John,

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

MALF Andy Ward Scholarship - Apply Now!

AZ Training to Fight Back

In this training, you'll learn what authoritarianism looks like, what movements have done around the world to win the fight against authoritarianism, and how you can take action with local groups in Arizona to protect democracy. Snacks, drinks, and a sense of purpose and community will be provided. This training is brought to you by All Voting is Local Action, LUCHA, and Opportunity Arizona. 

Dirty Dozen Report Press Release Event

Virtual press event to announce the 2026 Dirty Dozen Report.  Published by National COSH, the Dirty Dozen identifies employers with unsafe practices that put workers and communities at risk, and highlights efforts by workers to win safety and dignity on the job.

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Evento de prensa para anunciar el reporte de la Docena Sucia 2026. Publicada por National COSH, la Docena Sucia identifica a los empleadores con prácticas inseguras que ponen en riesgo a los trabajadores y las comunidades, y destaca los esfuerzos de los trabajadores para lograr seguridad y dignidad en el trabajo.

Workers' Memorial Day - Tucson

Join Arizona Jobs with Justice, the Josefina Ahumada Worker Center, Salt of the Earth Labor College, and the City of Tucson as they come together to honor workers who have lost their lives or been injured on the job.

This event will feature testimonies from workers who have experienced workplace accidents, as well as a guest from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Dinner will be provided! 

Workers' Memorial Day - Phoenix

Every year, working people across the country gather on Workers’ Memorial Day to remember those we’ve lost and recommit to the fight for safer workplaces. The Maricopa Area Labor Federation (MALF) invites you to join us for Workers’ Memorial Day 2026.

This year’s theme, “Hold The Line For Safe Jobs,” is a call to action. It is a day when working families come together to: - Honor each worker killed, injured, or made sick on the job, stand with families and communities impacted by workplace tragedies, and recommit to organizing for strong safety protections and enforcement. Food will be provided! 

AFL-CIO Labor 2026 Blitz - Maricopa Area Labor Federation

The AFL-CIO’s Labor 2026 Blitz is bringing together union members across Maricopa County to make phone calls, knock doors, and have real conversations with fellow workers about the issues that matter most.

Through member-to-member outreach, we’re building trust, strengthening our movement, and organizing for working families. Whether you’re new or experienced, training and support will be provided.

Join us for canvassing and phonebanking opportunities:

• Wednesday, April 29th: AFSCME Local 2960 (1700 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix) 
• Thursday, April 30th to Saturday, May 2nd: IBEW Local 640 (5808 N. 7th St., Phoenix) 

Sign up today and help us reach every union household. ✊

AFL-CIO Labor 2026 Blitz - Pima Area Labor Federation

The AFL-CIO’s Labor 2026 Blitz is bringing together union members in Tucson to make phone calls, knock doors, and connect with fellow workers about the issues that matter most.

Through member-to-member outreach, we’re building trust, strengthening our movement, and organizing for working families. Whether you’re new or experienced, training and support will be provided.

Join us May 13–16 for canvassing and phonebanking, hosted at IBEW Local 570 in Tucson. Sign up today and help us reach every union household. ✊

📣 Union Members: Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School

Join us for the 69th Annual Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School at Northern Arizona University, July 12–18, 2026! A week designed for union members to learn, connect, and energize the labor movement—sharpen your skills, share experiences, and build lasting connections.

💻 Register now ($850) by May 1st and honor the legacy of Grace Carroll, a trailblazing Arizona labor leader.

Questions? Email Aspen Cyr at [email protected].

May Day 2026: Arizonans Over Billionaires

Because when billionaires break every rule, workers know it will take more than a rally to stop them, it will take all of us, organized.

Our Demands for May 1st - Tax the rich so our families, not their fortunes, come first. - No ICE. No war. No private army serving unchecked federal power. - Expand democracy, not corporate power. Hands off our vote.

Let's Taco 'Bour Energy Affordability with AARA!

40 Days to 40 Years of Union Plus Sweepstakes

🚨 IT’S OFFICIAL 🚨 The 40 Days to 40 Years of Union Plus Sweepstakes starts NOW! Union Plus is turning 40, and instead of one big moment, they’re celebrating for 40 straight days. Every single day through May 6, something new is landing. Real union stories. Surprise giveaways. Bonus chances to win. And yes, a sweepstakes with a $4,000 Grand Prize and forty $400 winners.💰 ENTER NOW!

