08/04/2025 - 6:30pm
AFL-CIO Tour Bus Joins AFSCME in Iowa to Hold Lawmakers Accountable
The “It’s Better In a Union” bus tour made its way to Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday. State Attorney General candidate Nate Willems, local small business owners and Medicaid recipients joined AFSCME members and union leaders for a press conference to hold Sen. Joni Ernst and Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks accountable for their votes to pass the federal budget bill.
This devastating legislation will raise costs on Iowa’s working families and threaten their public services. More than 86,000 people in the state could lose health care because of the bill’s cuts to Medicaid, while hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are already moving to cut services and staff. A total of 259,300 Iowans are at risk of losing food assistance. All working families will face rising costs for health care, groceries and energy due to funding cuts in the budget bill.
“In rural communities, people are already losing services at hospitals and clinics,” AFSCME Council 61 President Todd Copley said. “Families are now facing higher health care bills, higher grocery prices, and higher energy costs because of cuts coming from the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ And at the same time, the ultra-wealthy walk away with more tax breaks than they ever needed in the first place. That is not responsible governing. That is betrayal. And we will hold the politicians who voted for this disaster accountable.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 08/04/2025 - 12:43
Tags:
Better in a Union Bus Tour
08/04/2025 - 12:00pm
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Masters, Mates & Pilots
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 is the Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P).
Name of Union: International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots
Mission: To protect the rights and working conditions of members of the seagoing maritime community.
Current Leadership of Union: Don Josberger is the international president of Masters, Mates & Pilots. He was elected president in 2024, after serving as international secretary-treasurer for five years and Offshore Atlantic vice president for six years. From 1999 to 2013, he sailed as captain and chief mate on Sea-Land, CSX and Horizon Lines vessels. He graduated from the State University of New York Maritime College in Fort Schuyler in 1989.
J. Lars Turner serves as international secretary-treasurer. MM&P has eight vice presidents: Tim Ferrie (Pilots), Jeremy Hope (Offshore Gulf Ports & Government Contracts), Thomas Larkin (Offshore Atlantic Ports), Ed Lulko (United Inland - Great Lakes & Gulf Region), Dave Narby (Federal Employees), Keith Poissant (Atlantic Maritime), Daniel Twohig (United Inland - Pacific Maritime Region) and Melany Velleca (Offshore Pacific Ports).
Number of Members: 5,500
Members Work As: U.S. Coast Guard-licensed masters and mates on U.S.-flag commercial vessels on international voyages, on the inland waterways and on civilian-crewed ships in the government fleet; masters, mates and other marine personnel on tugboats, ferries, dredges and harbor tour vessels throughout the United States, including in San Francisco Bay, in New York Harbor and state ferry systems in Alaska and Washington state.
Industries Represented: The U.S. maritime industry
History: On June 28, 1880, a boiler exploded on the side paddle-wheeler Seawanhaka in New York Harbor. Captain Charles P. Smith maneuvered the ship to shallow waters so passengers could escape safely. While his heroism would later be recognized, local politicians initially sought to make him the scapegoat for the fire. Other pilots and captains were so outraged, they formed a committee that would become the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots.
Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: MM&P publishes the Wheelhouse Weekly electronic newsletter and the Master, Mate & Pilot magazine. MM&P has a Women's Caucus, a Disaster Relief Fund, training through The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS), a mental health committee, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the MM&P Federal Credit Union.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 08/04/2025 - 13:20
08/04/2025 - 12:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Meow Wolf Workers in Houston Announce Organizing Effort to Join CWA
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 Meow Wolf, an immersive tourist attraction, announced on Monday that they are organizing to form a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7055.
Meow Wolf’s Radio Tave in Houston is a surreal radio station–themed art experience. Staff who are organizing to join Meow Wolf Workers Collective (MWWC-CWA) work across a number of departments, including guest services, tech, art and scenic, facilities, events, food and beverage service, and security. Their counterparts at four other Meow Wolf locations have already won union recognition.
“We are so excited and proud to be joining our fellow employees at the other Meow Wolf locations in forming a union. Me and my fellow organizing committee members have been working hard to get to this point, and it’s been a labor of love over the past few months,” said organizing committee member and bartender at Meow Wolf Houston’s Radio Tave Marleigh Flowers in a CWA press release. “We want to have a seat at the table when decisions that impact our day-to-day lives are being made and to be able to voice the concerns and issues that are important to us.”
