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.

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.”

On Thursday, the Nevada State AFL-CIO, UNITE HERE Culinary Union and community allies rallied with the AFL-CIO’s “It’s Better In a Union” tour bus in Las Vegas to highlight their fight to protect hospitality workers and the state economy from the Trump administration’s policies. Later in the day, labor leaders also joined Rep. Dina Titus and other lawmakers to discuss how federal cuts are threatening the livelihoods of working people.

The Culinary Union, the Nevada affiliate of UNITE HERE, represents tens of thousands of workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including those at most casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in downtown Las Vegas. These members are the lifeblood of the city’s tourism industry and they are fighting back against the Trump administration’s attacks on immigrant workers and disastrous cuts to essential programs like Medicaid.

“The ‘Trump Slump’ is real and it’s happening in Las Vegas,” said Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Union. “This administration promised it was going to take on costs of groceries, eggs, rent and now that's gone. They've completely forgotten about their promise to fight the cost of living. We're telling this administration we need a course correction because it's costing us jobs and hurting Las Vegas right now."

“The ‘It’s Better in a Union’ bus tour is in Las Vegas because we're hurting,” Susie Martinez, executive secretary-treasurer of the Nevada State AFL-CIO, said. “Our economy is losing jobs and putting working families at risk. Instead of tackling the cost of living, Trump is targeting immigrants, arresting hardworking gardners and dishwashers while big corporations continue to profit. It's a travesty....Nevada workers are standing together to demand an economy that works for everyone.”

Tags: Better in a Union Bus Tour

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler rode the AFL-CIO “It’s Better in a Union” bus into the Hudson Valley and New York City this week to rally local unions.

Shuler joined union members for an accountability rally on Tuesday to call out Rep. Mike Lawler for his vote to pass disastrous cuts to critical programs and investments. Hudson Valley union members and leaders gathered in Croton Point Park, in the heart of New York’s 17th Congressional District, to highlight how Lawler failed to advance the Protect America’s Workforce Act and thereby harmed the working people he represents. 

“Ripping away food from our children and our seniors, gutting 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,” Shuler said. 

On Wednesday, the bus tour arrived at the iconic Times Square for a rally with Actors’ Equity Association President Brooke Shields as members face contract negotiations with the Broadway League beginning next week. Broadway actors and stage managers are gearing up to fight for the improved scheduling, better sick coverage and secure health care they deserve.

“Every working person deserves a fair deal at work. We need reasonable schedules, protection when we get hurt,” Shields said, adding that she had torn her meniscus and still danced on it for three months. “Our stage managers don’t have swings. They get sick, they have to still come to work. It’s too much. We need safer staffing practices. We need [a] fair share [of] money going into our health insurance.” 

Tags: Better in a Union Bus Tour

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.

After three months walking the picket line, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199NE members reached a tentative agreement on Monday and voted overwhelmingly to ratify their new contract with Butler Hospital and its owner, Care New England.

Staff at the Rhode Island psychiatric and substance abuse facility made history in their fight for a fair agreement, staging one of the longest walkouts in the state’s history. The previous contract, which covered nearly 800 front-line workers, expired in March. Throughout negotiations, the union’s core sticking point was securing higher wages to address the staffing shortages. The new agreement contains major victories, such as language that ensures no current employee will earn less than $20 an hour by the end of the contract, maintains health care benefits and includes improvements to workplace safety, retirement security and more.

“This resolution is a sign of true unity that brings the hospital and its mission forward,” said Brooke Huminski, a clinical social worker. “We are incredibly thankful for the support of so many in our community as well as elected leaders, especially House Speaker [Joseph] Shekarchi who helped us find a pathway forward toward resolution.”

