john,

This month, Arizona’s labor movement is preparing to mark the beginning of Women’s History Month with an exciting International Women’s Day virtual event, Women in Organized Labor in collaboration with the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans, the Smithsonian Institute, the Arizona Capitol Museum, and the Arizona Education Association-Retired.

On March 8th at 6 PM MST, join us for a virtual International Womens Day celebration featuring legendary labor leader and civil rights activist, Dolores Huerta. During the event, we will be playing a pre-recorded interview with Ms. Huerta and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, as well as providing a virtual tour of the Smithsonian bilingual museum exhibition, Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields/Revolución en los Campos. To attend the virtual event, click here to register.

As we honor and reflect on the contributions of women to our communities, our country, and to the labor movement, I’d like to take a moment to highlight the first International Women’s Day. Originally called International Working Women’s Day, what we now recognize as the first International Womens Day started as a work stoppage. On March 8th, 1908, a group of needle trades workers on New York City’s Lower East Side walked off the job to protest child labor, low wages, unsafe working conditions, and to demand voting rights for women. Two years later in 1910, Clara Zetkin of Germany proposed at the International Women’s Conference that March 8th, 1908 be proclaimed as the first International Women's Day in commemoration of working women the world over.

Today, women in Arizona and across the country are transforming the labor movement. Yet, women are still paid substantially less than men for the same work. Women, especially Black and Brown women, have borne the brunt of the economic fallout presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. This month and every month, we remain committed to the fight for pay equality and fair, equitable workplaces.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Women in Organized Labor feat. Dolores Huerta

On March 8th at 6 PM MST, join the Alliance for Retired Americans, the Arizona AFL-CIO, and the Arizona Education Association-Retired for an International Women's Day celebration featuring the legendary Dolores Huerta.

The work of Ms. Huerta is the focus of a traveling exhibition at the Arizona Capitol Museum on display through March 11. This special virtual event will feature a pre-recorded interview of Dolores Huerta by Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, followed by remarks from Arizona AFL-CIO Executive Director Fred Yamashita, a virtual tour of the exhibition from María del Carmen Cossu, project director for Latino Initiatives for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, and a Q & A. Register below to join us on Zoom.

2nd Annual MALF Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser
 
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Maricopa Area Labor Federation Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser is back!

Join MALF on March 19th from 10am to 2pm for cornhole, food, live music, and raffle prizes. All 2022 sponsors will receive a custom cornhole board, which will come painted with a logo of their choosing. For tournament participation, sponsorship information, and more, click the button below.

Democracy Pledge Arizona
 
No matter our color, background, or zip code, all Arizonans value our freedom to vote. We deserve practices that protect our access to the ballot and leaders who will protect our democracy. Sign the Democracy Pledge and call on Arizona's leaders to protect our right to register to vote, access their ballot, and make their voices heard. Sign the AZ Democracy Pledge today to tell the #AZLegCircus to protect our voting rights:

New York REI Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Form a Union

"Workers at a Manhattan REI location overwhelmingly voted to form a union on Wednesday, overcoming a fierce union-busting campaign waged by the company after workers filed for a union election in January. The results of the in-person vote to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) on Wednesday were 88 to 14 in favor of the union, or an 86 percent 'yes' vote. The store, located in SoHo, is the first of the company’s 170 locations to unionize..."

First Starbucks, Now REI: The Movement To Unionize Retail Workers Picks Up

“These four companies share a progressive agenda when it comes to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, yet they are repressive in regards to unions in their workplace, even though they recognize workers’ right to organize. The retailers don’t want anything to do with unions...."

Elon Musk invites car workers' union to hold unionization vote at Tesla factory

"Tesla CEO Elon Musk invited a major autoworkers' union to host a unionization vote. The offer, which Musk made on Twitter, would have the United Auto Workers union visit Tesla's factory in Fresno, California, to hold a unionization vote... Musk made the statement amid a Twitter conversation with Gene Simmons, arguing that Musk and Tesla deserved some attention due to them being "game changers and should be heralded" in the factory business. Musk responded by noting how Tesla's Fresno factory was the "largest auto plant in North America" and operating at full capacity..."

New York Times Tech Workers Vote to Certify Union

"Tech workers at The New York Times on Thursday voted in favor of certifying their union in a National Labor Relations Board election, making it one of the biggest tech unions in America. The workers voted in favor 404 to 88, easily reaching the needed majority of the ballots that were cast. A win means the union, the Times Tech Guild, can begin negotiations for a contract with management..."

Workers at a Mesa Starbucks store have voted to unionize. A Phoenix store could be next

"The count is finally in and workers at a Starbucks in Mesa have voted 25-3 to form a union. The store at Power and Baseline roads is the first unionized Starbucks in Arizona. Union supporters had expected to get the results of the vote last week, but a request from Starbucks postponed the count. Starbucks workers in Mesa and Phoenix have cited a variety of reasons for unionizing, including pay disparity among tenured baristas, lack of support and alleged mistreatment..."

Unionization of a Mesa Starbucks could be start of larger trend

"Arizona AFL-CIO executive director Fred Yamashita said there are 'age-old tactics,' companies and corporations use to intimidate, threaten, coerce or terminate employees who are talking about unionizing. He is hopeful that Congress will pass the PRO Act, which he said will penalize companies who use these so-called 'tactics'...."

Most Arizona schools failed to raise average teacher pay by pledged 20%

"PHOENIX — Arizona schools have not lived up to the 2018 promise to increase teacher pay by 20% by the 2020-2021 school year. A new report by the state Auditor General’s Office found statewide average salaries are up 16.5%, or $7,977 a year. Only 87 of the 205 school districts hit or exceeded the 20% figure. The 20% pay raise was based on a promise made by Gov. Doug Ducey following weeks of protests and walkout threats by teachers after the governor’s initial budget proposed a 1% increase..."

Tucson Prep & Pastry workers strike twice against unfair labor practices

"Workers at Prep & Pastry on Campbell in Tucson, Ariz., continue their fight to be recognized as union members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99. The Prep & Pastry workers have escalated their struggle, holding two one-day unfair labor practice strikes on Feb. 13 and 20 against the company for union busting and refusal to meet their demands for a safe, equitable work environment where workers are respected.

The National Labor Relations Board held mail-in elections for union recognition in September 2021 which resulted in a 12 to 7 vote against unionizing the restaurant. The workers filed numerous unfair labor practice charges against the company for union-busting thereafter, seeking an order for a re-election or an overturn of the results in favor of union representation...'"

Graphics

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 Drake Ridge at [email protected]