“The workers at Meow Wolf’s Radio Tave location in Houston are carrying forward a momentum that has already brought change to Meow Wolf workplaces across the country,” said CWA District 7 Vice President Susie McAllister. “By standing together, they’re ensuring that the company lives up to its founding values and that the people who bring its art to life are treated with the fairness, dignity, and respect they deserve.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 08/04/2025 - 09:12
08/04/2025 - 12:00pm
Support Public Broadcasting: 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.
News Guild President Schleuss Pitches for Public Broadcasting: “News Guild President Jon Schleuss, whose members have come under fire and threats from anti-worker and anti-media President Donald Trump, is making a strong pitch for the public to support, with voluntarily donated dollars, the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio. Trump’s ‘recessions’ law, which the GOP congressional majority gleefully passed, yanks $1.1 billion combined that lawmakers previously appropriated for them. Stations have scrambled to post online pleas to readers and listeners to fill the funding gap. Schleuss isn’t shy about why he’s asking: The U.S., and especially in major media ‘deserts,’ such as those left when big chains and ‘vulture capitalists’ deprive readers and listeners of local papers and programming, need independent voices speaking truth to power now more than ever.”
UAW Reaches Tentative Agreement with Major Parts Supplier Following Weeks of Stalled Talks: “The United Auto Workers union on Wednesday announced they’d reached a tentative deal with Challenge Manufacturing, which supplies critical parts for popular GM and Stellantis vehicles. According to the union, the agreement follows weeks of stalled talks and mounting frustrations and delivers significant wage increases, stronger job security and greater union protections. ‘Four weeks ago, the company called their offer “last, best, and final.” It wasn’t good enough—and we fought back,’ James Gonzales, president of UAW Local 653 in Pontiac said in a statement. ‘We stayed united, rejected their proposal, and organized non-stop to hold them accountable. That pressure stopped them in their tracks. Now, we have a tentative agreement with 80% higher wage increases than what was on the table a month ago. Because we stood together in solidarity, we have a much stronger contract to bring to our members.’”
New Bill Aims to Protect American Call Center Jobs and Consumers from AI: “The Communications Workers of America (CWA) endorsed the proposed bill. ‘This much-needed legislation protects U.S. call center jobs and addresses the growing threats posed by artificial intelligence and offshoring,’ (CWA) Director of Government Affairs Dan Mauer said in a statement. ‘Historically, companies have offshored customer service jobs to avoid paying good union wages and benefits. Now companies are using AI to de-skill and speed up work and displace jobs, which undermines worker rights and degrades service quality for consumers.’”
Houston Workers at Popular Immersive Art Exhibit Unionize: “More than 70 employees at Houston’s immersive art and entertainment installation Meow Wolf have announced their intention to form a union. Employees at the Houston branch of the immersive art venue have announced they are forming a union with the Communications Workers of America Local 7055, the Meow Wolf Workers Collective, alongside hundreds of other Meow Wolf employees. Bartenders, guest services, tech, art and scenic, facilities, events, servers, cooks, and security employees will all represent the Houston branch.”
AFL-CIO Enters Legal Battle Over Federal Worker Union Pacts: “The nation’s largest coalition of labor unions is suing the Trump administration over the president’s efforts to strip more than one million federal workers of their collective bargaining rights. The AFL-CIO filed its complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Tuesday, accusing President Donald Trump of violating the constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act.”
Union Leaders Sound the Alarm on NASA Staffing, Proposed Budget Cuts: “The gathering was organized by the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers and the American Federation of Government Employees. IFPTE’s president says roughly 4,000 NASA employees, about a quarter of the agency’s workforce, have left since President Donald Trump took office in January, amid downsizing efforts and a voluntary resignation program encouraging workers to exit. ‘They want even more of these brilliant minds to leave. The most disturbing thing of this is at some point this becomes irreversible. It becomes irreversible. Why would anyone want to go work at NASA anymore, given the way that these workers are being treated by this administration?’ said Matthew Biggs, International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers president.”
