AFL-CIO Blog

  • 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
  • USW Condemns Arrest of Korean Labor Leader
    USW Condemns Arrest of Korean Labor Leader The United Steelworkers (USW) strongly condemned the May 4 arrest of Youn Taeg-gun, first vice president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who was detained for his leading role in organizing a general strike on Oct. 20, 2021. Youn’s arrest is particularly outrageous given that International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions 87, protecting freedom of association and the right to organize, and 98, protecting the right to organize and collective bargaining, entered into force in the Republic of Korea on April 20. Youn led the strike in part because, at the time, KCTU President Yang Kyeung-soo was in detention on similar spurious charges. Like President Yang before him, Youn has been charged with violation of the Infectious Disease Control Act on Demonstration and Assembly, despite the KCTU’s proper observance of COVID-19 protocols. The strike took place shortly after representatives of the USW, the UAW and the AFL-CIO visited the Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., to demand Yang’s freedom. The USW also raised the arrest of President Yang and the interrogation of Vice President Youn during the meeting of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement Labor Council on April 26. Vice President Youn’s arrest, in the context of current discussions on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and President Joe Biden’s upcoming visit to South Korea, can only be seen as an expression of the Korean government’s intention to disregard fundamental labor rights and international conventions. The USW calls on the Korean government to openly adhere to these International Labor Organization conventions by releasing Youn and ending police harassment of trade unionists for engaging in legitimate union activity. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/12/2022 - 14:51 — May 12
  • Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Adrian Kamaka
    Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Adrian Kamaka 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 Adrian Kamaka of the Bricklayers. "I am a proud 30-year union-strong member of BAC."—Adrian Kamaka. Kamaka is a member of BAC Local 1 in Hawaii. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/12/2022 - 10:00 — May 12