AFL-CIO Blog

  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Historic Job Growth in 2022 Reflects Strong but Uneven Economic Recovery
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Historic Job Growth in 2022 Reflects Strong but Uneven Economic Recovery 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 Tuesday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released state and unemployment data for December 2022, which the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) used to analyze employment changes for the entire year. EPI found that nationwide, the U.S. economy added 4.5 million jobs in 2022. This makes 2022 the second-strongest year for job growth in the past 40 years (2021 was the first). Public sector employment continues to lag behind private sector employment. According to EPI, state and local government employment is still 2.3% below pre-pandemic levels as state agencies, school districts and local governments have struggled to fill vacancies. The American Rescue Plan earmarked $350 billion for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. However, as of October 2022, state and local governments have only used 40% of the available funds. EPI calls on state and local lawmakers to use the remaining funds to invest in filling public sector vacancies. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 01/30/2023 - 09:37 — Jan 30
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Help HuffPost Union Members Secure Fair Contract
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Help HuffPost Union Members Secure Fair Contract 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 current contract between the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), and HuffPost expires at midnight on Jan. 31. WGAE members have been bargaining for a new contract for months, and important issues remain that must be resolved: fair guaranteed wage increases, an industry-standard 401k, health and safety provisions, and the ability to grieve out-of-title work. Management has refused to come to a fair resolution on those issues and has proposed wage increases that are lower than those in previous contracts. The WGAE members at HuffPost are asking for your help. They deserve a fair contract and would like you to send a letter to Jonah Peretti, chief executive officer of HuffPost’s parent company, BuzzFeed. Take a few minutes today to show your solidarity and send a letter in support of the members of HuffPost Union. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 01/27/2023 - 09:33 — Jan 27
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Machinists Launch Training to End Workplace Violence and Harassment
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Machinists Launch Training to End Workplace Violence and Harassment 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. A group of Machinists (IAM) staff and officers recently attended a “Be More Than a Bystander” training at the IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Maryland. These members are the first labor group in the country to receive training from the Ending Violence Association of British Columbia, which teaches participants how to recognize workplace harassment and violence, particularly against women and the LGBTQ+ community. The objective of the program is to help men understand the impact of gendered violence in the workplace and the role they can have in speaking up. “It was an honor for me to observe the first Be More Than a Bystander Program,” said IAM Women’s and Human Rights Director Julie Frietchen. “I found it informative and think that we will be able to use this material to make our union even more inclusive and stronger than ever.” Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 01/26/2023 - 09:35 — Jan 26
  • What to do after Roe v. Wade?
    What to do after Roe v. Wade? January 22 should have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Instead, we’re fighting to keep the government out of our personal health care decisions. If we can’t make choices about our own bodies and families, working people cannot do our jobs and contribute to our economy. Reproductive rights and worker rights are both fundamental freedoms that must be protected. With broken labor laws and Roe v. Wade overturned, our fundamental freedoms now depend on where we live.  We created a map comparing states that have abortion bans and anti-worker laws like “right to work.” States that don’t protect abortion? They don’t protect workers’ rights either. This is not a coincidence. Take a look at our map: Did your state politicians protect your freedoms? Or strip them from you? So how do we protect our freedoms? Fight like hell.  Our map shows that threats to reproductive freedom go hand in hand with threats to economic freedom for workers. We have a guide on talking about reproductive health care as an economics issue, which you can use when organizing and talking to union members and your entire community.  Find the map and resources here. For what should be the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we’re not mourning—we’re organizing. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 01/25/2023 - 12:30 — Jan 25
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Culinary Union Launches ‘My Stations Watch’ to Hold Casino Owners Accountable
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Culinary Union Launches ‘My Stations Watch’ to Hold Casino Owners Accountable 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 Culinary Union-UNITE HERE Local 226 launched a website designed to track Station Casinos’ actions and how the company’s decisions affect the working people of Las Vegas and the surrounding area. The website, MyStationsWatch.org, illustrates the Las Vegas valley footprint that Station Casinos has developed and gives local residents the avenue to have their say about the company’s actions in Nevada. Station Casinos is owned by Red Rock Resorts, the only publicly traded Nevada gaming company whose board is all-white and all-male. “In the midst of a housing shortage, Station Casinos is holding hundreds of acres of undeveloped land, they have demolished three neighborhood casinos, and are putting up a luxury resort on the beltway,” said Bethany Khan, spokeswoman for the Culinary Union. “We want to make sure Station Casinos hears from our communities.” Check out the website. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 01/25/2023 - 09:40 — Jan 25