John,

Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School is the most comprehensive and dynamic training program for labor leadership development. No matter the role you play in your local union, the skills and knowledge provided throughout the week will make you a stronger and more informed activist in your workplace. 

The vision for the Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School is to develop the premier labor activist training program in the Western United States; affiliated with or through other labor colleges and universities that serve union members. This includes a curriculum where each trade unionist can develop their personal skills as a labor activist. This program establishes a learning environment where labor activists can talk to and learn with their counterparts from other locals, other unions and other states regarding their personal experiences in the labor movement effort, to build on what works best. Understanding that this experience may be a student's first or only opportunity to learn about labor issues, staff strive to take this role seriously, while also making this both enjoyable and enlightening. 

This year it will be hosted in Montana; if you are interested in joining, please contact us at the Arizona AFL-CIO! 

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Pima Country Community & Workforce Development Toy Drive

This will benefit recently evicted children staying in hotels. Let's make this holiday season a little brighter for them by making sure they have a little something special!

They will be accepting gifts until December 21st, 2022

Here's how you can help:

1. Go to this link and purchase gifts for the children.

1. Bring new, unwrapped toys of your choice to the AFSCME Local 449 Union Hall, M-F 8:30am-4:30pm, 3819 S. Evans Blvd., Tucson

1. Attend our gift-wrapping party on Wednesday, December 21 at 6pm at the AFSCME Union Hall.

For questions, please email [email protected]

LCSA Santa's Helper

Labor's Community Service Agency is in full swing for the 2022 holiday season. They are providing holiday gift tags of children in the programs they offer to participating sponsors and also providing gifts for families.

Each tag will list a gift in the amount of $30-$50. Sponsors may choose one tag, or as many as they want. Financial donations for gifts are also welcome.

Sign up by emailing [email protected] Financial donations can also be made by check or use PayPal on their website www.lcsaphx.org by using the large DONATE Button on any page. 

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].

For Once, the FTC is Considering a Merger That Helps the Workers

"The coming decision about whether to allow Microsoft’s merger with Activision Blizzard to move forward is a bellwether for American antitrust policy. By approving this merger, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has the opportunity to make a strong statement in favor of economic democracy and provide a blueprint for an enforceable remedy to protect workers from large employers abusing market power to undercut wages and working conditions."

Starbucks Gift Cards Are Kind of a Scam

“You're better off paying out of pocket (you sort of already are...)"

New York Times Employees Engage in its Largest Newsroom Work Stoppage in Decades 

“More than 1,000 New York Times newsroom union members went out on strike for a full day in the biggest work action at the paper in decades."

Biden Announces Release of Nearly $36 Billion to Aid Pensions of Union Workers 

"President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday announced the infusion of nearly $36 billion to shore up a financially troubled union pension plan, preventing severe cuts to the retirement incomes of about 350,000 Teamster workers and retirees across the United States."

Howard Schultz's Own Foundation decries Starbucks' Treatment of its Workers  

“Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz’s foundation has released a report that rates Starbucks as one of the worst large employers in the country for worker advancement. The Schultz Family Foundation published what it describes as an “unprecedented” study of economic outcomes for workers at America’s 250 largest companies, in partnership with Harvard Business School and The Burning Glass Institute."

Twitter Lays Off Janitors on Strike Weeks Before Christmas Holiday 

"Janitors from SEIU Local 87 marched outside the building because its contract with Twitter ends Friday. The California Labor Federation tweeted that Twitter’s new contractor will not rehire the striking janitors, "despite (the) obligation to rehire per county and state requirements.'"

Statement By US Secretary of Labor Walsh on November Job Report   

“'Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 263,000 jobs in the month of November, and the unemployment rate remained close to a historic low mark at 3.7 percent. This report brings good news for working families, as the economy continues its transition into steady, stable growth that brings jobs and opportunity to more workers. Since the start of this administration, our economy has added 10.5 million jobs and there are now over one million more jobs in America than before the pandemic began.”

Taiwan Semiconductor to Announce 2nd Phoenix Factory During Biden Visit. Company plans $40B Investment

“The company plans to announce construction of another factory when President Biden visits the north Phoenix site Tuesday, an expansion that would more than triple the company’s stake in Arizona from an original estimate of $12 billion to $40 billion.”

Arizona's Election Certification Moves the Fight Over Results into the Courts 

"Arizona officials certified the state’s midterm election results Monday after a tumultuous month of challenges to the certification process that was reminiscent of 2020 and potentially set the stage for 2024."

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert details Next Steps for Brittney Griner

“Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has been released from a Russian penal colony and is in United States custody after a prisoner exchange. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert found out about Griner's return with the rest of the country but was informed of a potential release beforehand."

Arizona Legislators Ask Outgoing Governor to Call Special Session on School Spending

“A bipartisan group of Arizona legislators called on Gov. Doug Ducey to live up to his promise to call a special session to address a school spending crunch before he -- and some of them -- leave office at the end of the year. And hanging in the balance is whether schools are going to have to cut nearly 18% of their budgets before July 1. Rep. Michelle Udall, R-Mesa, who chairs the House Education Committee, said Thursday that lawmakers approved a $1 billion increase in funding this past session for K-12 education."

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  Executive Director Fred Yamashita at [email protected]