john,

In political circles, when you talk about the Blue Wall, most will think of the 18 states and the District of Columbia that Democrats have consistently won in Presidential Elections between 1992 and 2012, with a couple of exceptions of course.  But if you live in the West or Southwest, at least from New Mexico going west.  The Blue Wall describes the progressive stronghold that has developed over the last decade or two up and down the coast, Nevada and New Mexico, you’ll notice one state is missing.  Yes, that’s right, Arizona!

This week, I was invited to attend and speak at the California Labor Federation 2022 Biennial Convention.  In this exciting, transformational time for Labor, California is no exception to the historical moment we are living in.  The long time Chief Officer Secretary Treasurer, Art Pulaski is retiring and the California Labor Federation Executive Committee and Delegates elected unanimously Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher as the first Woman, first Latina as the new Secretary Treasurer to lead the over 2 million California Union Members into the promising future!

As asked, I addressed the Convention to talk about the challenges Arizona faces in the 2022 political campaign.  The idea of building worker power through listening and one on one conversations with workers, that the idea of being out of touch has plagued our movement to the extent that many Union Members were in search of someone who they felt would address their needs.  That we have to get back to the basics of organizing, educating and engaging Union Members, Workers and their Families if we truly expect to build the power that we need in Arizona to elect and hold accountable representatives that will work on our behalf!

Yes, we want to complete the Western Blue Wall, not the Democratic Wall, not the Political Football Wall.  The Blue Wall that will allow us to be successful in protecting Workers, protect those that we care about, to be able to rebuild the structure that many have called the Middle Class, to allow Workers to exercise the power built by and enjoy the fruits of their own Labor!

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

2022 AFL-CIO Member Survey

The National AFL-CIO wants to know what issues are important to you-- good jobs, a strong economy, secure rights, and more.

Please let us know by taking our brief survey, and share it with your friends, family, and coworkers.

Labor 2022 Day of Action - Saturday, August 6th

The Arizona AFL-CIO will be having our first action at the Painters Local 86 hall in Phoenix on Saturday, August 6th, from 10am to 4pm.

You will have the opportunity to phone bank, canvass, and meet and mingle with fellow members of the Arizona labor movement, as well as participate remotely.

Arizona AFL-CIO Labor Day Breakfast

After a two year hiatus it is my honor to invite you to join the Arizona AFL-CIO as we celebrate Labor Day with a breakfast on Friday, September 2nd, 2022. Yet again we find Arizona the center of attention of national politics; as always, with your support, we will deliver for Arizona’s working people.

For more information, please email [email protected]. Sponsorships are available for your local to take part; checks can be made out to the Arizona AFL-CIO, or we can take payments via paypal at the link below.

Labor in the Pulpit 2022

Last year, members of the Arizona labor community took part in Labor in the Pulpit over Labor Day weekend, where we spoke with faith communities about our shared values. This year, we’re hoping to reach more people than ever, from even more traditions, and we proudly invite you to take part by signing up below.

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!

Please email our Political Director, Joe Murphy, to reserve your Proud Union Home sign at [email protected].

Positions Open at the Arizona AFL-CIO

Communications Director: manage the internal and external communications from the state federation, MALF, PALF, and constituency organizations with the Arizona AFL-CIO. More information here.

Local Organizing Specialist: work with the state federation on organizing members, stewards, and leadership throughout the state. More information here.

Is there a new labor movement afoot? Seth Harris, former top advisor to President Biden, weighs in

"News@Northeastern spoke with incoming Northeastern Distinguished Professor of the Practice Seth Harris in the College of Professional Studies, about developments in the labor movement. He recently served as President Joe Biden’s top labor advisor, and as acting labor secretary under former President Barack Obama. Harris will also be an affiliated faculty member and senior fellow at Northeastern’s Burnes Center for Social Change."

Will Young, Well‐​Educated Workers Lead a Union Revival? 

“‘After decades of declining union membership, organized labor may be on the verge of a resurgence in the U.S.’ claimed the New York Times last week, echoing dozens of similar claims lately. But how solid is the case for such a union comeback, and if it happens is it likely to be broad or narrow? The Economist invited me to write a guest column on the topic, which was published last week.  I begin with figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which found the share of American workers belonging to unions fell last year, not rose, from 10.8% to 10.3%, back to its 2019 share and far below 1983’s 20.1% or the all time peak of 34.8% in 1954. Overall, union membership in the United States fell last year by 241,000 to 14 million.”

