Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST READ
Trump's Firing of Labor Officials Shows He 'Could Not Care Less About Rights of Workers'
Common Dreams
By Jake Johnson
Jan. 29, 2025
AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler warned in a statement Tuesday that Trump's firing of Wilcox—who, under federal law, cannot be fired on political grounds—"is illegal and will have immediate consequences for working people." "By leaving only two board members in their posts, the president has effectively shut down the National Labor Relations Board's operations, leaving the workers it defends on their own in the face of union-busting and retaliation," said Shuler. "Alongside the firing of NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, these moves will make it easier for bosses to violate the law and trample on workers' legal rights on the job and fundamental freedom to organize."
Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s unconstitutional freeze of programs initiated by Congress
People’s World
By John Wojcik And Associated Press
Jan. 29, 2025
The AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler issued the following statement: “The Trump administration’s move to freeze federal funding is unprecedented and illegal and will immediately harm working families across this country. The Office of Management and Budget’s memo indicates that essential programs will stop operating as soon as 5 p.m. Tuesday, including food assistance for people living in poverty; shelter for homeless veterans; health care for babies and nursing homes for seniors with Medicaid; Head Start preschool programs for children; rent assistance and support for low-income families to heat their homes; fire response and disaster relief for people who have lost everything; and state workplace safety programs for workers on the job. The administration’s move also pauses funding for infrastructure and manufacturing projects, throwing tens of thousands of good union jobs into jeopardy.
POLITICS
White House rescinds freeze on federal grants, in reversal
The Washington Post
By Jeff Stein
Jan. 29, 2025
The White House budget office on Wednesday rescinded an order freezing federal grants, according to a copy of a new memo obtained by The Washington Post, after the administration’s move to halt spending earlier this week provoked a backlash. In a memo dated Wednesday and distributed to federal agencies, Matthew J. Vaeth, acting director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, states that OMB memorandum M-25-13 “is rescinded.” That order, issued Monday, instructed federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.”
CBS News
By Jennifer Jacobs and Nancy Cordes
Jan. 29, 2025
"Purging the federal government of dedicated career civil servants will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government," said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. "This offer should not be viewed as voluntary. Between the flurry of anti-worker executive orders and policies, it is clear that the Trump administration's goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to."
Trump's plan to reclassify, fire federal workers challenged by union
Reuters
By Daniel Wiessner
Jan. 29, 2025
The largest union representing U.S. government employees filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to block President Donald Trump's plan to reclassify up to 50,000 federal workers and make it easier to fire them. The American Federation of Government Employees, in a lawsuit in Washington, D.C. federal court, said Trump lacks the power to strip federal employees of protections against being fired at will without adopting a formal rule.
Project 2025 is already massively reshaping America
Politico
By Megan Messerly
Jan. 29, 2025
President Donald Trump says he’s never read Project 2025. But his advisers sure have. Monday’s memo from Trump’s Office of Management and Budget ordering a sweeping freeze of federal financial assistance is the boldest, and clearest example of the administration not only leaning on the people who wrote Project 2025 but employing its strategies. It’s not the only example of how Project 2025 promises are coming to fruition. The president has moved to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, re-up his previous “Schedule F” initiative that allows him to more easily fire career employees and reinstate service members who had been dismissed for failing to receive the Covid-19 vaccine at the height of the pandemic.
Trump to sign sweeping executive order to expand school choice
NBC News
By Yamiche Alcindor and Rebecca Shabad
Jan. 29, 2025
Randi Weingarten, president of American Federation of Teachers, said at the group’s annual convention last year that research shows vouchers “negatively affect achievement.” “Today, vouchers subsidize wealthy families who already send their kids to private and religious schools,” she said. “Privatizers fund those giveaways by defunding and destabilizing public schools.”
Trump to issue orders on K-12 ‘indoctrination,’ school choice and campus protests
Politico
By Juan Perez Jr. and Mackenzie Wilkes
Jan. 29, 2025
President Donald Trump is expected to sign executive orders that direct federal agencies to “end indoctrination” in K-12 education, launch investigations into campus protests and enact a federal school choice initiative, according to White House documents obtained by POLITICO outlining the directives. Trump is expected to sign the three orders as soon as Wednesday, two administration official said.
