AFL-CIO Blog

  • AFL-CIO Trade Tour: Demand Better in New NAFTA
    AFL-CIO Trade Tour: Demand Better in New NAFTA AFL-CIO AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (UMWA) hosted a series of town hall meetings in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan this week, where he talked with working people about NAFTA and what working families need from a new deal. Here are highlights of the trade tour from Twitter:
    We’re here in #Pittsburgh ready to kickoff the @AFLCIO #TradeTour with @RichardTrumka at @PFT400! Join us online: https://t.co/4Byps36I4Y pic.twitter.com/ev0rN28r4n — PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) June 17, 2019
     
    Are you watching the Pittsburgh #NAFTA #TradeTour Town Hall tonight? Here’s a message from President @RichardTrumka #1u 📺: https://t.co/5Ow5EJF7oD pic.twitter.com/imKFH6wrWO — AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 17, 2019
     
    38,000 jobs have been lost in this area due to bad trade! @Darrinkellypgh @AFLCIO @RichardTrumka @PFT400 #Pittsburgh #TradeTour pic.twitter.com/2eiMjbVfSH — PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) June 17, 2019
     
    If a trade deal is good for our workers, we will support it. If it is give aways for the rich we will oppose it. - Nina Esposito-Visgitis #tradetour #nafta #1u pic.twitter.com/7an3ggJriu — AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 17, 2019
     
    .@steelworkers VP Fred Redmond, “CEOs and Corporations are rigging the economic playing field and exploiting workers across borders.” @AFLCIO @RichardTrumka #TradeTour pic.twitter.com/RjP4eR1gsK — PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) June 17, 2019
     
    “Right now, this agreement does not work for workers! Bad trade deals devastate communities and our economy.” President @Rwbloomingdale @AFLCIO @RichardTrumka #TradeTour pic.twitter.com/WZUsn3zwt6 — PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) June 17, 2019
     
    AFL-CIO NAFTA #TradeTour stop in Pittsburgh where President @RichardTrumka says tell Congress NO VOTE ON THE NEW NAFTA until working people are prioritized in the agreement. @steelworkers @AFLCIO @PaAFL_CIO pic.twitter.com/AYoD7AzvQv — Tamara Lefcowitz (@TLefcowitz) June 17, 2019
     
    The proposed new #NAFTA will include even more giveaways to Big Pharma a d other corporate special interests. #tradetour #1u pic.twitter.com/vY16HCsm5d — Richard Trumka (@RichardTrumka) June 17, 2019
     
    NAFTA has stymied the economic growth of workers in Mexico. Latino workers have suffered under this bad trade deal. @AFLCIOLatino @AFLCIO @RichardTrumka @LCLAA #TradeTour pic.twitter.com/JYXNY2yIa0 — PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) June 17, 2019
     
    Here’s what you missed tonight in Pittsburgh. #NAFTA #TradeTour #1u pic.twitter.com/NsIE6SJrCQ — AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 18, 2019
     
    Goodbye Pittsburgh 👋🏼 Onward to the next leg of the #NAFTA #TradeTour in Ohio, see you later today? #1u pic.twitter.com/s2Cyb9ESLS — Richard Trumka (@RichardTrumka) June 18, 2019
     
    Morning, Ohio! President @RichardTrumka is kicking off day two of the @AFLCIO’s #TradeTour with a worker roundtable in Youngstown. #1u pic.twitter.com/nPsWElbLFD — John Weber (@jmatthewweber) June 18, 2019
     
    We’ve known that #NAFTA was detrimental to communities across the country and we know that the new NAFTA will be too. 🔊Take a second and hear how detrimental it will be. #tradetour #1u pic.twitter.com/UEQlgXDSFQ — AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 18, 2019
     
    Harriet Applegate, Executive Secretary of North Shore AFL-CIO kicking off our second stop on the #NAFTA #TradeTour #1u pic.twitter.com/P0uu3Lut0A— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 18, 2019
     
    Tim Burga, @ohioaflcio President “we remember the debate 25 years ago and saw a trade deal based on hope. Now we take no joy in talking about the devastation that #NAFTA caused.” #TradeTour pic.twitter.com/qdym33Vpkb— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 18, 2019
     
