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Trade Unions Demand Governments Address Gender-based Violence in the World of Work Trade Unions Demand Governments Address Gender-based Violence in the World of Work This week marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and trade unions around the world are demanding governments ratify and implement International Labor Organization Convention 190 (C190), on ending violence and harassment in the world of work. Read the statement from the International Trade Union Confederation in English, Spanish or French. C190 was adopted last June at the International Labor Organization. The AFL-CIO and trade unions around the world campaigned for more than a decade to win this important new global standard, and now are leading the fight to see its framework adopted by governments and employers. Gender-based violence and harassment is a particular threat to women, LGBTQ workers and other marginalized groups. Homicide is one of the leading causes of death on the job among women in the United States, accounting for almost a quarter of workplace deaths among women, while it accounts for only 8% of workplace deaths among men. It is also a particular threat to workers in low-wage, precarious working arrangements, as poverty and marginalization can prevent workers from escaping or challenging dangerous conditions. The C190 framework emphasizes that everyone has the fundamental right to be free from violence and harassment at work, and requires governments adopt an inclusive, integrated and gender-responsive approach to end it. C190 requires governments and employers address the root causes of gender-based violence at work, including discrimination and unequal power relationships. Violence is a tool that both reflects and reinforces a gendered power hierarchy at work and in society, and ending violence requires allowing women workers to take collective action to confront this hierarchy directly. C190 also calls for investigating sectors and occupations that are more likely to experience violence and harassment. In the United States, the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation to adopt specific violence protections for nurses, medical assistants, emergency responders and social workers. These workers are predominantly women, and they face extremely high rates of violence on the job. The law would require employers to develop an enforceable, comprehensive violence protection program in U.S. workplaces. Learn more about the global C190 ratification campaign. Learn more about the law on workplace violence. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/27/2019 - 11:47 — Nov 27
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‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: A Future Where People Will Have Jobs ‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: A Future Where People Will Have Jobs AFL-CIO On the latest episode of “State of the Unions,” podcast co-host Tim Schlittner talks to Guy Ryder, the director-general of the International Labor Organization, about the international labor movement, the idea of "decent labor" and the future of work. Listen to our previous episodes:
- A discussion with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig about his work connecting the labor movement and the veterans community.
- A conversation with union member and Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.) about strikes, trade, health care, LGBTQ equality and the freedom to form a union.
- A chat with Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (IUPAT, IAM) about his path to power and the experiences that have shaped his life and career.
- Talking to Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) about worker power, automation, trade and his decision to stay in the U.S. Senate.
- Checking in with AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council Executive Director Brad Markell about the UAW strike at General Motors and interviewing Veena Dubal, an associate law professor at UC Hastings College of the Law, whose work helped pave the way for passage of A.B. 5, the landmark pro-worker legislation in California.
- SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris discussing the future of work, sexual harassment and her journey from young actor to labor leader.
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Native American Heritage Month Pathway to Progress: Ojibwe Women Transform Working Life in Minneapolis Native American Heritage Month Pathway to Progress: Ojibwe Women Transform Working Life in Minneapolis Hennepin County Library History has long been portrayed as a series of "great men" taking great action to shape the world we live in. In recent decades, however, social historians have focused more on looking at history "from the bottom up," studying the vital role that working people played in our heritage. Working people built, and continue to build, the United States. In our series, Pathway to Progress, we'll take a look at various people, places and events where working people played a key role in the progress our country has made, including those who are making history right now. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we will take a look at a group of Ojibwe women who helped transform the world of work in Minneapolis-St. Paul throughout much of the 20th century. In the early 1960s, activism among Native American populations was on the rise. The goal of federal "termination" policy was to integrate Native American tribe members into mainstream American culture with a heavy emphasis on assimilation. With little to no help coming from Washington, the struggle for Native American rights shifted to state and local fights. Those smaller fights would culminate in a wave of activism that stopped bad legislation, won legal protections and ended the termination policy. One of the key battlegrounds was Minneapolis-St. Paul. The Ojibwe people lived in various places throughout the upper Midwest, but the combination of the termination policy, economic troubles and job opportunities opened up by American foreign policy led them to move in large numbers to Minneapolis-St. Paul. The twin cities were established in the Dakota homeland and tribal people from the prairies and northern lake country began moving into Minneapolis-St. Paul in large numbers, leading to the region housing one of the largest Indigenous populations in the U.S. Ojibwe women generally arrived in the twin cities with families and friends although some came to search for employment on their own. Life in the city was drastically different than life on the reservation and there were intense pressures to reject their cultural ideas about work to fit in with the white population. In order to survive and prosper, they had to develop new ideas about labor, but they wanted to maintain their link to the values of the traditional Ojibwe economy. Prior to moving to the city, many of the Ojibwe women, such as Gertrude Howard Buckanaga, worked in agriculture, such as blueberry picking or wild rice harvesting. In the early days, Howard Buckanaga and others would work in the city and travel home for the wild rice harvest. Ojibwe women, for the most part, only had high school degrees or a boarding school education. Neither prepared them for working in the city, but they found ways to transition skills they had used in agriculture to work in the city. The longer they lived in urban areas, Ojibwe women began to attend community meetings, participate in activism and attend college to obtain higher degrees. The earliest work they found were office jobs, in the Indian Service or as teachers at government boarding schools. Those schools began training Ojibwe girls to be nurses, which led to other job opportunities. Outside that, employers often viewed Ojibwe women as only suited for domestic or factory work and discrimination against them was widespread. De facto segregation was the norm in Minneapolis-St. Paul at the time. Low-paying jobs, discrimination and segregation put up significant road blocks and the Ojibwe women came in at the lowest rung of the economic ladder in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Social services were few and far between and often didn't serve Native Americans. This isolation forced Ojibwe women (and men) to create new patterns of participation in the workforce and other organizations and agencies to fill in where U.S. government services didn't. One of the most important leaders to emerge from the community was Emily Peake. Peake's family included French, English and Ojibwe ancestry, and she moved to Minneapolis from the White Earth reservation. Peake signed up for the Works Projects Administration, leading her to jobs in the Minneapolis Public Library and making parachutes for Honeywell. After serving in the Women's Coast Guard, she moved back to Minneapolis and began working as a community organizer during the years of the federal termination policy. As the Indian population in the Twin Cities grew, Peake worked together with a group of Ojibwe and Dakota sisters and brothers to create the Upper Midwest Indian Center, for which she would serve time as the executive director. The center provided social service programs for Indian workers and their families and would operate solely off of money Peake and her colleagues raised until War on Poverty grants were made available. The community center idea would soon spread to other cities and these centers not only provided social services, but they interwove Indian values and spiritual beliefs. Other community institutions would be created by Indian activists in Minneapolis and elsewhere. These efforts would not only lead to increased community and more employment, it set the ground for larger activism as well. The Ojibwe and other Indian women active in the Twin Cities are credited as creating the opening for which the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act would be passed. Other legislation followed. Ojibwe women took leadership positions throughout Minneapolis' community life, and they pursued meaningful jobs, cared for family and children, mentored other women, and continued to grow the services that were offered. The Minneapolis American Indian Center, for example, has served more than 14,000 American Indians since it opened in 1975. Women held the majority of the sustained leadership roles in in the Ojibwe community of Minneapolis and their visionary body of work can still be seen today in schools, Indian centers, academic curricula, social services and legislation. Their work not only increased well-being for the Ojibwe and other Indians in Minneapolis, it was instrumental in leading to greater sovereignty for Indian people across the country. Women like Peake, Howard Buckanaga, Rose Robinson, Frances Fairbanks, Ona Kingbird, Norby Blake, Pat Bellanger, Vikki Howard and others laid a foundation for the institutions and laws that increased the quality of life for many Indians, not only in politics, but in the economy as well. As Bellanger said, "'Ojibwe women have been strong throughout everything' and 'we have kept our ways,' acknowledging the significance of the women’s work like harvesting wild rice, which 'has always gone through the women.'" Source: Brenda J. Child, Politically Purposeful Work: Ojibwe Women’s Labor and Leadership in Postwar Minneapolis Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 11/26/2019 - 14:12 Tags: Pathway to Progress — Nov 26
