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Harley-Davidson Move Shows Failure of Trump Tax Cuts
Wikimedia Commons
In February of last year, President Donald Trump met with executives and working people at Harley-Davidson, promising that his proposed changes to tax law, trade, tariffs and other policies would help the company grow and working people would be the beneficiaries. This promise was widely made by Trump and other Republican advocates of the tax bill that Trump signed in December. But, as time goes on, we see, more and more, that the law not only isn't helping working people, it's making things worse.
Here are some of the key things you need to know about the tax law and the effects it has on working people (using Harley-Davidson as an example):
Harley-Davidson is laying off 800 workers at a Kansas City, Missouri, factory by the fall of 2019.
The company says it expects to add 450 full-time, casual and contractor positions, to their plant in York, Pennsylvania. A net loss of 350 jobs, but considering that some of the new jobs aren't full-time, the loss is bigger.
The company just announced a dividend increase for shareholders and a...
Memorial Day Is About Respect and Remembrance
AFL-CIO
The working men and women of the AFL-CIO join the Union Veterans Council to wish all a safe Memorial Day weekend. This is a time to respect and remember those who gave their lives for the bedrock freedoms of our nation.
Let’s resolve to honor their sacrifice by redoubling our efforts to secure and make real those freedoms for every worker in America, so working people can win new economic rules built on broadly shared prosperity.
As we start our Memorial Day weekend, it always seems I get a few questions about the holiday, what it means and how Americans can be respectful on this day. The answer is not that easy. Decoration day has morphed into just one more corporate holiday where you can get great deals on furniture, cars and those American flag swimming trunks. But for veterans, especially combat veterans, the weekend has another meaning.
When I signed up to serve in the U.S. Army Infantry, I did so knowing I was going to face the possibility of not coming home. That is what millions of Americans who signed up have done throughout our history. Nothing...
Ending Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the World of Work
No one should have to risk their safety or dignity to put food on the table. Yet every day, workers around the world are subjected to sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence. On Monday, May 28, workers, employers and governments will come together at the International Labor Organization to discuss a new global standard on violence and harassment in the world of work. This is the culmination of more than a decade of advocacy by the global labor movement. It’s an exciting opportunity to create a binding international agreement to end gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace.
The AFL-CIO, together with partners from around the world, will be on the ground pushing for a binding convention that empowers workers to take collective action to build safe, respectful workplaces. You can follow the action on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, and check out our partners at the Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) and the International Trade Union Confederation (@ITUC).
Watch a short video here made by our sister organization, the Solidarity Center,...
Fighting for Better Pay and Workplace Safety: 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:
“There is a misconception that we are in the ensemble because we are the least talented. Often times it’s the exact opposite.” - @FrozenBroadway ensemble member Tracee Beazer Barrett (@TraBeaz81 ) on why #EveryoneOnStage matters.
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) May 24, 2018
AFGE:
AFGE calls legislation an ‘extremely dangerous step’ toward privatization of the VA → https://t.co/O2rTZ259Zi #1u pic.twitter.com/dmBKNNPpcF
— AFGE (@AFGENational) May 24, 2018
AFSCME:
Workers at a big social services agency in Portland, Oregon, have voted to join together with AFSCME Council 75. Better pay and workplace safety are two priorities for these workers....
He Finally Won His Freedom: The Working People Weekly List
KCTU
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s this week’s Working People Weekly List.
Wrongfully Detained Korean Union Leader Han Sang-gyun Wins Release: "In December 2015, President Han Sang-gyun of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions was imprisoned for defending trade union rights and fighting back against corporate corruption and the repressive government of former President Park Geun-hye of South Korea. This week, Han finally won his freedom."
We Must Stop the Worldwide Problem of Gender-Based Violence in the Workplace: "Sexual harassment and gender-based violence are not just problems we see in the United States. In fact, gender-based violence is one of the most common human rights violations in the world. While it can affect any worker, women are most likely the targets because of systemic, unequal power relations."