    .@RichardTrumka speaking in Cleveland for the last stop of #TradeTour Day 2: “Let’s be clear about something. NAFTA isn’t broken. It’s working exactly the way it was meant to. It was written to enrich corporations at the expense of working people.” #1u pic.twitter.com/ftizz4Keog — John Weber (@jmatthewweber) June 18, 2019
     
    It’s not just about the number of jobs we lost. It’s about those people, our sisters and brothers and our communities who were devastated. Lives changed for the worst. Families who may have never recovered. #NAFTA #TradeTour pic.twitter.com/MLAjbABiNO — AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 18, 2019
     
    Q: what does effective enforcement look like? A: 1. Mexico has to be able to enforce their own laws. 2. Agreement has to be able to be enforced 3. Being able to stop the product from coming into the country at the border until violations rectified. #NAFTA #tradetour pic.twitter.com/A4yIrafeWb — AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 18, 2019
     
    We need to pass the #PROact and here’s what it does. #NAFTA #tradetour pic.twitter.com/OpG7VREe85 — AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 18, 2019
     
    We just wrapped up in Cleveland. We were reminded tonight that this #NAFTA #TradeTour is about the impact on our people. We must continue to fight for our people, we can't afford another bad deal. #1u 📺Watch the recap: pic.twitter.com/vW8qXdeg4o — AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 19, 2019
     
    At Northwest Ohio Building Trades in Toledo, @RichardTrumka convenes #TradeTour roundtable and calls on Congress to not vote on NAFTA agreement until it’s fixed to protect American workers. pic.twitter.com/FlGPDH3oxC — Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) June 19, 2019
     
    We’ve got to hold our elected officials accountable and call them on their BS. #NAFTA #TradeTour #1u pic.twitter.com/DjNHD11GnN — AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 19, 2019
     
    Daryl Newman, @MetDetAFLCIO President welcoming everyone to the #NAFTA #TradeTour town hall. #1u pic.twitter.com/JGvJuVFGzM— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 19, 2019
     
    .@uawregion1a Director Chuck Browning thanks everyone for attending tonight’s #NAFTA #tradetour Town Hall pic.twitter.com/EeYzIBZ5AA— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) June 19, 2019
     
