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This week, I had the honor of welcoming union members and leaders from across the West to Phoenix for the AFL-CIO Western Region Convening at the Hilton Phoenix at the Peak — a proud union hotel. Thanks to the incredible work of UNITE HERE Local 11 and IATSE 336, this event was truly union-made, supported by a union ENCORE production team that kept everything running smoothly.
From the opening notes of Mariachi Luna de Mexico to the land acknowledgment by Brother Jason Sangster of Ironworkers Local 75, it was clear we were building something special. These gatherings are about more than just speeches or panels — they are about coming together as one labor movement to share ideas, sharpen our strategies, and strengthen the solidarity that carries us through every fight.
We heard powerful words from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, who reminded us that even in moments of crisis, we have opportunities to organize, grow, and win. AFGE President Everett Kelley and Omar Algeciras lifted up the voices of federal workers who continue to fight for dignity and respect on the job. We also heard from Bart Sheard, Artie Blanco, Stephen Cousins, Christian Sweeney, Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy, and closed with AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, whose words reinforced the truth that when we organize, we win.
The convening featured critical conversations on the challenges and opportunities before us:
Members engaged in workshops that gave us tools for the fights ahead, including:
There is nothing more powerful than moments like this — when we come together to strategize, learn from one another, and build the kind of solidarity that wins real change for working families.
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Fred Yamashita Secretary-Treasurer Executive Director |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIONS |
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Share Your Story: AZ AG Town Hall on Health Insurance Claim Denials
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced that she will be hosting several town halls regarding health insurance denials across the state. Patients, providers, and community members who may be impacted by health insurance companies denying claims are invited to join and share their stories. |
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🚨ACTION ALERT🚨 Hundreds of Sky Chef workers are facing layoffs after their employer lost their contract with American Airlines at Sky Harbor. The new company taking over, Sky Cafe, has not stated publicly if they will commit to hiring these laid off workers. This will leave workers, some of whom have worked at Sky Harbor for decades, without a job if the City does nothing. Sky Cafe is owned by a billion-dollar private equity company- Atlantic Street Capital.
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CLUW- September Membership Meeting
Register for the upcoming CLUW Membership Meeting on September 25th at 7:00 PM virtually via Zoom - more info to come!
The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) Arizona Chapter serves the Greater Western Arizona, including Maricopa, Pinal, Yavapai, Gila, Pima, Mohave, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Apache, Coconino, Navajo, and Yuma counties. |
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ALTO's October Training Series
We invite you to join the Arizona Labor Trafficking Outreach Project (ALTO) October Labor Trafficking Training Series. This free three-part series is open to all service providers, law enforcement, and community leaders interested in learning more about labor trafficking, its impact on workers, and strategies for prevention and response.
Each session can be attended individually, but you are welcome to join one, two, or all three depending on your intesest and availability. |
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We Say No Kings on October 18th
On October 18th, millions of people are rising against to show the world: America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people.
Event Details: Wednesday, August 18th Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Arizona Stat Capitol, 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ |
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Vote Yes on Prop 50
The California Labor Federation is looking for volunteers to either phonebank or canvass for Prop 50. Donald Trump and his MAGA allies have been attacking workers and our families and now they want to rig the 2026 elections.
Yes on Prop 50 will allow us to protect California and their families. |
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No Contract, No Coffee! Pledge to Act in Solidarity with Starbucks Workers United
Support Starbucks baristas in their fight for a union and fair contract, and pledge not to cross the picket line by not patronizing any Starbucks store when baristas are on strike. |
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Support Wells Fargo Workers Forming a Union with the CWA and Fighting for a First Union Contract!
Wells Fargo workers are forming a union to improve working conditions that will also improve your customer experience. |
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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. 📖 Read Along September: The House on Via Gemito by Domenico Starnone⤵️ |
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OPINION |
Celebrating the Power of Black Union Organizers
"When we demanded an eight-hour workday—they called it unrealistic. When we said we deserve health and safety measures because our jobs shouldn’t kill us, they said the bosses would never give in. When we insisted workers deserve a minimum wage, they scoffed at us. But our collective power made it happen."
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It's Time We Wake Up and Elect Worker-Friendly Candidates
"What’s it going to take to wake people up? Aside from the absurd redistricting fight, why aren’t we losing our minds over elected officials openly taking away our right to representation, just because they don’t agree with us? Representation is supposed to be the foundation of this country. Every voice deserves to be heard. But here in the Show-Me State, the message seems to be: if you don’t like it, we’ll show you the door."
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NATIONAL NEWS |
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AFL-CIO Commemorates the 24th Anniversary of 9/11, Calls for Restoration of Survivor Health Care Program
"For the hundreds of thousands of survivors and responders who were injured and exposed to toxic chemicals that day, September 11 is not just an anniversary, but an ongoing, daily reality."
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Judge Orders California Roofing Contractor, Owner to Pay Nearly $2M in Unpaid Wages, Damages After US Labor Department Investigation
"The action by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco to approve the consent judgment follows an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division that determined Northern California Nail Co. Inc. and its owners failed to pay 158 employees the required rate of time-and-one-half their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act."
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'The Pit' Production Assistants s Vote to Unionize in Big Move
"In an election that took place Friday, support staffers unanimously voted to join a group affiliated with an established Hollywood laborers’ union. “This is only the beginning,” says a union leader."
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How Spray Tan Technicians and Sugaring Aestheticians Built the First Salon Chain Union in the Country
"On August 5, workers at Sugared + Bronzed locations in Los Angeles (West 3rd) and Santa Monica voted to unionize with Communications Workers (CWA) Local 9505—forming the first salon chain union in the country. Weeks later, workers at the Westlake Village location in Thousand Oaks, California, announced that they too were joining the fight."
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Safety Agency Eyes New Limits on Catch-All Enforcement Clause
"In its latest interpretation of the clause, the agency wants to exclude hazards that are “inherent and inseparable from the core nature” of a job. OSHA cited recent developments in administrative law and a 2014 dissent from now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh as the basis for the change."
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LSG Sky Chef Workers Urge City to Pass Worker Retention Protections As Mass Layoffs Loom
"Sky Chefs currently employs around 450 employees that are represented by UNITE HERE Local 11. The expected 237 workers facing layoffs include drivers, cooks, commissary workers, and all helpers who assist drivers in delivering food to the tarmac."
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AT&T, BlackRock Joint Venture Gigapower Brings Unlicensed Contractors, Project Delays to Arizona
"Despite assurances from executives, a new report from the Communications Workers of America find Gigapower puts workers and communities at risk."
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Amid Anti-Trans Sports Bans, Tucson Roller Derby Builds Safe Space for LGBTQIA+ Athletes
"Bunny Beatdown and her teammates on the Javelina Havoc team say they’ve found support at a time when transgender athletes are being scrutinized, debated and legislated against in the U.S."
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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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