Today's AFL-CIO press clips
POLITICS
Trump's mass layoff threat drives US government workers to resign
Reuters
By Tim Reid
May 20, 2025
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the biggest federal workers' union with 800,000 members, cited comments made by Trump's budget chief Russ Vought when he said government workers needed to feel "trauma." "When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work," Vought said in 2023 at an event at the think tank he founded, the Center for Renewing America. "The president has empowered people like Elon Musk and his DOGE team to harass, insult, and lie about federal employees and the work they do and force tens of thousands of employees off the job," Kelley said.
After key vote, White House urges Republicans to back budget bill
The Washington Post
By Cleve R. Wootson Jr. and Amy B Wang
May 19, 2025
The White House pushed Monday for Republicans to support President Donald Trump’s massive tax and immigration package, which narrowly passed the House Budget Committee late Sunday.
US health groups vow to fight GOP cuts to Medicaid and Obamacare
The Guardian
By Jessica Glenza
May 19, 2025
US advocacy groups are waging an intensive campaign to protect Medicaid and Obamacare from Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”, after House Republicans proposed an $880bn cut that could leave an estimated 13 million Americans without health insurance. The House bill left Republicans’ most controversial proposals on the table, but has divided Senate Republicans: one called the effort to yank away healthcare “morally wrong and politically suicidal”. Others have described the cuts as insufficient and “anemic”.
Judge strikes down DOGE takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace
NBC News
By Ryan J. Reilly
May 19, 2025
A federal district judge on Monday tossed out the takeover of the U.S. Institute of Peace by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency, declaring that actions by "illegitimately-installed leaders" were "unlawful" and had to be declared "null and void."
This new ruling cuts protections for transgender workers
Fast Company
By Pavithra Mohan
May 19, 2025
Federal judge and Trump appointee Matthew J. Kacsmaryk issued a ruling on Friday that will significantly alter the protections that transgender employees are entitled to in the workplace. The decision impacts the current guidance on workplace harassment from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in a move that reflects the agency’s new priorities under the Trump administration and new acting chair Andrea Lucas.
Nearly Half of US Kids—34 Million—Rely on Food, Health Programs Targeted by GOP
Common Dreams
By Jessica Corbett
May 19, 2025
On the heels of the U.S. House Budget Committee's Republicans striking a deal to advance their megabill following a failed vote last week, a trio of organizations on Monday released a report detailing how the legislation could negatively impact tens of millions of American children. Published by the AFL-CIO, First Focus on Children, and UnidosUS, the report—Children Under Attack: How congressional assaults on health and food programs are endangering the youngest Americans—begins by pointing out that nearly 45% of the country's kids, or 34 million, rely on Medicaid for health insurance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food, or both.
Appeals court allows Trump’s anti-union order to take effect
The Washington Post
By Lindsay Whitehurst
May 19, 2025
An appeals court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees while a lawsuit plays out. The Friday ruling came after the Trump administration asked for an emergency pause on a judge's order blocking enforcement at roughly three dozen agencies and departments.
IMMIGRATION
Supreme Court allows Trump to cancel protected status for Venezuelans for now
The Washington Post
By Justin Jouvenal, Sabrina Rodriguez and Arelis R. Hernández
May 19, 2025
The Supreme Court said Monday that the Trump administration can cancel temporary protections for up to 350,000 Venezuelans — a major undoing of a Biden administration decision that allowed those migrants to live and work in the United States for humanitarian reasons. Immigrant advocates said the move could have devastating effects on large communities of Venezuelans, some of whom have lived in the U.S. for many years. Advocates said they thought deportation efforts could begin immediately, or in the next few weeks.
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND CLIMATE
Trump officials allow massive New York offshore wind project to restart
The Washington Post
By Jake Spring
May 19, 2025
The Trump administration lifted the stop-work order on a major wind farm off the coast of New York on Monday, according to a statement by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), following direct appeals she made to the president. “After countless conversations with [wind project developer] Equinor and White House officials, bringing labor and business to the table to emphasize the importance of this project, I’m pleased that President Trump and Secretary Burgum have agreed to lift the stop work order and allow this project to move forward,” she said.
TRANSPORTATION
FAA Hosts Industry Forum to Advance Ramp Worker Safety Nationwide
Occupational Health & Safety
By Stasia DeMarco
May 19, 2025
Robust conversations focused on operational safety, training, change management, incidents, and perspectives on ramp worker hazards. Participants included representatives from the National Air Carrier Association, Airlines for America, Nashville International Airport, McGhee Tyson Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Transportation Workers of America, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and Communication Workers of America.