Union Pacific and Norfolk Seek 1st Transcontinental Railroad Through a Massive Merger: “The nation’s largest rail union, SMART-TD, quickly opposed the merger over concerns of jeopardizing progress that Norfolk Southern has made in safety and labor relations since its disastrous 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The union said that Union Pacific’s record is troubling on safety and treatment of workers. The smaller Transport Workers Union echoed those concerns, saying the deal would deliver ‘billions for Wall Street while workers get shafted.’ Several other major rail unions said they are also concerned but want to meet with management first before weighing in on the deal.”
Workers Over Billionaires: High Energy AFL-CIO Bus Tour Rallies Unions on Atlanta Stop: “‘We all are living on the edge as working people, and more acutely than ever right now,’ the headliner, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, told the crowd. ‘Working people are working longer and harder—and getting less in return.’ Shuler and the other union leaders took aim at billionaires like Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who, she said, ‘have rigged the game.’”
At AFL-CIO Bus Tour, Kentucky BlueOval SK Workers Say They’ll Vote on Unionizing: “Blue Oval SK battery park workers say they’ve received federal approval to hold a vote on whether to form a union after a super-majority of workers asked the National Labor Relations Board for a vote earlier this year on joining the United Auto Workers, which represents Ford employees across the U.S. ‘We’ve been fighting this whole time, and we’re not going to stop,’ said production operator and union organizer Amber Levay. ‘The NLRB has finally gotten back to us. They did their best to push and push and push for as long of a way as they could get. But we finally got our election. We have finally heard back; next time you see me, we will be in negotiations.’”
SAG-AFTRA National Board Overwhelmingly Approves Network Television Code Deal with Producers: “During its one-day video conference plenary on Saturday, the SAG-AFTRA National Board announced that it has overwhelmingly voted to approve the tentative agreement the union, which represents professional actors, reached earlier this month with the major broadcast networks and other producers for the 2025 Network Television Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting (Network Television Code).”
National Teacher Union President on Trump’s Efforts to Defund Public Education: “Members of the American Federation of Teachers are meeting in Washington, D.C., Friday. The union’s annual conference comes as the Trump administration has frozen more than $5 billion of funding for K-to-12 schools and vowed to close the Department of Education. We speak to AFT President Randi Weingarten about the challenges facing school teachers.”
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol Made 6,666 Times More Than the Median Employee at His Coffee Chain Last Year: “It’s a good time to be a CEO. A new study by the AFL-CIO found the average corporate leader saw their compensation increase by $1.24 million last year. On average, the federation of unions says, CEOs at the nation’s largest companies made 285 times what the average worker did. A year ago, that ratio was 268:1. ‘The median employee would have had to start working in 1740 to earn what the average CEO received in 2024,’ the organization wrote in its 2025 Executive Paywatch study.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 08/04/2025 - 02:11
08/01/2025 - 3:30pm
Fight for All Workers: 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.
AFGE:
AFSCME:
Alliance for Retired Americans:
Amalgamated Transit Union:
American Federation of Musicians:
American Federation of Teachers:
American Postal Workers Union:
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Boilermakers:
Bricklayers:
Communications Workers of America:
Department for Professional Employees:
Electrical Workers:
Fire Fighters:
07/31/2025 - 2:30pm
Bus Tour Picks Up Checkered Flag Racing to Indianapolis in Support of UFCW Grocery and Retail Workers
On Wednesday, the AFL-CIO “It’s Better In a Union” tour bus raced to the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 481 union hall in Indianapolis where union members gathered for a rally and press conference in support of workers at Kroger and REI stores who are in the midst of intense collective bargaining negotiations.
Both sets of workers are members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 700. The members employed at Kroger are working their way toward a contract vote soon, while the members at REI are still in pursuit of their first contract since voting to form and join their union in February 2024. Federal employees were also represented at the rally and called for attendees to join the fight against the ongoing attacks on collective bargaining rights from the Trump administration.
"We're all here because we all agree to the same thing in our hearts, that belonging in a union is better," UFCW Local 700 President Tracy Bartak said.
"That contract is very important for the Kroger workers. We're going to get a little bit more appreciation if they go through and give us a good contract, with good wages and good benefits," added Local 700 member Vern Sowers.
