John, 

Today, I come before you with a sense of urgency and an unyielding commitment to the welfare of working families, veterans, and our community as a whole. The deadline of November 17 is fast approaching, and we are once again faced with the possibility of a catastrophic government shutdown. I am deeply concerned about the imminent threat we face, and I ask you to join us in taking a stand for what's right.

Just a month ago, Congress managed to avert a harmful government shutdown by agreeing on a short-term solution. But this is not a long-term solution to the challenges we face.

We cannot ignore the fact that some extremists in Congress are pushing an extreme agenda that jeopardizes the wages, healthcare, education, and safety of workers and their families. Here are the top 10 proposed cruel cuts:

1. Rip $750 million away from Head Start 🧸 programs, meaning 82,000 children will lose access to Head Start.
2. Cut 80% of programs that impact 26 million low-income students, slashing 226,000 🍎 teacher positions.
3. Eliminate programs that train workers 🔨 for jobs and provide entry into the workforce for millions of workers.
4. Slash funding to the 👩🏾 Women’s Bureau at the Department of Labor.
5. Cut nearly $100 million to the National Labor Relations Board, funding that holds big corporations ✊ accountable.
6. Cut substantial funding to agencies that protect our 🦺 health and safety on the job.
7. Repeal parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, cutting $103 billion and causing the immediate stoppage of infrastructure projects that help local communities.
8. Gut transportation funds 🚆 that are building the infrastructure to make commuting more accessible and affordable and create hundreds of thousands of 💸 good jobs.
9. Slash critical safety resources while rebuilding 🏠 low-income housing with little regard to health hazards and toxins, threatening the health of thousands of children 
10. Drastically reduce funds to programs that tackle poverty 🍇🍗 by providing nutrition to millions of families and children.

Their intentions are crystal clear: they seek to make extreme cuts that could further burden our families while channeling our hard-earned dollars into the pockets of the wealthy, big corporations, and political donors. We have seen this before, and we know what they intend to do. Working people deserve a budget that prioritizes good jobs and safeguards the well-being of our families. Another government shutdown would be a betrayal of our commitment to our veterans, especially those who are employed in federal roles. It would also put countless livelihoods at risk.

It is imperative that we unite and make a resounding call to action. We must urge our legislators to reject extreme budget cuts that threaten the very core of our society. I urge you to join us in taking swift and decisive action. Sign our petition to "Say No to Extreme Budget Cuts" and make your voice heard. Let Congress know that we stand together, unwavering in our commitment to the welfare of working families and veterans.

Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can ensure that our government serves the interests of the many, not the few. Let us stand together and protect the future of working families and veterans. 

Join our rallies next week! More information below!

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

🚨AZ AFL-CIO Rallies to "Say NO to Extreme Budget Cuts" - Tucson & Scottsdale

The Arizona AFL-CIO is hosting two rallies next week in Tucson and Scottsdale. Join in #Solidarity and hear from union leaders, veterans, and workers who will share their stories. We will be gathering signatures for the petition urging Representative Juan Ciscomani and David Schweikert to stand with working families! 

TUCSON: Monday, Nov. 13th at 2PM 

SCOTTSDALE: Wednesday, Nov. 15th at 10AM

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.

AZ AFL-CIO Upcoming Training: Young Workers Common Sense Economics - Nov. 16th

Facilitated by our Training Specialist, Esau Gutierrez, this event is your opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the economic challenges faced by young workers. We will delve into how the current economic system isn't in their favor and shed light on the influence of corporate CEOs and billionaires on their lives.

Through this training, we'll discuss the power of collective action, including voting, volunteering, organizing, and activism, to reshape the rules of the economy in their favor.

📅 November 16, 2023

⏰3 PM to 4:30 PM 

💻 This is a virtual event via Zoom, you will receive the link once you RSVP

2023 MALF Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser on Nov. 18th

 Every year, the Andy Ward Scholarship Fund offers financial assistance to individuals in the union or their dependents who are looking to further their studies. Come and contribute to this fundraiser! Sponsors have the opportunity to receive custom cornhole boards as a token of appreciation.

