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:

Join union members across NYC to mourn and celebrate the life of Alex Pretti and call for justice for all victims of ICE and Border Patrol.

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.

‘We Have to Stand Together’: Minnesota Economic Blackout Organizers Push to Take Demonstrations Nationwide: “One of the largest labor unions in the U.S. is pushing to expand Friday’s economic blackout over the surge of federal immigration agents in Minnesota. Organizers are urging Minnesotans not to work, shop or go to school tomorrow, as part of demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the region, and the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good. They are now planning actions beyond the state, and nationwide.”

Cleveland Institute of Music Faculty Ratify First Union Contract: “Faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music have ratified their first union contract. The three-year agreement between CIM and the American Federation of Musicians Local 4, which represents about 120 members of the conservatory’s faculty, sets standards for compensation, workload, job security and professional support.”

Strengthening Labor Leadership: East Central Illinois AFL-CIO Elects 9 New Officers: “Union workers in Central Illinois now have new representation. The East Central Illinois AFL-CIO swore in nine new officers on Wednesday night. They represent more than 18,000 union members across 11 counties in Central Illinois. They advocate for their members and their families as far north as Iroquois County and as far south as Jasper.”

U.S. Union Leader Tells Davos Elites ‘You’re Gonna Have a Revolution’ if AI Wipes Out Jobs: “The leader of the AFL-CIO, the largest union federation in the U.S., told elites and others gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday that rapid advances in artificial intelligence risk turbocharging the worst inequities of the existing economic order, displacing workers en masse while enriching those at the very top. Liz Shuler, the AFL-CIO’s president, said during a panel discussion that if the billionaires and corporate titans currently directing AI developments are ‘looking to just deskill, dehumanize, replace workers’ and ‘put people out on the street with no path forward—then absolutely you’re gonna have a revolution.’”

American Hockey League and Professional Hockey Players’ Association Ratify CBA: “The American Hockey League’s Board of Governors and Professional Hockey Players’ Association's full membership have ratified a collective bargaining agreement that ensures labor peace in the top layers of the sport in North America for the foreseeable future. The AHL and PHPA announced the final step in the process Wednesday. The CBA, like that of the NHL and ECHL, is good through the summer of 2030.”

One Year In: 53 Ways the Second Trump Administration Is Harming Women and Families: “In what has been called ‘the biggest attack on the labor movement in history,’ the Trump administration issued an Executive Order to eliminate collective bargaining rights for tens of thousands of federal employees working across agencies under the guise of ‘national security concerns.’ In reality, the order attempts to strip unionized employees of protections that both support the workforce and help the federal government be more productive and efficient. The order makes it clear that the Trump administration’s main intention was to retaliate against unions such as the AFGE and National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) that are taking actions to protect federal employees from the administration’s constant, legally dubious attacks. The order has been subject to multiple legal challenges, and in December 2025, a bipartisan group of House Representatives voted to restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees, though that legislation has not passed the Senate.”

Labor Leaders Cheer Reversal of NIOSH Cuts: “Last week’s reversal of cuts to a federal organization behind miner safety programs drew praise from labor leaders. About 1,000 employees of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health—representing about 90% of the agency’s workforce—were placed on administrative leave in April. About 30% of those cuts had been rescinded the next month.”

NABTU Applauds Court Decisions Restarting Major U.S. Offshore Wind Projects: “North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey issued the following statement: ‘We applaud this week’s federal court rulings restarting U.S. offshore wind projects. These decisions mean many NABTU members can finally return to job sites and continue building critical domestic energy infrastructure. Today’s ruling in the Eastern District of Virginia on Dominion’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, along with recent decisions in the District of Columbia on Ørsted’s Revolution Wind and Equinor’s Empire Wind projects, clears the way for construction to resume on essential domestic power generation development.”

MLK and the Labor Movement—A Natural Partnership: “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday in January, is known globally as a principal leader of the modern American civil rights movement. But he often said the civil rights and labor movements were natural allies. ‘The labor-hater and labor-baiter is virtually always a twin-headed creature spewing anti-Negro epithets from one mouth and anti-labor propaganda from the other mouth,’ King told the 1961 AFL-CIO convention. In 1968, he was assassinated in Memphis where he had gone to stand in solidarity with striking sanitation workers who were members of the AFSCME.”

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 64 of our affiliates. Next up is the National Lacrosse League Players’ Association (NLLPA).

