04/11/2025 - 7:00pm
Every Worker Deserves a Union: The Working People Weekly List
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.
Labor Leaders Fear Elon Musk and DOGE Could Gain Access to Whistleblower Files: “Liz Shuler, the president of AFL-CIO, claims that a number of Tesla workers have repeatedly alleged to the federation that safety isn’t prioritized at the car company. The AFL-CIO works with the United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), but it does not represent employees at Tesla or SpaceX.”
Supreme Court Upholds Order Directing Trump Officials to Return Wrongly Deported Man: “The Supreme Court on Thursday backed a lower-court order requiring the Trump administration to ‘facilitate’ the release from custody of a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to a mega-prison in El Salvador last month. Trump officials suspended a veteran Justice Department lawyer last weekend after he confirmed in court that Abrego García’s deportation was an oversight and said he had trouble getting answers himself about why the sheet metal apprentice and father of three was sent overseas. In an unusual filing on Monday, the government disavowed the in court comments of Erez Reuveni saying they ‘did not and do not reflect the position of the United States.’”
Hirono Reintroduces Bill to Protect Union Rights for Federal Workers: “‘Passing this legislation has never been more urgent—especially now, as federal workers face unprecedented attacks on their collective bargaining rights,’ said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. ‘We believe, as most Americans do, that every worker deserves a union—no matter who they work for. This bill is about something fundamental: respect. Respect for the public service workers who’ve devoted their careers to serving their communities. And respect means the freedom to negotiate.’”
'We Keep the Country Running': Federal Workers Rally in Pittsburgh for Union Rights: “The rally comes as unions representing federal workers have sued the Trump administration over a March executive order that seeks to end collective bargaining with federal unions in agencies with national security missions. The order impacts a litany of government agencies, including the Departments of State, Defense, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security, as well as the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, among others.”
Steelworkers Open Convention with Call for Action Against Trump Cuts: “AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, the Steelworkers’ former vice president gave a rousing speech to the 3,000 USW delegates assembled here for their convention in which he called for labor to step up and play a leading role in the battle against Trump’s attempt to dismantle so much of what is important to U.S. workers. He said that the battle must involve solidarity across national lines, saying workers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico ‘must unite against corporate greed. Attacks on everything that we stand for have been relentless,’ Redmond said of the GOP Trump regime’s anti-worker anti-union actions. He particularly singled out Musk’s chainsaw attacks, with Trump as his puppet, on federal workers and programs. ‘We are the voice of those who, today, feel hopeless,’ said Redmond.”
Democrats Unveil Legislation Raising Federal Minimum Wage to $17 an Hour: “Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 on Tuesday in both chambers with hopes of increasing the federal minimum wage. The bill would raise the minimum wage to $17 by 2030 according to the Economic Policy Institute. The current federally mandated hourly wage is $7.25 and has not increased since 2009.”
‘Hands Off’: Protesters Deliver a Sweeping Message to Trump and Musk at a D.C. Rally: “The crowd in Washington, D.C.—more than 100,000, per organizers’ estimates—was peaceful and orderly. On a stage behind the Washington Monument, lawmakers like Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and organizers including AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler spoke. Attendees around them quietly listened, save for the occasional call-and-response chant, cheers, or boos for the Trump administration. Farther away, a group of protesters marched around the Monument chanting, ‘Hands Off! Dump Trump!’”
Massive Crowds, Estimated at Two Million, Take to Streets vs. MAGA: “AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler led several union presidents to the speaking stage just south of D.C.’s Washington Monument. Other union leaders spoke up at other marches elsewhere. ‘Stripping collective bargaining and union rights from workers across the federal government is the very definition of union busting—and a blatant attempt to silence us. We will fight this outrageous attack on our members with every fiber of our collective being,’ Shuler said.”
‘Everyone Is Angry, Frustrated’: AFL-CIO President Praises ‘Community’ and Energy of ‘Hands Off’ Protests: “In the largest rebuke of the second Trump administration so far, people in cities across the U.S. marched to voice their grievances against President Trump and Elon Musk. American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations President Liz Shuler shares her perspective on the rallies and how the Trump administration has inadvertently created new communities.”
