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John, |
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On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education—a move that directly aligns with Project 2025’s extreme agenda. This attack on public education is a clear effort to strip resources from our most vulnerable students, especially those with disabilities.
While the Department of Education cannot be eliminated without congressional approval, Trump’s order is a dangerous signal of his priorities: undermining public education, privatizing schools, and diverting even more taxpayer dollars to charter and private institutions. In Arizona, where our public schools are already under attack due to an unchecked voucher program, this would mean even deeper budget cuts, larger class sizes, and fewer resources for students and educators.
As AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler warned in a recent press release:
"Without the Department of Education, working people will have one more hurdle to access the financial aid they need to go to college or pursue a trade... States, cities, and towns will be forced to stretch their already tight budgets to cover the loss in federal funding, jeopardizing essential programs and putting good union jobs our communities rely upon at risk."
Arizona’s labor movement stands firmly against any attempt to dismantle public education. We will continue to fight for fully funded schools, strong union jobs in education, and the right of every student—regardless of their zip code—to receive a quality education.
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Fred Yamashita Secretary-Treasurer Executive Director |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIONS |
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Tell Congress: Don't Threaten Our Jobs and Communities
The No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act is about scaring communities into adopting extremist anti-immigrant, anti-worker policies and cutting essential programs for working families - all to pay for billionaire tax cuts.
This bill would strip away critical funding for education programs, community hospitals, food banks, disaster relief, transportation and health care. This would hurt all of us and lead to massive job losses.
In addition to putting jobs and vital programs at risk, this bill would undermine sensible law enforcement strategies proven to promote safer and healthier communities for all.
⤵️Tell your member of Congress to vote NO on H.R. 32. |
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AARA Is Looking for Stories from Those Who've Experienced Social Security Overpayment If you have experience with Social Security overpayments and are willing to share your story, please contact Dora Vasquez, ARA Executive Director at 602-689-8048 or [email protected].
On March 13, Senator Gallego (D-AZ) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced the bipartisan Social Security Overpayment Relief Act which would cap the Social Security Administration (SSA) overpayment "lookback" period at 10 years. If enacted, the legislation would limit the lookback period to 10 years for recipients of Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). |
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Share Garment Workers' 1,000 Photo Petition NOW Over 1,000 workers from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka have published their pictures in one powerful petition. Now is the time for you to fulfill your pledge and amplify their action across the world. Please click the links of all social media below where you have an account and follow the instructions of how to post:
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Urge Congress to Stand with Transportation Security Officers Take action to urge Congress to immediately call on the Trump Administration to reverse its decision to rescind the collective bargaining agreement for TSOS and to cosponsor and pass the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act (H.R. 2086 and S. 997). This legislation would give frontline TSOs the same workplace rights and protections afforded to other federal workers under Title 5 of the U.S. Code.
⤵️Click on the button below and use the form to send a message to your member of Congress to cosponsor and pass the Rights for TSA Workforce Act |
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Arizona Needs Reliable Internet Service & Good Jobs $42 billion in public funding for internet infrastructure is on the line, and we need your voice! While CWA members have fought for investments in reliable fiber broadband that create good, union jobs, satellite company CEOs are pushing to redirect these funds to unreliable satellite services. Satellite internet lacks the necessary speeds, employs fewer workers, and has a short lifespan that leads to repeated investments.
⤵️Click on the link below and tell Governor Hobbs and the Arizona State Broadband Office to stand up to pressure to redirect funds to unreliable satellite internet service and continue to create good, union jobs by investing in reliable, high-speed fiber internet. ⤵️ |
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AARA Celebrates Women's History Month: Strong Union Women in Apprenticeships & Trades Join us as we honor the resilience and leadership of union women who are breaking barriers, building fulfilling careers, and shaping the future of labor. Hear inspiring stories from tradeswomen as they share their journeys and experiences in this vital workforce.
