AFL-CIO Blog

  • Find a Labor Day Event Near You: In the States Roundup
    Find a Labor Day Event Near You: 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 X. California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO: Colorado AFL-CIO: Illinois AFL-CIO: Maine AFL-CIO: Massachusetts AFL-CIO: Michigan State AFL-CIO: Minnesota AFL-CIO: Missouri AFL-CIO: Nevada State AFL-CIO: New Hampshire AFL-CIO: New York State AFL-CIO: Ohio AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO: Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: Texas AFL-CIO: Virginia AFL-CIO: Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/26/2025 - 11:45 — Aug 26
  • Fred Redmond Joins Connecticut Unions to Call for Education Funding at AFL-CIO Bus Tour Stop
    Fred Redmond Joins Connecticut Unions to Call for Education Funding at AFL-CIO Bus Tour Stop AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joined the Connecticut AFL-CIO and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) for a roundtable discussion Friday on federal cuts and the lack of sufficient state funding in K-12 and public higher education, as part of the AFL-CIO “It’s Better In a Union” bus tour. The stop in Hartford came the week before nearly all Connecticut students returned to the classroom. The event included a direct demand for a special session this fall, and for Gov. Ned Lamont and the Connecticut General Assembly to raise state revenue in the wake of the Trump administration’s slashes to federal funding. Roundtable participants spoke about how more resources are necessary to avert harmful cuts that will impact students, educators and the broader community. “We want to urge the governor to take immediate action without delay in a special legislative session,” said Redmond. “This amount we are quibbling over on what to invest is ridiculous. It is needed,” said Stuart Beckford, the second vice president of Hartford Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 1018. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/26/2025 - 10:06 Tags: Better in a Union Bus Tour — Aug 26
  • Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Operating Engineers
    Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Operating Engineers This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we’ve covered all 63 of our affiliates. Next up is the Operating Engineers (IUOE). Name of Union: International Union of Operating Engineers Mission: To serve the needs and develop the skills of a constantly expanding and varied group of construction and maintenance professionals through collective bargaining, legislative action and extensive skills training programs. Current Leadership of Union: John L. Downey serves as general president of IUOE. He started as a member of Local 542 in eastern Pennsylvania. In 2005, he became a business representative for the local. In 2010, he took on the role of international representative for the Northeast Region. He was promoted to assistant construction director in 2014 and to director of the Construction Department in 2021. Downey was appointed as chief of staff by former General President James Callahan in 2023 and elected general president himself in January 2025. James M. Sweeney serves as general secretary-treasurer. IUOE also has 14 vice presidents: Daren Konopaski, Michael Gallagher, Greg Lalevee, Terrance E. McGowan, Douglas W. Stockwell, Charlie Singletary, Dan Reding, William Lynn, Patrick J. Kelly, Thomas A. Callahan, Joshua VanDyke, James J. White, Edward J. Curly and David K. Sikorski. Current Number of Members: 410,000 Members Work as: Members who are operating engineers work as heavy equipment operators, mechanics and surveyors in the construction industry. Stationary engineers work in operations and maintenance in building and industrial complexes, and in the service industries. Industries Represented: Private industry and in various public projects, such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and government complexes. History: In the late 1800s, working conditions were harsh for construction and stationary workers. Low wages, no benefits and 60- to 90-hour workweeks were the norm. In 1896, 11 individuals met in Chicago and formed the National Union of Steam Engineers of America, the first step in the creation of IUOE. A year later, the first Canadian members joined and the union became the International Union of Steam Engineers. After the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, operating engineers flocked to the city for rebuilding jobs. They also were a key part of digging the Panama Canal. In 1912, the union changed its name to the International Union of Steam and Operating Engineers. As technology advanced, steam became less a part of the industry, and steam was dropped. During the era of the two world wars and beyond, IUOE members were a significant part of the defense effort, from the Navy Seabees, who created the bases, airfields and roads, to the federal Highway Trust Fund program, which created thousands of jobs for operating engineers. They also were part of many other important construction projects, including San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Chicago’s Sears Tower (renamed Willis Tower in 2009), Toronto’s CN Tower and SkyDome (renamed Rogers Centre), New York’s Empire State Building and Holland Tunnel, the Statue of Liberty, Vancouver’s Lions Gate Bridge, the Alaskan pipeline, the Hoover Dam and countless others. Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: IUOE runs extensive training programs and maintains the International Training & Education Center. It also focuses on recruiting women workers into apprenticeship programs. The International Operating Engineer publication provides information and news for working people in the industry. Learn More: Website, Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/25/2025 - 13:20 — Aug 25
  • EPI Report: Strong Unions Benefit Communities and Democracy
    EPI Report: Strong Unions Benefit Communities and Democracy A new report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) finds that labor unions don’t just improve the economic security of workers covered by collective bargaining agreements, they also promote civic and political engagement that has long-term positive impacts on our communities and democracy. EPI outlines a strong correlation between higher levels of union density and a range of economic, personal, and democratic well-being metrics. The authors argue that because unions give workers the ability to influence our direct working conditions, this empowerment also facilitates our ability to shape our broader communities, leading to more equitable economic, social and democratic structures. “High union density is consistently associated with a much broader set of positive spillover effects across multiple dimensions: from higher wages and better benefits; to more equitable tax systems; safer workplaces; stronger public services; and healthier, more inclusive democracies,” the report concludes. “Unions don’t just improve workers’ paychecks—they shape the social and political fabric of the communities they operate in, lifting standards for union and nonunion workers alike, while their political advocacy helps to drive an array of strongly positive outcomes, especially in states where unions represent a sizeable share of the workforce.” Read the full report here. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/25/2025 - 10:46 — Aug 25
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: GoJet Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: GoJet Flight Attendants Ratify New Contract Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. GoJet Airlines flight attendants, who are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), successfully ratified a new contract last week, with 90% of voting members approving the agreement. The regional airline is operated under the United Express brand of United Airlines. AFA-CWA members won major victories, such as double-digit pay raises, increased per diem, minimum pay protections, greater schedule flexibility and more. “While GoJet Flight Attendants continue to work flights branded as United Airlines, we deserve to solidify significant pay increases, boarding pay, and benefits that our mainline counterparts across the industry are seeing,” said Melissa Higgins, AFA GoJet president. “This new tentative agreement ensures aviation’s first responders at GoJet are receiving the benefits we deserve and lifting up standards for regional Flight Attendants.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/25/2025 - 10:29 — Aug 25