john, 

The following is a memorandum on behalf of AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer, Fred Redmond on the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom: 

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the seminal event that brought together the labor and civil rights movements in the struggle for racial and economic justice. The AFL-CIO will be co-hosting the rally and commemoration alongside National Action Network, the Drum Major Institute and several other partner organizations on Saturday, August 26.   

As part of the commemoration, the AFL-CIO will uplift the critical roles labor leaders A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin played in shaping the march, as well as the contributions of unions in championing transformative legislation like the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. We also will celebrate the millions of working people who are currently organizing at historic rates nationwide to improve our workplaces and demand dignity and respect on the job. 

In the coming weeks, we will share more information about our involvement in the march, as well as resources you can share with your members and networks. We also would like to offer you the opportunity to make a financial contribution to the march and take part in this historic moment. Contribution checks should be made payable to AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer with “March on Washington” written in the memo line. The deadline for contributions is August 11. Your organization will be recognized for the amount contributed.

Thank you in advance for your support of the 60th March on Washington.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Arizona AFL-CIO 11th Annual Labor Day Luncheon

We invite you to join us for our Labor Day Luncheon on Friday, September 1st at the Hilton Phoenix Resort at the Peak! We offer a variety of table sponsorship options and individual ticket options.

We kindly request that you provide us with the names of attendees once you have made your purchase. If you have any questions please contact our Communications Director, Alina Cordoba at [email protected]. 

AZ Pipe Trades 469 PAC Asking to Block TSMC Foreign Worker Visas

TSMC announced they plan to bring more than 800 foreign workers to Arizona to operate on the North Phoenix facility -- placing profit above worker safety! This contradicts the purpose of why the CHIPS Act was enacted. 

Arizona Pipe Trades 469 PAC is asking to protect our union brothers and sisters, protect our paycheck, and protect American jobs by asking elected officials to Block the EB-2 Worker Visas. 

Show Your Support: Grinder Workers are Unionizing!

Grinder is the largest LGBTQIA+ dating app. By joining together in a union, member of Grindr United are committed to ensuring Grindr remains a safe, inclusive & thriving place for both its users and workers.

Over 490 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced across the U.S. Now, more than ever, Grindr employees believe it is crucial to stand united & push back against these assaults on equality & inclusivity by joining together to exercise their power and work.

Show your support for Grindr United. Tell Grindr CEO George Arison to respect his employees' right to form a union!

How to Win HUGE Cash prizes from Union Plus

The 2023 Union Plus Labor Day campaign is here! The Unions Power America Contest is kicking things off, running through July 26. Union Plus is awarding $140,000 in cash prizes, including a $40,000 grand prize. The past few years have been hard for workers—so we want to help hardworking union families dream big.

Union Plus wants to hear your stories—of going above and beyond for others and powering your communities, workplaces and families. Members can nominate themselves to win, or people can nominate any current or retired union member in their life to win by sharing their inspiring stories.

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].

The Fate of Our Freedom is Tied to Our Courts, So We Must Demand Reform 

"We cannot relinquish our court system to the influence of wealthy, special corporate interests or extremists who want to roll back our hard-won progress." 

TSMC Should Not Blame US Workers for Phoenix Construction Delays

"In this guest opinion column, the president of the Arizona Building and Construction Trades Council says that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. officials are off the mark by claiming that Arizona workers do not have the skills needed to complete work on TSMC's massive Phoenix factory."

"We've Changed the Game": Teamsters Win Historic UPS Contract 

"Teamsters reached the most historic tentative agreement for workers in the history of UPS, protecting and rewarding more than 340,000 UPS Teamsters nationwide. The overwhelmingly lucrative contract raises wages for all workers, creates more full-time jobs, and includes dozens of workplace protections and improvements. The UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee unanimously endorsed the five-year tentative agreement. .”

Women Leaders of WGA, SFG-AFTRA & AFL-CIO Join Picket Line Outside Fox Studios in L.A.

"WGA West President Meredith Stiehm, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and SAG-AFTRA national board members Frances Fisher and Shari Belafonte joined hundreds of striking writers and actors on the picket line today outside the main gate of Fox Studios in Century City."

A Teacher Union Says It's Fed Up with Social Media's Impact on Students

"The nation’s second-largest teachers union said Thursday it was losing patience with social media apps that it says are contributing to mental health problems and misbehavior in classrooms nationwide, draining time and money from teachers and school systems. The American Federation of Teachers issued a report with several other organizations, warning that tech companies should rein in their apps before Congress forces them to do so. The federation has 1.7 million members."

Workers at Yellowstone National Park Organize a Union Under NFFE

"National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) is proud to announce workers at Yellowstone National Park have elected America’s first federal employee union to represent America’s first established National Park. Interpretive Park Rangers, educators, researchers, fee collectors, first responders, firefighters, and other staff working for the Department of Interior’s National Park Service are now unionized after voting in favor by over 80%."

Autoworker Union Not Giving Biden an Easy Ride in 2024 as Contract Talks Pick Up Speed

“With a newly elected union president and a new round of contract negotiations just underway, the United Auto Workers union is sending a message that the status quo isn't acceptable — either at the bargaining table or in politics. Shawn Fain was elected to lead the union this past spring, signaling at the time that he was ready to shake things up. He's already making good on that promise."

Yuma Farmworker and Father of 2 Dies Amid Record Heat Wave

“A 26-year-old Yuma farmworker died after collapsing in the fields last week amid a deadly heat wave, authorities said. The Yuma County Sheriff's Office verified the farmworker's identity as Dario Mendoza. Mendoza was the father of two young children, according to Domini Franco, Mendoza's longtime partner and the mother of the two children."

TSMC Phoenix Cuts Electrician Pay and Sends in Taiwanese Workers

“As temperatures blow past 115 degrees in Phoenix, union electricians at the construction site of chipmaking giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) are feeling double-crossed. TSMC has complained for months that its second plant, located at the northern outskirts of America’s fastest-growing city, is delayed by a costly labor crunch. Last month, the company announced plans to send in 500 or more workers from Taiwan to speed the construction of the sprawling semiconductor foundry, which aims to churn out leading-edge chips by 2026."

First Unionized Arizona Charter School Wins Big Gains in Bargaining First Contract

“Asserting their power as workers, the educators at BASIS Tucson North won three major victories even before finishing bargaining a first contract. First, paid time off days will increase from five to ten. Second, some educators will receive pay at the rate of $40 per hour for being assigned extra subbing duties. Third, the punitive “attendance bonus” system, which compensated teachers for not using their days of paid time off and which unfairly punished educators with disabilities and illnesses, will come to an end. These changes will take effect starting in August of the 2023-2024 school year."

Tips for Arizona Workers on Staying Safe in the Extreme Heat

“As Arizona workers face life-threatening dangers from extreme heat driven by climate change, Arizona-based safety experts from the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health are providing guidance to workers, unions, workers centers and advocates on staying safe in the extreme heat and how to prevent heat illness."

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]