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Working People Rise Up: In the States Roundup
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter.
California Labor Federation:
Uber, Lyft and Doordash are spending $189,000,000 to write themselves out of labor law. Prop 22 is designed to keep drivers POOR and App-based rideshare companies RICH. Enough with the corporate greed! Make sure you vote #NoOnProp22!!! pic.twitter.com/1TzTEVWPva
— California Labor Federation #NoOnProp22 (@CaliforniaLabor) October 15, 2020
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
In CT, the median penalty assessed by OSHA for a workplace fatality was less than $4,000. This is unacceptable. @AFLCIO #1u https://t.co/QW7FdimOBg
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) October 9, 2020
Florida AFL-CIO:
“In Miami, it’s very difficult to make it on $275 dollars a week,” said Gonzalez, referring to Florida’s unemployment compensation payment. The federal boost of $600 per week is gone. “It’s basically impossible to...
Make a Family Plan to Vote: 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:
Actors' Equity is fighting for diversity, inclusion and the principles of equal opportunity for all who work in the theatre industry. By submitting your self-ID, you can help Equity fight against hiring bias and discrimination. https://t.co/p2c1r3DgSY pic.twitter.com/lguGMytUCI
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) October 8, 2020
AFGE:
All while @SecWilkie and @realDonaldTrump team up to take away VA workers’ right to a union and a fair contract! https://t.co/3ty6yPqjPr
— AFGE (@AFGENational) October 8, 2020
AFSCME:
By walking away from negotiations on COVID-19 #stimulus legislation, @realDonaldTrump has shown the true measure of his callousness and cruelty today. He simply doesn’t care...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Wyoming AFL-CIO and Affiliates Register New Voters in Cheyenne
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 Wyoming State AFL-CIO held a voter registration drive outside at the Cheyenne Historic Depot Plaza on Oct. 3, as part of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 279’s annual chili cook-off, supporting the local’s Fill the Boot campaign in raising funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. It was the single best registration drive in Wyoming this year, a place where local races are often won and lost by a handful of votes. Another voter registration drive will be held Oct. 10 at the Electrical Workers (IBEW) hall. State federation Executive Secretary Tammy Johnson (USW) said: “We had a fabulous event with our brothers and sisters from IAFF, IBEW, Laborers (LIUNA), AFGE and the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The Wyoming State AFL-CIO is proud to be part of a giving, vibrant and growing union...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: ‘Drive Thru to Beat the Flu’ Event Hosted by Hawaii State AFL-CIO
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 Hawaii State AFL-CIO’s Labor Community Services Program partnered with My Health Solutions in anticipation of an active flu season amidst a global pandemic. To combat the “twindemic” of COVID-19 and influenza, a drive-through flu vaccination clinic called Drive Thru to Beat the Flu was held in Honolulu last Saturday and Sunday. “Our clinic was available to everyone with or without insurance. So many of our people have either been furloughed or have lost their jobs and their health insurance due to COVID-19. We know a healthier community is a way to get people back to work and create more stability in our lives. We intend to take this program to the neighboring islands in November,” said Catherine Lederer (AFSCME), director of the Labor Community Services Program. Some 700 people were...
National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Henry L. 'Hank' Lacayo
CSUCI
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Henry L. "Hank" Lacayo.
A longtime staple of labor, political and academic circles in California, Henry L. "Hank" Lacayo was a force from his beginnings in the labor movement in the 1950s all the way up to his passing in 2017. He was born in Los Angeles in 1931 but moved to Mexico when he was young. He returned to California for high school. Upon graduating, he joined the Air Force. After his military service ended, Lacayo went to work at North American Aviation (later Rockwell International) in 1953. Within a few years, he not only became involved in UAW Local 887, he quickly rose to a full-time employee of the local and served as editor of its newspaper.
UAW President Walter P. Reuther encouraged Lacayo to continue his labor activism, and in 1962, he was elected president of Local 887, a position he held for 10 years. He represented more...
The Right to Vote Safely: The Working People Weekly List
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.
National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Henry L. 'Hank' Lacayo: "Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Henry L. 'Hank' Lacayo."
FLOC Co-Hosts Black/Brown Unity Coalition Peace Rally: "On Saturday, members of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) co-hosted the Black/Brown Unity Coalition peace rally. At the end of 2017, the coalition came together and signed a historic code of conduct agreement with the Toledo Police Department that brought reform to the department and developed a community grievance mechanism."
ILA Secures Contractual Protections for Members Impacted by COVID-19: "Thousands of members of the Longshoremen (ILA) are set to benefit from an amendment to the union’s master contract with their...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: FLOC Co-Hosts Black/Brown Unity Coalition Peace Rally
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 Saturday, members of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) co-hosted the Black/Brown Unity Coalition peace rally. At the end of 2017, the coalition came together and signed a historic code of conduct agreement with the Toledo Police Department that brought reform to the department and developed a community grievance mechanism. The rally served as a call to action for all members of the community to unite and join the Black/Brown Unity Coalition to implement this agreement citywide. FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez said: “The job of the citizenry and the democratic society is for the people to take control, to reform, to change and to bring some kind of reconciliation to the harmful things in our institutions. But it takes a united front of citizens, of residents, of human beings to compel...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: ILA Secures Contractual Protections for Members Impacted by COVID-19
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.
Thousands of members of the Longshoremen (ILA) are set to benefit from an amendment to the union’s master contract with their employers at the United States Maritime Alliance Ltd. (USMX). ILA International President Harold Daggett told members in a letter sent last week that those covered under the union’s contract will not experience a loss of health care coverage because of any reduction in their 2020 work hours caused by COVID-19. “Your officers are grateful for our USMX partners, who recognized that their ILA workforce became America’s heroic front-line workers during this COVID-19 pandemic, bravely and consistently keeping cargo moving in and out of our nation’s ports,” Daggett wrote to eligible members. “Health care coverage for our ILA workers covered under the national health care...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Texas AFL-CIO Fights for the Right to Vote Safely
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.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, an anti-worker politician, is making a last-minute attempt to suppress votes ahead of unexpectedly competitive elections in the Lone Star State. With a month left to vote, Abbott signed an executive order on Thursday limiting each county to only one drop-off site for those voters who wish to turn in their ballots early. Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy (TSEU/CWA) responded, calling it an attempt to suppress the right to vote:
“All working families need to know about our power to change Texas at the polls is [yesterday’s] attempt by Gov. Greg Abbott to rig his own rules at the 11th hour to suppress the vote. Poll after poll shows Republicans losing their decades-old grip on power. Abbott's desperate order must not stand, and working families will not stand for it. In the most...
National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Esther López
UFCW
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have contributed to our movement. Today's profile features Esther López.
López first connected with the labor movement in high school. Because she was bilingual, she volunteered to register Latino voters and get them to the polls. From there, she never turned back.
As her post-school career progressed, she began to play an active role in improving labor conditions in Illinois. She served as deputy chief of staff for the state's Department of Labor before going on to lead the department.
In November 2006, López joined the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) as director of the Civil Rights and Community Action Department. She served on the front lines of battles against voter suppression, ending exploitation of refugees, expanding opportunities for women and pursuing LGBTQ equality, including overseeing the launch of UFCW's LGBTQ constituency group, OUTreach. She created the UFCW's Union...
