Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST READ
A.F.L.-C.I.O. Pushes Back on Elon Musk’s Campaign Against Federal Workers
The New York Times
By Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan
Feb. 5, 2025
The nation’s largest federation of unions is starting a campaign to push back on Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who has been empowered by President Trump to carry out a largely unchecked attempt to purge the federal work force. The campaign by the A.F.L.-C.I.O. is called the Department of People Who Work for a Living, a play on Mr. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. “Government can work for billionaires or it can work for working people — but not both,” Liz Shuler, the A.F.L.-C.I.O. president, said in a statement.
Labor Department workers fear they’re next on DOGE’s to-do list
Politico
By Lawrence Ukenye and Nick Niedzwiadek
Feb. 5, 2025
“They want us to think that DOL is some bureaucracy that doesn’t matter, that could not be further from the truth,” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said at the rally, speaking to several hundred union members and supporters. “This is about our health, our safety, our fair pay, our jobs, and these are the people who fight for us.”
Democrats mobilize to take on Musk after weeks of struggling to find a message
CNN
By Arit John, Fredreka Schouten and Arlette Saenz
Feb. 5, 2025
“If Elon Musk can make up his own government department, so can workers,” Liz Shuler, the president of AFL-CIO, told CNN in an interview. “This is just unprecedented. We’ve never seen this kind of influence by billionaire CEOs on the norms of our government.” The campaign, which is expected to include digital ads and mailers, will aim to hold Musk “accountable,” Shuler said, and amplify the stories of workers who may be impacted by DOGE’s efforts – from air traffic controllers that play a key role in the flying public’s safety to mine workers dependent on worker safety standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “What we’re trying to do is put a human face right on the fact that these are not just bureaucracies. These are not sleepy, tired, old, outdated, outmoded agencies. These are real people,” Shuler said.
POLITICS
'People Who Work for a Living' Rally at Labor Dept as DOGE Readies Latest Attack
Common Dreams
By Julia Conley
Feb. 5, 2025
At the rally, AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler announced the union's launch of the "Department of People Who Work for a Living"—a new campaign aimed at reporting on DOGE's attacks on working Americans through digital ads and public actions at the agencies Musk's advisory body is attempting to cut. "Elon Musk and DOGE, they want us to think this is about efficiency, right?" said Shuler. "They want us to think the DOL is some bureaucracy that doesn't matter. That could not be further from the truth. This is about our health, our safety, our fair pay, our jobs, and these are the people who fight for us."
LATEST: Elon Musk's DOGE Targets Labor Department
In These Times
By Kim Kelly
Feb. 5, 2025
AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler spoke alongside members of Congress, including Democratic Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Suzanne Bonamici. “We are here today because Donald Trump and his unelected co-president Elon Musk are waging a war on workers and a war on federal employees,” Bonamici said to boos from the crowd. “We’re here to say no.”
Unions troll Elon Musk's DOGE with 'Department of People Who Work for a Living'
Business Insider
By Katie Balevic
Feb. 5, 2025
"We will hold DOGE and Elon Musk accountable because we are certain that the people who keep our food and medicine safe know more about how to make government efficient than an outsider whose companies benefit from the very agencies he is infiltrating," Liz Shuler, the president of the AFL-CIO, a federation that represents nearly 15 million people in over 60 national and international unions, said in a press release on Wednesday.
Government unions sue over DOGE access to Labor Department
The Hill
By Zach Schonfeld
Feb. 5, 2025
The AFL-CIO and several of its affiliated government employee unions sued Wednesday over fears that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is on the cusp of unlawfully gaining access to the Labor Department. Wednesday’s lawsuit was filed by the AFL-CIO and several of its affiliates — the American Federation of Government Employees; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the Service Employees International Union; and the Communication Workers of America — as well as the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank.
Union asks judge to block Elon Musk's DOGE from Labor Dept systems
Reuters
By Luc Cohen
Feb. 5, 2025
In a lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C. federal court, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) asked U.S. District Judge John Bates to block what they called DOGE's imminent plan to access the Labor Department's information systems.
The union said that would potentially give Musk access to non-public information from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) probes into his SpaceX, Tesla, and his tunneling company, The Boring Company, as well as investigations into his competitors.
Labor groups sue to keep DOGE from key economic data
Axios
By Emily Peck
Feb. 6, 2025
The plaintiffs include the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, Service Employees International Union and the progressive Economic Policy Institute. They collectively represent more than 4 million workers. The Department of Labor and acting secretary Vince Micone are the named defendants. A spokesman for the department was not immediately available for comment.
