WNYLaborToday News - Labor News From Washington, D.C.

'The Most Anti-Union President:' How Trump 'Has Turned His Back On Workers' - Labor Experts 'Stunned At How Anti-Worker Trump Has Been With Actions Since Last Labor Day That Have Hurt Unions'

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to champion U.S. Workers.

Shortly before Labor Day - last year, he said: “Every policy of the Trump Administration is designed to lift up the American Worker and “promote great-paying Blue-Collar jobs.”

But in the year since last Labor Day, Trump has taken many actions that have hurt U.S. Workers and Unions, with some Labor experts saying they have been stunned at how Anti-Worker Trump has been.

In the months after Trump returned to office, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cut workplace inspections by 20%, compared with Joe Biden’s last year in office.

Even though Trump campaigned as a champion of Coalminers, his Administration has repeatedly delayed implementation of a rule to limit silica dust, which has afflicted and killed many coalminers with black lung.

The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) has urgently called for “immediate enforcement” of the stalled Silica Dust Rule.

With regard to wages, Workers haven’t been doing so well under Trump.

While the White House boasts wages have risen, the problem for Workers is that prices - pushed up by Trump’s tariffs and the Iran War - have risen faster than wages over the past year, helping fuel the affordability crisis.

In a move that will cut pay for many low-wage Workers, the Trump Administration has proposed eliminating Federal Minimum Wage and Overtime protections for three million often low-paid Homecare Workers who take care of seniors and the disabled.

Despite several court rulings to slow or stop this Anti-Union effort, Trump has pushed aggressively ahead with his unprecedented campaign to strip one million Federal Employees of their ability to bargain collectively - a move Liz Shuler, who serves as President of the National AFL-CIO, the Nation’s main Labor Federation, called “the largest single act of Union-Busting in our history”.

Trump has moved to end collective bargaining for hundreds of thousands of Workers at the Transportation Security Agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and other Federal Agencies.

“Trump’s actions make him by far the most Anti-Union President in our modern history,” Sara Nelson, the President of the Association of Flight Attendants and a leading progressive voice in the Labor Movement, said in an interview. “His Administration has been massively Anti-Worker, Anti-Union and Anti-Working Class.”

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: ‘The most anti-union president’: how Trump turned his back on US workers | US unions | The Guardian

From The Economic Policy Institute: Wages 'Are Lower In Right-To-Work (For Less) States As They Have Lower Unionization Rates & More Anti-Worker Policies'

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In the United States, so-called Right-To-Work (for less) Laws are Anti-Union State policies promoted by Big Business interests to weaken Unions and limit Workers’ bargaining power.

Despite the name, Right-To-Work (RTW) Laws do not provide any sort of job protection or right to a job.

Rather, they deceptively named policy starves Unions of resources, making it harder for them to negotiate collectively for better wages, benefits and working conditions.

Key takeaways from a new Economic Policy Institute (EPI) report include:

RTW Laws undermine Workers’ ability to form Unions. Unionization rates are clearly lower in RTW States - and since Unions raise wages, that suppression lowers pay.

States with RTW Laws are also more likely to have other Anti-Worker Laws and generally weaker Labor Standards. This is likely because both RTW and other Anti-Worker policies stem from the same Anti-Worker political roots, and because RTW’s suppression of Unions deprives these States of strong potential political champions for other Pro-Worker policies.

Non-RTW States are more likely to have Pro-Worker policies like higher minimum wages and Prevailing Wage Laws, restrictions on non-compete agreements, pay transparency policies, and more protective Unemployment Insurance Benefits.

As a result, Workers in RTW States are paid 6.7% less on average than workers in non-RTW States - more than double the 3.2% wage penalty found in 2015.

That means the RTW wage penalty has increased in recent years and now translates to over $4,000 less per year for a median full-time Worker in a RTW state.

The RTW wage penalty is steeper for Women (7.3%) than for Men (6.3%), and for Black (9.7%) and Hispanic Workers (10.0%) than for White Workers (5.4%).

Lawmakers already have the policy tools they need to boost wages and improve other outcomes for Workers, including: At the State level, rolling back existing RTW Laws is the most powerful lever; At the Federal level, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (which includes a ban on RTW) would be transformational for efforts to organize Workers and Policymakers could also make progress on numerous other fronts, such as making UI systems more protective and raising minimum wages.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Wages are lower in “right-to-work” states: These states have lower unionization rates and more anti-worker policies | Economic Policy Institute

National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler's Annual 'State Of The Unions' Address Ahead Of Labor Day & The Mid-Term Elections: 'Working People Are Hurting, (But We) Don't See Politicians Showing Up For Them'

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Ahead of Labor Day, National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler has issued a warning about Workers’ struggles with high costs and is detailing the Labor Movement’s plans for the 2026 November Mid-Term Elections.

In her fourth annual State of the Unions address, Shuler emphasized the pain Working People are feeling, the lack of trust Working-Class Voters have in politicians and that electing Pro-Worker candidates will rely on Working People talking to their neighbors.

In her address, Shuler said: “This Labor Day, shit’s too expensive. That’s what (94%) of Workers told us, in our new poll. Four out of five say: Paychecks aren’t keeping up with the cost of living - groceries, rent, childcare, gas. Workers are sick and tired of both parties: Republicans who enable a White House that has made our life worse and more expensive at every turn. Who have rubber-stamped Trump’s needless wars, chaotic tariffs and attacks on our communities. And at the same time, we have too many Democrats who pay lip service to Working People, say they understand us, and want our votes on Election Day - and then take office and cozy up to the same corporations we’re fighting on the picket lines. This year, it’s time to put the full weight of the Labor Movement behind candidates who will actually deliver for Working People.”

The 2026 State of the Unions also included new polling that surveyed thousands of Working People, including both Union Members and those not yet in a Union.

Key findings included: Trust in Unions exceeds trust in the Democratic Party by 20 points (52% to 32%) and Workers are twice as likely to trust Unions than to trust the Republican Party (52% to 26%); Young Workers ages 18-to-30 trust Labor Unions (61%) more than twice as much as they trust the Democratic Party (28%) or the Republican Party (22%). Among young men, the trust gap is 40 points between Unions and Democrats (63% to 23%) and 43 points between Unions and Republicans (63% to 20%); The only group Workers trust more than Unions is their own neighbors (75%); For five years running, seven in 10 Americans say they support Unions -the highest level of support in a generation; By a 2-to-1 margin, people say Unions are more needed today than in the past and say increasing Union Membership is the single best way Americans can get a raise; and More Workers than ever want a Union on the job. Among those ages 18-to-30, 57% who aren't in a Union say they'd join one at their most recent workplace, up 10 points since last year. Workers are more likely to say the path to higher wages is through more people belonging to Unions or electing candidates endorsed by Unions (22%) than through electing Democrats (20%) or Republicans (19%).

The address comes as Union Membership has hit a 16-year high, with nearly a half-million Workers across the country joining a union last year, 92% of them younger than 40.

This increased strength and Unions’ singular relationships with their Members that the Labor Movement will turn out two million more Union Voters than in 2024 and train 50,000 Election Protection Volunteers for November, the National AFL-CIO said.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: AFL-CIO President: Working People Are Hurting, Don’t See Politicians Showing Up for Them | AFL-CIO

The Starbucks Workers Union 'Calls For Boycott Amid Contract Fight' - The Campaign 'Has Organized Hundreds Of Stores Since 2021 But Still Doesn't Have A Contract'

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) is calling on supporters to boycott the Coffee Chain until they settle a fair contract, an escalation in the Workers’ ongoing effort to secure their first contract. The open-ended campaign has been added to the National AFL-CIO’s official boycott list. Roughly 12,000 Baristas have joined the Union since 2021, but the corporation has yet to settle a deal with fair pay, adequate hours, improved staffing and workplace protections. “At a time when Working-Class People across the country are struggling in a challenging economy, it is no longer possible to be both a Starbucks customer and in support of Workers,” the SBWU said. “Choosing to spend money at Starbucks is choosing a law-breaking corporation over the baristas who make your coffee every day exactly as you ask for it.”

