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For Pride Month, we would like to shine the spotlight on inspiring individuals who have made significant contributions to both the LGBTQIA+ community and the labor movement. This week, we're excited to highlight Mark Robert Gordon (MRG), an Arizona native whose diverse career and passionate advocacy truly make him shine.
With 32 years as a dedicated member of SAG-AFTRA, MRG has not only made his mark in the entertainment industry but also in the labor movement. He serves as a delegate to the Maricopa Area Labor Federation (MALF) and sits on the Arizona AFL-CIO General Board, playing a vital role in shaping labor policies and championing workers' rights.
MRG's influence extends to the national stage as a National Committeeman to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). His leadership roles are impressive, including Western States Director of the DNC Small Business Council and active membership in the DNC Labor Caucus, Disability Caucus, Veterans & Military Families Council, and LGBT Caucus. His work within these diverse groups highlights his commitment to inclusivity and representation.
In the entertainment world, MRG's career is equally distinguished. As a critically-acclaimed actor, writer, director, producer, and print model, he has left an indelible mark on New York's stage and screen. He founded Off-Broadway’s Do Gooder Productions, which not only produced innovative plays but also partnered with charities, demonstrating his dedication to using art for social good.
Beyond the stage and screen, MRG's legal practice focuses on voting rights, election protection, and arts and entertainment law. His clients range from celebrities to theater producers, and he is known for his expertise in intellectual property monitoring. His commitment to justice is further evidenced by the hundreds of pro bono hours he has devoted to non-profits, arts organizations, and civil rights causes.
Mark Robert Gordon's life and career show just how powerful passion, advocacy, and the arts can be. MRG demonstrates that dedicating yourself to your craft and community can spark real change and inspire those around you.
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In solidarity, |
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Fred Yamashita Secretary-Treasurer Executive Director |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIONS |
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Apply for the Andy Ward Memorial Scholarship!
Applications for the Andy Ward Scholarship are now open! Encourage union members and their dependents affiliated with the Maricopa Area Labor Federation (MALF) to apply and seize this valuable opportunity for educational advancement. Want to Support the Andy Ward Scholarship Fund? Consider Donating! Your contributions will significantly impact the lives of our Brothers and Sisters. Engaging and educating our members and their children within the labor community is crucial for shaping tomorrow’s workforce. |
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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! |
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Apply to the 2024 session of the Worker Power Leadership School from July 7 - August 3 in Phoenix, AZ!
A collaboration between Worker Power and UNITE HERE Local 11, the hospitality workers union in Southern California and Arizona, the Leadership School brings together the best traditions of union organizing, worker education, and political campaigning. |
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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! |
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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 |
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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]. |
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OPINION |
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She's 80, Washing Dishes, and Fighting for a Better Deal for Younger Workers
"In the land of killer commutes, Salud Garcia’s trek is such a slog, she should get a gold medal at the finish line each day. She leaves her home in Reseda before dawn, takes a bus to a train, then another bus, followed by another. When she arrives at her job site near LAX — more than two hours later — it’s just about 7 a.m."
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It's Not Easy Being an LGTBQ+ Worker in the United States
"Since queer workers can't depend on state or federal politicians to defend their rights, unionizing remains essentially the only avenue to ensure that they're protected on the job."
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NATIONAL NEWS |
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Groups Urge FEMA to Recognize Extreme Heat, Wildfire Smoke as a 'Major Disaster'
"A coalition of environmental, labor and health care groups called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to classify extreme heat and wildfire smoke as “major disasters” to unlock federal funding for states during these weather events."
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Waffle House Raises Worker Pay After Strikes and PRessure from Labor Organizers
"In a video message to employees late last month, Waffle House CEO Joe Rogers III said base pay would rise to at least $3 per hour in June and then gradually rise to at least $5.25 per hour by June 2026. Base pay doesn’t include workers’ tips, and will be higher in some states depending on minimum wage laws, Rogers said."
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Why Food4Less Workers Are Fighting for Pay Equality
"Food4Less is a high volume, California-based division of Kroger that caters to value-oriented shoppers. The busy stores are reportedly among the most profitable in their respective divisions. Yet after years of being underpaid and overworked to keep up with post-pandemic customer demand, workers at Food4Less are standing together for better pay rates and store safety measures."
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Tipping Is a Racist Relic and a Modern Tool of Economic Oppression in the South
"In most of the country, workers in restaurants, bars, nail salons, barber shops, and various other service jobs are paid differently than workers in virtually all other occupations. For these workers, a large portion (in many cases all) of their take-home pay comes from gratuity or “tips” provided directly from the customer. While employers of workers in nearly all other occupations must pay at least the minimum wage, federal and most states’ laws establish a lower “subminimum wage” for tipped workers that effectively passes the responsibility for compensating these workers from their employers to their clientele."
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Hundreds of Aramark Workers Rally In Center City for Healthcare and Fair Wages, Senator Arrested During Protest
"Hundreds of Aramark employees descended upon Center City near the company's global headquarters yesterday, where they staged a protest under the representation of UNITE Here Local 274, with demands including healthcare benefits and living wages."
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Zen Leaf Workers Win Arizona's First Cannabis Industry Union Contract
"After voting to unionize in 2022, Zen Leaf workers secured a four-year contract with pay raises, paid time off and a 401(k)."
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Arizona Legislature: House, Senate Pass Budget, Adjourn Sine Die - But Lawsuit Threat Lingers
“Saturday proved to be D-Day for the state budget, after consideration of the $16.1 billion budget proposal. Lawmakers passed a bipartisan, 16-bill package negotiated by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and GOP legislative leaders that saves $1.4 billion from the current budget and the pending one, which starts July 1."
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$28.6 Million Headed Toward Arizona for Swapping Out Lead Pipes
“Millions of federal taxpayer dollars will be headed toward Arizona for getting rid of lead pipes. $28.65 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is intended to help “identify and replace” the pipes in the state, as the Environmental Protection Agency considers any quantity of lead in water people drink to be potentially dangerous."
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African American History Museum in Tucson Aims to Preserve Black History and Fight for Social Change
"After a little more than a year of work, the African American Museum of Southern Arizona officially opened on Jan. 14, 2023, with the intention to “enable the community to join together and respect the past, honor the present, and pay reverence to the future while engaging and sustaining social action,” according to the museum’s website."
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🌈Happy Pride Month✊ |
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Thank you for reading the Arizona Labor Dispatch! Can you help us grow our readership by sharing our sign-up form? |
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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] |
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