Today's AFL-CIO press clips
MUST LISTEN
AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler on how labor is uniting in response to Trump
Fast Company
June 18, 2025
In an exclusive interview with Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan, the U.S. labor leader also discusses DOGE, Musk, and AI.
POLITICS
The Senate Must Reject Job-Killing Cuts. Union Jobs Are on the Line (Opinion)
Newsweek
By Jimmy Williams, Jr.
June 18, 2025
As the general president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), I represent 140,000 proud workers across the finishing trades. Our vital work includes our country's industrial, commercial, and decorative painters. Because we spend our careers ensuring that our vital infrastructure works well and looks good, we know a thing or two about making things beautiful. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is anything but.
Trump’s Bid to End Union Contracts Is Unprecedented, Judge Says
Bloomberg Law
By Isaiah Poritz
June 18, 2025
President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and employee unions appears to be far too sweeping in its scale, a San Francisco federal judge said at a hearing Wednesday. “The executive order seems unprecedented to me in its scope and breath by taking hundreds of thousands of employees outside the purview of” the federal statue establishing collective bargaining rights for federal workers, Judge James Donato said. He said that he wasn’t issuing a ruling from the bench. The group of federal unions led by the American Federation of Government Employees are asking Donato, a Barack Obama appointee, to enter a preliminary injunction halting the Trump administration to implementing the executive order.
US Social Security, Medicare to run short of funds in 2033, trustees say
Reuters
By Reuters
June 18, 2025
The U.S. Social Security and Medicare programs for older people will both run short of funds to pay full benefits in 2033, three years sooner than last year's estimate for the Medicare Hospital Insurance Fund, their annual trustees' reports showed on Wednesday. The reports, released by the U.S. Treasury Department, showed that the worsening of Medicare's finances was due to higher-than-forecast near-term expenditures for hospitalizations of Americans over 65 years old.
Social Security’s Finances Erode Further, Risking Benefit Cuts
The New York Times
By Tara Siegel Bernard and Margot Sanger-Katz
June 18, 2025
The Social Security program faces a longstanding financing shortfall that, if left unaddressed, would slash millions of retirees’ crucial monthly benefit payments in just eight years. The deteriorating financial outlook for the retirement program, which supports roughly 61 million Americans, was released in its annual trustees report on Wednesday. It is now expected to run out of money nine months earlier than previously projected, which means benefits could be reduced by 23 percent if Congress does not act to bolster the program.
Social Security Defenders Say Trustees Report Shows Expansion—Not GOP Cuts—Is Path Forward
Common Dreams
By Eloise Goldsmith
June 18, 2025
Richard Fiesta, the executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, also called out DOGE's work at the Social Security Administration, and referenced efforts to raise the Social Security retirement age beyond 67.
Senate Republicans propose deeper Medicaid cuts. Here’s what that means.
The Washington Post
By Paige Winfield Cunningham
June 18, 2025
Senate Republicans are preparing to slice deeper into Medicaid to finance President Donald Trump’s agenda, proposing legislation that analysts say could deal a greater financial blow to hospitals and result in millions more uninsured Americans. The measure reflects Republicans’ willingness to cut the nation’s safety-net health insurance program, despite qualms expressed by some moderates and populists within their ranks.
GOP leader aggressively woos GOP Medicaid holdouts on Trump bill
The Hill
By Alexander Bolton
June 19, 2025
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is making an aggressive bid to win over Senate Republican colleagues who have balked at hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid spending cuts, hoping to clear obstacles in time to bring the bill to the floor next week. Thune is under pressure to speed up the pace of talks in order to meet the July 4deadline President Trump set for Congress to pass the bill — a deadline the Senate risks blowing past.
Study Projects Medicaid Cuts Would Lead To Major Insurance Loss, Increase In Deaths
Forbes
By Katharina Buchholz
June 19, 2025
A new study published Tuesday by researchers from Harvard Medical School and Hunter College projects that the proposed House budget bill would increase the number of U.S. uninsured by 7.6 million due to Medicaid cuts included in it. The additional number of deaths annually was set at 16,642 by a middle estimate from the study. This would be caused by people forgoing medical care because of its particularly high cost to the uninsured.
