Feed items
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: RSVP: FLOC Benefit Concert ‘Songs for Justice’
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 Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) and the Campaign for Migrant Worker Justice, FLOC’s education and training partner, are hosting their annual Songs for Justice benefit concert virtually on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. ET. This event is the only annual fundraising campaign, and it serves as a night of community and celebration. FLOC President and founder Baldemar Velasquez and the Aguila Negra Band will perform a mix of traditional Mexican folk music. Suggested donations are $10 per person and the event will be streamed live. Click here to RSVP.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 11/20/2020 - 12:04
Tags:
Community Service, COVID-19
Voluntary Recognition: Worker Wins
Despite the challenges of organizing during a deadly pandemic, working people across the country (and beyond) continue organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. This edition begins with several groups of organizers who won voluntary recognition of their new unions.
Kentucky Democratic Party Staff Join IBEW: Staff at the Kentucky Democratic Party have joined Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 369, gained voluntary recognition from management and secured their first collective bargaining agreement. In a statement, the Kentucky Democratic Party staffers said, “We asked for support and recognition of our right to organize. Our leadership stepped up to bargain in good faith and ensure that, as Kentucky Democrats, we live up to our values. We believe deeply in the importance of building and maintaining long-term organizing infrastructure as a means for achieving an equitable and inclusive Kentucky Democratic Party. We came together and organized with a single, common purpose: to make the Kentucky Democratic Party the best possible workplace for everyone, now and in the future.”
WGAE...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: MM&P Members Rescue Downed Pilots in the Pacific
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 officers and crew of the Horizon Reliance rescued two pilots who had been forced to land their plane on the ocean and debark to a life raft about 1,000 nautical miles from Honolulu. The ship received an alert by satellite call from the Coast Guard on Nov. 6 and quickly began steaming toward position 80 nautical miles to the southwest. Aboard the Horizon Reliance were Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P) members Capt. Mark Tuck, Chief Mate Steve Itson, Second Mate Joseph Comerford II and Third Mate William Laprade. Within two hours of spotting the downed pilots in their life raft, the rescue mission was successfully completed.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 11/20/2020 - 10:00
Tags:
Community Service, COVID-19
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Boilermakers Boost EPRI Certification Across the Country
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.
Boilermakers (IBB) are ramping up Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) training and testing for advanced rigging at various sites across the United States, making the union even more attractive to contractors and owners in the construction sector. EPRI conducts research, development and demonstration projects across the United States and is an independent nonprofit focused on research in electricity generation, delivery and use. “Offering testing for this certification saves contractors and owners money so our members can get right in there and start working,” said Matt Wertz, the Boilermakers’ National Apprenticeship Program coordinator. “It makes our contractors more aggressive to get work and gain work.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 11/19/2020 - 09:34
Tags:...
#FundTheFrontLines: 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:
Equity members now have an additional way to access the online harassment hotline. Lighthouse now offers an anonymous reporting app available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play store.
Read more in the member portal - https://t.co/y7dZhCza27 pic.twitter.com/lKrChmRlNH
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) November 18, 2020
AFGE:
We
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: APWU Launches Day of Action
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.
Members and allies of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), led by President Mark Dimondstein, are holding a day of action today to save the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). In particular, the APWU is making three demands: invest at least $25 billion in immediate COVID-19 relief for the USPS; stop and reverse the mail slowdown policies introduced by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy; and expand the role of the post office to provide vital services in every community. Click here to call your senators and ask them to save the Postal Service.
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 11/18/2020 - 09:45
Tags:
COVID-19, Community Service
Ten 2020 Election Wins for Working People That You Should Know About, Part 2
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ victory in this free and fair election is a win for America’s labor movement. Everywhere in every way, working people are heroically and resiliently fighting back against this pandemic, its economic fall out, chronic income inequality and systemic racism. Union voters delivered this election for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris. Their message and commitment to create “the most significant pro-labor, pro-worker administration” resonated with our 12.5 million members and 55 affiliated unions who are hungry for a bigger voice in our economy and our politics.
Working people also spoke loudly in electing union-friendly candidates at all levels of government. Here are 10 more victories you should know about:
1. Michigan State Supreme Court: The Michigan labor movement flipped the state Supreme Court as Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack won re-election and Elizabeth Welch gained a seat to give pro-worker justices a 4–3 majority.
2. Greg Thompson, Florida: The former Machinists (IAM) Local 57 president won...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Oregon OSHA Establishes Emergency Temporary Standard for Workplace Safety
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 Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) new emergency temporary standard (ETS) for workplace safety during the pandemic went into effect on Monday. For the first time since the pandemic started, Oregon workers will have clear, enforceable and consistent workplace protections from COVID-19. The new protocols provide rules around transparency and reporting, training, employee input and employer requirements to mitigate hazards, and ventilation. The Oregon AFL-CIO fought hard for the implementation of the ETS.
“The emergency temporary standard is a step forward for Oregon’s workers. Oregon is now only the third state in the nation to adopt workplace safety and health protections for workers against COVID-19,” said state federation President Graham...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: NFLPA Names Corey Clement ‘Community MVP’ for Week 8
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.
Corey Clement has been named the NFL Players Association’s (NFLPA’s) “Community MVP” for week 8 of the NFL season after he helped lead a writing contest in which students created books on how to resolve bullying. The winners earned a $500 prize, received a surprise Zoom visit from Clement and will have their book published. “It is a true honor to be named the NFLPA Community MVP,” the Philadelphia Eagles running back said. “As an NFL player, I have the opportunity to bring attention to the causes most important to me—literacy, anti-bullying and music education. I feel that it is important to support grassroots nonprofits that are led by Black leaders.”
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 11/16/2020 - 09:57
Tags:
COVID-19, Community Service...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Rest in Peace, Scott Reynolds
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 AFL-CIO is mourning the passing of our dear former colleague, Scott Reynolds (TNG-CWA). Scott will be remembered for his strong trade unionism, dedicating his career to the labor movement and spending 24 of those years with the AFL-CIO. And, for those who had the pleasure of working with Scott, we will also miss him for his humor, his friendship and his stories of adventurous travel that brightened the workplace every day.
Damon Silvers, special counsel to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA), called Scott a dear friend and mentor. “All his life Scott fought for working people. He was at every major protest for decades,” Silvers said. “He organized our movement for fight after fight—for financial reform and the Affordable Care Act, against one corporate trade deal after another. He was a kind generous colleague to...
