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Press Release

A Victory for Working Families Across North America

… American Free Trade Agreement can secure basic freedoms for all of North America’s workers. Working people must be able to join together in unions to negotiate for better wages and working conditions—a right denied in Mexico and under threat in the U.S. and Canada. If passed, this bill would have further blocked Mexican working people’s freedom to organize democratic, independent unions and to negotiate a fair return on their work and adequate living conditions. This proves that when working people join together across borders we can succeed in …
Speech

Trumka on Technological Change and the Future of Work

… Good afternoon everyone. Let me start by thanking you, Mr. Secretary General, and the OECD at large, for this opportunity to meet and to exchange views. The Liaison Committee Meeting is an important moment for us, the TUAC and the constituencies … to the conclusion of our meeting today. For today’s conversation, we want to address the twin challenges of the Future of Work and the Future of the Firm. The Future of Work is rightfully a central focus of the OECD today, with the on-going review … after opportunity to ensure a minimum level of policy coherence between trade rule and labor standards and to balance the right of investors with the rights of the ordinary people. Time has run out. Let me close by talking about democracy. Next …
Legislative Alert

Letter to Representatives to Oppose Legislation to Fast Track Bad Trade Deals and to Support Instead the Alternative "Right Track for TPP Act of 2015"

… Dear Representative,  Fast Track: Vote No  Right Track: Vote Yes  On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I write urging you to oppose H.R. 1890, the Hatch-Wyden-Ryan “Fast Track 2015” legislation and support the alternative "Right Track for TPP Act of 2015" proposed by Ranking Member Levin.  The misnamed “Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities …
Press Release

Korea FTA Deal Leaves Working Families Behind

… as the limitation on steel imports and the 20-year extension of the U.S. truck tariff, these benefits pale in comparison to the deal’s failure to address labor rights. It falls far short of any acceptable standard by disregarding the tangible, human impacts of trade. Any deal that ignores the economic and human needs of working people is ultimately destined to fail. Working people will continue to push the Trump administration and Congress to ensure that our lives and our …
Press Release

‘Buy America’ Good First Step for Working People

… Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on today’s ‘Buy America’ and Work Visa Executive Order: We welcome efforts to improve the effectiveness of “Buy America” and “Buy American,” both of which commit taxpayer funds to support good jobs and businesses in America. Today’s executive order is a good first step toward making Buy America …
Blog

ITUC Report: Democratic Space for Working People Is Shrinking

… 54 countries deny or constrain freedom of speech, up from 50 last year. More than 80% of countries have violated the right to collective bargaining. The 10 worst countries for working people are: Algeria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Egypt, … were murdered in nine countries. 59 countries arbitrarily arrested and detained workers, up from 44 last year. The right to strike has been violated by 87% of countries. 65% of countries do not allow workers to exercise the right to …
Speech

Shuler: Trade Must Lift Up Working People

… Representative Katherine Tai: Hello, everyone. Welcome, fellow trade union leaders.  Thank you, Shoya Yoshida, I’m honored to co-host this discussion with you and the ITUC. T hank you to our esteemed guest and steadfast champion for working people, United States Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai. … bottom.  And by doubling down on the failed neoliberal trade model, it’s fueling economic inequality. There is a lot of work ahead of us to help APEC reverse course and into alignment with our vision of a “worker-centered” trade policy.  But I …
Blog

Ending Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the World of Work

… No one should have to risk their safety or dignity to put food on the table. Yet every day, workers around the world are subjected to sexual … at the International Labor Organization to discuss a new global standard on violence and harassment in the world of work . This is the culmination of more than a decade of advocacy by the global labor movement . It’s an exciting opportunity … world and what unions are doing to fight back! Our sister organization the Solidarity Center works with unions and labor right activists around the world. Dr. Jane Pillinger prepared a report for the ILO that includes examples of union actions on …
Blog

NAFTA Should Work for Everyone—Not Just Investors

… Trump all recognized that  workers and communities have lost trust  in the North American Free Trade Agreement’s approach to globalization. They all said we should manage globalization differently. … Over the last few months, Canada, Mexico and the U.S. have had seven meetings to renegotiate NAFTA. To understand the renegotiations, we should know  what was wrong with the original NAFTA and what we … was to get the maximum possible leverage for his clients in the new global system. That meant global businesses could move work anywhere, take advantage of cheap labor, escape environmental and public health regulations, and otherwise get the best …
Executive Council Statement

It’s Our Time: An Economic Agenda for Working Women and Our Families

… union membership. While women’s workforce participation rate and educational attainment have risen, working women continue to make less than men, and are more likely to be in low-paying and part-time jobs. Wage stagnation, and the rising costs of … share of family responsibilities still rests on women’s shoulders. Too often, women end shifts at the workplace only to work a second shift at home. For working women, the union advantage is clear. With a union contract comes roughly 25% higher … individuals of all ages to buy into a public plan. Ultimately, we must adopt a single-payer system.  Women must have the right to control their own bodies and be free from violence, with no negative impact on their promotion at work or pension …