09/24/2025 - 6:00pm
Breaking Barriers: What Working People Are Doing This Week
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 publishes member-written letters reflecting on the lives of their fellow members who have passed away. Fill out the member commemoration form in the member portal to share your letters of remembrance. https://members.actorsequity.org/member-commemoration
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— Actors' Equity Association (@actorsequity.bsky.social) September 23, 2025 at 4:05 PM
AFGE:
AFSCME:
Alliance for Retired Americans:
Amalgamated Transit Union:
American Federation of Musicians:
American Federation of Teachers:
American Postal Workers Union:
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
Boilermakers:
Bricklayers:
Communications Workers of America:
Department for Professional Employees:
Yesterday, DPE President Jennifer Dorning spoke about how to ensure the nonprofit creative sector is sustainable on a panel at Creative Labor, Creative Conditions: A National Convening on Artistic Labor and Advocacy hosted by @dcjazzfest.org.web.brid.gy and the @dorisdukefdn.bsky.social.
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— Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (@dpeaflcio.bsky.social) September 23, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Electrical Workers:
Fire Fighters:
09/24/2025 - 11:30am
Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Claudia Zarate
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 Claudia Zarate of UNITE HERE's Culinary Union.
In Las Vegas, the Cosmopolitan casino opened as a nonunion workplace in 2011. After a four-year organizing campaign, the UNITE HERE Culinary Union negotiated and won a first union contract in 2015. Claudia Zarate was a Day One committee member at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas when it was nonunion and became a worker leader during the four-year fight to organize it—now part of the 100% unionized Las Vegas Strip.
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 09/24/2025 - 09:45
Tags:
Hispanic Heritage Month
09/24/2025 - 11:30am
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Artists at Netflix Animation, SpindleHorse and ‘Ted’ Move to Join Animation Guild
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.
The Animation Guild (TAG)—Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 839—is celebrating multiple powerful organizing wins this week as three new different groups of animation workers have formally announced their efforts to join the union.
Production workers at Netflix Animation Studios and the television series “Ted” submitted official voluntary recognition requests. And animation artists at SpindleHorse requested and secured voluntary recognition on Tuesday. This wave of organizing represents a powerful new era for the animation industry, for both major productions and at independent studios.
“Production workers in animation deserve the same protections as artists—we deserve to fight for sustainable careers,” says Ana Tessier, a production coordinator at Netflix. “I’m so thrilled that now we’ll have a seat at the negotiating table. I’m equally inspired by organizing efforts at other studios—the more studios start to unionize, the more we can create a stable future for the animation industry at large.”
“SpindleHorse is leading the charge in the indie animation industry by pushing for stability for its passionate and highly creative team. We look forward to working with SpindleHorse to overcome boundaries and show what dedicated artists can achieve in the indie scene!” says Melanie An, who works in cleanup and rendering.
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 09/24/2025 - 09:40
09/23/2025 - 5:30pm
Protect America's Workplace: 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.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Colorado AFL-CIO:
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Illinois AFL-CIO:
Maine AFL-CIO:
Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
Michigan State AFL-CIO:
Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Missouri AFL-CIO:
Nevada State AFL-CIO:
09/23/2025 - 11:30am
Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Fernando Montes
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 Fernando Montes of the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Fernando Montes has been a proud IATSE member for 12 years, currently serving on Local 728’s executive board and as a District 2 delegate. He is a member of six committees—Scholarship, Safety and Training, Negotiations, Constitution and Bylaws, and Awards—and serves as chair of the Rigging Committee. “The proudest moment of my career thus far are the relationships I have with my crew, and the fact that we are not just co-workers but like family,” Montes said.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 09/23/2025 - 10:05
Tags:
Hispanic Heritage Month
09/23/2025 - 11:30am
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Kaman’s Art Shoppes Employees at San Diego Zoo Join IATSE
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.
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.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 09/23/2025 - 09:56
09/22/2025 - 4:30pm
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Roofers and Waterproofers
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 Roofers and Waterproofers (Roofers).
Name of Union: United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers
Mission: The union is committed to improving wages, working conditions, pensions, health care, safety, training and overall benefits for its members.
Current Leadership of Union: James A. Hadel serves as international president, and Mitch Terhaar serves as international secretary-treasurer. The organization also has 10 international vice presidents: Douglas Ziegler (First), Paul F. Bickford (Second), Daniel P. O’Donnell (Third), Robert Peterson (Fourth), Brent R. Beasley (Fifth), Joseph Pozzi (Sixth), Gary W. Menzel (Seventh), Michael Kujawa (Eighth), Shawn McCullough (Ninth) and Mark Conroy (Tenth).
