‘The State of Our Unions Is Under Attack and Fighting Back’: 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.

Fred Redmond: Celebrating the Power of Black Union Organizers: “The country just celebrated Labor Day and the contributions working people and unions have made toward a more equitable and just society. Throughout our history, the labor movement has marched, fought and stood together to win every bit of progress: to end child labor and make dangerous jobs safer. For fair wages, affordable health care, time off to spend with family. For dignity and respect, no matter where you come from or the color of your skin.”

Union Workers, Mayoral Candidates March in Annual Labor Day Parade: “The grand marshals at this year’s parade were Hotel and Gaming Trades Council President Rich Maroko and WNBA Player’s Association Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson. The New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, which organizes the event, says it is the biggest and oldest Labor Day parade in the country.”

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler: ‘The State of Our Unions Is Under Attack and Fighting Back’: “AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler delivered the 2025 State of the Unions address, highlighting the resilience and strength of workers who are under constant threat from the Trump administration’s assaults on their jobs, contracts and communities. President Shuler shared stories from the AFL-CIO’s 40-plus-city ‘It’s Better in a Union: Fighting for Freedom, Fairness and Security’ bus tour, which stopped in St. Louis on July 25. Her speech included accounts from veterans fired from their federal government jobs and immigrant workers living under the mass deportation agenda, as well as the historic union organizing and contract fights across the country. She described the Trump administration as ‘government of, by, and for the billionaires,’ and stressed that ‘Republicans aren’t going to save us. Democrats aren’t going to save us. Working people are going to save ourselves.’ President Shuler’s address also kicked off the Workers’ Labor Day week of action, during which the Labor Movement and allies hosted nearly 1,000 events across the country in the fight for what workers deserve.”

AFSCME, Cultural Organizations Ask Court to Reinforce IMLS Protection: “AFSCME president Lee Saunders emphasized the importance of IMLS to cultural institutions. ‘Today, we urge the court to continue to protect federal support for museums and libraries from anti-worker billionaires who are trying to rob our communities of the services we depend on,’ Saunders said in a press statement, noting that attacks on federal agencies such as IMLS are ‘attempts to deprive us of our history, our resources, and our freedom to learn.’ Saunders noted that U.S. libraries and museums ‘educate the next generation, help workers access job training, and provide a safe space where anyone can learn.’ Through its Cultural Workers United movement, AFSCME has made a push to bring library and museum workers on board, and recently announced a milestone of 50,000 members from literary, arts, and other organizations.”

Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Strengthening Workers’ Rights and Labor Education: “‘Today, New Jersey is showing what it looks like to lead for working people,’ said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO. ‘One bill Governor Murphy will sign bans one of union-busters’ favorite tactics, in which they force workers into meetings to listen to religious and political speech, including anti-union propaganda, in an effort to sow misinformation and intimidate them out of their organizing. The second bill will ensure that New Jersey students learn about unions’ critical role in building the middle class and improving the lives of working people in schools. Learning about the labor movement’s struggles and progress empowers students to not only understand labor’s contributions to our past, but the importance of unions to our future. I commend the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and the governor for working together to protect workers’ fundamental freedoms and make this groundbreaking education law a reality. We urge other states to follow New Jersey’s lead.’”

Festival Foods Workers Are Latest to Organize in Madison: “Steven Temple has worked at Festival Foods, a grocery store on East Washington Avenue in Madison, for nearly four years. When workers won their union vote on Aug. 14, Temple felt elated. ‘I’m on cloud nine and I’m not coming down,’ said Temple, who works behind the deli counter. He estimated that Festival employees had been working toward unionizing for a full year. Temple said worker concerns vary, but in general, the union will focus on pay equity, stronger security measures for employees, and less punitive attendance policies. Workers voted to join United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1473, which will represent approximately 80 hourly, non-managerial employees at the grocery store. Workers won their vote 46-18, and are currently waiting to schedule a meeting with the company to begin bargaining.”

Over 1,000 Demonstrations Held Across the U.S. for Labor Day: “More than a thousand demonstrations were held across the United States Monday for Labor Day, as protesters came out against what the AFL-CIO called a ‘government by, and for, the CEOs and billionaires.’ The protests came after President Trump stripped nearly a half a million federal workers of their union protections in August.”

Stephanie Bloomingdale: A Prominent Republican Once Said Nation Must Preserve the Rights of Its Workers: “As the old saying goes, ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same.’ It’s an apt observation for many situations. Labor Day is a good time to reflect on how it applies to the world of work in 21st century America. Much has been written about the unprecedented impact things like artificial intelligence and the so-called gig economy are having on the relationship between workers and our employers. While the modalities of work may indeed change, there is an underlying dynamic which remains constant: the boss’s desire to get the most possible labor from the fewest possible workers for the least possible compensation.”

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on Why Labor Day Is More Important Than Ever: “As we approach Labor Day this Monday, it’s more important than ever that we take time to reflect on what the holiday stands for. The Trump administration has been ruthlessly anti-union from the first day of Trump’s second term. His aggression towards workers’ rights proves, at least to some extent, that he knows the power of the people is greater than the people in power. Jen is joined by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler to discuss how the working class feels abandoned in Trump’s America, how the labor movement is holding strong despite constant attacks, and how we can build an aspirational economic future.”

New York AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento Discusses the State of Labor: “But according to Mario Cilento, the president of the 2.5 million member federation of unions known as the AFL-CIO, Trump is not a friend to labor. According to Cilento, he’s opposed legislation that strengthens unions and safety regulations and has allowed the National Labor Review Board to erode. As the country looks forward to celebrating the labor force on Monday, Capital Tonight wanted to catch up with the long-time president of the New York State AFL-CIO, which typically backs Democrats in this blue state.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 09/08/2025 - 14:36

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: University of California Staff Vote to Join UAW in Landslide Vote

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.

More than 7,000 research and public service professionals (RPSPs) across the University of California (UC) system announced on Tuesday that they have overwhelmingly voted to form a union with the UAW.

RPSP-UAW members are in good company: They’re joining the ranks of over 50,000 other UC workers who are already part of the UAW. These staff members, who perform essential work like administering grants and analyzing data, are organizing in the wake of ongoing federal attacks on higher education funding.

“As the Trump administration continues its assault on workers, it’s never been more important to join the movement of tens of thousands of higher education workers throughout the country who are standing up for social and economic justice at their jobs and in their communities,” said UAW Region 6 Director Mike Miller.

“Forming a union has never been more important with higher education under increasing attack,” said Deborah Ferguson-Fitch, a research administrator at UC San Francisco. “We are joining a movement of research and professional employees in UAW who have been at the forefront of fighting funding cuts and protecting jobs and values in higher education.”

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 09/09/2025 - 09:45