| The Arizona AFL-CIO |
 Welcome! The Arizona AFL-CIO is the voice of Arizona’s union movement. We are a voluntary federation of labor unions in the State of Arizona, representing affiliates with over 185,000 members.
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In the Wake of Sandy, Books
The AFT and First Book—a nonprofit that has distributed more than 90 million new books to children across the United States—have joined forces with New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) to help encourage a culture of reading for low-income and middle-class students. This video features AFT’s team-up with First Book to place books in the homes of the children of Freeport, N.Y., a community devastated by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
After 45 years of driving a cab in New York City, Beresford Simmons says the emergence of the National Taxi Workers Alliance in the past few years is helping his family and those of other drivers reach the middle class. Simmons’ story is one of three illustrating that unions make the middle class strong, giving workers a voice in our economy, portrayed in a trio of new videos by the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Read more >>>  AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka released the following statement in response to the Senate Judiciary Committee's immigration bill: Today brings to mind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s wise and hopeful words, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” More than 11 million aspiring Americans took a big step toward becoming citizens today with the bipartisan Senate Judiciary Committee vote. That reflects an enormous step toward healing an injustice, the deportation crisis that has wrecked families, communities and workplaces for far too long. Read more >>>  Wilma Liebman who served 14 years on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)—including chairwoman from 2009–2011—says, “Appointments to the NLRB have been a political battleground for decades.” But, in a column in Politico, she says the current attack on the NLRB is the most vicious since the board was created in the 1930s. Read more >>>
Writing Across Borders
After her husband was murdered while working as a journalist in the Philippines, Marivir Montebon arrived in the United States seeking political asylum with the hope of finding a better, safer life for herself, and for her daughter who arrived two years later. “I always thought of a green card as a second birth certificate—a second life,” Montebon says. When she presents at the Writing Across Borders Conference in New York on June 1, Montebon will join other women and people of color on a panel to tell their stories about escaping abuse, oppression and the legacy of slavery. See more.  Leading up to the AFL-CIO convention in September 2013, the AFL-CIO is hosting a crucial conversation about the future of working people and of unions—in union halls and online at www.aflcio2013.org. MEMORIAL SERVICE Here are the winners of the MALF 2013 Andy Ward Scholarship. Congratulations to all! Rana Plaza, the Bangladesh factory that collapsed three weeks ago, killed more than 1,100 workers, many of them young women. This tragedy adds to the more than 1500 Bangladeshi workers killed in preventable fires and building collapses since 2005. Documents found at the factory show that the workers produced for big names in global retail revealing the link between poor workers in Bangladesh and major retail brands.Obviously, the government must improve local laws and their enforcement to stop these tragedies, but brands must also take responsibility for their supply chains. They must be held accountable to the tragedy that happened in their supply chain. Read more >>> "My Turn" column from Arizona Republic in support of immigration reform written by an Arizona businessman. Calls for a pathway to citizenship among other things. PALF events for May and June. Volunteer announcements for Phoenix Cty Council MALF endorsed candidates. Video - Workers Memorial Day observances at the Arizona State Capitol. Employment Opportunity: The Maricopa Area Labor Federation (MALF) has issued its endorsements for two more city council races. One in Phoenix and the other in Surprise. Arizona Alliance For Retired Americans (AARA) releases two important new fact sheets. One deals with the potential impact on Seniors of the budget proposals and the other focuses on Health Care and Seniors. Arizona Republic spotlighted Sheet Metal Workers Local #359 work with area Scouts. MALF Meeting Every year we observe Workers Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered and died on the job and to renew our efforts for safe workplaces. This year there will be observances in both Tucson and Phoenix. A request to sign on to a letter to Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. Read more >>> Volunteer opportunity to help elect Karlene Keogh Parks to the Phoenix City Council from Distrioct 6 The Senate “Gang of 8” requested that the AFL-CIO and Chamber of Commerce reach a consensus on a new, additional employer-sponsored visa program for lesser-skilled, non-seasonal and non-agricultural workers. This program would not be a “guest” or “temporary” worker program but instead a “new kind of visa program.” Here are some details from the agreement in principle that resulted from those talks: Read more >>>Worker's Memorial Day suggestions needed. A Major victory for organized labor in Arizona. A U.S. District Court judge says that two of the Arizona Legislature's anti-union bills are unconstitutional. MALF Meetings are moving to the AZ AFL-CIO Office Both the MALF and PALF have issued their 2013 political endorsements for city council races in Phoenix and Tucson. Read more >>> Applications for the Maricopa Area Labor Federation 2013 Andy Ward Memorial Scholarship are now available. To start please download and review both documents listed below. The TSA now says its okay for people to bring knifes on planes. Our brothers and sisters who work in the airline industries know that's nuts. They need help making sure the Administration knows that and reverses itself. Goldwater Institute Exposed In-depth report details out-of-state corporate funds, murky financial dealings & big staff bonuses after taxpayer-funded court awards -- all part of what happens behind the closed doors of the Goldwater Institute... Speakers for the AFL-CIO's March 11th rally have been announced. They include both national and local speakers all of whom are expected to address the need for a path to citizenship for America's 11 million immigrants. Communication Workers of America (CWA) President Larry Cohen will be in Phoenix on Monday March 11th to address the state AFL-CIO capitol rally.
