John,

As Black History month begins, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate Black workers and recognize a few Black labor leaders who have paved the way for our movement.

I don’t need to remind our readers that for centuries, our nation’s wealth was built by the forced labor of enslaved Africans and their descendants. Although chattel slavery came to an end following the conclusion of the Civil War, the exploitation of Black workers continued to prop up the economic prosperity of this country for generations.

In the late 19th century, at a time when Black workers were excluded from labor unions, thousands of Black Americans found employment in agriculture and service industries – jobs such as sharecroppers, laborers, elevator operators, and porters– among other roles.

It was in these industries where Black workers fought back, organized, and forged their own labor movement. In 1925, In response to poor working conditions and low pay of Black railcar workers, civil rights leader and labor organizer A. Philip Randolph organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), the first predominately Black labor union. Years later, Randolph would go on to help organize the 1963 March on Washington along with Bayard Rustin, gay civil rights leader and co-founder of the AFL-CIO’s A. Philip Randolph Institute.

Today, we stand on the shoulders of leaders like Randolph and Rustin as we continue their work, advocating for voting rights, equality at work, and a living wage for all working people. While their important accomplishments have paved the way for our work today, we must continue to honor their legacy with action.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Support Rich Product Workers on Strike

Members of BCTGM Local 37 have been on strike against Rich Products Corp. at the Jon Donaire production plant in Santa Fe Springs, California since November 3rd. Here's how you can support them:

• Please DO NOT buy Jon Donaire ice cream cakes from Cold Stone Creamery, Baskin Robbins, or grocery stores.
• Share your support online with the hashtag #RichProductsPoorWorkers
• Follow @BCTGM on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Tell Congress: Build Broadband Better
 
Americans need high speed, affordable broadband to work, learn, shop and succeed in the world today, but millions of us don’t have reliable internet access. Sign the CWA petition to support high speed broadband access for all and good jobs!

Arizona Building Trades Council: Join a Union

Unions play a vital role in giving workers a voice in their future and power in their employment. Becoming a member of a union provides you with a future of high pay, great medical insurance and benefits for you and your family, and secure retirement. Union members also have access to state-of-the-art training which gives you an opportunity to expand and extend your career.

If you’re an experienced building and construction trades craftsperson, we invite you to contact one of our member unions to learn more about what being a member of a union can do for you, your career, your family, and your future.

NLRB accuses Amazon of ‘threatening, surveilling’ warehouse workers on Staten Island

"The NLRB wants to compel Amazon to take certain actions to inform workers of their right to organize, according to Kathy Drew King, a regional director for the agency. Amazon 'repeatedly broke the law by threatening, surveilling, and interrogating their Staten Island warehouse workers who are engaged in a union organizing campaign,' King said in a statement..."

Bakery Workers Local 37 strike in L.A. enters third month with growing solidarity

“I have worked in many jobs, starting in the harbor area making dog and pet food out of tuna…[then] in factories, packing, restaurants…11 years in the Donaire plant that went to Texas in 2014. A year ago, I came to work at this plant and united with the others in the union when the company stopped negotiating. This treatment is so bad, that from the picket line I see some going in to work who at the end of the day leave crying; it’s so bad...”

AFL-CIO endorses House Democrats' China competition bill

"The AFL-CIO on Monday endorsed the America Competes Act, a House bill aimed at helping the U.S. compete with China by boosting domestic semiconductor production and investing in scientific research and development...”

NWSL, NWSLPA Agree to 1st CBA in League History; Minimum Salaries, More Addressed

"The National Women's Soccer League announced Monday that it had agreed to the first collective bargaining agreement in league history with the players' association...."

AZ AFL-CIO Launches Arizona Voices at Work Blog

Read the Arizona Voices at Work blog for the latest stories on working Arizonans and our fight to strengthen our movement statewide.

Arizona House votes to ban critical race theory in schools

“House Republicans voted along party lines to send the measure to the Senate. Democrats said the measure would chill discussions about history and contemporary events in the classroom because teachers will fear losing their jobs if they broach the subject of race..."

Starbucks forcing Mesa workers into meetings, sending 'desperate' texts as union vote closes in

"Confrontational manager meetings, desperate corporate text messages and a new store culture of surveillance. These are the conditions workers at Mesa's Power and Baseline Starbucks location said they're facing as they push to become the third Starbucks store in the country to unionize. It doesn't look like they'll be the last..."

New tax credit bill aims to revive moviemaking in Arizona

"SB 1708 also known as the "Motion Picture Productions: Tax Credit" Bill was introduced by State Senate David Gowan of Sierra Vista. It would provide a tax refund to studios based on how much they spend making a film in the state. The bill is meant to help attract major studios to shoot at places like the Mescal movie set or other scenic places in our state..."

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