AFL-CIO Blog

  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: NWSLPA Ramps Up #NoMoreSideHustles Campaign Over Labor Day Weekend
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: NWSLPA Ramps Up #NoMoreSideHustles Campaign Over Labor Day Weekend 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 members of the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA) have been calling for fair pay with their #NoMoreSideHustles campaign. This past Labor Day weekend, the union continued its campaign by encouraging its followers on Twitter and Instagram to share their experiences having to work side jobs to make ends meet. On the union’s campaign website, NoMoreSideHustles.com, the NWSLPA said that athletes of any gender should not have to work multiple jobs in addition to playing their sport professionally. In recent years, the union also has highlighted the disparity in pay between players on the U.S. men’s national soccer team and the U.S. women’s national soccer team. You can promote the campaign on social media using the hashtag #NoMoreSideHustles. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 09/08/2021 - 09:29 — Sep 8
  • Nobody Gets Left Behind: The Working People Weekly List
    Nobody Gets Left Behind: 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. Shuler: Modern Labor Movement Means Nobody Gets Left Behind: "The meaning of a holiday sometimes gets lost in its celebration. To a lot of people, Labor Day is just summer's last hurrah–a last fling at fun in the sun (tempered again this year by COVID-19) before the kids head back to school. Most importantly, Labor Day honors our labor movement–the country's 'single most powerful force for progress,' according to AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. 'And I’m not talking about institutions. I’m talking about workers coming together to make change in our workplaces and our society,' she added in her remarks at this year's Christian Science Monitor Labor Day breakfast. 'That’s what we do.'" Approval of Labor Unions at Highest Point Since 1965: "Sixty-eight percent of Americans approve of labor unions. Though statistically similar to last year's 65%, the current reading is the highest Gallup has measured since 71% in 1965. Americans' approval of labor unions has been trending upward in recent years and is now at its highest point in more than half a century. Approval among Democrats, which is nearly unanimous, has risen over the past year as President Joe Biden has said he expects his administration to be one of the most pro-union in history." 'Lean In' Circles Help Women in Construction Navigate Bias: "'We see this all the time. When jobs are higher paid, when jobs have more security, when jobs have higher benefits, they often go to men,' said Sandberg, who partnered with NABTU to bring her signature 'Lean in Circles' program to tradeswomen after meeting Liz Shuler, now the president of the AFL-CIO, and Judaline Cassidy, a New York plumber and union leader who had formed a Lean In Circle on her own in 2017." AFL-CIO President Shuler on Jobs and the Economy: "New AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler discussed the economy and jobs with the Christian Science Monitor. She also reflected on becoming the first woman to lead the union. The organization’s previous president, Richard Trumka, passed away in August 2021. Other topics discussed included workers' rights legislation and the upcoming midterm elections." AFL-CIO Chief: In Pandemic, Unions Are a Source of ‘Trusted Information’: "Liz Shuler, new president of America's largest labor federation, says the U.S. economic system is 'broken' and that workers need a stronger voice. Liz Shuler hasn’t missed a beat. Following the sudden death of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka earlier this month, Shuler stepped right into his shoes as the nation’s top labor leader, after 12 years as his deputy. Now, on the eve of Labor Day, President Shuler is carrying on with the 12.5-million-member federation’s goals: passing pro-union legislation, turning around organized labor’s long-declining membership, and improving working conditions–including the safe return to work amid a pandemic." New AFL-CIO President: 'Everyone Should be Vaccinated': "Liz Shuler, the new president of the largest federation of unions in America, said Tuesday that everyone should be vaccinated against COVID-19 and urged AFL-CIO member unions to be a source of 'reliable, good information' on vaccines for their members." Nevada AFL-CIO Elects First Woman, Latina Executive Secretary-Treasurer: "Assemblywoman Susie Martinez, D-Las Vegas, will effectively be the head of organized labor in Nevada after a history-making vote last week. Martinez is the first woman and the first Latina to take on the role of executive secretary-treasurer of the Nevada AFL-CIO. 'It’s very special to me because it just shows women, and especially women of color, that we should have a seat at the table,' she said during a phone interview Monday afternoon." Student Workers at Hamilton College to Vote on Unionization, Possibly a National First: "The campus tour guides and senior admissions fellows (who interview prospective students and provide comment for their files), all undergraduates, have filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, said Eric Kopp, a member of the students’ organizing committee, a senior admissions fellow and an intern at the Central New York Labor Council." Arizona Civil Rights Leaders Join Nationwide Marches for Voting Rights Legislation: "Liz Shuler also went to the event. She's the first female president of The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. 'The labor movement sees workplace rights and voting rights as one,' she said. 'We are basically here to stand in solidarity with the community, with working people, joining together to make sure our voices are heard at the ballot box and make sure voting is accessible and available for everyone.'" Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 09/07/2021 - 13:03 — Sep 7
  • ‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: It‘s Labor Day! A Conversation with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh
    ‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: It‘s Labor Day! A Conversation with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh On the latest episode of "State of the Unions," podcast co-host Tim Schlittner welcomes new co-host Carolyn Bobb. They discuss the legacy of Richard Trumka, Liz Shuler and the new leadership team at AFL-CIO and talk to Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. “State of the Unions” is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and anywhere else you can find podcasts. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 09/07/2021 - 10:50 — Sep 7
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Workers Mobilize to Help Recovery Efforts After Hurricane Ida
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Workers Mobilize to Help Recovery Efforts After Hurricane Ida 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. Hurricane Ida hit the Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm last weekend, causing untold damage and knocking out electricity for more than 1 million people in Louisiana and Mississippi. Remnants of the storm struck New York City and the Northeast on Wednesday night, causing the deaths of at least 24 people and leading to widespread flooding and power outages. Across the country, the labor movement is mobilizing to provide support to union members and affected communities. On Tuesday, members of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 763 set off from Omaha, Nebraska, traveling to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to help communities along the Gulf Coast restore power. The Louisiana AFL-CIO has established a disaster relief fund to help union members impacted by natural disasters. Checks may be sent to: Louisiana AFL-CIO Disaster Relief Fund, 429 Government St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 09/07/2021 - 09:33 — Sep 7
  • Economy Gains 235,000 Jobs in August; Unemployment Down to 5.2%
    Economy Gains 235,000 Jobs in August; Unemployment Down to 5.2% The U.S. economy gained 235,000 jobs in August, and the unemployment rate declined to 5.2%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In response to the August job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted: Last month’s biggest job gains were in professional and business services (+74,000), transportation and warehousing (+53,000), education (+40,000), manufacturing (+37,000), other services (+37,000), information (+17,000), financial activities (+16,000) and mining (+6,000), while retail trade (-29,000), state workers (-25,000) and local education (-5,700) saw losses. In August, employment showed little change in other major industries, including leisure and hospitality, construction, wholesale trade and health care.  Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (5.1%) and White Americans (4.5%) declined in August, while the rate for teenagers (11.2%) increased. The jobless rates for Black Americans (8.8%), Hispanics (6.4%), adult women (4.8%) and Asian Americans (4.6%) showed little change over the month. The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) decreased in August and accounted for 37.4% of the total unemployed. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/03/2021 - 09:31 — Sep 3