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Today we shine a spotlight on two remarkable women who are making significant strides in the labor movement, Trish Muir and Cecilia Valdez. Their dedication, leadership, and tireless efforts are an inspiration to us all.

Trish Muir: Chair of the Pima Area Labor Federation

As the Chair of the Pima Area Labor Federation, Trish brings to the table a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to the cause. A fourth-generation Tucsonan, Trish has deep roots in the community and a long history of local leadership.

She serves on the Executive Council of the Arizona AFL-CIO, is the Communications Coordinator for Teamsters Local 104, and has been a Chief Steward at American Airlines for 27 years. Trish played a pivotal role in organizing the division at American Airlines and has been instrumental in negotiating strong collective bargaining agreements.

But Trish's involvement doesn't stop there. She has served as a delegate to the Pima Labor Fed and chaired their Legislative Committee. Beyond labor, Trish is actively engaged in various community initiatives, serving on the boards of organizations like the United Way of Tucson & Southern Arizona and the Pima County Workforce Investment Board.

Despite her busy schedule, Trish remains dedicated to her family, raising two young boys alongside her husband, and two precious pups, Molly Maguire & Muffin McGillicuddy.

Cecilia Valdez: Vice-Chair of the Pima Area Labor Federation

Cecilia Valdez, a Tucson native, has been a steadfast advocate for workers' rights for over four decades. Married to Robert Valdez, she is a proud mother to a daughter, Amari, and two sons, Adrian and Emilio. Additionally, she cherishes her role as a grandmother to Damian and Ariana.

Appointed to the Arizona Industrial Commission by Governor Katie Hobbs in March 2023, Cecilia's achievement as the first woman of color and union member to hold this position is a testament to her years of hard work, dedication, and advocacy for labor rights. In January, she received the First Women in Labor Award from Care in Action, recognizing her significant contributions to the labor movement.

Cecilia's journey in the labor movement spans 45 years as a proud member of the Communications Workers of America Local 7026 Union. Her journey began in 1978 when she was hired by Mountain Bell. Throughout her career, Cecilia has held various roles within her union, serving as Secretary-Treasurer for 25 years, a Union Steward for four years, and an Area Vice-President for 9 years. She is also the Chair of the Robert Lilja Members Relief Defense Fund Oversight Committee, a role she's held since 2007.

Her commitment extends beyond her union work, as she actively participates in charitable organizations such as the March of Dimes, Susan G. Komen, Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity, among others. Cecilia has been a dedicated coordinator for the HOPE Golf Tournament for the past 27 years and is an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 59. Her involvement in various community organizations, such as Arizona Jobs with Justice and the Pima County Democratic Party, reflects her passion for social justice and civic engagement.

Cecilia's extensive experience and unwavering dedication make her an invaluable asset to the Industrial Commission of Arizona. Her leadership as Vice Chair of the Pima Area Labor Federation for the past three years and Treasurer of Arizona Jobs with Justice have prepared her well for this historic role.

Please join us in congratulating Trish Muir and Cecilia Valdez for their outstanding contributions to the labor movement. Their leadership, passion, and unwavering commitment to workers' rights serve as an inspiration to us all.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Arizona AFL-CIO Building Bridges: Free Citizenship Fair 

Join us in facilitating the process of obtaining citizenship for the more than 200,000 eligible Arizonans! The Arizona AFL-CIO is proud to offer the first Citizenship Fair in which applicants will be helped in the process of completing their paperwork and submitting their applications with the help of our amazing Labor affiliates and community partners. Please feel free to share and distribute this flyer and/or information about this Citizenship fair to potentially interested members/individuals/communities! 

Protect Tipped Workers: Oppose SCR 1040 NOW! 

Tipped workers across Arizona face a critical threat to their livelihoods, and they urgently need your support. SCR 1040 poses a grave danger, casting a shadow over the financial security of these hardworking individuals.

In 2016, voters approved The Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act (Proposition 206), a vital step toward ensuring fair treatment for all workers, including tipped employees. SCR 1040 now looms, potentially eroding the hard-won progress of fair compensation for workers.

We urge you to take action now by writing to your legislators. Stand in solidarity with tipped workers by opposing the SCR 1040. Your voice matters, and together, we can protect the rights and dignity of hardworking individuals who rely on tips to make ends meet.

Tell Law360 to Stop Breaking the Law 

Last Friday, LexisNexis-owned Law360 unlawfully laid off 26 of our coworkers – roughly 10% of our newsroom! This is appalling behavior from a company whose brand is built on covering the law. Today, we’re walking out to hold management accountable for their unlawful actions against their own workers. Join us in demanding that management reinstate our co-workers and bargain any job cuts as part of a complete contract.

Retirement Advisers Should Be Required to Act in Customers' Best Interests

Hardworking Americans lose billions of dollars every year from bad retirement advice, and unbelievably, retirement advisers are not required to act in their customers' best interests. 

