John, 

On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, on this day, August 25, 1925, 500 African-American sleeping car porters gathered at the Elks Hall in Harlem. The meeting was called by A. Phillip Randolph, who was chosen to represent the porters because he did not work for Pullman and would not be subject to the intimidation tactics used against their own employees. During this time, at its peak, there were over 20,000 African-Americans employed by the Pullman Palace Car Company. Exactly 12 years later, on August 25, 1937, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters became the very first African-American labor union to sign a collective bargaining agreement with a major U.S. corporation. And with A. Phillip Randolph as their first president, who fought to improve the working conditions and pay for Pullman Porters.

On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, there is so much to think about and reflect on: the civil rights movement, the labor movement, women’s rights, the rights of our LGBTQIA+ community, the evolution of political discourse, and the environment. I think of Dr. King, of John Lewis, of Dorothy Height, of A. Phillip Randolph, and of Bayard Rustin, some of the organizers and original participants of the march.

On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, I think about Dr. King’s speech delivered at the National Cathedral in D.C. on March 31, 1968. Less than a week later, he would be assassinated while in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was there to support striking Sanitation Workers. He would use a quote that he had used before in other speeches but no less meaningful: "We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice."

On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, I think about the marchers, different in many ways, marching arm in arm, together singing, "We shall overcome one day!" and I think about all of the progress we have made and all the work we still have ahead of us.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

APFA Strike Authorization Vote Rally

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), representing 26,000 Flight Attendants of American Airlines, needs your support.

Join the Strike Authorization Vote Rally to demand fair treatment and recognition of these professionals. This is their fifth demonstration since their collective bargaining agreement became amendable 4.5 years ago. American Airlines is back to making record profits but is stalling in contract negotiations. 

Inaugural State of the Unions Event

Join AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond ahead of Labor Day! This event is a chance to highlight how working people are transforming our communities and our country by standing together in Unions. There will be shared stores of workers and some special news about the increasing momentum the labor movement has heading into Labor Day 2023

When: Tuesday, August 29, at 11 AM E.T.

Union Community Fund- Disaster Relief for Maui & Big Island

The wildfire devastation in Hawaii has killed dozens of people and destroyed the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui. Our union family needs our help. Please consider donating to the Union Community Fund and the Hawaii AFL-CIO Community Services Program/Hawaii Employees Lifeline Program. 

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!

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].

'Tell'em About the Dream, Martin!': Memories From the Crowd at MLK's March on Washington

"It's 1963, and 15-year-old Clayola Brown just heard the news on the car radio in Philadelphia: There was going to be a march on Washington. She recalls the deep, heavy baritone of civil rights activist and march organizer A. Philip Randolph, describing the inequities of Jim Crow America and the promise of freedom and economic justice."

In Remote Arizona Town of Clifton, Scars of Crushing Mining Strike Still Linger

"Inside, she reflected on a strike that played an important part in her life and forever changed this small mountain town in eastern Arizona. The copper miners’ union that once used this hall is long gone, but a dramatic mural at the center of the room offers a glimpse into the events that rocked this place almost 40 years ago."

NLRB Issues Decision Announcing New Framework for Union Representation Proceedings 

"Today, the Board issued a decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC announcing a new framework for determining when employers are required to bargain with unions without a representation election.  The new framework will both effectuate employees’ right to bargain through representatives of their own choosing and improve the fairness and integrity of Board-conducted elections. "

National Union Solidarity Day in NYC Draws Big Names Amid Bid Crowd

"National Union Solidarity Day kicked off on Tuesday in New York City with several hundred marchers forming a picket line that stretched two full blocks outside the Manhattan corporate offices of Amazon and HBO. Striking writers and actors saw their ranks bolstered on Tuesday by unionized teachers, nurses, truckers, musicians, retail and hotel workers, and they got vocal encouragement from union chiefs who promised to have their backs."

Poll Finds Majority of Americans Support WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes

"Liz Shuler, president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, gave a statement in response to the poll results. “Voters understand that this isn’t just about one industry — this is about all of us — and unions need to have a seat at the table to take on the existential threat AI poses to our livelihoods and economy,” she explained."

UPS Workers Approve 5-Year Contract, Capping Contentious Negotiations that Threatened Deliveries

"The union representing 340,000 UPS workers said Tuesday that its members voted to approve the tentative contract agreement reached last month, putting a final seal on contentious labor negotiations that threatened to disrupt package deliveries for millions of businesses and households nationwide.The Teamsters said in a statement that 86% of the votes casts were in favor of ratifying the national contract. They also said it was passed by the highest vote for a contract in the history of the Teamsters at UPS."

Amazon Was Accused of Calling the Police on Employees in the Latest Union-Busting Case

"Amazon was accused of violating federal law multiple times to obstruct unionization efforts at a warehouse near Albany, New York, last year, according to a new complaint filed by a regional director at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), first reported by Bloomberg. The complaint, filed yesterday (Aug. 21), reportedly accuses the retail giant of illegally firing an organizer prior to a union ballot last year, calling the police on employees, barring discussion of unions at the workplace, and seeking to limit employee interaction at the warehouse before and after hours to thwart organizing. Quartz contacted Amazon for comment. "

Union Workers Reach Three Year Deal with Chicago's Major Hotels

“The new three-year agreement requires that hotels clean guest rooms every day, provides a $25 per hour minimum for non-tipped workers, preserves workers’ excellent healthcare coverage, and strengthens their pension.

UNITED HERE Local 1 and the Chicago major hotels were able to reach the deal ahead of the Aug. 31 contract expiration date."

HB 2717 Provides Dispatchers Help After Critical Incidents

“When someone calls 911, it's usually on their worst day. What most people might not consider, are the dispatchers who answer those calls every single day, and the impact it has on their mental health. The signing of House Bill 2717 is a historic decision for all 911 operators in the state of Arizona. It will offer unlimited mental health services without fear of running out of sessions or having to pay for extra sessions out of pocket."

Adrian Fontes, 6 Other Leaders Ask Fed to Block Grocery Merger

“Arizona's Adrian Fontes and six other secretaries of state have sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging the agency to block the proposed $24.6 billion merger of supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons."

How Sen. Kelly's Plan-Now Law- To Lower Prescription drug Costs Will Help Arizona Seniors 

“Recently, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly’s plan to lower prescription drug costs was signed into law as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. AARP Arizona and the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans have applauded Kelly’s plan and his leadership on this issue as a member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. With over 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries in Arizona, seniors across the state stand to benefit from Kelly’s plan."

TSMC's Arizona Plant is Delayed Over Poor Management, Not A Shortage of US Skilled Labor, the Workers Building It Say 

“In Phoenix, record-breaking summer heat isn't the only thing on the rise. Tensions are boiling at a construction site of the world's leading chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Two current workers say operational mismanagement and administrative chaos have delayed the building of the chip factory. Those are not the reasons TSMC has given."

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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]