For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Mae apGovannon of AFGE.

Mae apGovannon is the AFGE national pride committee chair. They are also the AFGE District 11 pride coordinator, the AFGE Local 2157 Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) pride coordinator, and the AFGE VBA safety representative and steward. They serve the VBA as a senior veterans service representative, focusing on mentoring and training. In 2023, they were the co-recipient of the AFGE Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Champion Award. As chair of AFGE PRIDE, they dedicate their time to helping to lead and develop new programs and training opportunities for AFGE members nationwide.

Working people across the United States have stepped 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.

Laborers (LIUNA) Local 814 members ratified a new contract with West Virginia University Hospitals. The deal goes through March 2027 and passed with a vote of 369–235. The contract maintains health care benefits, provides pay increases, longevity and annual discretionary bonuses, and a $1,000 ratification bonus.

“For the first time, we have been able to get the annual bonus that the hospital does based on hospital performance in our contract as well,” said Local 814 Business Manager Kristi Snider. “Our more tenured employees are getting raises instead of lump sum payments. That’s what they want and need to see in their wage.”

For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Hunter Chumbley of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

First Officer Hunter Chumbley is a Boeing 777 pilot and serves as the vice chair of ALPA’s Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Committee, helping to promote a culture on the flight deck where all pilots can be their authentic selves and helping to foster a future generation of commercial airline pilots that better reflects the composition of the communities ALPA pilots serve. “Ensuring that all our members are reflected in our work representing ALPA pilots is our core value. Just like the larger labor community, we strive to advance our profession now and in the future, to anyone who sees themselves as an airline pilot while maintaining a highly qualified workforce, highest safety standards and quality working conditions for all.”

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:

In acknowledgment of members who have passed, we invite you to our quarterly virtual memorial gathering on June 10. 
This event is open to the public and anyone who wishes to speak will be given an opportunity while time allows. https://t.co/sqtSstEEsf pic.twitter.com/qzNjqGbJyS

— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) June 2, 2024

AFGE:

Here's what you should know about your job-related injury rights ⬇https://t.co/A3HghOqJNA

— AFGE (@AFGENational) June 5, 2024

AFSCME:

The first contract for workers at the @afworkersunion in LA offers pay raises, leave and other benefits.https://t.co/e9xTQf0lWm

— AFSCME (@AFSCME) May 31, 2024

Alliance for Retired Americans:

Instead of more tax cuts for the wealthy, why don't we make them pay their fair share into Social Security? #ScrapTheCap https://t.co/hT7RfU4re5

— Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) June 4, 2024

Amalgamated Transit Union:

Today at the U.S. Department of Labor, ATU Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development Jamaine Gibson attended the meeting of the DOL’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (ACA). As a member of this diverse Committee of apprenticeship stakeholders, pic.twitter.com/j74V3PoZSi

— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) June 4, 2024

American Federation of Teachers:

As an AFT member, your well-being is our priority. We’re here to support you. You don’t have to face it alone. 

Our free, confidential trauma counseling program offers specialized care to help you heal and regain your strength. Learn more: https://t.co/6xQ1ZzyTgX @AFTMembBen pic.twitter.com/PgG7I3dbbq

— AFT (@AFTunion) June 5, 2024

American Postal Workers Union:

Happy Pride Month! Be iridescent, celebrate diversity and the right to live freely in a world without hate.

Working people across the United States have stepped 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 from four Twin Cities Half Price Books locations in Minnesota ratified their first union contracts. They are members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) locals 663 and 1189. The new contracts include 33% raises, job protections such as just cause, grievance procedures and union representation.

“Through the hard work of the entire bargaining committee, we have shown all of our coworkers the priceless value of having a union contract. This is going to help everyone at Half Price Books, and it will continue for decades to come,” said Aaron Kerr, a bookseller at the Roseville Half Price Books.

For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Martha Grevatt of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).

Martha Grevatt is a founding board member of Pride At Work. She served on the Pride At Work board from 1994–2001 and held positions in Pride At Work Ohio and Pride At Work Michigan. Grevatt has been a UAW member since 1987, when she was hired at Chrysler’s Twinsburg, Ohio, stamping plant. There Grevatt waged a long fight against sexual and homophobic harassment. She fought for—and helped win—nondiscrimination language covering sexual orientation in the 1999 UAW contracts with the Big Three. One year later, the union won domestic partner health care benefits for same-sex partners. Grevatt was a trustee of UAW Local 122 in Twinsburg and, after the plant closed and she relocated, trustee of Local 869.

No matter who you love or your gender identity, your union has your back. We have no tolerance for hate in our movement.

The labor movement proudly celebrates Pride Month because everyone deserves to live and work as their full, authentic self.

Sadly, LGBTQ+ people still lack basic federal legal protections in the workplace; at the state level, protections vary. In 16 states and two territories, there’s no prohibitions for discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in state law.

This leaves too many of America’s workers with no legal workplace protections whatsoever based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The best tool workers have to fight back is a union contract. Union contracts are legally enforceable in every state. They protect LGBTQIA+ workers from harassment, and can mean real progress for working people and our families to gain health care, savings, a future, and so much more. Check out some model contract language from our partners at Pride at Work.

We previously asked you to share what your union means to you as an LGBTQIA+ union member. Here are some stories by workers who are protected by a union contract and are LGBTQIA+ or union allies:

“Long before marriage equality, my union bargained for and got partnership benefits and has kept them for non-married couples after marriage equality was won in the courts.” 

—Anonymous

“Trans students often reach out to me, and I offer them a safe space to talk. LGBTQ+ musicians often tell me that my simply existing in this role has helped them to see that their own aspirations are possible. If you don’t see yourself out there, you begin to doubt you can do it.”

—Sasha Romero, Principal Trombone, American Federation of Musicians (AFM)

“Whenever I see a young person new to the union who feels comfortable being their whole self, and knowing that in some small way I helped create the space for them to do that, I can’t think of anything that makes me feel more pride as a queer IATSE member than that.”

—Jenny Reeves, President, Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 849

“My union, the Operating Engineers, made it possible for me to learn a trade as a heavy construction equipment operator, through a bargaining agreement of an apprenticeship, which immediately led to a way out of poverty at the age of 21. I had experienced poverty and homelessness during part of my youth.

“Homophobia has been successfully used by employers as a tool to divide workers and destroy union organizing efforts. I’ve seen this tactic used when I was an active part of my union’s efforts, and it seems particularly effective in the construction industry.

“I fully support all efforts to fight oppression and promote freedom in every way possible. The labor movement is Inclusive of the fight against oppression in all other movements, for people of color, women and the gay community.”

—Anonymous

“As an out and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have a strong conviction to be my authentic self, thus creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all people, just as my union does for me.”

—Maria Perez, Executive Assistant/Communications Director, Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 30

“Having a union job means I can raise my teenage grandchild in relative comfort. I can adequately clothe and feed him as well as music lessons. I wake up each day knowing that even if I have a bad day or make a mistake at work, I will still have a job the next day. I spent decades looking for a job like this.”

—Anonymous

Do you want to add your story?