No Kings Round-Up + Union-Made Passover and Easter
Here's what you need to know this week:
Tens of Thousands of Union Members Demonstrate in No Kings Protests
On Saturday, tens of thousands of union members participated in No Kings rallies across the nation. Americans rallied in opposition to the radical pages of Project 2025 and the fever dreams of America’s corporate billionaires, which have come to life with a relentless assault on America’s workers.
WCFLC President Stephanie Yocum and son, Jackson, at Lakeland No Kings
“No Kings is about standing up to the guy in the White House,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, who attended the event in Minnesota with labor leaders and thousands of union members. “But No Kings also means tearing down an economy by and for the billionaires—and instead, building it for working people. More money in our pockets—because no one in the richest country on Earth should struggle to get by. More time off—to spend with our friends and family and kids and loved ones. Equal pay for Black and Latina women—who make 58 cents on the dollar—because opportunity in this country should not depend on the color of your skin. And you know where it all starts? With a good union job for every worker in this country—because we all know, it's better in a union!”
WCFLC Executive Board member Barb Toepke, left, and safety marshal pose for a photo at the Temple Terrace rally
Many labor leaders and members spoke at events across the country. AFT President Randi Weingarten and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President April Verrett joined President Shuler to speak at the Minnesota rally. In Lakeland, WCFLC President Stephanie Yocum spoke at the Lakeland No Kings.
Downtown Sarasota
New Standard Protects Workers at All 1,300 Amazon Facilities Nationwide
See below a press release from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters:
(NEW YORK) – In a landmark settlement, Amazon has conceded it will no longer retaliate against workers who exercise their right to strike, following relentless pressure from the Teamsters Union in sessions mediated by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
“When workers organize together as Teamsters, we have the power to go toe-to-toe with the biggest corporations in the world — and to win,” said Randy Korgan, Director of the Teamsters Amazon Division. “Amazon Teamsters dragged the world’s largest retailer to the table kicking and screaming to try to fix the problems they created for union members at the company. The Teamsters will keep building worker power at Amazon nationwide until we win the contracts that these workers deserve.”
Historically, Amazon deducted Unpaid Time (UPT) from those who strike in direct retaliation against workers exercising their rights. In December 2024, Amazon Teamsters picketed more than 200 of the multitrillion-dollar company’s facilities in over 20 states. Last year, the NLRB ruled that Amazon had illegally taken striking workers’ UPT, which exists as a bank of hours that Amazon workers can use for unscheduled leave and emergencies. The company effectively uses UPT as an attendance policy, and Amazon may terminate workers when they run out of it.
Amazon’s settlement with the Teamsters will now restore the illegally deducted time to affected workers and ensure all Amazon workers can strike in the future without losing their UPT. The settlement will cover all of Amazon’s 1,300 facilities nationwide, and Amazon is required to post a notice to workers informing them of their rights.
“As Amazon Teamsters, we are the only ones who have ever successfully forced this company to respect the right to strike,” said Robert Moore, a warehouse worker at DCK6 in San Francisco. “Amazon workers everywhere should know that thanks to this settlement, they too can become Teamsters without losing their Unpaid Time. It’s time to get organizing and secure even stronger rights on the job.”
Amazon Teamsters have been fighting the company’s retaliation at all levels. Workers have been organizing warehouses, circulating petitions, and marching against management, all while pursuing the union’s legal case and rallying support from elected officials.
Nearly 10,000 Amazon workers have organized with the Teamsters over the last two years. In unionized facilities, Amazon Teamsters have forced the company to raise wages, invest in safety, and overturn unfair terminations. Now that the union has pushed Amazon to remove this retaliatory policy, workers are ready to escalate Teamsters organizing efforts.
“Every year, more Amazon workers join the Teamsters. Each organizing victory builds more power,” said Kyle Middleton, a warehouse worker at JFK8 in New York. “To any of my co-workers who may have been on the fence, now is the time to join this movement. We are winning — and we will continue to force Amazon to respect its workforce in every possible way.”
Here's What's Coming Up:
Union-Made in America Passover/Seder
Union-Made in America Easter
Happy Easter! See the AFL-CIO's list here: https://aflcio.org/easter
4/7: Vice President Election at Central Labor Council Meeting Tuesday
On Tuesday, WCFLC will meet at 7pm at IBEW 915 in Tampa. A formal invite will go out tomorrow. To fill the vacancy created by Senator-Elect Brian Nathan's resignation, delegates will vote for a new VP at our meeting.
Two candidates have been nominated:
- Kim Smith, IBEW 824
- Andrew Valentine, IBEW 915
Only delegates and board members may vote in the election. Affiliated local unions may make additions or changes to their delegation at the beginning of each meeting provided that they submit a completed delegate credential and the delegate(s) is/are present at the meeting to be sworn in. If you have any questions about your union's current delegation, please reach out.
That's all for this week! Check out our website at wcflc.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. If you'd like to receive this weekly via email, please subscribe here: bit.ly/WCFLC