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Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Boilermakers Score Legislative Victory in New Jersey
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 International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) and Boilermakers Local 28 were successful in their efforts to enact a state law that will require New Jersey high-hazard facilities, including refineries and certain chemical plants, to employ a skilled and trained workforce. The measure, signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on Aug. 13, will require 60% of the workforce to be graduates of approved apprenticeship programs, or equivalent, by 2024. The law also requires workers at high-hazard facilities to receive the state prevailing wage rate for their given occupation. “We have a lot of nonunion [workers] coming into the area that just aren’t trained,” said Local 28 Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer James Chew. “Before, we’ve had issues of very shoddy maintenance done where people get hurt. With this bill, we’...
Labor Radio Podcast Network Expands to More Than 60 Members in Four Countries
Launched in April, the Labor Radio Podcast Network has recently expanded to more than 60 labor-related shows in four countries. The voices of the working class often get overlooked in the corporate-controlled media. The goal of the network is to help raise the voices of working people and organized labor to demand and achieve better treatment from workplaces and elected officials.
“The explosive growth in members of the Labor Radio Network in a few short months is testament to a movement that will continue to expand in the coming months and years,” said network founder and producer Chris Garlock, who is also communications director for the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO. Garlock hosts and produces several labor radio and podcast shows, including Union City Radio and Your Rights At Work on WPFW 89.3FM, the Labor History Today podcast and the new Labor Radio Podcast Weekly podcast.
The Labor Radio Podcast Network is both a one-stop shop for audiences looking for labor content and a resource for labor broadcasters and podcast hosts. Resources include...
AFL-CIO Launches New Web Tool to Help Workers Win Safety Protections at Work
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages the country, working people are looking for ways to join together to form a union in our workplaces and negotiate for strong health and safety protections. The AFL-CIO is launching a new Am I Safe at Work? web tool to raise awareness of what a safe workplace should be and how a union can help achieve those goals.
The web tool contains fundamental information to empower workers to identify key COVID-19 risks in our workplaces, provides tools to join together with co-workers for better safety protections and guides workers on how to contact a union to help negotiate with an employer for safer working conditions.
“No one should be at risk of acquiring COVID-19 because they are working tirelessly to provide necessities for their family and our country,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “Working people have organized to fight for safer working conditions for decades, forming unions to win protections and save lives. This web tool will help workers demand safer workplaces as the federal [Occupational Safety and Health...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: CSEA Helps Members Impacted by Wildfires
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.
Hundreds of wildfires are now burning across California, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate. California School Employees Association (CSEA) President Ben Valdepeña shared how the union is reaching out to its members to contribute through the CSEA Assistance Fund at CSEA.com/Assistance to help fellow union members who are tragically losing their homes. “I want all of you to know that we are here for you,” Valdepeña told CSEA members in a video message. “This is what a union is all about. We are here for each other, to help pick us up when we fall, to help overcome obstacles and to succeed.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 09/02/2020 - 10:10
Tags:
COVID-19, Community Service
Are You Ready to Vote? 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 State AFL-CIO:
It’s time to get to work to elect pro-working family candidates at all levels of government.#AlaskaUnionStrong pic.twitter.com/XSC6J7K6KQ
— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) August 30, 2020
California Labor Federation:
Huge victory for working people! No one should lose her job for bonding with a child or caring for a family member. Thank you @SenHannahBeth & @LorenaSGonzalez for getting this critical legislation over the finish line! #SB1383 https://t.co/VHR0sByKN2
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) September 1, 2020
Colorado AFL-CIO:
https://t.co/tKuvMxPOjo
— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) September 1, 2020
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
Want to help support postal workers and letter carriers? Here are...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: SAG-AFTRA Celebrates Women’s Equality Day
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.
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris hosted an online event marking Women’s Equality Day and the centennial anniversary of women’s suffrage. “Today’s discussion is a celebration of all women’s voices and all women’s votes,” Carteris explained. “Today, all women have the right to vote, but the struggle for equal access continues. So today we’re going to celebrate what it means for women to collectively use their power, their voices, their votes to affect change. It’s also important that women have a voice in legislation that affects women.” Secretary-Treasurer Shuler joined the conversation, along with members of SAG-AFTRA and Jasmine Jones, organizing director of Rock the Vote.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 09/01/2020 - 10:00
Tags:
COVID-19,...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: CBTU Launches ReadySetVote Website with Resources for Voters
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 Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, led by President Melvin, launched ReadySetVote, its voter resource website Wednesday. This online digital tool is designed to help visitors check their voting status, register to vote and volunteer for the upcoming election. With a few clicks, any visitor can also get information about absentee ballots, early voting and polling locations in their area. This one-stop site also offers a voter education video that features CBTU members and leaders sharing their views on issues that will motivate Black voters and how best to mobilize communities under siege most impacted by COVID-19 and systemic racism.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 08/31/2020 - 10:33
Tags:
COVID-19, Community Service...
Demand Justice: 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:
Thank you to the extraordinary athletes of the @WNBA for using your voices to demand change.
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: IUPAT Members Donate School Supplies to Students in Rockford, Illinois
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 Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 30 delivered backpacks and school supplies to more than 450 children set to return to classrooms at Lewis Lemon Elementary in Rockford, Illinois, next week. The items were purchased by the union and The Patch Foundation. City Mayor Thomas McNamara joined IUPAT members who made their delivery of the donated supplies on Monday.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 08/28/2020 - 09:40
Tags:
COVID-19, Community Service
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Bloomingdale: ‘We Must Not Be Satisfied by Platitudes and Cosmetic Change’
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.
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale (AFT) issued a statement on Monday in reaction to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man who was shot in the back in Kenosha:
“We were shocked by yet another police shooting of an unarmed Black man in Kenosha. Video shows a Kenosha police officer shooting Jacob Blake multiple times in the back at point blank range as he tried to get into his car. The horror was magnified by the presence of Mr. Blake’s young children in the vehicle. This is a shameful day for Kenosha, Wisconsin, and our nation.
“The Wisconsin AFL-CIO extends deepest sympathy to Mr. Blake and his family and hope for his quick and complete recovery. Black Lives Matter. The time is long overdue to address systemic racism and police...
