Cincinnati
AFL-CIO
Labor Council
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This Week With AFL-CIO President, Liz Shuler
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Today marks the one-year anniversary of the start of the Mine Workers’ (UMWA) strike against Warrior Met Coal. For 365 days, our union brothers, sisters and siblings have held the line and shown all of us the true meaning of solidarity.
UMWA members made heavy sacrifices to help bring Warrior Met Coal’s predecessor out of bankruptcy. The company is profitable again, but management is refusing to negotiate a fair contract.
If workers are going to share in the sacrifice, we must share in the success. A decent wage and good benefits aren’t too much to ask for. Warrior Met can definitely be profitable and do what’s right for UMWA members, their families and their communities.
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So many people—especially women—have been sidelined by the pandemic because they’re primary caregivers. And nearly half a million working families are still out of the workforce because the dependent care system in our country is so badly broken.
This isn’t just a women’s issue. This is a family issue. This is a working person’s issue. This is a core economic issue.
Care work makes all other work possible. That’s the bottom line. And care jobs should be good jobs with livable wages, benefits and protections.
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Jeff Bezos, the part-time astronaut and full-time billionaire, paid $0 in federal income tax in 2007 and 2011. Elon Musk, another billionaire space enthusiast, also paid $0 in 2018.
President Biden is completely right to propose a 20% minimum income tax on the ultra-wealthy. It’s unfair for workers to pay taxes and create all the wealth that billionaires hoard for themselves, while bosses like Bezos and Musk don’t have to pay anything. Why do they get to go to outer space while we have to pay the lion’s share of taxes for essential services that we all rely on?
Biden’s proposed budget will further the cause of economic fairness in our country. It will restore balance in our economy. And it’s the right way forward.
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Organizing is the lifeblood of our movement. It’s about going out and meeting with workers in our workplaces in every part of the country, talking to them about the power we have when workers come together and making the case for joining a union.
There are still too many barriers in the way of organizing. We need to make it easier—not harder—for more workers to form unions. And that’s why the U.S. Senate must pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act.
If we aren’t waking up every day thinking about organizing, especially in this moment when working people are showing true courage by standing up and demanding change like never before, then shame on us. We are in a moment and we have the momentum!
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The results of the re-run vote to determine if the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW) will represent workers at Amazon in Bessemer, Alabama, hinges on 416 ballots challenged by the parties. AFL-CIO President Shuler issued this statement:
Over the past several months, the heroic Amazon workers in Bessemer have voted by mail on whether to form a union with RWDSU-UFCW. Any employer, corporation or billionaire who tries to intimidate or harass employees to interfere with the democratic voting process is breaking the law, end of story.
We will not allow Amazon to bully workers out of exercising their basic freedom. Every single contested ballot must be counted.
Once every vote is counted, no matter the outcome, we know the bravery shown by these workers has made an impact for generations to come. Victory in the labor movement is when workers come together to make change despite all obstacles. This is only the beginning.
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Take Action Today: Engage Our Members to Support Judge Jackson
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Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson showed America’s workers last week why she is the ideal choice to be our next U.S. Supreme Court justice. Faced with a series of baseless attacks from anti-union senators, she demonstrated her legal qualifications with ease. Now, we can be confident that she will give union members and all working people a fair day in court.
With so much at stake, we need to organize, mobilize and engage union members in every state to support Judge Jackson’s confirmation. Take action today and share these links with our members:
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Take Action to Help Ukraine |
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Where to Donate:
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Ukraine Fund - People in Ukraine are in grave danger of physical harm, families have fled their homes seeking refuge in neighboring countries, and others are sheltering from bombs falling in major cities. The ITUC’s Ukrainian member organizations FPU and KVPU are providing support to families who desperately need assistance with: food and water provisions, medical supplies, hygiene items. You can help Ukraine’s workers and their families by donating to the ITUC’s emergency fundraising appeal. All funds donated will be passed on to our two member organizations to support their humanitarian work in Ukraine.
People in Need Ukraine - People in Need Ukraine provides a wide variety of emergency services, recently they sent the first convoy of trucks loaded with humanitarian aid as requested by reps of Lviv in western Ukraine that included sleeping bags, mats, and other goods either for free or at a great discount. They also provided aid to internally displaced people, such as aid, shelter, insulated tents for displaced children, and basic needs, e.g. food, water, hygiene products. They also receive donations from USAID, WFP, EU and other legit donors.
