John,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Progress for the People Town Hall / Asamblea Comunitaria “Progreso para el Pueblo” 

Progress for the People Town Hall in Phoenix, AZ, on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM MT. Hear from special guests, including Congresswomen Yassamin Ansari, Adelita Grijalva, Sara Jacobs, and Emily Randall, as they discuss the challenges facing working families and how Republican policies are impacting Arizonans. This event will also address immigration, corruption, and the vision for a more equitable future.

Doors open at 6:00 PM, with the program starting at 6:45 PM at Shadow Rock Congregational United Church of Christ. The venue is ADA-accessible, and interpretation services will be available. Security screening is required, so please bring valid photo ID. No bags or weapons are permitted.

TGWA CLUW Chapter "Women’s History Month: History is Now" Event 

The Greater Western Arizona Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) invites you to an afternoon celebrating and uplifting women in the Arizona labor movement. At this event, they will highlight the incredible up-and-coming women in labor activists making a difference in our state. Although "upcoming" has nothing to do with age, it is a celebration of the tireless work, passion, and dedication currently being poured into advancing our shared mission. 

Event Details:

📅Saturday, March 21, 2026

⌚ 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Doors open at 1:00 PM for tabling & networking

📍AFSCME Local 2960 Hall, 1700 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016

‼️Purpose: Recognition, Solidarity, and Empowerment

Program Highlights:

The program will begin with a powerful panel discussion featuring Arizona State elected officials:

• State Senator Lauren Kuby (LD 8)
• State Senator Kiana Sears (LD 9)
• Representative Mariana Sandoval (LD 23)
• Representative Sarah Liguori (LD 5)
• Representative Junelle Cavero (LD 11)
• Representative Betty Villegas (LD 20)

Following the panel, the program will transition to recognizing honorees and concluding the celebration with cake and refreshments.

AARA Celebrates Women's History Month, The Next Generation of Solidarity

Join AARA for a powerful celebration in honor of Women's History Month! "Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans (AARA) Celebrates the Next Generation of Solidarity" will highlight the transformative work of women within unions who are driving change and advocating for workers' rights.

This event will feature inspiring speakers, engaging discussions, and opportunities to connect with fellow union members.

Lunch will be provided. Be sure to bring cash for a 50/50 raffle!

Together, we will honor the achievements of women who are shaping the labor movement and inspiring future generations!

PALF Meet & Greet: Arizona Labor Leaders, Lawmakers, and Candidates

Join the Pima Area Labor Federation (PALF) to meet with Arizona lawmakers, incumbents, and candidates up and down the ballot to discuss the current labor issues in Congress, state agencies, and the state legislature. You'll have the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and help communicate the priorities of working people to those responsible for making the laws.

AZ AFL-CIO Day of Action at the Capitol

Join us for our annual Day of Action at the Arizona Capitol! This event is an opportunity for union members to make their voices heard in the legislature and advocate for the issues that matter most to Arizona’s working families.

📢 Special Guest Speaker: Leonard Aguilar, President of the Texas AFL-CIO and member of UA Local 142

📖 Workshop: "Path To Power" – Led by AZ AFL-CIO Political & Organizing Director Joe Murphy, this session will break down how members can build real political power, turn workplace conversations into action, and win lasting change for working people.

🍽️ Lunch Provided! Bring your union siblings, friends, and family to this powerful day of action.

Want to Volunteer? Help us make the day a success by signing up here:

https://forms.gle/LQRt9G7DVSKszVKx8

Worker Power Institute's 3rd Annual Democracy & Justice Awards Gala

The evening will honor some of the foremost allies of working people and will benefit Worker Power Institute's mission to preserve democracy and improve the lives of working people across Arizona and the United States.

This year's honorees include AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and NDLON Executive Director Pablo Alvarado. The Grammy Award-winning band La Santa Cecilia will be performing at the event

Event Details:

Thursday, April 9, 2026 | 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel | 340 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004

RSVP Deadline: March 25, 2026

NO KINGS March: Union Peacekeeper & Observer Virtual Training

Monday, March 23rd at 4:00 PM (MST)

Get a refresher on your First Amendment rights, and learn how to lift up the safety and effectiveness of nonviolent mobilizations like No Kings Day. We will also discuss concrete ideas for de-escalating tense situations and documenting disruptions or enforcement activities.

Tell Your Senators: Don't make Voting Harder for Working People

President Trump is pushing forward legislation that would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. He has even said that he won't sign any other bills into law until this voter suppression bill, the SAVE America Act, passes.

How would you be impacted if your senators made it harder for you to register to vote, update your voter registration, or cast a ballot? 

