AFL-CIO Blog

  • Thank You, Postal Workers: In the States Roundup
    Thank You, Postal Workers: 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: Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO: Massachusetts AFL-CIO: Michigan State AFL-CIO: Minnesota AFL-CIO: Missouri AFL-CIO: Nevada State AFL-CIO: New York State AFL-CIO: North Carolina State AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO: Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: Texas AFL-CIO: Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 07/01/2025 - 11:42 — Jul 1
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AGMA and Voices of Ascension Reach New Three-Year Agreement with Significant Wage Increases
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AGMA and Voices of Ascension Reach New Three-Year Agreement with Significant Wage Increases 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. The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and Voices of Ascension announced the ratification of a new three-year collective bargaining agreement, which includes a 15% increase in wages over the three years. “This agreement is a testament to what’s possible when both labor and management approach the bargaining table in good faith, with mutual respect and a shared vision for the future,” said Charles Perry Sprawls, member of the AGMA Negotiating Committee. “This was among the most positive, collaborative, progressive bargaining conversations that we have ever been a part of. We are so excited to work with Voice of Ascension’s leadership, who share our focus and commitment to the future of the organization, and on supporting the artists who are such an integral part of it.” The agreement also includes a 15% increase in recording and media fees, more advanced notice of offers, strengthened anti-discrimination language, protections related to artificial intelligence and data privacy, a new advisory committee made up of artists, which will participate in board meetings and the decision-making process for leadership transitions, growth-oriented rates for large-scale projects and competitive subcontracting rates. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 07/01/2025 - 09:52 — Jul 1
  • Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Ironworkers
    Get to Know AFL-CIO's Affiliates: Ironworkers 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 are the Ironworkers. 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 are the Ironworkers. Name of Union: International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Mission: To empower and protect the men and women of our trade through solidarity, skill and strength. We demand the highest craftsmanship, safety and training standards while advocating for fair wages, equitable employment and secure working conditions. Rooted in brotherhood and sisterhood, we promote unity and respect on and off the jobsite. We back the rights of working families, invest in the education and well-being of our members and their communities, and uphold our proud legacy of leadership in the labor movement. We do more than build structures; we build opportunity, purpose and power for working people. Current Leadership of Union: Eric Dean serves as general president, a position he has held since 2015. Prior to that, he served as general organizer, general secretary, general vice president and president of the Iron Workers District Council of Chicago and Vicinity, and in numerous positions for Ironworkers Local 63 in Chicago. Other officers include General Secretary Kevin Bryenton, General Treasurer James Mahoney, and General Vice Presidents Stephen Sweeney, David Beard, Michael Baker, Kendall Martin, Gregory “Jack” Jarrell, David Osborne, James Gardiner, Shawn Nehiley and Colin Daniels. Current Number of Members: 125,000 Members Work as: Ironworkers are highly trained professionals who raise, place, weld, and reinforce structural building components—working with steel, precast concrete, and other critical materials essential to modern construction. Our members install architectural, ornamental, reinforcing, and miscellaneous metals in a wide range of settings, from high-rises to infrastructure and industrial plants Industries Represented: Ironworkers are employed by every industry that needs construction and have worked on nearly every major construction project in North America, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), the Gateway Arch, the expansion of the oil sands plant in Alberta, the World Trade Center and Freedom Tower, among many others. History: The International Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers of America was formed in 1896, when 16 delegates came together for the founding convention in Pittsburgh. By that time, steel had become the primary material used in the erection of bridges and buildings, and the abrupt change from wood and stone drove demand for ironworkers. Ironworkers became known as “cowboys in the sky” for their daring and dangerous work. They joined together to ensure that their voices were unified and heard. Current Campaigns: The Ironworkers promote standards of excellence for the industry. Countdown to Zero promotes safety and prevention of death and injury. Iron Worker Women provides news and resources for women in the trade. Iron Worker Projects spotlights major projects completed by union Ironworkers.  Community Efforts: The John H. Lyons Sr. and Eric S. Waterman scholarships help the children of ironworkers go to college. The Ironworker magazine is the primary communication tool for ironworkers across North America. The Ironworkers maintain a job line on their website. They also provide training for members and apprentices. The Ironworkers sell branded merchandise in their online store. Learn More: Website, Facebook, X Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 06/30/2025 - 12:35 — Jun 30
  • URGENT: $5 Trillion Gift to Billionaires at Workers’ Expense
    URGENT: $5 Trillion Gift to Billionaires at Workers’ Expense Senators have one final chance to stop these cuts to Medicaid, SNAP food assistance, federal workers’ paychecks and AI safety protections—and keep working families from paying for yet another big tax giveaway to billionaires and big corporations. We urge senators to reject this bill and stand up for working people before it’s too late. While the text of the bill keeps changing, one thing is clear: This budget bill absolutely would harm working people. Here are some of the ways how:
    • Would rip health care away from some 17 million people through Medicaid and Affordable Care Act cuts, and would eliminate 600,000 care jobs in 2026 alone—forcing more than 330 rural hospitals to close their doors.
    • Would spike health care costs for people with insurance through work by nearly $500 per person per year and nearly $2,000 annually for a family of four.
    • Would destroy hundreds of thousands of good energy jobs and raise energy costs at a moment when working-class households are already struggling.
    • Would slash food assistance for 2.9 million Americans, and slash at least 140,000 jobs in food processing facilities, school cafeterias, grocery stores, and farms by cutting $186 billion in SNAP funding.
    • Would hand Big Tech a 10-year free pass to violate workers’ rights and jeopardize their safety by banning the enforcement of all existing or to-be-passed state and local AI laws for the next decade.
    • Would add $155 billion in funding for President Trump’s mass deportation agenda to increase raids that target immigrant workers, throw members of our communities in detention and rip families apart.
    • Would replace the SAVE student loan plan with a repayment scheme that would raise costs for every borrower, making it harder for working-class students to attend college or trade school and stay there.
    • Would stop us from creating the next generation of teachers, nurses and mental health workers by stopping anyone who isn’t projected to take home a Wall Street salary from taking out a federal student loan.
    We need you to speak out today. Tell the Senate this budget would be a disaster for working families and for our nation. Call your senators at 231-400-0602 to tell them, “No cuts that hurt working families”! Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 06/30/2025 - 09:42     — Jun 30
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Southern California Edison Workers Celebrate Historic Union Election Victory
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Southern California Edison Workers Celebrate Historic Union Election Victory 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. More than 1,100 planners, designers and field technicians at Southern California Edison won their election for a union, with 83% of the unit participating in the vote. The bargaining unit is represented by Engineers and Scientists of California, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 20. The new unit consists of workers who ensure the delivery of utilities to millions across central, coastal and Southern California. Southern California Edison serves a customer base of about 5 million residential and business accounts across 430 cities and communities.  “We couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate our incredible win in the union election! This victory is a game-changer, giving over 1,100 Southern California Edison workers a powerful voice on the job. It’s an exciting milestone that guarantees we have a seat at the table as we work to deliver the best possible service to the communities we’re proud to serve. Together, we’re stronger and ready to make a real difference,” said Stephanie Sarmiento, a design and drafting specialist. Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 06/30/2025 - 09:36 — Jun 30

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