john, 

The 29th AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention was historic for several reasons, one of which was the announcement of the AFL-CIO Sports Council. The Council aims to help professional athletes join together to form unions and strengthen their lives, livelihoods, and working conditions. Case in point: the recent unionization of thousands of professional Minor League baseball players currently being represented by the Major League Baseball Players Association.

One of the key figures in assisting President Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Redmond in the formation of the Council was NFLPA Executive Director, DeMaurice Smith. Leading the group of professional sports leagues consisting of the NFLPA, the United Football Players Association-USW, the NWSL Players Association, the USLPA-CWA, and most recently, the Major League Baseball Players Association.

One of DeMaurice Smith’s predecessors as the Executive Director of the NFLPA was an actual NFL player and subsequent Hall of Famer as an offensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders, Gene Upshaw. Gene Upshaw is a multi-year Pro Bowl player who has won two Super Bowls. As a player, Gene was active in the union, eventually becoming the player representative for his team. Gene was elected President of the NFLPA during the last season he played in 1980; he played his entire career with the Oakland Raiders.

In 1983, Gene Upshaw took over as the Executive Director of the NFLPA to become the first African American to head a major sports player’s union! It was quite an amazing accomplishment for the young boy who picked cotton with his family on a little farm in Robstown, TX, where he was born in 1945.

Known as ‘the Governor’ by his teammates because of his commanding presence on the field and in the locker room and for his natural leadership qualities. Gene’s Pro Bowl, Super Bowl, and Hall of Fame career led him, like Jackie Robinson and Bill Russell before, to break the color barrier in professional sports, this time as a Union Leader! It also paved the way for figures like DeMaurice Smith and his newly appointed predecessor of the NFLPA, Lloyd Howell, or Tony Clark, Executive Director of the MLBPA, as African Americans leading major sports league unions!

Though the struggle and the challenges continue, union history and Black History are inextricable. Whether it’s A. Phillip Randolph starting the Pullman Porters, the first Black Union, or Dr. Martin Luther King being assassinated in Memphis, TN, in 1968 while he was there in support of the Sanitation Workers of AFSCME, or United Steelworkers International Vice President Fred Redmond being the first African American elected as Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO.

It's been far too long to still have ‘firsts’ in breaking the color barrier, especially for labor. But in this time of politics trumping education, we must never forget, and we must not fail to teach about what many of us don’t know.

Gene Upshaw passed away in 2008 from cancer. He left a legacy of overcoming, achievement, perseverance, excellence, and leadership for the Black community and all of us.

“Just Win, Baby!”

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Watch: It's Better in a Union 

You know it, we know it and millions of other working people across our country know it: It’s better in a union. Check out this new video featuring union members talking about what the union difference means to them. 

'I Am Story' Nomination for NAACP's Outstanding Podcast Image Award 

The NAACP has nominated the “I Am Story” podcast, AFSCME’s series recounting the struggle of the 1968 Sanitation Strike in Memphis, Tennessee, for an Image Award in the Outstanding Podcast—Limited Series/Short Form category.

Help share the “I Am Story” with a new generation of workers by casting your vote no later than Feb. 24. You can vote for the podcast by following these steps:

1. Go to the Image Awards website.
2. Select the Outstanding Podcast—Limited Series/Short Form category.
3. Click the “Vote” button located underneath the “I Am Story” podcast—please note that this does not officially count your vote.
4. Click “Back to Categories,” then scroll to the bottom of the categories page and click the “Submit Your Votes” button.
5. Enter your email into the pop-up window and click the “Vote” button, and once it says, “Thanks for voting,” your vote has officially been counted.

Join us on Tuesday, February 13, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport for a worldwide day of action and picketing event with AFA-CWA, APFA, and TWU

Flight Attendants across the industry are fighting to raise the standards for our career. More than two-thirds of the U.S. Flight Attendants are in contract negotiations right now, including red-hot contract fights at American, Alaska, Air Wisconsin, United, Omni, Southwest, Frontier, PSA, Mesa, and more.

Picket Locations: 11AM - 1PM

• Terminal 3, Garden Area 
• Terminal 4: Level 2, Southeast Curb & Northwest Curb 

2024 AZ AFL-CIO Day of Action at the Capitol - Monday, February 19th! 

Join us! This event allows union members to make their presence known in the legislature and advocate for the issues that matter most to working families in Arizona.

We will have special guest speaker, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the California Labor Federation,  Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, and offering two informative workshops.

