Working Families to Honor Workers Who Lost Their Lives On The Job at Workers Memorial Day Events in Detroit, Escanaba, Negaunee, Iron Mountain Tomorrow

LANSING – Tomorrow local workers, officials, and community members will gather for Workers Memorial Day events in Detroit, Escanaba, Negaunee, and Iron Mountain to commemorate workers who have died or suffered illness or injuries while on the job. “On April 28, union members across Michigan will observe Workers Memorial Day,” said Karla Swift, President of…

New Report: Workers in RTW states earn $1,558 less

The nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute has a new report out today on the impact of “Right-to-Work” for less laws. According to the report, titled “Right-to-Work” States Still Have Lower Wages, the negative impact of RTW laws translates to $1,558 less a year in earnings for a typical full-time worker. “It’s abundantly clear that right to…

Stop the Fast Track to Lower Wages

  LANSING – Michigan AFL-CIO President Karla Swift issued the following statement today in response to the introduction of Trade Promotion Authority legislation in Congress: “Michigan workers know a bad trade deal when they see one. For decades, we’ve seen how corporate-driven trade deals like NAFTA have devastated our communities through lost jobs and lower…

Register to vote now

Sisters & Brothers, New laws have made it easier than ever to register and vote in Michigan.  Now anyone can vote absentee before Election Day without needing an excuse.  You can even register and vote at your local clerk’s office all the way up to Election Day itself. To learn more, click here: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Clerk

New Report: Michigan Has Nation’s Third Highest Unemployment Rate for African Americans

At 15.8 percent, Michigan trails only Wisconsin and Nevada LANSING – At 15.8 percent, Michigan had the nation’s third highest unemployment rate for African Americans in 2014, according to a new analysis from Economic Policy Institute economist Valerie Wilson. In Projected Decline in Unemployment in 2015 Won’t Lift Blacks Out of the Recession-carved Crater, Wilson…

Schuitmaker Bill Makes Workplaces Less Safe

Bill eliminates key safety protections following workplace injury, death LANSING – Today the Michigan AFL-CIO strongly condemned new legislation introduced by Republican Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton) this month that would eliminate key safety protections for employees who are injured or killed on the job. Senate Bill 213 weakens the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act…

Michigan AFL-CIO Endorses Safe Roads Yes Campaign

Proposal will create good jobs, make Michigan roads safer LANSING – Today the Michigan AFL-CIO announced that it is formally endorsing the Safe Roads Yes campaign. In a column published in The Detroit News, Michigan AFL-CIO President Karla Swift explained that Proposal 1 “is a critical initiative that will make our roads safer and create…

Solidarity with Wisconsin Workers – Phone Bank

Our Brothers and Sisters in Wisconsin are still fighting the good fight.  RTW legislation has passed through the Wisconsin Senate, but we continue to stand in solidarity as it now moves on to the Wisconsin Assembly.  Assembly Democrats are “Ready for this fight,”  and once again, this week we’ll be supporting the efforts of our labor allies…