Name of Union: National Lacrosse League Players’ Association

Mission: The Association works to establish improved working conditions, job security and economic benefits for all members through its role to act on behalf of all members as the collective bargaining unit. The NLLPA cooperates and collaborates with other labor organizations to advance the interests of its members. The NLLPA’s mission is to promote, unite and represent the interests of all its collective members. The Association gives its members a voice and promotes loyalty among its members.

Current Leadership of Union: Zach Currier serves as president. Reid Reinholdt is the vice president and executive director. Gee Nash serves as treasurer. John Rosa is the secretary. Each team also selects a player representative. See the full list.

Current Number of Members: 400

Members Work As: Professional lacrosse players

Industries Represented: Men’s professional lacrosse

History: The National Lacrosse League Players’ Association is the exclusive bargaining representative for players of the National Lacrosse League with respect to wages, benefits, and terms and conditions of employment. The Players’ Association was founded in 1992, and the union was certified on May 7, 1993, by the National Labor Relations Board as the Major Indoor Lacrosse League Players’ Association (MILLPA). In 1997, the MILLPA became the Professional Lacrosse Players’ Association (PLPA) when the Major Indoor Lacrosse League amalgamated with several private owners to become the National Lacrosse League (NLL) beginning with the 1997–98 season. The PLPA was renamed the National Lacrosse League Players’ Association in 2022. The Players’ Association has negotiated 11 collective bargaining agreements to date on behalf of its players. 

Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The NLLPA tells the stories of its members. It also works with numerous partners and sponsors and spotlights businesses owned by players.

Learn More: Website, X, Instagram

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.

IAM Union members from across the country gathered at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Southern Maryland for hands-on-training and leadership development as part of the IAM Young Workers Program.

These up-and-coming union members took part in the experience because they’re all interested in developing Young Worker Committees in their local unions. Over the course of a week, members learn about IAM history, strategic planning, parliamentary procedure, the power of generational diversity, public speaking and issues-based organizing from experienced union educators and staff.

“This initiative is designed to engage and empower the next generation of union members by providing them with exposure to a wide range of departments, leaders, and opportunities within our movement,” said IAM Women’s and Young Workers Director Dee Colbert. “It is imperative that we give young workers meaningful experiences that deepen their understanding of union values and help shape their leadership mindset as they prepare for long, successful careers in the labor movement.”

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.

Employees at Build-A-Bear Workshop at Union Station in St. Louis voted unanimously to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 655, making it the first Build-A-Bear location in the country to organize.

In December, nine assistant workshop managers, sales leads and bear builders at the Union Station store unanimously filed to join Local 655 and requested voluntary recognition of the union. However, the company denied their request for recognition. Then, the day before the election, the company fired one of Local 655’s lead organizers.

“We’ve filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board on the firing,” said Sean Shannon, an organizer with the local. “Now we have to wait 10 days for the NLRB to certify the election results, and then we can begin bargaining with the company. All of the employees are really excited about joining the union.”

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

OHSU Workers Overwhelmingly Approve New Contract: AFSCME Local 328 members at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement, averting a potential strike. The bargaining unit at the academic medical center covers a wide range of roles, from administrative work and food service to patient care. Highlights of the deal include immediate wage increases—and a new minimum wage floor of $25 per hour by the end of the contract lifetime—a $4,500 ratification bonus, increased time off and more. “Our $25 minimum wage will set a new standard for the city of Portland and the broader labor movement,” said Local 328 in a blog post. “Other unions will build on our wins in the same way our contract builds on the work of those who came before us. There is a common saying in the labor movement that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Despite all the difficulties we face in these times, we are doing our part to improve not [just] the lives of our members, but of our communities.”

NABTU Applauds Court Decisions Restarting Major U.S. Offshore Wind Projects: Last week, three federal judges ruled that offshore wind projects off the coasts of New England, New York and Virginia can continue construction. North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) applauded the decisions, which will allow union members to return to work. Trump’s Interior Department sought to disrupt these critical East Coast energy infrastructure projects in December, issuing stop-work orders based on undisclosed national security concerns. This clears the way for progress to continue on Dominion’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, Ørsted’s Revolution Wind and Equinor’s Empire Wind projects. “With energy demand surging and prices spiking, the last thing our government should do is take any form of power generation offline,” said NABTU President Sean McGarvey in a press statement. “The men and women of NABTU are proud to be constructing every offshore wind project in the United States, all under strong project labor agreements. These rulings mean our members can get back to work and keep affordable, clean, reliable power moving to our communities.”

