John, 

In honor of AANHPI Heritage Month, we want to shine a spotlight on Priya Sundareshan. She was elected to the Arizona Senate in 2023 to represent Legislative District 18 in the Arizona Senate, where she holds the prestigious role of Ranking Member on the Elections and Natural Resources/Energy/Water Committees and also serves on the Government Committee.

Born and raised in LD18, Priya has a deep love for Tucson and the opportunities she had for an excellent public education and exploring the outdoors. Her background is as diverse as her constituents - having taught natural resources law at the University of Arizona and advocated for sustainable resource management with the Environmental Defense Fund. Priya's dedication to public service extends to her work as a voting rights advocate, where she has led efforts to protect voters and champion fair redistricting within the Arizona Democratic Party.

With an academic foundation in engineering from MIT and law and natural resource economics from the U of A, Priya emphasizes the importance of science-based decision-making in politics, particularly in safeguarding Arizona's natural resources for future generations. As a mother of two, she is committed to creating a sustainable world for her children and all the children of Arizona.

Beyond her legislative work, Priya is an active member of United Campus Workers, CWA Local 7065, and is very proud of the work UCW has done to organize campus staff and faculty and advocate for better working conditions and university management. She makes sure to get the input of labor on bills that come before the legislature and fights back against efforts to weaken workers rights. Priya Sundareshan serves as an inspiring example of leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the community. 

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

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.

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

AFL-CIO Governance, Education, and Training - Labor 2024 Workshop

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

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].

REI Strike is Another Example of Progressive Companies Betraying Their Ideals 

"REI, the outdoor equipment company, has long touted its progressive ideals. In fact, many employees said they were drawn to the company’s progressive reputation as a member-owned cooperative – “Putting purpose before profits,” as the company puts it."

The Union Election Revealed Which Side Alabama's Politicians Are On

"In a healthy democracy, would workers striving to improve their lives be met only by politicians' scorn?"

AFGE and TSA Sign Historic New Contract 

"This contract is a huge step forward for America’s transportation security officers and TSA. For almost two decades, TSOs lacked many of the key rights guaranteed to most federal employees and were also some of the lowest paid in the federal workplace."

Microtransit Is Taxpayer Funded Uber, Advocates Warn - And It's a Threat to Real Transit

"American cities are falling for the "false promise" of microtransit, a top transportation union argues - and we're all going to be the ones who pay for it."

April Verrett Elected President of SEIU

"The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) elected April Verrett as President on the first day of the 2024 SEIU convention. Verrett succeeds retiring president Mary Kay Henry, the first woman to lead the union. Verrett represents another first for SEIU, as the union’s first Black president. Along with Secretary Treasurer Rocío Sáenz, SEIU will have two women of color at the helm, a first for an International Union in the United States. "

Vermont Lawmakers Lead the Way, Passing State PRO Act 

"The measure, S102, cleared the Vermont Senate by a 23-6 tally on May 9. The state House approved it before that, 115-26 with nine members not voting. It now heads for the desk of Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who hasn’t said what he’ll do, yet."

United States, Canada, and Mexico Joint Statement of the Fourth Meeting of the USMCA//CUSMA//T-MEC Free Trade Commission

"Following the fourth meeting of the USMCA/CUSMA/T-MEC (Agreement) Free Trade Commission (FTC) on May 22, 2024, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Canadian Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng, and Mexican Secretary of Economy Raquel Buenrostro issued the following joint statement..."

Tempe City Council Approves New Prevailing Wage Ordinance

“Tempe City Council approved the establishment of a prevailing wage ordinance on May 9 with a 5-1 vote. The new ordinance ensures that workers involved with City of Tempe construction projects are compensated fairly, according to a press release. The ordinance establishes wage standards for workers on projects valued at more than $4 million. The release states that the wage for each position is determined by the U.S. Department of Labor under the provision of the Davis-Bacon Act."

Arizona Senate Passes Tough Border Security Measure for Ballot, Measure Heads to House 

"After hours of debate on the Arizona Senate floor, legislators approved on Wednesday evening a plan to send a tough new border security measure to the November ballot. State senators passed the Secure the Border Act, also known as HCR 2060, on a party-line vote of 16-13.The measure would make it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally and allow let local and law enforcement to enforce immigration law."

Pima County is Putting Together a Plan to Protect Its Workers From the Stresses of Extreme Heat

“As the temperatures rise, Pima County is racing to put together an extreme heat plan that will protect its workers. The county voted 4-1 Tuesday to move ahead with an ordinance that will include input from the Health Department, Procurement and Emergency Services. In doing so, Pima County Board Chair Adelita Grijalva said “There’s data to prove the increased heat-related illnesses and death.” Those numbers show 176 people died from the heat last year in Pima County. A preponderance of those happened outdoors including the homeless, mentally unstable, and workers who can be caught unaware of what’s happening to them."

Hobbs Issues Executive Order Expanding Access to Birth Control for State Government Workers 

"Hobbs’ order  requires the Arizona Department of Administration to designate oral contraceptives as a preventative “essential health benefit” that must be provided to state employees at no cost. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the formal name for Arizona’s Medicaid program, is ordered to provide a report to Hobbs on expanding contraception coverage for its members, as well."

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