Ukrainian Red Cross Society - They are part of the Red Cross and help civilians with emergency assistance. The link also provides information on donations and usage of donations. (Please note that the English website takes a bit longer to load).
Caritas Ukraine - Began their work in 1992 after Ukraine declared independence providing humanitarian assistance. Currently providing support to internally-displaced people on the move with essential items, such as food, drinking water and personal hygiene kits and shelter, safe transport for displaced families. Click on link to learn more and make the donation.
Razom for Ukraine - New York City-based organization that organizes the provision of humanitarian aid and conducts informational work in the US. They are a volunteer-run organization with a low overhead similar to United Help Ukraine, but in my view more able to handle larger sums of money. They have been active since Maidan and have raised $1.05 million in the last two weeks.
Other Actions:
- Divest public pension fund assets from investments with ties to Russia.
- Educate your members about Ukraine and the work of the labor movement
- Pass a local resolution of solidarity
- Participate in local prayer vigils
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President Biden Introduces Plan to Tax Billionaire Wealth |
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For too long, our tax code has rewarded wealth, not work, and contributed to growing income and wealth inequality in America. Under current law, when an American worker earns a dollar of wages, that dollar is taxed as they earn it. But when a billionaire earns income because their investments increase in value, that gain is too often never taxed at all.
America’s imbalanced tax code means that many millionaires and billionaires end up paying lower tax rates than middle class workers. In 2021 alone, America’s more than 700 billionaires saw their wealth increase by $1 trillion, yet in a typical year, billionaires like these would pay just 8 percent of their total realized and unrealized income in taxes. A firefighter or teacher can pay double that tax rate.
President Biden is a capitalist and believes that anyone should be able to become a millionaire or a billionaire. He also believes that it is wrong for America to have a tax code that results in America’s wealthiest households paying a lower tax rate than working families. President Biden has long called for taxing capital gains as ordinary income and for eliminating the stepped-up basis loophole that enables the capital gains of the very wealthy to go untaxed forever. As part of his fiscal year 2023 budget, President Biden is calling on Congress to pass legislation requiring the wealthiest American households to pay a minimum of 20 percent on all of their income, including unrealized investment income that currently is untaxed.
President Biden’s Billionaire Minimum Income Tax will make America’s tax code fairer and reduce the deficit by about $360 billion in just the next decade. This will put the United States Government on firmer financial footing, building on the progress the Administration has made to reduce the deficit by over half by the end of this year compared to President Trump’s last year in office. Through the Billionaire Minimum Income Tax and other measures, the President’s budget will reduce the deficit by another $1 trillion over the decade.
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Amazon Workers in New York Make history by Forming Union
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Amazon workers in New York have voted to form a union in what labor leaders are calling a “historic victory” against the US’s second largest employer.
In Staten Island, New York, 2,654 warehouse workers voted yes to forming a union, while 2,131 voted no, according to a tally by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
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PETITION: Recognize the Condé Nast Union
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The Condé Nast Union has requested voluntary recognition with The NewsGuild of New York-CWA (TNG-CWA). Sign this petition telling Condé Nast’s management to recognize the union and start negotiations without delay or division!
Workers at Allure, Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Epicurious, Glamour, GQ, Self, Teen Vogue, Them, Vanity Fair and Vogue are uniting with one powerful voice.
And they’re saying: We deserve fair pay. We deserve a safe and inclusive office environment.
Condé Nast has previously recognized their unionized colleagues at Ars Technica, Pitchfork, Wired and The New Yorker. The Condé Nast Union expects the same recognition as their peers at other publications.
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Labor Movement Celebrates Farmworker Awareness Week |
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This past week was National Farmworker Awareness Week, which culminated on César Chávez Day, March 31. The backbreaking work of planting and harvesting our food is mostly performed by Latino immigrants for low pay under difficult working conditions. But despite the essential jobs they do, only a few states protect farmworkers’ right to organize.
“Sad that historic abuses to the farm workers of the U.S. continue, but out of that suffering, workers and their allies across the nation are organizing and blazing trails that have not existed, calling for change,” said President Baldemar Velasquez (pictured above wearing a wide-brimmed hat and black blazer) of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC).
Farmworkers in America have a long history of standing together and winning campaigns that lead to better outcomes at work. Carrying on the proud legacy of farmworkers like César Chávez, FLOC is continuing its fight to root out abuse and exploitation across the nation ranging from Ohio to Kentucky to Virginia and North Carolina’s tobacco industry.
