AFL-CIO Blog

  • Fighting for Our Future: What Working People Are Doing This Week
    Fighting for Our Future: What Working People Are Doing This Week Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week. Actors' Equity:
    Yesterday was the first day of bargaining between Equity and the Broadway League. Shout out to our negotiating team who will be making sure that your voices are heard every time they sit at the table. Thank you to our friends from @local802.bsky.social who were there to stand in solidarity.[image or embed] — Actors' Equity Association (@actorsequity.bsky.social) August 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
    AFSCME: Alliance for Retired Americans: Amalgamated Transit Union: American Federation of Musicians: American Federation of Teachers: American Postal Workers Union: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA: Boilermakers: Bricklayers: Communications Workers of America: Department for Professional Employees:
    "They’re attacking us because they know we are one of the last lines of defense against their effort to dismantle America’s public health system... As a union, we’re not going anywhere." www.govexec.com/workforce/20...[image or embed] — Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (@dpeaflcio.bsky.social) August 26, 2025 at 4:36 PM
    Electrical Workers: Fire Fighters: Heat and Frost Insulators: International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers: International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers: Labor Council for Latin American Advancement: Machinists: Major League Baseball Players Association: Musical Artists:
    Call for AGMAzine Submissions! ✍️🎨📸 The winter issue of AGMAzine is coming, and we want to hear from members. Submit by 9/26. Full details: www.musicalartists.org/call-for-agmazine-submissions-2025/[image or embed] — American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) (@weareagma.bsky.social) August 26, 2025 at 3:53 PM
    National Air Traffic Controllers Association: National Association of Letter Carriers: National Domestic Workers Alliance: National Hockey League Players’ Association: National Nurses United: NFL Players Association: North America's Building Trades Unions: Painters and Allied Trades: Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union: Roofers and Waterproofers: SAG-AFTRA: Service Employees International Union: The NewsGuild-CWA: Theatrical Stage Employees: Transport Workers Union: Transportation Trades Department: UAW: Union Label and Service Trades Department: UNITE HERE: United Food and Commercial Workers: United Steelworkers: Working America: Writers Guild of America East:
    We're calling on members, friends & allies to join us to march to protect free speech at the New York City Labor Day Parade Saturday, September 6, 2025. It is clear that the only people who will protect workers are workers ourselves. RSVP: wgaea.st/ldp-2025[image or embed] — Writers Guild of America East (@wgaeast.bsky.social) August 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
    Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/27/2025 - 12:02     — Aug 27
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Philadelphia Teachers Union and School District Reach Tentative Agreement
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Philadelphia Teachers Union and School District Reach Tentative Agreement 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 Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT), AFT Local 3, reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the city’s school district on Sunday, averting a potential strike. Members are celebrating the historic deal, which was finalized just hours before the start of a new school year. The old contract covering education professionals was set to expire on Aug. 31, and workers had been preparing to walk out after Labor Day if they didn’t receive a fair offer. “The PFT is thrilled that we have been able to reach a tentative agreement with the School District of Philadelphia on a three-year pact ensuring that school will open on time, as well as three years of labor peace,” PFT President Arthur Steinberg said. “This contract recognizes the hard work and dedication our members bring to the district and allows them to have peace of mind that they will be able to provide for their families while continuing to educate the children of the School District of Philadelphia.” Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/27/2025 - 09:49 — Aug 27
  • 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

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