Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council

Saturday, May 14, 2022

This Week With AFL-CIO President, Liz Shuler

We call on the Biden administration to do its part to assist borrowers hampered by overwhelming debt. Organized labor was built on the foundation of creating a pathway to the middle class for everyone, but skyrocketing student loan debt has become an insurmountable obstacle for so many people to achieve this goal. The Biden administration’s decision to continue to pause student debt has made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many borrowers, but these borrowers still live with the uncertainty of not knowing when they will need to drastically alter their finances in order to begin repaying their loans. After all that we have endured in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot ask working people to make further sacrifices. Now is the time to cancel, not collect, student debt.

On Thursday, we came together to remember the 1 million people in the United States who we’ve lost to the pandemic. So many of us have said goodbye to loved ones far too soon. And we will always hold on to the memory of our sisters, brothers and siblings who have perished. Through these dark times, America’s working people are a shining light of hope. Hope for a future where all workers will be safe at work. From the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, our movement is emerging stronger than ever to serve the communities and the country we all love. We will forever cherish the 1 million souls who are no longer with us in person but will remain with us in spirit.

I was in Chicago on Tuesday at the IBEW convention to talk about how we can capture the momentum building all around us. People are fed up with corporate greed; they’re fired up and organizing unions in a wave of activism we haven’t seen in decades. Young people are stepping up to organize at both large corporations and emerging industries. There’s a whole new generation of trade unionists showing all of us how to be bold and creative and fearless—because these are the future leaders of our movement. We see our moment and we’re not afraid to make the most of it. We are ready to hold those in power accountable, take risks and demand more.

Workers everywhere must have the free and fair opportunity to join together and form a union if they so choose—congressional staff included. Our federation applauds the work of the Congressional Workers Union staffers who have brought longstanding and emerging workplace issues to light. H. Res. 915, Recognizing Congressional Workers’ Right to Organize, will approve the regulations required to implement collective bargaining protections for employees of the House of Representatives. It has our full support, and we urge the House to swiftly pass this resolution. We are grateful to those who have expressed support for the right of Capitol Hill staff to organize, including President Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others. And we hope all members of Congress will support these workers in their efforts to unionize. Solidarity to congressional staffers!

Union members are winning massive victories. From the American Rescue Plan to the bipartisan infrastructure law to new union organizing campaigns, we are taking big leaps forward. We know that rising costs are a top issue for many of our members. What else do union members care about? Share this issue survey with our members. The 2022 midterm election is critical as we fight to defend pro-worker majorities in both the U.S. Senate and the House, and grow worker power at the state and local levels. But first, we need to learn from union members about what issues matter most.

Redmond Motivates IBEW to Organize Workers and Engage Communities

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer/Executive Vice President Fred Redmond empowered delegates and guests at the Electrical Workers’ (IBEW’s) 40th International Convention in Chicago with a rousing call to seize the energy workers have to make change. He spoke of how his family was lifted out of poverty because of his father’s good union job at an aluminum mill in the Windy City. “It is a testimony to the power of holding a union card, and working under a collective bargaining agreement,” he said.   Looking to the future, Redmond called on IBEW members to organize the unorganized: “Workers want and deserve the rights and respect that come with a union card. Let’s help get those cards in more hands.”

Redmond Applauds Introduction of Workplace Violence Prevention Legislation

Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin introduced the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act in the U.S. Senate earlier today, during National Nurses Week (May 6–12). This legislation will ensure health care and social service workplaces adopt proven prevention techniques and are prepared to respond in the event of a violent incident. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer/Executive Vice President Fred Redmond spoke at a joint press conference with Baldwin, Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut (the sponsor of the House version of the bill), National Nurses United (NNU) President Jean Ross, RN, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten and others.   “There is an epidemic of violence against health care and social service workers,” Redmond said. “An OSHA standard would protect these workers while requiring employers in the health care and social service sectors to develop and implement a workplace violence prevention plan tailored to specific workplaces and worker populations.”

America’s Workers Are ‘Waking Up,’ Redmond Proclaims

Worker organizers met with President Biden last week at the White House to share the challenges and successes they encountered fighting alongside their colleagues to form unions. In an interview with The Hill, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer/Executive Vice President Fred Redmond called what’s happening at companies like Amazon and Starbucks a sign of better days ahead for workers.   “The White House visit in itself shows that every worker who is in a union and every worker who is thinking of organizing their workplace has an ally in the highest office in the country,” Redmond said. “As we’re continuing to recover from this pandemic, what we’re finding is an entire workforce that is waking up to the realization that they deserve better.”