Event Details: 📅Friday, March 28, 2025 🕙11 AM - 1:30 PM 📍IBEW Local 640, 5808 N. 7th St., Phoenix, AZ 85014 *Lunch Provided
For questions or more information contact Dora Vasquez at [email protected]. |
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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 are still accepting RSVP's for this event, so please share widely! 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. |
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26th Annual Joe Standley Golf Tournament - May 23, 2025 The Arizona Building Trades Council (AZBTC) invites you to join their annual fundraising event that supports Labor's Community Service Agency (LCSA).
LCSA is a nonprofit arm of the AFL-CIO, and provides human services to Arizona's most vulnerable populations since 1974. Your participation will directly support affordable housing, transportation assistance, and financial aid support to those in need.
➡️Click HERE to download/print flyers.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rebekah Friend at (602) 622-5361 or [email protected]. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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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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. |
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AZ AFL-CIO Legislative Committee Meetings |
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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. |
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This Week's Legislative Update:
At today’s Arizona AFL-CIO legislative committee meeting, we were joined by State Senator Lauren Kuby, a member of United Campus Workers-CWA, who shared her experience as a freshman in the legislature and how she shows up for her constituents. Attendees asked Senator Kuby her position on a number of bills and thanked her for working with them on various issues.
We are monitoring several bills this week that we do not support, including:
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OPINION |
Musicians Deserve Fair Representation
"Unionized orchestras are more stable. Boards will come and go, as will music directors, and even musicians. With a solid union agreement in place, continuity between generations can create the stability necessary to build on past successes."
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As a Poor-Performing Probationary Employee, Elon Musk Must Go
"Trump and Musk deride them as "lazy bureaucrats" and "the deep state," but the American people know them as food inspectors, TSA officers, Social Security workers, corrections officers, VA nurses, scientists, first responders, law enforcement officers, border patrol agents, and the men and women who support our armed forces. More than 80 percent of federal employees live outside the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region."
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NATIONAL NEWS |
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DOGE Blocked in Court from Social Security Systems with Americans' Personal Information, For Now
"The ruling, which could be challenged on appeal, comes in a lawsuit filed by labor unions, retirees and the advocacy group Democracy Forward. They argued that DOGE access violates privacy laws and presents serious information security risks."
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UAW Files Federal Labor Charges Against Volkswagen for Violating Workers' Rights in Chattanooga
"This is a company that makes 75% of their North American products in Mexico, paying highly exploited workers around $7 an hour to sell cars for tens of thousands of dollars in the US. They do this to avoid paying a living wage and drive a race to the bottom in the auto industry. It’s bad for workers everywhere."
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'Pay us what we are worth': United Airlines Flight Attendants Seek Pay to Match with Profits
"It has been three years since the current contract with management became amendable and while there are signs that management is willing to talk, Isim said the global union has not been presented with a satisfactory contract."
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Video Game Workers From First North American Industry - Wide Union With Communications Workers of America
"UVW-CWA is a direct-join organization, meaning any video game industry worker in the U.S. or Canada working as an artist, writer, designer, QA tester, or programmer can join, regardless of whether they are freelance or fulltime or whether or not other workers at their company have joined."
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Hampton Roads Caregivers Raise Alarm About Possible Cuts to Medicaid: 'Devastated, afraid and shocked'
"Lawmakers grapple with how to reach a $880 billion dollar target in reducing federal funds, while keeping Medicaid accessible."
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Why Some Flight Attendants at Sky Harbor are Threatening to Walk Off the Job
"Flight attendants were out demonstrating at Sky Harbor Airport this morning. These airline workers are taking their contract negotiations to the public."
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Tucson Postal Workers Protest the Proposed Changes for USPS
"Tucson postal workers took over a part of Speedway Blvd on Thursday morning to rally against the proposed changes to the United States Postal Service. "
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Rep. Stanton Addresses Federal Budget Cuts Impacting Phoenix
"Stanton, and American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees members also spoke at the event, including Local 2960 President Frank Piccioli, Local 2384 President Jason Henley, AFSCME member Kanika Jones, a Head Start Case Worker; and AFSCME member Sonya Alva, a 911 Operator and Dispatcher."
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Veterans, Supporters Protest DOGE in Front of Tucson VA Hospital
"Dozens gathered to stand against cuts made under the new administration, looming threat of more to come."
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Celebrating Women's History 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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