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Trumka Congratulates Doris Harakay on 70 Years of Union Membership
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA) sent the following letter to Doris Harakay, who, at nearly 90 years of age, has been a member of IUE-CWA Local 775 for 70 years and is both the longest-serving and oldest employee at General Electric (GE) Aviation.
The letter:
Dear Sister Doris,
As president of America’s labor movement, I want to congratulate you as you celebrate 70 remarkable years of union seniority. It is clear you understand that the strength of America’s labor movement is measured by the steadfast dedication, determination and devotion of its members.
Undoubtedly, a lot has likely changed since you joined IUE-CWA Local 775 and started to work at GE Aviation. I know the company changed owners five times. But during dark passages and on bright days, what has always remained constant for all these years is you. Every day, your brothers and sisters could count on you to punch in every morning and punch out after a hard day’s work.
Of course, you will just say you were doing your job, and that’s true. You will say you were trying to...
Black History Month Profiles: Akua Dixon
This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Akua Dixon.
Looking back after nearly 50 years in the union, jazz cellist and composer Akua Dixon reflected on how much she's depended on the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) throughout her career: “I’ve seen a lot of progress since the 1970s when the change started. You had a group of people band together to form the Symphony of the New World, which had a lot of African American players in it and as part of the foundation of the orchestra’s board. To go through the legal system to try to change the hiring practices at places like the New York Philharmonic, and having an organization like Local 802 to march with you and be with you was a wonderful thing.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 02/19/2021 - 09:32
Tags:...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Hosts Vaccination and Food Distribution Event
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 Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and its nonprofit partner, Labor Community Services, held a vaccination and food distribution event in Los Angeles over the weekend. The combined event was held in partnership with St. John’s Well Child and Family Center and state Sen. María Elena Durazo (not pictured). In addition to the vaccination, the event also provided food to more than 200 families. The labor council thanked volunteers who helped out, including members of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement’s Los Angeles chapter and members of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 47.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 02/19/2021 - 08:30
Tags:
Community Service, COVID-19
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: NABTU Offers All Training Centers and Union Halls for National Vaccine Distribution
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 Thursday, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey (IUPAT) issued a statement offering its more than 5,000 union halls and training centers for vaccine distribution across the country:
“We know there is still more to be done, so we are now making available all of our infrastructure in every state, major metropolitan and rural area to assist in the Biden Administration’s taskforce’s mass distribution of vaccines. In our continuing commitment as citizens, our proud men and women stand ready to serve in this wide vaccination distribution. Our members and facilities are uniquely prepared to aid immediately from the many blood drives and other mobilizing community service events we’ve hosted throughout our history, and we look forward to...
Black History Month Profiles: Micheal Davis
This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only the conditions for working people in our community, but also across the country. Today's profile is Micheal Davis.
Micheal Davis is a member of the UAW and a labor organizer who's been on staff with the Michigan AFL-CIO for years, as campaign director, organizing director, and health and safety director for the state federation's Workforce Development Institute. Davis is a dedicated, passionate and creative leader and valued member of the Michigan AFL-CIO team.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 02/18/2021 - 08:32
Tags:
Black History Month
Black History Month Profiles: Wilfred Arceneaux
This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only the conditions for working people in our community, but also across the country. Today's profile is Wilfred Arceneaux.
Wilfred Arceneaux is a server at the Atlanta Airport and an LGBTQ advocate. He canvassed in Atlanta as part of UNITE HERE's Take Back the Senate campaign to elect labor-endorsed candidates to the U.S. Senate. About the experience, he said: "I really, really understood what the union is all about, when my sister and Shop Steward Tee Tee Dangerfield was murdered because she was trans. I decided to step into Tee Tee's shoes and am now a leader with my union. I canvassed to get out the vote for the Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff because we need a city where all airport workers get to have strong union jobs."
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 02/17/2021 - 09:30
Tags:
Black History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: DPE Announces Legislative Push to Advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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 arts, entertainment and media unions affiliated with the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, (DPE) last week announced their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policy agenda during a digital press conference with union leaders, staff and members. The DEI policy agenda details the legislative action the unions will urge members of Congress to support to help make their industries more representative. “Diversity is a strength,” said DPE President Jennifer Dorning. “Creative professionals and their unions know this, and continue to prioritize making their industries more accessible to underrepresented people. Advocating for policy changes at the national level is a natural continuation of the work arts, entertainment, and media unions have been doing to advance DEI in...
Black History Month: Interview with Actor and Activist Danny Glover
Wikimedia Commons
Few artists have contributed more to the growth and development of our society than actor Danny Glover. A civil rights leader and labor activist to his core, Glover has transcended the silver screen to become part of our cultural identity as Americans. As we celebrate this year’s Black History Month, the AFL-CIO spoke with him about the history of the labor movement and the civil rights movement, and where we go from here.
Glover began by talking about growing up in a union household where his parents were active members in their local chapter of what was then called the United Postal Alliance. “It’s about the history I lived with my parents,” Glover explained. “I watched my parents emerge and grow as union members and see how proud they were. And I watched the civil rights movement through that lens.” For a time, his father was treasurer and his mother served as the secretary of their local union. He recalled how they placed their struggles in the community and at the workplace within the broader struggle for justice that is still happening...
Black History Month Profiles: Corean Holloway
This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Corean Holloway.
A longtime union leader, Corean Holloway works as a laundry attendant at the Warwick Hotel Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. She canvassed her city full time to get out the vote for Biden-Harris during the general election for president. "I was born and raised in South Carolina, and my siblings and I were the ones to desegregate our elementary school, so we know a little bit about standing up to take what's ours," she said.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 02/16/2021 - 09:32
Tags:
Black History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Major Labor and Environmental Initiative Announced in Rhode Island
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.
Rhode Island AFL-CIO President George Nee (OPEIU) announced a new state federation initiative called Climate Jobs Rhode Island. The initiative’s coalition will be chaired by Priscilla De La Cruz, the Rhode Island director of Green Energy Consumers Alliance, and Patrick Crowley (NEA-RI), secretary-treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, and is committed to working to make Rhode Island a national leader in a 21st century economy grounded in the principles of economic, environmental, racial and social justice.
“The Rhode Island AFL-CIO is proud to stand with our friends and allies in the Rhode Island building trades and the environmental movement as we work together to build a green economy in Rhode Island,” Nee said. “The labor movement believes working people don’t just need a seat at...