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Strike Victory: Minneapolis Educators Ratify Groundbreaking Contract
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After nearly three weeks on strike, the courageous members of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and Educational Support Professionals (MFT), AFT-NEA Local 59, have won their fight for safe and stable schools. MFT members voted this past weekend to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with Minneapolis Public Schools. The new contract will provide living wages for educational support professionals, retain educators of color and increase mental health support for students all while reducing class sizes and caseloads.
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Members of RWDSU-UFCW Win Historic Wage Increases in Contract with Kellogg |
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On 3/28/22, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW) Local 184-L ratified a new contract containing unprecedented wage increases for workers at Kellogg in Kansas City, Kansas. The new agreement, which covers approximately 570 workers who produce Cheez-It brand snack crackers, brings a 15.5% wage increase over the course of the three-year contract, with an additional $500 bonus for workers in the third year.
“These wage increases will help us better provide for our families and improve the quality of our lives. And it’s not just our pay; improved benefits and protected health care with low premiums is what we need and deserve right now,” said Larry Smith, president of RWDSU-UFCW Local 184-L and a worker at Kellogg’s Kansas City plant.
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IAM Reaches Industry-Leading Tentative Agreement at Southwest Airlines |
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Approximately 7,000 union members at Southwest Airlines will vote on a contract that delivers industry-leading job protections and pay scales, as well as improved mandatory overtime rules. The Machinists (IAM) represents Southwest Airlines’ customer service employees, and its negotiating committee unanimously recommended a “yes” vote for the tentative agreement. Members will decide whether to ratify the four-year tentative agreement in the coming weeks.
“Our members should be proud to have stood strong for a contract they deserve,” said Richard Johnsen, IAM chief of staff to the international president. “Thanks to this negotiating committee and the solidarity of our membership, we were able to secure a much stronger tentative agreement that will benefit our members at Southwest Airlines, their families and communities.”
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Sign the Petition: Go Union |
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The momentum to unionize Starbucks has grown so strong, a store in the company’s hometown of Seattle just voted to form a union. It’s one of nearly a hundred stores that are looking into organizing a union right now — but Starbucks is planning to fight back.
Starbucks workers are standing up for their rights and their bosses are on the defensive. Just last week, Starbucks announced longtime CEO — and seasoned union buster — Howard Schultz will be returning to the company.2 The corporation is gearing up to fight the union with all it’s got.
The US must make it easier for employees to organize a union, and harder for corporations to interfere in the process. Right now Congress is sitting on the PRO Act: legislation supported by President Biden that would do exactly that. Show your solidarity for Starbucks workers and the labor movement by calling on Congress to pass the PRO Act!
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From the very start of this unionization wave, Starbucks corporate has wielded hostile and possibly illegal tactics against unionizing workers. Just before workers at three Buffalo Starbucks locations voted on unionization, Starbucks corporate offices sent a letter to employees stating “we want you to vote no.”
But Starbucks’ tactics go beyond hostility. Starbucks may have engaged in some anti-union activities that are actually illegal.
At least five Starbucks baristas working to organize their coworkers in Buffalo, NY have reported they were unfairly fired, possibly for pro-union activity.
At a recent board meeting, Starbucks executives said they plan to continue the illegal practice of requiring baristas to attend meetings at which their bosses could “persuade” them not to vote for unionization. That’s an “unfair labor practice,” according to the NLRB — and against the law.2
The corporation’s annual report reveals what Howard Schultz and Starbucks corporate are so afraid of. It’s simple really: “If a significant portion of our employees were to become unionized, our labor costs could increase.”
Starbucks executives are terrified of fairly compensating their employees. We stand with Starbucks workers in this fight, and demand that Congress changes current labor law, which makes it easier for a business to stop a union than for workers to organize one!
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Photo Contest: Climate and Energy Jobs Through the Eyes of Union Members
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The contest is open to any union member who sees their work as a climate job—whether you’re driving or fixing electric buses, working on wind turbines, teaching students about the climate crisis, cleaning up after climate-related disasters, working on green buildings, installing solar, operating water systems or doing anything else that relates to climate change.
Click here to learn more and submit your photos by July 31.
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Ohio Republicans Choose To Defy The Ohio Supreme Court To Protect Politicians |
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Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission defied the Ohio Supreme Court yet again when it came to drawing State Legislative maps, this time for the worst possible reason: to protect incumbent politicians.
The Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission approved their latest state legislative maps 4-3, abandoning a plan that was in the works by a bipartisan pair of consultants that were hired to draw the new maps to comply with the Ohio Supreme Court ruling. The maps that were voted on and approved were done in secret, as the three previous maps that were struck down were, prompting Secretary of State Frank LaRose to admit that he only learned of the new maps 10 minutes before they were presented. The approved maps are nearly identical to the most recent ones that the Ohio Supreme Court rejected as unconstitutional.
According to Cleveland.com, "Following a similar trajectory as before, Republicans introduced the plan on Monday evening shortly before approving it at 10:20 p.m., just ahead of a midnight legal deadline set by the Ohio Supreme Court. The move to abandon the plan from the outside mapmakers, who have been drawing maps on a public livestream since Thursday, drew immediate objections from furious Democrats. It also could set up Republicans to bypass the Ohio Supreme Court through a legal maneuver involving an ongoing lawsuit Republican activists filed in federal court."
The independent mapmakers were making great headway up until a few days ago, when Senate President Matt Huffman demanded they include addresses of the incumbents in the map, which the Supreme Court said should have no bearing on how the districts are drawn. After all, districts should be drawn in the best interest of Ohioans, not determined by trying to protect those currently in office.
"It's disheartening to know that the Republican leaders on the Commission refuse to follow the law and court orders," said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga. "Twice, Ohioans from both parties went to the polls to vote for Constitutional Amendments to end the illegal practice of gerrymandering. For the Republicans to continue to defy the Ohio Supreme Court rulings to provide maps that reflect the state as a whole proves they care more about maintaining an over influence of political power than doing what’s right for working people and all Ohioans."
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Ohio AFL-CIO, IUE-CWA Members Call On Rob Portman To Save Last Lightbulb Factory in America |
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Last week, Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga joined IUE-CWA President Carl Kennebrew and a busload of workers from the last remaining lightbulb factory in America, located in Bucyrus, to urge Senator Rob Portman to save the factory and advocate for more bulb manufacturing.
Earlier this year, Representative Tim Ryan, the Ohio AFL-CIO endorsed candidate for US Senate, added an amendment to the Department of Defense Budget Bill which would require the DoD to buy their LED bulbs from an American-made facility.
"Our federal government has the strength to change entire industries when its purchasing power is leveraged to support American businesses – and we can start with the Department of Defense," said Congressman Ryan. "Too many American workers have been put out of jobs that have been shipped abroad. We can start here and now to bring those jobs home by using the might of the government to buy American."
Unfortunately, the light bulb amendment that was inserted in the House committee was stripped out of the bill prior to final passage. We are now calling on Senator Portman to join Senator Sherrod Brown in supporting passage of the light bulb provision by attaching it to another bill or as a stand-alone measure.
"Innovation happens on the shop room floor, and when 99% of energy efficient light bulbs are made in China, it is impossible for us to compete. We need to make more things in America – not cede market share in the products of the future to China,” said Brown.
The event in front of Senator Portman's office was well received by Central Ohioans as horns were honking non-stop as workers lined the sidewalks with signs that read, "Senator Portman: No More Party Politics. Save Ohio Jobs."
"This is at the crux of what we have been talking about for so long. The devastation that has been caused in our supply chains have been exposed because of this pandemic," said Burga. "We need to be re-shoring much of the work that we have lost due to bad trade deals and cannot afford to have any more American jobs sent abroad to countries like China."
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Ohio AFL-CIO Hosts Largest Union Sportsmen's Alliance Conservation Dinner to Date |
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After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, the Ohio AFL-CIO held its annual Union Sportsmen's Alliance (USA) Conservation banquet, and it was the largest one in the country.
Held at the UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 189 Hall in Columbus, over 600 union members came out to support the event. Members from across Ohio, and even some from our neighboring West Virginia, came to enjoy a night of solidarity around our love for the great outdoors and conservation.
"This has always been one of my favorite events every year. It is great to come together as a union family to share our passion for nature and outdoor sporting," said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga. "This year was a bittersweet event because we celebrated together but we also honored the life and contributions of the man who made the USA happen, President Richard Trumka. We will continue to honor his legacy of merging labor, outdoor recreation and conservation."
Those in attendance also helped raise funds for members of the United Steelworkers who have been on strike at Sherwin-Williams near Cleveland since February 5.
