Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Transport Workers

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 65 of our affiliates. Next up is the Transport Workers Union (TWU).

Name of Union: Transport Workers Union of America

Mission: Moving the American economy forward, keeping the traveling public safe and offering working people a voice on the job.

Current Leadership of Union: John Samuelsen serves as international president. He was sworn in as TWU’s 10th international president in 2017, and was reelected in 2021 and 2025. He is also the former president of TWU Local 100 in New York. A Brooklyn native, Samuelsen was hired by the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) in 1993 and was assigned to a track gang in Brooklyn, where he and his fellow union members worked under difficult and unsafe conditions. Managers ignored safety regulations, disciplined workers who spoke up, and had no respect for the workers or their union. Samuelsen was still in his probationary period when his co-workers elected him shop steward, and he fought vigorously for a safer subway workplace. From 2001–2006, Samuelsen served as chair of the Track Safety Committee and chair of the Track Division. From 2002–2005, he was acting vice president of the Maintenance of Way Department. During that time, he also served as lead negotiator for all safety-related issues during contract bargaining between Local 100 and NYCTA, and authored the comprehensive track safety bill passed by the New York Legislature. He was elected president of Local 100 in 2009, and was reelected overwhelmingly in 2012 and 2015. He served as Local 100 president until 2017.

Alex Garcia serves as international executive vice president, Jerome Lafragola serves as international secretary-treasurer, and Curtis Tate and Mike Mayes serve as international administrative vice presidents.

Current Number of Members: 165,000

Members Work As: Mechanics, car cleaners, baggage handlers, disease control inspectors, bus operators, ramp agents, flight attendants and more.

Industries Represented: The airline, railroad, transit, university, utility and service industries.

History: TWU’s founding president, Michael J. Quill, formed the union in New York in 1934. It was the height of the Great Depression, and through his active, militant approach to organizing, Quill brought together thousands of the city’s transit workers to fight back against the greedy companies taking advantage of them and of the nation’s dire economic situation. The workers—underpaid, overworked and mistreated—were being hired and fired at will; several previous attempts to organize a union had failed.

With Quill at the helm, the union led strikes and sit-ins that brought the city to its knees, demonstrating once and for all that without transit workers, New York—and the entire American economy—wouldn’t move. The TWU won that battle, and they have been winning ever since.

Expanding its reach outside of New York, TWU began to organize transit and railroad workers in cities across the country in the 1940s. Later, as the nation’s fledgling aviation industry took off, TWU was right there, organizing flight attendants, baggage handlers, grounds crews and dispatchers. Soon after, public utilities providing energy to transit companies came under TWU’s protection, as did maintenance workers at colleges and universities, and civilian employees on military bases.

Looking beyond transit, health department employees and museum curators are just some of the many dynamic workers across the country who know the benefits of TWU representation. In a new century, new transportation models have begun to emerge, and TWU has brought workplace rights to bikeshare workers in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C.

At every step of the way, TWU fought for equality in the workplace, and has spoken out against discrimination based on race, job title and ethnicity ever since its founding. The TWU’s record on civil rights is unparalleled. Two of the union’s proudest moments were when Martin Luther King Jr. addressed the TWU convention in 1961 and when members marched with King in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.

From Quill’s fight to open up trades and job titles to minorities in the 1930s to the contractual guarantee of maternity leave in the 1980s, the TWU has always recognized that discrimination for any reason has no business in the workplace.

Current Campaigns: TWU has a committee on political education (COPE), and has campaigns focused on toxic cabin air, fleet electrification, Amtrak reforms, assault protections for transit workers, transit operation funding, reshoring aircraft maintenance jobs and railcar safety. TWU reports on victories and provides opportunities to take action.

Community Efforts: TWU fights for civil and human rights. The Future Leaders Organizing Committee gives the next generation of union workers the tools, resources and relationships that will prepare them to take action and further workers’ rights. TWU has a Veteran’s Committee, a Working Women’s Committee and resources for retirees. TWU sponsors state conferences and a national legislative and COPE conference. TWU’s print magazine, the TWU Express, publishes four times per year. TWU provides resources for health and safety.

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

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/30/2026 - 16:26

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: New Jersey State AFL-CIO Celebrates New Laws Protecting Immigrant Workers

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 New Jersey State AFL-CIO is applauding Gov. Mikie Sherrill for signing into law three pieces of legislation that will protect the rights and safety of immigrant workers in the state.

