AFL-CIO Press Clips: June 9, 2022
MUST READ
Biden to address major labor conference next week
The Hill
By Brett Samuels
June 8, 2022
President Biden next week will travel to Philadelphia to speak at a convention for the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the country. Biden will deliver remarks on Tuesday at the convention, which takes place every four years. It will be a high-profile event for Biden to emphasize his support for organized labor. The AFL-CIO is made up of 57 different labor unions representing more than 12 million workers.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
In Unusual Step, Foundations Embrace Organized Labor With $20 Million Plan to Help Workers in the South
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
By Alex Daniels
June 8, 2022
It’s a lesson learned from the #MeToo movement, the wave of protests following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, and the string of union victories at places like Amazon and Starbucks that previously seemed impervious to attempts to organize, says Christian Sweeney, deputy organizing director at the AFL-CIO. “There’s a growing sense that the major problems in our country aren’t getting solved purely through policy interventions or charitable works,” Sweeney says. “What’s driving this from the foundation side is that people see the labor movement broadly as a place to change the balance of power.”
JOINING TOGETHER
Contract negotiations underway between Hilton Hawaiian Village and hospitality union
Hawaii Public Radio
By Casey Harlow
June 8, 2022
Contract negotiations are underway between the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the state’s largest hospitality worker union. UNITE HERE! Local 5 held a rally on Tuesday afternoon outside the Waikīkī Hilton, calling for hotel executives to bring back positions such as housekeeping. The union argues hotel executives have been slow to bring employees back, scaling back amenities such as daily room cleanings.
IN THE STATES
Women Building Success celebrates tradeswomen at awards ceremony
Workday Minnesota
By Michael Moore
June 8, 2022
Union tradeswomen and labor leaders gathered June 1 in White Bear Lake for the Women Building Success Awards, a celebration of local apprentices, journey workers and advocates for women pursuing careers in the construction trades. Women Building Success (WBS) is a Minnesota organization founded in 2017 to recognize and promote the achievements of women in union construction trades. Robin Chuhel of St. Paul-based Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 110received the Advocate of the Year award, with honorable mention going to Rosey Grab, an apprentice with Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 49.
RAISING WAGES
Austin labor groups call for $22 living wage for city workers
KXAN
By Kelsey Thompson
June 8, 2022
A coalition of labor groups are calling on Austin officials to raise the city’s to $22 an hour as part of the fiscal year 2022-23 budget process. The city last approved a living wage of $15 an hour in 2018, based on a 2015 recommendation that established it as a 2020 benchmark goal. “Though Austin has the best job market in the nation, we know that Austin is suffering from rising housing costs,” said Carol Guthrie, business manager for AFSCME Local 1624. “We know that Austin is no longer ranked one of the Top 10, that Austin has dropped down to 13 and all of that is due to the rising costs of housing.” Representatives who participated in the living wage stakeholder group — which is making the recommendation — include AFSCME, Central Texas Interfaith, the Workers Defense Project, Laborers’ International Union 1095, Austin Chapter of General Contractors, IBEW Local 520, Plumbers Local 286, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Greater Austin Chamber, Austin LGBT Chamber, Equal Justice Center, Unite Here, Local Progress and the Texas Antipoverty Project.
CIVIL, HUMAN, AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS
DPE Celebrates The Creation of Chief Diversity Officers For National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities
Broadway World
By A.A. Cristi
June 8, 2022
Today, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Chair Shelly Lowe announced that their respective agencies will create a Chief Diversity Officer position. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the establishment of Chief Diversity Officers for the NEA and NEH: "The move to hire Chief Diversity Officers at the NEA and NEH is a win for creative professionals. DPE and its affiliated unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries advocated for the creation of these senior positions because we know diversity is a strength and essential to the long-term sustainability of the creative sectors. We applaud Chairs Jackson and Lowe for moving quickly to create more inclusive arts, entertainment, and media industries through the work of their agencies. In February 2021, we released our Policy Agenda for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries, which includes recommendations aimed at creating diverse talent pipelines and incentivizing diversity in hiring in creative industries. We called for Chief Diversity Officers at the NEA and NEH because officers can boost the agencies' capability to support performances and programs that offer underrepresented people an opportunity to develop skills, experience, and professional connections.