ORGANIZING
Making Expensive Cities Into Union Towns
Jacobin
By Benjamin Y. Fong
May 19, 2025
With Monterey County being the fourth–most expensive place to live in the United States, wages and affordability were understandably at the top of the list of MBA workers’ concerns. “A lot of people dream of working at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but those who do often can’t afford to live in Monterey,” Anderson said.
More New Jersey Cannabis Workers Vote to Unionize With UFCW Local 360
Business Wire
By Staff
May 19, 2025
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 360 announced today that more New Jersey cannabis workers have voted to unionize as part of its long-running Cannabis Workers Rising campaign. Employees at Fresh Eatontown LLC, a licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary, are the latest to join the labor movement as it continues to expand across the state’s legal marijuana industry. The latest vote in favor of union membership with Local 360 came at the Fresh Eatontown LLC dispensary in Eatontown, NJ. Fresh Eatontown is one of two dispensaries in New Jersey operated by multi-state cannabis company Fresh Cannabis, which also has locations in Colorado and Delaware. Fresh Cannabis’ other New Jersey dispensary, Fresh Elizabeth LLC, voted to join UFCW Local 360 towards the end of 2024.
Higher ed is seeing a surge in unionizing efforts. Nazareth staffers are the latest to vote 'Yes'
WXXI
By Noelle E. C. Evans
May 19, 2025
There is a new union at a local college in Monroe County. Non-teaching staff at Nazareth University will now be represented by Nazareth United Professionals. More than 140 office workers at the university voted in favor of forming a union, according to NYSUT, which represents the local union.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
No strike at Electric Boat after marine drafters' union and CT sub maker reach tentative agreement
CT Insider
By Paul Schott
May 19, 2025
About 2,500 marine drafters at General Dynamics Electric Boat did not go on strike Monday after their union announced Sunday night it had reached a tentative agreement with the submarine manufacturer on a new five-year contract. The potential work stoppage was averted through a deal that was made after a number of contract talks in recent weeks between the Groton-based company and the UAW union, which represents the marine drafters, a group of employees focused on submarine design. About 75% of the marine drafters voted last month to authorize a strike option, and UAW leaders had repeatedly criticized the company in the past few weeks for its alleged disregard for the union's contract demands.
CT nursing and group home workers vow to strike at end of May as wage talks fall short of deal
CT Insider
By Liese Klein
May 19, 2025
Union members representing nearly 8,000 workers at Connecticut nursing facilities and group homes rallied Monday at the state Capitol in Hartford to dismiss an initial offer by the governor to raise wages. They vowed to strike next week if they can’t get a better deal. “We’d like to not let the clock tick down,” said Rob Baril, president of SEIU 1199NE, which has set a May 27 strike deadline as the union, nursing home operators and state officials negotiate a wage boost for workers.
Cummins workers remain on strike in Oshkosh after union rejects company's labor package
The Northwestern
By Justin Marville
May 19, 2025
The strike at Cummins continues. Around 85 United Auto Workers union members will continue to remain off the job at Cummins’ manufacturing plant at 1005 High Ave. after rejecting the company’s latest labor offer.
UCPD arrests nearly 2 dozen labor advocates at UC Regents meeting at UCSF
UCSD Guardian
By Natalia Montero Acevedo
May 19, 2025
On May 18, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 — a union representing more than 35,000 service workers — sent The UCSD Guardian a statement recounting the arrests. According to the statement, arrestees attended the meeting in solidarity with UC service, patient care, and technical workers “who have been working without a contract for nearly a year.”
IAM, Pratt & Whitney set to begin contract negotiations on Thursday
WTNH
By Ronan Himelrick
May 19, 2025
Two weeks after a union strike began, Pratt & Whitney and IAM Union members will resume contract negotiations on Thursday. Approximately 3000 IAM Local 1746 and 700 employees have been on strike since May 4 after previous contract negotiations fell through.
Disney's VFX Workers Just Fought Back Against A Dangerous Trend
Inverse
By Lyvie Scott
May 19, 2025
Fast forward two years, and VFX artists across the Disney brand are finally gaining headway. With help from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, teams from Marvel, Lightstorm Entertainment (who produce the Avatar films), and Disney proper have each struck a historic agreement. Gizmodo reports that the groups have “overwhelmingly” voted to ratify contracts to ensure better working conditions for any upcoming projects.