The state capitol rally scheduled for Monday March 11th 1-2pm will feature Arlene Holt-Baker, the national AFL-CIO's executive vice president. The rally will address issues ranging from the legislature's ongoing attacks on working people and unions to the new Citizenship Now campaign being launched by the AFL-CIO. Read more >>> New Contract for all US AIrways Flight Attendants. February 28, 2013 We have a new contract for all US Airways Flight Attendants. You took part in an outstanding voter turnout that resulted in a 80 percent vote in favor of the 2013 Tentative Agreement. The full voting results will be posted on ourafa.org later today. Read more >>>
Q&A with Saru Jayaraman
The partition that separates diners from the inner workings of the restaurant industry toppled for Saru Jayaraman shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Fekkak Mamdouh, one of the headwaiters of the restaurant housed on the top floor of the World Trade Center, approached Jayaraman seven months after the attacks. His former boss deemed him and his former crew “not experienced enough” to work in his new Times Square restaurant. Jayaraman, a 27-year-old organizer of immigrant women, took up the case to advocate for the displaced workers, organized protests and won—most of the workers were awarded the good jobs their former boss promised. Jayaraman and Mamdouh formed Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United in April 2002 and were flooded with stories of workplace atrocities in New York City and, eventually, across the country. We spoke with Jayaraman earlier this month about her new book on the ills of the restaurant industry, Behind the Kitchen Door. The Arizona Capitol Times reports that Arizona Senate Republicans are trying to continue their war against public employee unions. That comes despite the failure of one anti-union bill to pass last week. In their sights are the state's first responders. That makes it ever more important for you to call your state senator to say leave Arizona's Fire Fighters and Police Officers alone. Read more >>> Arizona Stands to Lose Massive Funding Republicans take economy hostage to protect tax loopholes for corporations and wealthy (Phoenix, Arizona February 25, 2013) A report from the Senate Appropriations Committee shows that Congressional Republicans’ ‘threats to harm the economy by letting automatic across-the-board budget cuts – called “sequestration” – go forward on March 1, 2013 would cause Arizona to lose enormous funding for education, public safety, healthcare and job training. Read more >>>Here's what 'sequestration' means in a nutshell: massive budget cuts that impact working families and toss hundreds of thousands of people out of work. New Report Shows Arizona Loses $503 million of Tax Revenue Every Year Arizona Working Families Hold Actions Calling on the Wealthy to Pay Their Fair Share Read more >>>For Lapronda Eason and the other building service workers at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, the link to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.--who died in Memphis in 1968 advocating for the rights of city sanitation workers to form a union--is as real as the job they do every day. Read more >>> The time for immigration reform is now, says AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. This will be a focus for labor in 2013 as the country needs to create a common-sense immigration process with a road map to citizenship. Read more >>> Watch Rebekah Friend on Sunday Square Off Jan Brewer's Latest Outrage NEW goal - We need 15,000 signatures Worse than Wisconsin Learn about investing, good vs. bad debt and much more. Read more >>> Join us at the State Capitol on March 1, 2012! Arizona AFL-CIO Internship & Application Phoenix – The Arizona AFL-CIO is once again demanding the immediate resignation of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio following Wednesday’s Department of Justice report that found Arpaio and his deputies racially profile Latinos, retaliate against its critics and have adopted a "chronic culture of disregard for basic legal and constitutional obligations." Labor Federation Endorses Congressional Leaders Who Stand for Working Families Phoenix, AZ – The Arizona AFL-CIO, which represents over 185,000 union members in Arizona, today announced its early endorsement and support of Congressman Ed Pastor (District 4), Congressman Raul Grijalva (District 7), and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (District 8), for re-election in 2012. Read more >>>Standing outside of Senator Jon Kyl’s office, union activists, clergy, and community supporters gathered to send a clear message to Congress: unemployment insurance must be extended. With the national unemployment rate in Arizona sitting at 9% (10.2% for African Americans, 13.4% for Latinos, and 17.5% for anyone ages 20-24 years old), the Grand Canyon State require assistance to protect families during this economic drought. The press conference and candlelight vigil saw three Arizonans share their stories of unemployment as well as a fiery message from state senator Steve Gallardo.
