Today's AFL-CIO press clips
EDITOR'S NOTE: A Forward Kentucky story in which Dustin Reinstedler is quoted leads the POLITICS section in today's press clips.
POLITICS
Public-sector unions under attack by Trump
Forward Kentucky
By Berry Craig
April 8, 2025
But Trump and Elon Musk, his sidekick in union-busting, have hit a hornet’s nest with a rock. “The labor movement is not about to let Trump and an unelected billionaire destroy what we’ve fought for generations to build,” said a statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “We will fight this outrageous attack on our members with every fiber of our collective being.”
Supreme Court halts judge’s order to reinstate federal probationary workers
NBC News
By Lawrence Hurley and Gary Grumbach
April 8, 2025
The Trump administration argued Alsup did not have the authority to reinstate the workers and made the problem worse by micromanaging the process. Lawyers also argued that the various labor unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, and other groups that sued, such as the Main Street Alliance and the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, did not have a direct stake in the firings.
Supreme Court Pauses Ruling Requiring Rehiring of 16,000 Probationary Workers
The New York Times
By Adam Liptak
April 8, 2025
The Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a ruling from a federal judge in California that had ordered the Trump administration to rehire thousands of fired federal workers who had been on probationary status. The court’s brief order said the nonprofit groups that had sued to challenge the dismissals had not suffered the sort of injury that gave them standing to sue. The practical consequences of the ruling may be limited, as another trial judge’s ruling requiring the reinstatement of many of the same workers remains in place.
US Supreme Court halts reinstatement of fired federal employees
Reuters
By Andrew Chung
April 8, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked on Tuesday a judge's order for President Donald Trump's administration to rehire thousands of fired employees, acting in one dispute over his efforts to slash the federal workforce and dismantle parts of the government. The court put on hold San Francisco-based U.S. Judge William Alsup's March 13 injunction requiring six federal agencies to reinstate thousands of recently hired probationary employees while litigation challenging the legality of the dismissals continues.
Supreme Court halts order to rehire probationary workers fired by Trump
The Washington Post
By Justin Jouvenal
April 8, 2025
The Supreme Court on Tuesday paused an order by a lower-court judge requiring the Trump administration to rehire about 16,000 fired probationary employees, at least a temporary victory for the president’s efforts to radically downsize the government and dismantle some agencies. U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled last month that the government’s human resource agency, the Office of Personnel Management, had no legal authority to direct mass firings at the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury and Veterans Affairs. Most of the workers had been on the job a year or two, but some were more veteran employees.
Supreme Court Backs Trump for Now on Federal Worker Firings
Bloomberg
By Greg Stohr
April 8, 2025
The groups challenging the firings, led by the American Federation of Government Employees, vowed to keep fighting. “There is no doubt that thousands of public service employees were unlawfully fired in an effort to cripple federal agencies and their crucial programs that serve millions of Americans every day,” the groups said. “Today’s order by the US Supreme Court is deeply disappointing but is only a momentary pause in our efforts to enforce the trial court’s orders and hold the federal government accountable.”
US Supreme Court's Right-Wing Majority Sides With Trump on Fired Federal Workers
Common Dreams
By Julia Conley
April 8, 2025
A coalition of nonprofits and unions representing federal workers said Tuesday that it would remain "unwavering" in fighting to protect thousands of civil servants who were fired by the Trump administration, after the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the White House in a case regarding the mass dismissal of 16,000 people from various agencies. In the 7-2 ruling, the court did not rule on whether the employees were unlawfully fired, as the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other plaintiffs argued they were.
Steelworkers open convention with call for action against Trump cuts
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
April 8, 2025
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, the Steelworkers’ former vice president gave a rousing speech to the 3,000 USW delegates assembled here for their convention in which he called for labor to step up and play a leading role in the battle against Trump’s attempt to dismantle so much of what is important to U.S. workers. He said that the battle must involve solidarity across national lines, saying workers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico “must unite against corporate greed. “Attacks on everything that we stand for have been relentless,” Redmond said of the GOP Trump regime’s anti-worker anti-union actions. He particularly singled out Musk’s chainsaw attacks, with Trump as his puppet, on federal workers and programs. “We are the voice of those who, today, feel hopeless,” said Redmond.