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:

Equity's next memorial gathering will be held next Monday, August 25. Don't let theater landlords decide how we honor recently passed Equity members. Join us as we read their names, share our stories and memories with each other. RSVP via zoom - https://bit.ly/4lyT75m

[image or embed]

— Actors' Equity Association (@actorsequity.bsky.social) August 20, 2025 at 9:45 AM

AFGE:

Secretary Collins’ decision to rip up the negotiated union contract for majority of its workforce, 1/3 of whom are vets, is another clear example of retaliation against AFGE members for speaking out against the illegal, anti-worker, & anti-veteran policies of this administration. https://t.co/boOnoQoxgr

— AFGE (@AFGENational) August 6, 2025

AFSCME:

HAPPENING NOW: We’re marching on Rep. Young Kim’s office in Anaheim, CA to ask a simple question: How dare you vote to cut services at local hospitals, nursing homes and schools to pay for more billionaire tax breaks? pic.twitter.com/BzbEXJgUFd

— AFSCME (@AFSCME) August 19, 2025

Alliance for Retired Americans:

Alright, let's be realistic: If we want to protect Social Security and make sure seniors can get their full earned benefits, then we need to make sure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share. We can make this happen, but Congress must act.https://t.co/i7LMDpok6q

— Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) August 18, 2025

Amalgamated Transit Union:

Solidarity and strength were in the convention hall for the second day of the ATU 61st International Convention in New York City, featuring powerful speakers and convention committee reports to set the vision for the future of our Union.
Before the convention proceedings began,… pic.twitter.com/uo5w2qw5NX

— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) August 19, 2025

American Federation of Musicians:

We are pleased to join the @Unite4Copyright at a time when it’s more critical than ever to protect the work and livelihoods of musicians. Working with the Copyright Alliance will enable us to achieve our goal of supporting professional musicians who comprise our membership. https://t.co/Vdnke5QmXw

— AFM (@The_AFM) August 6, 2025

American Federation of Teachers:

Private equity’s push into 401(k)s comes as the industry struggles to sell off old investments. With more than 30K companies stuck in portfolios, it could take nearly a decade just to clear the backlog, and working people’s retirement savings will suffer. https://t.co/sMvjnKcL3F

— AFT (@AFTunion) August 20, 2025

American Postal Workers Union:

Labor Day is just around the corner - but as workers' rights are under attack, this year we need to honor the day with more than a picnic. Thousands of union members and community organizations are poised to take action! pic.twitter.com/x3xdt1O1w8

— The American Postal Workers Union - APWU (@APWUnational) August 19, 2025

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:

.@PSAAirlinesInc, it’s time to pay up! AFA PSA is back at the table TODAY at the NMB in Washington, D.C. 

CLT. DAY. DCA. PHL. DFW. AFA PSA Flight Attendants’ Day of Action sent a clear message to management that it’s time for a living wage Contract NOW. pic.twitter.com/Qlmxa36gax

— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) August 20, 2025

Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:

Workers on strike at Teasdale Latin Foods in Hoopeston, Ill. warn that any Teasdale bean products produced at their plant after 6/1/25 are no longer being produced by experienced, skilled workers, and the Union cannot guarantee their quality. https://t.co/cxjEyVW615

— BCTGM International (@BCTGM) August 7, 2025

Boilermakers:

ICYMI in the IBB Update, check out this recap of the 2025 #Boilermakers Industrial Sector Operations Conference https://t.co/4WlsN1V4hW Were you there? What was your favorite moment? pic.twitter.com/ofrn4fbiU4

— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) August 19, 2025

Bricklayers:

Congratulations to Sister Erin McNamara, the go-to #restoration specialist in #Chicago, on winning the Outstanding BAC Craftsmanship Award! https://t.co/yBLvoJWOQR#skilledtrades #masonry #unionproud #womeninconstruction pic.twitter.com/OSM3uFyB2I

— Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union (@IUBAC) August 20, 2025

Communications Workers of America:

Every Thursday we wear red to show our solidarity & honor Gerry Horgan’s memory. 

On this day in 1989, Gerry was killed on the NYNEX strike picket line. At his funeral, a line of CWAers wearing red stretched for a mile along the route to the church.

