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Get to Know the AFL-CIO's Affiliates
AFL-CIO
Throughout the year, we've been profiling each of our affiliates. Let's take a look back at the profiles we've already published.
Check back as the series moves along to read more affiliate profiles:
Actors and Artistes
Actors' Equity
AFGE
AFSCME
AFT
Air Line Pilots Association
Amalgamated Transit Union
American Federation of Musicians
American Postal Workers Union
Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers
California School Employees Association
Communications Workers of America
Farm Labor Organizing Committee
Fire Fighters
Ironworkers
Railroad Signalmen
School Administrators
Theatrical Stage Employees
Train Dispatchers
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 06/10/2019 - 14:00
Reject Toothless Laws: The Working People Weekly List
AFL-CIO
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.
SEC Adopts New Broker Rules That Consumer Advocates Say Are Toothless: "The Securities and Exchange Commission voted on Wednesday to pass the so-called Regulation Best Interest. The commission said the changes would help Main Street investors by tightening the standards governing brokers who sell investment products and outlining a fresh interpretation of the duties of investment advisers who provide financial guidance. 'When working people seek out investment advice, they expect and deserve to be able to rely on the people providing that advice to prioritize their need for a secure financial future over the financial professional’s interest in getting rich,' said Heather Slavkin Corzo, a senior fellow at Americans for Financial Reform and director of capital markets policy at the AFL-CIO."
Trump’s North American Trade Deal Must Do More to Protect U.S. Jobs, Rep. Andy Levin ...
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Fire Fighters
Next up in our series, which takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates, is the Fire Fighters.
Name of Union: International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
Mission: To be a strong representative for our members through collective bargaining; to maintain their health and safety; to provide them with education, training and resources to do their job; and to be politically active in campaigns and legislation in order to make a difference in who gets to have the power that drives the decisions that affect members and the work they do.
Current Leadership of Union: Harold A. Schaitberger serves as the ninth general president of the IAFF. He was a local president and state president before coming to the IAFF to create its political and legislative operation. He was first elected president in 2000. Schaitberger began his professional career as a firefighter in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Edward A. Kelly serves as the IAFF general secretary-treasurer, hails from Boston and was elected in 2016. The IAFF is also represented by 16 district vice presidents who together form the...
The TWU Celebrates Its 20th Organizing Victory!
TWU
The TWU organizing machine is in full swing.
Under this new leadership, the Transport Workers union has just won our 20th new worker organizing drive. We continue to grow and thrive across the entire transport sector. Since 2017, our membership has increased from 137,000 to 151,000.
The TWU is by far the fastest growing union in the country. Our most recent victory came on June 6, when Envoy Air pilot simulator instructors voted unanimously to join our union.
We’ve secured organizing wins with the following work groups:
JetBlue Airway inflight crew members
Spirit Airlines customer service agents
PSA Airlines dispatcher coordinators
Kalitta Air cargo dispatchers
Envoy Air pilot ground simulator instructors
San Francisco bike share workers
Washington, D.C., Big Bus workers
New York City Big Bus workers
Miami Big Bus workers
Las Vegas Big Bus workers
Chicago Big Bus workers
Los Angeles Big Bus workers
San Francisco Big Bus workers
Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe, Arizona...
Economy Gains 75,000 Jobs in May; Unemployment Steady at 3.6%
The U.S. economy gained 75,000 jobs in May, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6%, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wage growth of 3.1% was lower than last month's 3.4% and, a downward revision of 75,000 for the job numbers for March and April signals that the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee needs to inch down interest rates.
In response to the May job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
Though payroll gains were modest, they happened in most industries but were most modest for the highest wage industries. Biggest gains were average and low wage industries. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/oZumO58wqu
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) June 7, 2019
Amid a not-so-good jobs report from @BLS_gov Black unemployment stops worsening. Black women's unemployment rate falls from 5.3 to 5.1% as labor force participation rose 62.5 to 62.8% @APRI_National @CBTU72 @drjlastword @rolandsmartin @AFLCIO #JobsReport
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) June 7, 2019
Long-term...
