John, 

At the 29th AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention in June 2022 in Philadelphia, President Liz Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond made history by being the first woman and first black person ever to be elected to those leadership positions, respectively. Wow, it only took 67 years! Secretary-Treasurer Redmond was a year old when the AFL-CIO merged. I wonder if his mother and father thought, "One day our son will break the color barrier in organized labor!"

Though it should not be a surprise, encouraged by his parents, Brother Redmond has lived a life of fighting for civil rights, justice in the workplace, and racial justice everywhere!

This past convention of the AFL-CIO was the most diverse we’ve ever had, and it wasn’t by accident. It was a conscientious decision of our AFL-CIO leadership to ask elected labor leaders to uplift the diversity within their own delegations and bring them to Philadelphia. Not as tokens, but as leaders and representatives in their own right to represent their unions!

Organized labor, like other segments of our society, still has work to do around racial justice and equity, and it will take courage and commitment to correct the system that years of discrimination, nepotism, legacy, and prejudice which has have plagued the poor, the underserved, and our communities of color.

The decision of the Supreme Court on June 29th to strike down Affirmative Action is a continuation of the undoing of civil rights in this country.

Statement from AFL-CIO President Lis Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond on the Supreme Court's ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina:

America’s unions are deeply disappointed by today’s decision from the Supreme Court to reverse the longstanding precedent of affirmative action in college admissions. With this decision, universities no longer may use race as one of the criteria in admissions decisions, despite the value diversity in the student body demonstrably adds to the educational experience of all students and our communities. Other race-neutral measures fall short of the goal of increasing student body diversity—and this court now strikes a substantial blow to the ongoing fight for racial equity and economic justice. 

Over the last five decades, affirmative action has been a critical tool for addressing discrimination and racial bias. It has helped to level the playing field in our nation’s institutions of higher learning and created equal opportunity in the college admissions process so that students of color and people from disadvantaged backgrounds can aspire to the same educational success as everyone else. As Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote powerfully in her dissent, “deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life,” and in their haste to do away with affirmative action, the conservative justices proved their callousness and disregard for the reality of systemic racism and its ongoing effects. To paraphrase Justice Jackson’s dissent, preventing consideration of race does not end racism.

The Supreme Court’s opinion will not deter us from our continued efforts to achieve racial justice and equal opportunity in every facet of our society. Our unions will continue to organize and use every tool at our disposal to ensure all workers and their families have a fair shot at a better life.

Click here to read full press release.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Arizona Pride at Work Meeting

Please join us for a meeting of Pride at Work, the Arizona AFL-CIO's Constituency organization for the LGBTQ+ community. 

When: Thursday, July 13, 6 p.m. 

Where: Teamsters Local 104, 1450 S. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009

2023 MALF Andy Ward Scholarship Packet AVAILABLE NOW!

The Maricopa Area Labor Federation is still looking for union members or dependents of union members to apply for the Andy and Dorothy Ward Scholarship to help with educational and vocational expenses.

The essay, cover sheet, and application have been extended and are now due by 5PM on July 24th, 2023. Please send them to the MALF Education Committee Chair, AFT Arizona President Ralph Quintana, at [email protected].

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!

Petition: Pass the Richard L. Trumka PRO Act

The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act is landmark worker empowerment, civil rights and social justice legislation. It is an essential part of creating an economy that works for everyone. 

If we want to build up worker power, our outdated labor laws must keep up with the times. If you think we need to protect working people, take 30 econds to add your name in support of the PRO Act 

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. 

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].

I'm a Restaurant Worker in Arizona. Here's Why I Support Julie Su to Be the Next Labor Secretary

"In Phoenix, Arizona, where I have worked as a restaurant server for 20 years, the confirmation of Julie Su for Labor Secretary holds a lot of significance for restaurant workers. With Su’s commitment to enforcing labor laws, her confirmation would mark the continuation of her efforts to build an inclusive economy that provides restaurant workers like me a fair shot to get ahead."

