News

Remembering Workers Memorial Day

Today, April 28th, we honor Workers Memorial Day, a day where we remember all those killed or injured needlessly on the job and continue the fighting for strong safety and health protections.

Liz Shuler Elected AFL-CIO President

The AFL-CIO Executive Council today elected Liz Shuler, a visionary leader and longtime trade unionist, to serve as president of the federation of 56 unions and 12.5 million members. Shuler is the first woman to hold the office in the history of the labor federation. The Executive Council also elected United Steelworkers (USW) International Vice President Fred Redmond to succeed Shuler as secretary-treasurer, the first African American to hold the number two office. Tefere Gebre will continue as executive vice president, rounding out the most diverse team of officers ever to lead the AFL-CIO.

Librarian Praises Fast Access to Disaster Relief Grant with the Union Plus Credit Card

LaVerne Washington, executive board member and steward of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 101 in San Jose, California is on her way to retiring credit card debt free. Washington has been an AFSCME member for 18 years. As she started planning for retirement from her job as a paralegal, she researched ways to reduce her bills and high interest credit card debt. She remembered that Union Plus Credit Counseling is one of the benefits available to her through AFSCME Advantage.

Do Our Elected Officials Protect Retirees?

Here's what you need to know this week:

Rallying for Custodians at the School Board

HSEF Rally

Check out this video from the Florida Education Association covering the recent rally at the HIllsborough County School Board to oppose the privatization of custodial services.

Librarian Praises Fast Access to Disaster Relief Grant with the Union Plus Credit Card

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy, also known as “Superstorm Sandy”, battered the east coast of the United States and caused billions of dollars in damage. “We had never seen anything like it,” says Shileen Shaw, recalling the damage her East Orange, NJ, home suffered at the time. Shaw’s home lost electricity for weeks and her roof endured severe damage. Luckily, she was able to turn to her union for help.

The PRO Act: Pathway to Power for Workers

Abigail Disney, granddaughter of the co-founder of the Walt Disney Co., called out the family business’ current CEO last month for making what’s supposed to be the happiest place on earth pretty darn miserable for its workers.

Democrats Have an Ambitious Plan to Save American Labor Unions

House Democrats have a plan to make unions great again.

They’re trying to get support for a sweeping labor reform bill that would reverse decades of Republican-backed policies meant to crush labor unions.

All Teachers Could Benefit from Unions

Re: Ashley Jochim's April 25 Detroit News opinion, "Charter schools, the future of teachers unions": There is no doubt Michigan’s public schools are facing problems and it’s widely known that educators, through organizing with their unions, are speaking out to improve learning conditions, have a say in educational administration, and improve working environments.

A Summit on Public Education

Here's what you need to know this week:

For most Americans, public education is still the primary way in which our families grow up, get good jobs, and live a prosperous life. As we have seen time and time again in Florida, though, special interest groups and the charter school industry have been carrying out a systematic attack on our public school system through measures such as union decertification, vouchers that siphon public money out of our schools, and bonus programs that pit teachers against one another.