In response to unidentified federal agents swarming neighborhoods around the country to conduct immigration raids, the Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act will ban all law enforcement officers from wearing masks when conducting official duties and require them to provide identification prior to arresting or detaining a civilian. The Privacy Protection Act limits data sharing by government and health care facilities to ensure residents are not discouraged from seeking necessary services out of fear that their documentation status would be disclosed. Similarly, the third bill—the Immigrant Trust Directive—codifies the attorney general’s 2018 directive that limits the voluntary assistance New Jersey law enforcement may provide to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to prevent immigrant residents from feeling unable to seek out help from local law enforcement.

“New Jersey has one of the highest populations of immigrants in the nation and we were proud to support these important pieces of legislation,” the New Jersey State AFL-CIO said. “[We] will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in solidarity with immigrant workers to ensure they are treated with respect and dignity and are not fearful to reside in our communities.”

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/30/2026 - 09:49

Women's History Month Profiles: Bobbye Hall

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 Bobbye Hall of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).

Bobbye Hall’s rhythms have been a driving force behind dozens of Billboard Top 10 songs across soul, rock and pop. A current member of AFM Local 47, Hall established her reputation in Detroit’s legendary Motown scene and has since built a career spanning over five decades of landmark musical achievements. “On my 15th birthday, I was handed my union card, and that’s when I truly became a professional. I was so proud to be a young percussionist making my way,” Hall said.

Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 03/28/2026 - 09:49

Tags: Women's History Month

Women's History Month Profiles: Lisa Cuales

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 Lisa Cuales of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS).

Lisa Cuales joined PASS when she arrived at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2023. She hit the ground running as a union activist and has never looked back, committing herself to service, advocacy and leadership. She is president of the PASS New Mexico chapter and the local PASS representative at the Albuquerque air traffic control tower. During the government shutdown, while on furlough, Cuales delivered meals to employees working without pay at local FAA facilities.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 03/30/2026 - 09:53

Tags: Women's History Month

Women's History Month Profiles: Marie Hathaway

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 Marie Hathaway of SAG-AFTRA.

After two decades as a first responder, working as a wildland firefighter, a paramedic supervisor and an emergency medical services trainer, Marie Hathaway brings a wealth of healing, therapeutic and lifesaving expertise. She initially served as a production supervisor at a Bay Area television station, and now she wears multiple hats in the industry, including SAG-AFTRA Hawaii Local secretary, and executive producer, actor and crew member in local independent films.

Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 03/29/2026 - 09:49

Tags: Women's History Month

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: NYU Faculty Reach a Tentative Agreement to End Work Stoppage

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.

Contract Faculty United-UAW (CFU-UAW) members reached a tentative agreement with New York University (NYU) administrators on Wednesday after two days on strike.

The union represents approximately 950 full-time, nontenure track faculty at the institution. While the agreement is still pending ratification, it includes wins like substantial salary increases, 3.5% annual raises starting next year, a new family care benefit fund, professional development resources, comprehensive health and welfare benefits, and more.

“We fought, and won,” said Brendan Hogan, an NYU philosophy professor. “Everyone in our union will get a minimum raise of $14,000 by the start of the next academic year.”

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/27/2026 - 09:39

Women's History Month Profiles: Linda Hunt

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 Linda Hunt of UNITE HERE.

Linda Hunt is a fierce advocate for workers. She was elected to the Nevada State Assembly in 2024 by a resounding 64%. As a dedicated food server for 45 years, a shop steward and a Culinary Union member, Hunt represents a true working-class voice in the state Legislature and reaffirms the mission to elect more Culinary Union members to office, in order to center working families and issues.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 03/27/2026 - 09:45

Tags: Women's History Month

Worker Wins: A Long Time Coming

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

Fast Food Workers at Connecticut Service Plazas Ratify First Union Contract; Secure Strong Wages, Other Benefits: Food service workers across Connecticut’s 23 service plazas on Route 15, I-95 and I-39 voted overwhelmingly in favor of their first-ever union contract, which will include strong wages, improved time off and scheduling, and other enhanced benefits. “This is a watershed moment for everyone involved—from the workers, to our staff, to Connecticut workers and the labor movement as a whole,” said Rochelle Palache, vice president and state director. “Over half a decade after starting this campaign, it feels so rewarding to finally see this through and achieve these guaranteed rights and benefits for the people who keep our highways serviced and fed. We couldn’t have accomplished this without the tenacity and hard work that our workers gave in keeping this campaign going for so long—this win, most of all, is from them and for them.” The contract with Applegreen USA Travel Plazas Central Services, the main service plaza employer in Connecticut, spans from April 1, 2026, to March 1, 2031. The contract includes: predictable schedules and consistent hours, just cause and grievance and arbitration process, strong vacation accruals, improved training opportunities, and strong wages under the Connecticut Standard Wage Law. Starting in 2019, service plaza workers brought forward complaints against several employers, including allegations of wages below the legal standard, unsafe working conditions and failure to provide adequate benefits. “It’s been a long time coming for food service workers to get the respect and the treatment we deserve,” said Nika Hyde, a bargaining committee member and employee at Auntie Anne’s at the Madison Southbound service plaza. “It is an honor to help my fellow Connecticut food service employees, who work so hard, have a dignified standard of living without constant struggle.”

