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.

Visual effects (VFX) workers for Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures and movie franchise Avatar voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first contracts as Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) members.

The agreements are a major step forward for the VFX industry, establishing important standard union protections such as overtime pay, a pension and health plan, enforceable rest periods and more. Marvel workers voted unanimously to join IATSE in 2023, and their counterparts at Disney secured a similar election victory one month later. Avatar VFX workers joined the union in January of last year.

“I am so proud of my fellow union members for all their hard work through which we have achieved this contract,” said Patrick DeVaney, a postvis coordinator, in a press release. “While we are used to pouring our blood and sweat into our work, unionizing requires something more: our courage. It takes an incredible amount of courage to stand up to management who will always seek to devalue labor in the pursuit of profit margins and your own coworkers who have labored for so long as a part of a non-unionized workforce that they were convinced unionizing would be impossible.”

Right now, House leadership is pushing through a budget that would have the largest cuts in history to Medicaid and to SNAP food assistance, as well as more cuts to retirement benefits for federal workers.

Make a Call.

Health care, food assistance, dignity in retirement—these programs are a cornerstone of a secure existence for working people. Here’s why:

No Cuts to Medicaid

• Medicaid is the single largest source of health care coverage in the United States.
• It is the primary payer for 63% of nursing home residents.
• It pays for 42% of births in the United States each year and provides health care for nearly half of all children in our country.
• Medicaid funding cuts would cause hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and home health agencies to close or downsize, especially in rural and lower-income communities. One analysis shows that cuts could cause 477,000 health care jobs to be lost in 2026 alone.
• Medicaid cuts would cause millions of people to lose their health care, including kids and our most vulnerable Americans, and cuts would raise health care and insurance costs for everyone else. 

No Cuts to Food Assistance

• 42 million people use SNAP food assistance per month, or almost 13% total of U.S. residents. Working families depend on SNAP to get by and to provide nutritious, healthy food for their children to grow and thrive.
• Cuts to food assistance jeopardize thousands of jobs in food processing, school cafeterias, retail and agriculture.
• Pushing the costs of food assistance to states with already strained budgets threatens many other services and jobs that our families and communities rely on. 

No Cuts to Workers’ Retirement Benefits or Union Rights

• Like all workers, federal employees deserve a fair and dignified retirement after a lifetime of hard work. But earlier versions of the budget deal have contained cuts to federal workers’ retirement benefits and cuts to their current take-home pay.
• Other provisions in versions of the budget deal have required new federal workers to choose between at-will status and lower employee pension contributions, or to be charged a fee to file a claim with the Merit Systems Protection Board to protect their rights.
• Federal workers who run the programs and services we all depend on—and who are already facing job losses and historic union-busting—should not have to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.

No Weakening of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Protections for Workers

• Lawmakers snuck a provision into the House budget deal that blocks the enforcement of all existing or future state and local AI regulations for the next 10 years.
• State lawmakers across the country have come together to pass legislation that regulates dangerous and irresponsible artificial intelligence (AI)—creating guardrails that protect workers’ jobs, safety and civil liberties, and prevent discrimination or the theft of artists' work. This provision would stop that good work.
• This provision is so broad it would even prevent states from enforcing safety regulations related to automated systems, like public transit systems.
• This provision is an irresponsible gift to Big Tech companies and employers to maximize their profits and control. Especially since Congress has not acted to protect workers, states must be allowed to pass regulations to stop the unsafe, unethical, antidemocratic and antiworker use of AI in the workplace. 

Gutting essential services like Medicaid, SNAP food assistance and federal worker benefits won’t help working families—especially to pay for more tax breaks for billionaires and giant corporations. And the domino effects of cutting these huge and vital programs would be severe and wide-reaching. 

We need you to speak out today. Tell Congress this budget would be a disaster for working families and for our nation. 

Call your representative at 231-400-0602 to tell them, “No cuts that hurt working families!” 

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Amy Chin-Lai of IFPTE.

