AFL-CIO Blog

  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Melani Abihai
    Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Melani Abihai For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Melani Abihai of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS). A brand-new PASS member, Melani Abihai is a Federal Aviation Administration employee supporting the daily management and administration of the Maui Air Traffic Control Tower. She is proud of her Hawaiian/Chinese/Portuguese heritage and she said she lives by Hawaiian values passed down from ‘ohana. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/16/2022 - 10:00 — May 16
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Ironworkers Political Academy Empowers Local Unions to Advance Pro-Labor Policies
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Ironworkers Political Academy Empowers Local Unions to Advance Pro-Labor Policies Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. The Ironworkers concluded their national Ironworkers Political Academy (IPA) in Houston today. Political coordinators from all over the country attended the weeklong class, which was conducted by the international union and hosted by locals 84 and 135. It is among the most comprehensive political training programs in the labor movement. IPA students learned the skills to represent their locals in politics. Subjects included talking to members about important union issues; overcoming partisan divides in union membership; mobilizing volunteers for electoral campaigns; building relationships with both Republican and Democratic elected officials; and lobbying strategies for state and local governments. Each student left class with a political strategic plan customized for their own local union’s challenges and goals. The class featured a discussion with the Texas AFL-CIO about how local unions can work with their labor federations on elections and policy. “I came away so impressed by the depth and quality of the program,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy (TSEU/CWA). “If we’re going to win this year and in the future, it’s going to be because of deep investments in developing new member leaders who can lead and carry out new programs.” Forty hours of intensive training left students excited to get to work in their home locals. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/16/2022 - 09:40 — May 16
  • The Power and Value of Unions: In the States Roundup
    The Power and Value of Unions: In the States Roundup It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter. Alabama AFL-CIO: Alaska AFL-CIO: Arizona AFL-CIO: California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO: Colorado AFL-CIO: Connecticut AFL-CIO: Florida AFL-CIO: Indiana State AFL-CIO: Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO: Maine AFL-CIO: Massachusetts AFL-CIO: Michigan State AFL-CIO: Minnesota AFL-CIO: Missouri AFL-CIO: Montana State AFL-CIO: Nebraska State AFL-CIO: New Hampshire AFL-CIO: New Jersey State AFL-CIO: New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO: New York State AFL-CIO: North Carolina State AFL-CIO: Ohio AFL-CIO: Oklahoma State AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO: Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: Rhode Island AFL-CIO: Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council: Texas AFL-CIO: Virginia AFL-CIO: West Virginia AFL-CIO: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/13/2022 - 16:12 — May 13
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Frances Hsieh
    Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Frances Hsieh For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Frances Hsieh of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). Frances Hsieh oversees and coordinates legislative advocacy work in San Francisco, the East Bay and South Bay. She helped start her local's API Caucus, and advocates on behalf of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders within her local, in the labor movement, and in the broader community. She is an active Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance member, a member of IFPTE's Executive Council, and is also active in several local community and progressive political organizations. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/13/2022 - 10:00 — May 13
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Hawaii State AFL-CIO Showers ‘Labor of Love’ on Community
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Hawaii State AFL-CIO Showers ‘Labor of Love’ on Community Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO’s Labor Community Service Program brought back its “Labor of Love” volunteer service project last month, with more than 300 volunteers from 30 unions and throughout the community working together to make improvements to Iao Intermediate School in Wailuku. Participants at the event built new picnic tables and benches; installed a new shelving and instrument repair area in the band room; put down fresh paint on portions of the campus; and created a paved shaded area for students to gather. “Our unions work for everyone in Hawaii, whether fighting for safe workplaces, lifting up conditions for the working class, or showing up to improve one of our precious public schools,” said Hawaii State AFL-CIO President Randy Perreira (AFSCME, not pictured). “We are so proud of our brothers and sisters for sharing their hard work, resources and talent, and for showing what it means to be a union member in Hawaii.” Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/13/2022 - 09:35 — May 13