On its way out of town, the tour bus victoriously raced past the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Indiana State AFL-CIO President Brett Voorhies saluted its departure with a wave of the checkered flag, encouraging union members everywhere to “start your engines!”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 07/31/2025 - 14:06
Tags:
Better in a Union Bus Tour
07/31/2025 - 2:30pm
Protecting Our Future: 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.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Colorado AFL-CIO:
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Illinois AFL-CIO:
Maine AFL-CIO:
Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Missouri AFL-CIO:
Nevada State AFL-CIO:
07/31/2025 - 2:30pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Anne Arundel County Public Library Workers Ratify First Contract
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.
Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) system workers unanimously ratified their first union contract last week as AFSCME Maryland Council 3 members.
The more than 400-person Anne Arundel Library Workers United bargaining unit includes librarians, library associates, circulation staff, building care technicians and others. Workers began organizing in early 2023 and worked with AFSCME to push for the passage of the Library Workers Empowerment Act during last year’s legislative session. The bill established collective bargaining rights for all library workers in Maryland. Their contract contained multiple major wins, including more than 12% in raises, stronger protections against discrimination, a more equitable disciplinary process and more.
"The ratification process is the culmination of almost a year of work designing a contract that all parties agreed to,” said Lisa Shore, a part-time hourly information worker at the Odenton branch. “It is very exciting and a chance to build a library system that supports our amazing staff so we can support the communities we serve.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 07/31/2025 - 09:54
07/31/2025 - 2:30pm
Worker Wins: Members Standing Strong Together
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Anne Arundel County Public Library Workers Ratify First Contract: Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) system workers unanimously ratified their first union contract last week as AFSCME Maryland Council 3 members. The more than 400-person Anne Arundel Library Workers United bargaining unit includes librarians, library associates, circulation staff, building care technicians and others. Workers began organizing in early 2023 and worked with AFSCME to push for the passage of the Library Workers Empowerment Act during last year’s legislative session. The bill established collective bargaining rights for all library workers in Maryland. Their contract contained multiple major wins, including more than 12% in raises, stronger protections against discrimination, a more equitable disciplinary process and more. "The ratification process is the culmination of almost a year of work designing a contract that all parties agreed to,” said Lisa Shore, a part-time hourly information worker at the Odenton branch. “It is very exciting and a chance to build a library system that supports our amazing staff so we can support the communities we serve.”
Grocery Workers in Bay Area Win Tentative Agreement, Avert Historic Strike: Over the weekend, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) locals 8-Golden State, 5 and 648 announced that they had reached a new tentative agreement (TA) covering members who work at Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons in the Bay Area. The deal comes after a powerful, coordinated walkout threat that would have involved more than 25,000 grocery workers and been the first regional strike against the company in nearly 30 years. Highlights of the TA include wage increases, a fortified pension plan, improvements to scheduling, increases to health care benefits and more. “This agreement is the result of our members standing strong together,” said UFCW Local 8-Golden State President Jacques Loveall. “Because of their unity and determination, this new agreement will bring them the respect and dignity they deserve. These workers are more than the backbone of these companies—they are part of the fabric of our communities, and their efforts drive our shared success.” “This is a hard-earned and inspiring victory,” said Local 5 President John Frahm and Local 648 President Dan Larson in a joint statement. “Because our members stood together—strong and unshakable—they secured a contract that reflects their value and delivers real improvements for their families and futures.”
SAG-AFTRA National Board Overwhelmingly Approves Network Television Code Deal: On Saturday, the SAG-AFTRA National Board overwhelmingly voted to approve the 2025 Network Television Code tentative agreement. The contract covers members who work in live and recorded programs like soap operas, talk shows, variety shows, award shows and sports programming. In addition to securing annual wage increases throughout the duration of the contract, the agreement also includes wins around expansion of streaming coverage for sports broadcasters, improved terms for dancers and singers, protections for ensuring hair and makeup equity, and more. “This is a meaningful and future-facing contract that raises the bar across the board,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a press release. “This contract reflects the union’s deep commitment to dignity, fairness, and progress in the face of increasingly adverse times. I’m incredibly proud of the work that went into this deal, and wholeheartedly approve of what it represents for our members working under the Network Television Code.”