• "Empowering Advocacy Through Labor-Led Wins" facilitated by AFSCME's Arizona Political & Legislative Director Briona Parkinson  
• "Common Sense Economics" facilitated by AZ AFL-CIO Staff Esau Gutierrez, Rasean Clayton, and Ryan Kelly

*Lunch Provided*

If you would like to participate as a volunteer and make this event a success, please please click on the following link and fill out the Google Form. You will be contacted with more information: https://bit.ly/3voc1aZ

2024 Legislative Committee Meeting Alerts - AZ AFL-CIO 

Join us every Friday at 9:30 AM via Zoom to get updates and alerts on the 2nd Regular Session of the 56th Legislature. Click on the button below and complete the form. 

For additional questions, contact our Political Director, Joe Murphy at [email protected].  

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].

8 Black Women Labor Leaders You Should Know 

"Black women have been on the forefront of the fight for labor rights for decades, helping improve conditions for all of America’s workers. Historically excluded from many good jobs, they’ve performed much of the essential but difficult work underpinning our economy without the protections afforded to other workers. For example, the Social Security Act of 1935 initially excluded domestic workers — the majority of whom were Black women."

Biden Admin Says Rules Must Ensure AI Boom 'Does Right by Workers'

"American workers are seeing strong wage gains beyond inflation, the longest stretch of an unemployment rate below 4% in 50 years, and historic collective bargaining agreements across the economy. Yet, opinion polls show nearly 4 in 10 Americans saying they don’t know how AI will change their jobs. One in 4 express FOBO — fear of becoming obsolete."

Understanding the Latest Constitutional Attacks on the NLRB 

"In 2022, a group of SpaceX employees published an open letter criticizing the erratic and offensive behavior of CEO Elon Musk. SpaceX promptly fired eight workers linked to the letter, and the NLRB subsequently issued a complaint alleging unlawful retaliation against the workers. The next day, SpaceX filed suit in the Southern District of Texas, alleging three constitutional problems with the NLRB."

The Onion Union Reaches Tentative Deal With management, Averting Strike 

"The new agreement for creative workers at The Onion, Deadspin and other titles "made important gains in wages and workplace protections," according to the labor group."

Sticking It to Nickelodeon 

"Production workers at Nickelodeon’s Animation Studio are fighting for their first contract alongside already-organized artists (writers, designers, colorists, storyboarders and background painters) who have been working under an expired contract for two and a half years. The workers collectively produce animated shows: The Loud House, Rugrats, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Spongebob SquarePants. The artists have been members of IATSE Local 839, The Animation Guild (TAG) since 2002, and 3D computer graphics staff joined in 2013."

Several Wisconsin Rapids Ocean Spray Employees Petition to Unionize

"Many could be seen standing outside their plant looking to garner support for their cause Wednesday, as people entered the facility for their shift. The workers are looking to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 965, which is based out of Madison."

Local Transit Union Members Are Near-Unanimous in Vote to Strike for Better Wages 

"Bus drivers, mechanics and other members of the transit union voted to authorize a strike as they seek better pay and more safeguards in a new contract with their employer."

UA President Robbins OK'd Online School Deal Despite Red Flags. It's Costing the University $265M

"When the University of Arizona announced its acquisition of Ashford University, a for-profit online college with a history of fraudulent marketing practices that saddled students with debt and questionable degrees, administrators assuaged dissenters with a promise: The beleaguered school would increase student diversity and provide a guaranteed source of revenue."

Former Congressional Candidate Jevin Hodge Appointed to Vacated Arizona House Seat 

“The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors announced Wednesday former congressional candidate Jevin Hodge was appointed to the Arizona House of Representatives, replacing the departed Athena Salman."

The IRS Has A New, Easier Way to File Taxes. AZ Is One Test State. Here's How It Works

“Taxpayers will be able to prepare and complete returns using laptop computers, tablets or smartphones, and they may receive live technical and other help from IRS staff while preparing their returns. The service will feature more than 350 screens to walk taxpayers through the filing process, though few people will use most of them."

Sun, Shah Resign Within Minutes of Each Other For Different Reasons 

“Two Democrats in the state House of Representatives resigned Wednesday within minutes, with one member leaving before the chamber could consider a motion to expel her."

Workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 11, walked off the job Thursday morning protesting alleged labor law violations by their employer. The allegations include unlawful threats and retaliation against a worker leader for protected concerted union activity. 

Follow UNITE HERE Arizona on Twitter. 

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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]