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Starbucks Workers Call For Boycott Amid Contract Fight | HuffPost Impact

Dolly Parton 'Was A Proud Union Sister' - Organized Labor 'Celebrates The Life & Legacy Of An Artist Who Championed Working Women & Carried A Union Card For Almost 60 Years'

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Dolly Parton, the brilliant Songwriter and beloved Country Singer who has died at age 80, wrote one of the great anthems of the American Working Class.

The title song from 9 to 5, the 1980 classic about battling gender inequity in the workplace that starred Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, spoke so much truth that it became a hit on the pop and country charts, gained an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song, and collected two Grammys.

Workers everywhere knew what Parton meant when she sang about “barely gettin’ by, it’s all takin’ and no givin,’” and complained, “They just use your mind and they never give you credit. It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it.”

That song appeared on a remarkable solo album by Parton, 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs, which also included songs such as “Working Girl” and “Poor Folks Town” by Parton, along with a poignant cover of “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos),” Woody Guthrie’s reflection on the racist treatment of Migrant Farm Workers.

The album’s title track warned: “It’s a rich man’s game no matter what they call it. And you spend your life puttin’ money in his wallet.”

It also reminded Working Women: “There’s a better life and you think about it, don’t you?”

From the National AFL-CIO: “Dolly Parton knew what it was like to struggle as she fought for Working Families her whole career. From providing free books to kids to giving Working Women our ‘9 to 5’ anthem, she was an icon and an inspiration. Rest in power to our Union Sister. We will always love you.”

Parton was, indeed, a Union Sister for the better part of 60 years - carrying the card of multiple Labor Organizations that celebrated the talent and humanity that earned the Country Singer, Actress and Philanthropist universal admiration.

“Rest in peace, Dolly. Thank You for the music and the solidarity,” declared the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), the AFL-CIO-Affiliated Labor Union that represents 70,000 Professional Singers and Players, including Parton.

The AFM recalled Parton whose “influence went far beyond the boundaries of country music, but she never lost track of who she was and her values.”

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Dolly Parton Was a Proud Union Sister - by Nation Magazine

Parton Photo Courtesy Of Her Facebook Page.

National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler Named To TIME's Fourth Annual List Of The TIME100 AI

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - TIME has named National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler to the 2026 TIME100 AI, a list recognizing the 100 most influential people in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Shuler has led the Labor Movement’s response to ensure Workers have a voice in how AI’s development and implementation affect their livelihoods.

Under her leadership, Labor Unions have won key protections in contracts related to the implementation of AI technology on the job and advanced Pro-Worker AI policy in Congress and in State Legislatures.

Said Shuler: “I am honored to be included in this year’s TIME100 AI list - a recognition that belongs to every Worker fighting for fair, safe and equitable jobs in the face of the AI revolution. We’re at the most important fork in the road our economy has faced in a hundred years. There is no Worker and no industry this does not touch and every job is now a technology job. But the Labor Movement has been here for every transformation of our economy and we will build a future that works for all of us. Thank you to the team at TIME for recognizing Labor’s essential role in the conversation about how we get there.”

Shuler founded the National AFL-CIO Technology Institute in 2021 to ensure Working People’s knowledge, expertise and interests are centered in the Innovation Economy and that technological change benefits Workers, not just the wealthy and corporations.

Under her leadership, the National AFL-CIO and its Tech Institute have convened experts in policy, Labor Law and organizing, and worked with Affiliated Unions to develop the “Workers First Initiative on AI,” the first comprehensive Labor Movement agenda establishing principles on AI technology.

They also convened the National AFL-CIO’s AI Task Force to fight for common-sense, strong AI guardrails at the State and local levels.

To assemble the list, TIME’s Editors and Reporters examined the key stories in AI over the past year and consulted with expert sources and industry leaders for recommendations - the result is a list of 100 leaders, innovators, shapers and thinkers who have a stake in the future of AI.

National AFL-CIO Editor’s Note: The TIME100 AI 2026 will appear in the September 7th issue of TIME, which were available on newsstands beginning Friday (August 28th). See the full list here: https://time.com/collection/time100-ai/2026/

To Directly Access This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler Named to TIME’s Fourth Annual List of the TIME100 AI | AFL-CIO

Photo Courtesy Of TIME/The National AFL-CIO.

Unions 'Sound The Alarm On A Last-Minute Push For Robot Farm Equipment'

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Chase DiFeliciantonio at POLITICO reports Labor Leaders are up in arms over a proposal Lawmakers are mulling in the final days of the Legislature’s season that would allow automated agricultural equipment to operate alongside Workers in California. In a letter obtained by POLITICO that was sent to Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón, several of the State’s leading Unions - including the United Farm Workers (UFW) warned that introducing the unpiloted machinery could have “real consequences for Worker safety and California jobs.” They also lashed out at the last-minute nature of the measure, which would allow it to avoid the scrutiny of the regular legislative process. “We don't believe anything that jeopardizes safety or jobs should be rushed this way,” Lorena Gonzalez, who serves as President of the California Federation of Labor Unions, which signed onto the letter, told POLITICO in an interview. “We think Farmworkers shouldn't be guinea pigs." While no Lawmaker has yet said publicly they plan to introduce a Bill pushing the idea, a draft of a Budget Trailer Bill obtained by POLITICO would authorize farm operators to use the machines in the same fields as Workers. The Draft Bill also calls for safety guidelines and outlines how displaced Workers should be treated. A source close to the negotiations who supports the idea, and granted anonymity to discuss the ongoing talks, argued the legislation would be an important step in modernizing California’s Agriculture Industry. The source reiterated a Bill would include safeguards to protect Workers and opportunities for them to retrain for other jobs.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Unions sound alarm on last-minute push for robot farm equipment

Unions 'Blast' Supreme Court's 'OK Of Trump Mail-In Ballots Ban'

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Union Leaders and Constitutional Scholars, including the three dissenting U.S. Supreme Court Justices, blasted the High Court majority’s go-ahead for President Donald Trump’s crusade to ban mail-in balloting this Fall.

Though the six-Justice GOP-named majority said the Trump Administration admits it probably cannot implement the ban in time for the November 3rd Mid-Term Elections, dissenting Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson vigorously disagreed.

Sotomayor and Kagan said just the prospect of criminal prosecution for violating Trump’s Executive Order ban on mail-in voting would cause some States which rely on it, and voters, to bow to Trump’s dictate.

Jackson said upholding Trump’s “unconstitutional” order would sow “chaos and confusion” because while the majority said the States challenging Trump acted too early, the majority didn’t say when the right time is to act - including after the damage is done.

She called the whole situation a “Kafkaesque nightmare.”

“The Government’s actual objective: To secure our imprimatur (ratification) for its effort to foment chaos ahead of the November Elections,” Jackson wrote.

The vehement Union disagreement came from American Postal Workers Union (APWU) President Jonathan Smith, National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President Everett Kelley.

All spoke at the APWU Convention the week before the High Court ruling.

“This fight is for the millions of Americans that just can’t get to the Poll Stations to vote on a specific day at a specific time because life showed up, because they’re caring for elderly parents, because they can’t get a day off of work, because they can’t stand in line,” Smith told his Convention Delegates. “It’s physically painful and harmful (for those voters). They need us to show up for them. America depends on us. America depends on voting by mail and we will deliver it. As we say it, keep it protected and expanded.”

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: Unions blast Supreme Court’s OK of Trump mail-in ballots ban – People's World

APWU Photo Via Facebook.

'Save Our Game Workers' - CWA Members Rally Across The U.S. & Canada Against XBOX Layoffs

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

More than 800 Communications Workers of America (CWA) Members, Video Game Workers, Community Organizations and local Labor Allies recently held coordinated Save Our Devs rallies in the U.S. and Canada to call out layoffs and corporate greed across the industry and to demand fair first contracts across Microsoft’s Gaming Studios.

The rallies were made possible by CWA Locals 1118, 2100, 2108, 6215, 7250, 9433 and 9510 in the U.S. and CWA-SCA Local 30111 in Canada.

Last month, Microsoft’s Gaming Division - now rebranded as XBOX - announced 3,200 planned job reductions across XBOX, with the first phase of layoffs scheduled to impact 1,600 XBOX Workers, including hundreds of Union Members, in early September.