Legal Aid Society Workers Reach Tentative Agreement, Keeping 1,100 Attorneys on the Job: Workers at the Legal Aid Society have reached a tentative agreement with management, avoiding a strike authorized by 1,100 public interest attorneys who are members of the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys-UAW Local 2325 (ALAA). ALAA authorized a strike at the end of June as its contract with management expired. Attorneys demanded higher pay, lighter workloads and greater retirement benefits. After a stalled bargaining process, the union terminated its collective bargaining agreement and set a strike deadline for last Friday, promising to walk off the job without a contract. The tentative agreement will head to union membership for a vote. “While we are proud of these historic gains on workload protection to increase retention, a first-of-its-kind student loan fund, 20 weeks parental leave, retiree health benefits, and more, we were fundamentally left behind by Mayor Adams and our employers on salaries and pensions,” said Local 2325 chapter Chair Jane Fox. “Our members will vote on this contract next week, but regardless if they vote it up or down, we won a reopener guaranteeing no matter what, we will be back to win the salaries and pensions we deserve next year.”
Norfolk Botanical Garden Workers Vote to Form a Union with IAM: Workers in Norfolk, Virginia, who work at Norfolk Botanical Garden, become the second botanical garden in the state to organize in as many years, with nearly two-thirds of them supporting the formation of the union with IAM Union (IAM). Workers had a powerful outpouring of community support during their effort—hundreds of people signed a petition backing their union drive and lawmakers like state Sen. Angelia Williams Graves and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott also stood alongside them in their fight. Members are looking to have more input on the garden’s direction and to improve workplace safety, notably raising concerns about opaque or lacking inclement weather policies. Better pay was also a driver for the unionization push. “We need to be a voice for everyone,” said Bridget Fitzgerald, the union organizer working with Norfolk garden employees. “If you can’t include everyone’s voice, then you’re still excluding those same 23 people who are essentially a third of the bargaining unit, and you don’t want to do that. You want everybody to come together in unity.”
Westchester Medical Center Residents Ratify New Contract After Months of Negotiations: After months of rallies, petitions and high-pressure negotiations, nearly 500 doctors at Westchester Medical Center ratified a new contract. The residents, represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents of the Service Employees International Union (CIR/SEIU), said the contract marks a turning point in the hospital’s treatment of its staff. “This new contract is a huge victory,” said Dr. Daniel Bassily, a CIR member. “We were struggling just to pay our rent and for things like childcare, with some of us even taking on second jobs to pay the bills.” The contract includes a 22% wage increase over five years, paid parking reimbursement for off-site rotations, Juneteenth recognized as a paid holiday and a hospital-funded Uber service to get physicians home safely after long shifts.
Walters Art Museum Workers Unanimously Ratify First Union Contract : Workers at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, who are members of Walters Workers United (WWU), an affiliate of AFSCME Maryland Council 3, unanimously voted to ratify their first union contract. “I’m thrilled that nearly two years of dedication from everyone in our bargaining unit have secured health and safety provisions, wage increases for our members, and benefits that enhance retention and keep the museum competitive,” said Karena Ingram, a digital marketing associate. “It’s an honor to support our colleagues in their essential work of bringing art to our community.” WWU reached a tentative agreement in late June and ratified the contract on Wednesday. Highlights of the contract include more than 13% in raises over the life of the contract, improved health benefits, increased leave, and the creation of two oversight committees to address workplace concerns. The contract covers more than 80 museum workers, including gallery officers, facility workers, museum educators, visitor experience staff, and others whose work forms the backbone of the museum.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 07/31/2025 - 10:32
Tags:
Organizing
07/29/2025 - 1:30pm
AFL-CIO Tour Bus Stop in St. Louis Fights to Hold Lawmakers Accountable
St. Louis-area union members held a rally and press conference Friday to hold Rep. Ann Wagner accountable for betraying working people by voting for the disastrous federal budget bill and delaying its cuts until after the 2026 midterms, when she’s up for re-election.
A part of the AFL-CIO’s “It’s Better In a Union” bus tour, the event featured remarks from a variety of local unions, including the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council, American Postal Workers Union (APWU), AFGE, and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). After the speeches, a group of union members delivered an oversized letter to Wagner, outlining workers’ grievances with the harmful legislation she supported.
“We are here to advocate for safe workplaces, comprehensive benefits and job security for the working people,” said St. Louis Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer Robbie Robertson. “The goal is to provide working people with the stability and peace of mind they need to support themselves and their families. The unions are here to build a stronger economy by fighting for freedom, fairness, and security for the working people.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 07/29/2025 - 09:27
Tags:
Better in a Union Bus Tour