Federal Worker Unions Sue to Block Trump from Stripping Bargaining Rights: “Officials at the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal union, which filed the countersuit on Friday, said the president’s move was among the most aggressive they had seen out of the White House so far, one that threatened collective bargaining rights across the work force. The AFGE alone represents 800,000 workers. The lawsuit called the order an act of retaliation against the union for pushing back against ‘both his agenda to decimate the federal work force and his broader agenda to fundamentally restructure the federal government through expansive and unprecedented exercises of executive authority.’”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 04/11/2025 - 12:13
04/11/2025 - 1:00pm
Hands Off: In the States Roundup
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.
Alabama AFL-CIO:
Alaska AFL-CIO:
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Colorado AFL-CIO:
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Illinois AFL-CIO:
04/11/2025 - 1:00pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Illinois State University Faculty Union Secures Tentative Agreement
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 Friday, members of the United Faculty of Illinois State University (UFISU), which is affiliated with University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) Local 4100 and the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), reached a tentative agreement and averted a strike.
The union represents tenured and tenure-track faculty at the institution, and this is their first collective bargaining agreement since securing recognition. Members held nearly 50 negotiation sessions with administrators to reach this deal, with details around pay being one of the remaining sticking points ahead of the final round of discussions on Friday.
“This agreement is going to be transformative for the way that our members take on their jobs,” said Keith Pluymers, an associate professor of history at Illinois State University (ISU) and a member of the bargaining team. “We have clarified and solidified a lot of the conditions of work that we have. In places where there was uncertainty, this contract is gonna provide certainty. We’ve worked to address a number of really longstanding issues at ISU. And we think this contract—it’s not gonna take care of everything, but we think this is a great start that’s gonna do a lot to ensure ISU is a great place to work moving forward.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 04/11/2025 - 10:03
04/11/2025 - 1:00pm
Worker Wins: We Want Our Coworkers to Thrive
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Juilliard Production Crew Workers Vote to Join IATSE: Production crew members at The Juilliard School voted overwhelmingly on Friday to form a union with the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). Workers at the private New York City performing arts conservatory perform essential production roles such as scenic shop crew, stagehands, costumers, and hair and makeup artists. The newly minted IATSE members took inspiration from exciting organizing efforts being championed by crew in the city’s off-Broadway community. The Juilliard Production Workers United logo includes a nod to the school’s beloved penguin mascot. “We know our work, and we know the demands of our shops,” said Lead Carpenter A.J. Coté. “We want our coworkers to thrive. I truly believe collectively we can represent ourselves better as a union. This is our livelihood; we deserve an equal part shaping it.”
Nurses at San Leandro and Alameda Hospitals Ratify New Contract: Members of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) who work at San Leandro and Alameda hospitals voted overwhelmingly last week to ratify a new five-year contract. This new deal brings over 380 registered nurses (RNs) across the two facilities under the same collective bargaining agreement. Major highlights of the contract include provisions that establish economic parity between nurses at each hospital, changes to scheduling practices that prioritize nurses who live and work in the community over nonunion travel nurses, meal break protections, and more. “Every single article of our contracts was up for negotiation and nurses upheld the high standards of care we’ve historically fought for,” said Linda Strack, RN, who works in the operating room at Alameda Hospital. “Because we remained united in our goal to improve nurse and patient health and safety, this landmark agreement raises the bar for the recruitment and retention of Bay Area nurses.”Â
Austin-Based Bookstore Staff Win Powerful AI Protections: Staff at an independent bookstore in Austin, Texas, represented by Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 277, are celebrating new critical artificial intelligence (AI) safeguards in their collective bargaining agreement. A powerful 100% of voting BookPeople United members cast ballots to approve their new contract earlier this month. The deal included several important provisions, including the prohibition of replacing any worker or position at the storefront with AI. Workers said they fought to secure these protections after realizing that emergent technology like ChatGPT could potentially be used to destroy jobs at the storefront. “Making sure that we’re protecting jobs through this transition into this new tech world is the most important thing we can do,” said Texas AFL-CIO Communications Director Tara Pohlmeyer. “It’s setting a standard for a lot of other unions that workers at BookPeople were able to get this into their contract.”
