08/28/2025 - 5:00pm
AFL-CIO Bus Tour Rolls Through Maine for Training Event and Rally to Fight Back on Public Sector Worker Attacks
The Maine AFL-CIO, the Eastern Maine Labor Council and the Western Maine Central Labor Council kicked off Labor Day early with the AFL-CIO “It’s Better In a Union” bus tour as it made its way to the cities of Brewer and Jay this week.
In Jay, workers and union leaders gathered at Local 14 Solidarity Center for a rally and attended a training entitled Power with Purpose: Safety, Security & De-escalation for Picket Lines and Collective Actions. Over in Brewer, the members spoke out against attacks on public sector workers and rallied to uplift the University of Maine (UMaine) graduate students fighting for a first union contract, Maine State Nurses Association members bargaining for their next union contract, and workers organizing at Northern Light Health and the city of Bangor.
“Authoritarian regimes always attack labor unions because union workers joined together in common cause, have great power,” said Cynthia Phinney, president of Maine AFL-CIO. “And it's not power that will be wielded to help concentrate the wealth of a country or the world at the top. It's power that will be wielded to share prosperity widely and fairly.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 08/28/2025 - 13:50
Tags:
Better in a Union Bus Tour
08/28/2025 - 5:00pm
Find a Workers’ Labor Day Event Near You
At marches and rallies, picnics and parades, Labor Day is workers’ day.
It’s a peaceful celebration of the power we hold when we stand together in a union—and the power that all of us have to take back our country for working people, not corporate CEOs or billionaires.
The labor movement and our allies are hosting nearly 1,000 Workers’ Labor Day events across the country to join together, speak out and fight back for what #WorkersDeserve.
Will you join us at a Labor Day event near you, or host your own?
There are big Workers’ Labor Day rallies and marches happening in some of the biggest cities around the country—but there are also hundreds more events taking place in towns and communities nationwide.
Together, we’re all showing that working people are ready to fight for a better future. Whether in the streets or on the shop floor, in union halls or the halls of Congress, workers are standing up for the economy and the country we all deserve.
We hope you’ll grab your signs and T-shirts—especially your union gear, if you have it—and join us at a Workers’ Labor Day week of action event near you.
See you soon!
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 08/28/2025 - 14:05
Tags:
Labor Day
08/28/2025 - 5:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Mission Local Staff Secure Voluntary Union Recognition
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.
Staff at Mission Local—the largest nonprofit newsroom covering news in San Francisco—won voluntary recognition last week for their union with the Pacific Media Workers Guild, The NewsGuild-CWA Local 39521.
Members of Mission Local Guild said their organizing efforts aim to establish frameworks for professional development, as the award-winning newsroom continues to grow.
“The union is a step forward for us and for Mission Local. We look forward to starting conversations with the leadership to create a contract that is fair to both the organization and the workers,” said Oscar, a reporter.
“Forming a union is a natural next step as we grow from a small, scrappy team into a highly professionalized outlet,” added Vicky, Mission Local’s donor engagement lead. “On the business side, we have big plans to expand our operations and having a union will ensure we are centering the well-being of our budding team in our goals for the future.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 08/28/2025 - 09:56
08/28/2025 - 5:00pm
Worker Wins: Hard Work and Dedication
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Philadelphia Teachers Union and School District Reach Tentative Agreement: The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), AFT Local 3, reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the city’s school district on Sunday, averting a potential strike. Members are celebrating the historic deal, which was finalized just hours before the start of a new school year. The old contract covering education professionals was set to expire on Aug. 31, and workers had been preparing to walk out after Labor Day if they didn’t receive a fair offer. “The PFT is thrilled that we have been able to reach a tentative agreement with the School District of Philadelphia on a three-year pact ensuring that school will open on time, as well as three years of labor peace,” PFT President Arthur Steinberg said. “This contract recognizes the hard work and dedication our members bring to the district and allows them to have peace of mind that they will be able to provide for their families while continuing to educate the children of the School District of Philadelphia.”
