AFL-CIO Blog

  • Pride Month Profiles
    Pride Month Profiles For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Here's who we've featured so far:   Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 06/26/2025 - 11:05 Tags: Pride — Jun 26
  • Pride Month Profiles: Monique “Mo” Mate
    Pride Month Profiles: Monique “Mo” Mate For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Monique “Mo” Mate of NALC. Monique Mate began her career as a letter carrier in 1993, at which point she joined NALC. Her journey in union activism took a significant turn in 2010 when she became a steward. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “Union activism has made me realize the things that can be accomplished when we all stand together.” Eventually becoming the first woman to serve as president of Branch 210, Mate is passionate about mentoring younger members and increasing their involvement. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 06/26/2025 - 10:11 Tags: Pride — Jun 26
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UFCW Members at Giant Eagle Overwhelmingly Approve New Contract, Securing Wage Increases
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UFCW Members at Giant Eagle Overwhelmingly Approve New Contract, Securing Wage Increases 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. More than 5,000 members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776 at 34 Giant Eagle stores across Pennsylvania and West Virginia overwhelmingly approved a new four-year contract. The contract was approved by 94% of Local 1776 members in a vote. As part of the agreement, employees will receive annual pay raises ranging from 3% to 5% over the next four years. “I want to thank our bargaining committee for their hard work in negotiating a strong contract. This agreement provides wage increases, improved retirement plan funding, and maintains the excellent health and welfare benefits our members have,” said Local 1776 President Wendell Young IV. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 06/26/2025 - 10:02 — Jun 26
  • MAKE A CALL: Tell the Senate to Say NO to Big Tech’s AI Overreach
    MAKE A CALL: Tell the Senate to Say NO to Big Tech’s AI Overreach As corporations speed up their use of artificial intelligence (AI), workers are at a dangerous crossroads every day. Workers want strong protections and real accountability from tech companies to stop the unsafe, unethical use of AI before it’s too late. That’s why state lawmakers across the country have been working on guardrails that protect workers’ jobs, safety and civil liberties, and prevent discrimination or the theft of people’s work in all 50 states. The problem? In the “big, ugly” budget reconciliation bill that could be passed this week in the U.S. Senate, lawmakers snuck in a provision that would ban the creation or enforcement of all current or fuit iture state and local AI safety rules for the next 10 years. Think how much AI use has exploded and changed in just the past 10 months—and imagine what the world could look like in 10 years without strong safeguards. This provision is a gift to Big Tech companies and greedy employers to maximize profits at the expense of our future. Working people need AI safety rules to stop anti-worker use of AI on the job and in our lives. Call your senators and tell them to remove this dangerous provision from their budget bill, and stop trying to weaken AI safety rules. Working people are facing a future where AI systems decide whether or not we get a job, control our workload, and even determine the quality of our medical care. But when pressed, AI developers admit that their models often “hallucinate”—or make things up—which could have life-changing or even life-threatening consequences. If passed, this AI safety ban would be a massive overreach by the federal government, especially at a time when our lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are already failing to protect working families with AI safety guardrails. Here’s the bottom line: America’s workers want more oversight and accountability of AI technology—not less. Call your senators today and tell them not to weaken crucial AI provisions. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 06/25/2025 - 15:47 — Jun 25
  • Solidarity Is More Important Than Ever: In the States Roundup
    Solidarity Is More Important Than Ever: 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: Connecticut AFL-CIO: Illinois AFL-CIO: Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO: Massachusetts AFL-CIO: Minnesota AFL-CIO: Missouri AFL-CIO: Nebraska State AFL-CIO: Nevada State AFL-CIO: New York State AFL-CIO: North Carolina State AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO: Texas AFL-CIO: Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO: West Virginia AFL-CIO: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 06/25/2025 - 13:56 — Jun 25