Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to the labor movement. Today's profile features Aleta Chavez of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA).

In addition to being active in her local union, Aleta Chavez has been very active in her community. She participated in mission work in Guatemala and volunteered with the Dallas Police Department and Habitat for Humanity. She has been a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens and numerous student organizations while enrolled in Cedar Valley College’s veterinary technology program.

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.

UNITE HERE Local 26 members who work at the Omni Providence in Rhode Island ratified a new four-year contract last week that secures higher wages and better benefits.

This victory came seven weeks after workers at the downtown Providence hotel voted to authorize a strike over management’s refusal to bargain a fair contract. Their previous agreement expired last January, and members were laser-focused on winning a deal that would address rising costs of living. To show the Omni Providence they meant business, members began wearing lanyards to work to signal that they’d signed up for strike benefits and were ready and willing to walk out.

“My co-workers and I put a lot of work into this fight,” said George Cook, a banquet attendant at the Omni. “We were ready to do whatever it took to win. I’m happy that we’re able to get the best contract we ever had, with wage increases that will help us pay our rent and take care of our families.”

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to the labor movement. Today's profile features Odalis Betances of the Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU).

Odalis Betances is a hardworking, 13-year member of HFIU Local 3. Betances always steps up when needed for the union, serving on the executive board and assisting with any language barriers. Betances is proud of his Dominican roots and of being a Local 3 member.

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 UAW Local 600’s Tool & Die Unit at Ford’s River Rouge Complex reached a tentative agreement with Ford Motor Co., one day ahead of its strike deadline.

Roughly 500 workers in the Tool & Die Unit work at the Dearborn, Michigan, facility. Members were prepared to go on strike starting Sept. 26 if the multinational automotive manufacturer refused to address issues such as job security, wage parity and work rules. The negotiated TA includes protections against the impacts of advancements in 3D printing and establishes a process to secure additional die work as required. Additionally, UAW won a provision to eliminate the wage disparity for skilled trades, ensuring fair and equal pay across the board.

“The members at the Rouge Complex understand the power of strength in numbers,” said UAW Vice President Chuck Browning. “They stuck together and showed Ford that they were willing to stand up if necessary to win what they deserve.”

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to the labor movement. Today's profile features Tiffany Roman of AFGE.

Tiffany Roman has been an AFGE member and licensed practical nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs since 2018. She is currently the southern Colorado vice president for AFGE Local 1117. She is also the national chair of AFGE’s Hispanic Coalition (HISCO) and the AFGE District 11 HISCO coordinator. Roman recently became president of the newly established Rocky Mountains chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. She is a single mother and is pursuing her master’s in social work.

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.

UAW members working at Ford's new tab tool and die unit in the River Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan, reached a tentative agreement one day ahead of its strike deadline. The more than 500 workers in the tool and die unit will review the details of the agreement and hold a ratification vote in the coming days. Last week, the union said it would go on strike on Sept. 26 if local contract issues were not resolved. Core issues included job security, wage parity and work rules.

"If ratified, the agreement will set a new standard for the skilled trades at Ford," the union said.

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to the labor movement. Today's profile features Liz Sorenson of the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

Liz Sorenson has served as president of the Nevada State AFL-CIO since 2017. She began her career over 40 years ago and in 1990 transferred to Nevada Bell, where she served as a steward, organizer, lobbyist and officer for CWA Local 9413. She was hired as CWA District 9 staff representative and, later, area director/political director. Sorenson has run the Nevada State AFL-CIO political walk program since 2000. She was elected as a board member of the Nevada State AFL-CIO in 2009 and is currently serving her second term as president after being re-elected in 2021.

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to the labor movement. Today's profile features Monica Martinez of AFSCME.

Monica Martinez is a clinical care partner at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and serves as vice president of the patient care unit for AFSCME Local 3299. She takes great pride in making sure her neighbors have access to quality medical care. Martinez is always there for her patients and co-workers, showing up at the picket line and the bargaining table to strengthen her community and win respect and dignity for their essential work.

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 (formerly Twitter).

California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:

Whether you work in the public sector, are a tradesperson, a service worker, a healthcare worker… any worker. Trump’s Project 2025 plan will wreck your job. Anti-worker, anti-union. https://t.co/Jes7Kgk0YZ

— California Federation of Labor Unions (@CaliforniaLabor) September 24, 2024

Connecticut AFL-CIO:

Huge turnout of union members in Danbury to knock doors for pro-worker candidates! Thanks to the members of the CT Building Trades, @AFTCT, @IAMDistrict26, @CEUI_SEIU_511 and @IBEW Local 420 for volunteering their time! #1u #LaborVotes pic.twitter.com/NmpQir6bHg

— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) September 21, 2024

Florida AFL-CIO:

Florida brothers and sisters - now is the time to get prepared! https://t.co/JgWQruYHTK

— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) September 24, 2024

Georgia State AFL-CIO:

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 Apple Store in Oklahoma City's Penn Square Mall voted to ratify their first collective bargaining contract. The workers are members of Apple Retail Union-CWA Local 6016. They began organizing in early 2022, and the parties reached a tentative agreement in early September after a unanimous strike authorization vote in August and a store picket. This is the second group of Apple retail workers to secure a contract.

The three-year contract includes wage increases of up to 11.5%, worker involvement in scheduling, guaranteed paid time off to vote, a safer and more democratic workplace, a grievance and arbitration process, the establishment of joint Safety and Health and Working Relations committees, job protection in the event of a store closure or relocation, severance pay, guaranteed paid time off, health and other benefits.