-
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: BlueOval SK Workers Vote Union Yes! Service & Solidarity Spotlight: BlueOval SK Workers Vote Union Yes! 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. Late Wednesday night, the UAW announced workers at the BlueOval SK Battery Park in Kentucky won their election to join the union. The UAW released the following statement after the victory: “BlueOval SK workers won a majority of votes in an NLRB election to unionize their plant in Glendale, Kentucky, securing a hard-fought victory. This is a major step forward for workers who stood up against intense company opposition and chose to join the UAW. “There are 41 challenge ballots still outstanding. We believe they are illegitimate and represent nothing more than an employer tactic to flood the unit and undermine the outcome. We will fight these challenges to defend the democratic choices of these workers, as we always do when corporations try to interfere with workers’ democratic choice. The challenged ballots are not part of the group of workers who built their union from the bottom up. They deserve to have their own union, in an appropriate bargaining unit with a representative of their own choosing. “The UAW is calling on Ford to acknowledge the democratic decision of its workforce. They should immediately drop their anti-democratic effort to undermine the outcome of the election and recognize a majority of BlueOval SK’s production and maintenance employees have chosen to join the UAW and ensure battery jobs in Kentucky are good, safe, union jobs.” Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 09/02/2025 - 10:25 Tags: Organizing — Sep 2
-
AFL-CIO Bus Tour Visits Wisconsin to Rally Against Funding Cuts to Public Services AFL-CIO Bus Tour Visits Wisconsin to Rally Against Funding Cuts to Public Services On Wednesday, the AFL-CIO “It’s Better In a Union” bus tour rolled through Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for a community forum with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) about how the recent federal budget bill will harm working people in the state. Labor leaders, educators, health care advocates and community members turned out for the event to speak out about how funding cuts will directly impact education, health care and other vital services in western Wisconsin. The panel included AFT President Randi Weingarten, AFT-Wisconsin President Jon Shelton and Dr. Jill Underly, Wisconsin's state superintendent of public instruction. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/29/2025 - 13:08 Tags: Better in a Union Bus Tour — Aug 29
-
Ensuring the Highest Standards of Care: The Working People Weekly List Ensuring the Highest Standards of Care: The Working People Weekly List 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. Unions Fight Back as Trump Terminates Federal Workers' Union Rights: “The Trump administration has begun terminating its collective bargaining agreements with federal employee unions, despite multiple lawsuits challenging the move. Unions are fighting back.” National Action Network Launches March on Wall Street for Economic Justice: “Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), will join the National Action Network and other labor and community leaders for the March on Wall Street. AFGE is pushing back against the privatization of government services and the outsourcing of federal jobs, following Donald Trump’s executive orders at the start of his second term that barred federal agencies from contracting with companies supporting DEI practices.” ‘Big Betrayal’: The Trump White House Is Failing on Its Promises to Workers, Says AFL-CIO Head: “AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler joins ‘Morning Joe’ ahead of the union's ‘State of the Unions’ address to discuss a new survey showing that workers fear for their economic vulnerability and report low trust in both parties.” Anti-Trump Protests Planned Across U.S. for Labor Day: ‘We Have to Stop the Billionaire Takeover’: “The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), a collective consisting of over 60 labor unions representing nearly 15 million workers, is also supporting the Workers Over Billionaires events. ‘At marches and rallies, picnics and parades, Workers' Labor Day is a celebration of working people. And it’s a celebration of the power we have when we come together in a union—the power to take back our country for working people, not billionaires,’ the AFL-CIO said.” Workers Rally as AFL-CIO National Bus Tour Comes to Brewer: “The AFL-CIO National Bus Tour came to Brewer Tuesday for a rally centered around the importance of unions. The event was hosted and organized by the Eastern Maine Labor Council. Union members representing the University of Maine graduate workers, the Maine Nurses Association, and Bangor Public Works employees all spoke at the rally as they continued to fight for what they believe are fair contracts. ‘Graduate workers at the University of Maine are paid thousands less than our peers at other similar state schools, and we pay thousands more in our health and insurance premiums. This is unacceptable,’ said Lexi Mark, a UMaine grad student.” NCCC, BRS Reach Tentative National Agreement: “The BRS tentative agreement follows ratification of nine national contracts—including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division; International Association of Sheet, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ Mechanical and Engineering Department; National Conference of Firemen & Oilers; American Train Dispatchers Association; Transportation Communications Union; Brotherhood of Railway Carmen; International Brotherhood of Boilermakers; and