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The U.S. Mail Is Not for Sale

The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) just released a new ad in support of its U.S. Mail Not for Sale campaign. The campaign is a worker-led effort that brings together working people, elected officials and member organizations of A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service to fight plans to privatize the U.S. Postal Service.

Watch the video above, then check out the U.S. Mail Not for Sale website, where you can learn the story behind the ad. A short summary:

On June 21, 2018, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a restructuring proposal for the federal government. The proposal, “Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century,” delivered misinformation without ever consulting the U.S. Postal Service and, if implemented, would end regular mail and package services at one affordable price, delivered to all 157 million addresses six days a week–regardless of geographic location. The OMB proposal takes direct aim at the U.S. Postal Service under the guise of reforming and structuring for the 21st century.

Learn more at U.S. Mail Not for Sale, where you also...

Graduate Workers Joining Together: Worker Wins

Our latest roundup of worker wins begins with graduate student workers uniting for a better future and includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.

Graduate Student Workers at Brown Join AFT: With more than 60% voting yes, graduate employees at Brown University have voted to join AFT. Kaitlyn Quaranta, a graduate assistant in French, said: "Hundreds of graduate workers stood up this week and sent a clear message that our labor for the university should not be taken for granted. Winning this election is about more than just improving working conditions for grads at Brown. In voting to unionize, we stood up for labor rights during an incredibly anti-labor administration."

Georgetown Alliance of Graduate Employees (GAGE) Votes Overwhelmingly to Affiliate with AFT: Nearly 84% of graduate student workers at Georgetown voted to be represented by the GAGE and AFT. In a joint statement, GAGE and AFT said: "We have a shared belief in the important role that graduate student assistants play at Georgetown and a shared commitment to giving...

New Bill Seeks to Protect Health Care and Social Service Workers from Workplace Violence

Workplace violence is a serious and growing problem for health care and social service workers. Nurses, emergency room doctors, social workers, psychiatric facility aides, and other health care and social service workers frequently face violence that leads to serious, life-altering injuries, loss of productivity and death. In 2016, working people petitioned the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for a workplace violence standard and, in 2017, OSHA granted that petition; yet there has been no action by the Trump administration to develop a national standard to protect workers from violence.

Some key facts about workplace violence:

It is responsible for more than 850 worker deaths and 28,000 serious injuries each year and is on the rise.
One of every six workplace deaths each year are from workplace violence.
It is now the second leading cause of death on the job.
Health care and social service workers are at greatest risk: They are nearly five times more likely than other workers to suffer a workplace violence...

Bridge the Gap

AFL-CIO

Did you know that flight attendants and workers for regional airlines are often paid 45% less than their colleagues at major carriers for doing the same work?

That’s why AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre (UFCW) joined his fellow labor leaders at a rally to call out this injustice and demand it be fixed.

Executive Vice President Gebre joined Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) International President Sara Nelson, AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Larry Willis, Mine Workers (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts and UNITE HERE Deputy Director Alisa Gallo to build support for flight attendants. The flight attendants are in contract negotiations with Air Wisconsin Airlines, Endeavor Air and PSA Airlines and serve passengers flying with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

Check out a few highlights from the speakers below, and watch the rally here.

Gebre: “When we fight, we win! Your fight is my fight!”

Nelson: “It’s just not right, and it’s certainly not fair. Airlines aren’t hurting, but many airline employees are. We’re...