Rebuilding Worker Power

Across the country, we are seeing a great resurgence in worker organizing. We all know the reasons. People are doing more work and getting less in return, and we know the only way to turn bad jobs into good jobs and to reset the balance of power is by coming together. Workers are striking in record numbers and winning uphill battles against corporate giants.   To keep this momentum going, we must continue to rise up and demand changes that will lift standards and rights for all workers, with no exclusions. All working people—regardless of immigration status—must have the right to organize for living wages, safe work conditions and dignity on the job without fear of retaliation. That is why the Biden administration must use every tool it has to expand the rights and protections of immigrant workers.   Click here to demand the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) protect immigrant workers who take action to make our workplaces safe and fair.   Immigrants and refugees have always helped to build, serve, feed, nurture and protect our nation. Today is no different. In the labor movement, we understand that an injury to one is an injury to all and we will not allow millions of people to be treated as a second class of exploitable workers.    While we continue to push Congress to enact a long overdue path to permanence for all those whose labor helps our country prosper, there are concrete steps DHS can and must take immediately to protect vital members of our workforce, our unions and our communities.   Click here to sign our petition calling on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to announce temporary protected status designations for all eligible countries, and protect immigrant workers who come from countries destabilized by conflict and disasters.   Our labor movement is fiercely committed to ensuring that all people are able to live and work safely and with dignity. Our unjust immigration system presents concrete barriers to worker organizing and empowerment. Together, we must keep up the fight to tear those barriers down.    In Solidarity,   Liz Shuler President, AFL-CIO

What union members care about

We’re fighting together across the labor movement to win important victories for working people.   We secured historic investments in our nation’s infrastructure and saved our pensions. We’re helping striking workers win fair contracts, and we’re unleashing a wave of union organizing.   Rising costs are top of mind for many of the workers we represent. What else matters to America’s union members?   🠆 Share this issue survey with our members. 🠆 Post this flyer at our worksites. (Click here for the Spanish language version.)   There’s still so much we will accomplish together. But first, we need to hear from our members.   Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, we need to talk to each other about our priorities so we can advance our shared agenda.   Direct our members to aflcio.org/MemberSurvey, and post this flyer at members’ jobsites.   In Solidarity,   Team AFL-CIO

AFL-CIO Calls for End to Student Loan Crisis

Student loan debt surpassed $1.76 trillion in the first quarter of this year, averaging $40,904 for more than 43 million borrowers across the country—and the cost keeps rising. The full damage of the student loan crisis is immeasurable; millions of borrowers have put off buying homes and even starting families because they remain crushed under a mountain of debt.   The AFL-CIO added the voices of America’s union members to the growing demands for student loan forgiveness. In a statement released earlier today, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said: “After all that we have endured in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot ask working people to make further sacrifices. Now is the time to cancel, not collect, student debt.”

What’s the Real Reason Behind Rising Costs? Corporate Greed.

Prices are going up and workers are feeling the pinch. The right-wing media and anti-union politicians would have us believe our demands for fair wages are to blame. But in reality, greedy corporations are squeezing working families every way they can. Take Tyson Foods, for example. The meat industry giant announced that its first-quarter profits nearly doubled at the same time as the price of Tyson meat products have been skyrocketing. Click here to watch the video from More Perfect Union that explains how multibillion-dollar corporations are raking in record profits at our expense.

39th Annual Labor-Management Conference

Yesterday, many of our members attended the 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.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Strategies & Tactics Mike Hawkins, Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl Joe Wilson, Federal Mediator, FMCS Brian Griffin, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council Beginning in 2023, this conference will be known as the "Lou Manchise Labor-Management Conference". Congratulations Lou! Thank you for your dedication to Labor. This is well deserved.

Working Together to Meet the Challenges of Modern Labor-Management Relations Jon K. McPherson, VP - Labor & Associate Relations, The Kroger Company Milton Jones, Executive Vice President, UFCW Local 75 John Wagner, Vice President (Retired), Labor Relations, The Kroger Company; and Adjunct Instructor, Labor Management Relations, Northern Kentucky University Lennie Wyatt, Past President, UFCW Local 75; and International Vice President, UFCW Lou Manchise, Chairperson, ADR Center, Northern Kentucky University Lou Manchise, Chairperson, ADR Center, Northern Kentucky University Ashley Schleicher, Executive Assistant, Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council

Cultural Competence in the Workplace Mary Stagaman, Principal, Mary Stagaman, LLC. Robin Shabazz, Esq, Principal, The Eastledge Group To all the Laws We Loved Before - The NLRB Looks to Change Direction Again Jacqueline Rau, Attorney, Dinsmore & Shohl Eric Taylor, Supervising Attorney, NLRB Pamela Newport, Attorney, Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings, PLLC

President Biden Along With Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman Urge Bipartisanship For American Manufacturing

