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Bureau of Labor Statistics Reports 260,000 More Union Members in 2017
Last week, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual report on union membership, which found that the number of union members rose by 260,000 in 2017. This reflects critical organizing victories across a range of industries, which have reaped higher wages, better benefits and a more secure future for working people around the country.
Of the report, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said:
In the face of a challenging year, the power of working people is on the rise. Together, we organized historic new unions, stood up to powerful corporations and won higher wages. But today’s data is more than numbers on a page, it’s a growing movement of working people that can’t be measured as easily. When more union members fill the halls of power, when wages rise and inequality shrinks, and when a growing number of people see that we can and will change the rules of this economy - that’s when you’ll know unions are on the rise.
Key trends found in the data include:
Working people in "right to work" states like South Carolina and Michigan are...
A Year with Donald Trump: The Miseducation of Betsy DeVos
AFL-CIO
Working people warned that President Donald Trump's appointment of Betsy DeVos to lead the Education Department would be a disaster for our families and our communities. Over the past year, DeVos has waged an all-out assault on our public education system and made it harder for students to learn and grow. Here are the most egregious actions from the Trump-DeVos education team:
Trump's budget would cut 13% ($9 billion) of the Department of Education's funding.
The Trump budget would eliminate the Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants program by $2.1 billion, an amount which could pay the salaries of more than 35,000 teachers. School districts use the program to support and train their teachers.
Would invest $1.4 billion of new funding into "school choice," taking much-needed money from public schools and giving it to private schools. The investment is expected to grow to $20 billion annually.
Promoted using vouchers to channel funds away from public schools toward private schools that have lower quality standards and can...
A Lung Association report finds states are not doing enough to help people stop smoking. And now, Philip Morris wants approval to sell a "safer" tobacco product.
Fifty-two LGBTQ people were killed last year as a result of hate violence, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs.
Fifty-two LGBTQ people were killed last year as a result of hate violence, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs.
Miller, who was part of the 'Magnificent Seven' team that captured gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, offered her own advice to the embattled organization.
A classmate of the oldest of the 13 California siblings who authorities said were imprisoned by their parents said the girl was frail, smelly and bullied.
A classmate of the oldest of the 13 California siblings who authorities said were imprisoned by their parents said the girl was frail, smelly and bullied.
E-cigarettes may be a less dangerous way to use tobacco, but vaping can hook teens and young adults and raise their risk of becoming smokers, a report finds.
The plan to put a Starbucks inside Yosemite National Park has created a furor, but corporations have long had a foothold in America's national parks.