CWA represents nearly 4,000 Video Game Workers at XBOX throughout the U.S. and Canada.

As a result, CWA Members and gamers alike have engaged in unprecedented resistance in response to Microsoft’s unilateral actions.

Last month, after a press conference where XBOX Workers demanded layoff protections, more than 500 Workers and their allies rallied at studio locations across the U.S. and Canada.

XBOX fans also posted on Microsoft’s official fan feedback website to call out the layoffs, garnering more than 4,000 upvotes and nearly 900 comments on the XBOX Player Voice forum.

In July, CWA filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging several Labor Law violations that require the employer to engage in decisional bargaining over discretionary layoffs.

ZeniMax Senior User Research and CWA Local 6215 Member Elisabeth Whyte, who was impacted by July’s layoffs, said: “Like the people I read about in history books, I’m here to fight for fair contracts for all the Unionized Workers in the Video Game Industry. I’m here to fight for all the Game Workers across an industry that has decided to put profits ahead of the Workers ‘who are the heart and soul of games.’ My hope is the Gaming Industry will one day return to a model that respects Game Workers, provides fair compensation, and doesn’t treat a game launch as an opportunity to downsize or close studios.”

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Union Video Game Workers Fight for Rights Amidst Xbox Layoffs | Communications Workers of America

CWA-Provided Photo.

National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler On The AFT's 'Shop Smart, Not Target' Campaign: "As You Do Your Back-To-School Shopping, Remember To Thank The Union Members Who Make Our Education System Run"

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler has released the following statement on the American Federation of Teachers’ (AFT) Shop Smart, Support Working Families Campaign:

Around the country, millions of Working Families are preparing for another Back-to-School season.

While kids say goodbye to Summer break, countless Educators, Support Staff, Bus Operators and other dedicated Essential Workers who maintain facilities, serve food in cafeterias, provide first aid, handle important administrative duties, manage libraries, offer counseling services and more are also preparing for the new academic year.

Strong Collective Bargaining Agreements are the backbone of our Schools across every department.

Job security protections, contractual raises, quality health care coverage and fair grievance processes ensure that the people who educate and care for our kids are treated with the dignity and respect they are owed.

So, as you do your back-to-school shopping and prepare for another year of book reports and science experiments, remember to thank the Union Members who make our Education System run.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Visit ShopSmart.AFT.org For More Information.

AFSCME Members 'Elect Organizer & Proven Fighter' Patrick Moran' As The National Union's Next President

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) - American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Members elected Patrick Moran as AFSCME International President at the Union’s just-held 47th International Convention in Chicago.

Nicole Pollard was elected International Secretary-Treasurer.

AFSCME represents more than 1.3 million Members across the United States.

Moran previously served as an AFSCME International Vice President and President of Maryland Council 3.

He expanded collective bargaining for Maryland’s Public Service Workers (Council 3), strengthened safety standards and built power by expanding Membership.

“I am honored to accept this responsibility. Nicole and I are ready to meet this moment,” Moran said. “For ninety years, AFSCME Members have been shaping and making history. Every generation of our Union has faced its defining moment. Now it’s our turn. We will fight and build power like our future depends on it because it does. We will protect our neighbors and strengthen our communities. This is our fight, and together, we’ve got the power to make change.”

From the Cultural Sector to Higher Education to Health Care, AFSCME Members have led a wave of new organizing - securing a voice on the job for Workers despite non-stop attacks on funding for Public Services and the freedom of Workers to collectively bargain.

Moran and Pollard ran as a ticket, pledging to build on that momentum by investing in bold, direct Member engagement and mobilization.

Their platform focused on growing Worker Power, protecting and expanding Public Services and improving the lives of Working People by taking on the fights ahead.

Nicole Pollard, an AFSCME Member for 23 years, served as AFSCME International Executive Assistant to former President Lee Saunders.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: AFSCME members elect organizer and proven fighter Patrick Moran as next president - AFSCME

Leadership From AFSCME, The AFT & SEIU 'Recommit To A Strong Partnership'

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) - The power of Union partnership was on full display at the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Workers’ (AFSCME) Convention in Chicago this week as the Leaders of three of the largest Unions pledged to continue fighting together to protect Workers’ Rights, Public Services and Democracy itself.

“Because we are all Unions of Public Service Workers, we share the same values, not just fighting for better wages and working conditions, but also strengthening our communities, helping our neighbors and advancing the common good,” President Lee Saunders said during a panel discussion held at AFSCME’s 47th International Convention.

In addition to Saunders, the other two Union Leaders on stage were American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President April Verrett.

National Education Association (NEA) President Becky Pringle is also part of the partnership - but was unable to attend the event in Chicago.

Together, the four Unions represent nearly nine million Workers across the country.

The Union Leaders talked about protecting and expanding Collective Bargaining Rights, neutralizing the Anti-Worker agenda that seeks to diminish Public Services in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy, and preserving Democracy.

Weingarten, who was elected AFT President in 2008, said Unions can help make the connection between having a voice on the job and a voice in whether our Democracy serves the Working Class or the Billionaire Class: “When we do it in solidarity as Unions together, at a local level talking to people, and when people see who cares about gas prices and who cares about ballrooms, then all of a sudden the choice becomes clear.”

Verrett, who in 2024 became the first Black person elected President of SEIU, noted the same forces attacking Unions in the workplace are the same forces rigging the economy against Working People: “There is no vibrant healthy democracy on this planet where there is not a vibrant healthy Labor Movement.”

Saunders said the collaboration by the four Unions has been extensive, such as partnering on lawsuits to block harmful Trump Administration policies.

Staff from all four Unions also collaborate closely and strategize to resolve issues common to all Public Service Workers.

Said Saunders: “By joining forces and aligning our efforts, we were able to have greater influence at a very pivotal moment. Let me tell you: When the four of us walk into a room together, it is a show of power - and it matters. Elected Officials take notice. Our adversaries know we mean business.”

Saunders, Weingarten and Verrett all predicted the Unions’ partnership would endure in the future.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: Three union leaders recommit to strong partnership - AFSCME Convention 2026

Congress 'May Kill The Federal Heat Rule Before OSHA Can'

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - July was the hottest month on record in the U.S. with three heat domes - slow-moving, high-pressure systems that trap heat and humidity in place, afflicting large swaths of the country.

The most recent of these contributed to an 18-day extreme heat warning in Phoenix, Arizona, the state’s second-longest stretch on record.

Yet, in the face of these extreme heat events, representatives in Congress last month advanced a bill that would block the Nation’s Workplace Regulator from finalizing a rule to protect Workers from heat stress.

What gives?

H.R. 6213 was introduced last year by Representative Mark Messmer from Indiana, who celebrated the House Committee on Education and the Workforce’s recent vote in support of the legislation.

The Bill seeks to undermine a proposed Federal Rule that has been languishing under the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - which would ensure Workers have access to rest, shade, and water on the job.

The Bill was drafted under the Biden Administration.

Messmer has described the proposed rule as “unnecessary,” saying it would present a burden to employers.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Congress may kill the federal heat rule before OSHA can – People's World

Several Unions 'Sue' The U.S. Department Of Homeland Security, 'Challenging The Visa Rule Affecting Foreign Journalists & Others'

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – NAFSA/Association of International Educators, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM), the American Federation Of Teachers (AFT); Graduate Labor Organization (GLO)/AFT Local 6516, the United Auto Workers (UAW); UAW Local 2322 and The NewsGuild-Communications Workers of America (CWA) have filed a complaint and a motion for preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) final rule ending the Duration of Status (D/S) framework for international students, exchange visitors and representatives of Foreign Media.

The complaint argues the final rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act because DHS failed to adequately assess its costs and benefits, meaningfully respond to public comments, consider less burdensome alternatives or justify the rule based on its stated objectives.

It also alleges DHS provided an inadequate public comment period and exceeded its statutory authority.

The rule replaces the long-standing D/S framework with fixed admission periods of no more than four years and requires international students and exchange visitors to apply for extensions of stay.

It also restricts students’ ability to change educational objectives, transfer institutions or pursue additional programs of study.

These changes will create significant uncertainty and administrative burdens for international students and exchange visitors and the institutions that support them, the lawsuit charges.

