AFL-CIO Blog

  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: CHIPS Act Includes Critical ‘Worker Voice’ Provisions
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: CHIPS Act Includes Critical ‘Worker Voice’ Provisions Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. The CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law today by President Biden, not only boosts domestic manufacturing jobs in critical technology sectors but also mandates for the first time that unions and our members be at the table as the federal government invests billions in innovation research and economic development. “The science title of this bill boosts critical research funding for the National Science Foundation and other agencies, and directs the foundation to incorporate labor organizations into its ‘programmatic work’ as stakeholders,” said Amanda Ballantyne, the director of the AFL-CIO Technology Institute. “With these changes in law, we will see a different paradigm emerge in the federal research enterprise—one that invites workers and unions into the innovation process and incentivizes federal grant applicants to collaborate with labor and workforce training organizations.” The Technology Institute, launched in 2021 as a recommendation of the AFL-CIO Commission on the Future of Work and Unions, is a hub for development of new strategies, including policy reforms around technology and the future of work. The institute has advocated for a change in how the federal government directs research and economic development investments, Ballantyne said, “with a focus on securing unions as official stakeholders, enhancing good job creation requirements, and using these federal programs to advance critical racial and economic justice objectives.” Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/10/2022 - 09:21 — Aug 10
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Late Night Comedian Jimmy Fallon Meets UAW Members at Ford Electric Vehicle Plant
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Late Night Comedian Jimmy Fallon Meets UAW Members at Ford Electric Vehicle Plant Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Comedian Jimmy Fallon stopped by the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, on Friday afternoon to hang out with UAW members who build the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck. The host of “The Tonight Show,” who has poked fun at the F-150’s “frunk” (or front trunk), was given a tour of the facility. While there, Fallon spent time with the UAW members who make the electric pickups, and even took a test drive. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/09/2022 - 09:52 — Aug 9
  • Fulfilling Our Promise to Veterans: The Working People Weekly List
    Fulfilling Our Promise to Veterans: The Working People Weekly List Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List. New Jersey State AFL-CIO Hails Passage of Bill to Expand Benefits to Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits: “The New Jersey State AFL-CIO today hailed the US Senate for passing legislation, known as the PACT Act, designed to expand medical benefits for veterans exposed to toxic ‘burn pits.’ Burn pits are used in the military to dispose of materiel, trash, and other refuse for waste management and to prevent useful items from falling into enemy hands. Burning these materials creates toxins which have been linked to various life threatening and debilitating diseases among veterans. Over 5.5 million veterans are thought to have been exposed to burn pits. Specifically, the PACT Act builds upon the Agent Orange Act of 1991, by expanding presumptions and increased medical care related to Agent Orange exposure to veterans exposed to burn pits.” Boeing Workers Ratify 3-Year Contract, Averting Strike: “Unionized Boeing workers at three St. Louis-area factories voted in favor of the company’s latest contract offer Wednesday, averting a strike that threatened to paralyze the company’s output of crucial military hardware. A strike by roughly 2,500 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837 would have commenced at midnight had the vote gone against the three-year proposal. ‘At the end of the day, that is what the impending strike was about. Congratulations to IAM District 837 members for standing strong in achieving an agreement that is more fair and just,’ Steve Galloway, who is Midwest territory general vice president at IAM.” SAG-AFTRA and Netflix Reach Tentative Deal on New Contract: “SAG-AFTRA and Netflix have reached a tentative deal on a new contract to replace the novel agreement they penned in 2019. The performers’ union announced the tentative deal—which will now go to the union’s National Board and, later, to members for approval—on Tuesday. The National Board will next meet and discuss the agreement on August 8. No other details were available about the pact at this time. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Netflix for comment.” Utility Line Workers Compete at Lineman Rodeo: “The annual Pacific Northwest Lineman Rodeo, which was held July 23, is sponsored by IBEW Locals 125, 659 and 77 together with PGE, Pacificorp, and Clark County PUD. It tests utility line workers for speed, safety and trade skills, and raises money for the Oregon Burn Center. This year’s fundraising results weren’t final at press time, but last year’s raised $50,000. All told, 21 three-member teams of journeymen, 58 apprentices, and even seven pre-apprentices competed. Challenges included a relay event, a pole climb with a raw egg, a written test, and a ‘hurt man rescue’ in which a mannikin simulating an injured and unconscious coworker is brought safely to ground.” Booming U.S. Cannabis Industry Seen as Fertile Ground for Union Expansion: “As cannabis legalization has spread throughout the U.S., workers in the now booming new industry are pushing to unionize, seeking to ensure the sector provides good-paying union jobs with benefits throughout its supply chain. Adult recreational marijuana use was legalized in New Jersey in February 2021, and the law included agreements to protect workers’ union organizing efforts. The UFCW represents a majority of workers in the cannabis industry in the state.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/08/2022 - 09:56 — Aug 8
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Unions Power America Sweepstakes Launching Aug. 10, With $50,000 Grand Prize
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Unions Power America Sweepstakes Launching Aug. 10, With $50,000 Grand Prize Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. The Unions Power America Labor Day Campaign is about to enter a new phase—Union Plus is wrapping up the contest on Monday, Aug. 8, and launching the sweepstakes on Wednesday, Aug. 10. The sweepstakes, which will run through Aug. 29, has a grand prize of $50,000. The sweepstakes is very easy to enter and includes options to complete extra activities in order to earn more entries. In total, the contest and sweepstakes combined will award $185,000 in cash prizes to hardworking union members. All winners will be announced on Labor Day. Visit UnionPlus.org/LaborDay to learn more or enter the sweepstakes starting Aug. 10, and get promotional materials from the Union Plus Digital Toolkit. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/08/2022 - 09:39 — Aug 8
  • Economy Gains 528,000 Jobs in July; Unemployment Down to 3.5%
    Economy Gains 528,000 Jobs in July; Unemployment Down to 3.5% The U.S. economy gained 528,000 jobs in July, and the unemployment rate edged down to 3.5%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Continuing strong job creation numbers are a clear sign that the worker-friendly policies implemented by President Biden are having a positive impact on working people. We are now back to the prepandemic unemployment rate and level of job numbers in a record time for a recovery. In response to the July job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted the following:             Last month’s biggest job gains were in leisure and hospitality (+96,000), professional and business services (+89,000), health care (+70,000), government (+57,000), construction (+32,000), manufacturing (+30,000), social assistance (+27,000), retail trade (+22,000), transportation and warehousing (+21,000), information (+13,000), financial activities (+13,000) and mining (+7,000). Employment showed little change over the month in wholesale trade and other services. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for adult women (3.1%) and White Americans (3.1%) declined. The jobless rates for teenagers (11.5%), Black Americans (6%), Hispanics (3.9%), adult men (3.2%) and Asian Americans (2.6%) showed little or no change over the month. The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) decreased in July and accounted for 18.9% of the total unemployed. While year-over-year wage gains were higher than last month’s, the trend in wage growth is stabilizing, although far below the rate of inflation. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/05/2022 - 11:33 — Aug 5