John, 

A giant in the fight for civil rights, equal treatment for minority groups, and the fight against apartheid in South Africa, we remember and honor the life and legacy of Labor and Civil Rights icon, Bill Lucy. Even if he was not as well known as some others in the Civil Rights Movement, Bill Lucy was instrumental in popularizing a four-word evocation of self-esteem and dignity—“I Am A Man,” the rallying cry for Striking sanitation workers and their supporters in Memphis, TN, in 1968.

In 1972, exasperated with the AFL-CIO’s neutrality in the presidential race between Richard Nixon, who most labor leaders felt was anti-union, and George McGovern, Bill Lucy became a co-founder of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.

The Labor family is also in mourning for two other giants in the battle for civil and worker rights: longtime President of the United Food and Commercial Workers’ Minority Coalition and a tireless leader and mentor to many, Don Cash. As a member of both the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, through his unwavering commitment to justice and equity, Don Cash has helped to transform the lives of countless workers, empowering them to fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, and dignity on the job.

Then there’s Bill Camp; he has spent the last 25 years as a leader and the head of the Sacramento Central Labor Council. Bill, who was born on a farm in South Carolina in 1944, started in the fight for civil rights in the trenches of the deep south during the Civil Rights Movement before moving on to help organize farm workers in California fields, under the leadership of Cesar Chavez and Delores Huerta. Bill Camp has spent a literal lifetime of sacrifice and fighting for the rights of others.

Both Don Cash and Bill Camp were peers and allies of Bill Lucy, and all three leave behind a legacy of progress in the Labor Movement, but more importantly in the progressive movement and the fight for dignity, equity, respect, freedom, and human rights for working families everywhere.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

🚕 NNU Vital Canvass & AFSCME Shred Project 2025 Bus Event

Drivers Needed in Tucson for October 5th & 6th! 

We are calling on volunteers to help transport National Nurses United (NNU) members as they knock on doors in support of labor-endorsed candidates! 

On Saturday October 5th, join us for an extended lunch (provided) and a day of solidarity featuring the AFSCME Shred Truck, a special appearance by AFSCME President Lee Saunders, and inspiring speeches from local leaders.

📞 Daily Phonebanks with Arizona AFL-CIO

The AZ AFL-CIO is hosting daily phonebank sessions to support our labor-endorsed candidates from now until Election Day! Your voice can make a difference in ensuring pro-worker candidates win their races 

When: Daily, now through Election Day 

Time: Flexible shifts available to fit your schedule

Who: Union members, volunteers, and labor allies 

Click on either Phoenix or Tucson to sign up to phonebank!

🚪 Daily Canvasses with Arizona AFL-CIO

The AZ AFL-CIO is hosting daily canvasses to support our labor-endorsed candidates from now until Election Day! Your voice can make a difference in ensuring pro-worker candidates win their races 

When: Daily, now through Election Day 

Time: Flexible shifts available to fit your schedule

Who: Union members, volunteers, and labor allies 

Click on either Phoenix or Tucson to sign up to phonebank!

AARA "Let's Talk Ballot Initiatives" with Rep. Analise Ortiz

Join Alliance for Retired Americans for a virtual happy hour! Arizona voters will see 13 statewide ballot propositions on the November 5th Ballot. Rep. Analise Ortiz will provide an overview of each proposition and what a yes or no vote means!

Date: Wednesday, October 9th

Where: Virtual via Zoom

Time: 6:00 PM MST

Phonebank With AARA!

Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans will be launching a weekly phonebank! Every Thursday, from now until Election Day (Nov. 5th), you can join either virtually or in-person at the Painters Union Hall. They'll be phonebanking with fellow union retirees, reaching out to union households and encouraging them to vote for labor-endorsed candidates.