They will also interfere with academic decision-making, disrupt students’ educational and professional plans, and undermine the ability of U.S. Colleges and Universities to attract and retain global talent.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: NewsGuild sues DHS challenging visa rule affecting foreign journalists, others | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA

The AFGE 'Heightens Its Call To Boost Funding & Staffing At The Social Security Administration'

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Rising workloads, staffing losses and limited resources - now coupled with recent benefits policy changes for Employees, are hindering the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) ability to deliver to the public, a Federal Union warns.

During an on-line press briefing, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) made an urgent pitch to support what it says is a workforce that has long been under-resourced and understaffed.

Union Officials also heightened calls on Congress to pass additional funding for SSA, $3 billion above its currently enacted spending levels.

AFGE’s spending proposal would put resources toward hiring an additional 20,000 SSA Employees “to begin to dig us out of the backlogs and service delays that have worsened since 2011,” AFGE Council 220 President Jessica LaPointe said.

Council 220 represents thousands of SSA Workers in Field Offices and Teleservice Centers.

“We are simply bleeding Staff and have problems with recruitment and retention as a result,” LaPointe told reporters.

During 2025, the SSA lost more than 7,000 Employees, as part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to shrink the Federal Workforce.

With further Employee separations in 2026, coupled with some limited hiring, the SSA has seen a net loss of nearly 8,000 Employees since President Donald Trump took office, Office of Personnel Management data shows.

Following the workforce reductions, the SSA has reassigned more than 2,000 Agency Employees to staff its national 800 number, pulling them away from processing claims and providing in-person help at field offices.

“That was not efficiency. That was waste,” said Rich Couture, a spokesperson for AFGE’s General Committee for SSA. “This further shows that SSA needs more Staff, not less.”

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Union heightens calls to boost funding, staffing at Social Security | Federal News Network

Republicans 'Install Anti-Worker Majority' On The NLRB

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate has voted 51-to-47, along party lines, to confirm James Macy and reconfirm David Prouty to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The move hands MAGA a 3-1 majority and clears the way for the Capitalist Class to dismantle several key Pro-Worker rulings issued by the NLRB during the Biden Administration.

Macy, a Republican and former U.S. Department of Labor Official with a four-decade career representing management in labor disputes, joins Chairman James Murphy and Member Scott Mayer on the Republican side.

Prouty, a former Union Lawyer first nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021, remains the Board’s sole Democratic member.

One seat on the five-Member Board remains vacant, but the Anti-Union majority is now secured.

Labor and its allies, led by the United Electrical Workers (UE), are sounding the alarm that hard-won protections are now in great jeopardy.

For instance, it takes three votes for the NLRB to overturn prior precedent.

With the balance of power now in their favor, the new MAGA majority’s primary targets are rulings that shifted even marginal power back toward Workers and their Unions.

Until Macy’s confirmation, only three Members were seated, meaning Murphy and Mayer could not reach the threshold required to reverse past decisions.

According to the UE, for the seven months since the Board regained its quorum on January 7th, Murphy and Mayer have been adding footnotes to rulings flagging precedents they want to reconsider once a third Republican vote existed.

Journalist Matt Bruenig, who tracks NLRB developments on his Substack, identified 28 rulings across areas including Union Elections, remedies for management misconduct, workplace rules, bargaining duties and the legal definitions of employer and Employee.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Republicans install anti-worker majority on NLRB – People's World

The National AFL-CIO's 2026 Executive Paywatch Report: The Data 'Couldn't Be Clearer: This Economy Is Working For Greedy CEOs - Not For Working People;' Average CEO-To-Worker Pay Ratio Increased From 285-To-1 In 2024 To 312-To-1 In 2025

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

When Big Tech CEOs got a front row seat at Donald Trump’s inauguration, it sent a signal: The President was on the side of the bosses.

More than a year and a half later, the National AFL-CIO’s annual Executive Paywatch Report shows this Administration’s policies are working out great for Trump’s billionaire buddies, making the bosses even more obscenely rich while Workers get left behind.

Here’s what the National AFL-CIO’s new 2026 Executive Paywatch report shows:

The average CEO-to-Worker pay ratio of S&P 500 companies increased from 285-to-1 in 2024 to 312-to-1 in 2025. (And that excludes Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose pay package is so huge it would skew the results!)

The average CEO pay at S&P 500 companies increased 21%, from $18.9 million in 2024 to $22.8 million in 2025.

In 2026, Musk became the world’s first trillionaire and his $158 billion pay package at Tesla broke the CEO pay curve.

Workers’ share of U.S. national income fell to its lowest level since World War II.

While their bosses rake in millions, Workers at Amazon, Dollar Tree, FedEx, McDonald’s and Walmart are among the highest users of public assistance, relying on programs like Medicaid and SNAP (or food stamps) to make ends meet.

The Trump Administration isn’t working to level the playing field - they’re cashing in themselves.

In fact, President Trump made $2.2 billion in 2025 after returning to the White House for a second term, a nearly 254% increase from what he made in 2024.

Meanwhile, Working People are struggling to pay bills and skipping medical care, desperately trying to make ends meet.

The data couldn’t be clearer: This economy is working for greedy CEOs - not for us.

Greedy CEOs want their pay to keep skyrocketing.

That’s why so many companies spend so much on Union-Busting: They know that when Workers come together and form a Union, we can start to put Working People first and fix our broken economy.

We can take our country back from the billionaires (and one trillionaire) and make it fair for Working People.

Click Here To Learn More About How To Form A Union And Share It With Your Friends, Family And Co-Workers

And Click Here To Access The 2026 Executive Paywatch Report | AFL-CIO

'Years Of Advocacy' From SMART-TD & The ATU 'Lead to Critical Bus Operator Safety Legislation'

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Following years of vocal advocacy by Bus and Transit Members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Lawmakers have now introduced the bipartisan Bus Operator Safety and Security Act. This legislation would require newly-purchased, Federally-funded fixed-route buses - with a length of 30 feet or longer - to include protective barriers fully enclosing the Operator’s workstation. The legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (Rhode Island) and Josh Hawley (Missouri). Its House of Representatives companion Bill was introduced by Representatives Shomari Figures (Alabama) and Jefferson Van Drew (New Jersey). SMART-TD is hailing the tireless efforts of its Bus Department, National Legislative Department and Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee as key to helping this issue breakthrough in the halls of Congress. “Not a day goes by that I don’t hear about one of our Members being shot, stabbed, spit on, verbally abused and more. Every day, at least (42) Transit Workers are assaulted on U.S. Transit Systems,” ATU International President John Costa said. “The Bus Operator Safety and Security Act invests in critical transit security measures, including an enclosed Driver workstation, to better protect our Transit Workers, riders, and communities. Operator safety is about public safety.”

For More On This Labor News Report, Go To: Critical Bus Operator Safety Legislation Results from Years of Advocacy - SMART Union And ATU Applauds the Introduction of the Bipartisan Bus Operator Safety and Security Act | Amalgamated Transit Union

Trump Agency 'Under Fire For Blocking' Sexual Harassment Lawsuits

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Given the terrible track record of President Donald Trump’s regime in enforcing Civil Rights Laws - except for alleged discrimination against White Men - an ongoing lawsuit by two Female Federal Workers, their Attorneys and their Union is no surprise: They charge the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the leading Federal Civil Rights Enforcement Agency, is blocking anti-discrimination lawsuits covering sexual harassment on the job.

In this case, Deanna Chelette and Alexzandria Boyd, who are both Correctional Officers at the Federal Prison in Pollock, Louisiana, are part of a Class Action Sexual Discrimination Complaint against their bosses at the prison for failing to restrain and discipline inmates who harass the Officers.

But that complaint has gone nowhere at the EEOC, thanks to Andrea Lucas, the Commission’s Trump-named Chair.

The EEOC investigates cases of sexual, racial, gender and other discrimination on the job, including Class Action claims.

But this past December, Lucas froze all such Class Action complaints from Federal Workers.

Which means Chelette, Boyd and other Female Corrections Officers at the prison are still subject to discrimination and harassment by the inmates.

And it’s bad and has only gotten worse since the two Workers went to the EEOC.

