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.

Postdoctoral scholars and research associates at the University of Pennsylvania voted in favor of forming a union, Research Associates and Postdocs United at Penn (RAPUP-UAW), with a vote of 95% saying, “Union, yes!”

“We are thrilled with tonight’s results, and ready to work with the university towards a more democratic workplace,” said Emily Perkins, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology. “We love our jobs, but the increasing threats to international scholars coupled with inadequate compensation made a union the obvious choice. We’re ready to speak in one voice for fair pay, better job security, and a more equitable university.”
 

Postdocs and research associates form the backbone of research at Penn, performing groundbreaking studies in laboratories and offices across campus. Their work attracts hundreds of millions of dollars in funding each year. But despite these contributions, many struggle to make ends meet, with very limited job security, no meaningful protections against harassment and discrimination, and spotty benefits that are not guaranteed.

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 Got the Power.' Union Members Rally in Atlanta for Workers' Rights: “Union members from across the Southeast gathered in Atlanta on Tuesday evening for a Workers Over Billionaires rally. Atlanta is the latest stop on the AFL-CIO’s ‘It’s Better in a Union’ bus tour. Speakers discussed federal funding cuts, ongoing lawsuits against the Trump administration, and the future of labor organizing.”

'The System Is Rigged': CEOs Made 285 Times More Than Their Workers in 2024: AFL-CIO Report: “‘Corporate CEOs are raking in millions, and now they'll get another kickback from President Trump's tax cut gift and anti-worker agenda,’ said Fred Redmond, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO.”

American Postal Workers Union President Sounds Alarm on Privatization: “‘There is an intensified effort really coming from the billionaires and Wall Street about privatizing the public United States Postal Service,’ APWU president Mark Dimondstein said in an interview with the Daily Montanan. ‘Which means either breaking it up in whole or piecemealing it out whole or in part to private companies that then decide who gets mail under what conditions, based on whether somebody can make a profit.’”

AFL-CIO Message for Workers: ‘It’s Easy to Get Discouraged, but We Have Something They Don’t’: “We caught up with AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler shortly after the event and asked her what the organization hopes to accomplish with the tour. ‘People feel kind of powerless right now,’ she said. That’s a direct result of GOP attacks on the laws and structures that have long provided some protections to workers. ‘We’re trying to uplift the impacts on working people, make them real, because we’re bringing the human face to what’s happening out there, and then channeling workers’ frustrations and anger into action.’”

New AFL-CIO Campaign Hosts Town Halls, Panels to Advocate for Workers' Rights in South Carolina: “The South Carolina AFL-CIO has launched a new campaign aimed at advancing workers' rights and equity across the state by unifying them, their families, organizations, and elected officials under a common banner in the face of challenges posed by new federal legislation. The Advancing Workers Advocacy Rights & Equity (AWARE) Campaign kicks off with a town hall and panel on Thursday, July 24 in Rock Hill, marking the beginning of a short tour around the state with several different events and guests aimed at building connections and strengthening statewide collective advocacy efforts, according to the South Carolina AFL-CIO. Thursday's panel will feature South Carolina AFL-CIO Vice President Lindsay McClelland, Brandon Upson with the organizing group The New Progressive South, Catawba Central Labor Council President Jason Wells, and Rev. Jason Myers with the Chester Worker Center.”

It's Better in a Union! Liz Shuler on the Power of the People: “Early this month, the AFL-CIO launched the ‘Better in a Union Bus Tour’ where union leaders and members will be traveling to stops in 26 states across the country in order to amplify workers’ voices. Now, Jen is joined by Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, to discuss the bus tour, how cuts to the federal government hurt working Americans the most, and why the labor movement is the backbone of democracy.”

Northampton County Announces New Contract with AFSCME Employees: “Northampton County and its county employees union have reached a new three-year contract for employees in four bargaining units, officials announced Monday. The new agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1265 covers 911 center supervisors, many union employees working for the county court and youth care workers running the juvenile justice center, among others.”

AFL-CIO Bus Tour Stops in Michigan at Rally vs. ’Big Bad Bill’: “Trade unionists and retirees gathered at noon Thursday outside the headquarters here of United Auto Workers Region 1 as part of the AFL-CIO’s ‘Better In A Union’ bus tour. The federation’s tour will crisscross the country over the next several weeks leading up to Labor Day to denounce the billionaire-backed Trump administration’s attacks on working families and trade union freedoms. Especially on workers’ minds here is the so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ just passed by the Republican-controlled Congress. The bill slashes worker protections, guts safety nets and healthcare for millions, eliminates environmental protections, and locks in indefinite, massive tax cuts for the capitalist class.”