    President @RichardTrumka rounds out the @AFLCIO’s #TradeTour at @UAWRegion1A in Detroit. #1u pic.twitter.com/aXeKndrtV9 — John Weber (@jmatthewweber) June 19, 2019
    Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 06/20/2019 - 12:58     — Jun 20
  • A Better Trade Deal: The Working People Weekly List
    A Better Trade Deal: The Working People Weekly List AFL-CIO Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List. Strive for a Better Trade Deal: "The North American Free Trade Agreement has been nothing short of a disaster for working people. For a quarter-century, Michiganians have watched as corporations shuttered plants, raided pensions and steadily eroded communities that had come to embody the promise of the American Dream. NAFTA is a disaster. But it was no accident. Politicians and corporate executives saw trade as a way to further tilt the economy in their favor. They sold out jobs and livelihoods here at home and sacrificed workers' rights abroad. Nothing was off limits so long as they could sniff out fatter profit margins." Passaic County Central Labor Council Encourages Education with Awards for High Schoolers: "Last night I was a part of something so truly amazing I am still having a hard time putting it into words. And for those of you that know me, words are usually my thing. There is so much that I am grateful for and want to share. It was an incredible night and to me, it was more than 100 years in the making." Save Our VA!: What Working People Are Doing This Week: "Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week." ‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: Union Proud: "On the latest episode of 'State of the Unions,' Julie and Tim talked with Pride At Work Executive Director Jerame Davis as the AFL-CIO constituency group celebrates its 25th anniversary. They discussed the progress made by LGBTQ working people over the past quarter-century and the work still left to be done." Governor Murphy Signs ‘Panic Button’ Bill to Protect Hotel Workers from Assaults, Harassment: "Hundreds of hotel workers, union leaders and elected officials gathered at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City today to witness the signing of a bill requiring hotels to equip certain employees with 'panic buttons' for their protection against inappropriate conduct by guests." Pride Month Profiles: Irene Soloway: "For Pride Month, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ Americans who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights. Our first profile this year is Irene Soloway." Stop the War on Working People: In the States Roundup: "It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states." Get to Know the AFL-CIO's Affiliates: "Throughout the year, we've been profiling each of our affiliates. Let's take a look back at the profiles we've already published." Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Fire Fighters: "Next up in our series, which takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates, is the Fire Fighters." The TWU Celebrates Its 20th Organizing Victory!: "The TWU organizing machine is in full swing. Under this new leadership, the Transport Workers union has just won our 20th new worker organizing drive. We continue to grow and thrive across the entire transport sector. Since 2017, our membership has increased from 137,000 to 151,000." Economy Gains 75,000 Jobs in May; Unemployment Steady at 3.6%: "The U.S. economy gained 75,000 jobs in May, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6%, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wage growth of 3.1% was lower than last month's 3.4% and, a downward revision of 75,000 for the job numbers for March and April signals that the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee needs to inch down interest rates." AFL-CIO President Hosts NAFTA Town Halls in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania: "The president of the nation’s largest labor union announced Tuesday that he will hold a series of town halls about 'union members’ struggles under NAFTA, and what working people want to see from the administration’s proposed USMCA [United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement].' The AFL-CIO’s Richard Trumka will travel to Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan over the course of three days in mid-June to speak with union members as the President Trump administration pushes Congress to ratify his replacement for the much-maligned North American Free Trade Agreement." Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 06/18/2019 - 16:42 — Jun 18
  • Pride Month Profiles: Jeanne Laberge and Ruth Jacobsen
    Pride Month Profiles: Jeanne Laberge and Ruth Jacobsen For Pride Month, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ Americans who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights. Our next profile is Jeanne Laberge and Ruth Jacobsen. In the early 1970s, Steve D'Inzillo was the business agent for New York City's Motion Picture Projectionists Local 306, an affiliate of the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). He had built a reputation as a maverick and had a particular passion for expanding civil rights. He wanted  women to gain equal footing in the local, but the prospect was daunting.  For women to win respect and acceptance in the union, they would need both the skills to do the job well and the toughness to deal with the small-minded men that opposed women's inclusion. D'Inzillo found the right women to challenge the system with Jeanne Laberge and Ruth Jacobsen, a lesbian couple who were willing to fight for their rights. Laberge had a union background and loved the idea of taking on the status quo. Jacobsen had been a "hidden child" during the Nazi occupation of Holland.  In 1972, D'Inzillo sponsored Jacobsen's apprenticeship and she got her license a year later, making her New York City's first female "booth man." Laberge also applied and was admitted to the trade in 1974. D'Inzillo watched the women on the job and in the union hall and was impressed at how well they supported each other. Jacobsen and Laberge soon proposed that Local 306 sponsor a pre-apprenticeship program for women. D'Inzillo eagerly agreed. Many of those who signed up for the program were the sisters, wives and daughters of booth men, and they were paid less to work in lower-skilled jobs. Laberge spoke about the success of the program: 