Republicans block Musk from congressional subpoena as DOGE continues to access government data
ABC7
By Ivan Pereira
Feb. 5, 2025
On Wednesday, more than 100 people protested in front of the Department of Labor, which they said is Musk's latest target. Organized by the AFL-CIO, Democratic lawmakers, and other federal employee groups, demonstrators held signs saying, "nobody elected Musk," "Elon owns Trump," and "checks and balances."
'We would call it a coup': Watchdogs and Dems attack Elon Musk Treasury Department takeover
USA Today
By Josh Meyer
Feb. 4, 2025
"The scale of the intrusion into individuals’ privacy is massive and unprecedented," the lawsuit by the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO, said. "Secretary Bessent’s action granting DOGE-affiliated individuals full, continuous, and ongoing access to that information ... means that retirees, taxpayers, federal employees, companies, and other individuals from all walks of life have no assurance that their information will receive the protection that federal law affords."
The "fork in the road" has some very sharp prongs
Axios
By Emily Peck
Feb. 5, 2025
hree unions that represent more than 800,000 federal workers and the AFL-CIO filed a lawsuit on Tuesday seeking a restraining order to halt the deadline, calling the deal an unlawful, arbitrary and "short-fused ultimatum."
Trump fires NLRB officials in direct attack on worker rights
Labor Tribune
By Staff
Feb. 5, 2025
“President Trump’s firing of NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox, the first Black woman to serve on the board, is illegal and will have immediate consequences for working people,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, in a press release. “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. 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. “Member Wilcox has already indicated she will challenge her firing, and we fully expect she will succeed in the courts and be restored to her position so she can continue to be a critical pro-worker voice on the NLRB.”
Elon Musk’s Doge staffers face protest over labor department visit
The Guardian
By Michael Sainato
Feb. 5, 2025
Workers at the US Department of Labor are organizing a protest ahead of the scheduled meeting of Elon Musk’s staff at the “department of government efficiency” (Doge) with the management at Frances Perkins Building in Washington DC at 4pm on Wednesday. “Lower-level IT supervisors were basically asked to plan to stay late after the 4pm meeting to assist with getting Doge folks set up on our systems,” a Department of Labor employee who requested to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation said.
DOGE searches for DEI information at U.S. climate, oceans agency
Axios
By Andrew Freedman
Feb. 5, 2025
DOGE representatives at NOAA are combing through IT databases to find employees associated with DEI initiatives, according to a source familiar at the oceans and atmosphere agency. Why it matters: How Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency handles NOAA's information resources and workforce is critical for Americans since the agency provides severe weather warnings, researches climate change, protects fisheries and more. Employees were told DOGE is looking for "DEI content," the person familiar stated.
Protests against Trump and Project 2025 are planned in cities across the US
AP
By The Associated Press
Feb. 5, 2025
A movement to oppose the early actions of President Donald Trump’s administration is taking off online, with plans to protest across the U.S. on Wednesday. The movement has organized under the hashtags #buildtheresistance and #50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one day. Many of the protests are planned at state capitols, with some in other cities. The movement has websites and accounts across social media. Flyers circulating online decry Project 2025, a hard-right playbook for American government and society, and include messages such as “reject fascism” and “defend our democracy.”
Trump, Project 2025 protests planned in multiple cities
The Hill
By Tara Suter
Feb. 5, 2025
Protests against President Trump, Project 2025 and other issues have been planned in multiple cities for Wednesday. “We the people reject the agenda proposed by the Heritage Foundation in its publication of Project 2025. Its rhetoric intends to divide, isolate, and alienate our society, as well as dismantle the foundational liberties of our country by attacking our institutions,” reads a website stating there will be “50 Marches on 2/5/25 to defend liberty, equality, and justice.”
Former NLRB member sues Trump for firing her
Reuters
By Jonathan Stempel and Daniel Wiessner
Feb. 5, 2025
A former member of the National Labor Relations Board sued U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, saying he illegally fired her from the agency that protects American workers' rights. Gwynne Wilcox said her Jan. 27 firing, in a late-night email from the White House, violated the National Labor Relations Act, which says board members can be fired only for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office and for no other cause.
Former National Labor Relations Board member sues Trump for her firing
The Washington Post
By Lauren Kaori Gurley and Julian Mark
Feb. 5, 2025
A fired member of the National Labor Relations Board sued President Donald Trump on Wednesday, alleging that he exceeded his authority and broke with nine decades of precedent in ousting her from the agency that oversees unions and workers’ rights.
Trump fired this independent labor regulator. Now, she’s suing.
