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.

A California judge has approved a $233 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against Disneyland for failing to pay a living wage to union members at the resort and theme park.

In 2018, Anaheim voters passed Measure L, which required companies in the city’s resort area that receive tax rebates to pay their staff a $15 minimum wage. UNITE HERE Local 11, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324, Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 83, SEIU-United Service Workers West were among the unions who fought to ensure that corporations benefiting from subsidies shared their profits with workers. Disneyland resisted the new law for years, but workers eventually won what is now the largest class action wage theft case in California history.

“There’s a couple of people who are getting $100,000,” said Nathan Delgadillo, a server and member of UNITE HERE Local 11. “For all the workers, this will have a profoundly positive impact. And as a union, this is our whole program—it’s like having a vision and seeing that vision come true.”

“I love what I do, turning kids into princesses and knights, but I have to be able to afford to live while doing it,” said Michi Cordell, a member of UFCW Local 324 and a Disneyland staff member of 17 years. “This settlement will be a major help to my family thanks to the union and the Anaheim voters who supported Measure L. We stood up for what we deserved, from passing Measure L to reaching this agreement, and won.”

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 Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 998 have reached a new three-year labor agreement with the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS).

Local 998 members ratified the contract, with 72% voting in favor.

The new contract comes after more than nine months of negotiating. The union gave Local 998 President Bruce Freeman the authority to call a strike in July, but the workers never took that step. The contract includes safety provisions and raises for both bus operators and mechanics.

“We at ATU Local 998 vow to be leaders in this charge to provide an excellent public transit service to Milwaukee County,” Freeman wrote. “As well as providing adequate compensation and benefits to the dedicated employees who have chosen this career path.”

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 Haronid Javier of the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU).

Haronid Javier is a member of OPEIU Local 8 and serves on the bargaining team for International Rescue Committee (IRC) Workers Unite, a national organizing effort of workers at the the world's largest humanitarian nonprofit. “Coming from a Dominican immigrant family,” Javier says, “my work as a social service navigator at IRC helps me to support and advocate for our unaccompanied children, who come from many parts of Latin America, whose voices aren’t heard at times.”

Tags: Hispanic Heritage Month

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.

AFL-CIO Head on Trump Mass Firings Plan: Federal Workers ‘Not Pawns’: “AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on Thursday decried the Trump administration’s plans to initiate a reduction in force if discretionary funding lapses next month as outlined in a new White House memo. ‘America’s federal workers—the hardworking people across the country who keep our essential government services running—have already suffered immensely from the chaos and destruction inflicted by this administration’s Project 2025/DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] agenda,’ Shuler said in a statement.”

Firings of Immigration Judges Are 'Politically Motivated': Union President: “IFPTE union president Matt Biggs discusses the impact that the Trump administration's firing of immigration judges is having on the court system.”

Cable Company Employees Join IBEW: “Employees of Optimum Cable, also known as Altice USA, have voted to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 363. The National Labor Relations Board certified the union local as the exclusive representative of the workers.”

Westchester County Airport Workers Join Transport Workers Union: “Workers at the Westchester County Airport have voted to unionize. The ramp and senior ramp agents at the airport will join the Transport Workers Union. Workers say they are fed up with low staffing levels and forced overtime shifts. TWU is the largest airport workers union in the United States.”

SMART-TD Endorses Rail Merger After Securing Jobs Pact with Union Pacific: “Union Pacific Railroad and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Works-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) yesterday announced an agreement designed to secure job security for thousands of rail workers as UP and Norfolk Southern Railway pursue a merger. The agreement ensures that SMART-TD members working in train and yardmaster service will have job protection for the length of their careers following the proposed merger, UP officials said in a joint press release with SMART-TD and NS.”

Signal Ohio Voluntarily Recognizes Newsroom Union: “Signal Ohio leadership has agreed to voluntarily recognize its newsroom union. Why it matters: The journalists who launched the union drive last month argue this will pave the way for stronger collaboration around the nonprofit outlet's civic mission. Catch up quick: Signal, which operates newsrooms in Cleveland and Akron along with a statehouse bureau in Columbus, launched three years ago as an alternative to shrinking legacy outlets.”