President Joe Biden toured a metal manufacturer in Hamilton along with Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman to pressure Congress to pass legislation that will create Ohio jobs. This is the sixth time Biden has visited Ohio since his election.   The president made his comments in a warehouse of United Performance Metals before a crowd mostly made up largely of labor leaders and the heads of trade schools.   "Today, we’re joined by leaders of some of the biggest manufacturers in the country — GE, Siemens Energy, Honeywell, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin — to announce a new initiative that's going to bury that label for good, the “Rust Belt,” said Biden at the event. "We know that one of the best ways to fight inflation and to bring prices down is to strengthen the resilience of our supply chains, and that includes making more things here in America, at home, from top to bottom. And that’s been my priority since day one."   Portman, who negotiated the $1 trillion infrastructure bill with Brown, the Biden administration and a bipartisan group of senators, said Congress needs to pass the innovation bill. The bill, among other things, would provide $52 million for semiconductors, a critical component in a range of technology including refrigerators and computers. The shortage of semiconductors has caused a delay in auto production. “It’s too darn important for America to get caught up in partisan politics," Portman said.   Biden talked about the importance of coming together with the smaller manufacturing companies across the country. Biden said he believes in the free market, but also believes the federal government has an obligation to invest in America and the American workers."   “For the first time in decades, we have a president and an Administration that understand the damage corporate outsourcing has done to our state. We need to make more in America,” said Brown. “It’s why we passed the strongest ever Buy America protections into law – to ensure American tax dollars support American jobs. And it’s why today we are launching this plan to facilitate partnership between Ohio suppliers and America’s premier manufacturers, like GE Aviation.”   Read more here

White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment Met with Grassroots Worker Organizers

Vice President Kamala Harris and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh held a roundtable discussion with a diverse group of young, grassroots worker organizers to discuss their extraordinary efforts to organize unions in their workplaces, and how their efforts can inspire workers across the country to make the choice to join or organize a union. The roundtable was led by the Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, which the Vice President chairs with Secretary Walsh as vice-chair.   President Biden stopped by the discussion and thanked the worker organizers for their leadership in organizing unions, the inspiration they offer to workers across the country who may want to organize, and their contributions to the worker organizing momentum that is growing across the country.   Vice President Harris and Secretary Walsh listened to the worker organizers tell the stories of why they and their co-workers organized unions in their workplaces and how they did it. Among other things, the workers talked about fair pay, paid leave and health care benefits, their commitment to co-workers, and the desire for basic dignity and respect as important motivators for their organizing efforts. They also described some of the anti-union tactics deployed by some of the employers. The Vice President and Secretary Walsh reaffirmed that the Biden-Harris Administration is the most pro-union administration in history, and reiterated that worker power is at the core of this administration’s economic vision to rebuild the economy from the bottom up and middle out.   The attendees represented a wide range of industries with grassroots union organizing efforts, from warehousing to animation to retail.   Read more here

Baby Formula Shortage Hits Working Families Hard

The depleting supply of baby formula is cause for serious concern for millions of parents across the country, some of whom are having to travel for hours to different stores desperately searching for nutrition to feed their infants. On top of the ongoing supply chain problems that are driving higher prices, the leading cause of the shortage is the monopolization of the infant formula market. Only a few companies, including Abbott Nutrition, produce virtually all of the baby formula that’s sold in the United States. So, when Abbott issued a nationwide recall in February, the industry triggered the crisis that is now unfolding. And working people are now suffering the consequences.   According to some pediatricians, parents’ options are limited. Those who spoke with CNN discouraged parents from making formula at home or trying to stretch out their supplies by adding water and other food sources. Using toddler formulas or buying international brands online may be a possibility for some families; going back to breastfeeding or using cow’s milk is an option for others. Families in crisis are being urged to seek advice from their child’s pediatrician.   On Thursday, President Biden said his administration will be taking additional aggressive actions to address the shortage.

1,600 WSU Workers Fight to Form Union with UAW

Academic student employees (ASEs) in Washington are coming together to form a union with the UAW. Some 1,600 teaching assistants, research assistants, tutors, graders and more across all campuses and extension centers of Washington State University (WSU) filed their representation petition with the state. They are seeking recognition for their union, the WSU-Coalition of Academic Student Employees/UAW (WSU-CASE/UAW), joining many of their colleagues throughout America who have formed student worker unions.   “In thousands of conversations with our colleagues we kept hearing the same things: that people are struggling,” said Priyanka Bushana (not pictured), a research assistant in translational medicine and physiology at WSU Health Sciences in Spokane. “By forming a union, we can negotiate as equals with the WSU Administration to have more transparent working conditions and build a stronger, more equitable university.”

Striking AFM Members in San Antonio Condemn Symphony’s ‘Inflexible’ Offer

Seventy-two members of American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 23 have been on strike against the San Antonio Symphony since September, demanding a fair contract that recognizes their talent and hard work to make the cultural organization a success. The union ended mediation with management after the symphony refused to budge from its stringent cost-cutting proposals that would see four positions eliminated and a further 26 members converted from full time to part time.   “The more you destroy an orchestra, the harder it is to raise money for that orchestra,” Mary Ellen Goree, union negotiating committee chair, told the San Antonio Current. “We don’t dispute the illness, we dispute the cure. We dispute the draconian cuts.”