'Unprecedented Show of Solidarity' as AFL-CIO, Major Labor Unions Endorse Biden for 2024

"The AFL-CIO and 17 unions on June 16 endorsed Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for reelection in 2024. Hundreds of working people gathered in Philadelphia on June 17 to welcome Biden as he accepted the official endorsements. During the 2020 campaign and since taking office, Biden has pledged “to be the most pro-union President leading the most pro-union Administration in American history.” He has won praise for various appointments — including Julie Su for Labor Secretary, which still lacks U.S. Senate approval — and actions to improve the lives of exploited workers." 

Teamsters Are Close to the Largest Strike in Decades 

"Outside United Parcel Service (UPS) buildings across the New York area this morning, members of Teamsters Local 804, which represents some eight thousand UPS workers, practiced picketing. Holding signs that read “UPS Teamsters Just Practicing for a Just Contract,” the workers acclimated themselves to what will become their routine should they fail to reach a tentative agreement with the shipping giant by their current contract’s expiration on July 31."

Los Angeles Hotel Employees Return to Work but Warn of Additional Strikes 

"Thousands of housekeepers, front desk clerks, cooks and other hospitality staff returned to work on Wednesday at hotels in the Los Angeles area after three days of picketing, but union leaders said that more walkouts are likely in the coming days."

SAG-AFTRA Extends Talks, Defers Strike; Top Starts Weigh In

"With its leaders reporting great progress in their talks, the board of SAG-AFTRA deferred a potential forced strike against movie and TV studios, streaming video firms, and similar enterprises until mid-day July 13. That’s when the board will meet to decide to implement the strike by some 65,000 artists, which had been scheduled to begin July 1. Instead, talks continue through at least July 12, with the board scheduled to meet the following day to decide whether to call a strike. Months ago, the whole union voted by a 98%-2% margin to authorize the board to call a strike. Union President Fran Drescher and executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said on June 27 that bargainers’ talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)—which represents the studios and the other firms—were “extremely productive” so far. Then they announced the delay. They also told members to toil under the current contract."

Union Wins at New York Farms Raise Hopes for Once-Powerful UFW

"For decades, the United Farm Workers – a powerhouse under American labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez in the 1970s – has declined in size and prominence, its membership falling from 60,000 to around 6,000. Now, after years of scant success in organizing, the UFW has something big to boast about: it has unionized 500 workers at five farms in New York state.”

13 Million Dollars Heading to Workers at Maryland State Prisons for Stolen Wages 

“The settlement is based on evidence, interviews, and complaints from AFSCME members over the last two years that found the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services violated the Federal Fair Labors Standards Act, stealing wages from our membership. This is the second-largest wage theft settlement for correctional officers in DOL history."

'I Can Barely Survive': Phoenix Airport Workers Demand Better Wages

“At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Wednesday evening, chants from workers sounded through the bustle of summer travel. "A people united will never be divided!" the staffers cried. The rally was part of a series of actions by airport workers in more than a dozen cities around the country, calling out American Airlines for its business practices and calling on Congress to guarantee better wages and sick leave for airport workers."

Tucson Union Members Sit Down for Labor Roundtable with Arizona Congressman

“Gallego talked with attendees about the PRO Act—H.R. 20, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act—which he says would make it easier for workers to organize and engage in collective bargaining should they choose."

150,000 Dropped from Medicaid Coverage in Arizona, Most for Filing Errors 

“More than three-quarters of the 150,000 people who have been dropped from the state’s Medicaid rolls so far this year were removed for procedural errors, but the state has received only “a handful of appeals.” That has officials at the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System urging current members to update their information and contact details so they can be alerted to any changes in their status."

House Minority Leader Andres Cano Resigns From Arizona Legislature to Complete Graduate School 

“Cano, 31, had announced his anticipated departure from the state House of Representatives in May after he was accepted at Harvard University to pursue a master’s degree in public administration. His one-year program begins July 11."

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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]