No Purch Nec. See Rules at unionplus.org/fortyyears. Ends 5/6/26.

MCDP Labor Committee, "The Solidarity Exchange Event"

Join the MCDP Labor Committee for a networking event designed to break out of our usual "echo chamber." Connect with labor and political leaders during short "Power Talks," and engage with unions, the Democratic Party, and community organizations at dedicated tables. This is a great opportunity to build meaningful partnerships. If your organization would like to have a table, it's free! Don't miss out on this chance to collaborate and connect!

Stop HCR2040 - Aims to Punish and Silence Educators

HCR2040 has been amended. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, it would:

• Punish teachers who strike or engage in any work stoppage, including taking away civil service protections, re-employment rights, benefits, and even pensions.

• Ban the state and school districts from negotiating with unions over pay, benefits, or workplace conditions.

• Cancel existing agreements between school districts and employees.

• Block payroll deductions for voluntary union dues

• Stop teachers and staff from meeting at schools to discuss workplace issues or enforce agreements

This is not about improving schools – it’s political retaliation against teachers and school employees who are speaking out to protect education and stop waste, fraud, and abuse from the Arizona voucher program.

Because this is a constitutional amendment, the Governor cannot veto it. If lawmakers pass it, it will go straight to the ballot.

Send a letter now and tell the Arizona Senate to VOTE NO on HCR2040 and protect Arizona’s students, educators, and schools.

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.

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. 

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. 

April 10th Legislative Committee Meeting Recap

The Average Taxpayer Shelled Out Over $4,000 for War and Weapons Last Year

"Around half of Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities. But last year, instead of investing in programs that help people make ends meet, the president and his friends in Congress passed a Big Ugly Bill that cut taxes for the wealthy, slashed health insurance and food assistance for millions of Americans, and added billions in new spending for war and mass deportations."

Washington Farmworkers Want Union Rights

"Farmworkers kept Washington fed through crisis after crisis. Now they need the right to organize."

Dangerous New Trump Administration OSHA Directive Abandons Workers Facing Extreme Heat

"This new policy limits OSHA’s ability to hold bosses accountable when they fail to protect workers from heat on the job. It puts workers’ lives in danger, plain and simple."

Federal Workers Struggle to Find Roles A Year After Trump Cuts: 'I've applied to over 250 jobs'

"Current and former government employees say they're facing a tough job market over a year on from sweeping cuts."

Alphabet Workers Union Applauds NLRB's Decision and Demands Google Follow the Law and Bargain

"On Wednesday, April 8, the National Labor Relations Board determined that Google violated Section 8(a)(5) and (1) of the NLRA by refusing to bargain with the Alphabet Workers Union during negotiations with Accenture. This comes as no surprise to the many Temporary, Vendors and Contractors (TVCs) who work on contracts solely for Google despite being paid by a third party."

AFSCME and American Library Association Prevail in Fight to Protect Libraries and Museums Nationwide

"The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) — the nation’s largest union of cultural workers — and the American Library Association (ALA) — the largest library association in the world — have reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that protects the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and ensures the agency will continue carrying out its congressionally mandated work."

Maryland Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Nontenure Track Faculty to Unionize

"The bill marks a historic step in securing collective bargaining rights for nontenure track faculty, who include full-time, part-time and adjunct employees whose primary assignments involve academic instruction. The bill will allow thousands of professors to collectively bargain and negotiate wages, hours and other terms of employment."

Sen. Mark Kelly Joins Aramark Workers in Picket Line

"The ASU workers' collective bargaining agreement with Aramark expired in August 2025. New negotiations regarding worker conditions and wages started in October 2025, and they have yet to settle on a proposal, leading to protests across campuses and a strike on Feb. 18."

Arizona Will Strengthen Workplace Heat Guidelines, but Won't Create Enforceable Standard For Now

"Labor groups have been calling for regulations like California and six other states have, which would require employers to provide water and heat safety training, and penalize employers who don’t take such precautions."

Arizona Congressmembers Detail Harsh Conditions Inside Mesa ICE Facility

"On Thursday evening, Arizona’s Democratic congressional delegation conducted an impromptu oversight visit to a temporary Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding facility at Mesa Gateway Airport."

First Heat-Related Death of 2026 Confirmed in Maricopa County

"Heat-related incidents are not uncommon in Arizona, and the agency has worked to reduce heat-related deaths in the community. There were 645 heat-related deaths in 2023 and 608 in 2024."

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]