AFL-CIO Calls on @GM and Mexican Labor Authorities for Fair Silao Facility Election

On Feb. 1 and 2, more than 7,000 workers at the General Motors (GM) Silao facility, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, will cast their vote to elect a new union to represent them. This election takes place after a Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) union contract, considered a “protection contract” by many observers, was thrown out in August in a legitimation vote required by the Mexican labor law reform.

The AFL-CIO; @AFTunion; @NationalNurses; @AFSCME; @UFCW; the @steelworkers; @RWDSU; and @SEIU issued the following statement on @OSHA_DOL removing the #COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS) for health care workers ⬇️ First and foremost, we strongly disagree with the Biden administration’s decision to discontinue the enforceable OSHA ETS for health care workers. With the omicron variant surging and no permanent standard in place, our front-line heroes are in grave danger of COVID-19 infection.

Thank you @SenWarren @SenSherrodBrown @SenSanders @SenatorBaldwin for bringing attention to this issue. What does Apollo Global Management have to do with the strike by 900 @mineworkers in Alabama? It’s a complicated story, but here goes…

1/15 In 2015, the price of coal was in the dumps. Mining company Walter Energy had sustained quarter after quarter of losses and was quickly burning through its available cash and trying to postpone some of its cash interest payments. Something had to give.

2/15

The labor movement, the AFL-CIO and the nation lost a legend today. Rich Trumka devoted his life to working people, from his early days as president of the United Mine Workers of America to his unparalleled leadership as the voice of America’s labor movement. He was a relentless champion of workers’ rights, workplace safety, worker-centered trade, democracy and so much more. He was also a devoted father, grandfather, husband, brother, coach, colleague and friend. Rich was loved and beloved.

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The data validates their perception. Since 1979, wages for workers in the bottom 90% grew by less than 24%. The decline in union representation has lowered the median hourly wage by $1.56, a 7.9% decline (0.2% annually), from 1979 to 2017. The past year has exacerbated real economic and social difficulties for working people in the United States and has only made pre-existing disparities worse.

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In truth, the PRO Act merely codifies the NLRB’s existing practice, which has been in effect for over six years, to ensure workers have access to convenient and timely information leading up to the election. Eligibility list privacy concerns are a red herring created by employer groups and corporations who fundamentally oppose the PRO Act.

Passage of the #PRO Act is the top priority of the labor movement. It is supported by the AFL-CIO and its 56 affiliated unions. The #PROAct has also been endorsed by unaffiliated international unions and a wide variety of civil rights, religious, and environmental organizations. Strengthening outdated labor law is key to rebuilding the economy and restoring fairness to the workplace. We urge you to support this vital legislation.

The AFL-CIO urges support of the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act (#HR1065), and to oppose any motion to recommit. This common sense legislation will promote workplace gender equity, healthy pregnancies, and the economic security of pregnant and parenting women and their families. The bill’s protections are particularly important now, as many workers return to the workplace and all workers struggle to stay healthy during the ongoing #COVID19 pandemic.

The AFL-CIO, @SEIU, the SNITIS and @Public_Citizen announced today that they have filed the first complaint under the Rapid Response Mechanism of the #USMCA against Tridonex, an auto parts factory located in Matamoros in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. The case will test whether Mexico’s labor reforms and USMCA’s Rapid Response Mechanism can deliver for Mexican workers denied their fundamental right to organize and bargain for better wages and working conditions.

NEW: The AFL-CIO labor federation says it’s spending seven figures on television and radio ads aimed at bolstering Senate support for the #PROAct, which would make it easier for workers to join unions.

huffpost.com/entry/organize… We're mobilizing for the #PROAct by reminding folks of what they already know: getting a return on your hard work shouldn’t be this hard. #1u

Check out a few of our new ads running across the country. ⤵️

We urge swift confirmation of @vanitaguptaCR to be the next Associate Attorney General in @TheJusticeDept. With deep experience in a broad range of complex civil justice, law enforcement and public safety matters, Ms. Gupta is uniquely qualified for this position. Furthermore, throughout her career she has been successful in developing collaborative professional relationships through which she has built consensus and
earned the respect of a wide range of stakeholders.

The AFL-CIO urges swift confirmation of Kristen Clarke to be Assistant Attorney General for the @CivilRights Division in the @TheJusticeDept which is charged with enforcing federal statutes that aim to protect every person in the United States from discriminatory treatment. Ms. Clarke is the ideal person to lead this work, which is as consequential today as it was when the Division was created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

We urge swift confirmation of @JulieSuCA to be Deputy
Secretary of the @USDOL. Ms. Su is a stellar nominee who has devoted her career to advancing labor rights, workplace protections, and employment opportunities for all. Ms. Su most recently served as Secretary of the @CALWDA, where she collaborated with business, labor, and community leaders to implement emergency workplace safety standards to save lives during the #COVID19 pandemic and to design a Covid-19 economic recovery framework.

This #COVID19 relief package also includes $15B to extend the airline worker #PayrollSupportProgram, $3B to support aviation manufacturing, $30B for public transit, and $1.5 billion for @Amtrak, along with the strong worker protections tied to the use of these emergency funds. Though this funding will not fully meet the needs of our entire transportation sector, it is a critical step forward to prevent both interruptions in transportation services across the country and the furloughs or layoffs of millions of transportation workers.

The AFL-CIO supports the #AmericanRescuePlan, which the Senate will consider later this week. This emergency measure will provide $1.9T to help us beat the pandemic and provide critical economic support to millions of American families. Millions remain out of work, families are in danger of losing their homes and communities across the country still lack the PPE, testing and vaccine distribution networks they need to stay safe.

The AFL-CIO urges Senate support for the confirmation of RI Governor @GinaRaimondo as the U.S. Sec'y of Commerce. Gov. Raimondo has a proven record of economic leadership that created economic opportunity and tens of thousands of good paying jobs for all Rhode Islanders. A bold, progressive Governor, Raimondo invested in a wide range of infrastructure projects that supported the creation of good family sustaining jobs with wages and benefits that provided a pathway to the middle class.

The AFL-CIO urges the support of Xavier Becerra’s nomination to be Secretary of the @HHSGov. Throughout his distinguished career of public service, Becerra successfully protected the health security of working people as an influential member of Congress and as the attorney general of California.

📃AFL-CIO General Board Recommends Police Reform, Calls for Defense Secretary, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff and President of Minneapolis Police Union to Resign. Today, the General Board of the AFL-CIO adopted a comprehensive set of recommendations to take concrete action to address America’s long history of racism and police violence against black people.

In response to the #COVID19 pandemic, the labor movement is mobilizing to protect front line workers who are combating the disease every day and millions more workers who may be exposed to the virus. #1u We urge the Senate to pass the #FamiliesFirst Coronavirus Response Act #HR6201 as soon as possible. While this package is not a complete response to the crisis, it is an urgent measure that will get necessary assistance to working people facing serious health and financial risks.

In response to the spread of the #COVID19 virus, the labor movement is mobilizing to protect our members who are on the front lines combatting the disease and the millions of Americans who may be exposed at work. We urge Congress to do its part by passing emergency legislation at the scale and the urgency that this threat requires.

A Statement of the AFL-CIO Retirement Security Working Group on the Grassley-Alexander Multiemployer Pension Plan Proposal: (1/12) #1u After a lifetime of hard work, working people deserve to retire with dignity. The labor movement is proud of our negotiated multiemployer pension plans, which have provided retirement income security for millions of working people for decades. (2/12)