AFL-CIO Daily Briefs: Shuler; IAM; New York City; UVC; NATCA and Michigan.

Message from President Liz Shuler

• The AFL-CIO Convention is right around the corner, and I'm thrilled to announce that President Biden will be joining us.
• From the establishment of the first-ever White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment to the enactment of the largest infrastructure investments in our nation's history, America's union members know that Biden and his administration support more good union jobs and a strong labor movement.
• Under President Biden's leadership, we are making real progress for America's workers, and I can't wait to welcome him to our convention next week.

'Tantalizingly Close': Aluminum Smelter Reopening on the Horizon

In April 2020, one of the few remaining aluminum smelters in the United States closed down and hundreds of members of the Machinists (IAM) lost their jobs. The Alcoa Intalco Works plant in Ferndale, Washington, now looks set to reopen its doors with the promise of regaining good union jobs and boosting America's domestic manufacturing and supply chains, all while contributing to a reduced-carbon economy. However, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the Bonneville Power Administration is "balking" at the prospect of having to supply the smelter with low-cost hydropower.

"We're so close to reopening the only aluminum smelter west of the Mississippi and restoring hundreds of IAM 'green' careers," IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. tweeted on Wednesday. "Now, we need Bonneville Power to work with our broad coalition to bring this strategic manufacturing work back home."

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander Praises Amazon Workers for Exercising Freedom to Organize

In a video message to Amazon workers, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander praised Amazon workers who are exercising their freedom to come together into unions to negotiate for a fair return on their work. He explained that the company and its shareholders, as well as workers' pension plans, will benefit over the long term by treating workers well.

At Amazon's shareholder meeting on May 25, Lander joined New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs to urge a vote against Amazon Director Judith McGrath. McGrath had refused to meet with the New York City Employees' Retirement System and other investors to discuss Amazon's treatment of its workforce.

Director McGrath chairs the board of director's Leadership Development and Compensation Committee that awarded Amazon CEO Andy Jassy $211 million in 2021 total compensation, an amount that is 6,474 times Amazon's median employee pay of $32,855. More than 20% of Amazon's shareholders withheld their vote from McGrath. Click here to learn more.

UVC Applauds Senate Advancement of Toxic Exposure Legislation

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate voted by a large bipartisan majority to proceed with consideration of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act. The Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO, (UVC) celebrated the move forward for the legislation, which will expand Veterans Affairs (VA) health care eligibility for post-9/11 combat veterans, improve VA's claims processing and fund additional VA staff.

"Veterans suffering from rare respiratory cancers associated with toxic exposure to burn pits resulting from their service deserve timely access to health care services and benefits," said UVC Executive Director Will Attig (UA). "Along with President Biden, the Union Veterans Council has been there for the fight to expand access to health care services and benefits for veterans impacted by environmental exposures."

NATCA Members Host Solidarity Event with 'Top Gun' Screening

The movie "Top Gun: Maverick" has hit the big screen, and union members across the country are talking about it-including members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) who keep America's airspace safe. NATCA members who work at St. Louis/Lambert Air Traffic Control Tower recently hosted a solidarity event with a screening of the "Top Gun" sequel. NATCA President Rich Santa attended and spoke with members from around the St. Louis region.

"It was awesome to get to spend time with local Central Region members and especially while celebrating a movie related to aviation," NATCA Central Regional Vice President Aaron Merrick said. "We're always excited about the opportunity to build solidarity, face to face, with other local facilities and our union leadership."

Union Members Build Monument to Labor in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Members of the Delta County Trades and Labor Council are currently building a Monument to Labor in Escanaba, Michigan. The construction of the monument is truly a community effort. Mike Parrett of Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights (MRCC) Local 1510 and Travis Cary (IUPAT) worked in partnership with members of the Escanaba City Council, including longtime labor council member Todd Flath (AFSCME), for several years to plan the monument. Now, construction is being led by Parrett, Alex Sovey (BAC) and Pat Wood (MRCC), with the support of all the skilled trades and contracting partners: Ness Contracting, Bosk Corp., Bichler Concrete & Gravel, Bark River Concrete Products, CR Meyer, DeGrand Construction, Prime Construction and Crawford Funeral Homes. High school students from the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District's building trades program also have been on hand to hone their skills.

The focal point of the monument will be four precast stone panels that will become part of the structure. The panels depict blacksmiths and torch cutters at work. The stone panels are a piece of Escanaba history themselves, as they were salvaged from an Escanaba Public Works building that was demolished.

The labor council said that hard work, planning and community coordination have made this not only an extraordinary monument to labor in a very visible and well attended park, but it will also be the terminus for the second Labor Day parade in the city of Escanaba in recent years, and hopefully for many years to come.

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