Mission Local Staff Secure Voluntary Union Recognition: Staff at Mission Local—the largest nonprofit newsroom covering news in San Francisco—won voluntary recognition last week for their union with the Pacific Media Workers Guild, The NewsGuild-CWA Local 39521. Members of Mission Local Guild said their organizing efforts aim to establish frameworks for professional development, as the award-winning newsroom continues to grow. “The union is a step forward for us and for Mission Local. We look forward to starting conversations with the leadership to create a contract that is fair to both the organization and the workers,” said Oscar, a reporter. “Forming a union is a natural next step as we grow from a small, scrappy team into a highly professionalized outlet,” added Vicky, Mission Local’s donor engagement lead. “On the business side, we have big plans to expand our operations and having a union will ensure we are centering the well-being of our budding team in our goals for the future.”
Wyoming Cement Plant Workers Vote to Form Union: Workers at the Mountain Cement Company plant in Laramie, Wyoming, have voted to join the Boilermakers (IBB), and the local labor movement is celebrating this victory in a “right to work” state. While the facility has been considered a cornerstone of the town’s economy for almost a century, workers have remarked that over the past decade management’s attitude toward their essential contributions has gotten worse. The newly minted IBB members cite high rates of turnover, safety concerns, unscheduled overtime and alleged intimidation from management as core motivations for organizing their workplace. “Just to talk about [the successful vote to organize] makes me teary eyed,” said Alex Hicks, who works in maintenance as a mechanic and welder. “I was threatened with my job, so now that this is here, I feel like it’s a big weight off my shoulders. Now I don’t have to worry about looking over my shoulder everyday wondering, ‘Is this going to be my day or not?’” “This means so much to Wyoming workers who feel voiceless, like there’s nowhere to turn,” added Marcie Kindred, executive director of the Wyoming State AFL-CIO. “We’re the reddest right-to-work state in the nation, and they just proved that, even in Wyoming, you can fight and freaking win.”
GoJet Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract: GoJet Airlines flight attendants, who are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), successfully ratified a new contract last week, with 90% of voting members approving the agreement. The regional airline is operated under the United Express brand of United Airlines. AFA-CWA members won major victories, such as double-digit pay raises, increased per diem, minimum pay protections, greater schedule flexibility and more. “While GoJet Flight Attendants continue to work flights branded as United Airlines, we deserve to solidify significant pay increases, boarding pay, and benefits that our mainline counterparts across the industry are seeing,” said Melissa Higgins, AFA GoJet president. “This new tentative agreement ensures aviation’s first responders at GoJet are receiving the benefits we deserve and lifting up standards for regional Flight Attendants.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 08/28/2025 - 11:54
Tags:
Organizing
08/27/2025 - 4:30pm
Fighting for Our Future: 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:
Yesterday was the first day of bargaining between Equity and the Broadway League. Shout out to our negotiating team who will be making sure that your voices are heard every time they sit at the table. Thank you to our friends from @local802.bsky.social who were there to stand in solidarity.
[image or embed]
— Actors' Equity Association (@actorsequity.bsky.social) August 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
AFSCME:
Alliance for Retired Americans:
08/27/2025 - 4:30pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Philadelphia Teachers Union and School District Reach Tentative Agreement
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 Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), AFT Local 3, reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the city’s school district on Sunday, averting a potential strike.
Members are celebrating the historic deal, which was finalized just hours before the start of a new school year. The old contract covering education professionals was set to expire on Aug. 31, and workers had been preparing to walk out after Labor Day if they didn’t receive a fair offer.
“The PFT is thrilled that we have been able to reach a tentative agreement with the School District of Philadelphia on a three-year pact ensuring that school will open on time, as well as three years of labor peace,” PFT President Arthur Steinberg said. “This contract recognizes the hard work and dedication our members bring to the district and allows them to have peace of mind that they will be able to provide for their families while continuing to educate the children of the School District of Philadelphia.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 08/27/2025 - 09:49
08/27/2025 - 4:30pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Wyoming Cement Plant Workers Vote 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.
