John,

February is Black History Month; this year marks the 100th anniversary of the federal observance. The Arizona AFL-CIO proudly honors and celebrates the courage and leadership of Black labor leaders, union members, and activists who have shaped our movement and our nation.

We are especially honored to reflect on the words and leadership of AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, the highest-ranking African American officer in the history of the American Labor Movement. Brother Redmond began his working life in 1973 at the Reynolds Metals Company in Chicago, Illinois, becoming a member of the United Steelworkers (USW). Quickly serving as a shop steward, vice president of his local, and later served three terms as local president. In 2022, he was unanimously elected Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO.  

Black leaders have been at the forefront of addressing injustice and expanding workers' rights for generations. Take the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, for example. Black workers have consistently strengthened the labor movement.

Secretary-Treasurer Readmond reminds us that our movements for civil rights and labor rights have always been intertwined. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in his letter from Birmingham Jail: 

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny."

As mentioned in the video, we know we have made progress, but there is still a lot of work to do. The Arizona AFL-CIO recognizes those whose courage and leadership inspire us, stand up and lead with our allies, no matter how hard it gets, and celebrate the achievements of Black working people.  

Watch and share the video Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond recorded for Black History Month ⤵️

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Union-Made in America Super Bowl

On Super Bowl Sunday, some of our larger and faster union brothers—members of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA)—will be battling it out on the gridiron. While the Super Bowl carries a union label, from players to broadcast crews to stadium workers to the many workers and people who operate, maintain and support the planes, trains and cars that get us there safely—your Super Bowl party spread can, too, with union-made in America food and drinks.

Check out these union-made Super Bowl party products, brought to you by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM), the UAW, the IAM Union (IAM), the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), and the Teamsters (IBT).

Union Golf Tournament Supporting Apprenticeship Training

The Tucson Electrical Apprenticeship Golf Tournament tees off Friday, March 20, 2026, at Forty Niners Golf Club in Tucson. This four-person scramble supports the Tucson Electrical Apprenticeship Program and features raffle prizes, a Bloody Mary bar, and a $15,000 hole-in-one prize. Golfers and sponsors are welcome, but space is limited and registration is due by March 1. For details or sponsorship opportunities, contact Mike Tallis at [email protected].

Help Minnesota's Communities Respond and Rebuild

For over 50 days, ICE's Operation Metro Surge has caused fear, instability, and violence. Minnesotans have come together to support each other through the crisis but need your help in funding their response to the deep humanitarian needs surfacing in their neighborhoods.

DONATE TODAY - keep the resistance strong! Support rapid response networks that are meeting the needs of impacted union members, worker center members, their families, and other workers! 

This is a verified page fundraising support for the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO and Working Partnerships' 2026 rapid response efforts to meet the needs of impacted working people and their families. 

Tell Curaleaf: Fair Contract Now!

Workers at Curaleaf voted to form a union to imporve their wrkplace more than three years ago. Unfortunately, workers are still fighting to secure a fir union contract that recognizes the work they do every day to keep this dispensary running. Sign the petiion to stand with curaleaf employees and demand a fair union contract.

Help Us Save The Washington Post

More than 300 workers at The Washington Post were laid off on Feb. 4, rendering The Post unrecognizable amid some of the most severe staff cuts the newspaper has ever seen. Over the last three years, The Post’s workforce has shrunk by roughly 400 people. In one fell swoop, Post management has compounded these losses and further weakened the newspaper. 

Scores of Washington Post journalists have issued public and private appeals to Post owner Jeff Bezos, pleading with him to #SaveThePost. But neither Bezos nor members of Post leadership have responded to these calls.

Now we need help from you, our readers. If you value The Post’s journalism and care about its future, we ask that you join us in our call to #SaveThePost by sending the following note to Post owner Jeff Bezos, publisher Will Lewis and executive editor Matt Murray.

Tell Congress: Do Your Job and Fix the Affordability Crisis!

President Trump promised to "make America affordable again," but instead spent the first year of his second term driving up costs, holding down wages, and letting jobs disappear - including good-paying jobs that would help keep energy bills from skyrocketing. 

It's clear Trump and his allies won't act to fix the affordability crisis. So Congress must act to help the millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet as a result of those actions. 

Contact Congress or fill out the form here and urge them to address the affordability crisis. And that if they don't, we will work to elect leaders this November who will help us build an economy for workers, not billionaire bosses. 

CALL: Tell the Senate to Pass the Protect America's Workforce Act

The House of Representatives has passed the bill with a bipartisan majority. Now it's the Senate's turn. We need every Senator, Republican, Democrat, and Independent, who says they support America's unions to vote for the Protect America's Workforce Act and restore federal workers' union rights. 

So let's get this done. It's time to restore federal workers' collective bargaining rights and protect ALL union members' rights in this country. Urge your senators to co-sponsor the Protect America's Workforce Act. 

