AFL-CIO Blog

  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Thousands of JetBlue Ground Workers Organizing With IAM
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Thousands of JetBlue Ground Workers Organizing With IAM 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. Exciting news broke this morning that the Machinists (IAM) have filed for a union election on behalf of approximately 3,000 ground operations workers and baggage handlers at JetBlue. These workers say below-standard industry pay rates and benefits, poor and unsafe working conditions, unjustified discipline and terminations, among many other issues, are their reasons for wanting IAM representation and a seat at the table. “I congratulate all JetBlue Ground Operations workers for uniting in solidarity and demanding that a union representation election be conducted,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “It’s been a long road for these brave workers to get to this point, and the IAM stands shoulder to shoulder with them. We will mobilize our union’s significant resources to ensure that these brave and resilient JetBlue workers have a fair and free election.” “It’s high time that JetBlue workers gain the dignity and respect of a union contract and a strong voice on the job,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen (not pictured). “When our country needed essential goods and services [sent] to where they were needed most during the pandemic, JetBlue workers answered the bell and risked their lives and health to make that happen. What did they get from management? They got their hours and pay cut because they didn’t have a seat at the table. That will end very soon.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 09/26/2022 - 09:47 — Sep 26
  • Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Nelly Ayala León
    Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Nelly Ayala León 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 Nelly Ayala León. Nelly Ayala León has been the president of UAW-Asociacion de Empleados de Comedores Escolares Local 2396 since 2014. Prior to that she served as the local's vice president for 17 years. UAW Local 2396 proudly represents nearly 3,000 cafeteria workers working at public schools throughout Puerto Rico. In May 2021, León was the first woman to be elected president of the Puerto Rico Federation of Labor. Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 09/25/2022 - 09:54 — Sep 25
  • Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Cecilia Valdez
    Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Cecilia Valdez 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 Cecilia Valdez. Cecilia Valdez has been a longtime activist and a CWA member for more than 40 years. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Valdez is a member of Local 7026, where she has served as secretary-treasurer for the past 23 years, chair of the local's Committee on Equity and coordinator of the CWA HOPE Golf Tournament, which supports the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. She also was elected as vice chair of the Pima Area Labor Federation in January 2022. Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 09/24/2022 - 09:54 — Sep 24
  • Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Karrie Setters
    Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Karrie Setters 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 Karrie Setters. Karrie Setters leads by action. She is the first Latina to serve as a BCTGM International Representative. She is a dynamic organizer, an expert negotiator and a dedicated activist for the working class. Setters services 24 BCTGM local unions on the West Coast and played a vital role in helping to settle the 113-day strike by Jon Donaire workers in Santa Fe Springs, California that began in 2021. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/23/2022 - 10:00 — Sep 23
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFL-CIO, Chris Gardner Foundation Join Forces to Give Students Life-Changing Job Opportunities
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFL-CIO, Chris Gardner Foundation Join Forces to Give Students Life-Changing Job Opportunities 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. The AFL-CIO today announced a groundbreaking new partnership with the Chris Gardner Foundation’s Permission to Dream program to put students with limited economic opportunities on an early path to the middle class. Federation Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond and Chris Gardner, founder of the Chris Gardner Foundation, officially kicked off the partnership today at two Detroit-area schools, along with AFT President Randi Weingarten and NABTU representatives. Through the collaboration, the AFL-CIO and our affiliated unions and partners will give students in disadvantaged communities the opportunity and support to enter paid, registered apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades. “We are thrilled to partner with Chris and his foundation to give more young people the opportunity to build family-sustaining careers,” said Redmond. “Far too many young people do not feel hopeful about their economic futures and that is unacceptable. By expanding access to our world-class apprenticeship programs, we will ensure that young people entering the workforce can experience the security and support of a good union job.” North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the UAW, the School Administrators (AFSA), the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), SAG-AFTRA and Ullico are founding partners of the Permission to Dream collaboration. The program will be piloted in select cities and schools across the country, where there will be an influx of funding for infrastructure and development projects as well as jobs stemming from the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law and the CHIPS and Science Act. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/23/2022 - 09:42 — Sep 23