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Red for Ed: In the States Roundup Red for Ed: 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. Alaska AFL-CIO:
0-3, @GovDunleavy.#akleg #akgov Read more here —> https://t.co/4p4mZKBHaM pic.twitter.com/WuUDvVjr84 — Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) November 8, 2019
Arizona AFL-CIO:We’re spending Veteran’s Day on the #ASARCOStrikeLine @UNITEHERE11 @UFCW99 @USWLocal937 @ibtlu104 #IUOE428 pic.twitter.com/FNuTIoGC94 — Arizona AFL-CIO (@ArizonaAFLCIO) November 11, 2019
Arkansas AFL-CIO:We love it when Union members run for public office! Brother Matthew Stallings is running for State House District 38. Check out his new… https://t.co/36BkVRXxRM — Arkansas AFL-CIO (@ArkansasAFLCIO) November 7, 2019
California Labor Federation:*NEW* Report from @UCBLaborCenter --> California’s Steps to Expand Health Coverage and Improve Affordability: Who Gains and Who Will Be Uninsured? https://t.co/8zW35WivMu — California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) November 19, 2019
Connecticut AFL-CIO:We were saddened to learn that Mel Olsson, former President of @UAW Local 571, passed away earlier this week. Even after he retired, he continued to fight every day for working people in Connecticut. You will be missed, brother. @UAWRegion9A https://t.co/f23kmZl1wN pic.twitter.com/jSnHdgstkg — Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) November 15, 2019
Florida AFL-CIO:Last week, over a hundred new Union members were elected to public office. This website shows you what union members are currently serving and how you can get involved in helping elect more members of Organized Labor to represent working people.https://t.co/0p30RiAmbC — Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) November 15, 2019
Georgia AFL-CIO:Today we also met UAW retiree George, who’s 94 years old, who started working in 1947, when the plant first opened, and retired in 1987. #1u pic.twitter.com/NBSzBRRgM2 — AFL-CIO Georgia (@AFLCIOGeorgia) November 19, 2019
Idaho AFL-CIO:I just added my name to stand with @The_AFM musicians! #1u #BandTogether Add your name and write one here: https://t.co/HhC6lOvenn — Idaho State AFL-CIO (@IdahoAFLCIO) November 19, 2019
Indiana State AFL-CIO:Thousands of teachers are at the Indiana Statehouse! They’re joining together to demand the public schools our students deserve. #RedForEd pic.twitter.com/liCXdwxBb5 — Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) November 19, 2019
Iowa Federation of Labor:Inside IBEW’s Efforts To Help Hotel Workers Unionize In Dubuque https://t.co/XUDGk4KavF pic.twitter.com/rRwerRICe2 — Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) November 19, 2019
Kentucky State AFL-CIO:“Hoover emphasized a concern that several legislators of both parties have about the bill — that it will likely diminish the retirement... https://t.co/sGobvVaB40 — Kentucky AFL-CIO (@aflcioky) May 7, 2019
Maine AFL-CIO:Congrats to the operating technicians at @WABI_TV5 on their new contract! https://t.co/QgGvGZfb6H #mepolitics — Maine AFL-CIO (@MEAFLCIO) November 19, 2019
Metro Washington (D.C.) Council AFL-CIO:‘MD/DC AFL-CIO president Donna Edwards: "We are at one moment in time"’ on #SoundCloud #np https://t.co/0auguUHwuM — MetroDCLaborCouncil (@DCLabor) November 18, 2019
Minnesota AFL-CIO:Hennepin County’s first labor-trafficking case ends in guilty plea https://t.co/O3NvJSPr9J Welcome news for workers. #1u — Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) November 19, 2019
Missouri AFL-CIO:A more cooperative relationship between workers and management would result in a more sustainable system for supporting the middle class. https://t.co/oR7dzver4x — Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) November 17, 2019
Montana AFL-CIO:Mary Munger was a nurse by trade and an activist by calling. Her advocacy gave nurses in Montana the right to collectively bargain and improved working conditions for the profession statewide. She will be missed. https://t.co/fJ1naQiZBC — Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) November 18, 2019
New Hampshire AFL-CIO:From Pres. Glenn Brackett: Congratulations on a successful Election Day! video at https://t.co/CxERWrlKfN — NewHampshire AFL-CIO (@NHAFLCIO) November 7, 2019
New Mexico Federation of Labor:Wow! So surprising that fair wages don’t kill businesses! Time for the excuses to stop, and #FightFor15 @INAFLCIO @AFLCIO https://t.co/J9PIA2M1qY — NMFL (@NMFLaflcio) November 14, 2019
New York State AFL-CIO:The #UnionStrong podcast Episode 23: The @wrkingTheater explores how plays about bus drivers and baristas, postal workers and police officers help amplify the voice of workers in NYC @IBEWLocal3 @DC37 @32BJ Episode 23: The Working Theater https://t.co/JefNpn3ik5 — NYSAFLCIO (@NYSAFLCIO) November 13, 2019