Workers at the Mountain Cement Company plant in Laramie, Wyoming, have voted to join the Boilermakers (IBB), and the local labor movement is celebrating this victory in a “right to work” state.
While the facility has been considered a cornerstone of the town’s economy for almost a century, workers have remarked that over the past decade management’s attitude toward their essential contributions has gotten worse. The newly minted IBB members cite high rates of turnover, safety concerns, unscheduled overtime and alleged intimidation from management as core motivations for organizing their workplace.
“Just to talk about [the successful vote to organize] makes me teary eyed,” said Alex Hicks, who works in maintenance as a mechanic and welder. “I was threatened with my job, so now that this is here, I feel like it’s a big weight off my shoulders. Now I don’t have to worry about looking over my shoulder everyday wondering, ‘Is this going to be my day or not?’”
“This means so much to Wyoming workers who feel voiceless, like there’s nowhere to turn,” added Marcie Kindred, executive director of the Wyoming State AFL-CIO. “We’re the reddest right-to-work state in the nation, and they just proved that, even in Wyoming, you can fight and freaking win.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 08/25/2025 - 09:36
08/26/2025 - 3:00pm
Find a Labor Day Event Near You: 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.
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Colorado 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:
New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
New York State AFL-CIO:
Ohio AFL-CIO:
Oregon AFL-CIO:
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
Texas AFL-CIO:
Virginia AFL-CIO:
08/26/2025 - 3:00pm
Fred Redmond Joins Connecticut Unions to Call for Education Funding at AFL-CIO Bus Tour Stop
![Fred Redmond [second from right] speaking during the bus tour event.](https://aflcio.org/sites/default/files/2025-08/bus-tour-conn.jpg)
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joined the Connecticut AFL-CIO and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) for a roundtable discussion Friday on federal cuts and the lack of sufficient state funding in K-12 and public higher education, as part of the AFL-CIO “It’s Better In a Union” bus tour.
The stop in Hartford came the week before nearly all Connecticut students returned to the classroom. The event included a direct demand for a special session this fall, and for Gov. Ned Lamont and the Connecticut General Assembly to raise state revenue in the wake of the Trump administration’s slashes to federal funding. Roundtable participants spoke about how more resources are necessary to avert harmful cuts that will impact students, educators and the broader community.
“We want to urge the governor to take immediate action without delay in a special legislative session,” said Redmond.
“This amount we are quibbling over on what to invest is ridiculous. It is needed,” said Stuart Beckford, the second vice president of Hartford Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1018.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 08/26/2025 - 10:06
Tags:
Better in a Union Bus Tour
08/25/2025 - 8:00pm
More Important Than Ever: 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.
Brooke Shields, Actors’ Equity Rally in Times Square Ahead of Broadway Contract Negotiations: “The rally came as part of AFL-CIO’s—the largest federation of unions in the U.S., which includes Equity—national bus tour to rally workers in the two months leading up to Labor Day. On Thursday, several union leaders, including Shuler, spoke to the idea of ‘attacks,’ on workers across the country. Speaking after the rally, Shuler pointed to the mass layoffs of government workers, as well as the struggles among many workers, including the rising cost of living, healthcare costs, retirement insecurity and more.”
SAG-AFTRA Members Overwhelmingly Approve 2025 Broadcast TV Code: “By an overwhelming margin, SAG-AFTRA members nationwide have approved the 2025 broadcast television code, which covers recorded and live programming throughout the broadcast day. The code was ratified by 96.48% of members who voted, with just 3.52% voting against.”