Fred Redmond: Trump’s Attacks on Federal Workers Are Attacks on Black Workers. The Labor Movement Is Fighting Back: “During the 2024 presidential campaign, now-Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought said he wanted to put federal workers ‘in trauma.’ Project 2025 called union representation of government workers ‘incompatible with democracy’ and recommended Congress make having a voice on a federal job illegal. Now, as president, Trump has taken drastic steps to turn the Project 2025 agenda into a frightening reality. In addition to appointing Vought, he gave the world’s wealthiest person, Elon Musk, unfettered access to federal data and systems while his team of inexperienced groupies slashed core government functions and the workers who supported them—the more cruel and random the better.”

President of the American Federation of Teachers: Critical Thinking Is Under Attack: “President of the American Federation of Teachers Randi Weingarten warns teachers are under attack as a way to undermine critical thinking in schools. ‘The framers of this constitution of ours understood that critical thinking was absolutely key to stopping tyrants,’ she said. ‘When you see all these propagandists try to undermine critical thinking, they are trying to stop our kids from being able to understand fact from fiction, to understand disinformation and misinformation.’”

Leo Gerard, United Steelworkers' Longest-Tenured Leader, Dies at 78: “In a statement, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond said Gerard’s ‘toughness, grit and fortitude’ helped drive a period of significant growth for their union, which is affiliated with the United Steelworkers. ‘He cut an imposing figure, but for those of us fortunate enough to know him, what we remember most is his heart—endlessly compassionate and empathetic, especially toward the working class he came from and tirelessly advocated for throughout his life,’ Shuler and Redmond said.”

Union Leaders Applaud Senate Bill to Restore Collective Bargaining Rights for Federal Workers: “The dim outlook doesn’t faze AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, other union presidents, or senatorial sponsors Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Mark Warner, D-Va., and Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. All are foes of what Shuler calls ‘the biggest act of union-busting in our history, ripping away collective bargaining rights from a million federal workers,’ said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.”

Orchestra Iowa Agrees to Historic Pay Raise with Musicians After Ratifying New Union Contract: “Following a crescendo of negotiations, Orchestra Iowa has reached a new agreement with a significant pay increase for its musicians. The three-year agreement, announced Thursday, provides what Orchestra Iowa said is the largest musician pay increase in its history of more than 100 years. After months of negotiations, Orchestra Iowa board president Jeffery Neilsen called it a financial milestone. ‘It’s a commitment to honoring the extraordinary talent and dedication of your Orchestra Iowa musicians, and recognition that world-class music deserves world-class support,’ he said in statement. The agreement with American Federation of Musicians Local 137 stipulates a 10% increase in the first year, 0% in the second year and 2% in the third year. The raise will affect all 68 contracted musicians, as well as all other musicians who play for the orchestra on an irregular basis, such as substitute players.”

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 Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT).

Name of Union: International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

Mission: To provide security for millions of working families and organize every day to ensure that the opportunities of the skilled trades benefit as many people as possible.

Current Leadership of Union: James A. Williams Jr. serves as the general president of IUPAT. He took office on Sept. 1, 2021. Williams is a fourth-generation glazier from District Council 21/Local Union 252 (Philadelphia). He began his career with IUPAT in 1998, was appointed assistant to the general president in 2002 and served as the regional organizing coordinator for IUPAT’s Eastern Region. In 2011, he was appointed to the position of organizing director and remained in that role after being elected as general vice president at large in 2014.

Gregg Smith serves as general secretary-treasurer. 

IUPAT has seven general vice presidents—Paul Canning (Eastern Region), Mike Gutierrez (Western Region), Charlie Meadows (Central Region), Liz McElroy (Government Affairs), Mark Komaromi (Service), Simon Hazelwood (Canada) and Shane Smith (Organizing)—and two general presidents with emeritus status, Kenneth Rigmaiden and James A. Williams. 

Number of Members: 140,000

Members Work as: Industrial and commercial painters, drywall finishers, glaziers and glass workers, sign and display installers, floor covering installers and many more.

