03/18/2026 - 11:30am
CALL: Tell Your Senators Not to Make Voting Harder for Working People
Gas prices are spiking, grocery prices are still sky-high and workers are struggling just to pay the bills while wages aren’t keeping up.
With a record like that, President Trump and his allies who control Congress are scheming for other ways to secure their power in November’s election, so they’re pushing the Senate to pass a bill that would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. Trump has even said that he won’t sign any other bills into law until the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (or SAVE America) Act passes.
The SAVE America Act would require you to have a valid passport or a certified copy of your birth certificate, and present those documents in person at an election office each time you want to register to vote or update your voter registration. If you’ve ever changed your name, such as through marriage, you would need to provide even more documents to convince an election official that you are who you say you are.
For working people who don’t have the money to get a passport and go on a fancy vacation, or the time to chase down documents and stand in another DMV-style line, this bill could prevent many eligible voters—from every political party—from casting their ballots.
That’s why your senators need to hear from you. How would you be impacted if they made it harder to register to vote, update your voter registration or cast a ballot?
CALL YOUR SENATORS
Only half of Americans have a passport, and many don’t have the time or the $65 to $165 required to get one. Many others no longer have their birth certificates, and getting replacements can be costly and time consuming. Still others, like married women who have changed their names, would need to gather even more documents and may not be successful.
If your senators might vote for this bad bill, your call is important. Let them know the people they represent don’t support schemes to keep eligible Americans from voting.
And even if your senators oppose this bad bill, they still need to hear from you—because they want to lift up the voices of working people in their state who would be hurt from this legislation.
This is voter suppression, plain and simple. Could it affect you? CALL your senators and let them know. Dial 844-733-3172 or visit go.aflcio.org/voter-call to be connected.
Your call could go a long way to help protect our democracy and your own voting rights. Thank you for sharing.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 03/17/2026 - 13:28
03/18/2026 - 11:30am
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: USW Members Secure New Master Agreement at Domtar
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.
United Steelworkers (USW) members across nine local unions voted overwhelmingly this winter to approve a new master contract covering workers at Domtar paper facilities around the United States.
This new agreement is the first after a series of acquisitions in 2021 and 2023. But thanks to the steadfast unity displayed by members nationwide and well-established internal communications channels, they won the best wage increases the USW has ever negotiated with Domtar.
“With new ownership and leadership at the table, we knew this round of bargaining would be challenging,” said USW International Vice President Luis Mendoza, who oversees the union’s paper sector. “It wasn’t easy, but with working families seeing expenses rising across the board, and the industry in a time of uncertainty, members should be proud of the progress they made in this agreement. By standing together, members achieved a fair agreement that rewards their hard work but also positions the company for success and protects workers’ future in a changing industry.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 03/18/2026 - 09:42
03/18/2026 - 11:30am
Women's History Month Profiles: Tatishka Thomas
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's 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 Tatishka Thomas of AFGE.
Tatishka Thomas joined AFGE in 2004 and was elected as president of Local 548 in 2007, quickly growing the local to well over 1,100 members. In May 2023, Thomas made history when she was elected as the first Black woman to serve as national vice president for AFGE’s 5th District. Thomas retired from service as a proud VA employee in 2025, but she remains active in her local, council and community affiliates.
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 03/18/2026 - 09:46
Tags:
Women's History Month
03/18/2026 - 11:30am
‘If Not, Why Not?’ 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.
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Florida 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:
03/17/2026 - 5:00pm
Women's History Month Profiles: May Chen
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's 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 May Chen of UNITE HERE.
May Chen was a community activist and part-time organizer during the garment workers’ strike of 1982, when nearly 20,000 immigrant women took on the industry. Chen rallied to assist the Chinatown workers, and took a full-time job with the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) Immigration Project and Local 23-25. She assisted with the founding of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and was elected first vice president. Chen rose through the ILGWU and its successors to become international vice president and manager of Local 23-25.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 03/17/2026 - 10:20
Tags:
Women's History Month
03/16/2026 - 10:00pm
‘Run More Union Members for Office’: 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.
Van Hollen Proposes Bill to Eliminate Federal Income Tax for Millions of Low-Income Americans: “Maryland U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Virginia Rep. Don Beyer announced new legislation Thursday that seeks to provide federal tax cuts for millions of working Americans trying to make ends meet. ‘Under our plan, 130 million Americans will get some tax relief,’ Van Hollen said during a news conference, where he also appeared with fellow Democrat Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly.”
UFCW Endorses SNAP Delivery Safeguards: “The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union is endorsing the reintroduction of the Food and Nutrition Delivery Safety Act, which would require federal agencies to establish delivery guardrails for retailers that serve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program online delivery customers.”
One Simple Way to Heal American Politics: Run More Union Members: “American politics feels hopelessly broken. Extreme political polarization, enormous amounts of Pac money sloshing around during elections, and the increasing power of the rich make it seem like nothing, and no one, can set the country on the right track. But a new report from the Center for Working-Class Politics looks at a surprisingly simple way that ordinary people might have more influence in our political system: run more union members for office.”