The Courier-Journal Journalists Ratify First Contract: Members of the Indianapolis NewsGuild, The NewsGuild-CWA Local 34070, who work at The Courier-Journal have ratified their first union contract. Journalists at Kentucky’s paper of record first voted to form the Courier Journal Guild in 2022 and have been bargaining with parent company USA Today Co. amid multiple rounds of layoffs. “After years of organizing, we are thrilled with this unanimous endorsement of a first contract that improves everyone’s paycheck and enshrines critical workplace protections,” said Kayla Dwyer, president of the Indianapolis NewsGuild. “This is a day so many people in our newsroom have been waiting on, one of the brightest moments of my nearly 10 years with The Courier-Journal, and I’m beyond thrilled to see us cross the finish line,” said Lucas Aulbach, chief politics reporter at The Courier-Journal. “I’m happy for every journalist in line for a raise, I’m happy we have new workforce protections in place and benefits like lengthier parental leave, and the response we had from our guild members as we got closer to ratification has been really encouraging. We have a ton of momentum and I’m excited to see what comes next.”

Metropolitan Museum of Art Staff Vote to Join UAW: Staff at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City have overwhelmingly voted to form a union with UAW Local 2110. The bargaining unit includes a number of essential roles at the historic institution, including curators, librarians, conservators, archivists and more. Workers at The Met join the ranks of their colleagues at the Guggenheim, New York Historical, the Tenement Museum and other cultural centers in the city who are already represented by Local 2110. “I’ve worked at The Met for 31 years and I truly love it, but our expertise and our labor have real value deserving of recognition,” said Stephanie Post, a digital archivist, “By unionizing, we aren’t just protecting our own jobs—we are building a collective voice to ensure every staff member, now and in the future, gets the respect and protection they deserve.”

New York State Optimum Workers Vote to Join IBEW: Cable, telephone and broadband workers at Optimum in the Hudson Valley, New York, area have successfully voted to form a union with Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 363. These newly minted members work in Greenwood Lake, New York, and are the latest organizing victory for IBEW after Optimum workers in nearby West Nyack won their election in September. Workers are now preparing to negotiate their first collective bargaining agreement. “This victory shows that Optimum workers want a real voice on the job,” said Sam Fratto, business manager of Local 363. “Like the workers in West Nyack, Greenwood Lake employees are standing together to win fair wages, strong benefits, and clear protections through a union contract.”

UFCW Celebrates New Cannabis Worker Protections Law: United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 152 is applauding New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy for signing legislation that extends critical labor rights to cannabis cultivation workers across the state. Currently, the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 excludes agricultural workers, leaving them without clear and enforceable labor protections. This new law prohibits cannabis employers from interfering in their staff’s right to organize, increases potential penalties for labor law violations and protects the freedom to collectively bargain. Local 152 played a pivotal role in advancing this legislation to stop companies from taking advantage of unintended loopholes in New Jersey’s cannabis regulations. “Today’s signing is a victory for all working people in New Jersey,” said Daniel Ross Jr., president of UFCW Local 152. “Cannabis cultivation workers were building a new industry without labor protections many take for granted. Local 152 made it clear to lawmakers that fairness should not be avoided, and Governor Murphy’s signature ensures these workers now have the rights, dignity and legal clarity they deserve.”

Tags: Organizing

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.

Members of the Indianapolis NewsGuild, The NewsGuild-CWA Local 34070, who work at The Courier-Journal have ratified their first union contract.

Journalists at Kentucky’s paper of record first voted to form the Courier Journal Guild in 2022 and have been bargaining with parent company USA Today Co. amid multiple rounds of layoffs.

“After years of organizing, we are thrilled with this unanimous endorsement of a first contract that improves everyone’s paycheck and enshrines critical workplace protections,” said Kayla Dwyer, president of the Indianapolis NewsGuild.

“This is a day so many people in our newsroom have been waiting on, one of the brightest moments of my nearly 10 years with The Courier-Journal, and I’m beyond thrilled to see us cross the finish line,” said Lucas Aulbach, chief politics reporter at The Courier-Journal. “I’m happy for every journalist in line for a raise, I’m happy we have new workforce protections in place and benefits like lengthier parental leave, and the response we had from our guild members as we got closer to ratification has been really encouraging. We have a ton of momentum and I’m excited to see what comes next.”

