AFL-CIO Blog

  • Pride Month Profiles: Shana Harris
    Pride Month Profiles: Shana Harris For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Shana Harris of ATU. Shana Harris has been a proud member of ATU Local 308 for six years. She recently became a union steward to better understand how the union works and help her co-workers. She often volunteers to help her local and enjoys learning new things so she can grow personally and professionally. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 06/20/2025 - 09:56 Tags: Pride — Jun 20
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Oregon Shakespeare Festival Workers Ratify First Contract
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Oregon Shakespeare Festival Workers Ratify First Contract Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Box office and group sales workers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) have unanimously ratified their first contract as members of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 154. This is the latest victory for the local, which now represents workers in 18 different departments at the 90-year-old nonprofit theater, including facilities, costuming, front-of-house, concessions and more. It didn’t come easy though—during the contract fight, OSF management brought in a union-busting consultant and engaged in regressive bargaining. But IATSE members refused to back down, taking their contract fight public to pressure OSF to do the right thing. And now, they’re enjoying a contract that guarantees minimum hours, rest days, just-cause termination, recall rights and a cell phone stipend, among other wins. “Our Box Office workers are resilient, hardworking people who deserve a fair contract. After nine months of negotiations, they secured working protections that were actively being threatened,” said Breena Cope, IATSE Local 154 business agent. “We are proud to represent the box office workers under the Local 154 banner. Every worker at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is valuable, and each of them deserves to have their work represented by a strong union contract.” Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 06/20/2025 - 09:50 — Jun 20
  • Pride Month Profiles: Somebody Someone
    Pride Month Profiles: Somebody Someone For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Somebody Someone of AFM. A member of Local 433 whose preferred moniker is Somebody Someone has been active with the local’s Freelance Organizing Committee, which focuses on building a strong group in which musicians feel safe to share information about their work and employers—and with an aim to increase contract use and improve negotiating skills. Somebody Someone has helped the union connect with other advocacy groups to find common issues and work toward collaborative solutions. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 06/18/2025 - 10:06 Tags: Pride — Jun 18
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AFSCME Mobilizes for Week of Action to Save Public Services
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AFSCME Mobilizes for Week of Action to Save Public Services Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. In response to threats against essential public programs that we all rely on, AFSCME members mobilized in more than a dozen cities, on Capitol Hill and online for a powerful week of action to tell Congress to put working families over billionaire tax breaks. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a budget bill late last month that would slash essential services like Medicaid, food assistance and more, all while giving massive tax cuts to the ultrawealthy. This bill—now in the U.S. Senate—would also throw state budgets into chaos, leading to AFSCME member layoffs. So members jumped into action, attending letter-writing events, rallies and other public actions targeting key lawmakers. “I was raised on Medicaid, and without it, I can’t say I’d be here today,” AFSCME Retiree Sheila Bennett, president of Retiree Chapter 1199C, said. “Because of programs like Medicaid and nutrition assistance, I was able to get the health care I needed, have healthy meals, and make a life for myself. That’s what we’re here to protect.”  Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 06/18/2025 - 09:59 — Jun 18
  • Stay Safe Out There: In the States Roundup
    Stay Safe Out There: In the States Roundup It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on X. Alaska AFL-CIO: California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO: Colorado AFL-CIO: Connecticut AFL-CIO: Illinois AFL-CIO: Massachusetts AFL-CIO: Michigan State AFL-CIO: Minnesota AFL-CIO: Missouri AFL-CIO: Nebraska State AFL-CIO: Nevada State AFL-CIO: New York State AFL-CIO: North Carolina State AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO: Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: Texas AFL-CIO: Virginia AFL-CIO: Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 06/17/2025 - 10:05 — Jun 17