The lawsuit says Chelette and Boyd “could be assigned to work anywhere within the Prison Complex with the male inmates who expose her and her Female colleagues to exceptionally vulgar sexual harassment including demeaning sexual comments and lewd gestures, exhibitionist nudity and masturbation and rape threats. Despite class action certification and the inmates’ ongoing sexual harassment, Pollock management’s response to the sexual harassment has worsened.”

So Chelette, Boyd, their Union - the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), and their lawyers went to the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C for an injunction to force the EEOC to resume its real job: Enforcing Anti-Discrimination Laws.

Ending Civil Rights enforcement shows another side of the Trump regime’s racism, as well as its disdain for its own Federal Workers and their main Union, the AFGE.

He called the Union “enemies.”

That hasn’t stopped the Workers, or their lawyers, or the AFGE.

“Whether in a Federal Prison or elsewhere, Women do not need to endure sexual harassment in the workplace,” said Heidi Burakiewicz, one of two lead Attorneys representing the two Women.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Trump agency under fire for blocking sexual harassment lawsuits – People's World

From The Economic Policy Institute: Congress 'Has Long Underfunded' Worker Protection Agencies. The Republican Budget 'Would Deepen The Damage.'

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Back in June, the Republican majority on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved a 2027 Budget that slashes funding for Worker Protection Agencies.

The Bill includes a combined $71.9 million cut for the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Further, the measure implements a 3% cut to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

While the legislation slightly increases funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that the Trump administration has weaponized for political reasons, the amount overall remains insufficient.

The appropriations measure now moves to the Senate, where the budget cuts face an uncertain future.

If enacted, these reductions would further strain these Agencies that have faced over a decade of flat funding that hasn’t accounted for inflation or rising labor force participation.

This chronic underfunding has severely impacted their ability to enforce Worker Protection Laws.

The Consequences Of Underfunding Worker Protection Agencies: The Department of Labor serves the Nation’s Workers by administering and enforcing most Federal Worker Protection Laws - such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Within this framework, WHD ensures Workers receive wages earned while OHSA evaluates safe workplace conditions and standards.

Moreover, independent Agencies such as the EEOC enforce a range of Anti-Discrimination Laws while the NLRB enforces Private-Sector Labor Law, including Workers’ Rights to a Union and collective bargaining.

Together, these Government Agencies are designed to equip Workers with the tools to combat workplace abuses and rectify unequal bargaining power.

However, Enforcement Agencies are unable to fulfill their mandates with reduced staffing and resources.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Congress has long underfunded worker protection agencies. The Republican budget would deepen the damage. | Economic Policy Institute

The National Treasury Employees Union 'Sues The IRS To Protect IRS Workers & The Integrity Of The Tax System'

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) –The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has joined Floyd v. Department of Justice in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The NTEU joins as a plaintiff to defend Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Employees who administer Tax Laws fairly, impartially and free from political interference - and to protect the integrity of the Nation's Tax System.

Through the amended complaint, the NTEU is challenging the provisions of an Immunity Order that broadly grants immunity to President Donald Trump, his family and his family's business interests from tax audits.

These previously unchallenged provisions are widely believed to be unconstitutional and unlawful under the Internal Revenue Code - and they will force NTEU Members who conduct audits covered by the Immunity Order into an untenable position: Carry out an unlawful directive and violate their oath of office or defy a direct order and risk losing their job.

NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald said: “At its core, this case is about protecting the integrity of the Federal Civil Service and IRS Employees. NTEU is joining this lawsuit to make it clear: IRS Employees should never be forced to choose between following a political directive to keep their job and following the law and their oath to the Constitution. The integrity of our Tax System depends on one fundamental principle: Every taxpayer is subject to the same laws and the same standards. When political actors direct Employees to treat certain taxpayers differently, it undermines public confidence in our Tax System and places dedicated Civil Servants in an impossible position.”

The NTEU's participation in the lawsuit reflects a long-standing commitment to protecting the rights of Federal Employees and preserving public trust in the Federal Agencies that serve the American Public.

The NTEU represents Federal Workers employed in 38 Agencies and Departments, working as Law Enforcement Officers, Scientists, Attorneys, Cyber-Security Experts, Revenue Agents, Food Inspectors, Bank Examiners, Park Rangers, Tax Examiners and others.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: NTEU Sues the IRS to Protect IRS Workers and the Integrity of the Tax System - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU

Federal Workers Union 'Sues The TSA Over Secret' Airport Privatization Plan

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Leslie Bolden at The Tampa Free Press reports the Union representing Federal Airport Screeners have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), demanding the release of Government records about a program that would replace Public Officers with Private Security Contractors. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents 47,000 TSA Officers across 400 U.S. Airports, filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The suit claims the TSA failed to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) after ignoring a request submitted in May regarding the Agency’s GoldPlus initiative. According to Court documents, the GoldPlus Program aims to hand passenger screening and security technology operations over to private companies. The Union stated the public first learned about the initiative when a TSA briefing flier was found at Orlando International Airport and was leaked to news outlets earlier this year. Records cited in the lawsuit show TSA began soliciting vendor information for the program in August 2025 and presented details at an industry conference in March 2026. The Agency did not formally notify the AFGE about GoldPlus until late July, when it disclosed plans to launch the program next year at Airports in Tampa, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina and Des Moines, Iowa.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: Federal workers union sues TSA over secret airport privatization plan

NABET/CWA & The NewsGuild/CWA Join With Public Interest Groups 'To Challenge Trump's Threat Against ABC-TV'

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - In a major confrontation over President Donald Trump regime’s schemes to censor and cow the Mainstream Media, two Locals of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians/Communications Workers of America (CWA), plus The NewsGuild/CWA, are challenging the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) threat to yank the broadcast licenses of ABC’s eight company-owned TV Stations because ABC and its parent - the Disney Company, do not bend the knee to Trump.

The issue may come to a head at the August 6th FCC meeting in D.C., even though the petition to yank the licenses of the eight Stations - including WABC-TV in New York, WLS-TV in Chicago and KABC-TV in Los Angeles and stations in Philadelphia, Houston, San Francisco, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and Fresno, California, is not officially on the meeting agenda - yet.

Public comments closed on July 30th and the FCC was inundated with at least 170,000 comments.

They were overwhelmingly negative, Commissioner Anna Gomez, who also objects, said.

Trump-named FCC Chair Brendan Carr wants to yank the eight station licenses, in retaliation against ABC.

What is on the agenda, though, is a plan for the FCC to give local over-the-air TV stations, which are more susceptible to political pressure (they don’t have the money to fight the Feds) more ways to expand at the expense of the Networks.

Trump himself repeatedly denounces the Mainstream Media as liars - or worse.

He’s forced several into humiliating settlements and strong-armed ABC last September into firing Late-Night Host Jimmy Kimmel.

The uproar against that move was so large and included so many cancellations of Disney and ABC pay services that ABC backtracked and restored Kimmel’s show and his job.

The case has important constitutional implications, says the complaint from NABET Locals 43 and 53 and The NewsGuild, three public interest groups and Democracy Forward, a leading legal-battler against Trump’s tyrannical moves.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Unions, public interest groups challenge Trump threat vs. ABC – People's World

File Photo.