'When We Fight, We Win': Northwestern Service Workers Get New Contract
Patch
By Rachel Barnes
May 19, 2025
After a historic 12-day strike, hospitality and food service workers at Northwestern University ratified their new contract with Compass Group Friday. According to the union representing the workers, Unite Here Local 1, the employees and Compass Group began contract negotiations in fall 2024 in hopes to obtain a fair contract with sustainable wages and increased pension contributions. The new collective bargaining agreement was put in place on May 16.
Bookmans Flagstaff employees conduct one-day walkout as labor negotiations linger
Arizona Daily Sun
By Cody Bashore
May 19, 2025
According to a January filing by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99, which represents Bookmans’ employees, to the National Labor Relations Board, Bookmans has “interfered with, restrained and coerced its employees in the exercise of their rights protected under Section 7” of the National Labor Relations Act. The charge continued, adding that Bookmans had retaliated against the employees because of their union activity by “reducing employees’ hours, denying full-time jobs to its employees, by changing benefits without bargaining with the union and by failing to bargain with the union.”
STATE LEGISLATION
The Democrats’ One and Only Union-Busting Governor
The American Prospect
By Brock Hrehor
May 19, 2025
“Working people are taking this fight directly to the ballot in 2026,” said Dennis Dougherty, executive director of the Colorado AFL-CIO, “where Coloradans can choose to stand with workers and finally end unjust firings and union-busting tactics.”
IN THE STATES
Viewpoint: Repealing I-82 would be an affront to D.C. voters(Opinion)
Washington Business Journals
By Paul Schwalb and Ellery Grimm
May 19, 2025
D.C. voters have made it crystal clear, twice, that they think tipped workers need a raise. They’re right. For restaurant workers, the annual wage increases under Initiative 82 has meant more financial security and stability. Two years since I-82 was passed, D.C.’s restaurant industry is still growing, and has a bright future. For the D.C. Council, which is set to respond to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s forthcoming proposal to repeal I-82, the next steps are clear: Stand up for workers, respect your constituents and think creatively about how to support our restaurants.
Actors' Equity Opposes Gov. Newsom's Proposal to Cut California Arts Funding
Broadway World
By Chloe Rabinowitz
May 19, 2025
“At a time when the arts are under attack in Washington, D.C., it’s deeply disappointing to also be fighting funding cuts again in Sacramento. California, which now ranks 35th in the nation in arts funding, cannot be a leader in the arts if it continues to cut arts funding year after year,” said Brooke Shields, president of Actors’ Equity Association. “The Equitable Payroll Fund is a groundbreaking program that supports arts programs in dozens of small nonprofit live arts organizations, from live theatre to orchestras, operas, chorus and dance. Eliminating this program will mean fewer jobs and fewer arts programs in small and midsized communities in California. This program recently opened for grants and employers are counting on the state to follow through. We strongly oppose the elimination of this program, and we’ll mobilize our members and activate the entire arts community in California to make sure the legislature knows what is at stake.”
Omaha USPS workers rally against proposed privatization
WOWT
By Maria Cade
May 18, 2025
Letter carriers around the country are sounding the alarm. They don’t want the U.S. Postal Service to go private. Omaha postal workers gathered just steps away from the USPS location near 84th and Center.
LABOR AND ENTERTAINMENT
SAG-AFTRA files unfair labor charge against use of Darth Vader’s voice in ‘Fortnite’
Los Angeles Times
By Wendy Lee
May 19, 2025
James Earl Jones’ voice of Darth Vader is one of the most recognizable sounds in movie history — and now it’s at the center of a fight over the use of artificial intelligence. On Monday, Hollywood actors guild SAG-AFTRA filed an unfair labor charge over the use of an AI-powered version of the iconic “Star Wars” villain’s voice in the massively popular video game “Fortnite.” Last week, “Fortnite” started allowing players to recruit Darth Vader to their teams and take turns talking to him using conversational AI technology that replicates Jones’ tone and speech patterns for the George Lucas-created character. “Fortnite” is owned by developer Epic Games.
SAG-AFTRA Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Over Darth Vader AI Voice in ‘Fortnite’
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
May 19, 2025
SAG-AFTRA has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Fortnite’s production company, alleging that its use of an AI-powered James Earl Jones Darth Vader voice infringes on the union’s right to negotiate major changes to its collective bargaining agreement. The union claimed that a signatory to its collective bargaining agreement, Llama Productions, made “unilateral” changes to terms and conditions of employment when Fortnite began employing the use of an AI-powered Vader voice starting Friday without giving the union notice or the ability to negotiate.