Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST READ
For inspiration in 2025, look to Labor’s 2024 wins (Letter)
Labor Tribune
By Liz Shuler
Jan. 27, 2025
As we kick off 2025, there is no better source of inspiration than looking back at the extraordinary things workers accomplished this past year. I am struck by how stories of workers standing together and holding corporations accountable dominated headlines. Organizing stayed on the rise as the National Labor Relations Board reported that union election petitions were up 27 percent from fiscal year 2023. In a critical election year, 26,000 union volunteers across the country reached more than 10 million voters, and made the difference for pro-worker candidates. And all over the country, brave workers took to the streets and went on strikes that secured life-changing new contracts.
POLITICS
Trump Ousts Labor Prosecutor Who Pushed Broader Worker Rights
Bloomberg
By Josh Eidelson
Jan. 28, 2025
Donald Trump is forcing out the US labor board’s top prosecutor, ushering in a swift reboot of workplace law enforcement. Jennifer Abruzzo, the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, said she was fired via email late on Monday. The NLRB general counsel has sweeping authority to determine what sorts of cases are prosecuted by the agency, which is responsible for enforcing most private sector US employees’ right to unionize or take collective action to improve their working conditions. Trump’s NLRB general counsel during his first term, former management-side attorney Peter Robb, used that authority to turn away cases brought by Uber Technologies Inc. drivers, arguing they did not meet the criteria to be employees protected by federal labor law.
Elon Musk’s Doge accused of ‘illegal’ job posting by federal workers’ union
The Guardian
By Michael Sainato
Jan. 27, 2025
Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge) has been accused by a leading labor union of an “absolutely illegal” breach of federal regulations after posting a vague request for job applications. The Trump administration’s much-vaunted but ill-defined program to reshape the federal government announced it was recruiting “full-time, salaried positions” for software engineers, information security engineers and “other technology professionals” on its official website.
Senate Republicans cast a wary eye on Trump's nominee for labor secretary
NBC News
By Sahil Kapur and Matt Dixon
Jan. 27, 2025
A number of Senate Republicans have problems with President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, citing pro-union stances she has taken in the past that clash with the business community. “I’m not going to support her,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a senior member of the committee that will oversee her nomination, told NBC News on Monday. “I’m the national spokesman and lead author of the right-to-work bill. Her support for the PRO Act, which would not only oppose national right to work but would pre-empt state law on right to work — I think it’s not a good thing.
White House pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion
The Washington Post
By Jeff Stein, Jacob Bogage and Emily Davies
Jan. 27, 2025
The White House budget office is ordering a pause to all grants and loans disbursed by the federal government, according to an internal memo sent to agencies Monday, creating significant confusion across Washington. In a two-page document, Matthew J. Vaeth, the acting director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, instructs federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.” The memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, also calls for each agency to perform a “comprehensive analysis” to ensure its grant and loan programs are consistent with President Donald Trump’s executive orders, which aimed to ban federal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and limit clean energy spending, among other measures.
Senior USAID staff put on leave amid Trump’s order halting foreign aid
The Washington Post
By John Hudson and Jeff Stein
Jan. 27, 2025
The Trump administration has cleared out much of the leadership of the U.S. Agency for International Development, placing dozens of career officials on administrative leave Monday after accusing the agency of trying to “circumvent” President Donald Trump’s executive order freezing all foreign aid, U.S. officials familiar with the matter said.
IMMIGRATION
School leaders reassure families as fears spread over feds' immigration crackdown
WBUR
By Emily Piper-Vallillo
Jan. 27, 2025
Leaders of the Boston Teachers Union and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts in a statement Friday condemned Trump’s agenda and pledge to carry out mass deportations. “These threats take an emotional, psychological, and physical toll on our children and their families,” the statement said. "If continued, they will have a chilling effect on our schools and communities.”
ORGANIZING
Whole Foods Workers in Philadelphia Vote to Form Chain’s First Union
The New York Times
By Danielle Kaye
Jan. 27, 2025
Workers at a Whole Foods Market in Philadelphia voted on Monday to become the first unionized store in Amazon’s grocery chain, opening a new front in the e-commerce giant’s efforts to fend off labor organizing in multiple segments of its business. Employees at the sprawling Whole Foods store, in the city’s Spring Garden neighborhood, voted 130-100 in favor of organizing with the United Food and Commercial Workers union, the National Labor Relations Board said.
