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This week in recognition of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, we would like to lift up AZ State Representative Junelle Cavero. She is a mother, small business owner and lifelong community advocate for equity, equal opportunity and economic security. Junelle’s journey is shaped by the hard work and resilience of her immigrant parents. Inspired by her father, a Filipino and Native Hawaiian American, Navy Vietnam Veteran and member of the Letter Carrier Union, Junelle developed a deep commitment to Democratic values. Her mother, a Chinese and Spanish descendant, studied for her dental board exams while raising two of her children. Raised in a union and Catholic household, Junelle worked tirelessly to support Democratic candidates throughout the country at the local, state and national level. 

Junelle’s professional political campaign journey began in 1993 and encompasses various roles such as international GOTV, national scheduler and advance, political and constituency outreach, fundraising, digital communications, state field work, congressional campaign management, and local candidate recruitment and training. Her experience includes six presidential cycles, serving as National Asian American and Pacific Islander Coordinator for Hillary for President in the 2008 primary, Indiana Political Director for Obama for America in the 2008 general election, National Finance Committee in 2012 and 2016, and National Scheduler and Constituency Outreach Director for Bernie 2020.

Junelle’s deep personal experiences propelled her into a career of advocacy and led to life-altering work with the International War Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague. Her previous work experience includes monitoring and drafting policy on the federal and state level, advocating for WWII Veterans equity, and coordinating the largest medical record program at the US Department of Veteran Affairs. Today, she is Head of Political at My Code Media, the largest multicultural digital media company in the country. 

Junelle founded the Arizona AAPI Democratic Caucus in 2013, served on the Board of the Arizona Asian Chamber of Commerce, served as Executive Director of Emerge AZ, and organized the first economic impact report of Asian Americans in Arizona.  Junelle’s government affairs work experience combined with her Masters degree in public administration helps her navigate legislation and review budgets to better position our community and our beautiful state. 

She raises her daughters Revah and Vera, their furry family members Sugar (Golden Retriever) and Dulce (Morkie) proudly in the South Mountain area for the last 11 years.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive - Saturday, May 11th 

IL AFL-CIO Mental Health Equity Discussion 

The IL AFL-CIO is teaming up with labor activists across the country to discuss the importance of mental health equity. Join them for a Zoom webinar from 4PM-5:15PM (6PM MST) on 5/15 to discuss the importance of access to mental health care and resources union members can draw on to sustain the labor movement.

AFL-CIO Governance, Education, and Training - Spring 2024

Click on the button below to access a list of over ten virtual and in person trainings that the National AFL-CIO is offering this spring! 

End Anti-Asian Racism! Pledge to Build a Stronger Labor Movement Together

The labor movement must build a workers’ movement truly inclusive of all workers! Will you pledge to take concrete actions toward ending anti-Asian racism? As members, union leaders, and workers united, we must fight for racial justice as fiercely as we fight for workers’ rights!

Pledge to take all or some of these actions in your labor communities, and we'll get in touch with you to provide support and technical assistance toward your goals.

No More Stalled Negotiations: Tell Congress to Stand Up for Our Rights 

Over 100,000 Flight Attendants have been in drawn-out negotiations across the industry. But without the credible threat of a strike, management across airlines is perfectly happy to prolong negotiations for years. There have only been two releases from mediation with strike deadlines since 2006, compared to dozens of releases in the 1980s and 1990s.

Tell your Representative in Congress to sign on to a letter that urges the National Mediation Board (NMB) to utilize all provisions of the Railway Labor Act, including "self help" and workers' right to strike at the end of a 30 day cooling-off-period, to help encourage negotiations for a fair contract for Flight Attendants and other aviation workers.   

Ask REI's Board: Will You Agree to Reach a Fair Union Contract in 2024? 

REI is hosting its annual meeting on May 9th, and they set aside time during this meeting to answer questions submitted by Co-op members. This year, they need your support asking REI when they’re going to commit to reaching a deal with workers at union stores. 

The goal here is to have as many Co-op members, customers, and REI Union supporters as possible all submit the same question, as outlined above.

Tell Your Legislators to VOTE NO on HB2274! 

HB2274 deals with creating special tax districts for theme parks and stadiums. These special tax districts can levy as much as a 9% sales tax within the district's bounds, which can be used by developers to recover construction-related debt. Currently, for a development company to get this kind of deal, it would have to get approval from the city that wants to bring this project in. This legislation would remove City input on the ability to approve that surcharge, even if it is fully within that city’s limits.   

