AFL-CIO Blog

  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Mabel Wong
    Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Mabel Wong For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Mabel Wong of OPEIU. Mabel Wong, a member of Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 153, has worked at Seton Hall University's library for 36 years, providing services to the university and global communities via the interlibrary loan program. "Being a union member provides a collective voice to fight against discrimination and harassment, for fair wages and benefits, and safe working conditions.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/12/2025 - 09:23 — May 12
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Push Back Against Proposed Elimination of the NEA, NEH and CPB
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Push Back Against Proposed Elimination of the NEA, NEH and CPB 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. The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition within the Department for Professional Employees (DPE) released a statement on Wednesday condemning the Trump administration’s budget proposal calling for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The coalition is made up of 12 national unions that represent workers in the arts, entertainment, and media industries, and is led by DPE. Trump’s 2026 budget request calls for the wholesale elimination of the NEA, NEH and CPB, as well as other federal and regional cultural agencies. “Unions are prepared to fight back again against efforts to eliminate the NEA, NEH, and CPB,” said the AEMI coalition. “Nonprofit arts, humanities, and public media enjoy broad, bipartisan public support because they power local economies in every state and expand access to quality artistic and educational content across communities….Private money cannot fully replace federal funding. Eliminating the NEA, NEH, or CPB will lead to the loss of good, middle-class jobs.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/12/2025 - 09:13 — May 12
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Doug Fulp
    Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Doug Fulp For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Doug Fulp of HFIU. Doug Fulp, business manager of Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU) Local 132 in Hawaii, has been a steadfast advocate for fair wages, solid pensions and dependable health care for all members. His unwavering commitment to standing up for the “small guys” across the islands has made a lasting impact for working families. Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 05/11/2025 - 09:46 — May 11
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Dr. Amanda Lowrey
    Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profile: Dr. Amanda Lowrey For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Dr. Amanda Lowrey of AFSCME. Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA/AFSCME) member Dr. Amanda R.K. Lowrey has been working in food safety in Honolulu since December 2009. Dedicated to protecting the community from foodborne illnesses and conserving Hawaii’s fragile ecosystems, Lowrey’s work has helped to revive the state's local shellfish industry. Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 05/10/2025 - 09:46 — May 10
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive 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. Join the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) this Saturday, May 10, for the 2025 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive! Each year, letter carriers across the country head out on their routes on the second Saturday in May to collect donations of nonperishable food items to benefit local food pantries. Since launching in 1993, the NALC’s annual program has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping to fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns throughout the United States.  Simply leave your donation of nonperishable food in a bag near your mailbox this Saturday, and your letter carrier will do the rest. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/09/2025 - 09:00 — May 9