Industries Represented: Construction, public sector, trade shows and others.

History: The union that would become IUPAT was organized originally as the Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America in 1887. Within a year, the union had grown to more than 100 locals and 7,000 members. By the turn of the century, the brotherhood was publishing “The Painter and Decorator” to provide news on the industry.

In 1921, the union opened its first real home, a four-story office building, in Lafayette, Indiana. Most of the offices of the union remained in that location until 1967, when its headquarters was moved to Washington, D.C. Over the years, IUPAT members have worked on many notable projects, with a highlight being a facelift of the White House before the inauguration of President Richard Nixon. In 1970, expanding membership led to a new name, the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades.

In the interest of the growing female membership of the union, General President Michael Monroe announced a new name at the 1999 General Convention: the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. In 2010, IUPAT moved its international headquarters to a new home in Hanover, Maryland. The new building is part of a campus that includes a residence hall and an international training center.

Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The One Union, One Family, One Fight campaign to build union power works to better the lives of each and every IUPAT member by being the strongest, most powerful voice in the industries the union represents. The Labor-Management Cooperation Initiative helps bring together workers and contractors to provide a unified voice to industry leaders. The IUPAT Industry Pension Fund helps working people in the finishing trades prepare for retirement. IUPAT sells branded merchandise in its online store. IUPAT publishes the Painters and Allied Trades Journal and provides education to inform members. IUPAT provides scholarships for members and their families. IUPAT has committees dedicated to various crafts and demographic groups.

Learn More: Website, X, Facebook, YouTube

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 Argelia Alvarado Gonzales  of the Utility Workers (UWUA).

Argelia Alvarado Gonzales is a proud Hispanic woman and daughter of migrant parents. Her dedication shines as a loving mother, wife and tireless parent volunteer. As a youth leader and union advocate, she uplifts her community and inspires others. Her commitment to empowering women is evident through her active role in UWUA Local 132’s Women’s Caucus. Gonzales’ leadership, passion and unwavering pride in her heritage make her a true role model. 

Tags: Hispanic 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.

Musicians at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO), members of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 148-462, have reached agreement on a new three-year contract. The deal offers a range of benefits for the orchestra's players, including a pay increase of 15% over the course of the contract, the establishment of two new player positions, and a comprehensive overhaul of audition and tenure review procedures that is consistent with industry standards.

“The musicians are united in our unwavering commitment to our audiences and to our art—and in our clear vision for the future of the world-class Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,” said Jessica Oudin, president of the ASO Players' Association. “We are thankful to have ratified a progressive and multifaceted contract that speaks to all aspects of our work—and in so doing, honors the legacy and protects the future of the ASO. We are thankful for the collaborative spirit that has enabled us all to reach this day, and we look forward to the continued work ahead.”

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

Westchester County Airport Workers Join TWU: Ramp agents at Westchester County Airport in New York state overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to form a union with Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 504. These newly minted union members are trained on the unique procedures for the six major airlines they work for and additionally perform critical overnight maintenance work. Despite the fact that workers have been forced to work one to two days of overtime every week and struggle to take time off, the contractor that operates the airport—AvPorts—has refused to hire more staff. “These workers have been mistreated for years and getting a solid TWU contract that addresses these staffing issues is our top priority,” said TWU Organizing Director Angelo Cucuzza. “Management asks for ‘volunteers’ to work extra shifts every week, and if you don’t volunteer, you’re forced to work anyway. This is unacceptable, and we will work to rectify these quality-of-life issues.”

Signal Ohio Staff Secure Voluntary Recognition: Days after Signal Ohio staff staged a powerful walkout, leadership at the nonprofit newsroom voluntarily recognized the Northeast Ohio NewsGuild, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 34001, as the bargaining representative for workers at its Akron, Columbus and Cleveland sites. Newsroom staff announced their intention to form the Signal Ohio News Workers Guild (SONWG) in late August and, much to their disappointment, management responded by hiring a notorious union-busting law firm. But workers prevailed and are now turning their attention toward bargaining a contract that will ensure a long, sustainable future for the news outlet. “We’re ecstatic to share [that] Signal Ohio’s leadership chose to voluntarily recognize us as one union,” workers said in a social media post. “We appreciate our board hearing our message about the strength of the SONWG. We look forward to working with them on our mission to provide Ohio with free, high-quality journalism.”