Patagonia Workers in SoHo Unanimously Vote to Join the RWDSU-UFCW: Workers at the Patagonia store in SoHo in New York voted unanimously to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW), becoming the first unionized Patagonia location in the eastern United States. Workers at the store seek to address a growing disconnect between the company’s public values and the daily realities faced by its retail staff. They cited a desire to regain lost benefits, including the restoration of previous paid time off policies and health care coverage that have been previously rolled back. Workers are also seeking to secure guaranteed professional development opportunities and tuition reimbursement, benefits that have recently been eliminated. “We voted union yes because we believe in Patagonia’s mission, but a mission is only as strong as the people who carry it out every day on the floor,” said Morgan Skelton, customer experience guide at the SoHo Patagonia store. “For too long, the 'Patagonia family' felt like it stopped at the manager’s office. Today, we’ve secured our seat at the table to ensure our expertise is respected and our livelihoods are protected. We aren’t just selling gear; we’re providing a better experience for customers while building a sustainable future for retail workers in our industry.” RWDSU-UFCW will now represent workers in the bargaining unit, including full-time and regular part-time employees, including customer experience guides and team leaders. “The workers at Patagonia SoHo have proven that even at a company with a 'progressive' reputation, a union contract is the only way to guarantee a voice on the job,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of RWDSU-UFCW. “These workers are part of a powerful movement of retail workers across New York City and the outdoor industry who are refusing to let their benefits and workplace culture be stripped away. We are proud to welcome them into the RWDSU.”

New Jersey Health Care Workers Vote to Join HPAE: New Jersey health care workers at Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice and Inspira Health have both voted to join the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), an affiliate of the AFT.  In two separate National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) elections, registered nurse case managers at Inspira Health medical centers and registered nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers and other staff at Samaritan both won their votes to form unions. “These elections show tremendous solidarity and commitment,” HPAE President Debbie White said. “We congratulate them on the wins! Unions give workers a voice, and when healthcare workers have a greater voice in their workplace, patients always benefit.”

Harris County Workers and Local Unions Win Campaign for Consultations Policy: After Harris County workers, commissioners and labor allies gathered for a press conference on Wednesday to call for the passage of a consultations policy that will give county workers a seat at the table to address workplace concerns, the policy was approved in a 3–1 vote. At the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation meeting hall, representatives from HOPE AFSCME Local 123, AFSCME Local 907, the Houston Federation of Teachers, the Culinary Union, and the Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council stood together to urge commissioners to approve the policy. Texas law currently prohibits public workers from collective bargaining, but this local program will make it easier for county workers to file grievances related to pay, working conditions and terminations so they can continue to deliver essential services to residents. Similar policies are already in place in the Houston and Austin independent school districts and the City of Austin, but now that commissioners have adopted this program, Harris County is the first county in Texas to have such a policy in place.

IAM Union Ratifies New Agreement with Leidos: IAM Union (IAM) members who work as flight service workers in Virginia and Texas have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with their employer, Leidos. The new contract covering the Locals 2010 and 2011 bargaining units contains a number of major wins that reflect the essential work members perform. Highlights include structured annual pay increases through the lifetime of the deal, higher wage premiums for Sunday shifts, improved retirement fund contributions and more. “This agreement reflects the voices and priorities of our members,” said Chief Steward Clay Dawson. “By listening to our members and negotiating collectively, we were able to secure stronger wages, improved benefits, and protections that help guarantee job security for the next three years.” “This adjustment prevents management from using overly aggressive performance metrics as a justification to reduce staffing,” said IAM Local 2011 President David Villa. “It ensures our members can provide quality service while maintaining stable employment. This contract was built on solidarity. Our locals worked side by side to make sure the final agreement protects benefits, secures future raises, and strengthens the foundation for our members’ careers.”