We All Do Better with an Immigration System that Works for All Working People: "Yesterday, the AFL-CIO hosted the 'We All Do Better' ...
We Must Stop the Worldwide Problem of Gender-Based Violence in the Workplace
Sexual harassment and gender-based violence are not just problems we see in the United States. In fact, gender-based violence is one of the most common human rights violations in the world. While it can affect any worker, women are most likely the targets because of systemic, unequal power relations.
A new video from the Solidarity Center takes a look at the worldwide problem and offers solutions. Watch the video and learn more at the Solidarity Center's Gender-Based Violence webpage.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 05/24/2018 - 11:44
Wrongfully Detained Korean Union Leader Han Sang-gyun Wins Release
KCTU
In December 2015, President Han Sang-gyun of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions was imprisoned for defending trade union rights and fighting back against corporate corruption and the repressive government of former President Park Geun-hye of South Korea. This week, Han finally won his freedom.
Of Han's release, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA) said:
We are all relieved that KCTU President Han Sang-gyun has been released from his wrongful detainment that was a political act of retribution expressly aimed at punishing his role in organizing union protests. President Han represents the best of the labor movement—an advocate armed with unwavering dedication to the fight for economic justice, even in the face of personal persecution.
Across the globe, working people salute his sacrifice and welcome him home with open arms. Still, the struggle for justice will continue until we secure the release of KCTU General Secretary Lee Young-joo, who was arrested for the same organizing efforts. Her continued detainment highlights the...
We All Do Better with an Immigration System that Works for All Working People
AFL-CIO
Yesterday, the AFL-CIO hosted the "We All Do Better" conference, which focused on an important discussion on advancing an immigration agenda for all working people. Attacks against working people come in many forms, but we must stand against the idea that some of us are more worthy of freedom and worker protections than others.
At the opening of the conference, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA) said:
We need workers to understand America’s broken immigration system puts downward pressure on pay and benefits for all of us. Our answer is to stand united, as a politically independent movement of working people, for an immigration agenda that lifts us up. That starts with a path to citizenship for the millions and millions of people who live and work here and are American in every way but on paper.
But it doesn’t stop there. It’s time to reform captive work visa programs so they are based on actual industry needs and include full labor rights and fair wages for every single worker. We must end the enforcement overreach...
Executive Paywatch 2018: The Gap Between CEO and Worker Compensation Continues to Grow
AFL-CIO
CEO pay for major companies in the United States rose nearly 6% in the past year, as income inequality and the outsourcing of good-paying American jobs have increased. According to the new AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch, the average CEO of an S&P 500 Index company made $13.94 million in 2017—361 times more money than the average U.S. rank-and-file worker. The Executive Paywatch website, the most comprehensive searchable online database tracking CEO pay, showed that in 2017, the average production and nonsupervisory worker earned about $38,613 per year. When adjusted for inflation, the average wage has remained stagnant for more than 50 years.
"This year’s report provides further proof that the greed of corporate CEOs is driving America’s income inequality crisis," said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler. "Too many working people are struggling to get by, to afford the basics, to save for college, to retire with dignity while CEOs are paying themselves more and more. Our economy works best when consumers have money to spend....
Apprenticeship Accelerator Forum Highlights Programs to Attract and Train Needed Manufacturing Workforce
AFL-CIO
The 2018 Manufacturing Apprenticeship Accelerator Forum took place in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday. The forum included presentations from a number of participating organizations, including the U.S. Department of Labor, the Ohio AFL-CIO, the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Chicago Women in Trades and the National Urban League, along with a number of private employers and workforce training providers.
The purpose of the program was to highlight the development of advanced manufacturing apprenticeships to address needed skills training and workforce development in advanced and specialized manufacturing. Representatives from labor unions, private employers, state and federal government, and manufacturing training providers offered an overview of their respective roles in expanding apprenticeship programs to match private-sector workforce needs.
"We're very pleased that so many affiliates came together with the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Department of Labor to share information about how to promote apprenticeships in...