    We got several licenses out of that first class. It was the first crack of having not just fathers and sons in the trade. We were into the feminist thing. We had the union change how they addressed the letters, to get rid of 'Dear Sir and Brother.' The men could be pretty derisive at meetings, so our women's group dealt with their disruptions.
    Laberge and Jacobsen were the proximate cause for Local 306 adding sexual orientation to its anti-discrimination policies in the late 1970s. After working with the women for years, the local's membership had no interest in excluding them. The local also began to regularly make contributions to lesbian and gay charities, and supported three gay members who were sick from AIDS. This early success led D'Inzillo to ask Jacobsen to join the local's executive board, but she wasn't interested in board politics. Laberge, on the other hand, was enthusiastic about it and joined the board herself. Soon after she started a local newsletter, writing most of the articles. She became D'Inzillo's right-hand woman as he rose up the ranks of IATSE. He twice ran for the national presidency and was elected to be an IATSE vice president, with Laberge by his side the whole time. During his time as a leader in IATSE, Laberge said D'Inzillo was the only person at national conventions who pushed proposals that dealt with larger social and political issues, and she was a key part of those efforts. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 06/18/2019 - 11:30 Tags: LGBTQ Rights     — Jun 18
  • Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Heat and Frost Insulators
    Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Heat and Frost Insulators Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU). Name of Union: International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Mission: Assisting members in securing employment, defending their rights and advancing their interests and through education and cooperation, raising them to that position in society to which they are justly entitled. Current Leadership of Union: James P. McCourt serves as general president, first having been elected in 2015. McCourt is a second-generation pipe coverer who began his career with Asbestos Workers Local 6 in Boston in 1976. He received his mechanic's card in 1980 and served on the executive board of the local from 1982-1984. McCourt was president of the local from 1985-1987. In 1997, he was elected international vice president of the New York-New England States Conference. In 2001, he was elected by the General Executive Board to serve as general secretary-treasurer and was elected by the general convention to serve in that position three subsequent times.  Gregory T. Revard serves as general secretary-treasurer. Current Number of Members: 30,000 Members Work As: Experts in mechanical insulation, fire stopping, infectious disease control, asbestos and lead mitigation, sound attenuation, and specialty fabrication. Industries Represented: The construction and maintenance of commercial, industrial, medical, bio-technical, governmental and educational facilities, among others. History: In 1903, the Pipe Coverers Union Local No. 1 called for a national convention, which would establish what, the following year, would be named the National Association of Heat, Frost and General Insulators and Asbestos Workers of America. At the convention, the delegates adopted a constitution and A.J. Kennedy was elected the organization's first president. In 1910, American Federation of Labor President Samuel Gompers signed the charter of affiliation for the Insulators across the United States and Canada. Joseph A. Mullaney was the second, and longest-serving, president of the international union, holding the position from 1912-1954. In 1938, the Insulators became formally affiliated with the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL. Both World Wars boosted the need for workers with the skills of the Insulators and Asbestos Workers, the latter of whom were crucial in the reconstruction of the U.S. naval forces after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After World War 2, membership in the Insulators boomed as locals opened apprenticeship programs. The industry was driven by the unprecedented expansion of national infrastructure in the 1950s and beyond. In the 1980s, as the link between asbestos and cancer was confirmed, the Insulators fought to gain acceptance of the facts and to enact and enforce regulations to minimize exposure to carcinogens. Current Campaigns: The Professional Craftsman Code of Conduct promotes job site excellence and customer satisfaction. The Labor Management Cooperative Trust promotes the heat and frost insulation industry, particularly mechanical insulation, fire stopping and hazardous waste remediation. Community Efforts: The Insulation Industry International Apprentice and Training Fund specializes in providing the highest-skilled and best-trained workers in the industry. The Insulators Tissue Bank seeks to improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention of asbestos-related conditions, including mesothelioma. The annual Master Apprentice Competition has tested the skills and rewarded the best of the best HFIU apprentices for 18 years. Learn More: Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 06/17/2019 - 09:35 — Jun 17
  • Passaic County Central Labor Council Encourages Education with Awards for High Schoolers
