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Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Maine AFL-CIO Calls on Senate to Extend $600 Lifeline to Unemployed Workers
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 those stories every day. Here's today's story.
The Maine AFL-CIO, led by President Cynthia Phinney (IBEW), is publicly pushing its senators to support renewing the federal $600 weekly unemployment payment for those who are out of work as a result of the pandemic. This weekly payment was included in the CARES Act and is set to expire at the end of July. “With double-digit unemployment, it is appalling and morally repugnant that the U.S. Senate would even consider cutting this critical lifeline to Maine families,” Andy O’Brien (UFCW), the state federation’s communications director, told the Beacon. The Maine Department of Labor announced last week that it will extend the maximum length of time workers can remain on unemployment benefits by 13 weeks.
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 07/14/2020 - 10:50
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Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Labor Movement in Tucson Demands Freedom for Mexican Labor Attorney
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 those stories every day. Here's today's story.
Susana Prieto Terrazas, a Mexican attorney and activist who organizes workers in the maquiladora factories along the southern border, was arrested by Mexican authorities last month on trumped-up charges. On June 10, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA) called her arrest “an outrage” and demanded her immediate and unconditional release from prison.
Members of the Pima Area Labor Federation and Jobs With Justice took direct action. They delivered a joint letter to the Mexican Consulate in Tucson, Arizona, along with a letter from the UAW and a copy of Trumka’s statement. The members met with Consul Enrique Alfonso Gómez Montiel, who assured them he would send the letters and statement to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Prior to the meeting, the members had a...
Save the News: 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.
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Firefighters in Omaha Donate Bikes to Kids: "Members of the Omaha Professional Fire Fighters Association-IAFF Local 385 in Nebraska donated dozens of bikes and helmets to local children."
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: UNITE HERE Raises $2.5 Million to Support Members Impacted by COVID-19: "UNITE HERE announced on Monday that it had raised $2.5 million for the union’s Education and Support Fund to provide direct relief to its members and their families who have been impacted by COVID-19."
Safety and Security: Worker Wins: "Our latest roundup of worker wins features important victories for safety and security during the COVID-19 pandemic and includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life."
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Rally to Save the News Held in Chicago: "The Chicago Federation of Labor...
Demand Economic, Social and Racial Justice: 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:
There have been 114,769 new coronavirus cases in Florida since Actors' Equity called on @Disney to delay opening until regular testing is available to our members. $DIS https://t.co/SJikn2GyVE pic.twitter.com/TJKETzXyWo
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) July 9, 2020
AFGE:
Here are some of the hard-fought victories included in the House 2021 Defense bill → https://t.co/GH5z0Jb6hZ pic.twitter.com/2BZG5CMdyF
— AFGE (@AFGENational) July 8, 2020
AFSCME:
Census results influence highway planning and construction, as well as grants for buses, subways, and other public transit systems. Make sure your...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Firefighters in Omaha Donate Bikes to Kids
During the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread protests in response to the killing of George Floyd, working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities. In our new Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of those stories every day. Here's today's story.
Members of the Omaha Professional Fire Fighters Association-IAFF Local 385 in Nebraska donated dozens of bikes and helmets to local children. The community effort was a partnership among the union, the Black Votes Matter organization and churches in north Omaha, which came together to donate the bikes and helmets for kids to safely enjoy some outdoor time with their friends this summer.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 07/10/2020 - 08:55
Tags:
COVID-19, Community Service
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: UNITE HERE Raises $2.5 Million to Support Members Impacted by COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread protests in response to the killing of George Floyd, working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities. In our new Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of those stories every day. Here's today's story.
UNITE HERE announced on Monday that it had raised $2.5 million for the union’s Education and Support Fund to provide direct relief to its members and their families who have been impacted by COVID-19. The union reported that more than 60,000 working families in 40 cities have been supported through these contributions. Throughout the pandemic, workers in the hospitality industry have been hit especially hard. Click here to donate to UNITE HERE’s relief effort.
Kenneth Quinnell
Thu, 07/09/2020 - 12:58
Tags:
COVID-19, Community Service
Safety and Security: Worker Wins
Our latest roundup of worker wins features important victories for safety and security during the COVID-19 pandemic and includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Airline Worker Unions Win Protections During Pandemic: More than a half dozen unions representing workers in the airline industry fought to secure protections during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act, which passed in March, $31 billion in direct grants were approved to airline industry workers and another $25 billion in loans or grants for the industry. Sara Nelson, president of the Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), said: “This is an unprecedented win for front-line aviation workers and a template all workers can build from. The grants we won in this bill will save hundreds of thousands of jobs and will keep working people connected to healthcare.”
Front-Line Stop & Shop Workers Win Protections, Additional Pay: More than 70,000 employees at Stop & Shop and Peapod in New Jersey, New York and New England represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) secured a...
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Rally to Save the News Held in Chicago
AFL-CIO
During the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread protests in response to the killing of George Floyd, working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities. In our new Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of those stories every day. Here's today's story.
The Chicago Federation of Labor helped host a “Save the News” rally in downtown Chicago. Union members were joined by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, as well as other community leaders. They spoke about the need for free and fair access to information, and how it is especially critical for working people right now because of the pandemic, the economic crisis and the protests against racial injustice. “The public’s right to information is at stake more than ever because of the risks journalists face,” Don Villar (NABET-CWA), secretary-treasurer of the federation, said in a statement. “Journalists put their health and safety at risk to show how a global pandemic is affecting our city, and how protests have...
Protect Working Families: In the States Roundup
AFL-CIO
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:
$2.65 BILLION. While drivers go without PPE they need to keep themselves & passengers safe. While they sleep in their cars b/c they don't make a minimum wage & have no paid sick leave. @Uber is corrupt to the core #SickofGigGreed https://t.co/UG1ycuufhU
— California Labor Federation #BlackLivesMatter (@CaliforniaLabor) July 6, 2020
Colorado AFL-CIO:
Workers and communities across the country are being hit hard by the changing coal economy. The National Economic Transition platform lays out a bold, national plan that provides both immediate and long-term support. #JustTransition https://t.co/kvu4fHeAQ9 pic.twitter.com/53gSKKWpEL
— Colorado AFL-CIO (@AFLCIOCO) June 29, 2020
Connecticut AFL-CIO:
...Service + Solidarity Spotlight: School Leaders Issue Guide to Reopen Schools Safely
AFSA
During the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread protests in response to the killing of George Floyd, working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities. In our new Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of those stories every day. Here's today's story.
School supervisory personnel who were among the first to call for closing schools at the start of the pandemic have released a new, comprehensive guide for reopening schools safely. “School leaders want to reopen their schools, on time and in person,” said Ernest Logan, president of the School Administrators (AFSA), which represents principals, assistant principals, supervisors, and school directors and managers. “In a time of social and emotional upheaval, our students have never needed us more. This is not going to be easy and it's going to cost upward to $300 billion.” The AFSA guide, Reopening Schools Safely in the Age of COVID, covers the major challenges schools must address as the pandemic continues. These issues range...
