john, 

This week's Labor Dispatch was written by Ryan Kelly, our Pima County Organizing Specialist. Ryan is a freelance writer and a proud member of the National Writers Union (NWU). He is a well-known and accomplished community organizer in the Tucson area who has helped shape and lead multiple grassroots organizations. Ryan is an expert in policy and direct action and has played a key role in ending anti-immigrant law enforcement practices across Pima County.

The battlefield in the struggle for workers' rights is always changing, evolving with the times, technological advancements, and our transforming economy. Since May 2nd, the Writers Guild of America has been on strike, and suddenly the fight of 12,000 film and television writers has emerged as a pivotal one for the labor movement. While these writers have been making their stand against the exploitative nature of a morphing gig economy, the WGA strike represents much more than a struggle for fair compensation or creative integrity. In fact, its outcome may have far-reaching implications for ordinary working folks like you and me.

At its core, yes, the WGA strike demonstrates the power and reach of labor when organized. It’s all over print and social media, and dominating headlines. For those who still watch network television programming, you’re already seeing show stoppages. In an industry dominated by powerful media conglomerates, this fight serves as a reminder that the modern gig economy has eroded workers' rights across various sectors. What many employers trumpet as "flexibility", is in reality precarious employment at low wages, often with no benefits, and rarely with any guarantees. These striking writers, who notoriously face uncertain prospects, are bravely confronting this exploitative system head-on by demanding proper compensation and protections in an industry that is redefining itself. Their strike underscores the urgency we must all have in fighting back against a system that continues to squeeze workers in new ways in its tireless pursuit of super profits.

The Writers Guild of America is sending a clear message that undervaluing their labor in prioritizing commercial interests is a nonstarter. Just as self-checkout stands in grocery stores and factory and warehouse automation are changing how we work, screenwriters, the creative backbone of the entertainment industry, are pushing for healthy boundaries with emerging AI and automation in their work. As corporate media conglomerates have moved more and more to streaming services, the compensation writers have traditionally received in residuals has all but evaporated. Future revenues generated from reruns have traditionally been a staple part of writers' compensation, but the shift to streaming platforms has these media companies dodging transparency over specifics, data, and numbers when it comes to viewership. This corporate manipulation must end. Writers and all workers deserve fair compensation for their labor.

While this strike revolves around the entertainment industry, its outcome carries significant implications for regular people. The result of the WGA's fight may set a precedent across industries, or at least serve as a harbinger, as the future of work further defines and redefines itself for all of us. By supporting the Writers Guild strike, we align ourselves with a movement that seeks to reshape the balance of power in favor of workers. Together, we decide what workplace automation looks like. Together, we decide what the use of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence looks like.

The Writers’ fight reflects our broader struggles against exploitation, income inequality, and the erosion of workers’ rights. Their strike is shedding light on the immense influence corporations wield in their attempts to shape and control our labor, to our detriment. It’s imperative that working people everywhere stand in solidarity with the WGA against a system that inherently prioritizes profit accumulation over the well-being of working people. May this strike be a rallying cry, and may the workers win!

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Invitation to a Workshop on Combatting Disinformation

Do you care about the rights of workers, voters, women, people of color, immigrants, members of our LGBTQ communities, seniors, or persons with disabilities? If you do, you are probably concerned by the endless disinformation campaigns that are being used to spread hatred, divide us as people, undermine our democracy, make it difficult to engage in civil and respectful conversations, and determine the truth.

Join Mark M. McDermott for a 3-hour workshop, with the first 90 minutes devoted to the History of Modern Disinformation and the second 90 minutes to skill building. Lunch will be provided.

WHEN: May 23rd, 2023, from 10:30 AM to 2:30 AM

WHERE: UFCW Local 99- 2401 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ, 85004

Join the Arizona AFL-CIO Labor Book Club

Our goal is to explore the history, impact, and ongoing struggle of the labor movement. This is an open community event, inviting union members, potential members, and anyone interested in the labor movement to come together and discuss books that highlight the lives of workers and the many facets of unionized labor.

Don't miss out on the fun; we hope to see you there, and be sure to spread the word!

Say You Stand with Striking Writers

Writers are facing the most comprehensive assault on compensation and working conditions they have seen in a generation. The studios have taken advantage of the transition to streaming to underpay entertainment industry workers in every area of work—including writers.

Stand with the 11,500 members who write and produce the TV shows and films that entertain the world. Add your name if you support the striking workers and think they should get a fair deal.

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.

The problem? Well-heeled lobbyists and corporate special interests are spending big to block Su's confirmation because they know she puts working people first. Workers deserve a labor secretary who will fiercely defend us. 