Solidarity Forever. pic.twitter.com/qn0cEhCcpP

— CWA (@CWAUnion) August 15, 2025

Department for Professional Employees:

Congratulations to the stage managers at Boston Ballet who have officially joined together in union with @weareagma.bsky.social! www.musicalartists.org/agma-and-bos...

[image or embed]

— Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (@dpeaflcio.bsky.social) August 19, 2025 at 9:45 AM

Electrical Workers:

When dark money campaigns started killing off union jobs in Ohio, the #IBEW found a powerful ally in the fight for a clean energy future. https://t.co/qYQFc0lFuf @NRDC

— IBEW (@IBEW) August 20, 2025

Fire Fighters:

Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.

NNU Members at Oneida Health Hospital in New York: Nurses at Oneida Health Hospital, members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), voted to ratify a new three-year contract. The new deal includes yearly 3-percent wage increases and incentives to help recruit and retain nurses, no concessions on benefits, and a bonus on ratification. “I’m so proud of what we were able to achieve,” Donna Maccarone, a registered nurse, said. “We fought because we care for this community and believe that patients and nurses deserve better. These improvements will ensure that we have enough nurses to provide the absolute best care possible.”

SEIU Members at Butler Hospital Ratify New Contract, End Historic Strike: After three months walking the picket line, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199NE members reached a tentative agreement on Monday and voted overwhelmingly to ratify their new contract with Butler Hospital and its owner, Care New England. Staff at the Rhode Island psychiatric and substance abuse facility made history in their fight for a fair agreement, staging one of the longest walkouts in the state’s history. The previous contract, which covered nearly 800 front-line workers, expired in March. Throughout negotiations, the union’s core sticking point was securing higher wages to address the staffing shortages. The new agreement contains major victories, such as language that ensures no current employee will earn less than $20 an hour by the end of the contract, maintains health care benefits and includes improvements to workplace safety, retirement security and more. “This resolution is a sign of true unity that brings the hospital and its mission forward,” said Brooke Huminski, a clinical social worker. “We are incredibly thankful for the support of so many in our community as well as elected leaders, especially House Speaker [Joseph] Shekarchi who helped us find a pathway forward toward resolution.”

Howard Community College Faculty Reach Tentative Agreement: Members of the United Academics of Maryland-Howard Community College (UAMD-HCC)—an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFT-Maryland and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP)—have secured a tentative agreement for their first union contract. The bargaining unit covers full-time faculty at HCC, who will vote on whether to ratify the deal later this month. In addition to a 4% cost-of-living adjustment and a $3,500 bonus for all full-time faculty, members also won a clear disciplinary process, greater job security, defined workload guardrails, increased shared governance with the college and more. “This agreement is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our faculty,” said United Academics of Maryland-HCC Chair and Associate Professor Nadene Vevea. “After tough negotiations, we have secured vital advancements that not only recognize the contributions of our educators but also lay a foundation for a stronger academic environment at Howard Community College.” “This tentative agreement is a monumental leap forward in improving faculty working conditions at Howard Community College and for the broader movement to strengthen higher education in Maryland,” said AFT-Maryland President Kenya Campbell. “Faculty at Howard Community College stood together to demand better, and this tentative agreement delivers not only for them but also builds momentum for the fight for all community college faculty statewide.”

Blizzard’s Story and Franchise Development Workers Join CWA: Blizzard’s Story and Franchise Development (SFD) team became the latest group of video game workers to organize after they voted to form a union with Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 9510 on Tuesday. After a majority of the video game company’s in-house cinematic, animation and narrative team endorsed union authorization, parent corporation Microsoft recognized CWA as the workers’ bargaining representative. Nearly 3,000 workers at Microsoft-owned studios have organized as part of the union’s Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) project to build better standards across the industry since 2023. “After more than a decade working at Blizzard, I’ve seen all the highs and lows. For years, Blizzard has been a place where people could build their careers and stay for decades, but that stability’s been fading,” said Bucky Fisk, a principal editor and member of the organizing committee. “With a union, we’re able to preserve what makes this place special, secure real transparency in how decisions are made, and make sure policies are applied fairly to everyone.” “These workers are setting the standard for animation, cinematics, and storytelling across the video game industry, creating the breathtaking cutscenes, trailers, and other narrative content that fans have come to love across all Blizzard franchises. We are excited to have them join our union family,” said Local 9510 President Jason Justice. “Their decision to organize is another powerful step toward ensuring that every worker at Blizzard and Microsoft has a seat at the table to shape the conditions under which their art is made.”