Hyundai subsidiary has used child labor at Alabama factory

“A subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co has used child labor at a plant that supplies parts for the Korean carmaker's assembly line in nearby Montgomery, Alabama, according to area police, the family of three underage workers, and eight former and current employees of the factory."

Boeing union workers vote to strike at 3 St. Louis-area manufacturing facilities that make US military jets 

“About 2,500 Boeing employees are expected to go on strike on Aug. 1 at three factories in the St. Louis area after talks broke down between the company and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837, the union announced. ‘We cannot accept a contract that is not fair and equitable, as this company continues to make billions of dollars each year off the backs of our hardworking members,’ the union said in a statement on Sunday.”

To preserve jobs, UAW head says battery plants must be union 

“If the United Auto Workers union can't organize workers at new electric-vehicle battery factories that will supply Detroit's three automakers, the union's future would be in serious doubt.  Ray Curry, president of the 372,000-member UAW, says union representation at the battery plants is critical, given that the major automakers are staking their futures on the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.”

Heine Brothers' workers union files charges over Highlands shop closure 

“Heine Brothers' Coffee union workers say they have had enough.  On Thursday, Heine Brothers' Coffee Workers, a union organizing against the chain, filed Unfair Labor Practice charges against their employer over the closure of its store in Louisville's Highlands neighborhood. There are four charges being lobbed at Heine Brothers by the labor union after they were quickly shut down and told to leave on June 30, with workers and protesters quickly gathering a day after to retaliate against the coffee chain.  ‘We will fight against what we feel is union-busting activity," a representative of the union told The Courier Journal. ‘Our workers are still very committed to this fight.’”

Lululemon workers in DC file for a union election 

“Lululemon workers in Washington, D.C. have filed for a union election, joining workers at other major companies aiming to organize amid a wave of labor wins over the past year.  The group of workers, who call themselves the Association of Concerted Educators, are seeking to unionize a store in the Georgetown neighborhood with roughly 30 employees. The company refers to its sales staff as educators.”

Heat deaths in large Arizona county hit half-year record 

“Heat associated deaths in Arizona’s largest county have hit a half-year record as more homeless people live unprotected outdoors in the arid desert city while summer temperatures soar well into triple digits.  The most recent data from the Maricopa County Department of Health shows 17 heat associated fatalities were registered this year through the first week of July, with another 126 under investigation. About two-thirds of the deaths involved people who were outdoors.”

Starbucks Union Starts Workers’ Fund After Firing of Over 50 Pro-Union Workers 

“After months of fierce union busting from Starbucks, including the firing of dozens of pro-union workers, organizing workers are fighting back with a new solidarity fund that will aid Starbucks workers who are facing the company’s anti-union crusade.  Workers announced on Monday that they’re partnering with Coworkers Solidarity Fund to launch the Starbucks’ Workers Fund, a mutual aid fund that will help workers who are unionizing their stores. Starting this fall, these funds will go toward aiding workers who have been affected by the company’s anti-union moves. An independent committee made up of Starbucks employees will determine who benefits from the fund, to which the union encourages the general public to donate.”

Federal Labor Officials Field Complaints About Large Marijuana Businesses’ Resistance To Worker Unions

“Unionization for workers in the cannabis industry is gathering steam in Arizona, as budtenders at the Curaleaf Dispensary in midtown Phoenix recently voted to unionize, while workers at several other dispensaries are poised to vote on the issue within the next few weeks.  ‘[This] election marks an important milestone for cannabis workers in Arizona and across the country,’ United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99 President Jim McLaughlin said in a July 2 press release. ‘As cannabis companies like Curaleaf continue to see record profits, the time to share their prosperity with workers is long overdue.’”

Senate cannabis hearing sets stage for legalization debate 

“The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism discussed a wide range of marijuana issues at a hearing—including legalization, expungements, racial disparities in arrests, the need for industry equity and banking, among many others.  The House of Representatives approved a bipartisan marijuana research bill, and the Senate is expected to pass it soon as well—potentially making it the first-ever standalone cannabis reform bill to reach a president’s desk.”

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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  Executive DirectorFred Yamashita at [email protected]