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Legislative Alert

Letter to Representatives to Oppose Legislation to Make It Easier for Franchise Companies to Undermine the Rights of Working People

… and international unions representing more than 12 million working men and women across the United States, I am writing to urge you to oppose H.R. 3459, the “Protecting Local Business Opportunity Act.” H.R. 3459 overturns the National Labor Relations … in Browning-Ferris Industries (August 27, 2015) and substitutes a confusing and restrictive test for finding two employers to be “joint employers” under the National Labor Relations Act. The legislation is misguided and will undermine the ability …
Executive Council Statement

Building Power for Workers without Bargaining Rights

… In today’s economy, millions of workers technically fall outside the protections of laws establishing the right to bargain collectively.  Others are deprived of their bargaining rights because their employers misclassify them, or because … many of these workers are economically dependent on a particular employer or government agency for their livelihood. All work has dignity.  All workers deserve respect.  All workers deserve the right to form organizations to have a voice on the …
Speech

Trumka to Texas AFL-CIO Delegates: "You've done the hard work."

… Thank you, Sister Becky [Moeller] , for your kind words of introduction, and thank you for inviting me to your convention. It’s great to be back in Texas. I want to tell you here in front of your delegates how much I appreciate all the work we’ve done together over the years. You’re the best kind of fighter, because you find ways to win. This is a bittersweet … register someone to vote. Changing the political climate in Texas is difficult, but we have to find a way to win anyway. Right here in this room, we’ve got a lot of union experience, and a lot of political experience. You know how important and …
Executive Council Statement

On the Retirement of James Andrews

… We wish to thank James Andrews for his service and dedication to working families across America, within North Carolina and on the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO. On the council, … and passionate activist for civil rights and social justice in his home state. His Christian faith has always driven him to put his beliefs into action, from his days organizing a union at his own plant in Henderson to his lifelong effort to win …
Executive Council Statement

On the Retirement of Larry Cohen

… were shut down compared with other democracies. He authored the Jobs with Justice “I’ll be There” pledge—a commitment to volunteer five times a year for someone else’s fight, as well as one’s own. Larry continues to be a leader in the U.S. democracy movement: he chairs the Democracy Initiative, connecting labor, environmental, civil … and democracy. We will miss his leadership, his strong voice and his friendship, but we look forward to continuing to work with him on many issues that are vital to workers worldwide and to a vibrant democracy. …
Executive Council Statement

Raising Wages – It's Time for Action

… Last week workers at Walmart—our nation’s largest private sector employer—used collective action to win a raise for more than 500,000 of their co-workers.  The fact that workers forced Walmart to raise wages shows that … and our plan of action. Raising wages is about fighting inequality by raising all workers’ wages, and it’s about workers’ right to organize and bargain with our employers to raise our wages without fear of reprisal or dismissal. But Raising Wages … is really about much more than that if we are to build an economy centered on improving the lives of the people who do the work. Creating a raising wages society requires a comprehensive program of action, each part of which is grounded in our …
Legislative Alert

Letter to Representatives in Support of a Law to Reform Music Licensing Laws to Ensure Musicians, Artists and Performers are Paid Fairly

… support of the “Fair Play Fair Pay Act,” introduced in the House today. The legislation will reform music licensing laws to ensure that musicians, artists, and performers get fair pay for airplay of all of their music on all radio platforms. Just … the AFL-CIO supports our musician members in their ongoing fight for economic justice. Like all workers, those who work to create music deserve fair pay. However, music licensing laws currently fail to provide fair play on all radio … paying musicians, artists, and performers a penny. For just as long, performers have been fighting for a "performance right" that would force radio stations to properly compensate them for their work. This Act would, at long last, establish a …
Speech

Trumka Calls for "Raising Wages World" on International Labor Day

… [Peter] Wittig, for inviting me here and for hosting this discussion about building shared prosperity. I’m honored to speak to all of you. But before I begin, I’d like us to pause in honor of May Day and Workers Memorial Day. Please join me … the vision and values shared by all working people, here in America and around the world. Whatever we do, we all want our work to lift us up, wherever we live. We all want to build a better life for ourselves and our families. In Germany and in … the progressive fight. We know how to stand together. We know to call injustice out for what it is, and fight to make it right. We know how to rally, when your picket line is my picket line and my picket line is your picket line. And when we win, …
Executive Council Statement

On the Retirement of Maria Elena Durazo

… she grabbed hold of social justice issues and other pressing needs within the Los Angeles community and connected them to the struggles of working people to raise wages and improve work. In politics, Durazo is a force. She has helped elect politicians boost wages and push through major development …
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 …