john, 

"Justice for Gilbert" was the rallying cry this past Wednesday as hundreds of Firefighters from around the country protested in front of the CopperPoint Insurance company in support of Goodyear Firefighter Gilbert Aguirre. Aguirre has been a firefighter for the past 23 years and has been suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia since 2015. To make matters worse, he’s been fighting with the insurance company to be covered for treatment and medication. This practice by insurance companies and many of the local governments where firefighters serve of denying claims for work-related illnesses and injuries has reached endemic proportions as the insurance industry regularly denies claims as a ‘cost’ of doing business. Or should I say, "As a way of creating more profits!" This practice of finding whatever loopholes there are in order to deny a legitimate claim is happening across the country, and not just to firefighters but to all workers in every industry.

For Gilbert, his long battle has been a difficult one, physically, emotionally, financially, and has been complicated by the horrific loss of his son in an auto accident, but his resolve and determination is inspiring. The hundreds of firefighters who came out to show their support were joined by International Association of FireFighters General President Ed Kelly and General Secretary Treasurer Frank Lima, and as President Kelly said in his remarks, "We die for strangers; we’re sure as hell are going to fight for each other!". 

In 2021, Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill to help close some of the loopholes in the system to make it easier for firefighters to get the coverage they need for on-the-job illnesses and injuries, specifically cancer. In spite of that, CopperPoint still denied Gilbert’s claim. There is a pending appeal to be heard by the AZ Supreme Court on this case, meetings with the State Attorney General, and a broad base appeal for support from all of us to be aware of what’s happening to these firefighters who put everything on the line for our safety, every day!

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Day of Action at the Capitol!

Join us for the Day of Action at the Capitol on Monday April 24th, 2023!

We will have special guest speaker, Dennis Dougherty, the Executive Director of the Colorado AFL-CIO, and two workshops:

• Lobbying 101 with Daniella Smith of Limitless Consulting
• Constituency Groups with

Come and enjoy lunch with friends, family, and possibly your legislature!

If you are not interested in attending the workshops, you can always volunteer to help with the setup, breakdown, or serving of lunch by scanning the QR code below.

Student workers make up a large portion of the researchers, graders, housing staff, and instructors across all public university campuses in Arizona. We make the daily functioning of our universities possible. It is unacceptable that, as employees, students at the three public universities of Arizona are being charged between $300 and $1,000 per semester (up to three in one year) in student fees. Employees should not be required to pay to work!

2023 Strategic Corporate Research Summer School 

Cornell University's Industrial and Labor Relations and the AFL-CIO are teaming up to offer a program that provides an opportunity for students, union staff, and those interested in being part of social change organizations to learn how to research and hold corporations accountable. Through hands-on activities, participants will gain knowledge on topics such as corporate ownership, finance, organization, and power. By the end of the course, they should be equipped with the skills and knowledge to begin and advance in career paths such as strategic research and strategic campaigns, as well as understand corporate ownership structures and sources of corporate power.

Union Scholars Program - Paid Internship!

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees is partnering with Harvard University's Labor and Worklife Program to offer the Union Scholars Program, an eight-week summer internship for students of color. Through this program, you will have the chance to gain hands-on organizing experience with AFSCME members and travel while building your resume. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!

UNITEHERE Local 11 & HTA Hospitality Training Academy Prep Cook Class

The first class launching in Arizona on April 10th. This program invites interested candidates to reach out or stop by UNITE HERE Local 11 Union Hall at 1021 S. 7th Ave., Phoenix, AZ, 85007 for more information. 

The Hospitality Training Academy Prep Cook Class is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to receive comprehensive kitchen training and guaranteed placement in the food service/hospitality industry. Taught by highly skilled chefs, no prior experience is required, just a passion for learning a new skill. 

For any questions, please contact Marilyn Wilbur at (480) 203-3467.

IUOE Local 428 Blood Drive in Memory of Chrissy Ochoa

International Union of Operating Engineers is hosting a Blood drive in memory of Christine Marie Ochoa who lost her fight to lung cancer on June 4th, 2022. Please consider to donate blood by visiting their Union Hall on Sunday, April 23, 2023.

To schedule an appointment, click on the button below and enter Sponsor Code: local428.

Alert: Protect Working People! Pass the PRO Act!

We join Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and Reps. Bobby Scott (Va.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) in their call to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Work stoppages were up 52% in 2022, and the number of workers involved in stoppages increased 60%.

If we want to build up worker power, our outdated labor laws must keep up with the times. 

This is why now is the time to pass the PRO Act, just reintroduced in the House & Senate as the Richard L. Trumka PRO Act.