Union Members Demand Fair Contract with American Red Cross

Members of 10 different unions are holding nationwide mobilization events this week in their effort to win a fair contract with the American Red Cross. Workers at the Red Cross who make essential blood drives happen say they are being mistreated by their employer. Red Cross managers are proposing to roll back health care benefits for thousands of employees and refusing to address dangerous understaffing, the unions said. The workers are contending that these conditions significantly contribute to the nation’s blood shortage crisis because the Red Cross’ treatment of workers makes it difficult to retain trained, dedicated staff.   Actions are being held this week in Hartford, Connecticut; Lansing, Michigan; Peoria, Illinois; San Diego; Pomona, California; and Washington, D.C. The coalition of unions includes AFSCME, the United Steelworkers (USW), the Electrical Workers (IBEW), the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the United Auto Workers (UAW), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Operating Engineers (IUOE), the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), and SEIU.

Casino Workers in Atlantic City Leverage Fair Wages Amid Contract Negotiations

Union members at famous casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, are refusing to accept scraps from their employer at the bargaining table. Members of UNITE HERE Local 54, who helped the city’s entertainment and hospitality industries recover from the pandemic, are using their collective strength to fight for significant pay raises.   Workers like Janey Negron (not pictured), a 22-year bartender at Tropicana Atlantic City who takes care of five children and her mother, say they need to make progress in their new contracts. “The wages are not what they should be,” she said to The Associated Press. “Everything is going up: gas, food, rent. Health care costs alone for my mom and kids are going way up. It’s not like [the casinos] can’t do it. They’re making money, and we kept them going through the pandemic. They should compensate us for that.”

Ironworkers Barrage Union-Busting Employer with Nearly 150 Unfair Labor Practice Charges

As their demands for safety and a voice on the job were met with retaliation, workers at G&D Integrated's manufacturing division voted to form a union with the Ironworkers last October. They beat back a brutal union-busting campaign from their employer in Morton, Illinois, who was intent on crushing the union, even after workers overwhelmingly won their election. Now, the Ironworkers are taking their case to the National Labor Relations Board, having filed nearly 150 labor charges against G&D.   Their experience provides another example of why we need labor law reform to protect workers’ freedom to speak out on the job. “Union busting is a billion dollar a year business for a reason,” Ironworkers International District Representative Vince Di Donato told Truthout. “Our workers voted yes in the election. They held strong. But I’ll tell you right now, I don’t know too many groups of workers that would go through what these guys did and still vote yes.”

LIUNA’s O’Sullivan Lauds ‘Step Forward’ for Mining Reform

The White House held a convening of stakeholders from labor, industry, environment and tribal communities to discuss mining reform on Tuesday. Laborers (LIUNA) General President Terry O’Sullivan welcomed the meeting, pointing out, “The United States has rich reserves of minerals that are crucial to wind, solar and electric vehicle manufacture.” He continued, “LIUNA members are proud to build their communities and are encouraged by the Administration’s commitment to local workforce and local consultation.”

SAG-AFTRA Members Ratify New Commercials Contracts

Members of SAG-AFTRA overwhelmingly voted last week to ratify their new commercial contracts. The vote was 92.25% in favor. The agreements reflect important structural changes in the industry, especially in digital streaming. The two contracts provide $120 million in gains for members, hair and makeup equity for workers of color, increased contributions to the union’s health care plan and much more.   “We did it!” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher celebrated. “As we move into a digital age, bold moves and structural changes had to be made….These contracts create a baseline upon which to build a new future.”

AGMA Solidifies Partnership with SDC

The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) today announced a reciprocal agreement that will build on and strengthen the existing partnership between the two national labor unions. SDC and AMGA first partnered in May 2020, when they jointly engaged an expert medical advisory panel to create the highly acclaimed “AGMA/SDC Return to Stage and Performing Arts Playbook,” which has become a model for the entertainment industry.   “AGMA and SDC have been working together for quite some time,” said Sam Wheeler, AGMA’s national executive director. “AGMA and SDC share members, workplaces and a vital interest in the arts in the United States. This agreement expands our partnership and provides direct benefits of AGMA and SDC’s collaboration to our members.”

USW Members from Different Industries Have Each Other’s Backs

When health care workers, members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 7600, in Southern California were facing a potential strike last fall, Chevron workers at USW Local 12-5 joined the group in a massive rally and march in Pasadena. The solidarity helped Local 7600 members keep momentum, prevent a potentially historic work stoppage and obtain a much-improved collective bargaining agreement weeks later. Members of Local 7600 joined Local 12-5 in a rally on May 4 in Beverly Hills as they entered their sixth week of a strike against Chevron.   “These members had our backs when we needed it, and it was our turn to show up for them,” said Melissa Borgia, Health Care Workers Council coordinator for USW District 12, which covers Western states including California. “This is what it means to be in solidarity with each other and how we show the community our power.”

