AFL-CIO Blog

  • On the Road to Helping Union Families
    On the Road to Helping Union Families BCTGM Driving two 26-foot trucks packed with food, members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 6 set out on the road to bring urgently needed food relief to union families in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. They started their journey in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on May 26, loading up the trucks with thousands of pounds of union-made rolls, breads, cereals and snacks. Their journey lasted three days as they stopped along the way in Muncy, Norristown and Philadelphia. At every destination, they dropped off food for labor councils to distribute to union families in need. They stopped in Mays Landing, New Jersey, to reload their trucks—and added three additional truck to the caravan—before reaching their final stop in Atlantic City for the New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s event on May 28, Operation Feed Atlantic City. “It’s been a wild ride,” said Hank McKay, the president of Local 6, who was driving one of the trucks. “When I woke up this morning, my back was hurting. But it’s all worth it,” he said with a laugh in his voice. McKay drove 500 miles for the first day of their trip. And BCTGM has been sharing their progress every step of the way, using #OnTheRoadWithHank to keep their members updated on social media and the union’s blog. McKay and the rest of the BCTGM team, including Local 6 Financial Secretary-Treasurer Edgar Rodriguez, Business Agent Danny Melendez and member Wilfredo Rodriguez, loaded up and distributed nearly 30,000 pounds of union-made food, including bread, rolls, cereals and snacks. Melendez and Edgar Rodriguez drove the trucks as McKay followed the caravan. All of the products were donated by Kellogg's and Bimbo Bakeries USA. Both of these companies have been excellent employers of BCTGM members, providing hazard pay, bonuses, increased safety measures, masks, temperature checks and increased sick time since the pandemic started. President Pat Eiding (HFIU) of the Philadelphia Council of the AFL-CIO thanked them for helping feed Philadelphia’s union families: “The BCTGM always comes through. This is a really tough time for this city’s union workers. Thank you, BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton. These union products will help put bread on the tables of working families and for that we thank you all.” And what motivated McKay and members of Local 6 to take on this difficult task? “It was just the right thing to do,” McKay said. “This is the least we can do for our union brothers and sisters, and I’m very humbled to be in this position to help out union families.” BCTGM will be conducting similar food relief caravans in the days ahead, and the AFL-CIO joins in thanking the members of Local 6 for their extraordinary support of union families. Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/29/2020 - 13:39 Tags: COVID-19 — May 29
  • #MemorialDay2020: In the States Roundup
    #MemorialDay2020: In the States Roundup AFL-CIO It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter. California Labor Federation: Colorado AFL-CIO: Connecticut AFL-CIO: Florida AFL-CIO: Georgia State AFL-CIO: Indiana State AFL-CIO: Iowa Federation of Labor: Maine AFL-CIO: Massachusetts AFL-CIO: Michigan State AFL-CIO: Minnesota AFL-CIO: Missouri AFL-CIO: Montana State AFL-CIO: New Jersey State AFL-CIO: New Mexico Federation of Labor: New York State AFL-CIO: North Carolina State AFL-CIO: Ohio AFL-CIO: Oklahoma State AFL-CIO: Oregon AFL-CIO: Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: Rhode Island AFL-CIO: Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council: Texas AFL-CIO: Virginia AFL-CIO: Washington State Labor Council: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:51 — May 29
  • Labor Radio–Podcast Weekly: Immigrant Solidarity, Oral History and More
    Labor Radio–Podcast Weekly: Immigrant Solidarity, Oral History and More Labor Radio-Podcast Weekly The latest episode of the "Labor Radio–Podcast Weekly" features immigrant solidarity, oral history and more. This week’s highlights from labor radio and podcast shows focusing on working people include: “You know, I'm not just the epithet that they give me, we shape history every day and collective actions here could shape history in a new way,” Cristobal Cavazos of Immigrant Solidarity DuPage on "Labor Express Radio," Chicago's only English-language labor news and current affairs radio program. “My Pietro. He worked in the sheds for 15 years. Always he was not satisfied. Always, he said someday he would find other work. But no other work he found.” That’s from the latest episode of "En Masse," where interdisciplinary artist, labor activist and political educator Liz Medina brings together oral histories and social theory with stories of struggle and hope from the working class. In addition, sisters, who are members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), share their stories; "Workers Beat Radio" votes by mail; "UCOMM Live" reports on unemployment claims in New Jersey; and "Labor History in 2" discusses Chicago’s first teachers’ strike. Check out all the shows on Labor Radio/Podcast Network. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/28/2020 - 13:25 Tags: Podcast — May 28
  • Save the News: Meet Andy Nguyen
    Save the News: Meet Andy Nguyen The NewsGuild-CWA member Andy Nguyen didn’t think he was going to lose his job when he received the email for the “all-staff” meeting. But that is exactly what happened. Dozens of journalists got laid off, including him, because of the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about how journalists and the whole journalism industry are being affected during these dangerous times. Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 05/28/2020 - 11:18 — May 28
  • Chinese American UNITE HERE Member Shares Her COVID-19 Story
    Chinese American UNITE HERE Member Shares Her COVID-19 Story This week we are lifting up Andee Huang, a laid-off Chinese American hotel worker from Boston and a member of UNITE HERE Local 26. She'd been working at the Westin Boston Waterfront for 13 years. Ever since she and all her co-workers lost their jobs in March, Huang has been helping other workers apply for unemployment, food assistance and other needs.  Huang says: "We need to stand up and fight until we win." That’s why we are fighting for major changes that will bring us through COVID-19 as safe as possible and build strong and prepared communities for the future. Join us to support the Paycheck Guarantee Act to end mass unemployment and return millions of workers back to payroll and health care.   Join us to protect essential workers. Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/26/2020 - 10:55 Tags: COVID-19, Community Service — May 26