John, 

Yesterday was Latina Equal Pay Day. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the persistent economic disparities faced by Latina workers in our society and underscores the urgent need for change. 

Here's a statement released yesterday, October 5th, from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler in recognition of Latina Equal Pay Day:

"On Latina Equal Pay Day, we recognize the inherent economic unfairness that still persists to this day in our country and the urgent need for change. Latina workers make just 52 cents on the dollar compared to non-Hispanic White men and must work more than 10 months into this year to make the same amount as their White, non-Hispanic male counterparts were paid last year. This is unacceptable and unconscionable. Gender and race should not dictate take home pay. 

Unions are the pathway to rectifying this long-standing disparity. We know that Latina workers in a union make 40% more per week than nonunion Latina workers. This 40% means that these hardworking women can provide for their families and that their pay reflects their value. We also know that occupational segregation still exists in our labor market, and we must continue to work to ensure that Latinas have access to the work opportunities they deserve. The entire labor movement is committed to winning economic justice and parity for all. We will continue to fight for change at the state, local and federal levels, until we close the wage gap."

The Labor Council for Latina American Advancement (LCLAA), a constituency group of the AFL-CIO, is the leading national organization for Latino/a workers and their families. Founded in 1973 by a group of trade unionists, their mission is to educate, organize, and mobilize Latinos/as in the labor movement to promote workers' rights. Today, there are more than 2 million Latino/a workers in the AFL-CIO. The Equal Pay Act was passed over 50 years ago, yet gender-based wage discrimination is still a problem. LCLAA is proud to see our elected officials stand for workers’ rights and reintroduce the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will prohibit employers from retaliating against workers who discuss or disclose their wages, prohibit employers from terminating future pay based on a worker’s salary history, close the pay gap, and ensure that women, specifically women of color, are paid fairly in comparison to their male counterparts. The Paycheck Fairness Act will be used to remedy this issue and get us on track for #LatinaEqualPay.

Protect workers from pay discrimination and tell your elected officials by clicking HERE.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

What the Entertainment Union Strikes Mean for the Labor Movement

The Illinois AFL-CIO and Chicago Federation of Labor are hosting a webinar on October 10 at 4pm CT to discuss the ongoing entertainment strikes, WGA’s recent victory, and what the battle to regulate AI means for the future of both entertainment workers and the entire labor movement. 

Support Safe Nursing Home Staff Now!

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is considering a historic new rule that would establish a minimum staffing standard in nursing homes for the first time.

Unfortunately, the nursing home industry is spending big to prevent this rule from being finalized. That’s why HHS needs to hear from you.

Will you take a moment to submit a comment to HHS before the Nov. 6 deadline?

Are You 'All In' with UAW Members?

Union contracts for 150,000 International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) members at the Big Three automakers expire Sept. 14. It will take the unity and strength of every UAW member, union, community and political ally to win what autoworkers and every worker deserves. The Big Three have made extreme profits over the past decade. Workers deserve fair pay and the Big Three can afford it. You can show your support.

Arizona Labor Book Club Meeting- October

Unfortunately, our September Labor Book Club meeting will be postponed this month

Join us in October via Zoom for a fun and engaging conversation regarding this month's book, A History of America in Ten Strikes by Erik Loomis, and also vote on November's book of the month!

NEXT MEETING: October 26th, 2023, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

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].

A Union of Their Own 

"The first thing to appreciate about the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) is that it was born feminist. Its feminism and its militance have nourished each other. The second thing to appreciate is that AFA is among the most democratic of American unions. Every officer comes from the ranks of working flight attendants, so there is no gap between the lived experience of the rank and file and the union bureaucracy."

In Building Out Broadband, Let's Work to Do It Right

"This historic investment offers a once in a generation commitment from the federal government to make sure that all Marylanders have access to the fastest broadband speeds that are so critical for our children’s education, for our ability to work from remote locations and to keep in contact with our families and friends wherever they may be. But receiving these funds is just the first step. Now we have to make sure that this program is done right. We should all want a guarantee that it is built right the first time. We may not ever get another chance."

Why are Thousands of Kaiser Health Care Workers On Strike?

"More than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers began a three-day strike in Virginia, California, Colorado, Washington state, Oregon and Washington, D.C., on Oct. 4, 2023, after company executives and eight unions representing aides, techs, support staff and other employees failed to agree on the terms of new contracts. This is the largest U.S. health care strike on record. In a statement it released when the walkout started, Kaiser asserted that it wanted to reach a deal soon with the striking workers."

Saunders: 'There is Work to Do to Ensure That We Don't Face Another Race Against the Clock' 

"AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement in response to the bipartisan deal to avert a government shutdown."

Labor Leaders Despair but Don't Give Up on Unemployment for Strikers 

"Supporters who celebrated as Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a fast food bill Thursday bemoaned his decisions Saturday night when he announced he had vetoed two other high-profile labor bills. Newsom rejected Senate Bill 799, which would have paid striking workers California unemployment benefits after two weeks, and SB 686, which would have extended workplace safety protections to domestic workers, such as housekeepers and nannies."

California Public School Students Will Learn About Labor Rights Under First-of-Its-Kind Law 

"A.B. 800 empowers young people with the information and tools they need to understand their rights as workers," said Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher of the California Labor Federation."

Walt Disney Pictures' VFX Workers Vote Unanimously for Unionization 

"In-house Visual Effects (VFX) workers at Walt Disney Pictures unanimously voted in favor of unionizing with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) in an election held by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the union announced Tuesday. This significant milestone marks the second time a unit of solely VFX Workers successfully voting to unionize with IATSE since VFX was commercialized nearly a half-century ago, with the other just last month."

Insurance Will Cover Transgender Care for Arizona Employees, Judge's Ruling Affirms

“Arizona state employee health insurance will pay for transgender care regardless of which administration is in office, a federal judge's ruling has affirmed. Arizona legislative leaders lost their court argument to deny a permanent consent decree in the case, but a judge spared the state some attorney costs."

Denise Heath Appointed IAM Aerospace Department Special Representative 

“IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has announced, effective Oct. 1, the appointment of IAM Local 519 President and Directing Business Representative Denise Heath to the position of IAM Aerospace Department Special Representative."

Arizona Seniors to See Lower Drug Costs as Medicare Price Negotiations Advance

“The Biden administration announced Tuesday that all 10 drug companies whose medicines were selected for Medicare price negotiations in August have agreed to participate in negotiations. Now, these drugmakers will negotiate directly with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to lower the cost of 10 commonly-used drugs, thanks to a provision in Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which became law last year."

Report: 2023 Super Bowl Generated $1.3 Billion in Gross Output

“In addition, they said the Super Bowl was the root cause of a $726 million contribution to the Arizona GDP, a $460 million contribution to Arizona's labor income, and 103,000 out-of-state visitors."

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