UMAP Puts Veterans on the Path to Good Union Jobs

Comprising more than 1.2 million active union members, America’s military veterans are a crucial part of the labor movement. Training opportunities like the Utility Workers Military Assistance Program (UMAP)—administered jointly by the Utility Workers (UWUA), UWUA Local 18007 and Peoples Gas at City Colleges of Chicago—offers veterans the chance to get into high-paying union jobs. UMAP Chicago recently celebrated a milestone as the 700th veteran graduated from the program.   “This program means a lot to me,” Jesse Aguilera, a veteran and UMAP student, said in UWUA’s new video. “I feel like every service member or veteran should consider looking into this program. I’m excited to start working for Peoples Gas.”

Labor Market Recovering Faster for Some Workers

A new quarterly report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) finds that while unemployment remains low, the rate of unemployment varies for workers of different races. Although the labor market is recovering quickly from the effects of the pandemic, the economic recovery has not been equal for all. Black unemployment (5.9%) is nearly twice that of White unemployment (3.2%). And Hispanic unemployment (4.1%) remains relatively high. Click here to read EPI’s full report.

Ironworkers Political Academy Empowers Local Unions to Advance Pro-Labor Policies

The Ironworkers concluded their national Ironworkers Political Academy (IPA) in Houston today. Political coordinators from all over the country attended the weeklong class, which was conducted by the international union and hosted by locals 84 and 135. It is among the most comprehensive political training programs in the labor movement.   IPA students learned the skills to represent their locals in politics. Subjects included talking to members about important union issues; overcoming partisan divides in union membership; mobilizing volunteers for electoral campaigns; building relationships with both Republican and Democratic elected officials; and lobbying strategies for state and local governments. Each student left class with a political strategic plan customized for their own local union’s challenges and goals.   The class featured a discussion with the Texas AFL-CIO about how local unions can work with their labor federations on elections and policy. “I came away so impressed by the depth and quality of the program,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy (TSEU/CWA, not pictured). “If we’re going to win this year and in the future, it’s going to be because of deep investments in developing new member leaders who can lead and carry out new programs.”   Forty hours of intensive training left students excited to get to work in their home locals.

Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Under New Leadership

The Union Sportmen’s Alliance (USA) Board of Directors has tapped Walter Ingram to fill the position of chief executive officer and executive director. Ingram has been with the USA since 2012, serving as the labor conservation organization’s director of union relations. During that time, he has led the growth of the USA’s conservation dinner program, and both developed and strengthened its relationship with endemic partners and unions across the country.   USA Chairman of the Board Kinsey Robinson (Roofers) announced Ingram’s new role at the alliance: “Through this organizational transition and beyond, the USA will continue to charge forward in fulfilling our mission as we work together with members and partners like you to improve public access to the outdoors, enhance wildlife habitats, restore America’s parks, and provide opportunities for youth and adults to engage in the great outdoors.”

ALPA Celebrates Trailblazer Katherine Sui Fun Cheung During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Katherine Sui Fun Cheung made history in 1932 when she became America’s first licensed pilot of Chinese descent. In recognition of this year’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) is sharing Cheung’s legacy. She rose to prominence as an aerobatic performer, known for her spiral dives, acrobatic loops, barrel rolls and flying an open-cockpit airplane upside down at county fairs. Amelia Earhart herself invited Cheung to join the prestigious all-women pilots group, The Ninety-Nines. “I wanted to fly,” Cheung said, “so that’s what I did.”

FLOC Hosts COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics for Farmworkers

The Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) brought easy and welcoming vaccine clinics to Ohio and North Carolina to protect front-line farmworkers against COVID-19. Migrant farmworkers are especially vulnerable to the virus as they work, travel and live closely together. Data from the Environmental Working Group shows that areas with some of the highest rates of infection also have higher numbers of migrant farmworkers.   “We have converted over to reaching the migrant population when they started coming in for the planting and cultivating and then finally, the harvesting,” FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez (not pictured) said. “And that’s when we got the mobile clinic out to a couple of the big farms.”

IUOE Member Gets ‘Great Deal’ on New Car from Union Plus

Claire Chang, an Operating Engineers (IUOE, pictured right) member in Santa Clara County, California, was looking for a new car with her husband, who had an arduous daily commute. “It was time for our family to invest in an electric vehicle,” Chang said. “We worked with the great people at Union Plus to identify where we could get our car from a union-friendly dealer at a great price.”   Chang and her husband applauded the prompt, ongoing support from Union Plus. “The correspondence with Union Plus made the whole transaction super easy,” said Chang. “We went to our pre-identified dealer lot. We got a great deal.”   The Union Plus Auto Buying Service, administered by TrueCar, a leading price comparison service, helps union members and our families find the right new or used car or truck and save thousands of dollars. Additionally, any new union-made car is eligible for a $100 rebate.   “I would absolutely recommend the Union Plus Auto Buying Service to all union members—both Union Plus and this specific program have made such a difference in our lives. Union Plus is wonderful,” Chang said. Visit UnionPlus.org/AutoBuying.

Photo Contest: Climate and Energy Jobs Through the Eyes of Union Members

Don’t miss your chance to enter the “Future Is Union: Climate Urgency Through the Eyes of Workers” photo contest. Submit a photo that shows what climate work means to you and win up to $500 from our allies at the Climate Jobs National Resource Center.   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.

Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga Joins Tim Ryan After Senate Primary Victory

On Primary Election night Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga and OAPSE/AFSCME Executive Director Joe Rugola were featured speakers at the high-profile U.S. Senate race victory event for Time Ryan at the IAFF Local 67 hall. The two labor leaders warmed up the crowd prior to Congresswoman Joyce Beatty introducing a victorious Tim Ryan who laid out his one-America theme to move Ohio ahead and usher in a new era, one that puts working people first.    As the dust was settling the day after the Primary Election the Senate candidates were already campaigning and meeting with the press. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tim Ryan was on the trail early Wednesday morning at a campaign event and later that day spoke to union members in Dayton and Toledo. “Jobs, wages, pensions, benefits, issues around our kids’ mental health, getting fentanyl out of our communities, rebuilding our communities’ infrastructure,” he said during an interview after an appearance at a technical school. “These are things we all should be willing to agree about.”   Local 12 News out of Cincinnati spent time covering both Senate campaigns and talking to supporters about the strategy moving forward in the General Election.   When speaking to the president of Ohio's AFL-CIO -- a Ryan supporter -- about the Trump factor, “How do you tear away the working class of Ohio from Trump to vote for Ryan?” Tim Burga answered, “Tim Ryan has a strong record of fighting for high wage jobs, jobs with retirement security, jobs with health care. That’s what Tim Ryan is all about.”   Read more here

RELEASE: Mayor Aftab, Councilmember Greg Landsman, City Leaders Announce Launch of Safe & Clean Accelerate Fund

CINCINNATI – Today, alongside Councilmember Greg Landsman and City and community leaders, Mayor Aftab announced the official re-launch of the Safe & Clean Fund. Through the $500,000 Safe & Clean Accelerate Fund, the City is building on its work to empower community-led efforts to improve neighborhood safety and beautification. The $500,000 in grants will be awarded and distributed by 2024.   “Through Councilmember Landman’s leadership, partnership from Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, our Police, and the administration, our City has taken action to help give residents the tools and training to identify and address neighborhood safety problems,” Mayor Aftab said. The Accelerate fund will primarily target neighborhoods with the highest incidents of gun violence in Cincinnati. Unlike previous Safe & Clean grants, there is no private matching requirement, no maximum reward, and there is now a rolling-basis application process. “Keeping children safe is not just one of our top priorities, but a shared value, it’s what we all care about,” Councilmember Landsman said. “What’s at the heart of the Safe & Clean Fund is community and police coming together to do problem solving and identify the best possible investments to improve the safety of everyone.” Each application is evaluated on its own merit by a joint citizen-administration committee. The goal is to fund projects that commit to the SARA problem solving framework to implement a plan for improvement of public safety – violent crime reduction, pedestrian safety, elimination of blight or public nuisance conditions. The first application opportunity for the Safe & Clean Accelerate Fund is due 6/3/22. All applications must be submitted online. Keep Cincinnati Beautiful staff is available to meet by phone, video conferencing, or in person to assist with project application process and to review the grant opportunity with interested applicants. To access the application: https://www.keepcincinnatibeautiful.org/resources/safe-and-clean/application.html

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Update

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Listening Tour 2022 - Stops In Cincinnati on June 28th, 2022

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Get Your Foursome Together for the 35th Annual Cincinnati AFL-CIO Golf Outing!

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U.S Senator Sherrod Brown: Working For Working People!

