AFL-CIO Blog

  • Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Karrie Setters
    Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Karrie Setters Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to the labor movement. Today's profile features Karrie Setters. Karrie Setters leads by action. She is the first Latina to serve as a BCTGM International Representative. She is a dynamic organizer, an expert negotiator and a dedicated activist for the working class. Setters services 24 BCTGM local unions on the West Coast and played a vital role in helping to settle the 113-day strike by Jon Donaire workers in Santa Fe Springs, California that began in 2021. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/23/2022 - 10:00 — Sep 23
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFL-CIO, Chris Gardner Foundation Join Forces to Give Students Life-Changing Job Opportunities
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFL-CIO, Chris Gardner Foundation Join Forces to Give Students Life-Changing Job Opportunities 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 AFL-CIO today announced a groundbreaking new partnership with the Chris Gardner Foundation’s Permission to Dream program to put students with limited economic opportunities on an early path to the middle class. Federation Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond and Chris Gardner, founder of the Chris Gardner Foundation, officially kicked off the partnership today at two Detroit-area schools, along with AFT President Randi Weingarten and NABTU representatives. Through the collaboration, the AFL-CIO and our affiliated unions and partners will give students in disadvantaged communities the opportunity and support to enter paid, registered apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades. “We are thrilled to partner with Chris and his foundation to give more young people the opportunity to build family-sustaining careers,” said Redmond. “Far too many young people do not feel hopeful about their economic futures and that is unacceptable. By expanding access to our world-class apprenticeship programs, we will ensure that young people entering the workforce can experience the security and support of a good union job.” North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the UAW, the School Administrators (AFSA), the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), SAG-AFTRA and Ullico are founding partners of the Permission to Dream collaboration. The program will be piloted in select cities and schools across the country, where there will be an influx of funding for infrastructure and development projects as well as jobs stemming from the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law and the CHIPS and Science Act. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/23/2022 - 09:42 — Sep 23
  • Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Capt. Javier Ramos Green
    Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Capt. Javier Ramos Green Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to the labor movement. Today's profile features Capt. Javier Ramos Green. Born and raised in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Capt. Javier Ramos Green flies for JetBlue Airways and is a member of ALPA. As chair of the JetBlue ALPA Strategic Preparedness and Strike Committee (SPSC), he played an influential role in one of the most successful informational picketing events in ALPA history. When his homeland was devastated by Hurricane Maria in September 2017, he sprang to action. He helped organize drives for supplies to Puerto Rico. Says Green: "Hispanic Heritage Month is who I am as a person. No matter how far north you are in the American continent or how far south in Tierra del Fuego, Hispanic heritage is something that unites us and makes us stronger.” Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 09/22/2022 - 10:00 — Sep 22
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: UVC Appalled at Extremists Flooding Veterans Suicide Helpline with Spam Calls
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: UVC Appalled at Extremists Flooding Veterans Suicide Helpline with Spam Calls 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. In response to verified reports that members of an extremist group used veteran suicide as a political stunt, the Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO (UVC) released this statement on Tuesday: “Yesterday, anti-American extremist members of the 1776 Restoration Movement organized a call-in action to clog the VA Suicide Crisis line in an attempt at an appalling political stunt. Over 20 veterans and service members a day die by suicide, and the crisis line is a vital and life-saving resource for many. UVC strongly condemns these unconscionable political stunts put on by the 1776 movement. We stand with vets in crisis, who can call 988 or text 838225 for support. “We would also like to highlight today’s VA announcement that veterans suicide is decreasing, which makes this stunt even more egregious.” Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 09/22/2022 - 09:42 — Sep 22
  • What's Right for Workers: In the States Roundup
    What's Right for Workers: 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 Twitter. Alaska AFL-CIO: Arizona AFL-CIO: California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO: Colorado AFL-CIO: Connecticut AFL-CIO: Georgia State AFL-CIO: Illinois AFL-CIO: Indiana State AFL-CIO: Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO: Maine AFL-CIO: Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO: Massachusetts AFL-CIO: Michigan State AFL-CIO: Minnesota AFL-CIO: Missouri AFL-CIO: Montana State AFL-CIO: Nevada State AFL-CIO: New Hampshire AFL-CIO: New Jersey State AFL-CIO: New York State AFL-CIO: North Carolina State AFL-CIO: Ohio AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO: Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: Rhode Island AFL-CIO: Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council: Texas AFL-CIO: Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 09/21/2022 - 15:40 — Sep 21