John, 

Today, we turn our attention to our courageous siblings at the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), who are currently engaged in a crucial struggle for a fair union contract with American Airlines.

As highlighted in a recent letter from APFA, "Flight Attendants at American Airlines are fighting to achieve a new contract that addresses the current economic realities and compensates us retroactively for management's delays at the bargaining table. Flight Attendants have been without a pay raise for over five years, and our current contract became amendable in 2019. This situation is untenable and unjust, and we are calling on our Union Siblings across industries and occupations for support."

They have been waiting for over five years for a pay raise, and their contract, which became amendable in 2019, still hasn't been updated to reflect their hard work and dedication. This delay is not only unfair but also harmful to the 28,000 Flight Attendants who rely on these negotiations to secure better wages and working conditions.

Despite the prolonged negotiations, American Airlines' management has been quick to reward themselves with substantial bonuses once COVID-era restrictions were lifted. As APFA points out, "New-hire Flight Attendants at American Airlines are guaranteed a salary of just $27,000 annually. Yet, senior management has established an incentive program that rewards them with bonuses of up to 60% of their salary for successfully navigating the pandemic, as if they did it alone without the frontline workers."

The disparity is striking: American Airlines CEO Robert Isom's 2023 compensation package totaled a staggering 31.4 million dollars, which is 1,162 times that of a newly hired Flight Attendant. This inequity underscores the urgent need for a contract that truly reflects the vital contributions of Flight Attendants to the airline's success.

We, at the Arizona AFL-CIO, stand with APFA in their fight for a fair and equitable contract. Their struggle is a powerful reminder of the importance of solidarity across all sectors. As APFA states, "28,000 Flight Attendants thank you for standing with us in support and solidarity as we continue the fight for our right to strike. It is time for American Airlines to recognize the contributions of its Flight Attendants. We are counting on your support to help us keep our message at the forefront of the fight against corporate greed."

If your union would like to support APFA in their fight, please reach out to Alana Billingsley at: [email protected] 

Together, let's amplify their voices and keep the pressure on American Airlines to do what is right. 

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Pinal County Labor 2024 Update Meeting - July 18th

Following up on last month’s meeting in Casa Grande, attendees asked to meet again to talk about the state of labor in Pinal County, ongoing workplace organizing campaigns, and I’ll be reaching out to guest speakers to talk to us about relevant topics. 

Event Details: 

📅Thursday, July 18, 2024 @ 6PM

📍Florence Community Center, 778 N Main St, Florence, AZ 85132

💻RSVP Via Zoom - Click HERE 

Click on the button below to RSVP In-Person

*Food will be provided

Please contact Joe Murphy at [email protected] if you have any comments, concerns, or questions, and please feel free to invite any other unionists in Pinal County to join us!

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! 

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.

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 additional endorsements! 

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

Union Plus - Unions Power America

Unions Power America returns with the “thank you” of a lifetime – $50,000 + a bucket-list trip to Spain, courtesy of Collette!

Enter a stand-out union member you know (or yourself) and they could win these giant “thank you’s” OR the other $90,000 we've got in our pocket to give away!

Money and trips aren’t everything, BUT they’re a darned good way to show appreciation to the people making us proud to be UNION!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to U.S. residents; 18+; current or retired union members in good standing with a union nationally affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The Contest is not open to the general public. Ends 7/30/24. Void where prohibited. For Official Rules & complete eligibility details visit https://unionplus.click/unionspoweramerica. Sponsor: Union Privilege.

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 and Communities are Building a Southern Economy For All

"Workers at the Blue Bird electric bus factory in Macon made history last year by voting to join the United Steelworkers and last month ratified their first contract, which included substantial wage gains, health and safety protections, and much more. These workers and many others in the South who choose to stand together in a union are sending a powerful message to anti-union governors like Kemp: We won’t be bullied."

Why the Freedom to Join a Union is the Freedom I'm Celebrating this Fourth of July

"A longtime advocate for North Carolina workers on why the fight for labor rights is as American as apple pie."

AFL-CIO Stands in Strong Solidarity With Biden-Harris Ticket

"The stakes of the 2024 presidential election couldn’t be higher and no one understands this better than working people—their livelihoods and union contracts are on the line. That is why the AFL-CIO endorsed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in June of last year, earlier than we’ve ever endorsed in a presidential race, and why we continue to stand in strong support of them today."

Union Members and City Staff Rally in Support of Collective Bargaining for Municipal Employees

"City Council initially planned to conduct a final vote on sending the bill to voters Monday evening. Instead, Council voted to re-publish the bill, a technical requirement due to a last minute amendment that pushed the official, final vote to July 15. But supporters treated Monday’s vote like it was final, cheering after Councilmembers overwhelmingly spoke in favor of the ballot measure and voted unanimously to re-publish and vote next week."

Samsung Union Workers Launch Indefinite Strike 

"The tech giant’s largest union escalated its dispute with management after failing to reach an agreement over pay and working policies."

'We know our value': Disneyland Workers to Vote on Strike Following Slow Negotiations

"A coalition of labor unions representing thousands of Disneyland workers will vote next week on whether to authorize a strike following unsuccessful negotiations with Disney. The vote comes after the coalition recently filed labor violation complaints against the company with the National Labor Relations Board. The group represents around 14,000 employees at both the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, as well as Disney hotels and the Downtown Disney shopping center."

Workers at Better Buzz Coffee's Mira Mesa Location Unionize 

"Workers at Better Buzz Coffee's Mira Mesa location have successfully unionized with UFCW Local 135. Following a similar victory at their Hillcrest shop in May, workers at the Mira Mesa store voted on Monday to join the union."

Tucson Starbucks Employees Push for Unionization Amid Growing National Trend

“Partners at Park and Speedway location demanding better staffing levels, higher wages."

Arizona Workers One Step Closer to Extreme Heat Protections with Proposed Biden Rules

"Heat waves in Arizona have become increasingly frequent, extreme and lethal in recent years due to the warming influences of human-caused climate change and the urban heat island effect of development. Yet even as regional research, awareness and mitigation initiatives ramp up, efforts to enact statewide heat protections for workers have repeatedly failed."

Feds Call out Northern Arizona VA for 2nd Time for Unsafe Work Conditions 

“For the second time in less than five years, federal investigators found the Northern Arizona VA Health System failed to protect its employees from patient violence. The report by investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, stemmed from an encounter involving a newly admitted patient in a locked dementia unit at the Bob Stump VA Medical Center in Prescott, a federal notice said."

Lawmakers Approve Language for Lengthy List of November Ballot Questions 

"Arizona lawmakers approved of the descriptions that will be printed on November ballots for a multitude of questions that will be posed to voters this fall after a long and sometimes contentious debate on Monday.  Lawmakers are required to authorize the language drafted by their in-house attorneys that describes the legislative referrals and citizen-led ballot initiatives that will be on the ballot."

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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]