Call your senators now and tell them to vote to confirm Julie Su as secretary of the Department of Labor. 

Join Unemployed Workers United to Empower Tenants!

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].

Keeping Miners Sage Top Priority

"While our jobs may differ, we are both in West Virginia out of deep concern for the surge in the number of cases of black lung disease, especially among our youngest miners." 

'Because We Are All Human': Arizona Farmworkers Gives Food, water to Migrants at Border Wall 

"Standing in front of his white truck, a man with a goatee and straw hat had an easy smile, and bore the lines and tan of someone who looked like he worked in the fields his whole life. On the other side of the approximately 6-inch-wide, rust-colored steel posts, two children ran around while their parents, looking exhausted, waited for U.S. Border Patrol agents to return and process them early Friday morning in a remote area of San Luis."

Caregiving Costs Women Nearly $300,000 in Lost Pay Over their Lifetimes, DOL Finds

“A first-of-its-kind report from the Department of Labor studying women in their early 40s calculated how much they lose as a result of their caregiving responsibilities for children and parents. The impact is especially high for Latinas."

Unions Accuse UPMC of Wielding Market Power Against Workers

"A coalition of labor groups on Thursday filed an antitrust complaint with the Justice Department against UPMC, the giant Pittsburgh-based hospital employer, accusing the system of using its enormous clout to depress wages and harm workers. In its complaint, the group, which includes S.E.I.U. Healthcare Pennsylvania, claims UPMC workers are subject to a “wage penalty” because of the health system’s dominance in local markets. The complaint describes nurses who are given heavier workloads than nurses at other hospitals, creating concerns over patient safety, and catalogs what the coalition considers to be labor law violations that it says illustrate the powerlessness of employees to improve working conditions."

Trucker's Strike in Florida 

"Florida residents are sharing videos of empty grocery shelves and construction sites after workers threatened to strike against sweeping immigration reforms in the Sunshine State. Latin-American truck drivers and laborers have pledged to boycott jobs in Florida in protest of Governor Ron Desantis's SB 1718 bill which aims to crackdown on undocumented migrants."

Biden World Goes to the Mat to Get Julie Su Confirmed 

"The Biden White House is ramping up its pressure on Senate Democrats to confirm Labor nominee Julie Su and deploying some big guns to get her nomination over the line. Over the past two weeks, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients has placed calls to key senators who are considering her nomination, according to a White House official who asked not to be named to speak freely about the outreach. In recent days, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm have also joined the effort, calling moderate Democrats who have been noncommittal about supporting Su, according to three people familiar with the calls.”

Teachers in Oakland, CA Reach Agreement with School District on 'Common Good' Demands as Strike Continues 

“More than a week after public school educators in Oakland, California, hit the picket lines, the teachers’ union announced it has reached an agreement with the school district on four “common good” demands on Saturday night. The Oakland Education Association, which represents the teachers, announced the agreement in a Facebook post. “We are still on strike, but momentum is on our side,” they wrote."

Arizona State Legislature Takes Another Extended Break 

“The Arizona Legislature is taking another extended break, this time for four weeks, ostensibly to allow lawmakers time to shore up their work on various projects, including measures aimed at allowing Maricopa County voters to decide the future of a transportation tax and a possible revival of legislation ending municipal rent taxes. After a whirlwind day Monday which saw the state House of Representatives voting on more than 90 bills, many of which seem destined for Gov. Katie Hobbs’ veto stamp, both the House and Senate adjourned until June 12. "

Arizona Legislature Passes Slew of Anti-LGBTQ Bills

“State Republicans have sent a slate of anti-LGBTQ bills to Gov. Katie Hobbs. Senate Bill 1001 would prevent teachers from respecting their students’ name changes and preferred pronouns without first obtaining parental permission. Senate Bill 1040 seeks to prohibit trans students from using school facilities, like bathrooms and locker rooms, consistent with their gender identity. Both bills are sponsored by Rep. John Kavanagh, who described them as “compromises” between the rights of trans students and their peers. Several other bills sought to limit and even criminalize drag shows. However, the bills are pretty much guaranteed to get a veto from Hobbs. The Democratic governor has said she will reject any anti-LGBTQ bills that hit her desk."

White House Vows More Federal Aid to Reduce Homelessness in Phoenix 

“Phoenix is one of five major US cities set to receive federal help to get unsheltered residents into permanent housing under a new plan launched Thursday as part of the Biden administration’s larger goal to reduce homelessness 25% by 2025. The goal is for the federal government to provide “knowledge, resources and elbow grease” to population centers where nearly half the nation’s unhoused residents live, said Susan Rice, President Joe Biden’s domestic policy advisor."

Honoring Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 

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]