john,

I am proud to introduce Joe Murphy, our Political, Legislative, and Organizing Director of the Arizona AFL-CIO. Joe joined our team in 2017 and brings with him a wealth of experience in political organizing. He started his journey in the field in 2004 as a volunteer for the John Kerry campaign, and since then has continued to pursue his passion for political activism. Before joining the Arizona AFL-CIO, Joe worked in the district office of a Phoenix City Council member and the Organizing Department of UFCW Local 99 as a researcher. 

Joe is a true asset to our organization, and in his spare time, he remains active in local political organizing efforts. He also enjoys going to concerts and playing various musical instruments, and is always eager to share his latest sporting or exercising pursuits. We are lucky to have Joe on our team and I have no doubt that he will continue to make a positive impact on our community. 

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

NFLPA x SBWU x AFL-CIO Rally

Join us in #Solidarity as we rally with members from the National Football League Players Association and SB Workers United to call on Starbucks to end their union-busting campaign and respect workers' right to organize! 

When: Saturday, February 11th, 2023

Where: 10585 W. Indian School Rd., Avondale, AZ 

Petition to Abolish Grad Fees NOW!

The graduate student employees of Northern Arizona University, call upon the Graduate College and university administration to take immediate action and eliminate student fees for all graduate employees. Charging essential employees of the university fees on the premise that they are students first directly contributes to the financial insecurity and vulnerability of members of this community. Furthermore, NAU administration is capricious and inconsistent in how it determines us students versus workers. Remission of fees for student employees would not only alleviate financial instability, but would also begin to establish clearer communication between administration and graduate student employees across campus.

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].

Working People Respond to the State of the Union Address 

President Biden gave his annual State of the Union address Tuesday night. Here is how advocates for working families across the country responded."

Severely Understaffed Hospitals Shouldn't Be Buying Super Bowl Ads 

"Hospitals are investing liberally in marketing while tightening their wallets when it comes to bedside patient care."

Union-Made SuperBowl Party Shopping Guide 

"Vote with your wallet on Super Bowl Sunday by shopping with brands where workers receive fair pay and good benefits under a union contract."

AFL-CIO Wants Bigger Say in U.S. Digital Trade Deals for Workers 

"The largest U.S. labor organization on Tuesday issued a set of principles that it says is needed to protect workers, the public's privacy and governments' ability to regulate a rapidly evolving sector as the USTR negotiates digital trade agreements."

In New Role as Labor Committee Chair, Bernie Sanders Says Corporations 'Should be Nervous'

“As Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders settles into his new role as chairman of the Senate committee that oversees health and labor issues, he says some corporations “should be nervous.” And the longtime liberal crusader’s first target is Howard Schultz, the interim CEO of Starbucks who has aggressively fought his workers’ efforts to unionize. Sanders and the 10 other Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee sent a letter to Schultz on Tuesday demanding he testify at a March 9 hearing on his company’s compliance with federal labor laws. If Schultz ignores or refuses the request, Sanders said, he’s willing to use the committee’s subpoena power to force him to appear.”

Nissan to Face Union Vote at Tennessee Plant After Labor Ruling 

"A U.S. labor board has cleared the way for 86 technicians at Nissan Motor Co's (7201.T) Smyrna, Tennessee plant to vote on whether to join a union, rejecting the automaker's claim that the unit should include thousands of production workers. The Democrat-controlled National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in a ruling on Thursday said the tool and die workers have special skills and separate supervision, making them distinct from production employees, backing the International Association of Machinists."

'Stop Breaking the Law': NBC Digital News Guild Stages One-Day Walkout Over Mistreatment of Members 

“According to The NewsGuild-CWA members at NBC, the company broke the law when it reduced union salaries in 2020 and did so again in 2022 when NBC laid off several workers and stripped several others of their union protections. Changes made without bargaining before a first contract is signed violate “status quo” provisions of the National Labor Relations Act and are illegal. The journalists filed unfair labor practice charges over the violations."

Nigeria Drivers Form Country's first App-Based Union 

"Drivers in Nigeria won the country's first union that covers app-based workers. The victory shows that Nigerian workers are able to organize in the gig economy. The Federal Ministry of Labor and Employment recognized the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWN), which empowers the drivers who work for companies like Uber and Bolt to have a say in determining the terms and conditions of their employment. App-based drivers in the country began seeking union recognition in 2017, and in addition to improved pay and reasonable hours, a big focus for the drivers is safety."

Litchfield Park Starbucks Files Petition to Unionize 

“A Starbucks in Litchfield Park could be the sixth store in Arizona to unionize with Starbucks Workers United. "

Regardless of the Super Bowl Score, We're Making Sure Arizona's Workers are Winners

“As thousands of football fans prepare for Super Bowl LVII in Arizona, human traffickers and unscrupulous employers seeking to profit from the exploitation of workers are also preparing for the big event. Here’s how we’re protecting workers before, during and after the game."

Federal Court Requires Specialty Coating Contractors Who Intimidated Workers to Pay $3.6M to 593 Employees 

"Cory Summerhays, owner of Unforgettable Coatings Inc. – a Las Vegas company operating in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada and Utah – chose instead to double down, and then some. In January 2023, the department obtained a consent judgment in federal court in Las Vegas requiring the company and its owner to pay more than $3.6 million in back wages, liquidated damages, interest and penalties to 593 employees in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada and Utah." 

More than $120M to Fulfill Water Rights Settlements Coming to Tribes Across Arizona from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

“The Senators’ bipartisan infrastructure law provides $2.5 billion in funding to complete all currently authorized Indian Water Rights Settlements. The Department of Interior announced over $120 million for building out the infrastructure needed for the Ak-Chin’s Indian Water Rights Settlement Operations, Maintenance & Replacement, the San Carlos Irrigation Project Rehabilitation, Gila River Indian Community’s Pima Maricopa Irrigation Project, and San Carlos Apache Tribe’s Distribution System."

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]