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:

Swing Day continues! Swings sent in their thoughts on things you might not know about a swing’s job, insight on how they plan their day and how you can support the swings in your cast! #EquityTeamSwing

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— Actors' Equity Association (@actorsequity.bsky.social) January 21, 2026 at 12:16 PM

AFSCME:

A new filing from the Trump administration confirms that the shady billionaires running DOGE have put our private data at risk. This is why AFSCME has been fighting in court to protect Americans' Social Security data from DOGE, and we'll keep fighting. https://t.co/YxG0zVKmJ2

— AFSCME (@AFSCME) January 21, 2026

Alliance for Retired Americans:

The Department of Justice has admitted that DOGE mishandled our personal data held by the SSA. Read our full statement: https://t.co/VFdEbenR7v pic.twitter.com/ffpZmgD21U

— Alliance for Retired Americans (@ActiveRetirees) January 21, 2026

Amalgamated Transit Union:

A surprise visit by International President John Costa to congratulate @ATULocal689-Washington, DC, member Maurice Yarber for his Emmy award winning Channel 9 news story, watch story @https://bit.ly/689-Yarber-Emmy-Ch9News #1u #canlab #UnionStrong pic.twitter.com/PSCCcbkMMf

— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) January 21, 2026

American Federation of Musicians:

AFM Stands in Solidarity with UAW Against Conn-Selmer Offshoring ✊
The AFM and President Tino Gagliardi are standing firm with the UAW following Conn-Selmer’s decision to close its Eastlake, Ohio, plant and move manufacturing to China.
This move is a betrayal of the union… pic.twitter.com/VGbbR5ltJr

— AFM (@The_AFM) January 11, 2026

American Federation of Teachers:

AFT Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram's piece in @wordinblacknews.bsky.social denounces book bans& curriculum restrictions as the latest in a long history of attacks on Black education. Even in the age of Trump, the blueprint for Black educational power still stands. wordinblack.com/2026/01/game...

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— AFT (@aft.org) January 21, 2026 at 12:27 PM

American Postal Workers Union:

APWU attended the 2026 AFL-CIO Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference, which took place January 15-18 in Baltimore, MD. APWU President Jonathan Smith, Executive Vice-President Debby Szeredy, Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth “Liz” Powell, and Legislative & Political… pic.twitter.com/GGCKHClp70

— The American Postal Workers Union - APWU (@APWUnational) January 20, 2026

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:

Omni Flight Attendants have reached a Tentative Agreement for nearly 300 Flight Attendants earlier this month. The agreement includes economic and quality of life improvements, most notably a 40% pay increase. pic.twitter.com/uRHD0QQwj5

— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) January 20, 2026

Boilermakers:

BNAP's Mark Wertz invited WELD Podcast to the National Apprenticeship Competition. Checkout their podcast featuring Wertz, L-26 instructor Joseph Fasulo and L-26 #Boilermaker Trey Powellhttps://t.co/QtU4eVJGRS

— Boilermakers Union (@boilermakernews) January 21, 2026

Bricklayers:

These two third year BAC apprentices are locked in

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.

AFSCME Local 328 members who work at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new labor contract, putting them on track to set a $25 minimum wage for workers by 2028. The members work in a wide range of jobs, from patient care to administration to food services.

Of the 4,730 members who voted, some 84% voted to approve the agreement, which immediately raises the minimum wage for union members from $18 to $20, with additional raises up to $25 just before the contract’s mid-2028 expiration date. The contract also includes across-the-board raises for members of between 3% and 4% annually for each of the next three years, and a $4,500 ratification bonus.

“Our $25 minimum wage will set a new standard for the city of Portland and the broader labor movement,” the union said on its blog. “Other unions will build on our wins in the same way our contract builds on the work of those who came before us.”

During his first year in office of his second term, President Trump and his allies have ruthlessly implemented the Project 2025 agenda that threatens working people’s fundamental rights and freedoms. The administration committed the single biggest act of union-busting in history, launched a brutal assault on immigrants and communities across the country, and attacked our most treasured rights, including the freedom of speech. It has ripped health care from millions, made billionaires richer and corporations more powerful, moved to unleash unregulated, untested artificial intelligence technology, and dismantled government agencies that provide essential services. 

And every day in the Trump economy, working people are struggling to get by. President Trump promised to “make America affordable again,” but instead spent this first year driving up costs, holding down wages and letting jobs disappear—including good-paying jobs that would help keep energy bills from skyrocketing. A comprehensive summary of the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on working people can be found here.

“One year into President Trump’s second term, working people’s lives are more expensive and less free,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Trump has governed for and by the billionaire CEOs and Big Tech companies, making the wealthy and powerful even richer while working people across the country struggle to get by.”

“As the 2026 campaign kicks into gear, the labor movement will make sure working people know about each and every broken promise—and work to elect leaders who will help us build an economy for workers, not billionaire bosses.”

The AFL-CIO’s memo on Trump’s past year in office, including quotes from working people, can be found here.