John, 

This week's Labor Dispatch was authored by Rasean Clayton, who is the Arizona AFL-CIO Maricopa Organizing Specialist and also serves as the President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute—Phoenix Chapter. Rasean has been a member of CWA Local 7050 since 2018, and we appreciate his contributions to the labor community. In the following paragraphs, Rasean will be recognizing and honoring CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam and International President Claude Cummings.

As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, I would like to recognize recent Black History in the labor community. I had the honor and privilege to work alongside these amazing leaders as part of the CWA Civil Rights and Equity Committee. On July 10, 2023, Claude Cummings of CWA District 6 was elected CWA International President in a runoff election. Making Claude Cummings the first Black CWA International President. Ameenah Salaam, who was an assistant to former CWA President Chris Shelton, was elected by affirmation, appointing her as the first Black Secretary-Treasurer. 

President Cummings, a Houston native, started his career in 1973 with Southwestern Bell, now known as AT&T. Being the trailblazer he is, President Cummings isn’t unfamiliar with breaking barriers. He served as President of CWA Local 6222, representing over 8,000 members, and now represents over 45,000 members in CWA District 6. In both roles, he was the first black to hold these positions; talk about history in the making! President Cummings has fought and continues to fight for wage increases, better medical benefits, job security, human and civil rights, and state and federal politics. President Cummings still finds time to host his radio show, “Power to the People,” which addresses labor and politics. President Cummings has a plethora of achievements and accolades that can fill a book. 

Ameenah Salaam is a trailblazer in her right. She is a native of Wilmington, Delaware, where she started her career with Diamond State Telephone as a customer service representative. She was elected as a CWA local 13100 steward and served as Vice President of the local until she joined the CWA staff. As an assistant to former President Shelton, she was instrumental in organizing, bargaining, and mobilizing campaigns. As a staffer, Ameenah continuously pushed CWA's core mission forward with effective strategic planning. Secretary-Treasurer Salaam rose through the ranks of CWA, and I personally can say she was and is the glue that held a lot of committees and campaigns together. I have learned a lot from both of these amazing leaders and on behalf of the Arizona AFL-CIO and the A. Philip Randolph Institute, we acknowledge both of your contributions and accomplishments for paving the way for union members, organizers, and activists of color. 

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

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].

King's Dream: Rooted in Labor's Rising 

"This Martin Luther King Day comes just weeks after a year that’s been dubbed "the year of the strike" because in 2023 there were well over 300 such work stoppages involving 450,000 union workers willing to take the risk of walking out on their employer — a 900 percent increase from just a few years earlier."

Companies Must Protect Children From Dangerous Jobs

"These horrific cases of child labor are not stories from a hundred years ago. They are not stories from a distant country. They happened here in the United States in just the past year. This must stop. When we go shopping – whether for groceries, gifts, or supplies – we should not have to question if the products were made with illegal child labor."

The Number of Striking U.S. Workers More Than Doubled in 2023

"Forget the "summer of strikes," 2023 was a full year of walkouts: The number of workers who walked off the job surged by 141% last year from 2022, per a report out Thursday morning. Why it matters: The strong labor market of the past few years fueled a rise in support for unions and worker organizing, emboldening organizers to take a harder line — pushing folks to the picket lines. The results were great for these workers — especially in the four biggest walkouts of the year, where they scored big double-digit raises, bonuses, better benefits, and other assorted goodies."

'It Has Really Gotten Out of Hand': Wage Theft Rampant in US Construction 

"US regulators are cracking down on business practices that mean workers are not paid their due, a problem exacerbated in building industry by use of labor broker system."

The Woman Pouring Your $18 Beer at the Super Bowl Makes $14.25 an Hour with No Health Insurance 

"If you grab a beer or a soda in Allegiant Stadium’s Section 143 during Sunday’s Super Bowl, there’s a good chance Chayasura Walker will fill your cup. It’s not her only job. The 43-year-old cashier from nearby Henderson works at a clothing store and slings concessions at the Sphere concert venue, too, to make ends meet."

Michigan Popeyes Cited for Violating Child Labor Laws Due to Teens Working During School Hours

"An investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division found that a total of 63 teens between ages 14 and 15 were employed during school hours, in violation of federal labor law. The offending employer must pay $48,251 in fines for the violations, according to a news release."

Maryland Workers Owed Over $6M in Back Pay; Thousands Due Unclaimed Funds 

"Maryland workers are owed approximately $6.6 million. This money is back pay recovered for federal wage and hour violations. The U.S. Department of Labor is now seeking to return it to more than 4,000 workers and they have a limited time to do so."

Flight Attendants Demand Better Pay and Working Conditions During Sky Harbor Airport Walkout

"Dozens of flight attendants of several airlines walked out at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Tuesday. At terminals 3 and 4, they chanted and demanded better pay and working conditions."

Kern Bills Take Aim at Public Universities He Calls 'Anti-American Indoctrination Camps'

“In a tirade during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, a Republican state senator took shots at the Arizona Board of Regents and state universities as he introduced a package of bills that he claimed would ensure transparency and free speech protections.  During the hearing, Sen. Anthony Kern, a Glendale Republican who said he was “not a university guy,” called the state’s universities “anti-American indoctrination camps,” for offering courses and events that cater to people of color and members of the LGBTQ community, such as the Barrett Black Student Reception."

The Laws Around Gig Work Are Changing. Here's What You Need to Know

“Arizonans who work as independent contractors could soon be deemed regular employees — and be eligible for the wage and anti-discrimination protections that come along with the distinction. "

Camp Inferno: A Program Teaching Firefighting Duties to Teen Girls in Yuma 

“For three days in February, girls between the ages of 14 and 19 will learn basic firefighting skills, undergo traditional firefighting training, and be provided with "a hands-on experience into the duties of a firefighter," according to an official release."

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]