Union and association representing museum and library workers sue Trump administration
The Art Newspaper
By Benjamin Sutton
April 8, 2025
“Libraries and museums contain our collective history and knowledge, while also providing safe spaces for learning, cultural expression and access to critical public resources,” Lee Saunders, the president of AFSCME—which represents workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and others—said in a statement. “They represent the heart of our communities, and the cultural workers who keep these institutions running enrich thousands of lives every day. Library workers do everything from helping people apply for jobs to administering lifesaving care all while facing increasing violence on the job. Their work deserves support, not cuts.”
Judge lifts Trump White House restrictions on AP while lawsuit proceeds
Reuters
By Andrew Goudsward
April 8, 2025
A U.S. judge on Tuesday ordered President Donald Trump’s White House to lift access restrictions imposed on the Associated Press over the news agency’s decision to continue to refer to the Gulf of Mexico in its coverage. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, ruled the White House must allow AP journalists access to the Oval Office, Air Force One and events held at the White House while the AP’s lawsuit moves forward.
UAW Joins Critics Slamming RFK Jr.’s Cuts to Worker Safety Unit
Bloomberg
By Gerry Smith
April 8, 2025
The Trump administration’s move to gut the agency tasked with ensuring workplace safety is facing intensifying pushback, including from the nation’s largest auto union and a conservative lawmaker, in one of the more prominent public fights against some of the widespread cuts last week. On Tuesday, the United Auto Workers union said it “adamantly opposes” the cuts to almost 900 workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which does research and makes recommendations to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, including chemical hazards. Created in 1970, the agency had about 1,300 workers before the cuts began.
Democrats unveil legislation raising federal minimum wage to $17 an hour
The Hill
By Ashleigh Fields
April 8, 2025
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 on Tuesday in both chambers with hopes of increasing the federal minimum wage. The bill would raise the minimum wage to $17 by 2030 according to the Economic Policy Institute. The current federally mandated hourly wage is $7.25 and has not increased since 2009.
Strike Risk Grows as Trump Cuts Labor Mediators From 143 to Four
Bloomberg Law
By Parker Purifoy
April 8, 2025
The Trump administration has gutted a small federal agency of nearly all its labor mediators, endangering a key lever for resolving employer-union conflicts and avoiding strikes nationwide. Only four mediators are left at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, down from 143, according to two people familiar with the situation. The cuts will have immediate impacts on private and public-sector unions and employers seeking to reach contract agreements or settle disagreements, such as driving up negotiation costs, labor observers and one agency leader said. FMCS is a small labor agency that has played an out-sized role in some of the nation’s largest workplace negotiations over the last several years, including those at Starbucks Corp., Boeing Co., and Apple Inc.
Trump is neutering the Labor Department (Opinion)
The Hill
By Gleb Tsipursky
April 8, 2025
As the Trump administration pushes sweeping changes to the federal government’s structure, one agency stands as a canary in the coal mine: the U.S. Department of Labor. My interview with leaders of AFGE Local 2391 — which represents federal employees in the Department’s Pacific Region — reveals the dire consequences of proposed workforce reductions, early retirement offers, and ideological shifts in governance.
Rallies over Trump administration's cuts continue in DC with National Day of Action event
WJLA
By 7News Staff
April 8, 2025
Rallies to prevent cuts to health research and higher education have been steady in D.C. since President Donald Trump began urging his administration to drastically downsize federal agencies and cut funding they deem wasteful. Tuesday, those actions continued, with dozens rallying at Upper Senate Park in Northwest, D.C. for a "Kill The Cuts" rally, which is part of a National Day of Action, according to the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
"Kill the Cuts" national Day of Action protestors move through West Los Angeles
CBS News
By Julie Sharp
April 8, 2025
A group of demonstrators gathered in West Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon, marching from the UCLA campus to the Wilshire Federal Building to protest federal funding cuts to research, health and higher education. Aerial footage showed about 100 people peacefully standing on the sidewalk outside of the Federal Building on the national Day of Action, holding signs that read "Kill the Cuts, Save Lives." Tuesday's nationwide effort is meant to raise awareness and protest President Trump's "devastating attacks on research, health and higher education," organizers said.
Hundreds march in Los Angeles for ‘Kill the Cuts’ rally
KTLA
By Lily Dallow
April 8, 2025
Hundreds of demonstrators, including over 200 from UCLA, filled the streets of Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon as part of a nationwide “Kill the Cuts” rally. Organizers billed it as a national day of action to raise awareness and fight against the government’s proposed cuts to federal research, health and education. About 4,000 people RSVP’d to the local protest.