Support Arizona Charter School Workers' Right to Organize

Teachers and staff at City High School and Paulo Freire Freedom School announced their intent to form a union at a December Charter School Board meeting. In response, the board’s governing organization, City Center for Collaborative Learning, hired Littler Mendelson—an out-of-state law firm known for union-busting—and pursued costly legal action.

The board is arguing that charter school employees should not have the right to unionize or bargain collectively through a federally supervised election. If successful, this case could set a precedent that threatens organizing and bargaining rights for charter school workers across Arizona.

Littler Mendelson has also been used by corporations like Starbucks and Amazon to block workers from securing first contracts. Critics say public education funds should support students and educators—not efforts to undermine workers’ right to organize.

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.

Support the Strike Fund for Union Starbucks Workers

Help 12,000+ baristas fight and win their union contracts! Your support and solidarity means the world to our worker-led union. 

How VITA Can Help You

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program provides free tax preparation services to low-to-moderate income individuals and families. The VITA program is an IRS-sponsored program that works with non-profit organizations to provide free basic income tax return preparation for qualified individuals. Click on the button below to get more information.

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].

Arizona AFL-CIO Legislative Committee Meetings

The Arizona 2026 Legislative Session begins on Monday, January 12th. As always, the Arizona AFL-CIO will be advocating for working families every step of the way.  We will be providing support on consensus issues of our affiliates, opposing legislation that attacks workers, and supporting ongoing efforts to ensure worker safety on the job. 

To make sure union members are prepared, we invite you to join us every Friday at 9:30 AM via Zoom. These weekly meetings are an opportunity to learn about key issues being discussed, understand what's happening at the Capitol, and ensure that your voices are heard in the decision-making process. 

January 30th Legislative Committee Meeting Recap

Strong Unions = Stronger Communities and Democracy

"There is an undeniable correlation between higher levels of unionization and stronger economic, community, and democratic outcomes."

Women In the Skilled Trades Face New Hurdles

"Since the 1980s, women have made small but meaningful gains in the construction trades. Now there are concerns that President Trump's campaign to end diversity, equity and inclusion will stall that progress — setting back both women and the construction industry."

Texas Union Win: Union Leader Taylor Rehmet Elected to Texas Senate 

"Rehmet, a veteran and the president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Texas State Council, was born and raised in Garland, Texas. His passion for fairness and dignity on the job led him to union organizing, where he was elected president of both his local and state chapters of the IAM. As a graduate of the Texas AFL-CIO’s Ruth Ellinger Leadership Academy, he’s committed to taking the fight for working Texans to the State Capitol."

Nearly 500 of CHOMP's 800 Nurses Vote in Favor of Joining a Union in Historic Vote

"It will be the first union in the hospital's 91-year history. CNA will now represent all 800 registered nurses at CHOMP. "

WNBA Offered No Proposal at Critical CBA Meeting

"The sides met in person for the first time in months Monday. The league still hasn't responded to a December proposal from the players."

Hearst Magazines Union Hold Walkout After Contract Expires

"The collective action comes after a month of negotiations where management has proposed lower raises than members received in their last contract, increased in-office expectations without any guarantees of flexibility and offered absolutely no protections against AI."

Production Workers at Big D.C. Concert Venues Vote to Unionize 

"Stagehands, audio engineers and more at the 9:30 Club, The Anthem, The Atlantis and Lincoln Theatre voted for unionization in an NLRB election."

Frontier, CWA Reach 3-Year Deal with Raises for Navajo Nation Workers

"Frontier Communications and the Communications Workers of America have reached a new three-year union contract that includes pay increases for Navajo Nation workers after months of negotiations over a wage gap, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego said Jan. 27."

Phoenix Councilwoman Guardado, Mayor Gallego Lead Phoenix Action to Strengthen Worker Heat Safety Protections

"The action reinforces Phoenix's commitment to protecting workers who perform jobs in extreme heat by clarifying expectations of City contractors and ensuring heat safety measures are documented and enforceable. Beginning April 1, 2026, contractors will be required to regularly monitor vehicles with enclosed cabs to ensure air conditioning is properly functioning according to manufacturer specifications. Contractors must also clearly explain in their heat safety and mitigation plans how their vehicle air conditioning will be monitored to meet this requirement."

Arizona Primary Could Move Up 2 Weeks Under Bipartisan Legislation

"The bill would create more time for election officials to meet key deadlines and for voters to fix ballot signature problems."

ESA Program Reaches 100,000 Students, Costs Soar Past $1 B

"Enrollment in the Empowerment Scholarship Account program has officially surpassed 100,000 students, with the milestone reigniting conversations about program costs and oversight.  Since allowing any student to enroll at the end of 2022, the program has grown from around 12,000 students to 100,474 as of Jan. 26, and has increased gross costs from $189 million to around $1 billion."

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]