Amy Chin-Lai is the president of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union, IFPTE Local 70, which represents thousands of nonprofit workers at more than 50 organizations in Washington, D.C., and nationwide. A fourth-generation Chinese-American, she carries forward her family's resilience through her work empowering other member leaders and advocating for dignity, equity and fair pay. Chin-Lai was recently honored by the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO,– winning their inaugural emerging leader award. She is proud to be part of a movement and union that amplifies the voices of marginalized people in the workplace.

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 Friday, the AFL-CIO and a coalition of unions representing workers in the manufacturing, hospitality, construction, food processing and service industries filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to deny the Trump administration’s attempt to end humanitarian parole and rescind work authorization for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

The brief is co-authored by the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, UAW, UNITE HERE, United Food and Commercial Workers, Painters and Allied Trades, IUE-CWA, and Bricklayers.

“Our immigrant brothers, sisters and siblings from these nations came to the United States to flee danger at home, and while here have been legally working and contributing to our economy while supporting their families,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Ripping them away from their families and homes is a grave injustice that will have harmful ripple effects across our workplaces, our industries, and our economy. We are proud to file this amicus brief alongside our affiliated unions representing workers in key American industries, including those like food processing and manufacturing that cannot function without the work of these immigrants. We call on the Supreme Court to reject the Trump administration’s effort to deport these valued members of our workplaces and communities.”

Read the full press release here.

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.

Alaska AFL-CIO:

Lawmakers, stand strong. Alaska's kids are counting on you to do the right thing and #RaiseTheAKBSA! #Overridehttps://t.co/lIiRUxDzNo

— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) May 19, 2025

California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:

A reminder: when we fight, we win. Also, solidarity between the building trades and hotel workers creates real change in the tourism industry! 

Congratulations to our San Diego unions! https://t.co/RvJMp6mzOE

— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) May 16, 2025

Colorado AFL-CIO:

⁦@GovofCO⁩ vetoed SB5. But we're not backing down!

In 2026, we're bringing a "just cause" ballot initiative to protect Colorado workers from unjust termination by preventing employers from firing without a documented reason. #coleg

Statement: https://t.co/5I3wpVUubC pic.twitter.com/vLJOvNkuyY

— Colorado AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIOCO) May 16, 2025

Illinois AFL-CIO:

Carrie Lee Patterson is a big fan of the red line. In fact, she sent it a love letter -- in the form of an award winning set of short stories. Listen to @ActorsEquity and @sagaftra member Carrie Lee Patterson speak about why she supports a solution for transit in Illinois. pic.twitter.com/QSBzblJ945

— Illinois AFL-CIO (@ILAFLCIO) May 20, 2025

Maine AFL-CIO:

“I don’t think the public really understands what veterans who serve in combat go through and see. You don’t unsee the things you’ve seen." — Scott Surette, Mail Handlers https://t.co/Gjir44qexT

— Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) May 15, 2025

Massachusetts AFL-CIO:

“The ripple effects of this PLA will be felt for decades, creating stable pathways to home ownership, to save for the future, and building stronger, safer communities” @MetroBTC 

Boston strikes deal opening union job opportunities for Madison Park grads https://t.co/lYhlWKdULa

— Massachusetts AFL-CIO (@massaflcio) May 15, 2025

Michigan State AFL-CIO:

mic drop

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Davlynn Racadio and Melia Johnson of AFSCME.

With more than two decades of experience in emergency dispatch, Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA/AFSCME) members Davlynn Racadio and Melia Johnson were some of the first voices heard when victims of the 2023 Maui wildfires called 911 for help. They handled more than 4,000 calls in a 24-hour period, earning them national recognition for their extraordinary service.

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 63 of our affiliates. Next up are the Boilermakers (IBB).

Name of Union: International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers

Mission: Uniting members across multiple industries and occupations in the union’s common endeavor of improving each other’s lives and lifestyles through union representation.

