AFL-CIO Blog

  • Top 10 AFL-CIO Blog Posts of 2020
    Top 10 AFL-CIO Blog Posts of 2020 By any measure, 2020 has been one of the most historic years in recent memory. Working people across the country stepped up in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, continued to organize their workplaces and came together to help elect a labor-friendly president and vice president in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. We covered these stories and many others throughout the year and here are the top 10 most-read stories by you, our readers. 1. In Memoriam: Union Members Lost in COVID-19 Pandemic: "As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the United States, our sisters, brothers and friends in the labor movement are among the first casualties. It is important for us to work together during this crisis to prevent further deaths. It is important to thank those who are doing the work to keep us safe and fed. It is important to remember those who we lost because of the coronavirus." 2. Working People Respond to the Killing of George Floyd with Nationwide Protests: "Racism plays an insidious role in the daily lives of all working people of color. This is a labor issue because it is a workplace issue. It is a community issue, and unions are the community. We must and will continue to fight for reforms in policing and to address issues of racial and economic inequality." 3. Biden Taps Working People Champions to Transition Teams: "President-elect Joe Biden made sure that the voices of working people will be heard in the transition to his administration. He appointed more than two dozen leaders from the labor movement to the various agency review teams that will help make sure the Biden administration is ready to go on day one." 4. Shame on Corporations Using COVID-19 Pandemic to Attack Workers: "Some greedy corporations are using this time to attack these working people, attempting to use a crisis to roll back the rights of the very people who are dying while keeping America running." 5. Government Must Act to Stop Spread of Economic and Financial Consequences of Coronavirus: "We need government to act to stop financial and economic contagion until the worst of the coronavirus passes and, most importantly, until everyone has a better sense of the exact nature of the threat—that is, until the uncertainty diminishes. Working people must demand that government act, or we and our families will pay the price for others’ lack of action, as we so often have in the past." 6. The Trump Budget: The Other Shoe Drops: "They keep running the same play because it keeps working. Since 2001, the wealthiest 1% of all taxpayers have gotten $2 trillion in tax cuts, and federal tax revenues have been reduced by $5.1 trillion. This is money that should have been used to make life better for working people⁠—for example, by rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, funding quality public education for every child and guaranteeing retirement security for our seniors⁠—rather than building up the fortunes of the 1%." 7. 50 Reasons the Trump Administration Is Bad for Workers: "The Trump administration’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic marks the administration’s most glaring failure of leadership. However, the administration’s response to the pandemic is in no way distinct from its approach to governing since President Trump’s first day on the job. The administration has systematically promoted the interests of corporate executives and shareholders over those of working people and failed to protect workers’ safety, wages and rights." 8. The Response to COVID-19: What Working People Are Doing This Week: "'When things like these episodes break out, we’re on the front lines.' – Leo Laffitte, a custodian for 18 years at the Hartford Public Library, a member of AFSCME Local 1716..." 9. The New Front-Line Workers: The Working People Weekly List: "Much of the American workplace has shut down, sending millions of employees home to wait out the coronavirus pandemic. Among those still on the job are grocery-store clerks, prison guards and delivery drivers. 'Who would have ever thought that we would be on the front lines?' said Joyce Babineau, a 67-year-old supermarket supervisor in Dartmouth, Mass., a coastal village 60 miles south of Boston." 10. Breakthrough for Organized Labor and Clean Energy: "Her goal was to go beyond good intentions and rhetoric. So Liz Shuler, as secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, the second-highest position in the labor movement and, as it happens, highest-ranking woman in the federation’s history, went to Scandinavia in 2019. She leveraged AFL-CIO’s relationships with their sister union federations to talk directly with top management at some of the largest renewable energy companies in the world." Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 12/18/2020 - 13:19 — Dec 18
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: The Season of Giving: IBEW Local 103 Holds Annual Christmas Toy Drive
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: The Season of Giving: IBEW Local 103 Holds Annual Christmas Toy Drive Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Members of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 103 in Boston came together over the weekend to hold their annual toy drive for kids and families in need. The union credited Mayor Martin Walsh (LIUNA) and all of the donors and volunteers who made the event possible. “Thank you so much, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, the IBEW Local 103 volunteers and everyone that donated to our annual Christmas toy drive! I’m so proud of Local 103,” said local Business Manager/Financial Secretary Louis Antonellis. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 12/18/2020 - 08:41 Tags: COVID-19, Community Service — Dec 18
  • COVID-19 Relief Now: What Working People Are Doing This Week
    COVID-19 Relief Now: 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: AFGE: AFSCME: Air Line Pilots Association: Alliance for Retired Americans: Amalgamated Transit Union: American Federation of Musicians: American Federation of Teachers: American Postal Workers Union: Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA: Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers: Boilermakers: Bricklayers: Coalition of Labor Union Women: Communications Workers of America: Department for Professional Employees: Electrical Workers: Farm Labor Organizing Committee: Fire Fighters: Heat and Frost Insulators: International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers: International Labor Communications Association: Jobs With Justice: Labor Council for Latin American Advancement: Laborers: Machinists: Metal Trades Department: Mine Workers: National Air Traffic Controllers Association: National Association of Letter Carriers: National Domestic Workers Alliance: National Federation of Federal Employees: National Nurses United: National Taxi Workers Alliance: NFL Players Association: North America's Building Trades Unions: Office and Professional Employees: Painters and Allied Trades: Plasterers and Cement Masons: Pride At Work: Professional Aviation Safety Specialists: Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union: SAG-AFTRA: Seafarers: Solidarity Center: The NewsGuild-CWA: Theatrical Stage Employees: Transport Workers Union: Transportation Trades Department: UAW: Union Veterans Council: UNITE HERE: United Food and Commercial Workers: United Steelworkers: Utility Workers: Working America: Writers Guild of America, East: Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 12/17/2020 - 11:30 — Dec 17
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Community Organizations Lead John Lewis ‘Good Trouble’ Marches and Votercades to the Polls in Georgia
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Community Organizations Lead John Lewis ‘Good Trouble’ Marches and Votercades to the Polls in Georgia Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Georgia shocked the country by voting for the Biden–Harris ticket in November. Now the state has the chance to flip the U.S. Senate to pro-worker control come January. Black and Brown voters in cities across Georgia joined a wide range of community organizations for John Lewis “Good Trouble” Marches and Votercades on Monday, as early voting began. The events in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Savannah and many other cities were festive celebrations of voting rights that led voters to the polls for early voting for the U.S. Senate runoffs on Jan. 5. The labor movement joined in and supported these efforts. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 12/17/2020 - 08:41 Tags: Community Service, COVID-19 — Dec 17
  • What's New at Museums This Year? Labor Unions.