Number of Members: 22,000
Members Work As: Applying all types of roofing and waterproofing systems, including but not limited to all low-sloped roofing systems (vegetative and solar photovoltaic roofs), structural waterproofing, steep-sloped roofing systems and air barrier applications.
Industries Represented: The construction industry across the United States.
History: On June 5, 1903, the American Federation of Labor chartered the International Slate and Tile Roofers Union of America, and on Nov. 6, 1906, AFL chartered the International Brotherhood of Composition Roofers, Damp and Waterproof Workers. In 1919, the two unions met in Pittsburgh and merged to become the United Slate, Tile and Composition Roofers, Damp and Waterproof Workers Association. By World War II, the combined union had grown to more than 7,000 members. The postwar construction boom led to membership doubling by 1950, with membership peaking in 1978. That year, the union adopted its current name, the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers. The union continues to focus on training, safety and cooperation in an effort to provide the safest and best-trained roofers and waterproofers in the industry.
Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The Journeyman Waterproofer and Roofer magazine, Women in Roofing, political action, community outreach, apprenticeships, health and safety, Research and Education Trust, and jobs.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 09/22/2025 - 12:33
09/22/2025 - 4:30pm
Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Zarai Santos
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 Zarai Santos of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Zarai Santos is a dedicated union organizer and community advocate for SEIU based in Las Vegas. With a background in sociology, years in the labor movement, and a passion for empowering workers at Levi’s and T.J. Maxx warehouses, she’s known for her commitment to building strong, inclusive workplace communities. Santos has played a pivotal role in modernizing steward trainings and creating bilingual union orientation programs that resonate with a diverse workforce.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 09/22/2025 - 10:16
Tags:
Hispanic Heritage Month
09/22/2025 - 4:30pm
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UMWA Members at ACNR and Iron Senergy Ratify New Contracts
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.
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.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 09/22/2025 - 10:12
09/19/2025 - 3:00pm
Action Alert: Call to Stop Looming Health Care Price Spikes!
On Nov. 1, Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces in most states will begin to open for enrollment for next year.
Unless Congress acts, more than 90% of people enrolled in ACA health care plans will see out-of-pocket premiums jump by 75% on average. Millions could lose coverage altogether when a key tax credit drops at the end of the year. And higher costs for Affordable Care Act health care plans ultimately will result in higher health care costs for everyone—including people who get their health insurance through their jobs. The last thing families need is health care bills soaring at a time when we’re also dealing with rising food, housing, electricity, gas and other costs.
Congress must act. Please make a call to tell your senators and representative to stop the health care price spike NOW! Call 855-493-4407.
Across the country, news of double-digit health care cost increases already is making headlines. But national Republican leaders refuse to acknowledge that they must address this tidal wave of rising health insurance prices. President Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson are refusing to commit to preserving these tax credits for working people.
We cannot stand by as working families are being forced to spend extra on health care. Fill out the form on this page to make a call or dial 855-493-4407.
You don’t need to be an expert to make a big difference. Our message is simple: “Stop the health care price spikes working families are facing.”
But here are some talking points to help you, if you choose to use them during your call:
- We demand a permanent, clean extension of the ACA tax credits. Leadership must commit to a plan to make the tax credits permanent, without reducing their value or scaling back eligibility.
- If nothing is done, millions will face skyrocketing prices and millions more will lose health care altogether. About 22 million people with health care through the Affordable Care Act would see their out-of-pocket premium costs increase by an average of 75%. And the Congressional Budget Office estimates that higher costs would cause 4.2 million people to drop coverage and become uninsured—the participation drop itself then would cause massive damage to the Affordable Care Act.
- Everyone will pay more for health care if the ACA tax credits disappear. Combined with the Medicaid cuts that Republicans in Washington passed this year, ending the Affordable Care Act tax credits would raise health care costs as much as $485 per person a year for the 179 million people with employment-based insurance. That’s nearly $2,000 more a year in health care costs for a family of four.
- We ask you to protect affordability and continuity of coverage. Small groups of Republicans in the House and Senate have called for a one-year extension or a cap on who can get the credits. That’s not good enough. This would lead to instability in the health care industry and insurance companies could stop offering Affordable Care Act health plans. In short, people would lose their doctors and other medical providers. We need a permanent fix now.
- Slashing the health care system again would cost even more health care jobs. Cuts to ACA credits would result in a loss of 130,000 health care jobs. Combined with the $900 billion in Medicaid cuts the Trump administration and Republicans passed earlier this year, this means approximately 607,000 health care jobs in total would be lost.
- More hospitals, nursing homes and clinics would close. A second tidal wave of red ink for the health care system would make the devastating health cuts in the Big Ugly Bill even worse, forcing hospitals, nursing homes and community health clinics to close.
- How would your state be affected? Here is a list of premium rate impacts by congressional district and state.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 09/19/2025 - 10:20