Current Leadership of Union: Timothy Simmons serves as international president. He began his Boilermaker career on a boiler outage in 1999, working out of Boilermakers Local 108, in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Alabama Power Miller Steam Plant. He has served as a Local 108 business agent/secretary treasurer, District Lodge 3 officer, director of National Recruitment Services, director of Construction Division Services and assistant to the international president. In October 2022, the International Executive Council voted unanimously to elect Simmons to fill the international vice president Southeast vacancy, effective Feb. 1, 2023, upon the retirement of Warren Fairley. Fairley briefly came out of retirement to serve the union as international president during a time of transition. Upon his final retirement in August 2024, the International Executive Council elected Simmons to serve as international president.

Clinton Penny serves as international secretary-treasurer, and the Boilermakers have five international vice presidents: J. Tom Baca (Western States), John Fultz (Northeast), Arnie Stadnick (Canada), Dan Sulivan (Great Lakes) and Jeff Campbell (Southeast).

Current Number of Members: More than 60,000

Members Work in: Constructing and repairing electric power plants, refineries, and pulp, paper and steel mills; building naval ships and commercial tankers; repairing locomotives; making cement; mining coal, gypsum and talc; forging tools for industry; and making consumer goods.

Industries Represented: Heavy industry, shipbuilding, manufacturing, railroads, cement, mining and others.

History: The Boilermakers are one of the oldest unions in the country, rising out of the Industrial Revolution’s demand for steam power in 1880. The Boilermakers have been a part of many major events in American history, helping to build structural sections of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis; the machinery to make the Panama Canal; the world’s first nuclear submarine, the USS Nautilus; the USS New York amphibious transport dock (which includes steel from the Twin Towers); military ships and various submarines; nuclear, gas-fired and advanced coal-fired power plants; and the aluminum-based fuel for the space shuttle’s solid rocket boosters. The Boilermakers had been headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, since 1893, and moved to Kansas City, Missouri, in 2024. There are now more than 200 Boilermaker local lodges across North America.

Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The Boilermaker Reporter provides news and information useful to workers in the industry. The Boilermakers have established national funds for pensions, health and welfare, and an annuity trust. They also provide education and training, including one of the best apprentice programs in the country, and are partners in an award-winning alliance with construction industry contractors and owners, resulting in innovations for improved safety, manpower availability, training and cost savings.

Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, YouTube

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.

U.S.-based Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) members who work for Norse Atlantic Airways voted overwhelmingly in support of ratifying a new contract.

The Norwegian low-cost, long-haul airline was founded in 2021 and has a flight attendant base in John F. Kennedy International Airport. Highlights of the deal include provisions that ensure job security, raise total compensation with the highest per diem in the industry, increase the number of sick days and more.

“This contract provides Norse Flight Attendants with certainty and guaranteed economic and work rule improvements. The contract provides much-needed quality of life as Norse charts the path forward,” said Norse AFA President Katarzyna Mroczek.

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.

Labor Unions File Lawsuit Against HHS to Restore NIOSH: “The coalition, which includes the AFL-CIO, the United Mine Workers of America and Dentec Safety, filed a petition May 14 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The unions call on Kennedy to ‘resume immediately all activities that NIOSH performed before’ recent cuts to the agency workforce—some of which have recently been reversed.”

Kennedy Center Employees Announce Plans to Unionize: “The union, which they’re calling the ‘Kennedy Center United Arts Workers,’ would be in partnership with the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, commonly known as the UAW. It would consist of nonsupervisory employees from artistic programming, education, marketing and development departments, along with administrators of the Washington National Opera and the National Symphony Orchestra. Performers are covered by several different unions.”

Divers at Orlando's Discovery Cove Theme Park Unanimously Vote to Unionize: “A group of divers at SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove theme park in Orlando unanimously voted to unionize last week, forming the first union at the aquatic-themed resort. According to the National Labor Relations Board, which conducts union elections in the private sector, the group of divers and dive technicians unanimously voted (15-0) in favor of unionizing with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 30, in an election that featured 100% voter turnout.”

SAG-AFTRA and Nickelodeon Reach Tentative Agreement on Animation Contract: “Nickelodeon has agreed to ‘commonsense’ AI protections for voice actors on animated shows like The Patrick Star Show and Dora the Explorer, according to performers’ union SAG-AFTRA. The union announced on Wednesday that it had reached a tentative deal with Nickelodeon over voice acting on animated programs for basic cable and Paramount+. With covered projects including ‘Rugrats,’ ‘The Loud House,’ ‘Kamp Koral’ and ‘Rock Paper Scissors,’ the three-year provisional contract also brings some rate increases, a new premium and faster payment due dates.”