Politico
By Nick Niedzwiadek
Feb. 5, 2025
Former National Labor Relations Board member Gwynne Wilcox sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over her abrupt removal from the agency last week. “The President’s removal of Ms. Wilcox without even purporting to identify any neglect of duty or malfeasance, and without notice or a hearing, defies ninety years of Supreme Court precedent that has ensured the independence of critical government agencies like the Federal Reserve,” states the complaint, which was filed in D.C. district court.
'It's a bad deal': Union president warns federal workers against accepting offer
NPR
By Obed Manuel
Feb. 5, 2025
Thursday is the deadline for more than 2 million federal workers to accept a deal from the Trump administration to resign from their jobs and keep pay and benefits through the end of September. Randy Erwin, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, has a simple warning for employees weighing the option: "It's a bad deal."
The Musk-Bezos War on Collective Bargaining
The American Prospect
By Harold Meyerson
Feb. 5, 2025
During Joe Biden’s presidency, his appointees to the National Labor Relations Board—a majority of the Board’s members and the agency’s general counsel—had strengthened workers’ rights to form unions and sought to penalize employers who illegally thwarted those rights, in a manner not seen since the presidencies of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. Vexed by the Board’s determination to resurrect the letter and spirit of the original pro-worker National Labor Relations Act, Amazon, as well as SpaceX and Starbucks, had all brought lawsuits during the past year arguing that the NLRB’s power to charge unions and employers for labor law violations and have administrative courts hold hearings and rule on those charges had suddenly become unconstitutional. This is a power upheld by the Supreme Court in 1937 that had gone unchallenged ever since.
VA nurses are in short supply. Unions say Trump's deferred resignation plan could make
WSB-TV
By Carla K. Johnson and Brian Witte
Feb. 5, 2025
Unions are discouraging nurses from accepting the offer, and leaders say an exodus would directly and immediately affect the care of its 9.1 million enrolled veterans. “We’re already facing a staffing crisis in our hospitals,” said Irma Westmoreland, a registered nurse who heads the Veterans Affairs unit for National Nurses United. “We cannot afford to lose any more staff.”
Federal Employees Protest Musk’s ‘Fork in the Road’ Offer With Spoon Emojis
The New York Times
By Ryan Mac and Kate Conger
Feb. 5, 2025
Some federal employees have a new symbol for their resistance to President Trump’s and Elon Musk’s radical overhaul of the U.S. government: a spoon. Last week, in an email with the subject line “Fork in the Road,” the administration urged federal workers to consider resigning from their posts and said they would be paid through September — a bid to rapidly shrink the size of the work force.
Trump Administration Deepens Pressure on Federal Workers to Resign
The New York Times
By Michael C. Bender, Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Christopher Flavelle
Feb. 5, 2025
President Trump’s administration deepened its pressure campaign on government employees to resign before a Thursday deadline, rattling and angering a civil service steeling itself for a prolonged battle with Elon Musk and his ongoing foray into the federal bureaucracy.
US federal employees fear mass firings as Thursday buyout deadline nears
Reuters
By Tim Reid, Valerie Volcovici, David Shepardson and Nandita Bose
Feb. 5, 2025
Fearful U.S. government workers weighed whether to take a buyout offer from the Trump administration ahead of a Thursday deadline, as officials pressed ahead with a restructuring effort that could dramatically shrink the U.S. civil service. Federal worker unions urged their members not to take the offers and said they may not be legal, despite administration assurances. The unions sued to block the offer, with a court hearing scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday (1800 GMT).
Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order Nationwide
The New York Times
By Campbell Robertson and Mattathias Schwartz
Feb. 5, 2025
“The executive order conflicts with the plain language of the 14th Amendment, contradicts 125-year-old binding Supreme Court precedent and runs counter to our nation’s 250-year history of citizenship by birth,” Judge Boardman ruled. “The United States Supreme Court has resoundingly rejected the president’s interpretation of the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment. In fact, no court in the country has ever endorsed the president’s interpretation. This court will not be the first.”
Federal workers must decide on deferred resignation offer today
The Washington Post
By Olivia George
Feb. 6, 2025
Three unions that represent more than 800,000 federal workers filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the deadline, calling the offer an “arbitrary, unlawful, short-fused ultimatum.” Democratic members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform have demanded that President Donald Trump rescind the offer, calling it a “scam” that could “decimate our civil service and cause immeasurable harm to the American public.”
