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Report

The Double Standard at Work: European Corporate Investment and Workers' Rights in the American South

… interfered with freedom of association, launched aggressive campaigns against employees’ organizing attempts and failed to bargain in good faith when workers choose union representation. This report examines European companies’ choices on … investing in the American South generally respect workers’ organizing and bargaining rights. They commit themselves to International Labor Organization core labor standards, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines, … Compact, and other international norms on freedom of association and collective bargaining. But they do not always live up to these global standards in their Southern U.S. operations. Two different scenarios may explain the contradiction between …
Speech

Trumka: Working People Will Not Settle

… remarks at the Christian Science Monitor Breakfast:  Good morning and happy early Labor Day. As always, thank you to the Christian Science Monitor for hosting us, and thanks to each of you for being here today. I’ve been in the labor movement for more than 50 years. I’ve never witnessed a moment … to hear their concerns, hopes and experiences.  We need President López Obrador to show us how Mexico will guarantee the right to raise wages through free and democratic unions. If that doesn’t happen, working people across North America will …
Blog

LGBT History Month Pathway to Progress: The Founding of Pride At Work

… History has long been portrayed as a series of "great men" taking great action to shape the world we live in. In recent decades, however, social historians have focused more on looking at history "from … events where working people played a key role in the progress our country has made, including those who are making history right now. In honor of LGBT History Month, we will take a look at the founding of Pride At Work (P@W). … Prior to 1969, the labor movement mostly ignored issues that affected LGBTQ working people. The events at …
Blog

Native American Heritage Month Pathway to Progress: Ojibwe Women Transform Working Life in Minneapolis

… History has long been portrayed as a series of "great men" taking great action to shape the world we live in. In recent decades, however, social historians have focused more on looking at history "from … events where working people played a key role in the progress our country has made, including those who are making history right now. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we will take a look at a group of Ojibwe women who helped transform the world of work in Minneapolis-St. Paul throughout much of the 20th century. … In the early 1960s, activism among Native American …
Blog

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Profiles: Jung Sai Garment Work Strikers

… Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Americans who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights. Our next profile is about the Jung Sai Garment Work Strikers. … In the … had the upper hand in any labor disputes. If a contractor paid its workers higher wages, the manufacturers would just go to other contractors who paid lower wages. The system also allowed the manufacturers to avoid any blame for the sweatshop …
Legislative Alert

Letter Supporting the PRO Act

… Dear Representative: On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I urge you to support the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, H.R. 2474, and to oppose weakening amendments when the Education … workplace rights, rather than being forced to arbitrate such claims alone. Finally, the bill would eliminate right to work laws. These laws have been promoted by a network of billionaires and special interest groups to give more power to …
Legislative Alert

Letter in Support of the "For the People Act of 2019"

… Dear Representative: On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I am writing to express our strong support for H.R. 1, the “For the People Act of 2019.” By expanding access to the ballot box, reducing … this legislation includes many of the most important reforms necessary to restore the promise of our democracy. For years, right-wing groups backed by wealthy donors have been working aggressively to suppress the right of every American citizen to cast a ballot. They have supported laws to make it harder to register and to vote and they …
Speech

Trumka: We are Living in "The Fierce Urgency of Now"

… Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference:​ Good afternoon brothers and sisters, and let me officially welcome you to the 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference. Thank you for being here today. Thank you for your work, your solidarity and your activism. Look at this room! You are the future of the labor movement. Our movement. And, … upon us to stop looking at our shoes and start reaching for the stars. Because let’s be honest: What’s working for us right now? Not our political system, when 800,000 federal workers—disproportionately black and brown—and even more …
Blog

Black History Month Labor Profiles: Arlene Holt Baker

… intersection of civil and labor rights. Our first profile this year is Arlene Holt Baker. … Arlene Holt Baker began her work in the labor movement in Los Angeles in 1972. As a member of AFSCME, she began organizing clerical employees who worked for the city. That process taught her that collective bargaining was the way to empower people economically. Her undying optimism was boosted by the fact that soon after she started her organizing work, … focus on collective bargaining rights, health care, fair trade, immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights and the right for all union members to fully participate in democratic unions that reflect the rich diversity of the workplace. She …
Blog

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Profiles: Monica Thammarath

… Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Americans who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights. Our next profile is Monica Thammarath. … Monica Thammarath was born and … pursuing a master's in public administration at American University. While in college, Thammarath began organizing to provide services that help students gain access to affordable and high-quality education. After graduation, she began …