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Blog

A Global Supply Chain Still Built on Worker Misery: The Garment Industry in Bangladesh

… of Bangladeshi labor leader Aminul Islam , the country's garment-sector employers and the government continue to persecute workers who try to exercise basic rights. In the three weeks since a December strike to protest the paltry $68 per month minimum wage, garment employers and the government have again shown their hostility …
Speech

Trumka Brings Labor's Message to House Democratic Caucus

… Thank you, Debbie [Dingell] , for inviting me to speak with all of you. I’m glad for the opportunity. I’m always happy to be in the same room as my good friend Nancy … and so many others. Thank you. I don’t call you my friends lightly. We have relationships based on shared values and good work accomplished together over years, decades, generations, even. The folks in this room, and members of your party who are … and you must show us what you will do by taking action on the things you can do. Take trade. Here is an issue that goes right to the question of what you will do for working people. The body of evidence on bad trade deals has been building for …
Speech

Trumka to Humphrey School of Public Affairs Students: America Does Better When We All Do Better

… made possible this event and so many others at this great institution, thank you for such a warm welcome. It’s wonderful to be with you. Also, I want to thank you, Kyle [Makarios] for your kind words of introduction, and for your role in the … In fact, you help make Minnesota a model for how education, working people and also businesses and economic thinkers can work together for the common good. And of course I must recognize Morrie Kleiner, who holds the prestigious AFL-CIO chair in … And we see it working today in the rise of the collective voice in America. We see it in the rising collective voice right here at the University of Minnesota, where workers are sitting across from managers to win fair pay, fair benefits and …
Blog

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Get on the Bus: UNITE HERE Joins Freedom Rides with Black Voters Matter

… Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight … laws targeting people of color sweep the nation, this multiracial coalition will conduct a voter outreach campaign to protect the freedom to vote. Launching on June 18, over 1,500 hospitality workers and allies from more than 15 cities across the country will …
Executive Council Statement

Broad-Based Wage Growth Is the Defining Challenge of Our Time

… The purpose of the labor movement is to give voice to working people so we can improve our lives, our nation and our world.  The principle that all working people … speech last December, President Obama warned of a “dangerous and growing inequality” and declared that making our economy work for every working American was the “defining challenge of our time.”  Pope Francis similarly warned last year that … in the minimum wage, an end to the exclusion of tipped workers from the minimum wage laws and, most importantly, the right to bargain collectively over wages.  Now, as the 2014 elections approach and workers at Walmart and T-Mobile, workers …
Speech

Trumka Salutes 26th Annual NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

… Hunger Food Drive kickoff event: Brothers and sisters, I’m Rich Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO. I’m thrilled, as always, to be here at NALC. Brother Brian (Renfroe), thank you and President (Fred) Rolando for your great leadership. I also want to … This is solidarity in action, a demonstration of the bonds tying working people together. Whether we’re defending the right to join a union or making sure each of our families has food on the table, we will always have each others’ backs. Thank you for what you’re doing. The AFL-CIO is honored to be standing right alongside you. Here’s to another great year. …
Blog

'Wall of Fame-Wall of Shame' Might Be Coming To A Union Hall Near You

… of Fame-Wall of Shame" banners are hitting the road in the Bluegrass State. … "We’ve now got another one you can take to as many union meetings as you want to," Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan told delegates at the federation's … us as we go into 2018. This is absolutely critical." The two banners show how Kentucky lawmakers voted last January on "right to work," prevailing wage repeal, and a paycheck deception measure. The GOP-majority legislature quickly approved all three …
Blog

Women's History Month Profiles: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn

… Today, we are looking at Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. … Elizabeth Gurley Flynn was born in 1890 in Concord, New Hampshire, to a radical, activist working-class family. When she was 10, the family moved to the South Bronx, where she attended public school. By the time she was 15, Flynn was active in socialist groups. At 15, … from high school. She became a full-time organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). In the years leading up to World War I, Flynn was active on women's rights, free speech for IWW speakers and organizing textile strikes in places …
Speech

Trumka to BCTGM: "I'm ready to fight!"

… Thank you! And thank you, David [Durkee], for that truly warm and generous introduction. I’ll do my best to live up to it. And thank you for including me in your convention. It’s an honor to be with the BCTGM, and I’m glad to be … And a decent life is not too much to ask, because we’re the workers of America. We mill the grain and bake the bread. We work in factories and on the highways. We lift the loads and answer the call. We do what it takes, no matter what the cost. … we asked those making less than $50,000 a year, and two out of three voters agreed. Sixty-six percent said, yes, that’s right, we need to make sure all of us, not just CEOs get our fair share. Here’s the kicker. Guess who we asked? Registered …
Legislative Alert

Letter to Senators to Oppose Legislation to Fast Track the TPP and Other Bad Trade Deals

… Dear Senator,  H.R. 2146 Fast Track: Vote No  On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I write urging you to oppose H.R. 2146, the Hatch-Wyden-Ryan “Fast Track 2015” legislation. We also oppose moving Fast Track prior to any vote … protect workers and ensure compliance by trading partners with internationally recognized ILO labor rights, including the right to be free from forced labor. This move is particularly troubling given the recent discovery of 139 unmarked graves in … package has also been weakened in a number of places, including Green 301 and the ENFORCE Act, undermining years of work by those standing for better, fairer trade policies. The bill also excludes other important provisions contained in the …