How Critical Is the ACP to Americans? 

Access to the internet is crucial in today's interconnected world. The Affordable Connectivity Program has been a lifeline for millions, but its funding is about to dry up in just TWO WEEKS. Without it, many will have to choose between the internet and other essentials. We can't let that happen. Contact Congress today and urge them to fund the ACP to ensure everyone stays connected!

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.

AZ AFL-CIO 2024 Candidate Endorsements 

Mark your calendars for Arizona's Primary Election on July 30th and General Election on November 5th! 

The Arizona AFL-CIO has just released endorsements for Congressional and Senate candidates. Stay tuned for Additional Endorsements coming your way by June 2024. 

Endorsements will be updated on our website: https://azaflcio.org/2024-candidate-endorsements

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].

Unions Double-Down in the Deep South: Can Alabama Pave the Way? 

"If you want to understand the state of labor in America today, take a drive through Alabama.Not a long drive. Just a 25-mile stretch of I-20, between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Here, union hopes have been raised, dashed and dragged out over years."

All Workers Need to Know Their Rights

"The fight to end child labor was one of the great moral achievements of the Labor Movement in the last century. It is outrageous to see many states now rolling back these hard-won protections, leaving children unprotected in some of the most exploitative and hazardous jobs. California cannot allow these practices to return."

Boeing Locks Out Firefighters While Negotiating with Machinist

"Boeing has locked out its International Association of Firefighters Local I-66 union members who prevent highly dangerous and toxic fires from breaking out in its plants in Washington state. The company set a new record in the process, as no fire department has been locked out in the US for over four decades."

Geico Settles Case Claiming it Encouraged Employees to Call the Cops on Pro-Union Co-Workers 

"The insurance company agreed to post a notice informing employees of their rights and vowing to comply with federal labor law, including a series of pledges such as “WE WILL NOT tell employees that they will get on GEICO’s radar if they fill out union authorization cards.'"

These Are the Most Dangerous Jobs in America

"Those professions have the highest rate of employee fatalities, at 18.6 deaths per 100,000 workers, the AFL-CIO found in the study, which is based on labor data from 2022 (the latest year available). Other highly dangerous jobs consisted of working in mines, quarries and oil extraction (16.6 deaths per 100,000 workers); transportation and warehousing (14.1); and construction (9.6)."

Apple Interrogation of NYC Workers About Union Drive was Illegal, US Labor Board Rules 

"The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in a single-page ruling late on Monday said the manager's questioning of the worker, who had raised concerns about pay at a group meeting, amounted to unlawful interrogation and upheld a decision by an administrative judge."

Chicago park District Labor Union Ratifies New 5-Year Contract, Including Average 23% Pay Raises 

"The union representing more than 2,200 Chicago Park District workers has ratified a tentative five-year contract agreement that will provide $28 million worth of pay raises and other benefits. Chicago Park District officials said the agreement with SEIU Local 73 will provide an average 23% salary increase for most workers over the life of the contract."

Here's What is Delaying the End of the Legislative Session 

"But the situation has been complicated by mountains of red ink, a figure that could approach $1.3 billion. That covers both the balance of this fiscal year that ends June 30 and the new budget year starting July 1. GOP lawmakers have been complaining for months that the governor has not been actively engaged in negotiations. And Hobbs acknowledged last month she was waiting for new revenue projections in hopes that they would show an improvement – and the need to cut less."

Quieter, Cleaner Electric School Buses Hit Phoenix Streets. Why They're Good for Kids

“The federal government has awarded funding for 47 new electric school buses to school districts across Phoenix, replacing gas-powered buses with zero-emission models."

GOP House Speaker Punishes Fellow Lawmakers for Hosting Educational Drag Story Hour at AZ Capitol 

“Republican Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma on Tuesday banned all House Democrats from using conference rooms after House Rep. Lorena Austin, D-Mesa, who identifies as nonbinary and gender nonconforming, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona hosted a scheduled drag story hour."

Arizona's 'Universal' Education Saving Account Program has Become a Handout to the Wealthy 

“For decades, private-school choice programs (like vouchers) provided funds only to certain families—e.g., families with low household income or a child with a disability. Recently, however, Republican lawmakers have created or expanded private-school choice programs to allow nearly all students, regardless of their individual need, access to public funding to attend private schools."

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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]