AFL-CIO Blog

  • National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Danny Esparza
    National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Danny Esparza Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Danny Esparza. Danny Esparza has been with UNITE HERE Local 878 as a vice president and organizer for 39 years. He recently came out of retirement to rejoin the staff of UNITE HERE to help organize and protect front-line hospitality workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/24/2021 - 10:00 — Sep 24
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Six Months on Strike, UWMA Members Standing Strong
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Six Months on Strike, UWMA Members Standing Strong Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. It has been six months since the Mine Workers (UMWA) went on strike against Warrior Met Coal. Warrior operates two mines, a preparation plant and a central shop, located in the heart of Alabama, 15 miles east of Tuscaloosa. The UMWA represents about 850 workers at these facilities. In 2016, due to a series of questionable management decisions, Walter Energy filed for bankruptcy. But the workers decided to save their company, preserve their jobs and their communities by sacrificing wages, time off from work, loss of overtime pay and an end to full health care coverage. Their sacrifices totaled $1.1 billion over five years in cost savings and helped the company reach revenues in excess of $4.3 billion. The UMWA said the result of these sacrifices and an unheard-of financial comeback for the company was Warrior’s blatant mistreatment of its workers, forcing them to work most holidays and complete 12-hour shifts reaching up to seven days a week. “What Warrior Met has offered is just a tiny fraction of what the workers gave up five years ago,” said UMWA President Cecil Roberts. “These workers are tired of being mistreated, they are tired of being forced to work and missing time with their families. Warrior Met knows it is exploiting these workers, and it’s time for it to stop.” Click here to read a full recap of the strike and how union members and our communities are joining together to win a fair contract. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/24/2021 - 09:30 — Sep 24
  • National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Javier Pierrend
    National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Javier Pierrend Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Javier Pierrend. Javier Pierrend is a bright light! He is a very talented photographer and videographer who helps highlight AFSCME's members and their stories. He is a member of AFSCME's United Staff Union and was previously a member of the Electrical Workers (IBEW). In addition to his work, Pierrend spends his time with his fiance Joseph and their two dogs. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 09/23/2021 - 10:00 — Sep 23
  • Service + Solidarity Spotlight: LEP Releases Report on Clean Energy Infrastructure in the Ohio River Valley
    Service + Solidarity Spotlight: LEP Releases Report on Clean Energy Infrastructure in the Ohio River Valley Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story. The Labor Energy Partnership (LEP), an effort led by the AFL-CIO and the Energy Futures Initiative, released a new report on Tuesday focused on building clean energy infrastructure in the Ohio River Valley region that preserves and creates good union jobs. This report comes on the heels of a workshop hosted by the LEP in July, when it convened leaders from sectors, including government, labor and industry, to discuss hydrogen and carbon capture and storage projects. This was an exciting step toward the LEP’s goal of hosting a series of place-based workshops that drive the will of leaders to take on local, equitable solutions to the climate crisis that support and grow union jobs. Click here to read the report. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 09/23/2021 - 09:30 — Sep 23
  • National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Ernie Sandoval
    National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Ernie Sandoval Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Ernie Sandoval. Ernie Sandoval is a young member of the APWU who volunteered as a shop steward. Through his diligence and training, he eventually became his local's clerk craft director. When he isn't working as a postal clerk, filing grievances and protecting the APWU-USPS collective bargaining agreement, he trains in jiu-jitsu. He knows that to be the best version of himself, he must consistently work to better his craft. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 09/22/2021 - 09:30 — Sep 22