RSVP to join virtually or in-person on Thursday, September 12th:

• Click here to join in-person
• Click here to join virtually

Please direct any questions to Joe Murphy at [email protected]

AZ AFL-CIO Women Wednesday Phone Banking

We’re hosting a Women's Wednesday Phonebanking Event! This is your chance to bring your union sisters, friends, and family members to our solidarity event to call union women throughout Arizona and share our message of solidarity and empowerment.

When: October 9th, 2024

Time: Multiple Flexible Shifts ⤵️

AZ AFL-CIO Women Wednesday Postcard Writing

We’re hosting a Women's Wednesday Phonebanking Event! This is your chance to bring your union sisters, friends, and family members to our solidarity event to call union women throughout Arizona and share our message of solidarity and empowerment.

When: October 23rd, 2024

Time: Multiple Flexible Shifts ⤵️

Your Support is Needed: Stant with Boeing Workers!

33,000 Members of IAM District 751 and IAM District W24 just voted by 94% to reject Boeing's contract offer. IAM District 751 and District W24 represent Bowing workers in Washington state, Oregon, and California.

Stand with these workers as they hold the line until Boeing offers a deal their members deserve.

We must support these workers, as they fight for all working families, the middle class, and all of our communities and families.

Show your support by signing this solidarity pledge and spreading the word! We need to raise our collective voice and show Boeing that America's workforce stand with Boeing workers in this fight.

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].

Custodians are Anchorage Schools' Unsung Heroes 

"Back-to-school means back to clean and safe classrooms. Our custodians are the unsung heroes who make this possible."

I Was Forced Out of My Cashier Job Because of My Pregnancy-Related Restrictions. 

"A Better Balance client Arya Parks describes her experience with pregnancy discrimination, and how the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is defending workers like her from being illegally fired for needing accommodations at work."

'We Still Have a Lot of Work to Do': Female Plumbers on Overcoming Barriers and Finding Community 

"Her plumbing apprenticeship through Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 UA is a five-year training program that consists of on-the-job training and passing a test to receive a plumbing license. A person who completes an apprenticeship is considered a journeyperson or journeyman."

U.S. Labor Dept. Sues Missouri Restaurant for $1.9M in Wage Violations 

"The U.S. Department of Labor has sued a Jefferson City buffet restaurant and its owner for wage violations. The lawsuit against Dragon Kitchen and owner Danny Cheng seeks nearly $1.9 million in back wages and damages for 26 workers.A"

Striking Port workers to Return to Work Friday as Negotiations Reach an Agreement on Wages 

"triking members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) will be back to work on Friday, the union announced Thursday evening, as it reached a tentative deal with the management group representing shipping lines, terminal operators and port authorities."

Starbucks Workers Win Union at 500th US Shop 

"Working-class allies including labor groups celebrated on Tuesday after Starbucks Workers United announced that employees of the coffee giant had made their Washington state shop the 500th U.S. location to unionize since late 2021."

Striking Boeing Machinists Losing Company-Paid Health Care Coverage 

"Monday marked the 18th day of the strike and the final day the machinists had company-paid health care."

USPS Postal Workers Rally for Better Service and Staffing 

"Postal workers here in Tucson joined thousands of postal workers nationwide in a “Day of Action” rally. Their goal is to call attention to what they're calling poor mail service and understaffed facilities. Postal workers and supporters were at the USPS Sun Post Office on Speedway with their signs fighting for better staffing and service."

Walmart to Pay $100k Settlement in Disability Discrimination Case Brought by Arizona Cashier 

"A Walmart in Bullhead City on Monday settled a disability case for $100,000 and was placed under a court order to improve its treatment of employees after firing a cashier with epilepsy, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission."

Teamsters Local 104 Proudly Endorses Kamala Harris and Tim Walz 

“We are proud to announce Teamsters Local 104's endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for President and Vice President of the United States of America."

Phoenix residents Rally for Program that Provides Legal Help to Renters facing Eviction

"The nonprofit behind the demonstration says while most landlords have legal assistance, very few tenants have the same access."

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]