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Call: Paycheck Fairness Act

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:14:26 +0000

Call: Paycheck Fairness Act

Equal Pay for Equal Work

 

The Paycheck Fairness Act increases penalties when employers violate equal pay provisions. It also makes it unlawful to prohibit employees from discussing their wages. Take two minutes to ask your senators and representative to support the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Make a Call.

Today is Equal Pay Day because women have to work until March 14, 2023, to earn what a man made in 2022.

The gender wage gap leads to a loss of some $400,000 over the course of a working woman’s career. For women of color, that loss is even steeper. Read that again: $400,000.

The Paycheck Fairness Act would help close the wage gap in a few different ways by:

  • Making it unlawful to prohibit employees from talking about their wages.
  • Increasing penalties for violating the equal pay provision.
  • Directing the Department of Labor to provide trainings for negotiating compensation and working conditions.

It’s time. Women should get equal pay for equal work.

If you agree, take two minutes to call your senators and representative. Tell them to vote YES on the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Audrey Edmonds Tue, 03/14/2023 - 14:14

International Women’s Day

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:34:20 +0000

International Women’s Day

Women are now nearly 50% of the workforce—yet inequality in the workplace continues. Unequal pay, harassment and discrimination are just some of the abuses women face daily.

But when women stand together, they can demand equality. And a union contract delivers.

We must do everything we can to protect our right to organize, especially from union-busting CEOs like Howard Schultz at Starbucks.

On Tuesday, Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, spoke at the Senate, imploring senators to pass labor laws that protect our constitutional right to organize and collective bargaining.

Watch President Shuler's Testimony (Starts at 11:54)

The quickest way to equal pay (and equal treatment in every way) is a union contract. And we need laws that protect us and our right to organize.

Audrey Edmonds Fri, 03/10/2023 - 14:34

2023 Women Labor Leaders

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 15:38:14 +0000

2023 Women Labor Leaders

This Women’s History Month, we’re profiling leaders who are making women’s history across the labor movement today. 

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.

Here are just a few of the women leaders organizing in 2023. 

 


 

Audrey Edmonds Tue, 03/07/2023 - 10:38

Black History Month Profiles: Desirae Beatty

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 15:00:44 +0000

Black History Month Profiles: Desirae Beatty

Desirae Beatty

This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Desirae Beatty of the United Steelworkers (USW).

Desirae Beatty is a new but mighty member of the United Steelworkers (USW) and has worked to bring solidarity to her local, which represents workers at four Allegheny County (Pennsylvania)-run assisted living and senior facilities. She's been a certified nursing assistant for 17 years and is the epitome of what we look for in labor activists. “We have shown the county and Kane that we can organize and move as one, and we are ready for a positive change," she said.

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 02/28/2023 - 10:00

Black History Month Profiles: E. Faye Butler

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 15:00:31 +0000

Black History Month Profiles: E. Faye Butler

E. Faye Butler

This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is E. Faye Butler of Actors' Equity Association (AEA).

A member of Actors’ Equity Association since 1986, E. Faye Butler has made union activism an important part of her lasting career. Since joining Equity, Butler has been a member of the national council as well as several policy-driven committees, including the production committee, which oversees the Broadway contract. She was a founding co-chair of Equity’s Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, and as a current member of the touring committee, she is at the bargaining table right now negotiating for a new contract.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 02/27/2023 - 10:00

Black History Month Profiles: Dewanda Mitchell

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 15:01:33 +0000

Black History Month Profiles: Dewanda Mitchell

Dewanda Mitchell

This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Dewanda Mitchell of AFGE.

AFGE's Dewanda Mitchell is a retired 20-year Army veteran who served as a military police and correctional officer. She joined the Department of Veterans Affairs where she became the first African American chief of police for the VA Outpatient Clinic Downtown L.A. in 1993. She has spent three decades working and advocating for workers, veterans and cancer survivors. She recently received the doctorate degree in humanitarianism from the Global International Alliance Advocate University. She also received the “I Am A Superwoman” Award from the British Parliament. She is a two-time cancer survivor and currently serves as the president of the Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Greater California, where she helps host annual 5K walk/runs, luncheons, and other events to help raise funds and awareness.

Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 02/26/2023 - 10:01

Black History Month Profiles: Derrick McDonald II

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 15:01:31 +0000

Black History Month Profiles: Derrick McDonald II

Derrick McDonald II

This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Derrick McDonald II of the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU).

Derrick McDonald II is a shop steward with OPEIU Local 153 who works at Advantage Care Physicians. Through the power of his union, McDonald advocates for his co-workers and his community. A skilled organizer, McDonald also currently serves on his union’s bargaining team. “We’re still fighting the same fight Dr. King was fighting,” he said. “For equal pay, equal protection under the law, a right to be heard and a seat at the table.”

Kenneth Quinnell Sat, 02/25/2023 - 10:01

Black History Month Profiles: Linda Hunt

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:15:12 +0000

Black History Month Profiles: Linda Hunt

Linda Hunt

This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Linda Hunt of UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union.

Linda Hunt is a food server and an active member of UNITE HERE's Culinary Union (Local 226) for the past 42 years. In 2022, she took a leave of absence during the 2022 elections to help elect leaders who would champion issues important to working people: “We aren’t going to give up. We will keep fighting every day. We vote. We win!”

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/24/2023 - 10:15

Black History Month Profiles: Clint Brown

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 15:01:10 +0000

Black History Month Profiles: Clint Brown

Clint Brown

This year, for Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently active making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Clint Brown of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).

Clint Brown joined the staff of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 881 in 1986 as a union representative. He has held many positions with the local, and his efforts have been instrumental in fighting for the rights of workers across Ohio, from paid sick leave to minimum wage increases and many more. Brown's service to the labor movement is extensive. He has been a member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and delegate to CBTU's international convention, a trustee and active member of the Minority Coalition of the UFCW International, as well as president of the Chicago chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/24/2023 - 10:01

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: YouTube Music Strike Reaches Day 14; Alphabet Workers Stand Strong

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 14:30:03 +0000

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: YouTube Music Strike Reaches Day 14; Alphabet Workers Stand Strong

YouTube music workers 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 regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Workers at YouTube Music have been on an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike for two weeks against Cognizant Technology Solutions and Google. The vast majority of the workers, who filed for recognition with the Alphabet Workers Union (AWU-CWA Local 1400) in October, were hired remotely and the companies’ announced “return to office” plan ordered those workers to move to Austin, Texas, or they would lose their jobs. The workers then went on strike.

The workers say that Cognizant is desperate to break the strike and has engaged in smear tactics against low-wage workers. Google refused to call on Cognizant to end the return to office mandate, making them part of the problem. The workers demand that Cognizant and Google put an end to union-busting and the mandate, and allow their workers to freely exercise their right to organize.

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/24/2023 - 09:30

   
  

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