Kaman’s Art Shoppes Employees at San Diego Zoo Join IATSE: Workers at Kaman’s Art Shoppes—who bring magic to the San Diego Zoo experience through creating caricatures, letter brush art and body art for guests—voted overwhelmingly to form a union with Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 122. The 30-person bargaining unit began organizing in May of this year and faced an aggressive anti-union campaign from management, which included harassing emails, one-on-one conversations and even a visit from their Ohio-based CEO. But workers persisted and are now looking forward to bargaining a contract that raises wages, establishes paid time off and provides fairer scheduling protocols. “Everyone deserves a union, whether it’s a stagehand, a rigger or a body artist—we all deserve to have a voice on the job,” said Taylor Resenbeck, Local 122’s business agent.

UMWA Members at ACNR and Iron Senergy Ratify New Contracts: The Mine Workers (UMWA) announced on Tuesday that union members who work at American Consolidated Natural Resources Inc. (ACNR) and Iron Senergy have ratified new, hard-fought contracts. Union members at ACNR operations in West Virginia and Ohio and at Iron Senergy’s Cumberland mine in Pennsylvania secured a number of major victories, including higher wages and retention of current benefits. “This is a critical win for our members and their families,” said International President Cecil E. Roberts. “At a time of growing uncertainty in the coal industry, these agreements are the result of hard-fought negotiations that protect the rights and futures of UMWA miners. I want to congratulate Secretary-Treasurer Brian Sanson, his Executive Assistant Mike Phillippi, and the rest of the UMWA negotiating team for their outstanding work in securing these contracts. Their persistence and dedication made all the difference.”

IAM Members at Greyhound Ratify Powerful New Contract: IAM Union recently announced the successful ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement covering members who work for Greyhound nationwide, calling it the “strongest contract yet.” The three-year deal includes major victories such as wage increases of more than 3% every year, a new vacation schedule, boosted tool allowance and more. “This was a challenging negotiation due to Greyhound’s transition to its new parent company Flix SE, but our team secured the best contract to date for our members,” said IAM Automotive Director Craig Hughes. “I want to thank IAM leadership for expanding our department and bringing on Special Representative Heather Hildebrand. Heather did an outstanding job leading these negotiations for the first time.” “Our members stood strong, and we delivered real gains in pay, benefits, and career opportunities,” Hildebrand added. “It was an honor to lead this negotiation alongside such a committed bargaining committee. This agreement reflects the strength of IAM members at Greyhound and the value they bring to the company every day.”

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 Angelica Roacho of the United Steelworkers (USW).

Angelica Roacho serves as financial secretary of USW Local 7600 and has worked for 15 years as a pharmacy tech, offering patients a warm smile and a listening ear. Proud to be both a Latina and a union leader, she carries her father’s immigrant journey from Mexico forward through her involvement with the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, advocating for her co-workers and inspiring her son with the power of solidarity.

Tags: Hispanic 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.

Days after Signal Ohio staff staged a powerful walkout, leadership at the nonprofit newsroom voluntarily recognized the Northeast Ohio NewsGuild, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 34001, as the bargaining representative for workers at its Akron, Columbus and Cleveland sites.

Newsroom staff announced their intention to form the Signal Ohio News Workers Guild (SONWG) in late August and, much to their disappointment, management responded by hiring a notorious union-busting law firm. But workers prevailed and are now turning their attention toward bargaining a contract that will ensure a long, sustainable future for the news outlet.

“We’re ecstatic to share [that] Signal Ohio’s leadership chose to voluntarily recognize us as one union,” workers said in a social media post. “We appreciate our board hearing our message about the strength of the SONWG. We look forward to working with them on our mission to provide Ohio with free, high-quality journalism.”