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Executive Council Statement

Why Aren't We Having a Meaningful Discussion About the Global Economy?

… and high levels of ingenuity. In the post-World War II era, we led the world in growing our middle class and creating the right conditions for inclusive economic growth. But beginning in the 1970s, the direction of U.S. trade, tax and global economic policy changed from one of positive policies to promote growth and widespread wealth creation to policies that have concentrated wealth and political power in the hands … or more likely won’t, look at the years of evidence demonstrating that such an unbalanced system simply doesn’t work. We have been pushing for a debate on the facts and a comprehensive review of our trade policies, but those blinded by …
Speech

Shuler Stands with Yale Graduate Student-Workers

… a rally in support of Yale graduate student-workers who are fighting for a first contract: I’m Liz Shuler, and I’m proud to be here on behalf of the 12.5 million working women and men of the AFL-CIO. We stand with you. Teachers stand with you. … Yale teaching assistants meet the common law definition of employees. They also meet the common sense definition. They work. For pay. And they voted democratically to form a union. It is time for Yale to acknowledge what is right in front of them. Brave, proud union members who decided to make this campus their home. When these student-workers …
Blog

It's Time to Reform Sentencing Law in the U.S.

… I am part of a community where a lot of my peers aren’t working. Many of them want to but can’t because they were formerly incarcerated. In fact, studies show a formerly incarcerated white male has a better … no one even cares. Fortunately, there’s a bill—the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015—moving through the Senate right now that will begin to change policies around how judges issue sentences and the programs and resources available to … for formerly incarcerated people. These minimums also create overcrowding in our prisons—which often puts the people who work as corrections officers in an unsafe work environment. Re-entry and prerelease programs also have failed to address the …
Speech

Trumka to CBTU in St. Louis: The labor movement is here to stay

… Thank you, Brother Fred [Redmond] , and thank you, Brother Lew [Moye] , for your kind words, and congratulations to my fellow honorees Petee Talley and Martin Mathews. I’m humbled and honored to be in your company. We’re appreciate the … blessed with bright stars in our labor movement. I also want to say a few words about Lew Moye, who was tireless in his work to set up the AFL-CIO Commission on Racial and Economic Justice following the events in Ferguson three years ago. But … and all his years of service. You know, Lew Moye was one of the leaders of the 1978 fight here in Missouri against right-to-work, and thanks to his education and outreach the victory margin in the African American community was higher than …
Speech

Trumka to Warrior Met Rally: Solidarity Forever!

… sisters at Warrior Met. I stand with you today. I stand with you tomorrow. And I’ll stand with you for as long as it takes to win a fair contract. And I want to say that your 12.5 million brothers and sisters of the labor movement will stand with you for as long as it takes for you … that because you’ve lived that. That’s why you sacrificed so immensely for your communities in Alabama. And that’s why you work tirelessly each and every day. And that’s why you’re on strike today! Warrior Met or BlackRock have never led the lives …
Speech

Trumka Vows to Fight Attacks on Federal Employee Collective Bargaining

… remarks at the AFGE Legislative and Grassroots Mobilization Conference: Thank you, Brother Everett (Kelley). I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you. And I am proud to stand alongside every AFGE member who has fought back against some … has attacked your collective bargaining rights. They’ve attacked your members’ due process. They’ve attacked your very right to exist. And just this weekend, we learned of their latest plan to strip collective bargaining from the hard-working … mansion.  AFGE members are strong. You are powerful. You are devoted. And you are tough as nails.  You don’t go into work every day for fame or fortune. You do it for our troops and the support they deserve at the DOD. You do it for our …
Blog

5 Ways the PRO Act Will Help Address Systemic Racism

… Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.) and Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (Va.) have introduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which restores the right of workers to freely and fairly form a union and bargain together for changes … confidence in the system as a whole. To restore that confidence and strengthen our democracy, we need to make the economy work for working people. The more our democracy functions properly, the more of a voice Black, Latino, women, immigrant, …
Speech

Shuler to RWDSU: Amazon Election Was Just the Beginning

… AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler delivered the following remarks as prepared to the executive board of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU-UFCW): Hello everyone. I wish I could be … been life-saving.  We’re also connecting the dots that unions are one of the most powerful ways to fight discrimination at work and guarantee equal pay.  RWDSU has been lifting up the vital work your members are doing and introducing a new … organizing drive in the Deep South, where the racist strategy of dividing Black and white workers is alive and well with right to work laws. The campaign at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, is having a ripple effect. Thank you Randy …
Executive Council Statement

Alexis Herman

… -- will be a tremendous asset." In the intervening months, we have become even more impressed by Ms. Herman's commitment to a working families agenda and her superb ability to advance such an agenda. Judging from the opposition her nomination has generated, it seems others have likewise noted her … by the United States Senate. When she has that opportunity, America's working families and their unions will be standing right beside her. …
Executive Council Statement

Burning of Religious Institutions

… with churches of predominantly black membership often the primary targets. Vicious white supremacist groups and ultra right-wing sects have been linked to a growing number of incidents of cross burnings, racist graffiti, hate literature, malicious mail and death threats meant … this country was founded. The federation will mobilize its affiliated unions and its state and local labor councils to work actively against the forces of intolerance and bigotry that are behind these crimes. We will work with groups from …