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.’”