This is voter suppression, plain and simple. Would it affect you? Call your senators and let them know. Dial 844-733-3172 or fill out the form on this page to be connected.

Tell the FCC: It's Time to Enter the Internet Age

CWA members know that without oversight and accountability, the corporations that operate our telecom networks will not prioritize the interests of our communities. That's why they're leading the change to ensure reliable service for all and protect good, union jobs. 

As carriers accelerate their phase-out of voice service over copper wires, the future of phone service remains unregulated. Unlike traditional phone technology, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is not regulated as a "common carrier" telecom service by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This means the federal government cannot require large providers to ensure service quality, interconnect with other providers, or even maintain reliable 911 service. 

Sign this petition to call on the FCC to update its oversight for the internet age and reclassify VoIP as a common carrier service under Title II of the Communications Act to help ensure everyone has access to high quality service. 

Take Action to Keep Surveillance Pricing Out of Our Grocery Stores

You may have noticed that grocery chains across the country are rapidly rolling out Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs). These digital price tags can change instantly, making them appealing to big grocery chains like Kroger, Walmart, and Schnucks, who are putting ESLs in thousands of stores.

But behind these screens is a concerning reality: With the help of AI, ESL systems can collect your personal information. With access to your information, grocery giants can introduce “surveillance pricing” or charging different customers different prices based on who they are. This could mean a future where factors like race, gender, and financial circumstance could impact how much you pay at checkout. That’s discrimination, plain and simple. Everyone deserves the same price for the same product.

UFCW is teaming up with lawmakers at both state and federal levels to push for meaningful changes for workers and consumers. Our goals are clear:

• Require stores to use clear, printed shelf prices that everyone can see and trust.
• Ban “surveillance pricing” so no one is charged more based on who they are.
• Give state attorneys general the authority to enforce these rules and allow consumers to take legal action if stores break them.

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. 

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.

Sign The Petition, Tell Senator Kelly, Working People Have Your Back!

The Arizona AFL-CIO has proudly endorsed Governor Katie Hobbs for re-election. Collecting nomination siguatures are due beginning in March. We are asking you to sign the petition online through the state's secure E-Qual system.

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. 

March 20th Legislative Committee Meeting Recap

'I hope to increase the visibility of women in the trades': Female Electricians Paving the Way for More

"Siegel said that when she first started back in 2019, she didn’t see a lot of other women. But she’s happy to see that changing. And Townsend said she’s not just seeing women teaching her but learning alongside her, too."

AFL-CIO on Allegations Against Cesar Chavez

"The AFL-CIO will always stand in solidarity with farmworkers who have fought for and won critical rights over generations through collective action, resilience and extraordinary determination—a history that cannot be erased by the horrific actions of one person."

CBS News Workers Hold 24-Hour Walkout for New Contract

"Writers Guild of America East says management failed to offer fair wages and basic job protections."

Some Workers Striking at the JBS Meatpacking Facility Say They Were Put In Danger on the Job

"But the meatpacking giant in Greeley says others are not joining the picket line and coming to work instead, for 'stability' and to 'support their families'"

ASL Interpreters Are Unionizing - And They Say They're Getting Fired for It

"For Deaf people, video relay services are essential to connect to the world. Through the work of ASL interpreters on video relay services, Deaf people call doctors’ offices, speak to service providers, chat with friends, and complain to their elected officials. If the ASL interpreters serving them are burned out, then Deaf people suffer."

Former Logan Airport Workers Who Lost Jobs Over Immigration Status Sue Trump Administration

"The lawsuit is in response to U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s revocation of airport workers’ “customs seal” — a type of security clearance they need to access certain parts of the airport and to work as cabin cleaners and passenger service agents. The union says at least 80 immigrants with valid work authorization have been affected at Logan, along with hundreds more nationwide."

Court Ruling Confirms Arizona's Failure to Fund School Facilities; AFT Arizona Calls for Immediate Action

"The court gave the Legislature and Governor until early November to fix the system, citing years of underinvestment that have left hundreds of school building renewal projects unfunded and students learning in deteriorating conditions."

A Heat Wave with Triple-Digit Temps Is Altering the MLB Cactus League Schedule

"Temperatures are expected to reach or exceed 100 degrees by Wednesday, with forecast highs of up to 106 degrees through what will be the final weekend of spring training for the 15 MLB teams there. While expected during the summer in the Phoenix area, that kind of heat is unusual in March."

"People power": New Tucson Mural Celebrates Black History and Liberation

"University of Arizona Black Student Union and party for Socialism and Liberation collaborate on public art project marking 100 years of Black History Month."

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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]