Today's AFL-CIO press clips
EDITOR'S NOTE:Our story featuring President Reinstedler, crossposted in Forward Kentucky, is in today's press clips.Whatever
POLITICS
Federal workers fear Trump will fire them after court ruling: ‘We are toast’
The Washington Post
By Hannah Natanson and Meryl Kornfield
July 9, 2025
The decision will imperil federal services nationwide, said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the nation’s largest federal union, which helped bring the suit. “This isn’t just some Washington, D.C., legal tussle — it’s a life-altering decision for tens of thousands of American families,” Kelley said. “Federal employees across the country will sit at their dinner tables tonight with their layoff notice next to a pile of bills, knowing the Supreme Court’s action just changed their lives forever, and they’re wondering what they’re going to do next to make ends meet.”
With new power, Trump will move immediately to lay off federal workers
USA Today
By Erin Mansfield
July 9, 2025
President Donald Trump has the authority to lay off federal workers and reorganize the federal government in a way that critics say no president has been able to do in more than 100 years. The power, which the Supreme Court granted temporarily, stems from a case in which the Trump administration says it needs broad authority to manage the executive branch effectively, but federal labor unions say flies in the face of established law and decades of tradition. A final decision in favor of the president, which the court said is likely, will continue a trend in which the executive branch increases its power in relation to the legislative and judicial branches − making Trump and future presidents more powerful than they’ve been in generations.
UAW President Denounces Trump-GOP Budget Law as 'Total Betrayal' of American Working Class
Common Dreams
By Jake Johnson
July 9, 2025
Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, said that "every member of Congress who voted for this devastating bill picked the pockets of working people to hand billionaires a $5 trillion gift." "But if the politicians who rammed through this shameful bill think they can sneak away without anyone knowing the damage they've done and the chaos they've created," said Shuler, "they don't know anything about the labor movement."
US Senate votes to confirm long-time Republic CEO to head FAA
Reuters
By David Shepardson
July 9, 2025
The U.S. Senate Wednesday voted 53 to 43 to approve long-time Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford to head the Federal Aviation Administration. Bedford, the former head of the regional air carrier that operates nearly 1,000 daily flights for major airlines, stepped down last week after more than 25 years leading the airline and was nominated by President Donald Trump.
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND CLIMATE
A Win-Win for Oregon: Legislation that protects public workers and fosters economic growth
Oregon Capital Chronicle
By Danielle Fox, Mike Powers and Steve Demarest
July 9, 2025
The unchecked burning of fossil fuels, carbon-intensive companies, and the escalating climate crisis pose real dangers to the health, safety, and financial stability of our state’s public sector workers. Many work outdoors, directly impacted by the dangers of extreme heat, wildfires, smoke, floods, and deep cold. Beyond their workplaces, too many live in impacted communities and have even lost their homes, destabilizing their families and livelihoods. Financially, the risks associated with fossil fuels and climate change pose significant threats to the long-term health of many different investments that fund their hard-earned retirement. This is precisely why we at Service Employees International Union Local 503 and Climate Finance Action commend the Oregon Treasurer Steiner for her leadership in passing the Climate Resilience Investment Act.
SUPREME COURT
Supreme Court OKs Trump assault on federal workers
People’s World
By John Wojcik and Mark Gruenberg
July 9, 2025
Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, at the federation’s launching of a nationwide bus tour today, called the ruling “the biggest case of union busting in U.S. history.” Union leaders stationed a big bus in D.C. today at the start of their two-month tour of the country. The first topic of their “Freedom, Fairness And Security” tour will be President Trump’s “big, bad bill”—their words—which gives a $4.5 trillion tax cut bonanza to corporations and the 1%, at the expense of everybody else.
Supreme Court greenlights layoffs: What it means for federal employees
The Hill
By Zach Schonfeld and Rebecca Beitsch
July 9, 2025
Federal agencies can resume implementing President Trump’s mass layoff directive following Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling, greenlighting agencies to take their first steps in booting thousands of federal workers. The apparent 8-1 emergency decision lifts the widest block on Trump’s plans for massive reductions in force (RIFs). But a patchwork of injunctions that have yet to reach the justices remain in place, creating a jumbled situation that keeps reductions at specific agencies on ice.