TRANSPORTATION
ALPA pilot elected president of global pilot federation
Skies Mag
By ALPA
April 7, 2025
Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) congratulated Delta Air Lines Capt. Ron Hay for being elected president of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) at this year’s annual conference. In addition to electing new officials, IFALPA also reaffirmed its commitment to opposing Reduced Crew Operations (RCO) and called on decision-makers, governments, regulators, airline management, and pilot associations to unite in safeguarding the highest standards of safety possible.
ORGANIZING
Resident physicians largely in favor of unionization, citing low pay, long hours
Fierce Healthcare
By Dave Muoio
April 8, 2025
The largest of these, the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR), which is part of the Service Employees International Union, says it doubled in size during the pandemic and currently represents more than 37,000 resident physicians and fellows—more than a fifth of the 159,010 active residents reported by the Association of American Medical Colleges in 2024.
UAW Local 2110 Requests Abrams Unionization Vote
Publishers Weekly
By Claire Kirch
April 7, 2025
On Monday, the United Auto Workers, Local 2110 petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to allow employees at Abrams Books to vote on whether to unionize. Employees who would be eligible to vote include editors, publicists, marketers, production managers, designers, and managing editors, as well as sales, distribution, mailroom, IT, and finance staffers at the publisher.
125 Juilliard Production Crew Workers Vote to Unionize with Theatrical Stage Employees Union
Broadway World
By Chloe Rabinowitz
April 7, 2025
One hundred twenty-five production crewmembers at The Juilliard School have achieved union representation from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election held on Friday. The results of the vote revealed near unanimous support for the union, with over 95% of votes cast in favor.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
Nursing home workers commence informational pickets across WNY amid contract negotiations
WGRZ
By Rob Hackford
April 8, 2025
The union representing some 4,000 nursing home workers across Western New York care facilities took their contract talks to the picket line on Monday, outside Elderwood at Lockport.
Around two dozen individuals, including Elderwood employees and 1199 SEIU leaders, took part in the informational demonstration calling for fair wages, quality benefits, and improved staffing levels.
Contract negotiations continue between King Soopers and union
KOAA
By James Gavato
April 7, 2025
Contract negotiations will continue Monday between King Soopers and the union. In February, the union ended their 12 day strike after agreeing to resume bargaining with the Kroger owned chain at a later date.
Local Children Services workers set to go on strike this week
WKBN
By Michael Reiner and Gerry Ricciutti
April 8, 2025
After close to nine months of bargaining, unionized workers with Mercer County’s Children and Youth Services agency and the Commissioners are at a standstill. “We respect the work that they do and know that they provide a great service here, but our job is to protect the children in Mercer County,” said Mercer County Commissioner Ann Coleman. But both sides are now bracing for a possible one-day walkout on Wednesday, April 9. The key stumbling block is language issues over healthcare benefits.
Lewiston City Council votes to negotiate new labor deal with AFSCME Local 1124
KLEW
By Daniela Julio-Cano
April 8, 2025
In a decisive move, the Lewiston City Council voted 5-1 on Monday to enter negotiations with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1124. The council aims to reach a new collective labor agreement that could bring changes to how overtime, holidays, and weekend pay are assessed, while also proposing that all employees be at-will.
Unionized PeaceHealth workers hold vote to authorize strike in Bellingham
My Bellingham Now
By Jason Upton
April 7, 2025
A potential strike is looming for hundreds of unionized healthcare workers in Bellingham. Kenia Escobar, communications director for Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare 1199NW, confirmed that workers at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center are currently voting to authorize a strike.
LA’s labor unions grab attention with creativity
KCRW
By Megan Jamerson
April 7, 2025
Every so often, labor unions in Los Angeles add a little pizzazz to their protests. A little creative expression. A little performance art. Take March 28 for instance, when former cashiers, cooks, and servers of the Original Pantry Cafe swapped protest chants for cries of “free pancakes!” Downtown commuters walking past the shuttered South Figueroa Street diner swung their heads around, and some stopped to eat during the sidewalk breakfast. Nearly one month after the business closed over a labor dispute, unemployed workers represented by Unite Here Local 11 wanted to protest the decision. They’d already taken the classic picket line approach, so a worker suggested they serve the public a menu favorite instead. In the process, they took donations for the hot cakes as a fundraiser to support the unemployed workers.
JOINING TOGETHER
Lexington protesters rally against wide range of Trump admin policies
WEKU
By Shepherd Snyder
April 8, 2025
Hundreds of Kentuckians rallied in front of the Lexington courthouse Saturday to protest policies from the Trump administration. Hands Off Lexington was one of more than 1,000 such protests nationwide that took place on Saturday. Those attending protested against federal workforce layoffs, Social Security cuts and hostile policies towards immigrants and transgender people.