As more than six million active and retired union members hunt, fish or shoot, we make up the largest constituency of union sportsmen and sportswomen in the country. When they are not on the job, they are enjoying time with family, friends and fellow union members on the water, in the field or in the woods enjoying America's great outdoors. The USA connects these union members on a lifestyle level to create solidarity through our passions.
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SAVE DATE SAT. JULY 23RD NOON-3PM |
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HAMILTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND CINCINNATI BLACK MUSIC WALK OF FAME FOUNDER, ALICIA REECE ANNOUNCES WALK OF FAME INDUCTION & DEDICATION TO TAKE PLACE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CINCINNATI MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURN THIS YEAR
HAMILTON COUNTY, OH- Hamilton County Commissioner and founder of the new Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame (CBMWF), Alicia Reece announced today that the CBMWF Induction Ceremony and dedication will take place at the Andrew Brady Music Center on Saturday, July 23rd from Noon-3pm during the Cincinnati Music Festival weekend. The CBMWF induction ceremony and celebration will be free and open to the public.
“The Cincinnati Music Festival Weekend is one of the largest African American music festivals in the country and has a major economic impact on our county. Our county and state have a rich history of African American music artists, producers, and song writers and our Black Music Walk of Fame will ensure a permanent place to recognize their accomplishments for the entire world to see,” says Commissioner Reece. “This partnership creates a mega music weekend.”
Commissioner Reece, whose late mother was a national recording artist who performed at the music festival many years ago and father owned an independent label expressed that her parents met through music, and she grew up being exposed to a lot of artists and heard many of their stories, but those stories and their accomplishments had not been captured in a permanent way.
“I would not be here if the music had not brought my parents together. That’s how they met. The CBMWF will be a permanent place to honor our African American music legends and allow everyone to see their worldwide music impact. Most of the inductees we will be honoring have performed at the music festival over the years.”
The CBMWF is a new interactive outdoor park being built by Hamilton County across from the county’s NFL Paul Brown Stadium which is home of the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals and the Cincinnati Music Festival. Stars of the founding members of the CBMWF – Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Bootsy Collins and the Isley Brothers, Gospel Grammy Winner Dr. Charles Fold, and Doo-wop Hall of Famer Otis Williams will be unveiled along with the new 2022 Induction class which will be announced during Black Music Month this June. “There is nothing like this in the country to date,” added Commissioner Reece.
The Cincinnati Music Festival Weekend will headline Janet Jackson and Charlie Wilson at Paul Brown Stadium and will also feature a themed Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame lounge. Procter & Gamble is the presenting sponsor of both the Cincinnati Music Festival and the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame festivities.
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2022 Worker's Memorial Day |
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The 2022 Worker's Memorial is rapidly approaching... This year's commemoration will air Thursday evening, April 28, 6:00 PM.
It is being produced in collaboration with UAW Local 647, 863, and CAP Council. It will be a fully produced video production that will feature special guests (in order of appearance): UAW Region 2B Director Wayne Blanchard | Host, Denise DalVera | Springboro High School Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard | National Anthem and Lift Every Voice and Sing, Dr. Jillian Harrison-Jones Music Director, MUSE Cincinnati's Women’s Choir | UAW Local 863 Chaplaincy Chair, Russ McQueen | Mayor, Aftab Pureval | State Representatives, Brigid Kelly and Jessica Miranda | Ohio AFL-CIO President, Tim Burga | Cincinnati AFL-CIO President and Business Manager, Plumbers, Pipefitters and MES Local 392, Bill Froehle | Our keynote speakers will be US Representative, Tim Ryan and US Senator, Sherrod Brown.
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Get Your Foursome Together for the
35th Annual Cincinnati AFL-CIO Golf Outing!
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State of the Addiction Crisis Report & Upcoming Grant Opportunities |
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Last Friday, the Steering Committee released its 2021 State of the Addiction Crisis Annual Report indicating that overdose deaths in Hamilton County have stabilized despite pandemic challenges, including isolation, economic stress, the proliferation of fentanyl, and lack of face-to-face support services.
HC ARC would also like to take this opportunity to share upcoming local, state, and federal grant opportunities:
“Interact for Health will award up to a total of $250,000 for planning and implementation grants. Planning grants will not exceed 12 months and $25,000 and must demonstrate a strong implementation and sustainability plan as Interact for Health is completing the final year of its strategic plan and cannot assure support for implementation. Implementation grants will not exceed 12 months. Funding amount will depend on the proposed activities and plans.”
