John, 

At the Arizona AFL-CIO, we believe that every worker deserves dignity, respect, and fair compensation for their labor. Yet, for far too long, workers with disabilities have faced systemic discrimination in the form of subminimum wages. This issue goes beyond policy—it’s a matter of basic fairness and humanity.

That’s why we stand united in celebrating the Department of Labor’s proposal to abolish the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities. Below is a powerful statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler regarding this landmark step forward:

"People with disabilities make valuable contributions to our workplaces and economy. For too long, federal law has allowed employers to pay workers living with disabilities as little as 25 cents an hour—far below the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. Today, the Biden administration moves to address that injustice and finally end the subminimum wage for these workers. 

The AFL-CIO believes that every worker is entitled to fair pay and a living wage for their labor. The subminimum wage has treated people with disabilities like second-class workers, enabling exploitation and abuse without consequence. Ending this practice is the right thing to do—as it also has wide popular support. The labor movement will continue to fight to empower all workers, regardless of our disability status, and end all pay discrimination in the workplace. 

We applaud President Biden and acting Labor Secretary Julie Su for their action, and the many labor, disability and allied advocates who have long fought for this change. We hope that President-elect Trump’s administration maintains this huge leap toward justice for all workers with disabilities." 

Read statement online here. 

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Union Made Holiday Gift Guide

Buying union-made is an important act of solidarity that helps support good union jobs in America.

Working people value the hard work and craftsmanship that goes into the products and services we make and provide. That’s true during this holiday season and every day of the year.

Arizona AFL-CIO Building Bridges: Free Citizenship Fair

The Arizona AFL-CIO is prepared to host another Citizenship Fair, where applicants will receive free assistance from dedicated volunteer attorneys in completing their N-400 applications and preparing their paperwork for submission to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

This is open to union members, their families, and friends. We would like to confirm 30+ applicants before finalizing time and location for the workshop. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Arizona AFL-CIO's Training Specialist, Esau Gutierrez at [email protected]. 

Click HERE to download, share, print English and Spanish Flyers. 

LCSA 6th Annual 5K Cupcake Chase Walk & Run

Labor's Community Service Agency (LCSA) provides different programs for families including affordable housing, and SHIFT (an affordable transportation program). Join them for their annual Cupcake Chase at Arizona Falls in Phoenix. 

Register to participate, become a volunteer, or become a sponsor. All proceeds are to benefit LCSA. If you have any questions, please contact Rebekah Friend 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].

When Given A Chance, Voters Fought Back Against Inequality

"In red states as well as blue, voters passed ballot initiatives to tax the rich, fund long term care, and provide paid leave."

Why We Need Labor to Go on Offense Under Trump 

"The best way to expose Trump’s faux populism is by waging large-scale workplace battles that force all politicians to show which side they’re on."

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Workers Ratify Ground Breaking Union Contract 

"More than 300 Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream workers at the St. Albans and Waterbury production facilities, who are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 371, ratified their first union contract by an overwhelming majority vote."

American Public, Including Veterans, Will Likely Face Service Cuts If Telework Is Taken Away 

"While the number of U.S population has soared, the size of the federal workforce is about the same 50 years ago. So the workloads have gone up while the number of people doing the work has not, causing delays in services the American people deserve and are entitled too."

The Strike at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette Is Now the Longest In the Nation. And It's Not Over 

"The Union Progress was created as a strike publication after Pittsburgh Post-Gazette journalists walked off the job in an unfair labor practice strike in October 2022. It’s now the longest ongoing strike in the country, according to the International Communications Workers of America. Journalists and newsroom staff, represented by the Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild, have gone without a union contract for seven years. During this time, the paper imposed terms that raised health care costs and cut other benefits."

Lush Cosmetics Workers in Missouri Join Local 655

"On Oct. 29, workers at the Lush Cosmetics store at the St. Louis Galleria Mall in St. Louis joined UFCW Local 655. This organizing win marks the first Lush Cosmetics store in Missouri to unionize."

VW Workers Announce Second Strike As Cuts Loom

"The IG Metall workers union said it would increase the pressure ahead of a fourth round of negotiations in the labor dispute. The union accused VW management of 'slipping layoffs under the Christmas tree.'"

Department of Labor Obtains Judgment Ordering Arizona Contractors to Pay $1.7M After Denying Drywall Workers Their Owed Wages 

“The action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona follows an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division finding Bean Drywall Inc., a residential drywall contractor, paid the affected workers either straight-time rates or piece rates for all hours worked but failed to pay employees overtime rates required by the Fair Labor Standards Act."

Arizona Apprenticeship Program Funds More Construction Classes to Train Next Generation of Tradesman

"Moore joined a program to train with International Brotherhood of Electric Workers (IBEW) Local 570 chapter, and has also joined the Tucson Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee.
This particular program Moore signed up for received funding from the BuildItAZ initiative, to cover the unit's conduit and fire labs."

Are You One of Thousands of Arizona Workers Owed $5.6M In Back Pay? 

"Thousands of workers in Arizona are owed back pay for hours they already worked, but the clock is ticking to claim the money."

USPS Employees Rally In Midtown Demanding Better Wages and Working Conditions

"Letter carriers are encouraging coworkers to vote 'NO' on new USPS contract offer to union, arguing it's still not a fair deal"

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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]