What San Francisco Educators Won on Their Strike: “This winter has seen historic strikes hit the United States on both coasts. In New York City, 15,000 nurses across three of the city’s largest private sector hospital systems walked out on January 12 and stayed on the picket lines for about a month, making it the largest and longest nurses’ strike in the city’s history. Meanwhile, in California and Hawaii, 31,000 health care workers employed by Kaiser Permanente across the two states struck from January 26 to February 23 in what their union describes as the largest open-ended health care strike in U.S. history.”
Chesapeake College Faculty Approve First Ever Union Contract: “After 20 months of negotiations, Chesapeake College faculty members established their first ever union contract in school history. On March 3, it was announced that the Chesapeake College faculty—represented by United Academics of Maryland—voted to establish their first ever union contract, which includes wage increases, a service pathway to promotion and improvements to working conditions, benefits and protections. Chesapeake College professor David Timms, the new union chapter's chair, called the decision a great move for staff and students.”
Motion Capture Workers at ‘NBA 2K’ Studio Ratify First Union Contract with IATSE: “Motion capture workers employed by the video game company behind NBA 2K and WWE 2K have ratified their first labor contract in a move that union IATSE is calling historic. Workers at 2K’s motion capture studio in Petaluma, California, have unanimously ratified a deal with management at parent company Take-Two Interactive, IATSE announced on Tuesday. The crew union represents stage technicians, engineers, animators and recording and audio specialists at the studio.”
Everett Kelley: The System Is Failing TSA Workers—and Travelers Are Paying the Price: “Those lines were not a fluke. They were a warning about what happens when the people responsible for keeping our aviation system safe are forced to choose between performing a public service that keeps us all safe for no pay, or flipping burgers with pay. Across the country, Transportation and Security Agency officers are once again being asked to report to work without a paycheck. In the most recent pay period, many officers received only a fraction of their normal pay. Some members of the American Federation of Government Employees took home as little as $5.”
Video Game Developer Heart Machine Voluntarily Recognizes Staff Union: “The indie video game studio Heart Machine has voluntarily recognized a union formed by staff members. The developer behind 2021’s Solar Ash and 2016’s Hyper Light Drifter agreed to recognize a wall-to-wall union representing all non-managerial employees, the Communications Workers of America announced on Monday. Previously, the union states, a majority of the workers at the studio signaled their interest in joining CWA.”
International Women’s Day Is a Celebration and a Call to Action. Here Are Things to Know: “Women across the world called for equal pay, reproductive rights, education, justice and decision-making jobs and celebrate progress toward female empowerment during events and demonstrations marking International Women’s Day on Sunday. Officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, International Women’s Day is commemorated in different ways and to varying degrees in places around the world. Protests are often political—and at times violent—rooted in women’s efforts to improve their rights as workers.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 03/16/2026 - 10:41
03/16/2026 - 3:30pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Fort Worth Report Staff Win Election 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.
On Monday, staff at the Fort Worth Report announced they have overwhelmingly voted in favor of forming a union with Media Guild of the West, The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA) Local 39213.
The nonprofit newsroom’s leadership declined to voluntarily recognize the Fort Worth Reporters Guild, but workers were not deterred. After overcoming repeated attempts from management to interfere with the organizing process—including hiring a third-party union-avoidance firm—the newly minted members are celebrating a powerful National Labor Relations Board election victory and preparing for their first union negotiations.
“These results were not based on mob rule, but rather a reflection of every single unit member who has been heavily involved in this process since its launch,” the Guild’s organizing committee said in a press statement. “This is the next and vital step for our community newsroom, and we look forward to steering trusted news forward in Tarrant County together.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 03/16/2026 - 10:14
03/16/2026 - 3:30pm
Women's History Month Profiles: Madelyn Roberts
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's 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 Madelyn Roberts of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).
Madelyn Roberts was the first woman president of AFM Local 586, serving four terms. During that time, she was a founding member of the AFM diversity committee. Besides maintaining an active career as a versatile guitarist and vocalist, Roberts was also a top-ranked billiards player and a private investigator. Now retired, she is still an active union presence.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 03/16/2026 - 10:20
Tags:
Women's History Month
03/15/2026 - 8:30pm
Women's History Month Profiles: Alexa Gutzky
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's 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 Alexa Gutzky of the United Steelworkers (USW).
Alexa Gutzky is a proud Woman of Steel and member of USW Local 1-346 in Toledo, Ohio. In the six years she’s worked at Fiske Brothers Lubriplate, she has seen firsthand the power of a strong union. At just 29, Gutzky became the first woman hired in the facility’s 155-year history. Through the Women of Steel program, she gained the confidence and tools to stand up, speak out, and ensure women’s needs are recognized and respected on the job.
Kenneth Quinnell
Sun, 03/15/2026 - 10:03
Tags:
Women's History Month
03/15/2026 - 8:30pm
Women's History Month Profiles: Stephanie Stewart
For Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's 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 Stephanie Stewart of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC).
Stephanie Stewart has childhood memories of being on the picket line with her father, not understanding what it meant, but knowing life changed for her family. Many years later, after starting her career as a letter carrier and becoming involved in her union, she understood the fight to make life better. “Being a woman in a male-dominated industry can be challenging, but it also motivates and inspires me to see the strength and balance we achieve by working together.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Sat, 03/14/2026 - 10:03
Tags:
Women's History Month