Your House and Senate members are hearing from the Wall Street smear machine, but they need to hear from working people like you. Will you take two minutes to call your members and urge them to support a strong fiduciary rule? 

Protect Unemployment Benefits in Arizona- Say NO to HB2592

A concerning bill that threatens unemployment benefits to Arizonans. HB2592 proposes cutting the number of benefit weeks for unemployment insurance (UI) recipients in Arizona. If passed, this bill will amplify housing instability, hunger, and economic insecurity. 

Write your Representative today uring them to vote NO on HB2592. 

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].

The Benefits of "Being Union"

"Most postal workers go to work, clock in, and do their fair day’s work. In return, they receive pay for their efforts every other week. Most postal workers have a pretty satisfying postal career, retire, and move on to their sunset years. A vast majority of postal workers also spend their entire federal service being a dues-paying union member. But far too many do not know what “being union” is really about. Sadly, some see “the union” as a third-party kind of legal aid of sorts."

'Gig Economy' Corporations Shouldn't Get a Free Pass to Exploit Workers

"The U.S. Labor Department recently finalized a rule that reinforces the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)—our federal law establishing a federal minimum wage, a right to an overtime wage, and child labor protections—for workers. The rule, which just went into effect, will help ensure that only true independent contractors—individuals who run their own businesses—are excluded from the FLSA's bedrock minimum wage and overtime protections, rather than allowing corporations in the "gig economy" and in other sectors like construction, janitorial, and home care to undercut workers' rights."

Young Workers Have Rights: What to Know About Your Labor Protections 

"From 2022 to 2023, child labor violations in the US reached their highest level in about two decades. Recent studies have found that young workers face high levels of workplace violence, and that the exploitation of young workers can include wage theft and harassment, among other things."

Governor Signs Worker Protection bill Championed by UFCW 3000 Grocery Store Workers into Law

"This morning, Governor Inslee signed into law Senate Bill 6007, a bill intended to protect grocery store workers and communities from the negative impacts of corporate megamergers in the grocery industry. Drafted in response to the news that grocery giants Kroger (owner of Fred Meyer and QFC) and Albertsons/Safeway are threatening to merge into one huge company, ESSB 6007 saw enormous support from local Washington grocery store workers and community allies, who advocated throughout the legislative session for its passage."

Nevada Patagonia Location First Store in Company's History to Vote for Union Representation 

"A number of Patagonia employees at a Nevada store voted to unionize, making this the retailer's first U.S. location to elect union representation. A total of 15 employees were eligible to vote from the Reno store and of those, nine voted in favor of joining United Food & Commercial Workers Local 711, a labor union that represents over 1.3 million workers in North America, according to the National Labor Relations Board."

After Texas Heat Deaths Hit record, San Antonio Workers Bracing for Another Dangerous Summer 

"In late June, a 59-year-old bricklayer at a Rockport construction site found a shady spot to sit down for a break from the afternoon heat. He closed his eyes. He never woke up. He was one of at least 355 Texans who died last year of heat-related illnesses as higher temperatures arrive earlier and stay longer. In Bexar County, at least 76 people have died from the heat since 1999."

Union Employees Are Abou $100,000 Richer Than Nonunion Workers, According to the Fed, as Labor Movement Continues Its Winning Streak 

"Solidarity might mean netting an extra six figures. So says think tank, The Center for American Progress (CAP), which looked at newly released data on consumers' personal finances from 2022."

Phoenix OKs Heat Safety Regulation for Contractors to Protect Outdoor Workers 

“Construction and airport workers applauded the Phoenix City Council on Tuesday after it passed a new ordinance requiring contractors to enact heat safety protections for outdoor workers. The rule requires employers who work with the city to draft a heat safety plan that provides access to free and cool water for all employees, availability to take breaks as needed and for hydration, access to shade or air conditioning, and training."

Updates on the UA Financial Crisis: HB 2735 Passes Senate Committee

“'The GOP-sponsored bill strikes language from Arizona laws that empower faculty members to participate in decisions involving academic matters at the universities. Though the bill made it out of committee, it still has to pass the Senate before Gov. Hobbs considers signing it."

Cesar Chavez Day if Observed on March 31st. How Was He Connected to Arizona?

"The farmworker organizer and civil rights leader whose life and work are honored with a federal commemorative holiday is known as Cesar Chavez. March 31 is Cesar Chavez Day. But his real name was Cesario Chavez, a fact not commonly known, said Rafael Martinez, a professor of Southwest Borderlands at Arizona State University."

Who Were Arizona's 'Fab Five' and What Made Them So Fab?

"Arizona holds a special record, and it’s not for the highest temperatures in the US (Death Valley in California still holds that title). In the late ’90s, five women simultaneously held the highest positions in Arizona state government, and in no time were dubbed Arizona’s Fab Five. The five women—Gov. Jane Dee Hull, Secretary of State Betsey Bayless, state Attorney General Janet Napolitano, Treasurer Carol Springer, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Graham Keegan—collectively ran the state, a feat that had never been accomplished before and hasn’t happened again since."

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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]