Feed items

13 Ways the PRO Act Helps Working People

The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is a generational opportunity and the cornerstone of the AFL-CIO’s Workers First Agenda. It motivated working people this past election cycle to mobilize for a pro-worker trifecta in the U.S. House, Senate and White House. And working people won a mandate. The PRO Act was introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.) and Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (Va.), and it is landmark worker empowerment, civil rights and economic stimulus legislation, and an essential part of any plan to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession.

Here are 13 ways that the PRO Act helps working people:

1. Strengthens employees' bargaining rights: The PRO Act adopts new procedures to make sure unions can reach a first contract. To achieve this, it requires: collective bargaining to begin within 10 days of a certified union’s request to do so; mediation if no contract is reached within 90 days; and mandatory arbitration of a two-year contract if no contract is reached through mediation.

2. Holds corporations accountable: By strengthening the National Labor...

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Labor Reacts to the Chauvin Verdict

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.

On Tuesday, a jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd. While many in the labor movement were quick to commend the verdict, we also know that the work of racial justice must continue.

“Derek Chauvin has been held accountable for murdering George Floyd. While we celebrate today’s verdict, we have so much work ahead of us in order to build a more just state and nation for everyone,” said Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy (UNITE HERE). “Black Minnesotans continue to face police violence. George Floyd and Daunte Wright should still be alive today.”

AFL-CIO’s director of civil, human and women’s rights, Clayola Brown, said, “Neither a judge nor a jury can restore the lives of so many people of color who have been taken from us. What a jury can and must do is provide...

Black Lives Matter: 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:
The recent Town Hall offered insight into our safety protocols as vaccines are becoming more widely available and offered members the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts.Members can watch the full event in the member portal - https://t.co/FtS4QVTMm0 pic.twitter.com/Na86oPYoiK— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) April 22, 2021

AFGE:
Our union supports this bill. Education and training are essential tools to get ahead in today's economy. We've got to make sure those tools are accessible and affordable for American workers. https://t.co/vJZcvwL1ZV— AFGE (@AFGENational) April 22, 2021

AFSCME:
The majority of DC residents are Black or Brown. And they get no votes in Congress. Something seem...

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Minnesota AFL-CIO’s Statement on Derek Chauvin’s Conviction

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.

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy (UNITE HERE) issued the following a jury finding former Officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts in the death of George Floyd:

“Derek Chauvin has been held accountable for murdering George Floyd. While we celebrate today’s verdict, we have so much work ahead of us in order to build a more just state and nation for everyone. Black Minnesotans continue to face police violence. George Floyd and Daunte Wright should still be alive today.

“As Minnesotans, we must continue working so that whether we’re Black or White, Latino or Asian, Indigenous or newcomer, our families are safe, our voices are heard, and our rights are respected.

“The Minnesota AFL-CIO is committed to building a more inclusive Labor Movement by listening to and elevating...

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Workplace Violence Prevention Act Will Save Lives, Shuler Says

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.

On Friday, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler (IBEW) celebrated the House passing the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195), which directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a federal workplace violence prevention standard to protect workers in health care and social services from injury and death:

“Working people’s lives are on the line. There is an epidemic of violence against health care and social service workers, and it must be stopped. Workplace violence is not ‘just part of the job.’ It is a worsening problem, but it is preventable.

“Of the workers providing critical care on the front lines, women are at the greatest risk, suffering two out of every three serious workplace violence injuries....

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: SMART Local 73 Turns Union Hall into Vaccine Clinic

Dave Sylvester

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.

International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 73 is partnering with Proviso Township, Illinois, and Jewel-Osco to provide added capacity for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts, with its union hall functioning as a vaccine injection site. More than 1,400 vaccines were administered on March 29 at the local hall in Hillside, just west of downtown Chicago, for residents of any of the 15 villages in Proviso Township. The union hall effectively functioned as a one-day pop-up vaccine clinic.

Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 04/19/2021 - 09:20

Tags:
COVID-19, Community Service

'This Fight Is Far from Over': 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.

'This Fight Is Far from Over': Amazon Union Vote Shows Exactly Why We Need the PRO Act: "'Americans want to organize unions,' said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. 'And it should never be this hard to do so.' 'Working people deserve better than the way Amazon has conducted itself during this campaign,' said RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum in a statement. 'This campaign has proven that the best way for working people to protect themselves and their families is to join together in a union. However, Amazon’s behavior during the election cannot be ignored and our union will seek remedy to each and every improper action Amazon took. We won’t rest until workers’ voices are heard fairly under the law.' Going forward, a clear way to ensure fair, democratic union elections is for the U.S. Senate to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The PRO Act, which passed the U.S. House in March, would...

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: New Mexico Federation of Labor Wins Paid Sick Leave

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.

After nearly a year of hard work, the New Mexico Federation of Labor rejoiced as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 20, the Healthy Workplaces Act, into law. This bill institutes earned sick leave for all private sector employees across the state. By signing this legislation, the governor brings New Mexico in step with 15 other states already providing basic worker protections.

Set to become effective July 1, 2022, it will provide all private sector employees (including part-time, temporary and seasonal employees) with paid sick leave. The law provides for up to 64 paid hours per year for qualified leaves (employees earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked).

“Today, New Mexico’s workers, families and businesses now have the opportunity to establish a healthier...

Pathway to Progress: The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978

Planned Parenthood

History has long been portrayed as a series of "great men" taking great action to shape the world we live in. In recent decades, however, social historians have focused more on looking at history "from the bottom up," studying the vital role that working people played in our heritage. Working people built, and continue to build, the United States. In our new series, Pathway to Progress, we'll take a look at various people, places and events where working people played a key role in the progress our country has made, including those who are making history right now. Today's topic is the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) of 1978.

In the late 1970s, conditions in the United States were ripe for positive change for working families. Jimmy Carter and a pro-union majority in Congress were pushed by active and organized civil rights and women's movements. Labor unions were ready to push for change.

In 1976, the Supreme Court ruled in General Electric v. Gilbert that employers could refuse benefits to pregnant women. The case was brought by the...

An Insult to All Working People: 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:
Thanks to everyone who braved the cold yesterday and rallied for the PRO Act! We’re just getting started, and we won’t quit until our Senators support it! #1u #PassThePROAct pic.twitter.com/Knk1wPaVmG— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) April 9, 2021

Arizona AFL-CIO:
And after you’ve called Senator Kelly, call @SenatorSinema! #PassThePROAct https://t.co/8GlQfOio6w— Arizona AFL-CIO // #PassThePROAct (@ArizonaAFLCIO) April 8, 2021

California Labor Federation:
Great victory for working people who fought tirelessly for this bill! Congratulations to all the @unitehere workers & locals who made this happen with tremendous leadership from @LorenaSGonzalez @SenMariaEDurazo & many other champions in the legislature! https://t.co/OHXvczkYyW— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) April 15, 2021

Colorado AFL-CIO:
A union contract is the single best tool we have...