Republican Budget 'Worsens Underfunding' Of Worker Protection Agencies

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Margaret Poydock and Christina Ayon at People’s World report that in early June, the Republican majority on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved a 2027 budget that slashes funding for Worker Protection Agencies. The Bill includes a combined $71.9 million cut for the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Further, the measure implements a 3% cut to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). While the legislation slightly increases funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that the Trump Administration has weaponized for political reasons, the amount overall remains insufficient. The appropriations measure now moves to the Senate, where the budget cuts face an uncertain future. If enacted, these reductions would further strain these Agencies that have faced over a decade of flat funding that hasn’t accounted for inflation or rising labor force participation. This chronic underfunding has severely impacted their ability to enforce Worker Protection Laws. The Department of Labor serves the Nation’s Workers by administering and enforcing most Federal Worker Protection Laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Within this framework, WHD ensures Workers receive wages earned while OHSA evaluates safe workplace conditions and standards. Moreover, independent Agencies such as the EEOC enforce a range of Anti-Discrimination Laws while the NLRB enforces Private-Sector Labor Law, including Workers’ Rights to a Union and collective bargaining. Together, these Government Agencies are designed to equip Workers with the tools to combat workplace abuses and rectify unequal bargaining power. However, Enforcement Agencies are unable to fulfill their mandates with reduced staffing and resources.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Republican budget worsens underfunding of worker protection agencies – People's World

From The Economic Policy Institute: 'Unions Are Key To High-Quality Public Education'

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – A recent report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) asks a bold question: What would the United States look like if we tripled Union Membership? The EPI found a range of economic and social benefits - such as higher wages, greater access to health insurance and a stronger democracy. This post examines another social good generated by Unions: Strong investment in Public Education. Investment in Public Education was one of the key reasons the U.S. became the richest country in the world in the 20th Century. Universal education has many positive effects, including creating a more productive workforce and a more informed and engaged Democratic Society. Unions play a key role in advocating for public spending in education. States with higher Unionization rates spend substantially more per student on education. In sum, there are many ways Unions support Workers and their communities, and their consistent support of Public Education shouldn’t be discounted. From advocating for enough funding for high-quality education to defending against education privatization, Unions support our Nation’s commitment to universal Public Education - which not only improves students’ academic achievement, but also their economic outcomes well into adulthood.

To Read This EPI Report In Its Entirety, Go To: Unions are key to high-quality public education | Economic Policy Institute

National Nurses United 'Drives To Protect Workers, Patients Vs Corporate Greed'

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - National Nurses United (NNU) has begun an intensive campaign to protect their patients and Worker safety on the job against the dangers and ravages of corporate greed. In letters to Both Congressional Committees dealing with Workers’ issues and in an on-line petition the Union wants viewers to send to Lawmakers, NNU warns “corporate greed could compromise patient safety.” And Workers, too. “Under the Trump Administration, OSHA (U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration) is moving policies that help corporations profit at the expense of Worker health and safety,” NNU reports. Since 2025, OSHA has: Lessened enforcement and reduced penalties; Proposed to exempt certain industries from OSHA enforcement entirely, leaving the door open for expansion to other industries; and Proposed to weaken protections for Workers who need respirators to protect them from toxic chemicals, infectious diseases and other respiratory hazards at work. “This is part of the Trump Administration’s fascist plan to rig the economy for billionaires, at the expense of Working People. Workers need more OSHA inspections, standards and enforcement focused on holding corporations accountable to protect Working People, not less. If these changes are made permanent, more Workers will get sick, injured and die,” the NNU warns. NNU, the Nation’s largest Union for Registered Nurses, demands Congressional reversal of all those Anti-Worker actions, and more.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: National Nurses United drives to protect workers, patients vs corporate greed – People's World

LIUNA & The IUPAT 'Unite With Historic Memorandum Of Understanding To Build More Working Class Power' - "The Old Playbook Isn't Working Anymore, So We Must Build A New One: A Fighting Movement Of Workers United By 21st Century Solidarity"

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) have issued the following statement after signing a Memorandum of Understanding outlining their historic industry-wide collaboration:

IUPAT and LIUNA stand as two pillars of the North American Labor Movement, each with proud histories of building nations and strengthening Working Class power.

We recognize the challenges we face today, including aggressive Anti-Union legislation, corporate consolidation and technological disruption.

Workers deserve more power.

To get it requires 21st Century solidarity.

Our two Unions are bound by an unwavering belief that every Worker deserves a family-sustaining wage, a secure retirement, world-class health care and a safe workplace free of exploitation.

We believe this is attainable if we harness our Unions’ collective strength to build more power for Working People.

With LIUNA’s dominance in the Infrastructure and Energy Sectors and IUPAT’s expertise in the Construction Finishing Trades, we aim to create a formidable force capable of setting higher Industry Standards and prosperity for our Members and for all workers in our Industry Sectors.

LIUNA and IUPAT commit to: Joint organizing efforts to help Workers who do not have a Union win the superior wages, benefits and working conditions that come with a Union; Recognizing that our competitiveness and the competitiveness of Union Contractors requires a highly-trained, safe and efficient workforce that delivers projects on time and on budget; Unifying communications to amplify the voice of Workers, reach a broader audience and counter Anti-Union propaganda; Recruiting new Members that ensure our Unions reflect our communities across the United States and Canada; Aligning contract expiration dates and bargaining priorities to increase Workers’ leverage at the bargaining table; Directing our pension fund investments be used in the interest of our Members and refusing to place Members’ pension funds in investments that work against Unions; and Coordinating lobby efforts to push for Pro-Labor legislation and jobs-creating funding, and pooling resources for Political Action Committees and political mobilization.

The Construction Industry has adopted a model to exploit Workers and divide Unions.

The old playbook isn’t working anymore, so we must build a new one: A fighting movement of Workers united by 21st Century solidarity.

Our collaboration is a growth strategy for IUPAT and LIUNA.

We seek to aggressively expand Union market share and grow our Membership by reaching unorganized Workers with a compelling, unified message of a better, more secure way of life.

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Laborers’ Union, Painters' Union Unite With Historic Memorandum of Understanding to Build More Power for the Working Class

Unions 'Lead Nationwide Protests To Demand Action To Save The U.S. Postal Service'

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - From Portland, Oregon to Miami and from Chicago to Washinton, D.C., tens of thousands of people rallied Tuesday (July 28th) in a Union-organized campaign to save the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) by pressuring Congress to give it a temporary financial lifeline while keeping it out of the clutches of Wall Street and the billionaire class.

Organized by the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), the campaign drew both active Unionists, Retirees, families, and friends from Postal Unions, Central Labor Councils, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and other Unions.

“The U.S. Postal Service is not a business, it’s a service” to the people of the U.S. and should be treated that way, declared Nannette Corley, the long-time former President of APWU Local 3630 in Montgomery County, Maryland.

“It’s a service for the community,” Corley said.

Which is not how President Donald Trump, his corporate and financial backers, new Trump-named Postmaster General David Steiner - the former CEO of Waste Management - or the Trump nominees to the USPS Governing Board see it.

The USPS foes see billions of dollars in red ink, too many workers, too many Post Offices, too much service - including Saturday mail delivery - and too little opportunities for them to profit.

The APWU, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), the Postal Mail Handlers and two smaller Unions are additional targets for them.

These Unions represent the Nation’s 600,000 USPS workers, most of whom are People of Color, Women, Veterans, or combinations of those characteristics.

And more than 80% are Unionized.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: Nationwide protests demand action to save U.S. Postal Service – People's World

File Photo.

Federal Charges Against SEIU-USWW President David Huerta To Be Dismissed: "The Charge Against Me Was Baseless, Meant To Intimidate Anyone Who Dares To Speak Out, Organize Or Demand Justice"

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California has announced it has moved to dismiss the charges against Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) President David Huerta, who was arrested while protesting the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown in California.

SEIU-USWW has more than 750,000 Members, including Janitors, Security Officers and other Workers.

The U.S. Government will seek to have the case permanently withdrawn within weeks if Huerta continues to comply with the terms of his pre-trial release and stays out of trouble, prosecutors said.

Huerta said he was tackled, pepper-sprayed and detained for exercising his Constitutional Rights to protest and cast the case against him as part of a broader “weaponization of The Judicial System.”

In response, President Huerta released the following statement:

The U.S. Department of Justice announced it is dropping its charge against me. This means the Government is finally admitting what we knew from day one and what was obvious to anyone who saw the videos: The charge against me was baseless, meant to intimidate anyone who dares to speak out, organize or demand justice. There was never a real case, only an attempt to punish and silence me for exercising my Constitutional Rights. I’m grateful for the support of SEIU Members, our community, my family, my friends and everyone who has stood with me this past year. To every Worker, every Immigrant, everyone who’s ever been marginalized or discriminated against - now is not the time to keep your head down or to keep silent. Now is the time to keep organizing. To keep showing up. To keep fighting. We will not be silenced. We will not be divided. And we will keep fighting until every Worker and every family is safe from raids, separation and fear.

National AFL-CIO Editor’s Note: You Can Read The Full Statement Here And For More, Go To: Federal prosecutors move to dismiss charge against labor union leader | AP News

Photo Courtesy Of The National AFL-CIO.