Trump’s Labor Solicitor Pick Distances Himself From Project 2025
Bloomberg Law
By Rebecca Rainey and Elias Schisgall
June 18, 2025
President Donald Trump’s nominee for US Labor Department chief attorney sought to separate himself from his Project 2025 proposals, vowing to enforce workplace laws and emphasizing that the position doesn’t involve policymaking. Jonathan Berry, who authored the Project 2025 chapter on the DOL, told lawmakers Wednesday his participation in the conservative blueprint was merely scholarly. The chapter proposed broad scale changes to federal labor laws and federal agency oversight, including revising overtime pay calculations and abolishing the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, policies the Trump administration have advanced.
Acting head of civil rights agency defends decisions undercutting transgender workers
AP
By Alexandra Olson and Claire Savage
June 18, 2025
The acting chair of the federal agency that enforces workers rights acknowledged Wednesday that transgender workers are protected under civil rights laws but defended her decision to drop lawsuits on their behalf, saying her agency is not independent and must comply with President Donald Trump’s orders. Andrea Lucas, who was first appointed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2020 and elevated to chair in January, spoke at her confirmation hearing at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Her nomination to serve another five-year term as an EEOC commissioner requires Senate confirmation, though whether she stays on as chair will be up to Trump.
Education Department Ordered to Undo Civil Rights Office Cuts
Bloomberg Law
By Alexis Waiss
June 19, 2025
A federal judge granted a Massachusetts nonprofit’s request to block the Trump administration’s efforts to cut the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Judge Myong J. Joun approved a preliminary injunction Wednesday that requires the White House to stop employee layoffs for that office and blocks them from reinstating a March 11 reduction-in-staff directive. The injunction is effective immediately and the Trump administration must also provide the court a notice of the employees’ return within 24 hours, an opinion filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts said.
IMMIGRATION
An injury to one is an injury to all (Opinion)
Labor Tribune
By Liz Shuler
June 19, 2025
Last week, countless union members across our affiliated unions and around the nation truly embodied the word “solidarity.” When SEIU California President David Huerta was unlawfully arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents for exercising his constitutional rights, the Labor Movement mobilized, took to the streets and made clear that we wouldn’t stop until he was free. The Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda has been terrorizing our immigrant brothers, sisters and siblings. Since Inauguration Day, multiple union members who were legally residing in this country have been abducted by ICE. Our hardworking neighbors who are simply trying to provide for their families have been robbed of their due process while their loved ones are left fearing for their safety. The stories of workers like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Maximo Londonio, Lewelyn “Auntie Lynn” Dixon and Rümeysa Öztürk are absolutely harrowing.
Farms, hotels and restaurants press Trump to exempt their businesses from immigration raids
Los Angeles Times
By Queenie Wong, Suhauna Hussain, Michael Wilner and Piper Heath
June 19, 2025
Farms, hotels and restaurants that rely on immigrant workers are urging the Trump administration to spare their vital industries from immigration raids. The pressure comes as confusion swirls around whether President Trump will exempt some businesses from efforts to arrest and deport immigrants living illegally in the United States.
TRADE
Nippon Steel Completes Its Acquisition of U.S. Steel
The New York Times
By Lauren Hirsch
June 18, 2025
David McCall, president of the United Steelworkers union, reiterated concern about the deal. “Our current agreement expires in September 2026, and rest assured, if our job security, pensions, retiree health care or other hard-earned benefits are threatened, we are ready to respond with the full strength and solidarity of our membership,” he said in a statement.
TRANSPORTATION
Feds approve waiver for Alabama rail project amid automation concerns
Freight Waves
By John Gallagher
June 18, 2025
The Transportation Trades Department (TTD), part of the AFL-CIO, which represents railroad employees, had protested the waiver last year, arguing that because ASPA’s bid request stipulates that the cranes allow for future conversion to remote operations, a waiver “may serve as a back door to securing federal funding for a huge share of the cost of equipment that will eventually be converted to semi-automated or automated functions.” “Put simply, this strategy, if successful, would incentivize procurements that operators would not have made without the government’s intervention,” asserted TTD President Greg Regan in comments filed with the FRA.
LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY
Unions, Dems oppose GOP AI regulation freeze
Punchbowl News
By Staff
June 18, 2025
The AFL-CIO is leading more than 25 unions in opposing a provision in the Republican reconciliation bill that would withhold broadband funds from states unless they agree not to regulate artificial intelligence. Labor’s now weighing in alongside Democrats, consumer groups and state officials, who are all pushing back against the idea. Businesses big and small want the freeze to deal with contradictory rules. Republicans are split on the issue. The letter — also signed by unions for teachers, nurses, actors and steelworkers — said AI “has the potential to cause great harm to workers and the broader public if left unregulated.” They cited concerns about AI threatening jobs, fair hiring and safety.
