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As we come to the close of this year, we will look back on 2025 as an especially challenging year for labor. With Project 2025 being carried out as planned, working families have faced rising costs, economic uncertainty, and relentless attacks on workers' rights — particularly on immigrant workers and those with the least protections.
Some workers and sectors were hit harder than others. But what this year showed us, again, is the strength of our movement: an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. Labor stood up, fought back, stood in solidarity, and together, we continue to win!
Even after a successful, albeit challenging, Labor 2024, our movement did not slow down. We charged into 2025 full steam ahead in coalition with our affiliates and community allies. We should be proud of the hard work and the real victories won for union members and working families across Arizona.
During the legislative session, Political Director Joe Murphy hosted weekly legislative meetings to keep affiliates informed and united. We successfully passed HB2488, ensuring that a union apprentice on probation is not penalized or found in violation for working outside their limits — protecting pathways into union careers. We also helped stop SB 1074, a dangerous bill that would have forced warehouse workers into arbitration and allowed employers to bypass existing union contracts.
At the same time, we focused on worker education and protection, working in step with the National AFL-CIO. Training Specialist Esau Gutierrez, alongside our affiliates and community partners, helped lead Know Your Rights training and Citizenship Fairs.
Organizing Specialist Rasean Clayton worked closely with affiliates on internal and external organizing while strengthening relationships with Building Trades to expand access to pre-apprenticeship opportunities and pathways.
We also had some great events this year! Arizona hosted three powerful "It's Better In a Union: Fighting for Freedom, Fairness, and Security" Bus Tours, from Window Rock with the NAL-NiSHii' Federation of Labor, to Phoenix — hosted by AFSCME at the NALC Local 576, and Tucson with the PALF at IBEW Local 570. This led to our 13th Annual Labor Day Luncheon, where we honored Steve Valencia for the Sam Newsome Activist of the Year Award, Bob Bean for the Labor Leader of the Year, and Congressman Greg Stanton for the Elected Leader of the Year Award. We also got to hear from the Keynote Speaker, National AFGE President, Everett Kelley!
We came together this fall at our 59th Biennial Convention in Tucson, where Mayor Regina Romero welcomed delegates and introduced our Keynote Speaker, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, in her first official speaking engagement after being elected.
Finally, Arizona was able to stand in solidarity with Federal Workers during the government shutdown. Thanks to our incredible affiliates, we raised over $30,000 to support affected workers through the Labor Community Service Agency (LCSA).
As AFL-CIO President Elizabeth H. Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fredrick D. Redmond wrote in the federation’s end-of-year report:
As we look ahead to 2026, the fights continue — but so does our unity. We will continue to organize, educate, and stand in solidarity, because that's how labor wins.
On behalf of our Executive Committee, General Board Officers, and Staff, we wish you and your loved ones a safe, prosperous holiday and a Happy New Year! Thank you for everything you do to strengthen the labor movement in Arizona and beyond.
📌 To read more about what labor accomplished nationally this year, visit the AFL-CIO’s 2025 End-of-Year Report:
https://aflcio.org/2025 |
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Fred Yamashita Secretary-Treasurer Executive Director |
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UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIONS |
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Voice Media Group: New Times Journalists Deserve A Fair Contract! Journalists at Phoenix New Times and Miami New Times are pushing for fair pay, better parental leave, health care, and just-cause protections. Voice Media Group, which owns both papers, has so far refused to meet these basic worker needs, impacting both employees and local news coverage. Stand with these journalists by signing their petition to demand a fair contract. |
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Sign The Petition, Tell Senator Kelly, Working People Have Your Back! Senator Mark Kelly has always stood with Arizona’s working families — now he’s facing an unprecedented and baseless attack on his service and integrity. As a veteran and lifelong champion for workers, he deserves our solidarity. Add your name to show Senator Kelly that working people have his back. |
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No Contract, No Coffee Pledge Call on Starbucks CEO, Brian Niccol to bargain a fair contract with Starbucks Workers United baristas. Show support for Starbucks baristas in their fight for a union and a fair contract, and pledge not to cross the picket line. |
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Jan. 15–18, 2026, MLK Civil and Human Rights Conference
The civil rights and labor movements have a long, storied history of working together to secure a better future for workers. And every year, we come together with union members and civil rights activists at our AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference, where we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and strengthen the bond between both our movements. Right now, our democracy is under threat, and our solidarity is more important than ever. |
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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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OPINION |
Why I'm Thankful: The Union
"As we enter the season of thankfulness, many of us take time to reflect on the important parts of our lives: family, friends, hobbies, rest, and work. But only one of these comes with a promise in writing — a union contract."