    Passaic County Central Labor Council Encourages Education with Awards for High Schoolers Passaic County CLC Last night I was a part of something so truly amazing I am still having a hard time putting it into words. And for those of you that know me, words are usually my thing. There is so much that I am grateful for and want to share. It was an incredible night and to me, it was more than 100 years in the making. Last week, the Passaic County Central Labor Council paved the way financially for four high school seniors to enter into the trades through an apprenticeship program with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). These four students from Paterson and Passaic were honored and recognized for their choice to enter into the union workforce. They were given education awards to pay for the books for their apprenticeship program to become unionized auto mechanics. Where our world usually celebrates going to college and gives all sorts of college scholarships, our Labor Council wanted to help make a difference for the future of unions. We have (unfortunately) seen college scholarships given at breakfasts where the recipients don’t even show up to receive their money. Thousands of dollars not even appreciated or understood. And we, the Passaic County CLC, were determined to make sure that our awards would go to not only those who need it, who it would greatly impact, but also those who would appreciate the opportunity and want to be a part of a union. These four 2019 high school graduates and their families were part of something special. It was the first-ever award ceremony in our county (and maybe even New Jersey) of its kind. Seeing the smiles on their faces was truly priceless. These students received an earful (and a heart full) of advice and wisdom from union leaders who were once in their shoes, embarking on a new career path. They were welcomed into a greater union family and provided with an understanding of what this opportunity is all about. The event was hosted at the Botto House/American Labor Museum, which is not only a historical landmark but was also the home of an immigrant family, silk mill worker Pietro Botto, who held gatherings of more than 20,000 silk mill workers who were on strike for some of the basic working rights we have today⁠—the eight-hour work day, child labor laws and workers' rights. Labor union organizers from the Industrial Workers of the World held rallies at this landmark and by the power of unions, and people coming together, their voices were eventually heard. The Botto House is also a special place for me personally, as my great-grandparents, who were immigrant silk mill and factory workers in Paterson in the early 1900s, attended these rallies and strikes. My dad volunteered at the Botto House for more than 25 years and always made sure we understood that the roots of our family coming to America, that all we had, could have possibly started right here in the crowd. There were things I knew about my dad when he passed away. Creating union opportunities within our community was something he was passionate about. Being able to hold your head high knowing that you gave your best was one of the only and most valuable things we have in life. It’s not about the cars you drive or how big your house is. It’s not about what college you went to. There are more important things in life that money will never buy. Or as he would say, “dirty hands make clean money.” He even had me write letters to the bishop of the Paterson diocese about his poor choices to support nonunion work when there were hundreds of union members/parishioners who were unemployed. I can go on and on about my how proud my dad was to be a union member. He joined the Plumbers union after he served in the Marine Corps, not only to making a good living and provide for a family, but to be a part of something greater than himself. His path was not always easy. There were times when he was out of work and had a family to provide for, but to him, his chosen path was always worth it. He often dragged us to events, to Labor Day parades and union rallies. He was a plumber, but one time we even hopped on a bus with IBEW Local 102 to head to a workers' rights rally in Philadelphia, because it mattered to him. He made sure our family knew why Labor Day isn’t just a Monday off, but it’s dedicated to the achievements of the backbone of America⁠—the honorable working class. If a store or a restaurant were built nonunion, he did not approve of us going there. When my dad passed away, I wrote to the Passaic County Central Labor Council and asked if they needed any volunteers. After all, I wrote so many letters for my dad over the years, that I felt like I was already a part of it in a way. It was also a way for me to share my understanding of unions, how appreciative I was of all that I ever had in my life…and most of all, I felt like it was a way for me to stay close with my dad. To do something in his spirit. Something that he truly cared about. Over the last few years, I have been blessed to work with some truly remarkable leaders. We have brainstormed and debated, and have been able to put some of our ideas into action. We’ve cared about the community⁠—brought Santa and hundreds of gifts to Martin De Porres village in Paterson. We’ve gathered hundreds of union members for labor walks and barbecues to help support politicians who care about union rights, workers’ rights and our communities. And now, we’ve provided a foundation and understanding for new union workers. Last week, when I arrived at the ceremony for these students, my friends and colleagues on the Labor Council totally surprised me. They asked me to be a part of the ceremony. If I would hand the plaques to the students. Of course, I agreed. I was so excited. But, there’s more. When they uncovered the plaques, they unveiled to me that this would be “The Robert Ehrentraut Labor Education Award.” I was shocked! I’m still crying, just thinking about it. What an honor! I’m sure it’s something my dad wouldn’t believe if he was here today. To him, he simply did his job. It wasn’t about recognition, it was about doing your best, caring for your family and contributing to your community. The bar was set with expectations of integrity, hard work and care for others. Nothing less was even an option. So, even almost five years after his passing, my dad is still teaching me to lead from the crowd. That it can be extraordinary to be ordinary. That there is honor in doing what you know in your heart is right. More than 100 years ago my great-grandparents stood in the crowd for union rights. Last night, four students received an award in their grandson’s honor. Values come full circle in life and I couldn’t be more grateful to be my father’s daughter AND a member of the Passaic County Central Labor Council. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 06/13/2019 - 14:22 — Jun 13