US government workers face buyout deadline as Trump presses ahead with overhaul
Reuters
By Tim Reid, Alexandra Ulmer and Andy Sullivan
Feb. 6, 2025
Millions of U.S. government workers face a Thursday deadline to tell the Trump administration whether they will accept a buyout offer or remain in their jobs, but still face the possibility of being thrown out of work if they decide to stay. President Donald Trump's aggressive drive to reduce the size of the government in a matter of weeks is unprecedented. It has caused turmoil in the U.S. capital, and sparked protests and union warnings that it may violate multiple laws.
Musk aims to hobble federal workers ahead of ‘buyout’ deadline
Politico
By Holly Otterbein
Feb. 6, 2025
Elon Musk has declared war on the bureaucracy. And as a Thursday deadline nears for federal employees to take a “buyout,” he is looking to demoralize and wear down his enemy. Across the government, officials in President Donald Trump’s administration have fired off message after message pushing staff to accept the deferred resignation program, coaxing them with promises of paid vacations and threatening that there will be layoffs if they don’t leave. At the same time, Musk has bullied them with online taunts.
'People are feeling galvanized': Anti-Trump protesters rally in cities across US
USA Today
By John Bacon, Karissa Waddick, and Jorge L. Ortiz
Feb. 5, 2025
Among the speakers at the rally were AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler; Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, a Democrat; and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents D.C. "This is where the movement begins, this is where the fight begins," Markey said.
Protesters across the US rally against Trump administration policies
ABC News
By Meredith Deliso
Feb. 5, 2025
Protesters gathered nationwide Wednesday as part of a movement opposing the Trump administration's policies and Project 2025, the controversial conservative presidential wish list.
The protests, which took place largely in state capitals, were organized by an online movement dubbed 50501 -- meaning 50 protests, 50 states, one day.
Federal Unions Sue DOGE Over Department of Labor Data Access
Democracy Docket
By Matt Cohen
Feb. 5, 2025
Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit Wednesday — on behalf of a coalition of federal unions — against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to block access to Department of Labor (DOL) data. According to the lawsuit, DOGE — the Elon Musk-led faux agency tasked with cutting down federal spending — is prepping to demand DOL employees to hand over sensitive data and access to the department’s computer system, similar to what it’s done to Department of the Treasury, the Office of Personnel and Management and USAID.
ORGANIZING
Salt Lake City approves Utah’s first library union amidst controversy on Capitol Hill
ABC4
By Aubree B. Jennings
Feb. 5, 2025
The Salt Lake City Council unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the Salt Lake City Library union on Wednesday, saying union members should celebrate this “win” despite pushback on Utah’s Capitol Hill. Librarian Bryce Hayes told the council on Wednesday, Feb. 4, that this union was years in the making. He said a group of Salt Lake City Library employees began informally meeting in 2022 to talk about how to improve working conditions. The group decided to unionize after realizing they had many shared concerns and frustrations. The group worked with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the library board over the past two years, seeking formal recognition of the union.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
King Soopers workers in Colorado plan two-week strike starting Thursday
Colorado Newsline
By Lindsey Toomer
Feb. 5, 2025
About 10,000 King Soopers workers from 77 stores in Colorado plan to go on strike for two weeks starting Thursday, after 96% of union members across the state voted to approve the action. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 workers have been in contract negotiations with King Soopers, which is owned by grocery giant Kroger, since October. The contract union members have been working under expired at the end of January. Kroger also operates City Market stores in Colorado. The strike comes after the union filed several Unfair Labor Practice complaints with the National Labor Relations Board related to issues with negotiations. The complaints allege King Soopers illegally interrogated union members about bargaining, refused to provide data related to pricing and staffing the union needed to consider proposals in negotiations, and threatened union members with discipline for wearing union gear, among other violations.
Purdue dorm resident assistants push their case for a union; top concern is sharing rooms
Journal & Courier
By Wil Courtney
Feb. 4, 2025
Hours before Purdue's basketball team was to tip off against rival Indiana University, four resident assistants are sitting around a table in Harrison Residence Hall's busy lobby late Friday afternoon, talking about why they want to unionize. Every few minutes, one of their residents walks by, and the RA greets them by name. Behind them, a student loudly reacts to a video game. This is the most private spot in the building they could find to talk with a reporter. "It's an insane concept that there's nowhere in Harrison that has a private space that we can take a resident to talk about issues," said 21-year-old Milo Wiebus, an RA at Aspire at Discovery Park and a member of the union's organizing committee.