“The purpose of the SPF Rx grant program is to provide resources to help prevent and address prescription drug misuse within a State or locality. The program is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of sharing medications as well as the risks of fake or counterfeit pills purchased over social media or other unknown sources, and work with pharmaceutical and medical communities on the risks of overprescribing. Whether addressed at the state level or by an informed community-based organization, the SPF Rx program will raise community awareness and bring prescription substance misuse prevention activities and education to schools, communities, parents, prescribers, and their patients. In addition, grant recipients will be required to track reductions in opioid related overdoses and incorporate relevant prescription and overdose data into strategic planning and future programming. Eligible applicants are domestic public and private non-profit entities. Up to $500,000 per year per award. Up to 5 years.”
“Project Activities begin in the spring of 2022. These awards will not exceed 18 months. Planning grants will be no more than $20,000 and must demonstrate a strong implementation and sustainability plan as Interact for Health is completing the final year of its strategic plan and cannot assure support for implementation. Implementation or expansion projects will be no more than $75,000 and must address how services will be offered successfully during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interact for Health will award a total of $250,000 with this request for proposals. The amounts awarded will vary by project. Desired applicants are community-based nonprofits or public health organizations”
“The purpose of this program is to provide resource to help expand/enhance access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). It is expected that this program will help to 1) increase the number of individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) receiving MOUD; and 2) decrease illicit opioid use and prescription opioid misuse. Eligible applicants are domestic public and private non-profit entities. Up to $750,000 per year per award. Up to five years.
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Please notify Program Administrator Meagan Gosney (Meagan.gosney@hamilton-co.org) if your organization plans to apply for any of these solicitations. Notification of application assists HC ARC with county-wide coordination, prevention of duplication of resources, and HC ARC can assist with application components, if needed.
Between now and the next Full Coalition meeting, scheduled for Friday, June 24th at 11:00am, HC ARC will release newsletters in April and May.
Don’t forget to like and follow us on Facebook for the latest HC ARC news, announcements, upcoming trainings, and HC ARC calendar of events.
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Meet the Supreme Court Candidates |
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U.S Senator Sherrod Brown: Working For Working People!
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MARCH 31, 2022 - Brown, Colleagues Push for Accountability, Answers on The Undercounting of Minority Communities in the 2020 Census - READ MORE
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MARCH 31, 2022 - Brown, Colleagues Call on Department of Education, DOJ to Follow Through on Pledge to Improve Handling of Student Debt Bankruptcy Claims - READ MORE
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MARCH 31, 2022 - Brown, Colleagues Demand Answers on Dejoy's Gas-Guzzling USPS Spending Spree - READ MORE
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MARCH 31, 2022 - Brown Meets with Ohio Members of American Federation of Government Employees Who Serve Ohio Veterans - READ MORE
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MARCH 31, 2022 - Brown: To Ensure Seniors Can Age With Dignity, We Need More Affordable, Accessible Housing - READ MORE
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MARCH 31, 2022 - Brown Announces $80,000 for Tourism Development in Trumbull County - READ MORE
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MARCH 30, 2022 - Brown Pushes For Policies That Will Make Ohio a Tech Hub - READ MORE
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MARCH 30, 2022 - Brown Voices Concerns Over Advanced Uranium Fuels Supply, Encourages Ohio Production - READ MORE
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MARCH 30, 2022 - Brown, Colleagues Call on Regulators to Focus on Lending to Main Street - READ MORE
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MARCH 30, 2022 - ICYMI: During Veterans’ Affairs Hearing, Brown Presses VA Secretary on Plan to Support Veterans Exposed to Toxic Burn Pits - READ MORE
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MARCH 30, 2022 - Brown Working to Protect Ohioans from Medical Debt - READ MORE
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MARCH 29, 2022 - Brown Announces Nearly $350,000 to Increase Participation in STEM Fields at University of Cincinnati - READ MORE
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MARCH 29, 2022 - On the Senate Floor, Brown Urges Colleagues to Support Dr. Lisa Cook’s Nomination to The Federal Reserve - READ MORE
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MARCH 29, 2022 - Brown, We Must Address The Growing Crisis of Medical Debt Burdening American Families - READ MORE
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MARCH 29, 2022 - Brown, Colleagues Urge CFPB to Address Medical Debt - READ MORE
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King and Breaking Silence |
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A Special Appeal to my Colleagues of Conscience...
