RICHARD TRUMKA IN MEMORIAM
American Workers Just Lost Their Biggest Champion
Slate
By Mary Harris
August 10, 2021
Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO, recently died at 72 years old. He spent much of his life in unions, rising from mineworker to labor attorney to confidant for politicians like President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who gave a tearful tribute to Trumka on the floor last week. Trumka was such an icon that, when crafting policy, officials like these had to confer with him; after all, Trumka had worked at AFL-CIO for 26 years and was a beloved leader who constantly pushed to expand the union tent and include all kinds of workers. (For example: Slate’s editorial union, which I’m a member of, is represented by the Writers Guild of America, East, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.)
City-County Building Lights Honor Richard Trumka (Video)
CBS Cleveland
August 10, 2021
Pittsburgh's City-County Building was lit up in the colors of the AFL-CIO in honor of the late Richard Trumka.
INFRASTRUCTURE
On human infrastructure and Biden budget, heavy lifting remains
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
August 10, 2021
“To build back better, we must be bold,” declared Liz Shuler, the AFL-CIO’s acting president, adopting Democratic President Joe Biden’s theme for pro-recovery measures. “That means unparalleled investment in America’s working families. The $3.5 trillion budget resolution is what we need to continue on the path toward making our country whole again. “From investing in working families, education, paid leave, child care, clean energy jobs, and game-changing infrastructure projects to the creation of a long overdue path to citizenship, expansion of health care access, and labor law enforcement with real penalties, this budget resolution is a vital part of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda that has already been such a lifeline for our economy. We fully support this bill and look forward to its passage.”
IN THE STATES
DC to Require COVID Vaccines or Regular Testing for District Employees
NBC Washington
By NBC Washington Staff
August 10, 2021
Labor leaders are working with District workers to encourage vaccination, Metro Washington Labor Council President Dyana Forester said. “What we all realize is that many of our working people are people of color, and they come from a place where they don’t trust the government. We’ve done a lot to try to educate our members,” she said. D.C. government workers will have to wear masks whenever they interact with members of the public or coworkers, indoors or outdoors.
JOINING TOGETHER
NY Times tech workers plan walkout amid union fight
The Hill
By Sarah Polus
August 10, 2021
Tech workers at The New York Times are planning a walkout on Wednesday in protest of what they see as the news company's attempts to hinder their unionization efforts. "As tech workers, we create the tools that power the @nytimes," the New York Times Tech Guild wrote in a Tuesday tweet. "We work together, build together, and are ready to vote yes for our union. If management insists on engaging in Unfair Labor Practices and dividing us, we will have no choice but to walk out together tomorrow at noon."