    What's New at Museums This Year? Labor Unions. Despite the challenging environment of 2020, museum workers have scored a series of organizing victories. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced organizers to adjust their efforts and try new approaches to bringing workers together. The series of successes serve as examples that other organizing drives can learn from and help more working people have a voice on the job. Here are the recent museum organizing wins: Carnegie Museum Workers in Pittsburgh Vote Overwhelmingly to Join USW: Workers at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, started organizing in order to win better pay and benefits, inclusivity in hiring, increased transparency, a safer workplace and other goals. The 500 workers successfully voted to form the United Museum Workers. The scientists, educators, art handlers, administrative staff, gift shop clerks, ushers and other workers are employed at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Carnegie Science Center and the Andy Warhol Museum. Gabi DiDonna, an associate registrar at the Carnegie Museum of Art, said: "We are thrilled to become members of the strong and diverse labor union whose founding members helped to build the fortune of our museum's namesake. We look forward to having a seat at the table and a voice in the decisions that affect our quality of life both on and off the job." Workers at Walker Art Center in Minneapolis Join AFSCME: In fall of 2019, an organizing drive began at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Organizing efforts over the next year culminated in a victory and the affiliation of the Walker Worker Union with AFSCME. In a statement, the new unit said: "It’s official! Our card-check is complete and due to the overwhelming support of workers in our bargaining unit, the Walker Worker Union, has won voluntary recognition! We look forward to bargaining our first contract, continuing to build this community of care, and working with Walker leadership to create a structure for all Walker staff to have a voice in the decisions that affect our work and our lives. We are proud to join AFSCME and the ranks of unionized arts and cultural workers across the country." Workers at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Join UAW: An overwhelming majority of workers at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, voted to join the UAW. The organizing drive succeeded in the face of challenges to the museum's operation because of COVID-19. Jon Feng, a members and visitors service representative at the museum, said: “I find this redistribution of power meaningful. I believe in our ability to work together to negotiate and then uphold a more just workplace for all.” Milwaukee Art Museum Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Join Machinists: A group of more than 140 employees of the Milwaukee Art Museum voted by 72% to join the Machinists (IAM). The new IAM members work in every capacity at the Milwaukee Art Museum, including visitor services, food and beverage, education and programs, information systems, facilities, and more. “I want to welcome these members to the Machinists union family,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “I’m so proud of them for educating themselves about the benefits of the IAM and working so hard for union representation and a voice in their workplace. Unions aren’t just for manufacturing workers; they have a place in every working environment.” Workers Organize at Portland Museum of Art: Workers at the Portland Museum of Art (PMA) in Maine announced that they are organizing a union with UAW Local 2110 in New York City. “We are the workers of the Portland Museum of Art. We love the arts, this museum and our communities around Portland,” the new union members tweeted. “We are organizing for a seat at the table to ensure that our voices are collectively heard. Together we can build a stronger, democratic and sustainable PMA.” The organizing drive is part of a renewed drive among art workers to unionize for better wages and a voice on the job. Last year, art workers unionized at the New Museum and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, the Frye Art Museum in Seattle and Los Angeles’ Museum of Contemporary Art. Philadelphia Museum of Art Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Join AFSCME: With 89% voting in favor of unionization, workers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art will be represented by AFSCME District Council 47. The victory establishes the first wall-to-wall union at a major museum in the United States. The yearlong campaign was delayed by COVID-19 and management's "attempts to discourage unionization." Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art to Voluntarily Recognize Employee Union: Two weeks after workers at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) launched a campaign to join AFSCME, MoCA agreed to voluntarily recognize the new union. The new unit will represent more than 120 staffers. The workers sought to unionize in order to obtain higher pay and better benefits. If we missed any successful museum organizing drives, email me at [email protected] know and we'll add them to this list. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 12/16/2020 - 11:24 Tags: Organizing — Dec 16