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The Voting Rights Act Is Under Threat. So Are Workers' Rights
"In our workplaces, in our communities and in our government, the right to vote is how working people make our voices heard. The late Rep. John Lewis (Georgia) proclaimed, “Your vote is precious, almost sacred.” The Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing Texas to use a racially discriminatory congressional map threatens that precious right once again—and with it, the foundation of worker power itself."
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NATIONAL NEWS |
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Royal Kona Resort Workers Hold One-Day Strike
"Employees are calling for better staffing levels, stronger job security and protections in the event of major emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. They are also seeking higher pay, saying their wages lag behind those of workers at other Big Island hotels despite doing similar work."
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SAG-AFTRA National Board Unanimously Votes to Ratify Historic First Intimacy Coordinator Agreement
"Organizing intimacy coordinators under the SAG-AFTRA umbrella is a natural evolution of the work the union has been doing to safely grow and standardize the profession for years, including the creation of Standards and Protocols for Use of Intimacy Coordinators on Set; Recommended Standards for Qualification, Training and Vetting of Intimacy Coordinators; and an accreditation system for intimacy coordinator training programs."
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'This is a union town': SF Teamsters Increase Pressure on Amazon to Bargain With Workers
"A coalition made up of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and supporters rallied outside of San Francisco City Hall this week in favor of a resolution pushing for Amazon Web Services, the billion-dollar multinational company, to bargain with the union at a warehouse in the city."
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TWU Flight Attendants at FSI Overwhelmingly Ratify a New Five-Year Contract
"The new contract includes annual longevity step pay increases, a bid month guarantee increase to 80 hours per month from 70, and a purser premium increase from $6.50 per hour to $7 per hour. It also includes an extra week of vacation for senior Flight Attendants, additional bereavement leave, and minimum standards for hotel accommodations. The contract also includes holiday pay for reserves, compensation for extended duty days, and a per diem increase."
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Minnesota Letter Carriers Demand: 'ICE Off Postal Property!'
"On December 14, 2025, some 100 letter carriers and their supporters gathered here as the temperature hovered at 4° F to demand 'ICE Off Postal Property!' Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents had been using post office parking lots as staging areas for raids in nearby neighborhoods, disrupting postal workers as they tried to carry out their duties."
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Pima County Honors Postal Workers with Proclamation Declaring 'U.S. Postal Workers' Day'
"A proclamation was presented honoring leaders from Tucson-area postal unions, recognizing the vital service and dedication of U.S. Postal Service workers. Those recognized included Kathy Walter, President of NALC Branch 704; Michael Moriconi, President, and Connie Sadler Nelson, retired President, of APWU Tucson Area Local 255; Anthony Zamorano, Tucson President, and Bernie Gonzales, Local Union 320 President, of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union; and Susan Naugle, State President, along with Russell Ayres, Assistant District Representative, of the Arizona Rural Letter Carriers Association. The proclamation officially declared Tuesday, December 16, 2025, as U.S. Postal Service Workers’ Day."
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Kathleen Wiebke, Champion of Arizona Education, Passes Away
"Kathleen Wiebke, a longtime educator, mentor, leader and recent appointee to the State Board of Education, has died, according to a statement from the board president on Monday. She leaves a legacy in public education spanning more than four decades."
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2 Companies Fined in Goodyear Trench Collapse That Killed Worker
"The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health cited two companies after closing its investigations into the death of 44-year-old Ronald Andrew Baquera Jr., and issued fines for each company."
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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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