MAY 13, 2022 - Brown, Colleagues Push Infant Formula Manufacturers to Address Crisis, Get Formula on Shelves ASAP - READ MORE MAY 13, 2022 - Brown Announces $600,000 for Rural Development in Southeast Ohio - READ MORE MAY 13, 2022 - Brown Tours Toledo Health Clinic, Highlights Efforts to Increase Children’s Access to Mental Health Care - READ MORE MAY 13, 2022 - Brown Announces Nearly $1.5 Million To Bolster Economy In Southeast Ohio - READ MORE MAY 12, 2022 - Brown Highlights Need for Domestic Manufacturing at Bipartisan Innovation and Competition Conference Committee Meeting - READ MORE MAY 11, 2022 - Brown Applauds the Confirmation of Dr. Philip Jefferson to the Federal Reserve Board - READ MORE MAY 11, 2022 - Brown Applauds Julia Gordon’s Confirmation to HUD - READ MORE MAY 11, 2022 - Brown Announces Nearly $410,000 for Stem Research at The Ohio State University - READ MORE MAY 11, 2022 - Brown Announces $2 Million for Business Development in Akron - READ MORE MAY 11, 2022 - Brown Announces $2.7 Million for Road and Sewer Improvements in Trumbull County - READ MORE MAY 11, 2022 - Protect Women's Access to Health Care - READ MORE MAY 11, 2022 - During National Police Week, Brown Working To Increase Mental Health Support For First Responders - READ MORE MAY 10, 2022 - Brown Applauds the Historic Confirmation of Dr. Lisa Cook to the Federal Reserve Board - READ MORE MAY 10, 2022 - Brown, Booker Lead Group of 14 Senators Urging Starbucks CEO to Support Unionization Efforts - READ MORE MAY 10, 2022 - Brown Introduces Cincinnati Native Kalpana Kotagal at Her Confirmation Hearing to be EEOC Commissioner - READ MORE MAY 10, 2022 - Brown Announces $920,000 for Biological Research at Northeast Ohio Universities - READ MORE MAY 10, 2022 - Brown Announces Nearly $100,000 in Americorps Vista Funding for Learn to Earn Dayton - READ MORE MAY 10, 2022 - Brown Announces More Than $760,000 in Americorps Vista Awards to Columbus Organizations - READ MORE MAY 10, 2022 - Following Brown’s Urging, Commerce Department Investigates Russia’s Status as a Market Economy - READ MORE MAY 10, 2022 - Brown: FSOC Should Protect Workers Not Wall Street - READ MORE MAY 09, 2022 - ICYMI: Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer Editorial Board Applauds Brown’s Bipartisan Work to Bolster Ohio Manufacturing And Semiconductor Production - READ MORE MAY 09, 2022 - Brown Touts Ohio, NASA Glenn’s Leadership and Growth Potential in Space Nuclear Technology - READ MORE MAY 06, 2022 - Brown Joins President Biden in Hamilton to Announce New Efforts to Support Ohio Manufacturers & Workers - READ MORE MAY 06, 2022 - Brown Announces Nearly $760,000 for Scientific Research at Ohio Universities - READ MORE MAY 06, 2022 - Brown, Collins Lead Bipartisan Resolution to Honor America’s Teachers, Mark Teacher Appreciation Week - READ MORE

Keep Up With Sherrod NEWSROOM: https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SenSherrodBrown FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorSherrodBrown/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensherrodbrown/ NEWSLETTER: https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsletter-signup

Abortion Rights are Workers Rights Rally

The "Abortion Rights are Workers Rights Rally" will take place on Sunday, May 15th, 2022 at 4pm at Randolph Park in Covington, KY. The Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky Workers Assembly is organizing the rally.

Complete the Hamilton County Broadband Survey!

Does your current broadband internet service in Hamilton County meet your current and future needs? Can you stream movies, or have a Zoom meeting while someone is online gaming in the other room with no screen freeze or “spinning circle”? Completing the Hamilton County Broadband Survey includes your voice in planning for future-ready broadband throughout Hamilton County.  With funding available to expand and improve broadband services, now is the time to ask, “Is my internet service acceptable today – and for the next 20 years?” If you’ve never had an internet connection problem, never mind; do nothing. Otherwise, click here to take the survey.

Freestore Foodbank: Our impact on hunger begins with YOU

In three weeks we will take the steps to help end hunger. It’s not too late for you to join us — register today for our Hunger Walk & 5k Run! This Memorial Day, the Hunger Walk will start at the Banks at 9AM! Whether you choose to walk or run our 5k, you’ll be joining the community in a heroic act to benefit local families. Every registration, every pledge of support, and every step taken will be raising awareness and funds vital to our region in the fight to end hunger. It’s super easy to take part in the cause! Register here to sign up and start raising support. Then select your local agency and share your fundraising page with family and friends. P.S. Can’t make it, but still want to help? You can register to participate virtually. Be there in spirit by making a virtual donation to fight community hunger and show your support.

Register Here

NAACP: Free Adult CPR Class!

OLBC Golf Outing

Cincinnati NAACP Golf Outing

There's ONE more month to sign up for our upcoming Golf Outing! Click the link below to sign up, we hope to see you there! https://cincinnatinaacp.com/event/golf-outing/

Register

NAACP Block Party

It's Back! The Second Annual Community Outreach Block Party will be returning this summer on July 9, 2022!

Ohio River Paddlefest

More Information & Registration

We’ll See You in August!

Applications are Open for Ellequate’s August Community Cohort Foster a diverse and inclusive workplace to attract and retain the best talent We help people leaders like you—including HR professionals, executives, and DEI professionals across the country—invest in strategies that have been proven to work.  Ellequate is now actively recruiting courageous organizations for the August 2022 community cohort. Take our Readiness Assessment today to see how you can connect workplace policies and practices to employee experience, get customized action steps, and secure leadership buy-in. Celebrate your commitment to building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace and communicate to employees, job seekers, and key stakeholders that your organization is living its values and leading by example.

Take the Assessment Now

Register Now for Upcoming FMCS Institute Courses!

We're coming up on the last few days to register for The Art and Science of Dealing with Difficult People Behaviors. Our mission is to keep you at the forefront of conflict management and prevention with innovative topics and comprehensive course offerings that prepare you for real-world challenges and organizational change. Don't miss this opportunity to explore and understand the root causes of difficult behaviors and learn management strategies to help you masterfully navigate encounters with challenging personalities at work and in everyday life.

