Throughout National Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile is Sue Parton of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

Sue Parton is a proud member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. She rose from classroom teacher at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to president of the Federation of Indian Service Employees, representing thousands of federal workers across 24 states. From fighting unjust layoffs to negotiating national labor agreements, she has championed fairness, respect and dignity for employees serving Native communities.

Tags: Native American Heritage Month

Throughout National Native American Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Native Americans have made to the labor movement and toward expanding the rights of working people. Today's profile is Teresa Ford of AFSCME.

Teresa Ford is a senior family assistant analyst with the New Mexico Health Care Authority, where she has spent almost a decade getting families access to affordable health care so they don't have to choose between doctor visits and groceries. Of Navajo ancestry and a proud advocate for her community, Ford also organizes through AFSCME Local 2777 to strengthen public services and protect every worker’s freedom to access and provide them.

Tags: Native American Heritage Month

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 Wednesday, the National Lacrosse League Players’ Association (NLLPA) announced it is formally affiliating with the AFL-CIO, becoming the ninth professional sports union in the AFL-CIO Sports Council.

he AFL-CIO Sports Council was formed in 2022 to build power across unions in professional sports, amplify the voices of athletes and shine a light on the challenges they face as workers.

“Lacrosse players are incredible athletes who put their bodies, their passion and their expertise into a sport that is skyrocketing in popularity, and they deserve a union that has their backs every step of the way,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “By joining the AFL-CIO and our Sports Council, NLLPA members are helping grow a powerful movement of athlete-workers who are standing up for fairness, respect and a safe workplace. The future of professional sports is union strong, and lacrosse players are stepping onto the field leading that charge.”

“Joining the AFL-CIO and its Sports Council is an exciting step forward for our players and our union,” said NLLPA Vice President and Executive Director Reid Reinholdt. “This affiliation connects us with a powerful network of athlete-workers who share our commitment to fairness, respect and progress across professional sports. Together, we’ll learn from one another, strengthen our collective voice, and ensure our members have the knowledge and support to meet the evolving challenges of sports. It’s an honor to stand alongside unions that are setting the standard for what representation in sports can and should be.”