Supreme Court disabuses federal workers who thought their jobs were safe
Politico
By Erin Schumaker
July 9, 2025
Tens of thousands of workers across the federal government are hoping their unions and allies in local governments and nonprofit groups have a Plan B — a day after the Supreme Court said the Trump administration could proceed with firing them. The hope hangs on the ruling’s suggestion that lower courts could still consider direct challenges to agencies’ reorganization plans. But that will require plaintiffs to bring more detailed cases quickly and convince judges to stop the layoffs before they become a fait accompli. As cases become more granular, plaintiffs will likely face an uphill battle. And the White House said it plans to restart the terminations immediately.
Supreme Court Order Creates Chaos for Federal Worker Litigation
Bloomberg Tax
By Lydia Wheeler and Kimberly Strawbridge Robinson
July 9, 2025
The US Supreme Court generated new turmoil for federal workers and lower courts in allowing President Donald Trump to move forward with sweeping plans to overhaul the federal government. While administrative law scholars say such restructuring normally would have to be challenged agency-by-agency, they acknowledge a piecemeal approach can make it much harder for those seeking to challenge unlawful executive actions. That’s particularly true with a president intent on pushing the bounds of executive power.
ORGANIZING
Group of Aberdeen workers votes to unionize in hopes of better pay, benefits
The Aberdeen Insider
By Scott Waltman
July 8, 2025
A group of Aberdeen city workers has voted to unionize. The vote was at the Aberdeen Municipal Building on Monday, July 7 and Tuesday, July 8. The result was 79 votes in favor of unionization and 46 against. There were 23 no ballots, and 23 eligible workers didn’t vote. Those were also considered no votes, but were still topped by those voting in favor of forming a union.
Workers at popular Philadelphia venue take first step toward unionization
NBC Philadelphia
By Alana Beltran
July 9, 2025
The workers at a popular music venue in West Philadelphia have taken the first step in their attempt to unionize. Workers at World Cafe Live submitted an election petition to the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday, July 9. 79% of the venue's front of house and food service workers are looking to join the hospitality workers' union, UNITE HERE Local 274. UNITE HERE Philly is a union that represents 4,000 hotel and food service workers from stadiums, airports and hotels across the Philadelphia region.
College of DuPage employees move to form union with AFSCME
Daily Herald
By Katlyn Smith
July 9, 2025
A key group of College of DuPage employees is closer to having a labor union represent their interests on campus. Employees earlier this year announced their organizing campaign with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, Council 31. When certified, the bargaining unit will represent some 600 “classified” staff members, including administrative, clerical, IT and other employees at the Glen Ellyn-based community college.
UNION NEGOTIATIONS
Philadelphia strike over as DC 33, city reach tentative deal; trash pickup to resume Monday
CBS News
By Joe Brandt
July 9, 2025
Members of AFSCME District Council 33, Philadelphia's largest municipal union, reached a tentative new contract agreement with the city Wednesday, ending a labor strike that began at midnight last Tuesday. The union represents workers across multiple city departments, from police dispatchers and crossing guards to maintenance workers at Philadelphia International Airport, city sanitation workers who collect weekly trash pickups and many more.
Minnesota medical group workers begin 4-day strike
Becker’s Hospital Review
By Kelly Gooch
July 9, 2025
Members of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa began a four-day strike July 8 at HealthPartners Clinic Stillwater (Minn.). The union represents more than 80 workers in roles such as licensed practical nurse, certified medical assistant and other service-unit healthcare positions in the family medicine, OB-GYN, pediatrics and specialties departments, according to a July 2 SEIU news release. The clinic’s parent organization, Bloomington, Minn.-based HealthPartners, employs more than 26,000 people.
Mayor Parker, city workers union reach tentative deal, ending strike
Philly Voice
By Michaela Althouse and Shamus Clancy
July 9, 2025
The city and labor union for municipal workers reached a tentative deal on a new contract around 4 a.m. Wednesday, ending a strike that was entering its ninth day. The tentative agreement, which still needs to be ratified by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, includes an annual 3% raise over the next three years, with a one-time $1,500 bonus for employees in the first year. The deal will cost the city $115 million over five years. Some city services will begin resuming Thursday and regular trash collection, which has been stopped since last week, will start up again Monday.
