12/12/2025 - 5:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Dancers of Dayton Ballet Unanimously Cast Ballots in Favor of Forming Union with AGMA
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 performers who bring the magic to the Dayton Ballet in Ohio have voted unanimously to join the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).
Dancers of the city’s professional ballet company—which is part of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA)—cast their ballots on Dec. 10 in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election, just days before they are set to debut the company’s run of “The Nutcracker.”
“We are so proud of our unity and that we are now joining the ranks of AGMA companies across the country! We are looking forward to negotiating our first collective bargaining agreement with the DPAA,” the Dancers of Dayton Ballet said.
“Congratulations to the magnificent Dancers of Dayton Ballet!” said Jeffrey Boyd, AGMA’s national executive director. “Your unity, your resolve, and your absolute clarity of purpose are inspiring. We are honored to welcome you into the AGMAverse, and we look forward to supporting you every step of the way.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 12/12/2025 - 09:52
12/11/2025 - 10:30pm
AFL-CIO Observes International Human Rights Day 2025
On Dec. 10, the AFL-CIO observes International Human Rights Day, which underscores the labor movement’s conviction that protecting working people is essential to protecting human rights everywhere. Since its earliest days, the federation has argued that the dignity and freedom of working people are fundamental human rights, aligning our mission with the principles later enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today, those rights are under attack. From escalating union-busting to the weakening of child labor protections to devastating violations in our immigration and civil rights systems. But the legacy of this day offers a path forward.
“On International Human Rights Day, we honor a truth our movement has carried since long before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948: workers’ rights are human rights. The right to come together and organize, to bargain collectively, to earn a fair wage, to work and live with dignity and safety—these are not privileges reserved for the few, but fundamental freedoms owed to every person,” said AFL-CIO Director of Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Alex Rias.
Here's a closer look at how unions protect those rights:
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.
- The Declaration outlines 30 rights and freedoms that belong to all of us and that nobody can take away from us. The rights that were included continue to form the basis for international human rights law. Today, the Declaration remains a living document. It is the most translated document in the world.
- Article 23 of UDHR declares that everyone has the right to work, to equal pay, to protection against unemployment and the right to form and join trade unions. Article 24 says that everyone has the right to rest and leisure. Article 25 says everyone has the right to a decent standard of living, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and social services.
- Trade unions are critical to protecting and promoting human rights including economic, social, and cultural rights and the right to be free from discrimination. Unions not only cover issues relating to working conditions and pay, but also the right to be free from discrimination more generally as well as the right to freedom of association and expression. The power of trade unions and collective bargaining cannot be understated. We are more powerful when we work together. When individual complaints and concerns are ignored, trade unions can shine a light on abuses and make sure those responsible are held to account. When states and employers respect the right to unionize, they make it possible to realize a workplace where everyone benefits from honest and trusting negotiations between business leaders and their workers. To fulfil their human rights responsibilities, businesses should work with union members and representatives as allies in creating solutions to challenges.
- Unions aren’t just good for workers—they also benefit communities and democracy. Rebuilding worker power by strengthening unions is not just good policy—it is a democratic imperative in the face of authoritarian backsliding.
- Unions provide better benefits. Union workers have greater access to health care. More than 9 in 10 workers covered by a union contract (95%) have access to employer-sponsored health benefits, compared with just 71% of nonunion workers.
- Union workers have greater access to paid sick leave. More than 9 in 10 workers—92%—covered by a union contract have access to paid sick days, compared with 78% of nonunion workers.
- Union employers are more likely to offer retirement plans. More than 9 in 10 workers—95%—covered by a union contract have access to employer-sponsored retirement benefits, compared with 70% of nonunion workers.
- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 23% of all workers in 2021 have no access to paid vacation time, while 21% have no access to paid sick leave. Due to their collective bargaining power, unions play a pivotal role in securing paid time off for workers. Union contracts almost universally include guaranteed paid time off in the form of sick and/or vacation days.
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 12/10/2025 - 08:59
12/11/2025 - 4:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Airport Lounge Workers in Texas Ratify New Contracts
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.
UNITE HERE Local 23 members who work in lounges at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport have successfully ratified new three-year contracts.
More than 200 baristas, cooks and other food service staff employed by Flik Hospitality Group at the United Club lounge and Eurest at the American Airlines Admiral Club are covered by the agreements. Local 23 members will receive an immediate $4 hourly pay increase and will make $22 an hour by the end of the contract.
"This increase represents real relief for many of our families, allowing us to cover essential needs and improve our quality of life. It also confirms that organizing and working together truly leads to positive and lasting results," said Carmen Barralaga, a lounge cook.
"I feel incredibly happy and proud of the fair contract and wage increase we were able to win. Thanks to our union and the strength we showed together, this raise will allow us to spend more time with our families and afford our rent, bills, groceries, mortgage, car payments, medical insurance, and more," said Klaudi Barrientos, a lounge floor attendant.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 12/11/2025 - 08:52
12/09/2025 - 8:00pm
A Joyful, Safe, and Restful Holiday Season: 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:
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Colorado AFL-CIO:
Florida AFL-CIO:
Illinois AFL-CIO:
Maine AFL-CIO:
Michigan State AFL-CIO:
Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Missouri AFL-CIO:
Nevada State AFL-CIO:
Ohio AFL-CIO:
Oregon AFL-CIO:
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
12/09/2025 - 8:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: More Than 750,000 Philadelphia Domestic Workers Have New Labor 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.
After three years of organizing led by domestic workers, Philadelphia passed the POWER (Protect Our Worker-Enforce Rights) Act.
The groundbreaking law expands protections against retaliation for workers that speak out against abuse; strengthens labor enforcement of existing labor laws; holds violating employers accountable; ensures that the city government has the tools and resources to protect workers; and protects over 750,000 workers across the city.
"This victory was made possible by a powerful, cross-sector coalition of workers, led by domestic workers, restaurant staff, warehouse workers, and more, who have long been excluded from basic labor protections and have organized to demand change," said the National Domestic Workers Alliance on their website.
"The POWER Act is a groundbreaking law that sets a precedent for how cities can step in where federal labor protections have fallen short. At a time when workers across the country—particularly immigrant workers, domestic workers, restaurant and service workers, and other low-wage laborers—face rollbacks in rights and limited paths to justice, Philadelphia is leading the way."
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 12/08/2025 - 10:00
12/09/2025 - 8:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: TWU Local 234 Reaches Tentative Contract with SEPTA
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.
TWU Local 234 and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) reached a tentative two-year contract agreement, avoiding a strike that could have begun this week.
The contract includes an across-the-board 3.5% wage increase in each year of the agreement; a two-year contract rather than the one-year agreements reached in the recent past; an increase in pension benefits; an increase in night differential pay which has not increased since 1995; an increase in the tool and clothing allowance; and improvements to benefits for new employees, including vision and dental benefits, kicking in after 90 days rather than after 15 months of employment.
"I am very pleased that we were able to settle without a strike. Our members had worked without a contract for the past month. Patience was growing thin and management seemed unhurried. Usually, we would have been locked into a hotel until we got this done," said TWU Local 234 President Will Vera. "The Governor and his people got key people from both sides in the same room last night, stopped the run-around, got promises from both sides and we reached a deal. Without the Governor’s intervention we would have been on strike this morning."
"I would term this a retention contract. The improvements made will not only keep TWU members here for the long term, it also will make a SEPTA job attractive again. We want people to want to work here."
SEPTA service will operate normally while union members review the tentative agreement and schedule a vote for ratification.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 12/09/2025 - 10:15