LABOR AND ECONOMY
Reuters
By Howard Schneider and Ann Saphir
June 18, 2025
The U.S. central bank held interest rates steady on Wednesday and policymakers signaled borrowing costs are still likely to fall in 2025, but Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell cautioned against putting too much weight on that view, and said he expects "meaningful" inflation ahead as consumers pay more for goods due to the Trump administration's planned import tariffs. "No one holds these ... rate paths with a great deal of conviction, and everyone would agree that they're all going to be data-dependent," Powell said in a press conference after the end of a two-day U.S. central bank meeting where policymakers slowed their overall outlook for rate cuts in response to a more challenging outlook of weaker economic growth, rising joblessness, and faster price increases.
NLRB
Pittsburgh Union Progress
By Andrew Goldstein
June 19, 2025
The National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday filed civil contempt of court charges against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for what it said is the newspaper’s refusal to comply with a federal court order to restore health insurance the company illegally took away from its workers in 2020. The charges could result in daily compounding fines if the Post-Gazette continues to ignore the decision from the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
ORGANIZING
Labor movement in Hub City has Aberdeen employees readying for union vote
The Dakota Scout
By Joe Sneve
June 18, 2025
A group of Aberdeen city employees is moving to unionize, calling for higher wages, better benefits, and a stronger voice in workplace decisions. Public employees working for the Hub City — excluding police and fire personnel — are scheduled to vote July 7 and 8 on whether to join the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), one of the largest labor unions for public workers in the United States.
Doctors and nurses at Madison primary care center want a union. It’s a sign of health care changes.
Wisconsin Public Radio
By Nick Rommel
June 19, 2025
On a May afternoon in Madison, while robins hopped around front lawns and cyclists rolled through the parks, nurses at UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital went on strike, concerned about insufficient staffing. Members of GHC’s unionization effort came to picket with them. While marching picketers chanted “safe staffing saves lives,” they said the effects of a statewide nursing shortage are present at GHC, too. “It’s really hard to work short,” said GHC certified medical assistant Katie Cloud. “There’s too much work, and not enough people to do the work. Not enough people to make the phone calls, not enough people to answer the MyChart messages that are coming in.” The Meriter nurses union reached a tentative agreement within days of the strike. GHC’s unionization effort is continuing.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
Philadelphia teachers have voted to authorize a strike. Here’s what to know
WHYY
By Celia Bernhardt
June 18, 2025
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers voted Tuesday night to authorize a strike if the union and district fail to reach an agreement by August, when the current contract expires. Arthur G. Steinberg, president of American Federation of Teachers, said in a statement that the school district needs to pick up the pace at the negotiation table. “While the PFT Collective Bargaining Team has made progress toward an agreement that demonstrably improves members’ working conditions,” Steinberg said, “the District has been slower to meet us halfway on key demands by our members.”
Philadelphia teachers union votes to authorize strike amid contract negotiations
Philly Voice
By Michaela Althouse
June 18, 2025
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers voted to authorize a strike Tuesday night as the union continues to negotiate a new contract with the School District of Philadelphia. The strike authorization gives the union the option to walk off the job if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached by Aug. 31, when the current deal expires. The union said 94% of its 14,000 members voted in favor of authorizing a strike.
Puget Sound Allied Grocery workers reach tentative contract
Supermarket News
By Timothy Inklebarger
June 18, 2025
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 3000 workers in the Puget Sound area have reached a tentative contract agreement with Albertsons-owned banners and several independent grocery chains. This comes after the union approved a strike authorization with 97% of the vote, UFCW 3000 said in a press release earlier this week.
CBS News Digital Staffers Say Fight for Contract Improvements Continue a Year After WGA Unionization
The Wrap
By Daren DeFrank
June 18, 2025
One year after CBS News Digital writers and editors voted to unionize with Writers Guild of America East, members are still negotiating with management for their first contract. “Today marks one year that the journalists, editors and social media producers at CBSNews.com have been in negotiations with management for a first contract,” WGA East said in a statement shared exclusively with TheWrap. The 44-member bargaining unit said it continues to fight for fair improvements to salaries, benefits, job security, severance, remote work options and paths to promotions. The union hopes obtain a deal by next Tuesday. “We call on management at CBS to bargain in good faith and reach a fair deal with the union by the current last scheduled bargaining date of June 24, 2025,” WGA East added.