*Download the Zoom Banner below to share your support*

Request to Speak at Legislative Committee Meetings

Sign up and 'Request to Speak' to weigh in on bills directly with State Representatives and Senators during our Legislative Committee Meetings every Friday at 9:30 AM!

2023 Legislative Committee Meeting Alerts

Complete this form to be up on a list to get updates and alerts on the 2023 Legislative Session.

For additional questions, contact our Political Director; Joe Murphy at [email protected] 

National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

The 31st Annual Food Drive is Saturday, May 13, 2023!

Last year NALC members and volunteers collected over 41.2 million pounds of food. Customers will receive a Food Drive Flyer reminder the week prior and a bag to fill to put in your mailbox for pickup.

Union Events and Action

We want to uplift what you are doing for our members and our community!

Please fill out all the required information to have your Local's event uploaded to our Arizona AFL-CIO website or featured in our next Labor Dispatch. If you have any questions please reach out to Alina Cordoba, Communications & Operations Director at [email protected].

Among Goals of AFT Actions on April 11: Cost-Free College 

"The 34 colleges across the state where we work remain a primary driver of social mobility, as places where students who otherwise couldn’t afford college can get their start. We work to change the lives of students and their families, and the data shows that we do!"

More Perfect Union Uses Advocacy Journalism to Fight for Workers' Rights 

"Objective journalism has always been a lie, even historically. In recent decades, corporate consolidations have shifted our news media’s inherent bias toward the wealthiest and most powerful members of society, all under the mask of “impartiality.” But might we still use the power of the media to give back a voice to working-class Americans? That question is at the heart of More Perfect Union’s (MPU) advocacy journalism mission."

Portland's Cong Tu Bot is First Independent Restaurant in Maine to Unionize in 40 Years 

“Cong Tu Bot’s 21 employees voted unanimously to join UNITE HERE, a union that represents 300,000 workers in the hotel, food service, gaming, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation and airport industries. Owners Vien Dobui and Jessica Sheahan have voluntarily recognized the union, which is now the only standalone union restaurant in Maine, according to UNITE HERE."

Disney Production Workers March at Burbank Lot with Animation Guild to Demand Unionization

"The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) staged what it called a “solidarity walk” around Walt Disney Studios in Burbank with dozens of the studio’s animation production workers in protest of Disney’s refusal to voluntarily recognize its unionization efforts."

Starbucks Fired the Employee Responsible for Igniting the Starbucks Workers United Union Campaign

"Starbucks fired Alexis Rizzo, the employee responsible for igniting the Starbucks Workers United union campaign, just days after the company’s former CEO Howard Schultz testified on Capitol Hill about the coffee chain’s alleged union-busting. Rizzo worked as a shift supervisor at Starbucks for seven years and served as a union leader at the Genesee St. store in Buffalo, New York, which was one of the first two stores in the country to win its union campaign. Starbucks Workers United announced Rizzo’s termination in a tweet Saturday and said in a corresponding GoFundMe page that “this is retaliation at its worst.”'

Actors' Equity Issues Strike Threat for Broadway National Tours 

“The union, which represents more than 51,000 stage managers and actors, has been bargaining with The Broadway League, which represents industry producers, presenters and general managers, since mid-January to create a new touring contract. Now, Actors’ Equity has authorized executive director Al Vincent Jr., its lead negotiator, to call a strike on all Broadway national tours, if he deems it necessary, after the union says it ran into roadblocks around a number of key issues.”

Cub Foods Workers Plan to Strike

"Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers union who work at dozens of Cub Foods stores plan to strike due to what they call “unfair labor practices.”

UFCW Local 663 represents more than 3,000 employees at 33 Cub Foods locations in Minneapolis and across the West Metro. Tuesday, 94.5% of its members voted in favor of a strike, the union announced on Facebook."

'Zero Interest in Doing Business': TSMC Snubs Phoenix Construction Workers

“The building trades just won a surprise victory through the city council. But despite the hot labor market, securing manufacturing jobs is an uphill battle for organized labor."

Two Cochise County Supervisors Ordered to Pay Fees Tied to Election Results Battle

“A judge has ordered two Cochise County supervisors to pay more than $34,000 in legal fees in their losing bid to keep from certifying the results of the 2022 general election."

AZ Bill to Penalize Tucson, Flagstaff for Higher Minimum Wages Fails

Goodyear Firefighter Still Fighting Insurance Company to Cover Cancer Treatments

APFA Informational Picket 

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If you'd like to promote an event for your union in our weekly newsletter, fill out our submission form or email AZ AFL-CIO  Communications & Operations Director Alina Cordoba at [email protected]