For the past several months, I have been volunteering with a team of very dedicated human and civil rights activists from around the country to organize a special virtual event on MONDAY, April 4 at 7:15 EDT that honors the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - and his call for racial and economic justice that continues to inspire the world today. All the details are on our Website.
I hope you will join us for this free program by registering HERE. Please also share the Facebook event page with your "friends", post it on your organization's Facebook page or forward this email to your colleagues.
April 4 marks both the anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination in Memphis in 1968 as well as the date of what is considered by many to be the most consequential speech of his career. On April 4, 1967, exactly one year prior to his death, Dr. King was in Riverside Church in NYC to deliver his historic "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence'' speech.
In the speech, he moved beyond civil rights to call for an end to the war in Vietnam as well as to call out the triple threats of militarism, racism and extreme materialism - enforced by a culture of violence - as the source of the ills that plague our society. Controversial in its day, "A Time to Break Silence" is now considered prophetic.
As violent war rages in Ukraine and elsewhere, as white nationalism continues its march here in the U.S., and as resource extraction threatens the very habitability of the planet itself, Dr. King's speech offers us a comprehensive critique of the problems we continue to face - and an inspirational vision of the transformation we so desperately need.
Sponsored by the April 4th Coalition, this virtual gathering is hosted by a coalition of more than 50 civil and human rights, peace, religious and justice organizations (listed on our Website). The evening will include a recorded reading of Dr. King's speech and a live panel discussion with inspirational activists who continue to work for a just society. Rev. James Lawson will provide his insights. Our panel moderator is Stephen Ward. And our panelists are Nse' Ufot, Andrea Ritchie, Robin D.G. Kelly, Crystal Cavalier and Justin Pearson. Their bios are on our website.
So please REGISTER for the event and encourage your friends and colleagues to register as well.
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United Way: Do Not Miss Out on Your Tax Credits!
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April 15 -- this year, it is April 18 – is around the corner and it does not look like the Internal Revenue Service will extend the filing deadline as it did the past two years.
Our Free Tax Prep service is busy, but we have options for you. If your income is less than $73,000 and you are comfortable with a computer or mobile device, please try MyFreeTaxes.com.
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Do not miss out on your tax credits! United Way of Greater Cincinnati works for the economic well-being of all in our region and our Free Tax Prep service is one way to ensure workers get what they deserve when filing taxes. United Way helped 7,000 people avoid more than $2 million in tax filing fees last year, while collecting more than $10 million in refunds!
This is a fast and convenient service and it will help you determine your eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, Stimulus dollars and more.
If you know someone who does not have access to a computer or mobile device, the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library allows free access to computers.
There is no need to pay to get your taxes done. United Way and MyFreeTaxes can help today!
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Freestore Foodbank: This April, Spring into Action to Help End Hunger
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While you begin to make your plans — vacations, holiday celebrations, graduations, or fun in the sun with friends — it’s important to keep in mind that summer is not too kind to hungry children and their families.
When schools let out, children aren’t getting food from school programs and families in need wrestle with food insecurity.
At Freestore Foodbank we are constantly planning on ways we can help our local community. The sad reality is that thousands of children and families in the tristate area go hungry, and it only gets worse through the summer season.
We are proud to be a shoulder to lean on by serving nutritious meals to those hungry in our community. And our tireless efforts would not even be possible without the kindness and hard work of volunteers like you.
In our fight to end hunger, your donation to Freestore Foodbank will be DOUBLED thanks to Jan and Tom Hardy and our generous Second Helping Donors up to $200,000!
In the past year, we distributed more than 40 million meals through a network of more than 570 community partner agencies serving 20 counties in the tristate area of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
It makes us proud to know that you are here to help us support our community and are the reason hungry children and families still have hope, even during the tough times.
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RetireMed: Personal Invitation to Be Our Guest at a Reason to Hope
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On behalf of RetireMed, we would like to invite you to be our guest at the Alzheimer's Association Reason to Hope breakfast on April 28 at Cooper Creek Event Center. You'll have an opportunity to network with other area business and HR leaders from 7:15 - 7:45 a.m. Our CEO, Marisa O’Neill, will then share about our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. The brief one-hour program will talk about dementia's significant impact in the workplace: lost productivity, lost employees, and lost wages.
Did you realize one dollar of every five Medicare dollars deducted from everyone's paycheck goes toward supporting someone with dementia? The figures are staggering.
Please join us to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and the free services that can help your company and your employees. Click on the Save the Date below to learn more and to register. Feel free to bring a guest along (be sure they register too).