Art & Science of Dealing with Difficult People Behaviors May 10, 17, 24, 2022  Series of three 90-minute webinars 1:00p-2:30p EST $250.00

Enroll Today

Difficult people are everywhere! Or are they? Each and every day, we encounter people whose behavior comes across to us as obstructive, obnoxious, stubborn, offensive, or worse. What are the roots of difficult behavior; and what are the best strategies for dealing with these encounters? Understanding the human emotional response process can lend great insight into these perplexing questions. Following this highly interactive 3-session webinar series, participants will be able to identify the elements of human interpersonal reactions at play in a given situation and recognize emotional response cues that can guide them in refocusing a conflict encounter that’s gone awry and improve conflict resolution outcomes. Topics Include: Emotion-based Responses and the Dynamics of Human Interaction Mindful Self-Awareness Empowerment and Disempowerment Locus of Control Re-defining “difficult” Working Styles Strategies for Dealing with Difficult People Instructors: Heather Brown, Chief Learning Officer, FMCS & Valerie Harragin, Principal, FMCS Institute for Conflict Management

National Labor-Management Conference 2022

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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COVID-19 Dashboard

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. Download the summary data (CSV)

Ohio COVID-19 Dashboard Overview ODH is making COVID-19 data available for public review while also protecting patient privacy. Data Transparency and Patient Privacy - Protecting Against COVID-19 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). Download Statewide and County Case Rates Archived Statewide and County Case Rates per 100,000 Residents Download the summary data (CSV) including mortality data by county of residence. Download the summary data (CSV) including mortality data by county of death. Data Term Definitions. Report on the prevalence of current and past COVID-19 in Ohio adults.

Current Trends

Below are the current reporting trends from Friday, May 13 for key indicators calculated from data reported to the Ohio Department of Health. These trends are updated daily and are presented by report date.

Below is a snapshot of key metrics pulled Friday, May 13, 2022 from daily data reporting to the Ohio Department of Health. These metrics are updated daily.

Hamilton County Cases 191,030 Hospitalizations 6,130 Deaths 2,069

Clermont County Cases 51,997 Hospitalizations 1,470 Deaths 560

Brown County Cases 11,248 Hospitalizations 108 Deaths 180

Butler County Cases 93,927 Hospitalizations 3,222 Deaths 1,157

Warren County Cases 58,538 Hospitalizations 1,362 Deaths 584

Other News For and About Working People:

A 1st in the U.S., Unions Announce Deal to Build Offshore Wind Farms (Video) - CleanTechnica Steelworkers union attempts to organize USFL players - ProFootballTalk - NBC Sports International Worker's Day Rally takes place at Union Square - The Ticker May Day rally invites UC unions to educate UCLA community on labor issues - Daily Bruin Supply chain crisis collides with CA port labor talks - CalMatters Young people lead new wave of labor organizing according to UC professors - Daily Bruin Amazon fires Staten Island managers after union win, report says - silive.com NJ offshore wind developer Orsted inks deal to use all union labor - WHYY Indiana University graduate students strike for union recognition - IndyStar Give Pro-Life Union Members a Choice ... - Wall Street Journal 2000 Cedars-Sinai Service Workers Planning to Strike Monday - NBC Los Angeles Labor Leaders Among '500 Most Influential People' in Washington, D.C. - AFL-CIO Anti-Worker or Pro-Worker? Why Labor Unions Are Fighting Over a Housing Bill - Lost Coast Outpost Amazon fired two workers who helped organize its first union - Engadget Social Justice Unionism Means Pro-Abortion Big Labor - Capital Research Center Faith in Young Workers: The Working People Weekly List - AFL-CIO Biden bets the farm on his pro-union cred - POLITICO Workers at a Target Store in Virginia File for Union Vote - USNews.com House of Representatives Staff Given the Right to Form a Union - The American Prospect Student workers, consider joining a union - The Daily Texan Winning the Respect We Deserve: What Working People Are Doing This Week | AFL-CIO Top Biden-tied connected firm cuts ties with Starbucks amid union outcry - POLITICO CSX's Foote calls for fundamental change in relationship with union workers - Trains House Votes to Extend Union Organizing Protections to Its Staff - The New York Times A Union Blitzed Starbucks. At Amazon, It's a Slog. - The New York Times Man accused of embezzling from labor union enters guilty plea - - CBS19 News NLRB presses Starbucks to reinstate 7 fired workers tied to union drive - The Washington Post California is now home to two unionized Starbucks stores - Los Angeles Times The Rapidly Growing Starbucks Union in Numbers - People's Policy Project SAM security guards claim union busting by museum management | May 11-17, 2022 | Real Change

Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council Bill Froehle President  Brian D. Griffin Executive Secretary-Treasure Ashley Schleicher Communications & Administrative Associate

1385 Tennessee Avenue | Second Floor | Cincinnati, OH 45229 | 513.421.1846 | info@cincinnatiaflcio.org | www.cincinnatiaflcio.org

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