The U.S. economy added 156,000 jobs in August, and unemployment was little changed at 4.4%, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This continues the recovery of the labor market at a tempered rate, which means the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee should continue to let the economy grow and not raise interest rates.

On Aug. 22, Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245 members from across the public sector packed the Ronald T. Weakley Union Hall in Vacaville, California, to learn about the growing attack on public sector unions and Local 1245’s strategy to defend and build our house through Volunteer Organizing Committees (VOC) at each of our public employers.

This week, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka was the guest at the Christian Science Monitor breakfast, where he explained the importance of the union advantage, both for union members and for all working people.

Working people are taking fewer vacation days and working more. That's the top finding in a new national survey, conducted by polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research for the AFL-CIO in collaboration with the Economic Policy Institute and the Labor Project for Working Families. In the survey, the majority of America's working people credit labor unions for many of the benefits they receive.

The AFL-CIO demands that the Trump administration defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that provides work authorization to 800,000 people, preventing workplace exploitation and protecting their freedom to join together in union. DACA holders are members of our families, our unions and our communities who have made positive contributions to our society for many years. We will not allow them to lose their rights and status.

The following is an open letter to the Trump administration from Juan Escalante, a "dreamer":