As Trump seeks to reshape the federal workforce, unions blast his Schedule F plan
CBS News
By Kate Gibson
Jan. 29, 2025
On Wednesday, the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) filed suit against the Trump administration, saying it was exceeding its authority in rolling back protections for workers. "We can stop the efforts to fire hundreds of thousands of experienced, hard-working Americans who have dedicated their careers to serving their country and prevent these career civil servants from being replaced with unqualified political flunkies loyal to the president, but not the law or Constitution," AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a statement.
Federal workforce reeling over Trump’s ‘buyout’ offer
Politico
By Eli Stokols
Jan. 30, 2025
The American Federation of Government Employees emailed members a lengthy FAQ about the OPM resignation program, warning that it “should not [be taken] … at face value.”
Unions warn government workers not to trust Trump's offer to quit
Reuters
By Tim Reid, Timothy Gardner and Leah Douglas
Jan. 29, 2025
Two of America's biggest federal worker unions told members on Wednesday not to trust a Trump administration offer to 2 million government employees to quit with eight months pay, while many civil servants expressed anger and defiance over the move. In advice to its 800,000 members, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) - the largest federal employee union - questioned the legality of the offer, where the money would come from to make the pay-offs, and whether the administration "can or will uphold its end of the bargain."
Federal worker unions sue to block Trump order rolling back civil service protections
WUSA 9
By Jordan Fischer
Jan. 29, 2025
Two labor unions representing more than 2 million government employees nationwide filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging an attempt by the Trump administration to reclassify thousands of federal jobs as at-will positions. Among his first actions back in office last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating “Schedule F,” an employment classification created near the end of his first term that seeks to exempt certain “policy-influencing” positions from employment protections granted to other federal workers. The order renames the classification to “Schedule Policy/Career.”
Labor Groups Sue Trump Over Civil Service Rights Reduction
Bloomberg Law
By Bernie Pazanowski
Jan. 29, 2025
President Donald Trump’s executive order that threatens the job security of federal workers drew a pair of lawsuits from labor unions and a labor rights group representing thousands of federal civil servants. The order creates a new class of federal workers, Schedule F employees, that can be fired for their political affiliation, according to a complaint filed Wednesday by the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. The EO “seeks to put politics over professionalism, contrary to the laws and values that have defined our career civil service for more than a century,” the complaint says.
'Not a buyout': Attorneys and unions urge federal workers not to resign
NPR
By Andrea Hsu
Jan. 29, 2025
Federal employee unions and attorneys are urging government workers not to accept an offer from the Trump administration to resign from their jobs by Feb. 6 and be paid through the end of September. "This 'fork' thing is not a buyout," said Jim Eisenmann, a partner with Alden Law Group who represents federal employees, referring to the "Fork in the Road" subject line that accompanied an email sent to federal workers Tuesday. "It's not based on any law or regulation or anything really other than an idea they cooked up to get federal employees out of the government."
Scoop: GOP fight coming over labor unions
Axios
By Stef W. Kight
Jan. 29, 2025
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is aiming to be the first Republican in decades to sponsor major, pro-union labor reform, Axios has learned. Why it matters: GOP leaders see an opportunity for a new, working-class coalition, which includes more union outreach. It's a major shift, and fault lines are already forming over President Trump's pro-labor Cabinet nominee, former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Union Popularity Hits 70%, But Trump’s NLRB Move Threatens Labor
Forbes
By Teresa Ghilarducci
Jan. 28, 2025
Late Monday night on January 27, President Donald Trump neutralized the National Labor Relations Board, which is an independent federal agency designed to function without direct political interference. The law explicitly states the president of the United States cannot fire a sitting board member without cause, due process, and a hearing. She did not get a hearing. But the salient impact is that without Member Gwynne Wilcox, the board won’t have a quorum and can’t issue decisions to settle disputes of unfair labor practices and other actions that promote the collective bargaining process and labor rights and union functioning.
