John, 

As we commemorate Pride Month, we honor the significant contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community to the labor movement. Unions have always been about fighting for the rights and dignity of all workers, ensuring everyone can work and live as their true selves.

The labor movement proudly celebrates Pride Month because everyone deserves to live and work as their full, authentic selves. Unfortunately, LGBTQIA+ individuals still lack comprehensive federal legal protections in the workplace; protections vary significantly at the state level. In 16 states and two territories, there are no prohibitions against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in state law. This leaves many workers without crucial workplace protections.

The best defense against discrimination is a strong union contract. Union contracts are legally enforceable in every state and protect LGBTQIA+ workers from harassment and discrimination, offering a path to health care, savings, and a secure future.

This Pride Month, let's continue to stand together in solidarity, advocating for equality, inclusion, and justice for all workers. Happy Pride Month!

We want to hear from you! Click the button below to share your story and be part of our collective voice.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Apply To Become A Member of One of Governor Hobb's Boards & Commissions 

If you are interested on how you can apply to become a member of one of Governor Hobb's Boards & Commissions, please click on the button below and fill out the form to receive one-on-one help with one of our staff members! 

Solidarity Summer: Worldwide Flight Attendant Day of Action 

Join CWA-AFA and APFA to demand contracts now! Together, in the height of summer travel season, we'll show management and the flying public that we're united in the fight to raise the standards of our flight attendants. 

PHX Event Details: 

⌚Thursday, June 13th - 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM

📍Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 

Location 1: Terminal 4, Level 2, Northwest Curb

Location 2: Terminal 3, Outdoor Garden Area 

Labor Appreciation Event - The Power of Connections 

This event will bring labor together in order to build a stronger county with union worker values. Panel discussion will be lead by: Briona Parkinson Political Director for AFSCME; Randy Paraza, Labor Representative; Paul Stapleton-Smith, IATSE 

Event Details: 

When: Friday, June 14th @5:30 - 7:30PM MST 

Where: UFCW Local 99, 2401 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004

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!

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].

The Forgotten History of the Child Labor Amendment 

"Child labor protections in America are being challenged at the state level and, in some cases, reversed in ways we haven’t seen in decades. In 2022 and 2023, Arkansas, Iowa, New Hampshire, and New Jersey passed laws weakening protections for child workers. At least eight other states are considering similar laws. Most recently, Missouri is considering a bill to loosen restrictions for kids ages 14 and 15, and the Alabama Policy Institute is pushing for undoing child labor laws as a solution to Alabama's labor shortage."

Arizona Workers are Dying for Heat Protection

"Dario Mendoza left his family on July 20, 2023, early in the morning to work the fields in Yuma, Arizona. Dario, a handsome 25-year-old, was at the top of his game. Strong, smart and agile, he could manage the many demands of being a farmworker. Long hours, low pay and piecework were hard, but that’s what it takes to survive."

How President Biden's NLRB Appointees are Restoring and Supporting Workers' Rights 

"The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) during the Biden administration has supported workers’ rights to form unions and engage in collective bargaining, standing in stark contrast to the Trump administration’s anti-worker record."

Independent Amazon Labor Union Moves to Affiliate with Teamsters

"After legal delays and infighting, the independent union that won a historic victory against the tech giant will join the national organization."

UAW President Shawn Fain's Historic First Year Portends More Change 

"Shortly past his one-year anniversary as the United Auto Workers' first directly elected president, Shawn Fain says he's planning to run again in 2026. Arguably the most consequential UAW president since Walter Reuther, labor experts say Fain likely all but solidified a victory. Moving the union from a "reactive" to an "offensive and aggressive" communications strategy, Fain said, has made him a public — and at times sharp-tongued — figure."

IATSE Extends Contract Talks Again With AMTPT 

"Wages remain a major sticking point for the below-the-line workers' union as talks hit the three-month mark."

PA Home Care Service Ordered to Pay Over $1 Million After 'Wilful' Labor Violations 

"In total, Caring Hearts has been ordered to pay 159 employees $478,294 in back wages, a matching amount in liquidated damages, $97,459 in civil penalties for the willful violations and are barred from future Fair Labor Standards Act violations, bringing the grand total to $1,054,047."

'Prepared to Fight': Arizona Immigrant Rights Activists Take HCR 2060 to Court

“Local advocacy group Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) filed a lawsuit Wednesday in an effort to prevent a Republican-led measure, which would make crossing the border illegally a state crime, from reaching the November ballot."

Tucson Officials Taking Action to Protect City Workers and Community From Extreme Heat 

“Mayor Regina Romero and the city council adopted a heat protection ordinance for city contractors and a heat action roadmap.The ordinance makes sure city workers have access to cool water on site. Additional breaks to prevent hydration and shade. Separately, the heat action roadmap focuses on protecting the community by laying out a plan to cool people's homes, community centers, and Tucson neighborhoods."

Worker Safety In Extreme Heat 

"Dealing with Arizona's extreme heat and tough working conditions."

Rent Monopoly Crackdown Continues as FBI Raids Corporate Landlord for 18 Arizona Properties 

"An analysis by The Copper Courier found that roughly 100,000 rental units in the state are managed by companies listed in Mayes’ lawsuit. With the federal investigation into Cortland added to the mix, now over 420 apartment complexes—home to hundreds of thousands of renters—in the state are now under investigation for conspiring together to fix prices and create a rental monopoly."

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]