Airline Pilots Outraged Over One-Pilot Proposal: “A federal advisory committee of pro-corporate aviation ‘experts’ is telling the corporate-friendly Trump regime there should be only one pilot, not two, in an airplane’s cockpit. Citing safety reasons, the Air Line Pilots (ALPA) strongly oppose that scheme. And so do 43 senators, from both political parties. The plan came to light when ALPA disclosed the lawmakers’ July 24 letter to Trump Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, urging him to reject the scheme. They said having only one pilot in the cockpit while the other rests elsewhere on the plane is dangerous. Capt. Jason Ambrosi, the ALPA president, agrees vehemently.”
Local Labor Unions Join Together with Fundraiser for Homeless Families on Labor Day: “The Big Bend Central Labor Council is celebrating Labor Day on Sept. 1 by giving back to some of the most vulnerable members of the community. The group will be collecting donations from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the American Legion Hall to support homeless families in partnership with Capital City Youth Services, a local nonprofit that offers support to local youth and families in crisis.”
'It's Better in a Union' Bus Tour Comes to Hudson Valley: “‘Ripping away food from our children and our seniors, cutting funding from our schools...that our hospitals need...voting to give tax cuts to billionaires. Instead of working families who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads,’ said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO.”
Maine Trust for Local News Workers Rally to Expand Their Union: “About three dozen reporters, photographers, page designers and union activists gathered on a brown lawn adjacent to the Portland Press Herald offices and printing plant Tuesday morning to announce their drive to unionize news workers at all of the Maine Trust for Local News’ weekly and daily paper operations around the state. The News Guild of Maine, which is affiliated with the Communications Workers of America, already represents about 150 workers at the Trust’s papers and aims to include the 50 or so remaining non-union jobs at the Sun Journal in Lewiston, The Times Record in Brunswick and the Trust’s 17 weekly publications. Workers at the daily Kennebec Journal are represented by a separate branch of the CWA and are in the process of merging with the guild.”
Labor Day 2025: More Protests Than Parades and Picnics: “Traditionally, parades, picnics, and barbeques happen on Labor Day, but this year will be significant for the more than 500 protests that will happen form one end of the country to the other. The AFL-CIO is backing events sponsored by labor federations in many cities and by coalitions like May Day Strong, Indivisible, the organizers of No Kings Day, and many other formations. Federation President Liz Shuler will be where the action is in Los Angeles and Teachers/AFT President Randi Weingarten will join Chicago Federation of Labor President Rob Reiter as headliners in the Windy City.”
Member-Organizers Drive a NewsGuild Surge: “The news industry has undergone a sea-change in the last two decades. Print readership of newspapers has declined sharply, while their digital readership has edged up slowly. Local newspapers have consolidated into ever larger chains controlled by private equity and vulture funds. Newer digital-only media sites have multiplied. Into this changing news landscape has come an influx of new journalists who bridle at the poor working conditions and low pay inflicted by media moguls building their empires on the cheap. Thousands of these media workers are finding a home in the NewsGuild.”
Groups Rally to Protect Social Security Benefits: “‘We’re here with the (American Federation of Government Employees) to really lift up how important it is to protect Social Security right now with so many other cuts being made to the social safety net,’ said Jessica Brittain, organizing director of Action Together NEPA. ‘It is more important than ever, especially after Medicaid now has been decimated. It’s not hard to see that Social Security is one of the next things on the chopping block.’ Groups attending the rally, which coincided with the 90th anniversary of the Social Security program, included Action Together NEPA, Affordable Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Policy Center, Pennsylvanians Together, the ACLU of Pennsylvania, and For Our Future Pennsylvania.”
Danny Donohue, 81, Led CSEA for a Quarter-Century: “The tough-talking labor leader rose from the ranks to lead one of New York's most powerful public sector unions. Donohue died on Aug. 10 at age 81, according to a family obituary. In a release, CSEA praised him as ‘a towering figure in the labor movement, a fearless advocate for working people and a beloved friend to so many people.’”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 08/22/2025 - 10:49
