AFL-CIO Blog

  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AV Technicians at Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino Join IATSE
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AV Technicians at Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino 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. Audiovisual (AV) technicians at Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas formed a union with Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 720 this year and have now ratified their first collective bargaining agreement. The crew work throughout the hotel, casino and sportsbook areas on the property, which is owned by Caesars Entertainment. The agreement includes major wins like immediate wage increases of more than 6.5%, an improved health care plan and more. “Planet Hollywood was the only Caesars Entertainment property on the Las Vegas Strip without an IATSE contract, so getting this agreement cements our partnership with Caesars as a union employer,” added Apple Thorne, IATSE international vice president and Local 720 business representative. “Having the union represent me and my department takes the weight off my shoulders. I’m looking forward to working shows again with bands and assisting on big productions throughout the city and maybe the world,” said Yuvani Santamaria, Planet Hollywood AV technician lead. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/29/2025 - 09:40 — Oct 29
  • Hold Employers Accountable: In the States Roundup
    Hold Employers Accountable: 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. California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO: Colorado AFL-CIO: Illinois AFL-CIO: Massachusetts AFL-CIO: Michigan State AFL-CIO: Minnesota AFL-CIO: Missouri AFL-CIO: Nevada State AFL-CIO: New Hampshire AFL-CIO: New York State AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO: Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: Texas AFL-CIO: Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/28/2025 - 13:33 — Oct 28
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: ATU Golf Tournament Raises Money for MS
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: ATU Golf Tournament Raises Money for MS 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. Nearly 200 golfers, supporters, and guests came out for the 39th Annual ATU Multiple Sclerosis Golf Tournament, one of the largest ever. ATU locals, sponsors, and guests raised funds for the ATU MS Research Fund to support ongoing research to help end MS. International President John Costa, International Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk, and International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo addressed participants at the reception, thanking them for attending the tournament and supporting the ATU MS Research Fund.  “I’ve been coming to this event for many years since I was the president at Local 819-Newark, NJ, and this is one of the biggest ATU MS Golf Tournaments ever. Our union has been doing this tournament for 39 years, and I am proud that we have continued this tradition,” Costa said. “It is humbling to see the support of our Locals, our IVPs, sponsors, and everyone to raise funds for the ATU MS Research Fund to fight this debilitating disease. Thank you to International Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk and staff for once again organizing a great event.” Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/28/2025 - 10:20 — Oct 28
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Health Care Workers in West Virginia Stand Together for a Better Contract
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Health Care Workers in West Virginia Stand Together for a Better 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 United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 who work at Montgomery Rehab and Nursing in Montgomery, West Virginia, ratified a new contract. Key provisions of the three-year contract include the largest across-the-board pay increases for certified nursing assistants of any contract ever at the facility; longevity raises in years five, 10 and 20; the preservation of health benefits with minimal premium increases in the second and third years of the agreement, and preservation of vacation accrual for all current employees. “I want to congratulate our Montgomery Rehab and Nursing members on standing strong in solidarity and winning themselves a collective bargaining agreement that raises their living standards and protects their health benefits,” said UFCW Local 400 President Mark P. Federici. “These gains were hard-earned and a direct result of their unity.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/27/2025 - 09:56 — Oct 27
  • Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: United Steelworkers
    Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: United Steelworkers 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 United Steelworkers (USW).  Name of Union: The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union Mission: The values upon which the USW was founded in 1942 still guide the organization today. These include: 
    • Uniting in one organization, regardless of creed, color or nationality, all workers eligible for membership.
    • Increasing the wages and improving the conditions of employment of members by legislation, joint agreements or other legitimate means.
    • Securing equitable statutory old-age pension, workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance laws.
    • Enforcing existing just laws and securing the repeal of those that are unjust.
    • Securing, by legislative enactment, laws protecting the limbs, lives and health of members, protecting their right to organize and other legislation as will be beneficial.
    Current Leadership of Union: David McCall became USW’s ninth international president in 2023. He has dedicated his career to fighting on behalf of union members for more than 50 years, getting his start as a member of USW Local 6787 while working as a millwright at Bethlehem Steel’s Burns Harbor Works in northwestern Indiana. The USW International Executive Board elected him as international vice president (administration) in 2019. McCall served as director of USW District 1 beginning in January 1999 and was elected to five consecutive terms (20 years) in the position. Myles Sullivan serves as international secretary-treasurer, and USW has four international vice presidents: Emil Ramirez (administration), Kevin Mapp (human affairs), Roxanne Brown (at large), and Luis Mendoza. Marty Warren serves as the national director for Canada. Number of Members: 850,000 Members Work as: USW members work in a wide variety of settings, including steel, aluminum, iron ore, cement, glass, rubber, paper and forestry, oil, chemical, and manufacturing industries, as well as in mining and other metals. They also work in health care, higher education, energy and utilities, hospitality, cultural institutions, pharmaceuticals, co-ops, security, the public sector, and many others. Industries Represented: atomic, chemical, education, energy and utilities, glass, molders, pottery, plastics, health care, higher education, pharmacies and pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, metals, mining, oil and petroleum, paper and forestry, public employees, rubber and tires, service sector, transportation, and more. History: Watch this video or read more on the USW website. Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: USW produces the “Solidarity Works Podcast,” the quarterly magazine USW@Work and other publications, and it offers various ways to engage in activism with USW. When severe injuries or fatalities occur at USW-represented workplaces, the Emergency Response Team dispatches highly trained responders to support victims, family members and fellow workers during their darkest hours. The USW’s Rapid Response program is building worker power across our halls of power. The USW also sponsors the Tony Mazzocchi Center for Health, Safety and Environmental Education and offers education and membership development to members. The USW has several constituency groups: Next Generation, Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR), Veterans of Steel and Women of Steel. Buy USW-made products on their website. Learn More: Website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/27/2025 - 09:36     — Oct 27