UFCW 655, Schnucks, Dierbergs markets begin work on new contract
Labor Tribune
By Staff
Feb. 5, 2025
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 655, the largest private sector local union in St. Louis, and their largest employers, Schnucks Markets Inc. and Dierbergs Markets, have begun bargaining new contracts covering approximately 7,000 employees in Missouri. UFCW Local 655 represents the majority of Schnucks employees in the eastern half of the state in 70 stores – 65 of those covered by the agreement – in addition to employees at 24 Dierbergs locations. The current union contract expires in May of 2025.
Volkswagen, union still ‘far apart’ in Chattanooga contract negotiations, UAW says
Local 3 News
By Chattanooga Times Free Press
Feb. 5, 2025
Despite five months of bargaining with Volkswagen, the United Auto Workers said Wednesday the parties are "still far apart" in negotiating key issues such as wages and health care at the Chattanooga assembly plant. The UAW said in an update that union members indicate they want to see "management step up and address their concerns in their future proposals." The union said it's releasing a new video featuring workers as it negotiates a first contract with the automaker after the UAW won an election last year to represent employees at the factory.
Oregon nurses, Providence reach tentative deal to end 26-day strike
OPB
By Ryan Haas and Amelia Templeton
Feb. 5, 2025
The Oregon Nurses Association announced late Tuesday evening it had reached a tentative deal with Providence to end one of the largest health care strikes in state history. The proposed deal came after 26 days on picket lines at various Providence facilities stretching from Medford to Portland, and Seaside to Hood River. Both sides have been in mediation talks urged by Gov. Tina Kotek since last week. Tuesday’s deal applies to nearly all the bargaining units that had joined the strike. One group of unionized doctors working at St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland still have not reached an agreement on their contract.
University Medical Center nurses strike, call for better working conditions
WDSU
By Cassie Schirm
Feb. 5, 2025
Nurses at University Medical Center in New Orleans are on strike, demanding safer working conditions and better preparedness for mass casualty events. The strike comes amid ongoing negotiations with their union and LCMC Health. The nurses highlight the recent terror attack on Bourbon Street as a critical example of the need for improved safety measures.
SPORTS UNIONIZATION
National Women's Soccer League reaches $5 million settlement over 2021 abuse scandal
NPR
By Becky Sullivan
Feb. 5, 2025
Three years after revelations about sexual coercion, racism and other abuse roiled the National Women's Soccer League, prosecutors on Wednesday announced a settlement with the league to establish a $5 million victims' fund and implement other reforms.
Settlement creates $5 million fund for NWSL players after abuse scandal
ABC 11
By Anne Peterson
Feb. 5, 2025
The National Women's Soccer League will establish a $5 million fund for players as part of a settlement that stemmed from allegations of emotional and sexual misconduct that rocked the league in 2021. Attorneys general from Washington, D.C., Illinois and New York announced the settlement with the league on Wednesday. The funds will go to players who experienced abuse. The settlement also requires the league to maintain safeguards put into place following a pair of investigations released in late 2022 that found widespread misconduct that impacted multiple teams, coaches and players.
IN THE STATES
Our dignity as working people is worth fighting for (Opinion)
The Stand
By April Sims
Feb. 5, 2025
It’s the beginning of a new federal administration and workers’ rights are at the epicenter. It’s planned chaos, intended to overwhelm and scare us, but many of the feelings, from five years ago, are the same. There’s a lot we don’t know. If your group chat is like my group chat there are constant questions, like what new Executive Order will be signed today? What will happen to immigrant workers and families who are being targeted at work, schools, hospitals, and churches? What happens to societal safety nets if federal workers are pushed out? How will my work, our children’s school, and community investments be impacted by federal cuts? But if you’re like me – after you unplug from the group chats, the news, and social media – you’re lying awake at night feeling like we’re under attack. You’re not alone.
Scores of Oakland employees get layoff notices as part of budget balancing effort
NBC Bay Area
By Kiley Russell
Feb. 5, 2025
Union leaders from SEIU Local 1021, IFPTE Local 21, IBEW Local 1245 and IAFF Local 55 criticized the city for balancing the budget by eliminating jobs -- 19 of which are non-sworn Police Department positions and 26 are in the Public Works Department. "The administration's failure to manage the budget isn't something that should be landing on the backs of city workers and community members," said SEIU 1021 Oakland chapter president and 911 dispatcher Antoinette Blue.
The Salt Lake Tribune
By Carmen Nesbitt
Feb. 5, 2025
Utah lawmakers in a bill draft Wednesday restored a proposed ban on collective bargaining rights for public employees, backtracking after days of negotiations with public sector unions who were hoping to reach a comprise with legislators. Lawmakers in an earlier revision had removed an outright ban on collective bargaining, though the updated bill draft at that time still would have required public sector unions to undergo a “recertification election” every five years.