Norse Atlantic Airways Flight Attendants Reach Tentative Agreement: U.S.-based flight attendants for Norse Atlantic Airways, who are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), have reached a tentative agreement (TA) on their second-ever contract. The low-cost trans-Atlantic airline was founded in February 2021, and a few months later, AFA-CWA negotiated a pre-hire agreement with management ahead of the company’s launch that ensured industry-leading compensation and union membership once flight attendants demonstrated majority support. The Norse crew will begin voting on the new TA next week. “While our Flight Attendants continue to deliver critical services for Norse Atlantic, this tentative agreement builds on our historic pre-hire agreement and job security, the highest per diem in the industry, regular wage increases, and more benefits,” said Norse AFA President Katarzyna Mroczek.
Center for International Environmental Law Staff Secure Voluntary Recognition: Staff members at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) are celebrating that management has voluntarily recognized the Washington-Baltimore News Guild (WBNG), The NewsGuild-CWA Local 32035 as their bargaining representative. The CIEL Unite bargaining unit covers workers across the United States and Switzerland. A supermajority of staff went public with their efforts to form a unit with WBNG back in February. With their attention now turned to beginning the negotiation process, members aim to win an agreement that protects staff and advances CIEL’s mission to protect the environment. “For over 35 years, CIEL has been at the forefront of advocating to ensure that human rights are at the cornerstone of environmental law,” said the CIEL Unite organizing committee. “CIEL’s staff are immensely proud of our work to defend our right to a healthy planet. We know our strength comes from a diverse, dynamic, international staff that believe in building long-term power, advancing justice, and ensuring representation for affected communities. Our union is grounded in these same principles. We look forward to working with CIEL leadership at the bargaining table and to finding creative solutions to advance core values of equity and justice, compassion, empathy, and respect.”
Faculty at Nevada State University Win Union Election: This week, faculty members at Nevada State University voted to join the Nevada Faculty Alliance, an affiliate of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT). This is the fourth collective bargaining chapter of the Nevada Faculty Alliance, and academic workers voted to organize with a landslide vote of 104–8. Having prevailed through the election process, faculty are now eagerly turning their attention toward bargaining a fair and empowering contract with administrators. “This work could not have been done without the countless hours of organizing, research and outreach executed by faculty on our Collective Bargaining Organizing Committee,” said Andrew Lavengood-Ryan, lecturer of mathematics in the Department of Data, Media and Design. “I have had the distinct pleasure of working with and leading some of the most incredible people at Nevada State over the past year and half, and it is so fulfilling to see all of that work come together. We look forward to negotiating with NSU administration directly for a fair, collaborative contract that protects faculty needs.”
Minnesota Science Museum Workers Ratify Historic First Contract: After over 550 days of dedicated organizing efforts, members of AFSCME Council 5 who work at the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) are celebrating their first-ever union contract. Staff voted in January 2023 to form SMM Workers Union, a wall-to-wall bargaining unit that includes scientists, researchers, lab technicians, educators, customer service and more. Victories in the deal include substantial wage increases, new parental leave benefits, clear and enforceable job security protections, and longevity pay that rewards years of service. Despite leadership at the St. Paul museum instituting retaliatory layoffs directly after workers voted to join AFSCME and slow-walking bargaining, SMM Workers Union members stood strong and emerged victorious. “Management fought us at every turn,” said Jennings Mergenthal, a community engagement specialist. “But after 550 days, we won. Not just any contract—we won a fair contract. A contract that ensures a better future for museum workers and raises the standard for cultural institutions across the country.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 04/11/2025 - 12:25
Tags:
Organizing
04/09/2025 - 11:30am
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Nurses at San Leandro and Alameda Hospitals Ratify New Contract
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 California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) who work at San Leandro and Alameda hospitals voted overwhelmingly last week to ratify a new five-year contract.
This new deal brings over 380 registered nurses (RNs) across the two facilities under the same collective bargaining agreement. Major highlights of the contract include provisions that establish economic parity between nurses at each hospital, changes to scheduling practices that prioritize nurses who live and work in the community over nonunion travel nurses, meal break protections, and more.