International Association of Machinists. Those contracts run through Dec. 31, 2029. If BRS ratifies the agreement, half of the union-represented freight rail employees at railroads participating in national handling will be covered, according to NCCC.” Philadelphia Teachers Union, School District Reach Tentative New Contract: “The School District of Philadelphia and its teachers union reached a tentative contract agreement Sunday night, avoiding a possible strike next week. The three-year deal was reached with less than 12 hours before the first day of school. The district and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers released a joint statement announcing the contract, but they did not share details of its terms.” It's Not Over: Union Vote Passes at Mountain Cement Company, Bargaining Begins: “Employees at the Mountain Cement Company plant in south Laramie voted Wednesday late afternoon, and the results were in favor to unionize, marking the first successful effort to bring organized labor to the facility. The decision followed months of organizing led by employees who cited concerns over safety practices, inconsistent communication with management, and unpredictable scheduling. Multiple inquiries to Mountain Cement Company operations management by the Laramie Boomerang for comment throughout the week were unsuccessful as of press time on Friday evening. Representatives from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Wyoming AFL-CIO Executive Director Marcie Kindred visited Laramie and worked with employees throughout the campaign to support their union efforts.” Hundreds of Nurses at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh Vote to Unionize: “Hundreds of nurses at Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh have unionized in what union officials are calling the largest nurse union election in recent Pennsylvania history. According to a release from SEIU Sunday, a ‘strong majority’ of nurses voted to form a union so they ‘can have more time with their patients and a seat at the decision-making table to ensure the highest standards of care.’” Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/29/2025 - 10:20 — Aug 29
-
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Yosemite Workers Vote to Join NFFE-IAM Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Yosemite Workers Vote to Join NFFE-IAM 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. In response to the Trump administration’s attacks on federal workers across agencies, park rangers, educators, researchers, first responders, and other staff in Yosemite and Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks have voted overwhelmingly to join the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). Across the parks, more than 97% of ballots cast were in favor of joining NFFE-IAM. The votes were certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority on Monday. This powerful display of unity comes in the wake of steep staffing cuts and broader efforts from the White House to undermine the collective bargaining agreements of federal workers. “We just want to be protected from this administration,” said an anonymous Yosemite worker who helped with the organizing effort. “It comes as no surprise workers in the National Park Service are overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing, as federal employees across the country have been faced with reductions in force, threats to workplace protections, and slashed agency budgets under this administration,” said NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin. “NFFE will be taking every step possible to increase both staffing and resources, and to defend employees from actions that threaten their rights and the incredible work they do stewarding our public lands. I look forward to working with the dedicated men and women who carry out the important mission of maintaining Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.” Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/29/2025 - 09:47 — Aug 29
-
Find a Workers’ Labor Day Event Near You Find a Workers’ Labor Day Event Near You At marches and rallies, picnics and parades, Labor Day is workers’ day. It’s a peaceful celebration of the power we hold when we stand together in a union—and the power that all of us have to take back our country for working people, not corporate CEOs or billionaires. The labor movement and our allies are hosting nearly 1,000 Workers’ Labor Day events across the country to join together, speak out and fight back for what #WorkersDeserve. Will you join us at a Labor Day event near you, or host your own? There are big Workers’ Labor Day rallies and marches happening in some of the biggest cities around the country—but there are also hundreds more events taking place in towns and communities nationwide. Together, we’re all showing that working people are ready to fight for a better future. Whether in the streets or on the shop floor, in union halls or the halls of Congress, workers are standing up for the economy and the country we all deserve. We hope you’ll grab your signs and T-shirts—especially your union gear, if you have it—and join us at a Workers’ Labor Day week of action event near you. See you soon! Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 08/28/2025 - 14:05 Tags: Labor Day — Aug 28
AFL-CIO Blog
- Service & Solidarity Spotlight: BlueOval SK Workers Vote Union Yes!
- AFL-CIO Bus Tour Visits Wisconsin to Rally Against Funding Cuts to Public Services
- Ensuring the Highest Standards of Care: The Working People Weekly List
- Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Yosemite Workers Vote to Join NFFE-IAM
- Find a Workers’ Labor Day Event Near You