STATE LEGISLATION
Bill to pay some workers below minimum wage moves on despite critics
Florida Politics
By Gabrielle Russon
April 8, 2025
However, Florida AFL-CIO Director of Politics and Public Policy Rich Templin said the bill failed to define internships or pre-apprenticeships or say which industries could be allowed to offer lower wages. “It places too much authority in the employer who has every incentive to figure out how to pay $7.25 an hour, as opposed to $14 an hour,” Templin said. “I know that that’s not the intent of the bill, but that could be the outcome if we pass the bill as written.”
IN THE STATES
Nurses lead rally against proposed VA staffing cuts
The 9th Street Journal
By Annapurna Bhattacharya
April 4, 2025
On Wednesday afternoon, the sidewalk in front of the Durham VA Medical Center swelled with more than a hundred demonstrators rallying against the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. Armed with posters condemning the “D.O.G.E — Department of Greed and Evil” and demanding “Hands off the VA,” the crowd called to protect U.S. veterans and “dump Trump.” Organized by the North Carolina American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and National Nurses United (NNU), the rally brought together VA staff, veterans, and Durham community members.
Spanberger, Democrats tout unions as Virginia governor’s race firms up
The Washington Post
By Laura Vozzella
April 8, 2025
Former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger vowed Tuesday to support union labor and federal workers if elected Virginia’s 75th governor, using her first public event as the Democrats’ official nominee to tap into the economic angst created by the Trump administration’s firings and tariffs. “When you elect me, you will elect a governor who won’t be afraid to stand up for Virginia’s workers,” Spanberger said at a rally at a recreation center in suburban Richmond. “When you elect me, you will elect a governor who believes in not creating chaos, but creating jobs.”
RAISING WAGES
Petitions circulating for Workers Bill of Rights
Tacoma Weekly
By Staff
April 7, 2025
A signature gathering effort is currently underway to get a Workers Bill of Rights initiative on the Tacoma ballot this coming November. It aims to raise the city’s minimum wage from $16.66 to $20 an hour, to ensure workers’ rights to fair scheduling and hours for a livable income, and to increase workplace safety. A similar campaign is underway in Olympia as well. Being brought by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 367, and with support from the Democratic Socialists of America, two initiatives for Tacoma were filed with the city in February with the main difference of one having stronger penalties for violations.
EDUCATION
Speak up to defend public education, AFT president urges
Baptist News Global
By Mark Wingfield
April 7, 2025
These are not normal times, and normal responses to the Trump administration will not do, the president of the American Federation of Teachers said April 7. Randi Weingarten was the closing keynote speaker at the Summit for Religious Freedom sponsored by Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Alexandria, Va. She is a former civics teacher who has led the AFT since 2008. “This is not going to go away unless we fight it. And even if we fight it, it may not go away,” she said. “But we have a real shot at making it go away if we fight it.”
LABOR LEADERSHIP
WV Public Broadcasting
By WVPB Staff
April 8, 2025
On this West Virginia Morning, Cecil Roberts will step down as president of the United Mine Workers of America in October. Roberts says that in his 30 years at the head of the union, no achievement was more important than saving the health care and pensions of tens of thousands of retired coal miners. He spoke last week with Curtis Tate about that effort and his coming retirement. And as part of our daily broadcast The Legislature Today, energy reporter Curtis Tate sat down in our studio with Gary Zuckett and Shawn Phillips of West Virginia Citizen Action Group to discuss electricity prices that have been rising at a rate faster than inflation in West Virginia.
RETIREMENT SECURITY
‘Just a Mess’: Staff Cuts, Rushed Changes and Anxiety at Social Security
The New York Times
By Jack Healy, Alexandra Berzon, Tara Siegel Bernard and Nicholas Nehamas
April 8, 2025
With the stock market in turmoil and the economy under threat, beneficiaries might see their monthly Social Security checks as predictable amid the chaos rippling out of Washington. After all, Mr. Trump has promised not to cut Social Security benefits for the 73 million Americans enrolled. But that promise has not insulated the Depression-era program once deemed the third rail of American politics. Thousands of worried and frustrated recipients have thronged local field offices, asking why the phone lines are jammed, whether their local offices will be closed by Elon Musk’s team of software engineers and technology executives and whether they will lose their benefits.