Broadway.
Legislative and political activism and advocacy are a constant as the union seeks to protect union jobs in the United States and Canada in the face of increased globalization of the film and television industry. Read the complete IATSE Federal Issue Agenda here.
The campaign to protect workers from harmful effects of artificial intelligence (AI) implementation in the entertainment industry is a key priority, and involves a multipronged approach including contract negotiations, contract enforcement, legislative lobbying, member education and more. Read IATSE’s core principles for addressing AI here.
IATSE recently launched a campaign to win health and retirement benefits for concert touring crews, and has been engaging directly with well-known musicians and their crews to make it possible.
Community Efforts: IATSE provides education and training for union leaders and members. The union has significant mutual aid capability, with members coming together to support members in need during the Southern California wildfires in 2025. IATSE also has scholarships for members and their families. IATSE has created constituency committees: Women’s; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Pride; Young Workers; Disaster Response; and Green.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 01/12/2026 - 14:03
01/12/2026 - 11:30am
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Sun Sentinel Journalists Ratify Historic First Contract
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.
Members of The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA) who work at the South Florida Sun Sentinel have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with the newspaper’s management and parent company, Alden Global Capital.
The SunSentinel Guild bargaining unit unanimously approved the two-year deal, which establishes annual raises and landmark protections from artificial intelligence. This is the first union contract in the newspaper’s 115-year history.
“I could not be more proud of our unit membership for voting unanimously to ratify this contract,” said AmyBeth Bennett, a Sun Sentinel photographer who led a bargaining committee that negotiated with Alden management. “Being able to give our membership 3% raises this year and next, as well as a $1,500 bonus, seems like a pretty great holiday present to me!”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 01/12/2026 - 09:58
01/09/2026 - 10:30pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Alstom Workers at Plattsburgh, New York, Win a Pay Raise
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.
Workers at Alstom’s factory in Plattsburgh, New York, ratified its first collective bargaining agreement, following an earlier vote to join the IAM Union (IAM).
The three-year agreement includes an immediate 3% pay raise over a 2.8% increase already received in April 2025; a classification system with increased pay rates effective Jan. 1, 2027; a 2.75% increase on Jan. 1, 2028; a pay differential for the second and third shifts; and improvements in benefits, time off and job security.
“This agreement replaces uncertainty with enforceable rules and real protections,” said Josh Hartford, IAM special assistant to the international president for the Rail Division. “More importantly, it establishes a solid foundation from which IAM Union members at Alstom can continue to build power, improve working conditions and raise standards across the rail industry.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 01/09/2026 - 10:00
01/08/2026 - 9:00pm
Fight to Lower Health Care Costs: What Working People Are Doing This Week
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.
Actors' Equity:
Each month, Equity shares the names of recently deceased members in order to honor their passing and pay our respects. You may read about the losses in our community reported to Equity for December 2025 on the member portal. https://bit.ly/3N15pZ3
[image or embed]
— Actors' Equity Association (@actorsequity.bsky.social) January 7, 2026 at 10:52 AM
AFSCME:
Alliance for Retired Americans:
Amalgamated Transit Union:
American Federation of Teachers:
American Postal Workers Union:
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Boilermakers:
01/08/2026 - 9:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Boston Firefighters Ratify New Collective Bargaining Agreement with City
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.
Boston firefighters—members of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 718—have ratified a new contract that includes major wins for the dedicated first responders.
The new agreement will boost firefighter pay by 8.5% over the course of the contract lifetime, establish longevity step raises, increase line-of-duty death benefits and create a new streamlined pay system.
“Local 718 is very proud of this contract that we were able to negotiate with the City of Boston,” union President Sam Dillon said. “It recognizes the services and sacrifices that our firefighters deliver every single day, as well as taking care of their families.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 01/08/2026 - 10:15
