AFL-CIO Daily Briefs: Shuler; ITUC; Labor Secretary Walsh; IUPAT; IAFF andInsulators

Message from President Liz Shuler

• esterday's hearing held by the Select Committee on January 6 was yet another reminder of how critical it is that we protect our democracy.
• The labor movement has the infrastructure to do that-and we're asking all of you to use it to mobilize in your local unions and at your worksites. Having those one-on-one conversations will help us break through the noise of misinformation and connect on the issues that matter.
• With the crucial midterm elections only four months away, there's not a moment to spare. We must mobilize and organize now so that working people will secure victory in November.

ITUC Global Rights Index Report Shows Increase in Attacks on Workers Worldwide

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) recently released its ninth edition of the Global Rights Index, a study that comprehensively reviewed how nearly 150 countries performed in 2021 in terms of respecting their workers' rights. "We know that workers are on the front line of multiple and extraordinary crises: historic levels of inequality, the climate emergency, a pandemic destroying lives and livelihoods, and conflicts with devastating domestic and global impacts," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

The key finding of this year's report is that attacks on workers' rights are at a nine-year high. Throughout 2021, 113 countries excluded workers from their right to join or organize a union. That means 77% of countries denied workers their collective bargaining rights. Union organizers were killed in 13 countries and faced violence in 50.

Burrow called for action: "We must expose the wrongdoing to make governments realize they have to rebuild with a new social contract: jobs, wages, rights, social protection, equality and inclusion."

The United States scored a 4 (on a scale of 1 to 5), indicating "systematic violations of rights."

Labor Secretary Walsh Calls for the Expansion of Apprenticeship Programs

In a new editorial in The Washington Post, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (pictured above) and Cecilia Elena Rouse, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, called for the expansion of apprenticeship programs. "We should dramatically expand tools like the Registered Apprenticeship program for career technical education, as well as pre-apprenticeship programs, to boost the pipeline of trained workers," they wrote. "The trucking industry is an example of a sector where we are already doing this. We also need to improve the quality of jobs for Americans, including by giving workers more of a voice in the workplace."

After being disrupted by COVID-19, the Registered Apprenticeship program rebounded in 2021 with a 9% increase in new apprenticeships. Overall, the program served 593,000 apprentices last year, with 96,000 graduating in partnership with 27,000 apprenticeship programs across the country.

IUPAT Fights to Organize Immigrant Workers Exploited in the Underground Economy

"No one is exploited worse than the immigrant worker in this country." That's how Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) General President Jimmy Williams Jr. (pictured above) leads off a new video addressing the exploitation of immigrant workers in the United States.

The video lets immigrant workers from the underground economy in the construction industry tell their own stories-stories of abuse and exploitation. Williams says that IUPAT is a union that fights for all workers, and that IUPAT won't stop until all workers in their trades are organized.

Watch the full video.

IAFF Offers Fireworks Safety Guide in Advance of Independence Day

It's been a hard year for working families and many will rightfully take some time off to celebrate the July 4th holiday with fireworks and sparklers. They've long been a part of the holiday tradition and we'll see them across the nation this year.

But the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) reminds us that 10,000 people annually are injured by improperly handled fireworks in the United States and Canada. IAFF has shared a fireworks safety toolkit to help everyone spread the word on fireworks safety.

Fireworks can be a fun and exciting part of your holiday celebration. Make sure that they are enjoyed safely, and be careful to consider the impact they can have on others in your community.

Heat and Frost Insulators to Crown Winner in Master Apprentice Competition

Today is Day 3 of the Master Apprentice Competition (MAC) sponsored by the Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU). Participants in the competition are finishing up hands-on projects for the judges to evaluate.

Every year, the MAC invites the winners of regional competitions to compete for the title. For the past 18 years, the HFIU contest has given apprentices the opportunity to show what they've learned and what they can do. In the last competition before COVID-19, more than 4,000 apprentices participated. This week, the 2022 Insulators Master Apprentice, a coveted title within the industry, will be chosen in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Watch video of the 2019 competition and follow the Heat and Frost Insulators on Twitter to learn the results of this year's competition.

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