AFL-CIO Blog

  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Minor League Baseball Players Celebrate One Year with a Union
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Minor League Baseball Players Celebrate One Year with a Union Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Today marks the one-year anniversary of minor leaguers officially joining the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). The eventful year was highlighted by the minor league players’ achieving their first collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The CBA significantly improved the daily lives of more than 5,000 ballplayers and their families, providing for them better salaries; health benefits; housing; transportation; workplace safety; free agency; name, image and likeness rights; and a prohibition on job cuts through contraction during the course of the CBA. Minor leaguers also have procedures in place to resolve issues that arise with their clubs, including due process in disciplinary matters. Please support the MLBPA in celebrating this outstanding achievement by resharing the MLBPA video that launched today on their social channels @MLBPA and @MiLB_PLAYERS at 9:30 a.m. ET. Don’t forget to use  #ItsBetterInAUnion.   Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/15/2023 - 06:50 — Sep 15
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: 1,100 UAW Members at Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan Go on Strike
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: 1,100 UAW Members at Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan Go on Strike Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. About 1,100 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan workers who work call center and claims processing jobs went on strike Wednesday. The workers are members of the International Union, United Automobile,  Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). They walked off the job in pursuit of a fair contract. “These people are the heart and soul of Blue Cross Blue Shield,” said Steve Dawes, director of UAW Region 1D. “They are the ones who take care of the people when they are in the most important time of need in their life. When the CEO of this corporation makes well above $15 million a year and it takes a new hire here 22 years to reach top rate, we have a serious problem with this company. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 09/14/2023 - 07:54 — Sep 14
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Are You ‘All In’ with UAW Members?
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Are You ‘All In’ with UAW Members? Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. Union contracts for 150,000 International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) members at the Big Three automakers expire Sept. 14. It will take the unity and strength of every UAW member, union, community and political ally to win what autoworkers and every worker deserves. The Big Three have made extreme profits over the past decade. Workers deserve fair pay and the Big Three can afford it. You can show your support. Add your name and sign the petition to show you’ve got 150,000 UAW members’ backs! To get the very latest news about Big Three bargaining, tune into UAW President Shawn Fain’s Facebook Live this Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 5 p.m. ET. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 09/13/2023 - 08:16 — Sep 13
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IAM Wins Campaign for 100-Plus New Members at North Dakota Farming Equipment Manufacturer
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IAM Wins Campaign for 100-Plus New Members at North Dakota Farming Equipment Manufacturer Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. The Machinists (IAM) Organizing Department won a hard-fought two-year campaign to represent 103 workers at Vaderstad Inc., an agricultural equipment manufacturer in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Production workers at the facility make air seeders and tillage equipment. “This group stuck together and was determined to win a voice on the job and a better life for themselves, their families and their communities,” said IAM Organizing Department Grand Lodge Representative Dennis Mendenhall. “They ran their campaign from the inside and remained united through every anti-union tactic they encountered.” Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 09/12/2023 - 09:57 — Sep 12
  • Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Miners at Cleveland-Cliffs Northshore Join USW
    Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Miners at Cleveland-Cliffs Northshore Join USW Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. The United Steelworkers (USW) welcomed workers at Cleveland-Cliffs’ Northshore Mining as the newest members of the union. There are approximately 400 workers in the mine in Babbitt, Minnesota, and plant in Silver Bay, Minnesota. They authorized the union using card-check. “Mining in Minnesota provides essential support for our local communities, our domestic steel industry and our nation’s critical infrastructure,” said USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez. “We’re honored that workers at Northshore chose our union.” Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 09/11/2023 - 10:00 — Sep 11