john, 

I am delighted to inform you of Cecilia Valdez’s new job at the Arizona Industrial Commission as the newest Commissioner. Cecilia is a woman of many accomplishments, and her recent appointment is no exception. Cecilia’s achievement as the first woman of color to hold this position is a monument to her hard work, devotion, and commitment to the rights of working people.

I first met Cecilia in Tucson, AZ, during a canvass for Congressman Grijalva in 2014. We were walking on the west side, and it seemed as if everyone knew her. Well, that’s because they did! She has been a member of the Communications Workers of America Local 7026 Union for 45 years, where she has held various leadership roles. She has served as a Union Steward and an Area Vice-President, and she is currently serving as the Secretary-Treasurer for her local.

In addition to her union work, Cecilia has been actively involved in numerous charitable organizations, including the March of Dimes, Susan G. Komen, Red Cross, AIDS Walk, American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, HOPE Golf Tournament, Working Families, and Flowing Wells School District.

Cecilia's considerable union experience has given her a unique perspective on working family concerns, and she is dedicated to supporting the interests of Arizona workers. Her appointment to the Industrial Commission of Arizona is a historic moment for both labor and women of color in the state. As a network technician for CenturyLink Communications, Cecilia has worked in various roles, including Operator Services, Business Office, Quality of Work, Employee Involvement, and Dispatch Center. She is currently the Vice Chair of the Pima Area Labor Federation and Treasurer of Arizona Jobs with Justice.

In conclusion, I want to congratulate Cecilia Valdez on her historic appointment to the Industrial Commission of Arizona. She is a trailblazer and a role model for women of color and union members across the state. I have no doubt that she will excel in her new role and continue to make a positive impact on the lives of workers in Arizona.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Julie Su Needs Your Help!

We know Su is the right person to support America’s workers. She’s never backed down from a fight when workers’ fundamental rights are on the line—and with your help, we’re not backing down either.

Railroads: Invest in Safety, Not Wall Street

We call on freight railroads to invest in public safety and their workers. It's time for freight companies to stop putting profits first and safety second. No more cash to Wall Street when freight railroads can't protect the workers who keep the trains running or the Americans whose communities these trains travel through. Add your name to tell railroad CEOs to take the pledge now:

Change The World Training

Are you passionate about fighting for reproductive freedom? Are you a community member looking to make a broader impact? Are you thinking about running for office in the future? Then join an EMILYs List Change the World Training to learn about what steps you need to take to be a future candidate. EMILYs List is here to help you level up your Democratic pro-choice leadership through elected office. 

The Change the World Trainings will cover:

• What Office Should You Run For - How to find the right seat for you
• How to Tell Your Personal Story - How to tell voters why you are running for office
• Building Your Digital Brand - How to use digital skills to talk about your campaign
• Fundraising Fundamentals - How to start raising the money

Deadline to signup is May 5 11:59 p.m MST

*This training is at no-cost for participants and lunch will be provided.

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.

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] 

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].

May Day! When Working Class People Unite to Recognize Their Collective Power 

"For all of us who have to work for a living or survive off a fixed income, this is money that we didn’t really have to spare. There’s been a sharp, merciless rise in homelessness, hunger, and desperation among many families and their children. For Christmas this year, the government is trying to provoke a recession and drive millions out of work."

On Workers' Memorial Day, Remember the Labor Unions that Fought to Make Work Safer 

"Since 1989, AFL-CIO unions have observed April 28 as Workers Memorial Day because the Occupational Safety and Health Administration began on that day in 1971. Unions also hold services “to remember workers killed, injured, or made ill on the job and to renew the fight for strong safety and health protections,” according to the AFL-CIO."

Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2023

“On Workers Memorial Day, we remember those we’ve lost and commit to our fight for a safe workplace for every worker. Because we know that workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths are preventable. No one should have to risk their lives for their livelihoods. There is no corporate cost-benefit analysis that should put human life and worker safety on the wrong side of the ledger. When employers don’t keep our workplaces safe, it’s workers and our families who pay the price."

Senate Health Committee Vote to Nominate Julie Su for Secretary of Labor 

"President Joe Biden’s nominee for labor secretary, Julie Su, won praise at her Senate hearing last Thursday as “a champion of the working class” even as some key Democrats were unwilling to voice support, creating uncertainty about her confirmation prospects."

IATSE President Issues Statement of Support for Writers as Strike Deadline Approaches 

"IATSE supports the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) in their collective fight to win a fair contract from Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on behalf of the talented workers they represent.”

As Rail Profits Soar, Blocked Crossings Force Kids to Crawl Under Trains to Get to School

“The trains, which can stretch across five or six intersections at a time in this working-class suburb of 77,000, prevent students and teachers from getting to school in the morning. Teachers must watch multiple classrooms while their colleagues wait at crossings; kids sit on school buses as they meander the streets of an entirely different city to be dropped off a half-hour late. Brandi Odom, a seventh grade teacher, estimates that at least half her class is delayed by trains multiple times a week."

YouTube Music Workers Just Unanimously Won a Union Vote

"YouTube Music contract workers have voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The workers will join the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA, which represents all Alphabet- and Google-affiliated workers who choose to organize."

Governor Announces Key Appointment for the Industrial Commission of Arizona and the Arizona Arts Commission

“Governor Hobbs has announced key appointments for the Industrial Commission of Arizona and the Arts Commission. These appointments will enhance the work of the two commissions by bringing new voices to the table, protecting Arizona workers, and helping our arts community thrive."

Construction Worker Who Died After Falling Down 100-foot Hole Identified 

“Emergency crews worked to rescue a construction worker who fell down a 100-foot hole in Buckeye Wednesday, April 19. He died later that day.

Anthony Martinez reportedly fell into the hole at a construction site located near Durango Street and Miller Road just south of Interstate 10."

AZ Board of Education Signs Off on New ESA Handbook 

“The Arizona Board of Education approved changes to the empowerment scholarship account (ESA) handbook. The Department of Education says the changes were needed to conform with state law, but parents who have children with disabilities say the changes come at their student's expense."

Workers' Memorial Week Honors Those Who Died on the Workplace

Day Of Action at the Capitol 

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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]