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Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Masters, Mates & Pilots
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is our newest member union, Masters, Mates & Pilots.
Name of Union: International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P)
Mission: To protect the rights and working conditions of members of the seagoing maritime community.
Current Leadership of Union: Donald Marcus serves as international president of MM&P and Donald Josberger as international secretary-treasurer. MM&P also has eight vice presidents: Thomas Larkin (Offshore, Atlantic Ports), Jeremy Hope (Offshore, Gulf Ports and Government Affairs), J. Lars Turner (Offshore, Pacific Ports), Tim Saffle (United Inland Group–Pacific Maritime Region), Randall Rockwood (Federal Employees Membership Group), George Quick (Pilots Membership Group), Tom Bell (United Inland Group–Great Lakes & Gulf) and Michael Riordan (Atlantic Maritime Group).
Number of Members: 5,500.
Members Work As: Licensed deck officers on U.S.-flag commercial vessels sailing offshore, on the inland waterways, on civilian-crewed ships...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: NATCA Members Guide First Flights Carrying COVID-19 Vaccine
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.
National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) members in the Michigan cities of Lansing and Grand Rapids were proud last month to control the two aircraft containing the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccines to be distributed throughout the United States. The UPS-transported vaccines were moved by semitrucks, escorted by U.S. marshals, from the Pfizer manufacturing and storage facility in Portage, Michigan, on Dec. 13. They departed Lansing and headed to the UPS WorldPort at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. “All NATCA members at [Lansing airport] were honored to be a part of this country’s history and are looking forward to being able to provide quality service to all future shipments out of [Lansing],” said Zac Ploch, NATCA facility representative.
Kenneth Quinnell...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: IBEW Members Integral to Production and Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines
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.
Almost one year after the first cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in North America, vaccines from Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna are on the verge of becoming widely available. And while members of the Electrical Workers (IBEW) are not the scientists creating those vaccines, they have been nearly as integral to the discovery, production and distribution process as any biochemist or virologist on the planet. “Without a doubt, the vaccine that will end this scourge has and will be brought to you by the skilled craft unions. They are every bit as important as the person working at the lab bench they built,” said Tim Dickson, executive director of the Pharmaceutical Industry Labor-Management Association. For instance, IBEW members have built most, if not all, of the major pharmaceutical...
We Are Angry: 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 Twitter.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
Pres. @vincebeltrami's statement about attempted coup in our nation’s capital: "We. Are. Angry. Angry at an assault on our nation’s hallowed capital and our elected representatives . . .”
@lisamurkowski @SenDanSullivan @repdonyoung
Read full statement: https://t.co/3SlcsY7TJj pic.twitter.com/7UiQlLiRyf
— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) January 8, 2021
California Labor Federation:
Late stage capitalism in action.
Here's your daily reminder to join your union. https://t.co/BlVyEwJJJS
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) January 11, 2021
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Research shows that unionized health facilities have better patient outcomes and are more likely to correct workplace hazards. Union nursing homes have lower #...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Sacramento Central Labor Council Brings Holiday Joy to Children with Disabilities
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 Sacramento Central Labor Council delivered groceries to more than 200 union families in need during the holidays, and 450 kids also received a present from Santa. Santa visited the Ralph Richardson Center to deliver teddy bears and take pictures (all socially distanced) with students. Also, in a continuation of a six-year tradition, the council passed out teddy bears from a fire truck (with union member Santa) to children with special needs at Starr-King K–8 School in Sacramento.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 01/12/2021 - 08:40
Tags:
Organizing, COVID-19
At Once: The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
AFL-CIO Calls on Trump to Resign or be Removed from Office 'At Once': "The AFL-CIO called on President Trump to resign or be removed from office 'at once, whether through impeachment or the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,' following the riots at the U.S. Capitol this week. The labor group’s general board released the statement Friday, saying it is not one America's labor movement makes lightly. 'The deadly storming of the U.S. Capitol by a mob looking to overturn the results of a free and fair election, encouraged and inspired by President Donald Trump, was one of the greatest attacks on our democracy in American history. And the fact that trespassers were allowed to roam the halls of Congress without consequence is one of the latest examples of why we must tear down the systems and abiders of white supremacy,' the AFL-CIO General Board said."
AFL-CIO Head Says Walsh Will Be 'Exceptional' Labor Secretary: "...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Alaska Public Employees Pay Off Student School Meal Balances
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.
With the pandemic hitting everyone economically, the members of the Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT elected to do what they could, paying off thousands of dollars of school meal balances.
“The Juneau Education Support Staff (JESS) Local 6096 Executive Board started thinking about how to use the money in April. We all wanted to help families and students in the community, and as the pandemic continued we started realizing how everyone needed to have some kindness come into their lives—they needed good news,” said Catherine Pusich, the board’s public relations officer.
The union paid off the balances for 564 students, totaling $7,446. Letters went out in the days before Christmas letting students and families know of the donation.
“We have been able to see firsthand how...
Economy Loses 140,000 Jobs in December; Unemployment Remains at 6.7%
The U.S. economy lost 140,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate remained at 6.7%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The losses reflect an increase in cases related to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to respond to the pandemic.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler (IBEW) pointed out the important takeaway from the new numbers:
Beyond the headline: BLACK AND LATINA women accounted for all net job losses. Women of color have faced an infuriatingly disproportionate economic fallout from COVID-19. #1u https://t.co/20KBgBkR4v— Liz Shuler (@lizshuler) January 9, 2021
In response to the December job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
The @BLS_gov reported that 15.8 million persons reported they lost work during the previous four weeks because COVID affected their employer, an increase of 1 million over November. @AFLCIO #JobsDay— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) January 8, 2021
While temporary layoffs increased in December, the...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Working People Deliver Crucial Wins 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.
During the 2020 presidential election, working people organized with the understanding that everyone has the power to make a difference. There is no voter outreach effort too small. By Nov. 3, we saw these efforts unfold in real time. The union difference is real. In the state of Georgia, the final margin between Biden and Trump was just 12,000 votes. This is less than the amount of voters that union members from the AFL-CIO were reaching out to each day of the 2020 presidential election cycle.
Now, in the Georgia runoff elections, union members made the difference once again. We sent out more than 400,000 postcards to union and nonunion households. We made nearly 750,000 phone calls. And we organized dozens, if not hundreds, of virtual and in-person events across the state. The presidential election was...
Victory in Georgia: 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:
Equity members now have an additional way to access the online harassment hotline. Lighthouse now offers an anonymous reporting app available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play store.
Read more in the member portal - https://t.co/apKzJubpzg pic.twitter.com/f5LNwNkayb
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) January 6, 2021
AFGE:
In her lame duck glory EEOC Chair Dhillon wants to bust unions on her way out. We are not going to let that happen! Write EEOC members and tell them to VOTE NO to a rule that disallows unions to represent employees in discrimination cases. #1u https://t.co/rnPxZn2io7
— AFGE (@AFGENational) January 5,...
