John, 

Julie Su's appointment as the deputy secretary of labor has my complete support. The hearing from her yesterday just strengthened my conviction that she is the best candidate for the position. Julie Su has a long record of promoting labor laws that help working families and fighting for our rights. Labor leaders across the nation have praised and acknowledged her for her work as California's Labor Commissioner, where she effectively combated wage fraud and shielded employees from abusive employers.

Julie Su demonstrated her knowledge of labor problems during yesterday's hearing and her dedication to collaborating with unions to enhance working conditions and guarantee fair pay for employees. She underlined the significance of holding companies accountable and upholding labor regulations.

We urgently require her ideas for a more robust and inclusive labor market, therefore I encourage the Senate to swiftly approve her appointment. We are fortunate to have Julie Su as a nominee for this crucial post in the Department of Labor because she is a strong and committed leader who will fight relentlessly for the rights of workers.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

JAM at Esteban Park

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, so we are celebrating the event with local musicians who are the best of Jazz, Funk, R&B, and Poetic Jazz all secured by American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 586.

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

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.

Arizona Workers' Memorial Day: Action for Workers' Lives 

The Industrial Commission of Arizona is holding a public meeting on April 27th - the day before Workers' Memorial Day. Please consider joining workers, families, and worker health & safety advocates with the National COSH network in attending the meeting. We'll witness and honor people killed on the job last year with photos and in memoriam lists -- and use the public comments portion of the meeting to call for stronger health and safety enforcement and reform at the ICA and ADOSH. 

WHEN: April 27th @ 12:30PM

WHERE: Industrial Commission of Arizona - 800 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ, 85007

Sign up to attend the event to receive coordinating information. Interested in testifying or have questions? Reach out to Katelyn Parady, National COSH @ 307-389-7387 or [email protected].

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.

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.

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.

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].

Julie Su's First Hearing 

"Julie Su just overcame her first big hurdle on the road to becoming our next secretary of labor, and workers are standing behind her. We thought you’d be interested to hear how it went.

The Quad: Labor Unions Prevent Violations, Preserve Democracy in Workplace 

"Employees at companies including Starbucks, Amazon and Google have unionized for the first time, and historic collective bargaining deals have taken place across Los Angeles schools. Unionization began in the United States during the Industrial Revolution to protect workers from unfair wages, according to the History Channel. From then, it grew into an international movement."

Teachers Union Blasts 'Misleading Claims' Ahead of Weingarten's House Hearing 

“The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) sent a letter to the chairman and ranking member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on Wednesday, blasting Republicans for “false and misleading claims” ahead of a hearing next week featuring the union’s head."

Biden Order is 'Major Milestone' in Resolving the Crisis Facing Care Workers

"The event was held as care workers from across the country – such as family child care providers and home care providers – gathered with union leaders and leaders of advocacy organizations for the “Care Workers Can’t Wait Summit,” organized by a coalition led by the National Domestic Workers Alliance. The goal of the event was to educate the public about the importance of the care economy and the critical contributions of care workers, emphasizing the growing need for a strong care infrastructure for the future. "

Lawmakers, Unions Eye Tax Code Change to Advance Labor Agenda

"Pro-labor Democrats and union advocates are pushing for legislation that would stop companies from getting tax deductions for “union busting” activities as a way to level the playing field for workers, who they say are disadvantaged. Employers spend over $400 million per year in “union avoidance” consultants, according to a recent study of US Department of Labor data by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. But the figure may actually be higher, as Amazon disclosed March 31 that it spent over $14 million in 2022 alone on such expenses, and Starbucks—which also is experiencing high organizing activity—has yet to reveal how much it spends on consultants.”

UPS, Teamsters Open High-Stakes US Labor Talks

“United Parcel Service and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union on Monday started U.S. private sector labor contract talks covering roughly 340,000 U.S. drivers, package handlers and loaders at the global delivery firm. The stakes are high for union and management as recession threatens to cut in to business, and worker participation in unions sits at all-time lows in the United States despite an uptick in labor activism."

A Hollywood Writers' Strike Looms: What To Know

"Hollywood writers are calling on the studios to show them the money. Thousands of television and movie writers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike when their contracts run out on May 1, unions representing the writers said on Monday. The move sets TV creators on a collision course with the major studios as an industry-wide shift to streaming reorients the way shows are made and monetized. Meanwhile, a strike would carry implications for millions of viewers, immediately disrupting some shows and delaying the development of others."

Phoenix Repeals Prevailing Wage Ordinance After New Councilmembers Sworn In

“One month after passing a controversial wage ordinance, the Phoenix City Council has repealed it. The action came two days after two new councilmembers took their seats."

Chairman of Arizona's Worker Safety Agency Steps Down

“Schultz made his announcement at the end of Thursday’s commission meeting. He has a history with the state agency, serving as an intern to the director in the 1970s and then being appointed a commissioner by then-Arizona Governor Doug Ducey in 2015."

How School Voucher Programs Hurt Students 

“In recent months, state legislatures across the country have broadened efforts to subsidize private school tuition with taxpayer dollars. New proposals for these programs—collectively called school vouchers—have appeared in more than a dozen states and passed as major priorities for Republican governors like Kim Reynolds in Iowa and Sarah Huckabee Sanders in Arkansas. Since 2021, Arizona, Florida, Utah and West Virginia have also created or expanded voucher plans. Meanwhile, a handful states like Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio and Wisconsin have run voucher programs for years. But do school vouchers actually work? We need to focus on what research shows, and what that means for kids moving forward."

Valley Cannabis Workers Unionize for Better Wages and Benefits 

Thank you for reading the Arizona Labor Dispatch! Can you help us grow our readership by sharing our sign-up form? 

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]