We look forward to seeing you there.
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39th Annual Labor-Management Conference |
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Join us at this year’s 39th Annual Labor-Management Conference on Building Labor-Management Relationships: Through Cooperation and Knowledge, where experts will share practical, cooperative, and legal information to build and enhance effective labor-management relationships.
The annual conference was borne out of a partnership between NKU and FCMS many years ago to promote Labor-Management cooperation. When Labor and Management work together, they strengthen the region's workforce and its economic competitiveness. Business leaders, labor representatives, and government officials gather at our conference to find effective and valuable approaches to working together.
SHRM and CLE credits for Ohio and Kentucky are pending.
*Must register by April 13, 2022 to receive the early bird registration rate
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LOCATION
Northern Kentucky University
Registration and sessions will take place at the Student Union
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WHEN
May 13, 2023
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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COST
Early Bird: $160*
Late Registration: $175
NLRB Rate: $95
Student Registration: $40
Group Registration (10 tickets): $1,440
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Register Now for Upcoming FMCS Institute Courses! |
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Training for the real-world challenges of labor-management relations and organizational change.
Don't wait! The FMCS Institute's 2022 courses will provide you with the opportunity to expand your conflict resolution and organizational change toolkit by introducing a diverse lineup of targeted and hands-on programs brought to you by experienced instructors and practitioners. Register today for some of our most in-demand courses.
Negotiation Skills (Online) Spring 2022
Negotiation Skills (Online) Summer 2022
Arbitrating in the Federal Sector (Online) Spring 2022
Arbitrating in the Federal Sector (Online) Summer 2022
Becoming A Labor Arbitrator (Online) Spring 2022
Dealing with Difficult People Behaviors (Online) Spring 2022
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National Labor-Management Conference 2022 |
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Join us at The National Labor-Management Conference, and learn the latest about essential bargaining techniques, hear critical updates on the labor and employment landscape, and gain valuable insights into new directions, technology, and trends in the changing world of work.
This is a can't miss event for 2022! You’ll leave inspired to be a change agent within your organization and empowered with the tools, insight, and information to make an impact.
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FREE PRE-CONFERENCE SESSIONS INCLUDED W/ REGISTRATION
February 25, 2022 - New Bargaining Units: Challenges for Both Sides
Newly organized workplace? Going from an organizing drive to a productive partnership can be challenging. Bring your questions and concerns to this webinar for practical suggestions, ideas, and expert advice that you can choose to use immediately!
Don't miss this value-added workshop and others offered monthly leading up to the general conference.
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Ohio Vaccination Dashboard
The COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard displays the most recent data reported to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) regarding the number of individuals that have started and completed the COVID-19 vaccination series by various demographics and county of residence.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard displays the most recent data reported to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) regarding the number of individuals that have started and completed the COVID-19 vaccination series by various demographics and county of residence. “Vaccination started” indicates that the individual has received at least one valid dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The number listed as “vaccination completed” is a subset of the number included in “vaccination started,” indicating that those individuals within that group have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses and are considered fully immunized. ODH is making COVID-19 data available for public review while also protecting privacy. This dashboard will be updated daily. Please see footnotes below for more details.
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Ohio COVID-19 Dashboard
Overview
ODH is making COVID-19 data available for public review while also protecting patient privacy.
The State of Ohio COVID-19 Dashboard displays the most recent preliminary data reported to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) about cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Ohio by selected demographics and county of residence. Data for cases and hospitalizations is reported to ODH via the Ohio Disease Reporting System (ODRS), and verified mortality data is reported via the Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS).
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Below are the current reporting trends from Friday, April 1 for key indicators calculated from data reported to the Ohio Department of Health. These trends are updated daily and are presented by report date. |
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Below is a snapshot of key metrics pulled Friday, April 1, 2022 from daily data reporting to the Ohio Department of Health. These metrics are updated daily. |
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Hamilton County
Cases
187,340
Hospitalizations
6,038
Deaths
2,043
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Clermont County
Cases
51,252
Hospitalizations
1,439
Deaths
547
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Brown County
Cases
11,176
Hospitalizations
107
Deaths
176
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Butler County
Cases
92,404
Hospitalizations
3,182
Deaths
1,140
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Warren County
Cases
57,617
Hospitalizations
1,354
Deaths
579
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Other News For and About Working People: |
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Cincinnati AFL-CIO
Labor Council
President
Executive Secretary-Treasure
Communications & Administrative Associate
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