National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler: "Our Job Security Is Political. Our Union Contracts And The Rights To Organize Is Political. Our Ability To Afford Groceries Is Political."

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler has released the following statement with there now being 100 days before the Mid-Term Elections:

Every single part of our lives is political.

Even simple things - like the quality of the air our kids breathe, how many potholes we hit on our way to work and how long it takes to get to the doctor - are all directly impacted by who is in office and what their priorities are.

Right now, we have 56 days until early voting begins in some States.

The last two years have proven that none of the rights and freedoms we have can be taken for granted.

Our job security is political.

Our Union contracts and right to organize are political.

Our ability to afford groceries is political.

Which is why we are launching the strongest, baddest, single largest mid-term program that the Labor Movement has ever led.

There’s no denying that we’re up against a tough fight this year.

In the face of blatant attacks on our voting rights and heavy political spending from power-hungry billionaires, it’s going to take a big ground game to put Pro-Worker candidates into office.

There’s only one movement that has the know-how, the message, the infrastructure and the people power to win - and that’s us.

So if you’re ready to help elect Lawmakers who will actually fight for us and our families this November, head over to betterinaunion.org/unionpower to take the P.O.W.E.R. pledge, access important resources and get plugged in.

Organized Labor & The NAACP 'Plan Closer Cooperation' As November Election Looms

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) - The NAACP, the Nation’s oldest Civil Rights Organization, and the Union Movement plan closer cooperation in the fight to defeat MAGA and the Trump Administration, which both call an enormous threat to Workers and People Of Color.

NAACP Executive Director Derrick Johnson and Board Chair Leon Russell announced that closer collaboration in back-to-back remarks at a special Labor-oriented session during the organization’s convention here.

Both said while Unions and the NAACP share the same goals and that Labor has often worked hand-in-hand with Civil Rights Leaders - providing money and People Power - the reverse was not always apparent.

And there needs to be more collaboration at the local level between Union Locals and NAACP Local Chapters, they said.

That will change, the two Leaders promised.

And the change could appear in a variety of ways, and not just in the electoral battle to defeat the MAGA forces of Donald Trump and his retrograde Republicans, who want to take the country back to Jim Crow or before.

“Let’s keep our eyes on the same prize,” Johnson urged.

The cooperation with Labor will be “around more than collective bargaining,” Johnson said. “For instance, now they (the Right Wing) are even using your pension dollars against you” in investments and also refusing to invest in homes or businesses of Communities pf Color, he said.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: NAACP and unions plan closer cooperation as November election looms – People's World

The U.S. Labor Market 'May Soon Face A New Crisis' - 'Too Few' Workers

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Megan Cerullo at CBS News reports that even as many Workers are fearful Artificial Intelligence (AI) could endanger their jobs, there's a potentially bigger employment crisis on the horizon: A severe labor shortage that is set to emerge over the next 10 to 15 years, according to a leading demographer. Demand for young Workers is going to "explode" during that period, leaving employers with a shortage of qualified Workers, according to Steven Ruggles, a Professor of History and Population Studies at the University of Minnesota, and the creator of the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS), the world's largest and most widely used population database. A wave of Baby Boomer retirements will coincide with smaller cohorts of young people entering the labor market, resulting in a smaller overall workforce. That will lead to an "unprecedented situation" where, for the first time in U.S. economic history, more Workers will leave the workforce than enter it, Ruggles said. The labor force is set to shrink by 2.7 million Workers, or 1.3%, from 2030 to 2040, according to Ruggles' analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data and population growth projections from the Congressional Budget Office. That will come after the labor force grows by just 9.1 million people from 2020 to 2030, marking the smallest number of net entrants into the workforce since the 1960s. "Some people think AI is going to take away all jobs. But there are going to be very few people who are searching for jobs, relative to the size of the economy," Ruggles told CBS News. An average of 10,000 Boomers a day are turning 65 from 2011 through 2029, according to Census data. In 2025, a record 4.18 million Americans, or more than 11,400 people per day, turned 65. "Baby Boomers are quickly leaving the scene and there aren't very many young people," Ruggles said.

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: The US labor market may soon face a new crisis: Too few workers

"This Election Will Decide Whether We Are A Country Governed By The People Or Ruled By The Powerful. A Country Of Opportunity Or Oligarchy" - AFT President Weingarten 'Urges Mobilization To Defend Democracy'

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Sounding the alarm over threats to Democracy, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten is urging her Union’s 1.88 million Members to hit the streets between now and Election Day to defend it.

Specifically, in her keynote address on July 16th to the Union’s Convention, she wants 25,000 Teachers and other AFT Members out on the streets whenever they can - along with phone banking, ringing doorbells, e-mails, voting rights cards and more - to campaign for Pro-Worker Lawmakers and against the oligarchs and billionaires who now rule U.S. politics.

And to make sure those Anti-Working-Class elements, led by Anti-Union Republican President Donald Trump, the Union will recruit an additional and special 5,000-Member brigade to keep a sharp eye on and try to halt intimidation, repression and other tactics of the elite and their political puppets.

She labeled those foes outright fascists.

And it’s not just Trump, Weingarten explained.

“This election will decide whether we are a country governed by the people or ruled by the powerful. A country of opportunity or oligarchy. A country whose people live in freedom or in fear,” she declared, adding: “Do we want a future in which elections are rigged to maintain one-party control and Government is for sale to the highest bidder? Or one in which every person’s vote matters and Government serves the people? That’s what’s at stake in November (2026).”

And in 2028, when the Presidency will be on the ballot, too, she later added.

“The stakes are very high,” Weingarten exclaimed.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Teachers’ President Weingarten urges mobilization to defend democracy – People's World

The National AFL-CIO Responds To Trump's National TV Address On Elections: The Labor Movement 'Rejects The President's Agenda To Deny Working People's Fundamental Rights'

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – National AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement in response to President Trump's nationally-televised address on elections:

President Trump pushed years-old, thoroughly debunked, alarmingly dangerous conspiracy theories in an effort to undermine our elections and deny Americans their fundamental freedoms.

The purpose is clear: Divide, scare and intimidate Working People to stop the election of Public Officials who will hold the rich and powerful accountable for their greed.

It’s also a blatant attempt to distract from the fact that everything is too expensive, Working People are struggling, and his Administration’s policies are only making it worse.

The Labor Movement rejects any attempt by the President of the United States or anyone else to weaken our Democracy.

We demand a Government where Elected Leaders answer to Working People - not billionaires, corporate CEOs or special interests.

Every day until November, the National AFL-CIO and our Affiliated Unions are organizing and mobilizing, in our communities and to the ballot box, to turn out Union Voters and elect Pro-Worker candidates.

We’re using our boots on the ground in every corner of this Nation to run an extensive Election Protection Program that ensures every vote is counted and every voice is heard.

And we are standing up for one another - with the strength and solidarity of the Workers who built this country - to defend the fundamental freedoms of all Working People.

To Directly Access This Statement, Go To: AFL-CIO: The Labor Movement Rejects the President’s Agenda to Deny Working People’s Fundamental Rights | AFL-CIO

From The Economic Policy Institute: 'The Case For Tripling' Union Membership - 'How Rebuilding Union Power Would Strengthen Workers, The Economy & Our Democracy'

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Union Membership in the U.S. ticked up in 2025, breaking a decades-long trend of declining Unionization, but today’s Unionization Rate doesn’t reflect the tens of millions of Workers who want a Union - but can’t get one.

This Economic Policy Institute (EPI) report examines what we stand to gain if we triple current Union Membership to 30% - restoring it to 1950s levels, when Union Strength delivered rising wages, narrowing racial wage gaps and a thriving Middle Class.

Tripling Union Membership would:

Deliver A 14.5% Raise For The Median Worker: Amounting to more than $7,700 annually or nearly $270,000 over a 35-year career. These life-changing increases would benefit Union and Non-Union Workers alike.

Shift $1.2 Trillion To Workers Annually: This would reverse a third of the increase in inequality experienced since 1979.

Significantly Narrow Racial Wage Gaps: Because Unions tend to boost wages more for Black and Hispanic Workers than for White Workers, tripling Union Membership would close racial wage gaps by more than one-third.

