AFL-CIO Blog

  • Labor Leaders Among ‘500 Most Influential People’ in Washington, D.C.
    Labor Leaders Among ‘500 Most Influential People’ in Washington, D.C. Washingtonian magazine is out with its list of the 500 most influential movers and shakers in our nation’s capital. The roster features labor luminaries like AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler (pictured above, middle row left), who’s headshot is on the magazine cover along with AFL-CIO Chief Economist Bill Spriggs (top right).  The list also includes United Steelworkers (USW) International Vice President Roxanne Brown, UAW International Representative Desiree Hoffman, AFL-CIO International Department Director Cathy Feingold, AFGE National President Everett Kelley, Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward Kelly, North America’s Building Trades Unions President Sean McGarvey (IUPAT), Laborers (LIUNA) General President Terry O’Sullivan, AFSCME President Lee Saunders, AFL-CIO Director of Government Affairs Bill Samuel, AFGE Public Policy Director Jacqueline Simon, Electrical Workers (IBEW) International President Lonnie Stephenson, and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/09/2022 - 13:04 — May 9
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Maggie Tsai
    Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Maggie Tsai 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 Maggie Tsai of the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU). Maggie Tsai on the importance of unions: "It is not just about bread-and-butter issues like wages…it goes beyond that. It goes to the progressive values we hold and incorporate into our workplace." Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/09/2022 - 10:01 — May 9
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: ¡Sí, Se Puede! Mechanics in Puerto Rico Win Organizing Campaign with IAM
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: ¡Sí, Se Puede! Mechanics in Puerto Rico Win Organizing Campaign with IAM 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 IAM is on a winning streak all across America. And on Thursday, the union notched another victory when more than 200 mechanics and related workers in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, won their campaign to form a union with the IAM. These aerospace workers at Lufthansa Technik explained their campaign began because of various workplace issues, including reduced work hours, irregular work rules, and unfair wages and benefits. “This election is the voice and feeling of all of our co-workers who desire to progress here on the island without the need to abandon our families,” said Jonathan Diaz, senior aircraft mechanic. “We will demonstrate that in Puerto Rico we do good and are better not only as humans but as workers.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/09/2022 - 09:30 — May 9
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Gary Lam
    Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Gary Lam 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 Gary Lam of the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). As Local 891's first assistant editor, Gary Lam started his career with IATSE in 2001. He is in his third term as the co-chair of the Editing Department and is currently on the Negotiations Committee for Local 891. Lam is actively involved in the training initiatives in his local, which focus on reaching younger and less-experienced nonunion workers to help sharpen their skills and set them up for success in the entertainment industry. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/06/2022 - 11:00 — May 6
  • Economy Gains 428,000 Jobs in April; Unemployment Steady at 3.6%
    Economy Gains 428,000 Jobs in April; Unemployment Steady at 3.6% The U.S. economy gained 428,000 jobs in April, and the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.6%, 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. In response to the April job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:         Last month’s biggest job gains were in leisure and hospitality (+78,000), manufacturing (+55,000), transportation and warehousing (+52,000), professional and business services (+41,000), financial activities (+35,000), health care (+34,000), retail trade (+29,000), wholesale trade (+22,000) and mining (+9,000). Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including construction, information, other services and government. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for teenagers (10.2%), Black Americans (5.9%), Hispanics (4.1%), adult men (3.5%), adult women (3.2%), White Americans (3.2%) and Asian Americans (3.1%) showed little or no change over the month. The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was little changed in April and accounted for 25.2% of the total unemployed. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/06/2022 - 10:01 — May 6