Tags: Organizing

On Tuesday, as part of the AFL-CIO “It’s Better in a Union” bus tour, AFSCME President Lee Saunders and more than 100 union members in Anaheim, California, called for Rep. Young Kim to be held accountable for her vote to cut services at local hospitals, nursing homes and schools to pay for billionaire tax breaks.

Workers gathered for a press conference to speak out against the disastrous funding cuts in the Trump administration’s budget and then marched to Rep. Kim’s office to deliver a letter detailing how the bill will hurt their communities.

“Rep. Young Kim voted for the largest cuts to Medicaid and affordable health care in our nation’s history,” said Saunders. “She voted to increase health care premiums and rip coverage away from [more than] 15 million people across America—including as many as 31,000 people right here in California’s 40th district. She voted to kill thousands of jobs funded by Medicaid—nurses, home care workers, paramedics, special education aides and more….So, today, we’re here to send a message to Congresswoman Kim: With this vote, it’s clear we can’t count on you.”

Tags: Better in a Union Bus Tour

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.

Across more than 10 cities, union members and veterans gathered to fight back against the Trump administration’s aggressive attacks on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) staffing and collective bargaining agreements.

The rallies followed the VA's unilateral cancellation of nearly all of its union contracts last week. Workers who provide essential care and services for returning service members are represented by unions like AFGE, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), National Nurses United (NNU), the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) and the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE/SEIU).

“Unfair treatment in the workplace will skyrocket,” said Aimee Potter, a social worker and AFGE Local 789 union steward who spoke in Chicago. “[VA Secretary Douglas] Collins claims this will improve veterans’ care, but the truth is, this decision paves the way for mass job cuts, terminations and the hollowing-out of the agency.”

"They canceled my appointment because they literally do not have the staff to cover everybody," said veteran Alissa Ellman who attended a rally in Syracuse, New York. "The waiting room was empty, and the last three visits I’ve had to the VA, the bathrooms in the Buffalo VA have been absolutely filthy. Why? Not because people don’t want to do a good job, don’t want to clean, they’ve been clean for the last 20 years while I’ve been getting health care there, it’s because they are lacking in staff.”

“The call to order is to stop trying to privatize the VA, to stop trying to give our health care, our health care service to a private sector person that’s going to make a profit off of it,” said Nashville, Tennessee, rally goer and Navy veteran Jim Wohlgemuth. “The government for decades, for decades, has been more than happy to send us overseas to wherever and then leave us alone when we get back.”

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.

United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1557 members are mobilizing to raise donations and provide community support for the victims of the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works explosion.

The fatal explosion at the Pittsburgh-area coal-processing plant last week killed two workers and injured 10 others. The day after the tragic disaster, the co-chairs of Local 1557’s NextGen committee, Zack Mainhart and Travis Laing, sprang into action with local businesses and faith leaders to support victims, survivors and their families.

“We’ll do everything in our power to help them. If they need school supplies, groceries, a shoulder or an ear, [Local] 1557 will be there,” said Mainhart. “We are in this together. Our members and their families have a tough [road] ahead, but they will not be alone.”

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:

Over the weekend, 45 lawmakers voted to restore the $200 per student increase to the BSA that Governor Dunleavy vetoed.

Click the link below to thank the lawmakers who stood with our public schools and restored this critical funding! #akleg https://t.co/rQIYuUgaky

— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) August 4, 2025

Arizona AFL-CIO:

#BetterInAUnion Bus Tour in Tucson!