john,

As we are getting ready for this weekend, I want to wish you all a safe and happy 4^th of July.  At the bottom of this week’s dispatch, there is a graphic attached that outline how you can make sure you can enjoy a PRO UNION 4^th of July!

At the end of last week, our state legislature passed a Bi-Partisan budget for the upcoming fiscal year.  A major highlight was a total of $8.45 billion allocated to K-12 education.  While it definitely represented a much needed and long overdue boost to school funding, there also was a huge expansion of ESA funding, a major money grab for private schools weakening our Public School system.  Let’s continue to lift up our Teachers, ESL Teachers, Aides, Nurses, Secretaries, Janitorial Workers, Cafeteria Workers, Bus Drivers and all of the Staff that we entrust our kids to on a daily basis and make sure they have the funding they need to earn a great living, feel respected and supported, as well as the resources they need to uplift and teach our children!

As we watched our State Legislature ‘Sine Die’ the 55^th Legislative Session, we are already working on Labor 2022!  With important races for Working Families up and down the ballot in this mid-term election, Workers must seize the moment!  Whether it’s organizing a workplace,  engaging our young co-workers or students, supporting a Union member to run for office or plugging into a campaign!  Enjoy your 4^th of July weekend and comeback “Fired Up and Ready To Go!”

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Sign up to volunteer for Labor 2022

The Labor 2022 program is where union members contact other union members about the importance of voting for Arizona's Labor's endorsed candidates. We know that when we have these important conversations with voters, we can win elections. By talking to union households about our shared values, we can elect champions for Arizona's workers and in turn, make real progress for working people. Sign up today to join our Labor 2022 program.

"Proud Union Home" Signs

Don't leave all your union pride at work and make sure to bring some home! The Arizona AFL-CIO will soon make available yard signs that confidently state "Proud Union Home" in order to make sure you state an advocate for unions even after work. We appreciate all your support and home you bring your union pride home!

Why Starbucks Is Being Accused Of Retaliation Against Its Unionized Stores

“The National Labor Relations Board has jurisdiction over all cases alleging National Labor Relations Act violations by private-sector employers with annual gross revenues of $500,000 or more (via NLRB). With annual gross revenues exceeding $29 billion, Starbucks is clearly within the NLRB's purview. Of course, it's already well aware, given that as of June 2, 2022, more than 170 outstanding cases had been filed against Starbucks with the NLRB, all of them alleging various violations of the Act, according to Bloomberg Law.”

Biden Declares Unyielding Support for the Labor Movement as We Fight to Build an ‘Economy That Works for Working People’

“He heralded labor’s fight to transform our economy, including winning passage of the American Rescue Plan and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 'The infrastructure law is about more than rebuilding our infrastructure, it’s about rebuilding the middle class,' Biden said. Delegates rose in applause as he called on Congress to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which will allow more workers to have a voice on the job.”

Machinists Union Passes Historic Resolutions, IAM Delta Organizer Inspires at AFL-CIO Convention

“The Machinists Union delegation, led by International President Robert Martinez Jr., took center stage at the AFL-CIO’s 2022 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. An IAM Delta Air Lines organizer also inspired activism at the convention. Martinez submitted, and the convention passed, a constitutional resolution calling on the federation to: Develop a comprehensive aerospace manufacturing strategy; Enhance supply chain security; Strengthen Buy American requirements; Strengthen rules of origin in trade agreements; Protect the aerospace and defense industries.”

A proud moment for Oregon labor

“June 12, 2022 will be remembered as a significant, historic, and proud moment for the Oregon labor movement. This is one of the most exciting, inspirational, and opportune times in decades for the labor movement to realize transformational growth and open our doors to anyone who is dreaming of a better life and looking to make change on the job and in their communities.”

Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFL-CIO Sports Council to Be the Voice of Union Athletes

“With more and more professional athletes joining together in unions, our labor movement is founding the AFL-CIO Sports Council. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler announced the formation of the new council, which will strengthen union athletes across the sports industry.”

‘It’s war.’ Tensions remain high at first Amazon warehouse in US to unionize

“Leaders for the newly formed Amazon Labor Union have visited the White House, testified before a Senate committee, been featured on Time’s list of the 100 most influential people and rallied alongside prominent progressive political figures such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The fired-Amazon-worker-turned-union-president, Chris Smalls, has also been recognized publicly, both as a labor leader and for his fashion sense, with his style written up by the New York Times.”

Lawmakers need to use budget surplus to fix housing, education crises

“Budget negotiations at the Arizona Legislature are underway as lawmakers bicker amongst themselves, too often leading to spending plans that have failed to meet the needs of Arizonans.”

Teachers leaving Arizona for other states, districts struggle to recruit

“'We're still looking forward, recruiting some newly graduated teachers here and hoping to recruit some teachers from other states. But yes, we don't want to start the year with empty classrooms so we're looking abroad', said Ema Jauregui, the Deputy Superintendent of Education and Family Services for the Cartwright Elementary School District.”

Arizona AG Brnovich’s effort to require redo of election rules denied

“An Arizona judge on Friday rejected Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s request that he order Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs to do a major rewrite of a nearly 300-page document that tells county election officials how to manage the 2022 elections. Yavapai County Superior Court Judge John Napper had signaled at a hearing last week that many of the complaints Brnovich raised when he refused to approve an updated Election Procedures Manual Hobbs submitted for his review and approval last October were unsupported. He said Hobbs in most cases had followed the law when she wrote the manual for voting and tallying ballots."

Educators say $526 million in state budget for Arizona schools is a start   

Lawmakers approved a nearly $18 billion budget in the early morning hours on Thursday to avoid a government shutdown. As part of that approved budget, more than half a billion dollars is going to school districts. “We just have a long way to go,” Save Our Schools Arizona director Beth Lewis said. Lewis was hoping lawmakers would agree to over a billion dollars of ongoing funding for Arizona K-12 schools. So while Lewis is grateful for the $526 million approved by the Legislature for this year’s budget, it’s hard for her not to look at that number as a missed opportunity. “It’s enough to move us probably from last-funded in the nation to maybe 45th or 46th,” Lewis said.

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