TARTA board approves UAW contract with support staff
Toledo Blade
By Blade Staff
June 19, 2025
The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority and the union representing its clerical, supervisory, and administrative staff have reached a three-year labor contract that provides for raises totaling 11.9 percent. The transit agency’s board of trustees approved the contract Wednesday after the Toledo Association of Administrative Personnel, United Auto Workers Local 5242, previously ratified it.
Wisconsin Democratic legislators issue statement to Cummins in support of union amid strike
Oshkosh Northwestern
By Justin Marville
June 19, 2025
The strike at Cummins hasn’t gone unnoticed. United Auto Workers’ three-month standoff with Cummins has been escalated to a state issue, with 34 Democrats from the Wisconsin Legislature issuing a statement to the company advocating for UAW Local 291 membership.
Planned Parenthood's Central Coast workers avoids strike with new deal
New Times
By Bulbul Rajagopal
June 19, 2025
It's health care as usual for Planned Parenthood California Central Coast [PPCCC] clinics after a tentative agreement between union members and management averted strikes scheduled for June. "The agreement still needs to be ratified by workers before it goes into effect, but while the ratification process is completed, the strikes have been called off," SEIU-United Healthcare Workers union spokesperson Maria Leal said. "Patients of PPCCC should expect no disruption in care provided at the clinics."
Northern Colorado Safeway workers could soon join strike
9News
By Amanda Gilbert
June 18, 2025
Workers at eight Safeway stores across Colorado have been on strike for several days, protesting what they describe as "chronic understaffing" and proposed cuts to health care. Now, union members in Longmont, Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Boulder and Broomfield, have voted to authorize a strike. Picket lines have not yet been established in those cities, but union members say that could change depending on current negotiations.
Fresnoland
By Julianna Morano
June 19, 2025
Now that the City of Fresno has put its $2.3 billion budget to bed, what’s next? That would be negotiating with the city’s 11 different bargaining units, representing thousands of employees, over new contracts. All those contracts expired this month, within days of the budget passing.
STATE LEGISLATION
How Philadelphia Secured Basic Rights for 750,000 Workers
The American Prospect
By Brock Hrehor
June 18, 2025
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker recently signed the Protect Our Workers, Enforce Rights (POWER) Act into law, strengthening protections against wage theft and employer retaliation for nearly 750,000 workers across the city. The bill’s passage is even more remarkable coming as it does on the heels of historic hostility to workers’ rights.
IN THE STATES
New Jersey AFL-CIO Unites Behind Mikie Sherrill for Governor
Insider NJ
By Insider NJ
June 17, 2025
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO today announced its endorsement of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill for Governor of New Jersey, citing her strong record of public service, her deep commitment to working families, and her unwavering support for organized labor. “Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill has always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with New Jersey’s working people,” said Charles Wowkanech, President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. “She understands the dignity of work, the importance of strong unions, and the role that labor plays in building a fair economy. As our next Governor, she’ll fight for quality and accessible health care for every family, for great public schools for every kid, and to make New Jersey more affordable for everyone.”
Unions ask California to lead fight for workers at the state level
The Sacramento Bee
By Molly Gibbs
June 19, 2025
Unions are pushing for “a real right to unionize” in California — urging senators to pass a bill letting the state resolve labor law and union disputes if the National Labor Relations Board fails to provide timely resolutions. AB 288 had its first hearing in the Senate on Wednesday morning, where over 100 people shared their support of the bill. Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, D-Hawthorne, the bill’s author, said companies often use slow NLRB processing to their advantage and are trying to further strip the organization’s power through lawsuits.
LABOR LEADERSHIP
Merri Berry retiring as secretary-treasurer of the Missouri AFL-CIO
Labor Tribune
By Tim Rowden
June 19, 2025
Merri Berry, the barrier-breaking secretary-treasurer of the Missouri AFL-CIO, is retiring. The Federation will celebrate her service and career Thursday, July 10, at IBEW Local 1 union hall, 5850 Elizabeth Ave. in St. Louis. The evening will start with cocktails from 5 to 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the program from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Berry is a 45-year member of UFCW Local 655. She became a union shop steward and began working out of the union hall in 2003 – the same year the union led its first strike against the three major union food chains. She was later hired as an organizer and as political director for the union.