Union Workers at Corning Nursing Home Ratify Three Year Contract, Wage Increase: “Union nursing home workers at Corning Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare ratified a new labor contract on July 4. Workers received wage increases and benefits expansions in the contract. The previous contract for Corning Center union members expired April 30. Health care workers at the nursing facility, represented by the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, will receive increases in new hire and longevity wages, shift differentials and employer-provided pension contributions.”

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

Shaw’s Warehouse Workers Win New Contract with More Than $5 an Hour in Raises: Workers at the Shaw’s Distribution Center in Wells, Maine, overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract that includes pay increases and pension improvements. The contract includes a $5.05 per hour raise over four years, increased employer pension contributions and streamlined workflows. Nate Jordan, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 791 vice president and chief steward at the Shaw’s Distribution Center, said it is the best contract they have won since they formed a union in 1998. The Local represents between 250 and 275 workers at the distribution center. “Our last contract for 2022 to ’25 was the best contract that we've seen and this one here beat it, so we’ve done really well the last couple of contracts,” Jordan said.

PrimeFlight Fuelers in Orlando Unanimously Ratify First TWU Contract with 15% Raise: Members of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 504 successfully negotiated their first contract for PrimeFlight Fuelers working at Orlando (Florida) International Airport. The contract locks in a 15% raise,  replaces a management-controlled paid time off (PTO) system with guaranteed sick and vacation time, and includes a grievance and arbitration procedure process and a discipline policy. With this new contract, which Local 504 members approved unanimously, PrimeFlight Fuelers are no longer “at will” workers. “This first contract for PrimeFlight Fuelers in Orlando provides significant economic gains for workers and their families,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “The new contract immediately turned the Fuelers represented by the TWU from the lowest-paid Fuelers on property to the highest-paid and provides workers with both sick time and vacation instead of a management-controlled PTO system.”

Brooklyn Cannabis Workers Vote Overwhelmingly to Join RWDSU-UFCW Local: Last month, cannabis workers at Gotham Dispensary in Brooklyn, New York, voted overwhelmingly to join Local 338 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), a part of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). The workers voted 18–3 to join the union. This win comes after months of organizing, during which Local 338 filed unfair labor practice charges against Gotham, alleging the company unlawfully terminated strong union supporters. “I wanted to join Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW so that everyone at Gotham would have a collective voice,” said Cara Behar, a budtender at Gotham. “Unions are the backbone of this country, and their presence is more important now than ever. We’re demanding fair scheduling, equitable treatment of part- and full-time workers, and basic protections. Watching my coworkers be fired for organizing only strengthened our resolve.”  Local 338 now represents approximately 600 cannabis workers statewide, part of a growing movement of cannabis workers across New York. “The solidarity and strength the workers at Gotham displayed over the last six months of this unionization campaign has been nothing short of inspiring,” said Joseph Fontano, secretary-treasurer of RWDSU-UFCW Local 338. “They came together to advocate for each other, even in the face of unfair labor practices. This win shows the power of organizing and the vision we had when we helped shape cannabis legalization in New York. We’re proud to welcome Gotham workers into our union family and look forward to winning them a strong first contract.”

University of Pennsylvania Postdocs and Research Assistants Vote Overwhelmingly to Join UAW: Postdoctoral scholars and research associates at the University of Pennsylvania voted in favor of forming a union, Research Associates and Postdocs United at Penn (RAPUP-UAW), with a vote of 95% saying, “Union, yes!” These workers form the backbone of research at Penn, performing groundbreaking studies in laboratories and offices across campus that attracts hundreds of millions of dollars in funding each year. But despite their contributions, many struggle to make ends meet, with very limited job security, no meaningful protections against harassment and discrimination, and spotty benefits that are not guaranteed. “We are thrilled with [these] results and ready to work with the university towards a more democratic workplace,” said Emily Perkins, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology. “We love our jobs, but the increasing threats to international scholars coupled with inadequate compensation made a union the obvious choice. We’re ready to speak in one voice for fair pay, better job security, and a more equitable university.” 

SEIU Janitors in Kansas City Ratify New Union Contract with Three Years of Raises: Some 800 janitors in Kansas City, Missouri, members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1, ratified a new contract. They won raises over the contract's three-year lifespan, enshrined paid vacation time, a labor management committee, improved bereavement leave, language protecting workers’ reassignment rights and a requirement for good-faith efforts by employers to translate training materials for non-English-speaking workers. “It was really inspiring to see so many members come out in force to rally to demand fair wages,” said Chris Rak, vice president and Missouri director of Local 1. “The companies had been offering a 1.5% increase, which wasn’t nearly enough for people who are already scraping by on poverty wages. By taking the streets and taking actions, they were able to win a much better settlement.”

WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital Workers Agree to New Contract with Management: WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital and the union representing 1,400 hospital workers, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, reached an agreement on a new contract. The three-year contract with union members includes a wage package of a 3.5% annual increase, protections against job outsourcing, two emergency days for newer employees and the preservation of all benefits from the previous contract. “Not having to strike, we really appreciate just being able to go to work,” said Gayle Alleman, RN. “The commitment to this community is just phenomenal and outstanding.”

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Rosa Serai of NATCA.

Rosa Serai began a remarkable 32½-year career as an air traffic controller in Honolulu. As a dedicated member of NATCA, she became pivotal in the organization—helping to plan the construction of a new facility, training new controllers, serving as a subject matter expert, contributing to labor relations and designing simulation problems. She also served as the safety representative for the Honolulu Control Facility. Today, Serai continues to serve the labor movement as a retiree.

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Annawa Naing of AFT.

Annawa Naing is a United Federation of Teachers (UFT) chapter leader and member of the New York State United Teachers, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA) and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA). As a teacher and a unionist, Naing believes in advocacy work—such as fighting for special education services for the students at her school and advocating for fellow members to make sure their union rights are not being violated.

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Jacob Kaleikini of AFSCME.

United Public Workers (UPW/AFSCME) Hawaii member Jacob Kaleikini is a lead pipefitter at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, where he has worked for more than 30 years. Kaleikini's passion for his job and colleagues motivated him to get more involved, and he was elected chief steward of his unit. He then took on the role of chair of UPW’s election committee.

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.

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement on the budget reconciliation bill passed overnight in the House of Representatives:

“House Republican leaders passed this shameful bill in the middle of the night for one reason: They didn’t want the American people to see the deep and harmful cuts they’re imposing in the light of day. This budget gave Congress a choice: stand with the working people, seniors and kids, or deliver another massive giveaway to billionaires and big corporations. Every single member of Congress who voted for this bill chose to write the richest 10% a fat check on the backs of working-class families already struggling to pay their bills.

“They voted to throw millions off their health care, put millions of American jobs on the chopping block, gut investments in energy jobs, raid federal workers’ pensions, and reverse years of progress to protect workers’ privacy, health, and safety. Even policies that should help keep money in workers’ pockets, like no tax on tips or overtime, are temporary—and will only help people pay the much higher costs of health care and energy bills resulting from this deal if they are fortunate to keep their coverage and jobs at all. The fight to beat this is now in the Senate, but working people won’t give up on tough fights. Our jobs, our health care and our families are on the line.”

Read the full press statement here. 

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 opposes Governor Newsom's surprise proposal to make massive cut to California Arts funding. Read our full statement - https://t.co/TSe7Q7DoOG pic.twitter.com/P41xdBUcHh

— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) May 19, 2025

AFGE:

7 reasons why America’s workers need the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ⬇https://t.co/dzC7JBMMif

— AFGE (@AFGENational) May 20, 2025

AFSCME:

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

Northwestern University Food Service Workers Ratify New Contract: After a 12-day strike this year, members of UNITE HERE Local 1 who staff dining facilities at Northwestern University have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. Cooks, cashiers, dishwashers and catering staff on campus are employed by food service contractor Compass Group. Highlights of the new agreement include wage increases of $8 per hour over the lifetime of the contract, a 250% increase in employer pension contributions and more. “Thank you to all the students and community leaders for their support throughout the fight,” the union said in a social media post. “Congratulations, Compass Northwestern workers—when we fight, we win.”

VFX Workers Ratify First Three Contracts with Major U.S. Studios: Visual effects (VFX) workers for Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures and movie franchise Avatar voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first contracts as Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) members. The agreements are a major step forward for the VFX industry, establishing important standard union protections such as overtime pay, a pension and health plan, enforceable rest periods and more. Marvel workers voted unanimously to join IATSE in 2023, and their counterparts at Disney secured a similar election victory one month later. Avatar VFX workers joined the union in January of last year. “I am so proud of my fellow union members for all their hard work through which we have achieved this contract,” said Patrick DeVaney, a postvis coordinator, in a press release. “While we are used to pouring our blood and sweat into our work, unionizing requires something more: our courage. It takes an incredible amount of courage to stand up to management who will always seek to devalue labor in the pursuit of profit margins and your own coworkers who have labored for so long as a part of a non-unionized workforce that they were convinced unionizing would be impossible.”

