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Women's History Month Profiles: Sara Steffens
This year, for Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's 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 Sara Steffens.
Sara Steffens knows firsthand why passing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is so important. As a reporter at the Contra Costa (California) Times, Steffens successfully led her co-workers to organize and join The NewsGuild-CWA, only to be fired with a group of other activists two weeks after the vote. Since then, Steffens has dedicated her career to helping workers build power to improve our workplaces and our communities. She currently serves as secretary-treasurer for the Communications Workers of America (CWA).
Kenneth Quinnell
Tue, 03/30/2021 - 09:30
Tags:
Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Northwest Oregon Labor Council’s Food 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 March 14, the Northwest Oregon Labor Council ran a food distribution at the Laborers (LIUNA) Local 737 Training Center in Portland, Oregon. The labor council and affiliates came together over a four-day period to unload and break down the load from the Albertsons–Safeway warehouse, box up and hand out the food. The labor council and affiliates also paid for food with donations of cash to the labor council.
The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 364 gave 3,000 boxes of Ritz Crackers and Chicken in a Biskit crackers donated by Nabisco, and BCTGM Local 114 gave 1,000 loaves of fresh bread donated from Franz Bakery. A total of 867 boxes were provided to different groups throughout the state to distribute in their communities. The remaining 133 boxes were handed out...
Women's History Month Profiles: Jackie Anklam
This year, for Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's 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 Jackie Anklam.
Jackie Anklam of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9899 in Saginaw, Michigan, is a true woman of steel. An environmental technician at St. Mary’s Hospital, she is among the essential workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic going to work every single day to make sure others get the care they need. While doing her job, she also represents hundreds of steelworkers at Ascension St. Mary’s. Anklam, a member of the USW's Health Care Workers Council, fought for respirators and personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies and gowns for those on the front lines. The fight became personal when Anklam’s father died of complications of COVID-19 in a Michigan hospital that ran short of PPE. Activism is nothing new for Anklam....
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: IAM Supports Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act
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.
In a letter to House leadership, Machinists (IAM) International President Robert Martinez Jr. urged representatives to support the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195). This bipartisan legislation would create and maintain needed protections against workplace violence for health care and social service workers. A 2016 U.S. Government Accountability Office study concluded that rates of violence against health care workers are up to 12 times higher than rates of violence for the overall workforce.
“Health care and social service workers who are called on to help us and our families in times of need deserve a safe and secure work environment,” Martinez wrote. “This legislation would instruct the Occupational...
Women's History Month Profiles: Laurel Brennan
This year, for Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's 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 Laurel Brennan.
Laurel Brennan is currently serving her seventh term as the secretary-treasurer of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, a position she has held since 1997. She is the first woman to be elected to this position in New Jersey.
Brennan began her career in the labor movement with an internship with the New Jersey State Federation of Teachers. She also worked for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, the Philadelphia-South Jersey District Council and the Southern New Jersey Central Labor Council, where she was the first woman elected to the position of secretary-treasurer. She formed the Southern New Jersey chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, for whom she also served on the national executive board. She also...
Women's History Month Profiles: Kandy Bernskoetter
This year, for Women's History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making women's 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 Kandy Bernskoetter.
First Officer Kandy Bernskoetter has been a member of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) since 2003. She is a passionate unionist who works tirelessly leading ALPA’s efforts to connect with members, build unity and promote the benefits of ALPA membership internally and externally. In addition to her numerous roles leading programs that provide assistance and support for FedEx pilots, Bernskoetter also serves as ALPA’s national membership committee chair, sits on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Women in Aviation Advisory Board, and is a member of ALPA’s Female Pilots Working Group.
Kenneth Quinnell
Fri, 03/26/2021 - 09:30
Tags:
Women's History Month
Service + Solidarity Spotlight: South Florida AFL-CIO: Labor Activists Gather to Unveil Miami Mural
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.
South Florida advocacy, civil rights and labor groups, including the South Florida AFL-CIO, gathered on March 18 to unveil “Rise,” a mural created to call attention to a long list of bills in the Florida Legislature that are anti-worker and racially oppressive. Next to the child in the mural, a rainbow of colors drips down and a stack of books represents the critical learning tools that help to ensure a functioning democracy and a free and fair society—justice, voting, equality, free assembly and labor representation. A hummingbird with its wings spread out floats above, and in the middle is a quote from Maya Angelou: “[B]ut still, like the air, I’ll rise!”
One such bill the Florida AFL-CIO is speaking out against is Senate Bill 50, which seeks to begin collecting sales taxes on...
Protect Our Pensions: 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.
Alabama AFL-CIO:
First they have the timing changed on the traffic lights to restrict distribution of leaflets and now installed their very own ballot mailbox to steal ballots or is it an opportunity to stuff ballots. #BAmazonUnion #1U https://t.co/gIA38hrd2b— Alabama AFL-CIO (@AlabamaAFLCIO) March 23, 2021
Alaska AFL-CIO:
Alright Alaska, this is where the rubber meets the road!On April 8th, we need EVERYONE to show up and tell @lisamurkowski and @SenDanSullivan to #PassThePROAct through the U.S. Senate! #UnionStrong #1u Check our FB page for more information or use the graphics below
Success in the Tech Industry: 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:
CODE-CWA's Tech Industry Organizing Efforts Lead to Union Recognition at Mobilize: Workers at Mobilize, a community-organizing app, announced the formation of a new union as part of the Campaign to Organize Digital Employees' (CODE-CWA's) efforts to organize in the tech industry. EveryAction, which owns Mobilize, agreed to voluntarily recognize the union. This is the third big win for Communications Workers of America (CWA) in tech sector organizing, after recent wins at Glitch and Google. Jared McDonald, a member of the organizing committee, said: "They said, 'Yeah, we want to do this the right way, we're highly invested in the labor movement as well, and workers' rights, and their ability to organize in the collective bargaining unit. Obviously we have a privileged position where we work for a progressive employer, but if we don't do it, how are the people who are going to work for less progressive...
Time for Equal Pay: 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.
A. Philip Randolph Institute:
Please join APRI now in supporting the 10th Annual BWR "Women of Power" Virtual Summit: Rebuilding Hope, Justice, Equity & Equality https://t.co/FFEYzQ0Nvs via @FacebookWatch— APRI National (DC) (@APRI_National) March 24, 2021
Actors' Equity:
As theatrical work begins where it is safe to do so, Equity has been working to create guidelines that support safe and healthy theatre productions.Producers who would like to work with Equity stage managers and actors can find guidance on our website -https://t.co/GfhhKsNXLi pic.twitter.com/qAMLNVg9Gy— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) March 24, 2021
AFGE:
Check out the March/April edition the Government Standard! Top stories include: The latest on...