TRANSPORTATION
NBC Bay Area
By Leslie Josephs
Jan. 29 2025
"We are shocked and saddened by the tragic accident at DCA tonight," said the Air Line Pilots Association, a pilot union. "Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy and ALPA's accident investigation team is responding to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in their investigation."
What to Know About the Passenger Jet and Army Helicopter Collision Near Washington
Time
By Chad de Guzman
Jan. 30, 2025
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), a union of over 50,000 flight attendants across 20 airlines, said in a statement that two of its members were working in the flight. “We ask the public to keep the families in your thoughts and respect efforts to get information to loved ones first as everyone clings to hope for survivors,” the statement read.
LABOR AND ECONOMY
Fed holds rates steady, drops reference to inflation 'progress' from policy statement
Reuters
By Howard Schneider and Michael S. Derby
Jan. 29, 2025
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday and gave little insight into when further reductions in borrowing costs may take place in an economy where inflation remains above target, growth continues, and the unemployment rate is low. After several months in which inflation data have largely moved sideways, the U.S. central bank dropped from its latest policy statement language saying that inflation "has made progress" towards the Fed's 2% inflation goal, noting only that the pace of price increases "remains elevated."
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
More than 1,000 Portland city employees prepared to strike next month
OPB
By Alex Zielinski
Jan. 29, 2025
One of Portland’s largest unions representing city employees has voted to go on strike. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 189, or AFSCME, represents more than 1,000 workers across nearly every city department. The union has been in contract negotiations with the city for months over wage increases and overtime pay.
Kotek calls Providence, striking nurses union back to negotiation table
KOIN
By John Ross Ferrara
Jan. 29, 2025
With the Oregon Nurses Association strike entering its 20th day, the nurses union and Providence have reentered mediation at the request of Gov. Tina Kotek. Previous negotiations between the hospital and the nurses union were unfruitful. On Jan. 29, the Oregon Nurses Association and Providence issued a joint statement saying they’ve returned to the table.
Portland city workers vote overwhelmingly to strike
KGW
By Thomas Shults and Luisa Anderson
Jan. 29, 2025
More than a thousand unionized city of Portland workers voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to strike following months of negotiations. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (Oregon AFSCME Local 189) said 87% of people voted in favor of a strike, with 89% of members who participated in the vote.
CATS bus workers drive closer to strike (Video)
WAFB
Jan. 28, 2025
As the days pass, members of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1546 (ATU) are getting more and more frustrated.
GE Appliances union workers ratify new contract. Here's what we know
Courier Journal
By Olivia Evans
Jan. 29, 2025
After months of contract negotiations and union workers striking down a tentative agreement, workers at GE Appliances have ratified a new labor contract. The roughly 5,000 union workers in Louisville at GE Appliances — a major manufacturer of dishwashers, refrigerators, and washers and dryers — voted in the new contract on Wednesday with 72.5% of voting workers in favor of the new deal. IUE-CWA Local 83761 President Dino Driskell said the contract is a roughly $142 million investment over its four years. "The IUE-CWA Local 83761 has informed us that the proposed four-year agreement has passed," GE Appliances spokesperson Julie Wood told the Courier Journal via email Wednesday evening. "We appreciate our employees' ongoing commitment to our business and the work they do every day to support our customers."
Why CATS union workers are weighing a strike
Business Report
By Dillon Lowe
Jan. 29, 2025
Tensions between transit union members and the Capital Area Transit System over stalled contract negotiations came to a boil Tuesday. Members of Amalgamated Transit Union 1546, wearing bandages on their faces to convey injury by CATS, were emphatic in expressing their frustration with the agency at the CATS Board of Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday evening.
At HealthPartners, we’re fighting for fair wages
Star Tribune
By Paula Moyer
Jan. 29, 2025
A Newsweek article from 2023 touted my employer, HealthPartners, as a “great place to work.” I wonder who said that. My union, Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 12, has been in tough negotiations since September. We will probably be taking a strike vote soon. I’m a steward and a member of the bargaining team. As frustrating as the process has been, there is no place I would have been other than at that bargaining table, where we have been fighting to expand justice and dignity at our workplace.