Essentia health care workers to picket across the Range
Mesabi Tribune
By Linda Tyssen
July 9, 2025
The Minnesota Nurses Association now has picket lines at Essentia health care facilities in Duluth and Superior, and starting on Thursday, MNA members will picket at Essentia Health-Virginia Hospital. On Tuesday, MNA members in the Twin Ports held a press conference on the first day of a “historic ULP (unfair labor practices) strike of nurses and healthcare workers at Essentia 1st Street Clinic, Essentia 2nd Street Clinic, Essentia 3rd Street Clinic, Essentia Miller Hill Ambulatory Surgery Center, Essentia Superior Clinic, and Essentia Solvay Hospice House,” according to an MNA press release. MNA members were to address the status of negotiations as nurses seek to improve patient care and working conditions at the bedside through fair negotiations.”
Annapolis Symphony Orchestra Signs New 3-Year Contract
The Southern Maryland Chronicle
By David M. Higgins II
July 9, 2025
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and its musicians, represented by the Musicians’ Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, Local 40-543, American Federation of Musicians, have ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement effective July 1, 2025. This agreement, extending through June 30, 2028, strengthens the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Maryland’s only professional orchestra in the capital and Anne Arundel County’s oldest and largest performing arts organization, ensuring artistic excellence and financial stability.
STATE LEGISLATION
Michigan lawmakers introduce state bills paving way for college athletes to unionize (Video)
CBS News
July 8, 2025
A new Michigan House bill considers student-athletes as employees, while another looks to remove a new hurdle for athletes trying to secure deals based on their name, image, and likeness.
IN THE STATES
Letter: I wouldn't call that a 'win' (Opinion)
Inforum
By Ashley Gaschk
July 8, 2025
Last week, all three of our representatives in Washington voted to approve the president’s spending bill. They called this “a big win” that provides “tax relief for everyday Americans” and “certainty to American families.” The statements made by Rep. Fedorchak and Sens. Hoeven and Cramer make me wonder: Have the people we sent to represent us forgotten who everyday North Dakotans are?
State AFL-CIO starts training program for union members who want to run for office
Forward Kentucky
By Berry Craig
July 9, 2025
Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is “just another example of a system that keeps handing more and more to the richest thousand people in this country, while millions of working people are told to settle for less,” said Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Dustin Reinstedler. “And the most heartbreaking part is that some of the very people who will be hurt the most are still voting these politicians into office.”
Democrats' 2028 buzz grows with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear heading to SC
Palmetto Politics
By Caitlin Byrd
July 9, 2025
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a red-state governor who is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, will travel to the Palmetto State next week where he will make at least two public stops: speaking in Greenville on July 16 at the state convention for the South Carolina chapter of the AFL-CIO and headlining a July 17 fundraiser dinner for the Georgetown County Democratic Party.
APPRENTICESHIPS & TRAINING
Foothill partners with union to provide trade programs with associates degrees
Los Altos Town Crier
By Town Crier Report
July 8, 2025
Foothill College has partnered with Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104 and Bay Area Industry Training Fund to provide career-seekers a five-year apprenticeship and associates degree free of charge. The program – which became available last summer – is open to all apprentices at the International Association of Sheet metal, Air, Rail and Transportation. The association covers Northern California; this year, testing, adjusting and balancing, in addition to building trades service apprentices, can take part in the program, according to a June 19 press release.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
IAFF members support Texas floods rescue effort
Fire & Safety Journal Americas
By Isabelle Crow
July 9, 2025
General President Edward Kelly said: “IAFF members from across the region have stepped up at a time of incredible need in Texas, bringing their training and experience to communities hit hardest by the floods. “The loss of life and the level of destruction are devastating – and my prayers are with the families and friends of those who have died and those still missing.” IAFF leaders on the ground are still assessing the floods’ impact on members, even as more rain is forecast in the region this week.