John

Please allow me to introduce Ryan Kelly, the Organizing Specialist for Pima County and the surrounding areas within the Arizona AFL-CIO. We are privileged to have him as part of our state federation, where he has demonstrated tireless dedication as both a volunteer and worker, advocating and supporting the hardworking women and men of southern Arizona. 

After 15 years of working extremely exploitative retail jobs, flipping burgers, mopping floors, and cleaning toilets, Ryan, a father of two, worked his way through college and reentered the workforce as a middle school history teacher. There he spent six years cutting his teeth, shaping young minds, and sharing his contagious passion for building a better world. Arizona’s REDforED revolt was his final push out of the classroom and into the streets, where he came to the difficult decision to leave one calling for another.

Ryan is a well-known and accomplished community organizer in the Tucson area, who’s helped shape and lead multiple grassroots organizations. He’s a policy and direct action expert, and has helped lead the charge to end multiple anti-immigrant law enforcement practices across Pima County.  He, along with members of his respective organizations, is a former recipient of the Pima Area Labor Federation’s Community Partnership Award. In late 2018 he took a chance on an internship with the Arizona AFL-CIO, and he’s been working for the workers ever since.

Ryan is a freelance writer, and a proud member of the National Writers Union. He’s the father of genius twins, Si:bañ and Annachtéira, and husband to Gabriella, who all happily join him on picket lines and at actions across Southern Arizona.

In solidarity,

Fred Yamashita
Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Tell Governor Hobbs to Encourage the Arizona Commerce Authority to Create Broadband Buildout Plans

Americans need high-speed, affordable broadband to work, learn, shop, and succeed in the world today, but millions of us don’t have reliable internet access.

Please help us by sending a letter to Governor Hobbs and ask her to encourage the Arizona Commerce Authority to create broadband buildout plans that ensure that these funds go towards lasting infrastructure and creating good jobs.

Phoenix City Council Runoff Election

The runoff election on March 14th is fast approaching. MALF invites you to join our labor family in AFSCME, Firefighters and others to show strong union support for Carlos Garcia and Kevin Robinson as we canvass this Saturday and Sunday!

Together, we can ensure that our voices are heard and our interests are represented. 

Day of Action Volunteers Needed!

Monday April 24th, 2023, Arizona AFL-CIO will be hosting it's Day of Action at the Capitol and are looking for volunteers during and leading up to the event.

AARA Celebrates Women In Organized Labor

In Honor of Women's History Month, AARA invites you to celebrate labor leaders who are making history.

We will hear the stories of three women who gained leadership positions through hard work, determination, and dedication in the labor movement.

Come hear their stories on Friday, March 24th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

*Registration Required

Alert: Protect Working People! Pass the PRO Act!

We join Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and Reps. Bobby Scott (Va.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) in their call to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Work stoppages were up 52% in 2022, and the number of workers involved in stoppages increased 60%.

If we want to build up worker power, our outdated labor laws must keep up with the times. 

This is why now is the time to pass the PRO Act, just reintroduced in the House & Senate as the Richard L. Trumka PRO Act.

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! 

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 at 9:30 AM!

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] 

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].

2023 Women Labor Leaders 

"There's been a surge of organizing by women. Some 60% of workers organizing in the past decade have been women, and that means female leadership is the rule, not the exception."

Despite Anti-Union Interests the Majority of Americans Recognize the Importance of Labor Unions 

"After years of relentless attacks from wealthy corporations and anti-union special interests, younger workers and now a majority of Americans, recognize the importance of labor unions. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 55% of adult Americans say “labor unions have a positive effect.” In fact, most Americans “say the long-term decrease in the  percentage of workers represented by unions is bad for working people.”'

Newly Empowered Michigan Democrats Move on Labor, LGBTQ Rights, and Guns

“In the course of a single afternoon and evening, and despite loud objections from many Republicans, the Michigan House of Representatives voted to repeal a right-to-work law loathed by labor unions, expand background checks for gun purchases and enshrine civil rights protections for L.G.B.T.Q. people in state law. On the other side of the Capitol, the State Senate voted to repeal an abortion ban that is unenforceable but still on the books. Some of the legislation must still be voted on in the other chamber, and all of it would have to be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, to take effect."

Secretary Marty Walsh Addresses President Biden's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget 

"The Biden-Harris administration today released President Biden’s budget for fiscal year 2024. The budget details a blueprint to grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out, lower costs for families, protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security, and reduce the deficit by ensuring the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share – all while ensuring no one making less than $400,000 per year pays more in taxes."

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz Agrees to Testify at Senate Hearing 

"The Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, Committee was scheduled to vote Wednesday morning on whether to subpoena Schultz, who previously declined a request to appear. Sanders, a democratic socialist who represents Vermont, serves as chair of the committee.'

How Minor League Ballplayers Won a Union

“The players who make America's pastime possible have had enough of dismal working conditions, and they're organizing to change them.”

'Saturday Night Live' Post-Production Editors to Strike April 1 Show

"The deadline comes after the group, which successfully organized with the Motion Picture Editors Guild, and is a part of IATSE Local 700, voiced aims to negotiate a contract in October. As previously reported, bargaining sessions have since taken place, but sticking points remain, notably around the issue of health benefits."

Gov. Hobbs Names David Lujan As Director of the Department of Child Safety 

“Previously, David Lujan was the President and CEO of Children's Action Alliance, which seeks an Arizona where all children and families thrive and is a nonpartisan voice for children at the State Capitol."

Hobbs Signs Executive Order Establishing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force

Stanton's New Bill Would Allow DACA Recipients to Work on Capitol Hill

“Stanton says the new American Dream Employment Act aims to change that. The measure would lift the current ban on employing DACA recipients and immigrants with Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate."

Hobbs Vetoes Bill That Banned 'Critical Race Theory' in Arizona Schools

“Currently, Arizonans who qualify for unemployment can receive up to 24 weeks of benefits when the unemployment rate is 5% or less. The proposal by Phoenix Republican Sen. Steve Kaiser would slash that time in half, to 12 weeks, if the previous quarter’s unemployment rate was 5% or less. The measure, Senate Bill 1167, cleared the Arizona Senate on March 2 by a vote of 16-14, along party lines. It next moves to the House of Representatives for consideration."

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]