New Orleans hospital nurses call 2nd strike
Becker’s Hospital Review
By Kelly Gooch
Jan. 29, 2025
Members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United, have called a second strike amid contract negotiations — a two-day walkout beginning Feb. 5 at University Medical Center in New Orleans. The union represents nearly 600 nurses at the hospital, according to NNOC/NNU. University Medical Center, part of LCMC Health, employs 2,779 people.
JOINING TOGETHER
Local ironworkers protest public safety building job, City says no local companies bid on it
WILX
By Krystle Holleman
Jan. 29, 2025
Wednesday morning, several members of Ironworkers Local 25 were seen picketing on Washington Avenue, where a public safety building is being constructed. According to Ben Dodson, a business agent for Ironworkers Local 25, they were picketing a steel erector out of Grand Rapids on the standpoint of “local jobs for local people.” “We always work with the city, go out of our way to make everything cohesive,” Dodson said. “It doesn’t seem to be reciprocating as of late. We were all invited here to the groundbreaking ceremony. We were told from the podium that the men and women of the Lansing area building trades were going to be the people building this and that didn’t happen at all as soon as the first contract came up.”
‘Slap in the face:’ Richmond janitors strike over pay, alleged treatment
12 On Your Side
By 12 On Your Side Digital Team
Jan. 28, 2025
At least 150 employees of a janitorial company contracted by City Hall are on strike. Employers walked off the job Tuesday after alleging three employees were fired and threatened another for trying to organize a union. “Workers have rights, and those rights should be respected,” said Jaime Contreras with SEIU 32BJ, a labor union that represents property service workers.”
REI Workers Look to Shake up Co-op’s Board Amid Push for a First Contract
Nonprofit Quarterly
By Nate Wolf
Jan. 20, 2025
Since March 2022, over 600 workers have voted to unionize at 11 REI stores. The campaign is growing, with workers in Greensboro, NC, voting to become the eleventh union store just last week. Workers at these stores are affiliated with either the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) or the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
STATE LEGISLATION
Republicans file bill to mandate more public sector union elections
New Hampshire Bulletin
By William Skipworth
Jan. 29, 2025
A new proposal in the state House of Representatives seeks to require more union elections among public employee unions. If passed, House Bill 735 would call for a new vote on whether to recertify a public employees union once the number of employees that joined the union since the previous vote outnumber the ones who were present for the previous vote. “This bill is basically just term limits for unions,” Milton Republican Rep. Michael Granger, the sponsor of the bill, said at a hearing in Concord Tuesday. “Unions should represent their members and if they do a good job at it, it should be no problem to recertify them.”
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
IAFF expands workplace violence prevention training for first responders
Fire & Safety Journal Americas
By Iain Hoey
Jan. 29, 2025
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has introduced its second course on workplace violence prevention. The new training, Practical Strategies for Safety, builds on the IAFF’s initial workplace violence prevention course launched in 2021. The latest module provides prevention strategies, real-world examples, and safety resources for members. The course is free to all IAFF members and includes demonstrations filmed at the EMS training facility of Washington, DC Local 36 and DC Fire and EMS.
Ohio State University failed to protect nurses from workplace violence, complaint alleges
The Columbus Dispatch
By Samantha Hendrickson
Jan. 29, 2025
Nurses at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center are accusing the health system of failing to protect its staff against workplace violence, according to a complaint filed Tuesday. Represented by the Ohio Nurses' Association (ONA), the Ohio State University Nurses Organization (OSUNO) alleges that OSU has not heeded pleas to improve security measures for workers, such as enforcing effective safety protocols or increasing security personnel. Workplace violence has persisted as a result, they allege.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Topeka mail carrier Hero of the Year after saving man’s life
KSNT
By Colter Robinson and Gabriel Johnson
Jan. 29, 2025
The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) has awarded a Topeka man with the Western Region Hero of the Year award after he helped save a man’s life. Gerald “Jerry” Loney was returning to his vehicle while delivering mail on his route when a man covered in blood approached him asking for help. Loney immediately started caring for the man. A 911 operator talked Loney through applying a tourniquet to the man’s wrists.