“Every single article of our contracts was up for negotiation and nurses upheld the high standards of care we’ve historically fought for,” said Linda Strack, RN, who works in the operating room at Alameda Hospital. “Because we remained united in our goal to improve nurse and patient health and safety, this landmark agreement raises the bar for the recruitment and retention of Bay Area nurses.”Â
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 04/09/2025 - 08:58
04/08/2025 - 11:00am
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Workers Around the Country Attend Hands Off Rallies
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.
Tens of thousands of people mobilized in cities across the country on Saturday for a nationwide protest against Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s attacks on federal workers and important social services. Union members and labor leaders participated in powerful marches and rallies to fight back against the billionaire takeover of our government.
“So, to every working person here, and everyone watching—I don’t care if you’re Democrat, Republican or Independent—do you want common sense from your government? Are you sick and tired of a government that is of and by and for billionaires? Are you ready to do something about it,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler to attendees at the Washington, D.C., rally. “Our votes are not for sale! Our values are not for sale! Our rights and our freedoms are not for sale!”
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 04/08/2025 - 09:18
04/07/2025 - 4:30pm
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates
This is our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we've covered all 63 of our affiliates.
Here's who we've featured so far:
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 04/07/2025 - 11:59
04/07/2025 - 10:00am
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Air Line Pilots Association
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 63 of our affiliates. Next up is the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).
Name of Union: Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA).
Mission:Â The mission of ALPA is to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety throughout all segments of the aviation community; to represent, in both specific and general respects, the collective interests of all pilots in commercial aviation; to assist in collective bargaining activities on behalf of all pilots represented by the association; to promote the health and welfare of the members of the association before all governmental agencies; to be a strong, forceful advocate of the airline piloting profession, through all forms of media, and with the public at large; and to be the ultimate guardian and defender of the rights and privileges of the professional pilots who are members of the association.
Current Leadership of Union:Â Capt. Jason Ambrosi was elected as ALPA’s 12th president on Oct. 19, 2022. He brings 25 years of ALPA experience to the job. He flies the Boeing 767 ER at Delta Air Lines. He began his airline flying career at Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a former Delta Connection carrier and regional airline. Delta hired him in 2000, just 18 months prior to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and he was among the many pilots furloughed after the attacks. While on furlough, Ambrosi worked for a charter airline, where he advocated for labor representation and helped build a strong safety culture. He has a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and lives in Griffin, Georgia, with his wife, Heather, and their two children.
Capt. Wendy Morse serves as ALPA’s first vice president. Capt. Sean Creed is the organization’s vice president—administration/secretary. Capt. Wes Clapper is the vice president—finance/treasurer. Capt. Steve Mayer serves as executive administrator.
Current Number of Members: 79,000.
Members Work As:Â Airline pilots.
Industries Represented: The airline industry in the United States and Canada. ALPA serves as the bargaining agent for pilot groups from 42 commercial airlines, including both passenger and cargo operations.
History:Â As the 1920s concluded, life for airline pilots was difficult and dangerous, with many companies treating this employee group like an expendable commodity. Many airline pilots died in aircraft accidents during this period.
In 1931, pilots in the United States came together to form the first professional union of pilots, ALPA, to promote aviation safety and give these flyers a greater voice in their workplace. During World War II, the union began advocating for the creation of an independent safety board, which finally took shape in the 1960s, after decades of work.
After the war, ALPA banded together with pilot unions from around the world to form the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) to influence international travel and safety standards.
With new technological advances in air transportation, ALPA created an air safety structure to fight for crew fatigue rules and rest requirements, along with other safety priorities. The association began working with aircraft manufacturers to improve cockpit features. In addition, the rise of terrorist attacks on aircraft represented a new safety concern for ALPA, identifying the need for greater security measures.
The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 also changed the landscape for the airline industry, reinventing the way airlines conducted business but also introducing a new wave of safety concerns. ALPA continued to fight to make the skies safer and achieved numerous victories (including securing mandated “fasten seatbelt” signs in aircraft cabins and policies such as a nationwide anti-skyjacking strategy, which was adopted by federal regulators).