Boost The Number Of People With Health Insurance: Since Unions increase other forms of compensation, like health insurance benefits, the number of non-elderly people without health insurance would fall by about 25%. Unions further reduce uninsured rates by advocating for increased public benefits like Medicaid.

Strengthen Communities: States with high Union Density invest more in public education, have higher unemployment insurance recipiency rates, and have all adopted Medicaid expansion.

Protect Democracy: Unions boost voter turnout, equip Workers with civic skills and actively defend voting rights. States with high Union Density have passed far fewer Voter Restriction Bills than low-density States.

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: The case for tripling union membership: How rebuilding union power would strengthen workers, the economy, and our democracy | Economic Policy Institute

National Nurses United 'Condemns The ICE Murder Of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo' In Houston As 'The Nation's Largest Nurses Union Reaffirms Its Calls For The Abolition Of ICE'

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND) - National Nurses United (NNU), the largest Union of Registered Nurses (RNs) in the United States, is condemning the murder of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Houston.

NNU maintains that the only way forward on this issue of fascist authoritarian violence is the abolition of ICE.

“ICE has continued to operate with deadly force and apparent complete impunity despite mass calls for their abolition,” NNU Executive Director Puneet Maharaj said. “Their ongoing campaign of lethal violence against everyday people is needlessly ending lives, causing harm, and endangering and terrifying the communities where we live, work and take care of patients.”

A GoFundMe has been established to support Araujo’s Family.

The Trump Administration continues to spread terror in our communities by targeting innocent People of Color and criminalizing dissent, Union Officials said.

From Federal charges against Anti-ICE protesters in Minnesota to sentencing protesters and activists in Texas to raiding the offices of non-profit organizations in Ohio, these coordinated attacks are aimed to undermine our Democracy and strip away our freedoms, NNU said.

Nurses are committed to building the solidarity needed to protect our patients and communities from these escalating attacks by officials under the Trump Administration, the Union said.

The NNU has consistently called for ICE’s abolition and Nurses have taken several actions to demand an end to this campaign of community harassment and endangerment.

The NNU represents more than 225,000 Nurses across the Nation and advocates for policies and legislation that improve the lives of Nurses and communities everywhere.

The NNU is the largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association of RNs in the United States with more than 225,000 Members nationwide.

NNU Affiliates include the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, the DC Nurses Association, the Michigan Nurses Association, the Minnesota Nurses Association, and the New York State Nurses Association.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: National Nurses United condemns ICE murder of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo | National Nurses United

NNU Photo.

Unionized Workers 'Decry Trump's War On Wind'

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Michael Sainato at The Guardian reports President Donald Trump has blamed everything - from “national security” issues, the deaths of birds and whales, and cancer - in his decades-long campaign against wind farms. But as the Trump Administration continues to undermine the industry, what worries Workers most are their jobs. Since taking office for a second term, Trump has issued an Executive Order aiming to halt all wind-energy leases and permits, attempted to issue stop-work orders on wind projects under construction, and paid more than $2.6 billion in settlements to buy out wind energy leases. Hundreds of Workers have been affected. Trump’s Department of Interior has completed four deals so far to cancel wind project leases, paying energy corporations a sum of more than $2.6 billion, including paying $765 million to Invenergy to abandon four wind projects in California, New York and Maine and nearly $900 million to Bluepoint Wind and Garden State Wind to cancel off-shore wind leases in New York and California. “I think it’s a foolish policy the Trump Administration is engaging in trying to buy out these leases,” Rhode Island AFL-CIO President Pat Crowley told The Guardian. “These projects are not only helping to reduce our carbon emissions, they’re providing good-paying Union jobs for thousands.” Crowley said Workers would have had long-term job stability from working on these projects, noting the Trump administration had lost in Court in its attempts to issue stop-work orders on five wind projects in the Rhode Island area.

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: ‘Why take those jobs away?’: the unionized workers decrying Trump’s war on wind | Wind power | The Guardian

IUOE Local 17 Windmill Project File Photo.

Nurse Strikes 'Have Quadrupled Since 2017, Here's Why It Keeps Growing'

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Jay Wiley at Nurse.org reports that if it feels like Nurses are walking out more often than they used to, you are not imagining it. The numbers prove it and the pace is picking up. Nurse.org tracked 107 confirmed Registered Nurse (RN) walkouts from 2017 through 2026. In the three years before the Coronavirus Pandemic, the U.S. saw about four Nurse Strikes a year. In 2025, there were 19. And by the middle of 2026, there had already been 16. Two honest notes on that climb: Some of the recent increase comes from the same hospitals striking more than once, often several short walkouts during a single contract fight, which lifts the yearly count; and Strikes from the late 2010s are simply harder to document than today's, so the earliest years may be undercounted. Even allowing for both, the direction is unmistakable - and independent trackers see the same thing. Cornell University's Labor Action Tracker found Health Care Strikes rose 58% in 2025 over the year before, with the number of workers involved more than doubling. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports education and health services accounted for 64% of all Workers idled by major Strikes in 2025, more than any other sector. The jump follows the staffing crisis Nurses have lived with since 2020. When Nurse.org looked at the reasons behind every walkout, staffing levels were at the heart of 95 of the 107 strikes. Pay and patient safety come up too, but unsafe assignments and being stretched too thin are what push Nurses to the picket line.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: Nurse Strikes Have Quadrupled Since 2017. Here's Why It Keeps Growing | Nurse.Org

A New Analysis Finds The NLRB 'Is More Likely To Dismiss Worker & Union Charges Under Trump' - Report 'Points To Staffing Shortages, Procedural Changes & Lack Of A Board Quorum As Contributing Factors'

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Michael Sainato at The Guardian reports dismissals of Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charges have surged at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) under Republican President Donald Trump, according to a new analysis. From January 2025 to April 2026, the NLRB dismissed 34.7% of all ULP Charges filed by Labor Unions, a 14.2 percentage-point increase from 2024. The NLRB dismissed 67.4% of ULP Charges filed by Workers, 10.7 points higher than 2024. The analysis of more than 40,000 cases conducted by the Center for American Progress cited several issues at the NLRB since Trump began his second term in office. The NLRB was left without a quorum required to issue decisions for 345 days after Trump fired Gwynne Wilcox, the first Black Woman to ever serve on the Board. Labor Lawyers have noted ULP Charge cases are being thrown out due to glitches or technicalities with the Board’s Docketing System. Bloomberg reported in February 2026 that NLRB Regional Offices are understaffed by 23%, but Congress has continued slashing the Board’s budget. About 150 Workers left the NLRB in 2025 and only eight workers were added, a loss of more than 10% of the NLRB’s workforce, leading to worsening backlogs of cases.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: US labor board more likely to dismiss worker and union charges under Trump, analysis finds | US unions | The Guardian

A Federal Judge 'Sides With AFSCME Workers To Protect' The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Members will continue to be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program after a Federal Judge blocked the Trump Administration’s effort to unfairly disqualify certain government and non-profit employers from the popular program. 

The Court’s ruling - in a lawsuit brought by AFSCME and others - ordered the U.S. Department of Education to abandon a rule change that would have allowed the Administration to exclude organizations for political reasons and denied their Workers access to The Student Debt Relief Program that makes college more affordable and attracts skilled Workers to Public Service careers. 

AFSCME President Lee Saunders called the ruling a major victory for Public Service Workers and the communities they serve: “We applaud the Court for blocking this illegal, partisan effort to strip Public Service Workers of critical debt relief. Countless Public Service jobs require Workers to get degrees, leaving many in crippling debt even as they do the work necessary to keep our communities running. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is a promise that those who dedicate their careers to helping others will receive the backing they need.”

Saunders said the ruling ensures “the door remains open for the next generation to step into these critical roles with confidence that they will be able to provide for themselves and their families - a major victory for communities nationwide.” 

The ruling is yet another example of how AFSCME Members, in solidarity with allied groups, are fighting back against the Trump Administration’s Anti-Worker policies and supporting the Employees who deliver vital services that keep our communities running. 

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: Judge sides with AFSCME workers to protect Public Service Loan Forgiveness program - AFSCME. You can read the court’s opinion here and learn more about the case here. 