Dec. 8 Press Conference & Vigil for the Unemployed and for Jobs
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s “dereliction of duty” harmed children of working families PHOENIX - The leader of Arizona’s largest labor federation is calling for the resignation of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio following in the wake of scandal involving hundreds of mishandled investigations into reported sexual abuse cases.  New state by state numbers show the devastating impact on Arizona jobless workers
ALEC in ARIZONA
Arizona AFL-CIO and others voice concern over the harmful political influence of the American Legislative Exchange Council and its impact on Arizona Workers Phoenix, AZ – Representatives from over a dozen local and national advocacy organizations gathered in Phoenix this week to shine a spotlight on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and its growing political influence in Arizona. ALEC is a corporate-funded think tank where CEO’s, lawyers, and business lobbyists collaborate with conservative state lawmakers to create “model” legislation designed to promote the self-interests of large and powerful corporations. Read more >>> VOICES OF ARIZONA: Americans Harmed by ALEC "Model Bills" Speak Out Against Undue Corporate Influence in the Democratic Process Concerned citizens hold community forum and press conference to expose the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)’s stronghold on the Arizona Legislature WHAT: Community Forum and Press Conference to expose ALEC’s influence in pushing legislation in Arizona and across the country aimed at enriching specific industries by privatizing schools and prisons, suppressing the vote, blocking implementation of healthcare reform, rolling back environmental regulations and attacking workers’ rights. WHEN: Forum: Tuesday, November 29, 6:00pm – 9:00pm South Mountain Community College (7050 S. 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85042) Press Conference: Wednesday, November 30, 11:00am, Arizona State Capitol Lawn  New Report Documents Influence of American Legislative Exchange Council in Phoenix The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a key voice for corporate special interests in state legislatures across the county, is welcomed with an especially warm embrace in Arizona, according to a new reported released today by People For the American Way Foundation and Common Cause. With one of the highest concentrations of ALEC legislators of any state in the United States, Arizona lawmakers are working hand-in-hand with corporate leaders who make up ALEC’s membership to deregulate specific industries, privatize education and dismantle unions, the report found. The report, ALEC in Arizona: The Voice of Corporate Special Interests in the Halls of Arizona’s Legislature, is available here.
Arizona AFL-CIO Twitter Feed
America wants to work and there is plenty of work to be done to fix America’s crumbling bridges. On Thursday, we’ll send a clear message that there are no valid excuses for ignoring America’s infrastructure and jobs deficits. It’s time for lawmakers to put partisan politics aside, stop obsessing with our long-term debt problems that can be solved by fairly taxing the wealthy and Wall Street, and pass legislation to invest in infrastructure projects that will keep communities safe and create good jobs. Where: Bridge over the Grand Canal, 15th Ave., 1/2 mi. North of Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85015 
Stop the Air Tax - Save Union Jobs
Union jobs are at stake if Congress raises airline taxes. Unions representing over 20,000 US Airways workers are fighting tax hike proposals that, if passed, could destroy hundreds of thousands of aviation industry jobs, including here in Arizona. Click here to read more and to find out what you can do to help.
The Redburn Eleven - Teamsters Local 104 on Strike
Workers and elected officials call attention to the unfair labor practices of Redburn Tire Co. in Phoenix AZ.
 Please show your support for the striking workers at Redburn Tires.
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