Kaiser Health Care Professionals Ratify New Contracts, Winning Vital Patient Safety Protections: Health care professionals, members of United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP, AFSCME), voted to ratify new contracts with Kaiser Permanente, winning critical protections that will directly improve patient care. Approved by an overwhelming majority, the contracts are effective upon ratification and will expire on Sept. 30, 2029. “This agreement reflects everything our members stood up and stood together for: safe staffing, improved access, and respect for the professionals who provide critical care every day,” said UNAC/UHCP President Charmaine Morales, RN. “This fight was always about our patients and the public good, and we’ve made meaningful progress to ensure caregivers have the time and resources necessary to deliver safe, high-quality care.” When caregivers have a voice, patients are better off. Because of UNAC/UHCP, Kaiser patients will benefit from more time, better access, stronger communication and higher quality care. The union also won the largest wage increases UNAC/UHCP has ever achieved. Many of the gains—such as enforcement of safe RN staffing ratios already in the contract—come after years of work on prior contracts and between contracts, including job actions, staffing objection forms, petitions and informational pickets. “This is an important step forward, but the work doesn’t stop here,” said Peter Sidhu, RN, executive vice president of UNAC/UHCP. “We’ll be vigilant—documenting ratio violations, escalating unsafe staffing gaps, and using every tool our new contracts provide to protect our patients.”

WNBA Players Unanimously Vote Yes on New CBA: WNBPA members voted unanimously to ratify their new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), securing transformative landmark provisions for women’s sports. The seven-year contract establishes a historic revenue-sharing model, immediately quadrupling the salary cap for the 2026 season. It will be reviewed annually based on league and team revenue growth. Other bargaining wins include increases to maximum and minimum salaries, an expanded regular season starting in 2027 and more. “Over these past months, this group showed exactly who they are, prepared, relentless, and united when it mattered most, with a clear understanding that their value drives this business and when players win, the league wins,” said WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson. “This agreement delivers what players set out to do from the beginning, transforming the economics of this league. It marks a new era led by players who know their power and chose to use it.” “The players made huge gains with this historic contract, a testament to the excitement they deliver on the court and their courage and determination in fighting for women’s equality off it,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Everything we’ve ever won—every contract, organizing fight and strike—was won because we stuck together. America’s unions celebrate with our WNBPA sisters on this critical victory.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/26/2026 - 11:35

Tags: Organizing

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: WNBA Players Unanimously Vote Yes on New CBA

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.

WNBPA members voted unanimously to ratify their new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), securing transformative landmark provisions for women’s sports.

The seven-year contract establishes a historic revenue-sharing model, immediately quadrupling the salary cap for the 2026 season. It will be reviewed annually based on league and team revenue growth. Other bargaining wins include increases to maximum and minimum salaries, an expanded regular season starting in 2027 and more.

“Over these past months, this group showed exactly who they are, prepared, relentless, and united when it mattered most, with a clear understanding that their value drives this business and when players win, the league wins,” said WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson. “This agreement delivers what players set out to do from the beginning, transforming the economics of this league. It marks a new era led by players who know their power and chose to use it.”

“The players made huge gains with this historic contract, a testament to the excitement they deliver on the court and their courage and determination in fighting for women’s equality off it,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Everything we’ve ever won—every contract, organizing fight and strike—was won because we stuck together. America’s unions celebrate with our WNBPA sisters on this critical victory.”

Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/26/2026 - 09:32

This Country Was Built By Unions, Not Kids: 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:

Join us for Equity 101, a Zoom class that to deepen your understanding of what being a union member is all about. Save the date: Monday, March 30 at 7 p.m. ET. / 6 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. MT / 4 p.m. PT. RSVP the portal - https://bit.ly/4bJq0tp

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— Actors' Equity Association (@actorsequity.bsky.social) March 25, 2026 at 12:05 PM

AFGE:

Paying employees for their work is not a partisan issue. Congress needs to stop playing games with people's livelihoods and do their jobs! https://t.co/RoUhEc1knc

— AFGE (@AFGENational) March 25, 2026

AFSCME:

Workers at Connecticut’s Mystic Seaport Museum want a voice in the institution’s future. They’re fighting to form a union through @AFSCMECT4 — another victory for our union’s Cultural Workers United campaign https://t.co/gMj2Ydok8i

— AFSCME (@AFSCME) March 24, 2026

Alliance for Retired Americans: