john,

I would like to introduce you to Alina Cordoba, a dynamic and results-driven Communications and Operations Director with a passion for labor relations. An Arizona State University alumni and prior experience as a high school teacher, Alina has honed her skills in strategic planning, project management and stakeholder engagement. She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, delivering innovative and effective solutions to complex challenges. With a strong commitment to promoting positive impact of labor unions. Alina's main goal is to educate and support working people by showcasing the great work being done by local union affiliates in Arizona and their communities. Excited to bring her expertise to the labor unions in Arizona, she is eager to work collaboratively with unions to achieve their goals and drive positive outcomes for workers.

If you are interested in working together, don't hesitate to reach out to Alina at [email protected] to start collaborating!

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

The Family & Medical Leave Act: 30 Years of Helping America's Working Families

The U.S. Department of Labor will mark the 30th anniversary of the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) - landmark legislation that has helped millions of working Families in America. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh will join advocates, officials and others to recognize the impact of this landmark legislation. 

We Need Labor Laws That Protect Our Right to Organize

in 2022, union membership grew by 273,000-- an amazing feat in the face of multimillion-dollar union-busting campaigns. But union density declined slightly, despite a 53% raise in union elections and high approval rating of unions.

Because non-union jobs were added faster than we can unionize them.

This isn't surprising. Workers face a stacked deck when they organize a union. And corporations know that stalling an organized drive is an effective union-busting tactic. So we have work to do. We'll keep organizing. We'll keep fighting until we have labor laws that protect our right to organize and hold union-bustiers accountable.

Add your name if you agree! 

UCW Arizona Demands a Dignified Wage for ALL Workers at Arizona State University

Sign their petition in support of increasing workers' wages to $25 an hour by the year 2025 at Arizona State University 

"We need your support to ensure dignified jobs and fair wages. UCWAZ believes that all workers must be paid thriving wages in Arizona."

2023 Legislative Committee Meeting Alerts

Complete this form to be up on a list to get updates and alerts on the 2023 Legislative Session.

For additional questions, contact our Political Director; Joe Murphy at [email protected] 

Request to Speak at Legislative Committee Meetings

Sign up and 'Request to Speak' to weigh in on bills directly with State Representatives and Senators during our Legislative Committee Meetings every Friday morning at 9:30 AM!

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].

Black History is American History. DeSantis is Stealing Our Students' Freedom to Learn It 

"National Education Association president: Gov. DeSantis is neither an educator nor a historian. He's a politician using a cheap, cynical and dangerous ploy to drive division into our school debates."

The Arizona Corporation Commissions is Failing Arizona 

"One of the tenets of the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC)’s mission is to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable utility services. Arizona ratepayers rely on them to make decisions that have their best interest in mind. Unfortunately, that’s not what we see from the ACC."

Biden Calls fo Expanded Federal Medical Leave, Paid Benefits for Workers

“U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday joined former President Bill Clinton to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1993 law that allows Americans to take unpaid medical leave, and vowed to keep fighting for paid leave for all Americans.”

Bus Drivers Strike in Alaska's 2nd-Largest School District 

"Bus drivers in Alaska’s second-largest school district went on strike after delivering students to classes on Tuesday, citing unfair labor practices. The near-unanimous strike was called against Durham School Services after members received what Teamsters Local 959 described in a statement as the company’s “last, best, final offer.” The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, which has about 19,000 students living in an area the size of West Virginia, lies directly north of Anchorage and includes communities like Wasilla, Palmer and Talkeetna."

Local Labor Unions Concerned Over New Bill Introduced in 2023 Utah Legislative Session 

"Representatives for one public employee labor union said they are concerned about a new bill that was introduced in this year’s legislative session. “It’s what we feel is a direct attack on public employee unions and their membership,” said Brad Asay, executive director for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1004. Asay was referencing House Bill 241, recently introduced by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan. Among other things, the bill would prohibit public employers from deducting union dues from a public employee’s wages, except in certain circumstances. It would also prohibit using public money or public property to assist, promote, or deter union organizing."

Dollar Tree Cited Again 

“OSHA fined an Ohio Dollar Tree store $294,657 for endangering workers as the company’s history of safety violations continues."

'Hypocritical': Environmental Groups Blocking Union Efforts, US Workers Say 

"Workers at some of the top environmental organizations in the US are calling out their managers as “incredibly hypocritical” as they argue the progressive non-profits are fighting workers’ efforts to unionize. A wave of unionization efforts has swept the non-profit sector as part of a renewed national enthusiasm for unionization. Shortly into the Covid-19 pandemic, workers at 350.org, Sunrise Movement, the National Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Greenpeace USA, the Public Interest Network and the Center for Biological Diversity unionized."

American Airlines Flight Attendants Picket at Phoenix Sky Harbor

“Members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants held similar strikes at 10 other airports nationwide to let American Airlines know they are prepared for a strike vote if their demands are not met.  Alana Billingsley, a Phoenix resident who has been a flight attendant for 11 years, said the company is short-staffing airplanes and taking its time with union negotiations."

Legislative Proposal Would Ask Voters to Ditch Arizona's Right-to-Work Status 

"A worker’s right to choose whether to join a labor union is in doubt, as progressive Democrats in the Legislature have introduced multiple bills aimed at repealing Arizona’s right-to-work status. SCR 1030, sponsored by state Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, and a companion bill in the state House of Representatives, HCR 2008, sponsored by Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, would send to the 2024 statewide ballot a measure asking voters whether to rescind Arizona’s more-than-75-year-old status as a right-to-work state. Arizona and 26 other states have right-to-work laws, which give workers the choice of whether to join a labor union. States without right-to-work laws could require employees to pay union dues and fees as a requirement for employment." 

Arizona Lawmakers Want to Punish Cities with Higher Minimum Wage Than Sate Average

“Arizona lawmakers are moving to financially penalize cities that have a minimum wage higher than the rest of the state. And they are doing it in a way designed to get around restrictions that voters put on legislators in 2016 when they said cities can have their own base wages. SB 1108, awaiting Senate floor action, would allow employers in any city with a wage above the state minimum to claim a 10% credit for what they compute as the difference of what they have to pay versus what they could pay at the lower state figure."

Valley Metro Offering Free Rides to Super Bowl Events 

“Valley Metro is offering free rides on the light rail to travelers planning to attend Super Bowl Events in downtown Phoenix."

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 Alina Cordoba at [email protected]