Delta Airlines workers push to unionize (Video)
WFAA
By wfaa.com
Jan. 27, 2025
Only Delta pilots are currently unionized.
Delaware County librarians now officially part of teachers union
The Columbus Dispatch
By Dean Narciso
Jan. 27, 2025
Staff and librarians with the Delaware County District Library have been officially recognized as a union, according to results released Monday by Ohio State Employment Relations Board. Eighty-two percent of those voting this month supported the union, to be named Delaware County United Library Staff. That group includes 85 librarians and staff. It is the fifth library system locally to unionize with the Ohio Federation of Teachers since 2021. Others include: Grandview Heights, Pickerington, Upper Arlington and Worthington.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
Tufts University lecturers to go on strike Monday, Tuesday
Mass Live
By Irene Rotondo
Jan. 27, 2025
More than 100 full-time educators at Tufts University in Medford will go on strike Monday after almost a year of unsuccessful contract negotiations. The university and its lecturers are at odds over fair wages, a cost-of-living adjustment and sustainable workloads, according to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 509 union representing the educators.
State’s largest union accepts labor contract aimed at luring ‘new generation’ of public servants
Nebraska Examiner
By Cindy Gonzalez
Jan. 27, 2025
The largest labor union representing state government employees has voted to accept a contract with the state that includes pay raises of between 6.5% and up to 19% over a two-year period. Another step in the right direction is a negotiated benefit that allows six weeks of paid maternity leave, up from none before, said Justin Hubly, executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees. The Nebraska Association of Public Employees, or NAPE/AFSCME, had been in discussions with Gov. Jim Pillen’s negotiators since September, and union members wrapped up a two-week voting period on the current terms Friday.
REI Greensboro Employees Unionize; SoHo Ski Workers Get PPE Agreement
SGB Media
By SGB Executive
Jan. 27, 2025
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) has reported that employees working at the REI Co-op in Greensboro, NC, voted to join the RWDSU, making REI Greensboro the eleventh unionized REI store in nationwide. RWDSU said in a statement that REI Greensboro workers first began organizing following the co-op’s October 2023 layoffs, which cut 275 jobs of “the most experienced workers,” known as “leads” or “green vests” from stores across the U.S. Two of the most tenured lead retail sales employees in its Greensboro store were among those whom the retailer laid off.
SEIU Members at Essentia Deer River win contract settlement to end nearly 50-day ULP Strike
Grand Rapids MN Herald Review
By Staff
Jan. 27, 2025
SEIU Healthcare MN & IA members are celebrating their contract agreement with Essentia Deer River. The new contract significantly improved on the offer proposed by management before the strike. The new contract was tentatively agreed upon early this weekend, after two days of bargaining, and approved by the full membership Sunday afternoon with 92% support. Today’s vote to approve the contract will end the ULP strike that lasted 49 days. This was the longest strike by SEIU Healthcare MN & IA members in more than 40 years.
Full-Time Lecturers Begin Two-Day Strike At Tufts University
WBZ News Radio
By Staff
Jan. 27, 2025
After months of failed contract negotiations, some lecturers at Tufts University started the school week on the picket line. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 509 represents over 120 full-time lecturers in Tufts’ School of Arts and Sciences. Despite 10 months of unsuccessful contract negotiations, Tufts claims the two sides have been bargaining “in good faith.” On Monday morning, the full-time lecturers began a two-day strike to demand better pay and a manageable workload as undergraduate enrollment continues to climb. In a statement, the university said they expect all other classes, lectures, and labs to “continue as usual” during the strike.
Guthrie Theater union negotiations are complicated by labor, DEI issues
MPR News
By Anika Besst
Jan. 27, 2025
A newsletter from the Guthrie Theater Front-Facing Staff Union, dated Friday, Jan. 25, announced that IATSE Local 13 and the front-facing departments at the Guthrie met with Guthrie senior management. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss creating a union contract — and quickly ran into disagreements about DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility), as well as other labor questions.