The 9/11 terrorist attacks revitalized the need to revisit security, and ALPA responded, successfully pushing for programs to provide more thorough screening of passengers and cargo.
Decades of hard work on air safety concerns also paid off, as the total number of airline accidents in the United States and Canada dropped by more than 70% in the decade ending in 2007.
These and other accomplishments in recent years have not diminished the union’s focus on safety and security, with top priorities including science-based fatigue rules for all airline pilots, improved pilot training and professionalism, and the safe integration of commercial space vehicles and remotely piloted aircraft (such as drones) into civil airspace.
On the collective bargaining front, ALPA continues to promote a system of pattern bargaining to ensure that its members receive fair pay and benefits for the services they perform, safe and reasonable working conditions, and a better quality of life.
Current Campaigns: Safety Starts with Two is a global pilot initiative, co-led by ALPA, that is working to prevent airlines and manufacturers from pushing ahead with plans to remove pilots from the flight deck—a profit-driven scheme that poses a significant safety risk. Jumpseat works to establish guidelines and fairness in the use of airplane jump seats. Cleared to Dream recruits new pilots into the industry. Trained for Life focuses on training and expertise in order to reduce airline-related death and injury. ALPA fights to maintain pilot staffing levels, prevent airlines from taking advantage of regulatory loopholes, protect U.S. airlines from unfair business practices, mitigate fatigue among cargo pilots, improve security through mandated flight deck barriers and modernize the national airspace for new entrants.
Community Efforts: Pilots for Pilots helps ALPA members and their families who have been harmed by natural disasters. ALPA publishes Air Line Pilot magazine.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, YouTube
You can also check out this video to learn more about ALPA’s history:
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 04/07/2025 - 10:30
04/07/2025 - 10:00am
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Faculty at Nevada State University Win Union Election
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.
This week, faculty members at Nevada State University voted to join the Nevada Faculty Alliance, an affiliate of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
This is the fourth collective bargaining chapter of the Nevada Faculty Alliance, and academic workers voted to organize with a landslide vote of 104–8. Having prevailed through the election process, faculty are now eagerly turning their attention toward bargaining a fair and empowering contract with administrators.
“This work could not have been done without the countless hours of organizing, research and outreach executed by faculty on our Collective Bargaining Organizing Committee,” said Andrew Lavengood-Ryan, lecturer of mathematics in the Department of Data, Media and Design. “I have had the distinct pleasure of working with and leading some of the most incredible people at Nevada State over the past year and half, and it is so fulfilling to see all of that work come together. We look forward to negotiating with NSU administration directly for a fair, collaborative contract that protects faculty needs.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 04/07/2025 - 09:18
04/04/2025 - 7:00pm
AFL-CIO on March Jobs Report
In response to the March jobs report showing that unemployment is rising, Candace Archer, AFL-CIO Policy Director, released the following statement released the following statement:
The March numbers released today don’t tell the whole story of the state of jobs in our country. The Trump administration’s attacks on the federal workforce and reckless economic policies are causing unemployment to continue to rise and threaten to destroy the strong economy that this administration inheritedÂ
While there has been strong growth in health care jobs, this could all be undone by Congress cutting Medicaid to pay for another tax giveaway to billionaires. Medicaid cuts would devastate our health care system and workers across the sector are holding their breath, waiting for their jobs to disappear.  The still strong job numbers don’t reflect how uncertain things actually are for the working people of this country. The March jobs report doesn’t include the tens of thousands of federal workers DOGE has put out of work but remain in limbo on administrative leave or may get reinstated and refired, as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. indicated just this week. And some estimates suggest as many as 275,240 workers were laid off last month, 60% more than February and 205% more than this time last year.Â
For working people who are just trying to get through their shifts, feed their families, and get their kids to school, this chaos is the last thing they need. It’s not too late to reverse course and stop unemployment from continuing to rise. We call on members of Congress and all those who stand with working people to join us in the fight and stop these attacks.Â
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 04/04/2025 - 17:43