When: Saturday November 18, 2023

Where: NALC George T Russell, Branch 576 - 3720 W. Greenway Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85053

COSHCON23: the National Conference on Worker Safety and Health

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, Dignity by Fire: Dismantling Arizona's Anti-Immigrant Machine by Randy Parraz, and also vote on December's book of the month!

NEXT MEETING: November 30th, 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].

Why 2023 Has Been the Year of Strikes and Labor Movements

"At least 362,000 employees across the United States have already gone on strike in 2023, CNBC reported. "The 'summer of strikes' needs a new name," because there is "no sign of a slowdown in workers walking off the job" as fall unfolds. But the gap between rich and poor has been increasing for a long time, especially in industries such as film and television, where striking workers shut down production this year. So why has 2023 in particular become the year of strikes?"

How 'Your Package Has Been Delivered' and Other Automated Messages Erase Essential Human Labor 

"Perhaps it’s unsurprising, then, that at a time when major e-commerce platforms and app-based delivery services are brazenly trying to erase any trace of human labor, our smartphones and inboxes are inundated with notifications written in passive voice. Messages from Amazon, DoorDash, Instacart, and others are haunted by an eerie peoplelessness."

Striking Actors and Hollywood Studios Agree to A Deal

"One of the longest labor crises in Hollywood history is finally coming to an end. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing tens of thousands of actors, reached a tentative deal for a new contract with entertainment companies on Wednesday, clearing the way for the $134 billion American movie and television business to swing back into motion. Hollywood’s assembly lines have been at a near-standstill since May because of a pair of strikes by writers and actors, resulting in financial pain for studios and for many of the two million Americans — makeup artists, set builders, location scouts, chauffeurs, casting directors — who work in jobs directly or indirectly related to making TV shows and films."

MGM Resorts Reach Labor Deal with Las Vegas Unions, Averts Strike 

"The unions representing hospitality workers in Las Vegas on Thursday reached a tentative deal with MGM Resorts International for a new contract covering nearly 25,400 employees, less than 24 hours before a strike threatened to shut down the Strip."

Starbucks Increases US Hourly Wages and Adds Other Benefits for Non-Union Workers 

"Starbucks is increasing pay and benefits for most of its U.S. hourly workers after ending its fiscal year with record sales. But the company said Monday that unionized workers won't be eligible for some of those perks, a sign of the continuing tension between the Seattle coffee giant and the union trying to organize its U.S. stores. At least 366 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since 2021, according to the National Labor Relations Board. But Starbucks and the Workers United union have yet to reach a labor agreement at any of those stores. Starbucks has 9,600 company-operated stores in the U.S."

Acting US Labor Secretary Julie Su Talks October Jobs Data

"The U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement on the October 2023 Employment Situation report."

Workers at Walt Disney Animation Studios Vote to Unionize Under Animation Guild 

"Production coordinators, managers and supervisors at Disney Animation are poised to be represented by IATSE Local 839, a branch of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Sixty-three of the 68 workers who participated in the election voted in favor of union representation, according to the National Labor Relations Board."

Medicare, Obamacare Call Center Employees in Phoenix Walk Out, Here's Why

“At Maximus's Phoenix call center, employees were accompanied by the Communications Workers of America, a labor union representing communications workers around the country. Christy Baum, one of the event's organizers, said Maximus is the largest federal contractor for Medicare and Medicaid."

Hobbs Issues Executive Orders, Allocates $2.3M in COVID-19 Relief Funding for Arizona Elections 

“The funding comes from Arizona's share of the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal coronavirus relief package. It will fund an elections fellowship program to train and recruit election workers, and provide temporary staffing for counties ahead of next year's election."

Maricopa County Voters Approving Many School Bonds, Overrides in Early Results

“The first round of election results released Tuesday night demonstrated the wide range of Phoenix-area voters' willingness to fund public school districts through local tax measures."

As Arizona Housing Costs Soar, Biden Want to Turn Empty Offices Into Housing 

“In Sept. 2020, the Median home sale price n Arizona was $324,800. As of Sept. 2023, that figure had risen to $434,700, a nearly 34% increase, according to redfin. Renters are also paying more in the state. In Phoenix, the average cost of rent was $1,558 per month as of July 2023, a 22% increase from 2020, when that figure was only $1,283."

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]