SAG-AFTRA’s New Audio Commercials Contract Revamps Structure, Expands AI Protections: “The audio advertising business is posted to get a significant overhaul for union voiceover talent. Under the tentative 2025 SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contracts deal, a new structure for audio commercials has been introduced—one that simplifies compensation, reflects current media consumption habits, and includes the union’s strongest protections yet against the misuse of artificial intelligence. The agreement covers April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2028. The three-year deal nets out to $218.4 million in new earnings and benefit contributions. It currently awaits ratification by SAG-AFTRA members ahead of a May 21 voting deadline. If adopted, the audio contract will cover about 2,200 union voice talent members.”

Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Set Minimum Nurse-to-Patient Ratios: “Two Democratic senators and a representative reintroduced a bill May 12 that would create minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios at hospitals across the country. Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Rep. Jan Shakowsky, D-Ill.,  reintroduced the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act on International Nurses Day. The bill would require hospitals to develop annual staffing plans that meet the minimum staffing ratios set forth in the legislation. Hospitals would also be required to maintain records of RN staffing and post notices of minimum ratios. Additionally, the legislation would provide whistleblower protections for nurses who speak out against unsafe staffing practices. HHS would be tasked with enforcing minimum ratios through civil penalties and administrative complaints.”

Protect Federal Incentives for Clean Energy Projects: “Energy demand is rising, and with it, utility bills are getting harder to afford. But we can’t just wring our hands and maintain the status quo. There are good reasons why electricity demand is going up. We’re building 21st-century technologies like AI and data centers. We’re electrifying things like cars and heating systems that have pumped dirty pollutants into our air for too long. This is progress. We need to meet the moment by building affordable clean energy and doing so in a way that creates high-quality union jobs for Washingtonians. Luckily, we have a powerful tool to help us do that: federal tax incentives for clean energy development.”

Union for Nearly 1,000 University of Minnesota Resident Physicians Certified by State: “Nearly 1,000 resident physicians at the University of Minnesota are officially unionized with SEIU Committee of Interns and Residents after a state labor board certified on Friday that a majority of residents signed union cards. The certification comes on the heels of more than 200 resident physicians at Hennepin Healthcare achieving certification last month as the first union of resident physicians in Minnesota. ‘We work very hard to take care of people all over the Twin Cities and beyond, and burnout is a real problem,’ said Dr. Kaitlin McLean in a statement released by the union. ‘It’s essential that we have a seat at the table so we can care for ourselves and our patients, and so that we can stay here in Minnesota doing that critical work.’”

Tufts Student Released from U.S. Immigration Custody After Judge's Order: “U.S. District Judge William Sessions during a hearing in Burlington, Vermont, ordered the immediate release of Rumeysa Ozturk, who is at the center of one of the highest-profile cases to emerge from Republican President Donald Trump's campaign to deport pro-Palestinian activists on American campuses.”

Blizzard's Overwatch Team Just Unionized: 'What I Want to Protect Most Here Is the People': “‘Game developers behind Activision Blizzard’s hit franchise Overwatch have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA), becoming the latest group of video game workers at Microsoft-owned studios to form a wall-to-wall union,’ the CWA announced in a press release shared with Kotaku on Friday. ‘A neutral arbitrator confirmed today that an overwhelming majority of workers have either signed a union authorization card or indicated that they wanted union representation via an online portal.’”

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Betty Chow of IATSE.

Betty Chow has worked as an "A" Second Assistant Camera on the third season of "All American: Homecoming.” She serves on the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG) Local 600 National Executive Board, and is co-chair of the inclusion committee. Chow has been a Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) member for 25 years and enjoys serving as a resource for her fellow IATSE members. "I am part of an organization of skilled workers who have each other's backs through the hard times, and we share the joy in the good times. Being an IATSE member has enabled me to master my craft and be respected as a worker."