UAW Members Reach TA with General Dynamics Electric Boat: UAW Local 571 reached a tentative agreement (TA) with submarine manufacturer General Dynamics Electric Boat on Sunday ahead of the union’s midnight strike deadline. More than 2,400 members who build nuclear submarines at the Groton, Connecticut, shipyard would be covered by the new five-year contract. The deal includes major wins such as a 30% wage increase over the lifetime of the agreement and improved wage progression provisions. UAW credits last month’s unified strike authorization vote and strong member mobilization as a major determining factor in securing this TA. “This contract is going to change the lives of our members,” said Bill Louis, president of Local 571. “After years of sky-high housing costs and record inflation, our members are finally seeing the recognition they deserve for their hard work.” 

U Is for Union: Sesame Workshop Staff Win Union Election: Workers at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the beloved children’s educational program “Sesame Street,” voted 55–19 to join the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 153. Despite management attempting to cancel the National Labor Relations Board election twice and trying to turn away eligible staff on the day of the vote, members of Sesame Workers Union (SWU) stood strong and secured a powerful victory. “With a history of unions at Sesame Workshop like WGA and SAG-AFTRA, SWU was founded on the basis of inclusion of the most Sesame workers as possible. The union is the people in your neighborhood, friends, colleagues, coworkers,” said member Kristen Sandmeier. “Our union shows how we can come together in community and collectively negotiate working conditions that are truly responsive to the needs of all of our workers. We are so excited to certify the union and to begin working in harmony with Sesame leadership to ensure a timely first contract.”

Divers at Orlando’s Discovery Cove Theme Park Vote to Join IUOE: Divers at SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove theme park unanimously voted to join the Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 30 last week, forming the first union at the Orlando, Florida, resort. With a 100% turnout rate for the election, divers and dive technicians are celebrating this milestone victory. These workers perform essential underwater maintenance duties at the aquatic-themed resort, and cite concerns around wages and lack of a voice on the job as core motivators for joining IUOE. During the organizing drive, parent company United Parks & Resorts retained union-busting legal counsel and tried to exclude some workers from union eligibility. But workers persisted through these delay tactics, and the National Labor Relations Board ultimately dismissed the eligibility complaint, ordering an election. “Workers, once they find out they have rights and they can get their fair piece to get a fair wage for their skill, they want that,” said Jonathan Ellingwood, an organizer with IUOE Local 30. “They were just tired of not getting raises, constantly being underpaid [compared] to what the other parks are paying.…The second you get together with the union and file, your voice is immediately heard.”

Norse Atlantic Airways Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract: U.S.-based Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) members who work for Norse Atlantic Airways voted overwhelmingly in support of ratifying a new contract. The Norwegian low-cost, long-haul airline was founded in 2021 and has a flight attendant base in John F. Kennedy International Airport. Highlights of the deal include provisions that ensure job security, raise total compensation with the highest per diem in the industry, increase the number of sick days and more. “This contract provides Norse Flight Attendants with certainty and guaranteed economic and work rule improvements. The contract provides much-needed quality of life as Norse charts the path forward,” said Norse AFA President Katarzyna Mroczek.

Washington State Governor Signs Striking Worker UI Benefits Bill into Law: Washington State Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill into law Monday that will extend unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to striking workers. Senate Bill 504, which goes into effect Jan. 1, provides up to six weeks of benefits to workers starting 15 to 21 days after a strike or lockout begins. Having access to this financial resource levels the playing field for union members walking the picket line, giving them more time to settle the fair contract they are owed. “Workers joining together in union and collectively bargaining to improve working conditions is as American as apple pie,” said April Sims, president of the Washington State Labor Council. “But with stagnant wages and a rising cost of living, many workers don’t have a safety net if they are pushed to strike. Providing UI for striking workers will level the playing field by encouraging employers to bargain in good faith and making it harder for bad bosses to starve workers out. UI benefits will help striking workers survive while they fight for the union contract that will help them thrive. We’re grateful to Sen. Riccelli for his leadership on this bill, and to all the legislators who listened to working people and supported its passage.”

Tags: Organizing

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Greta Ladrillono of PASS.

A near 20-year member of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Greta Ladrillono was born in the Philippines, raised in California and now lives in Florida, where she has worked in different positions for the Federal Aviation Administration. She’s active in her local chapter and is not only a proud union member, but joined PASS as soon as she was eligible.