ZIPS Paratransit Workers Consider Strike Amid Ongoing Contract Negotiations
KIMT
By Evan Berg
Jan. 27, 2025
Drivers from Rochester's Zumbro Independent Passenger Service have voted to approve a strike if necessary amid ongoing contract negotiations with the city's partners at Sun Transit. David Stigger, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, says his union started negotiations for the 19 paratransit workers new contracts back in March 2024, the union is currently waiting on a final contract from their employer.
JOINING TOGETHER
ONA nurses hold union solidarity rally at Providence Medford on 18th day of strike
KDRV
By Tim Quitadamo
Jan. 27, 2025
Today, striking nurses at Providence Medford Medical Center held a union solidarity rally. The rally included labor leaders across the state including the Oregon chapter of the American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Rogue Climate Management, Jobs With Justice, Rogue Action Center and others. "We act for a voice of all workers,” AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor told NewsWatch 12. “Any union, any worker that's in a fight, we're there with them."
STATE LEGISLATION
Lawmakers Will Consider Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers
Willamette Week
By Nigel Jaquiss
Jan. 26, 2025
As nearly 5,000 Providence Health nurses, doctors, midwives and other workers remain on strike in Hood River, Medford, Newberg, Seaside and several metro-area locations, lawmakers may soon consider extending a benefit now available only in a couple of states. That benefit: unemployment insurance payments for striking workers. Senate Bill 916, written at the request of the AFL-CIO of Oregon, would amend current Oregon law, which deems strikers ineligible for unemployment.
The Salt Lake Tribune
By Carmen Nesbitt
Jan. 27, 2025
Thousands of emails, calls and text messages flooded Utah lawmakers’ inboxes over the weekend opposing HB267 — a bill that would eliminate collective bargaining for public sector employees, including teachers, firefighters and police officers. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle acknowledged the barrage of messages during a House hearing on the bill Monday. Then in a 42-32 vote, they again moved the controversial measure forward, bringing it one step closer to passing as it now heads to the Senate Business and Labor Committee.
IN THE STATES
Worker's coalition aims to address climate emergency, economic inequality
KUNC
By Eric Galatas
Jan. 27, 2025
The coalition includes the Amalgamated Transit Union, Colorado AFL-CIO, Colorado Building and Construction Trades Council and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Bernstein added they are working on a bill to end a 1943 law requiring a second, supermajority election to form a union. "We're continuing to build the coalition to make sure that the laws enacted at the Capitol continue to be favorable for working people as well as the environment," Bernstein emphasized. "All while assuring that we close the gap on racial and economic inequity within our state."
Illinois completes minimum wage increase, among other pro-worker law changes this year
Labor Tribune
By Elizabeth Donald
Jan. 27, 2025
Employees cannot be required to sit through work meetings discussing religion or politics. An initiative of the Illinois AFL-CIO, the Worker Freedom of Speech Act protects workers who skip out on “captive audience” meetings and prevents employers from retaliating against them. The law does not prohibit discussion religion or politics at work, but employees will not be required to participate in those discussions if such activities are not part of the job. The law does exclude non-profits and advocacy groups. Advocated by the AFL-CIO, the bill was also supported by the Illinois Federation of Teachers and at least 30 other Illinois Labor groups. Seven states have backed similar legislation allowing employees to opt out of these meetings, which often include exhortations to vote a certain way or to oppose unionization. Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea said the potentially uncomfortable meetings force workers to be a “captive audience” for their employers’ beliefs.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Can you help our California union members, families in crisis?
Labor Tribune
By Staff
Jan. 27, 2025
With union fire fighters on the front line in Los Angeles working incredible hours to save lives and homes of union families as well as thousands of others, the unions are reaching out to our members across America for help for those whose lives have been devastated. Many of our Los Angeles union members and supporters have been affected by the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area, which have brought tremendous hardship to many of them. Thousands of homes been devastated and at least 25 people have lost their lives.
IAFF International Burn Camp: A life-changing experience for young burn survivors
Fire and Safety Journal Americas
By Iain Hoey
Jan. 27, 2025
Each fall, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) International Burn Camp gives young burn survivors a rare opportunity to connect with peers who understand their experiences – and to build leadership skills that will carry them forward. The all-expenses-paid, week-long camp, held just outside Washington, D.C., offers participants aged 14-16 an intensive blend of recreational activities, team-building exercises, and leadership training.