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In honor of Black History Month, we would like to highlight the contributions of Briona Parkinson, the Political & Legislative Director and Lobbyist for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in Arizona. Briona is a devoted mother of two and wife. She is a distinguished alumna of Shaw University and holds a Master of Social Work from George Mason University. 

Since January 2022, Briona has served as a delegate to the Maricopa Area Labor Federation (MALF) and currently serves as the Legislative Chair. In 2024, she led a groundbreaking labor campaign as the Arizona AFL-CIO Campaign Manager, setting new standards for grassroots mobilization and community engagement. 

Briona is not only dedicated to her union work but also to addressing broader social issues. She volunteers with organizations fighting food insecurity, supports young women in achieving their goals, and has contributed her expertise to vital community initiatives through various board positions. 

Her diverse background spans lobbying on Capitol Hill, advocating for funding and student loan forgiveness for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and her earlier roles as a social service provider and educator. 

Guided by the motto, "YOU+ME=WE,"Briona's faith and family guide her as she continues to build bridges among workers and leaders, empowering the voices of labor in her community. 

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

AARA & Honest Arizona Invite You to to Tax Talk: GOP Tax Policy Webinar

Join Honest Arizona and Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans to learn about the GOP Tax Law, a massive tax package passed by House Republicans and signed by President Donald Trump that primarily delivered tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations but did next to nothing for working Arizonans. However, many of the Trump Tax Scam’s provisions are set to expire after 2025.

You'll also hear from special guests who will offer valuable insights and perspectives on how this law has impacted everyday Arizonans!

Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) Virtual Meet and Greet

The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) is starting a chapter in Arizona! They will be having their first virtual meet and greet and invite you to join! During the meeting you will will hear from guest speakers including National CLUW President, Sister, Elise Bryant,  review bylaws and discuss volunteer opportunities. 

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM MST

Location: Virtual via Zoom 

*Please invite two guests to join with you

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. 

68th Annual Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School (GCRMLS)

Registration is now open! This year GCRMLS will be coming to Las Vegas, Nevada July 6 - July 12, 2025.

Founded in 1956, GCRMLS is the only remaining regional labor school in the nation! It is a renowned educational program dedicated to providing high-quality labor education to union members, activists, and leaders all while being able to share real life successes, challenges, and best practices around the labor movement.

For further information, you can visit the GRCMLS website at gcrmls.org.

Central Arizona VITA Network

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is an IRS-sponsored program that helps low-to-moderate income (less than $67,000) folks file theit tax returns for free! This program is run through non-profit organizations and cities like City of Phoenix, A New Leaf, Mesa United Way, and Tempe Community Council. All volunteers are trained and IRS-certified to prepare an accurate return that gets you every $ you deserve.  

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].

AZ AFL-CIO's Book Club: A New Chapter Begins! 

We're back—and better than ever! The Arizona AFL-CIO Labor Book Club is now  formatted as an end-of-the-month book review, offering fresh perspectives on thought-provoking reads that resonate with our movement. 

Join Our Weekly Meetings

Join us every Friday at 9:30 AM via Zoom as we prepare for the upcoming 2025 Legislative Committee Meetings. This is an important opportunity for union members to learn about the key issues and topics that will be discussed during the 1st Regular Session of the 57th Legislature.

Stay informed and engaged as we navigate the legislative landscape together and ensure that our voices are heard in the decision-making process.

This Week's Update:  

It's Time to Put Workers at the Center of the Tariff and Trade Discussion

"The IAM is all for the strategic use of tariffs to rebuild domestic manufacturing, enforce workers' rights, and stop trade cheating. But slapping tariffs on goods traded between the U.S. and Canada will drive up prices and cripple demand, leading to job losses in several industries across both nations. When it comes to U.S. and Canadian aerospace trade, for example, the proposed 25 percent tariffs would be fatal friendly fire."

Three Things to Learn About Safety from Front-Line Employees 

"David Keeling, shares his experience working with over half a million front-line employees."

Unions Expand Suit to Block Elon Musk from Accessing Private Data at DOL, HHS and CFPB

"The lawsuit expands the initial challenge to the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE)’s attempt to raid the DOL for key information on America’s workers in order to hobble the agency tasked with protecting their rights, health and safety on the job, as Elon Musk expands his slash-and-burn approach to Americans’ private data and their most essential government services."

AFGE President Everett Kelley Condemns Trump Administration's Mass Firing of Federal Employees

"Union leader calls mass firing 'reckless' and will fight for all impacted employees."

A Union Leader Looks to Bring the Labor Movement to the 67th Assembly District

"Ada Briceño recalled a time when hotel workers had few political allies in Orange County they could count on. Long before “blue waves,” union drives and contract fights at resort-area hotels in Anaheim and Garden Grove in the early 2000s had next to no support outside of former state Sen. Joe Dunn and former Anaheim City Councilman Richard Chavez."

Workers Win Settlement with MOM's Organic Market Over Unlawful Discrimination Against Union Supporters

"Only two weeks after workers at the College Park location overwhelmingly voted to unionize, MOM’s Organic Market sent a company-wide email announcing pay raises and other improvements for all employees except those at the newly unionized store, in violation of federal law prohibiting such discrimination."

Nurses at 3 Portland Legacy Hospitals Vote to Unionize with Oregon Nurses Association 

"Nurses at Legacy Emanuel, Randall Children's Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital voted nearly unanimously this week to unionize with the Oregon Nurses Association."

Arizona Attorney General Leads 14-State Coalition Suing to Block Elon Musk

"Mayes said the suit is built on alleged violations of the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which serves as a check on a president's impulse to act unilaterally, without the advice and consent of Congress."

Arizona Senator Defends Anti-Trans Legislation, Despite Pushback from the Community it Endangers

"The two bills introduced by Sen. John Kavanagh, R—Fountain Hills, would prevent school staff from referring to a student by a name or pronoun that differs from their given name or biological sex without obtaining written permission from a parent, and prohibit trans students from using hotel rooms on school trips, locker rooms, and bathrooms that don’t match their biological sex."

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]