Delaware Governor Signs Bill Protecting Collective Bargaining Rights of 2,000 More State Employees
Office of Governor John Carney via Flickr
Delaware Gov. John Carney signed a bill on Thursday that allows more public employees to collectively bargain for fair wages and good working conditions in the state. Previously, only select professions were afforded this protection and now more than 2,000 workers will have all the benefits that collective bargaining brings.
The Delaware State AFL-CIO played a critical role in moving the bill through the legislature to the governor’s desk. "This is a proud moment for our unions that represent our state workers," said James Maravelias, president of the Delaware State AFL-CIO. "This shows our constant commitment to their livelihood and our ever-present representation."
"Allowing more state workers to collectively bargain for better wages is a critical step toward improving the lives of all Delaware families," said state Sen. Jack Walsh, the prime sponsor of the legislation. "As the state’s largest employer, we have led the way time and again when it comes to caring for our...
Profiling Labor Leaders and Activists for Pride Month
For Pride Month, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ Americans who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights. First, let's take a look back at LGBTQ Americans we've profiled in the past:
Bayard Rustin
Josette Jaramillo
Mara Keisling
Marsha P. Johnson
Miriam Frank
Tom Barbera
Check back throughout June as we add more names to this prestigious list.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 06/03/2019 - 10:20
Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Ironworkers
Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the Ironworkers.
Name of Union: International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers
Current Leadership of Union: Eric Dean serves as general president, a position he has held since 2015. Prior to that he served as general organizer, general secretary, general vice president, president of the Iron Workers District Council of Chicago and Vicinity and numerous positions for Iron Workers Local 63 in Chicago.
Other officers include General Secretary Ron Piksa, General Treasurer Kenneth "Bill" Dean and general vice presidents Marvin Ragsdale, Darrell LaBoucan, Bernie Evers, Stephen Sweeney, Kevin Bryenton, Robert Boskovich, Don Zampa, James Mahoney and Steve Pendergrass.
Current Number of Members: 130,000.
Members Work As: Ironworkers who work on bridges, structural steel, ornamental, architectural and miscellaneous metals, rebar and in shops.
Industries Represented: Ironworkers are employed by every industry that needs construction and have worked on ...
Fix Our Crumbling Infrastructure: The Working People Weekly List
AFL-CIO
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.
Pelosi Slow-Walks Trump’s New Nafta Deal: "'We are not going to be a cheap date,' said Richard Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO, a Pelosi ally who is pushing the administration to reopen negotiations with Mexico to strengthen enforcement of labor provisions. 'Nancy Pelosi is not going to sign an agreement if it is not a good agreement. She is not going to bring it to the floor unless she knows that it is going to make the changes that we need in Nafta, period,' he added, echoing the sentiments of people close to the speaker."
Leo Gerard to Step Down After 18 Years as Head of United Steelworkers: "The United Steelworkers announced on Wednesday the retirement of four top officials, including International President Leo W. Gerard, effective mid-July. The changes begin a period of major leadership transition for the Pittsburgh-based union ahead of the 2020...
Giving Workers a Voice: What Working People Are Doing This Week
AFL-CIO
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.
A. Philip Randolph Institute:
Judge Orders New Union Vote at Kumho Tire Plant in Georgia https://t.co/fhFNViDEYE— APRI National (DC) (@APRI_National) May 16, 2019
Actors' Equity Association:
"It took me nine years and four states to get my Equity Card!" - Equity member Mary Martello shares how she received her Equity card! #HIGMEChttps://t.co/M9mOJTl0NF pic.twitter.com/CHRmnJbI3L— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) May 29, 2019
AFGE:
.@AFGENational supports civil and equal rights for workers from all backgrounds. That’s why we applaud the House for passing the Equality Act that would prohibit discrimination against all LGBTQ Americans, including federal employees. #1u https://t.co/3BOy6RWzFE pic....