North Carolina State AFL-CIO:The GOP’s latest gerrymander ought to be the last straw for NC https://t.co/oMIum4Q1S8 #ncpol via @ncpolicywatch #ncpol #fairmaps — NC State AFL-CIO (@NCStateAFLCIO) November 19, 2019
North Dakota AFL-CIO:#LegacyFund #UniversalSchoolLunch @NBCNightlyNews @LesterHoltNBC https://t.co/YF2NQ3HRh4 — North Dakota AFL-CIO (@NDAFLCIO) November 17, 2019
Ohio AFL-CIO:Take time to enjoy the huge win for working people! https://t.co/jlDLOUp5OS pic.twitter.com/6ONxuaahwU — Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) November 18, 2019
Oklahoma State AFL-CIO:Great turnout for the OK Building and Construction Trades Apprenticeship open house! pic.twitter.com/4T8Gv9gDWZ — Oklahoma AFL-CIO (@OK_AFL_CIO) November 15, 2019
Oregon AFL-CIO:Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor writes in the NW Labor Press about the importance of recognizing graduate employees’ work and why grads at universities around the state are fighting for a fair contract. #1u #UnionStrong https://t.co/GV0icFeaRB — Oregon AFL-CIO (@OregonAFLCIO) November 19, 2019
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:Equal Pay is a central foundation of workers’ rights and we are proud to be joined by @RepSims and his legislation to support equal pay! pic.twitter.com/Ju8izeaHRD — PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) November 19, 2019
Rhode Island AFL-CIO:#1U #Apprenticeship #apprenticeships #apprentices #Labor https://t.co/m9P8Rw11sS — Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) November 19, 2019
Texas AFL-CIO:.@UAW sister Pauline sharing her story and how her union organized during the #UAWStrike in Dallas @AFLCIO @TexasAFLCIO #1u pic.twitter.com/qbkPMlC0Ez — Texas AFL-CIO (@TexasAFLCIO) November 16, 2019
Virginia AFL-CIO:Virginia Democrats could repeal right-to-work. It shows how America is changing. - The Washington Post https://t.co/EvdddLhHVN — Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) November 19, 2019
Washington State Labor Council:"(This) is an egregious attack on one state’s employment law and states’ rights generally." https://t.co/OO9CWftV50 — WA State AFL-CIO (@WAAFLCIO) November 11, 2019
West Virginia AFL-CIO:“W/1 of the biggest organizing victories since WV became a RTW state, nurses are sending a resounding message to working people across WV that forming a Union is the best way to shift the balance of power away from corporations & toward the people.” #wvpol https://t.co/vyertUROO4 — West Virginia AFLCIO (@WestVirginiaAFL) November 14, 2019
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:What to know about the legal fight over who should be on Wisconsin's voter rolls, https://t.co/w2KlEGf7g6 — WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) November 19, 2019
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 11/22/2019 - 09:56 — Nov 22 -
Colombian Workers Launch General Strike Colombian Workers Launch General Strike AFL-CIO Colombia's workers, students, and rural, indigenous and Afro-descendant communities will join together in a national general strike tomorrow, Nov. 21. Unlike the strikes many of America's workers have participated in increasingly in the past five years, Colombians are not striking against any single employer or industry. Since the Colombian labor movement convened the strike some seven weeks ago, this broad alliance of social justice organizations have come together to express their belief that the government of President Iván Duque is taking the country in the wrong direction: suggesting reforms that would reduce even further workers' access to decent work, labor rights and social security, increasing repression and violence against the most vulnerable Colombians and refusing to move forward with the peace process negotiated three years ago. Along with other human rights and social justice organizations based in the United States, the AFL-CIO and some affiliates are sharing with Congress a joint letter of support for this strike and the right to strike and protest as fundamental to building and sustaining democracy. Unfortunately, some elected leaders, right-wing parties and Colombia's former president Álvaro Uribe and his supporters have described the strike as illegal and unpatriotic. Even worse, the government has conducted raids into the homes and offices of groups organizing the strike and militarized many likely sites of citizen mobilization. Given Colombia's history of violent repression of legal and peaceful protest, the international community has expressed deep concern about Colombia's capacity and will to protect and respect the rights of its citizens exercising those rights and commitment to the peace process. We stand with Colombian workers, their unions and their communities in demanding respect for fundamental human rights before, during and after the national strike. Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 11/20/2019 - 11:23 Tags: Colombia — Nov 20
AFL-CIO Blog
- Trade Unions Demand Governments Address Gender-based Violence in the World of Work
- ‘State of the Unions’ Podcast: A Future Where People Will Have Jobs
- Native American Heritage Month Pathway to Progress: Ojibwe Women Transform Working Life in Minneapolis
- Red for Ed: In the States Roundup
- Colombian Workers Launch General Strike