AFL-CIO Daily Briefs: Shuler; Trumka; WGAE; ALPA; Oregon and LiUNA

Message from President Liz Shuler

• On Feb. 17, WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner was arrested by Russian authorities at a Moscow airport.
• Since her arrest more than three months ago, the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has been strongly advocating for her release.
• In a letter to President Biden this week, Griner said, "I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home."
• We join with the WNBPA and others in calling for Griner's release.

Biden to Award Richard Trumka Presidential Medal of Freedom

Last year, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka passed after a long and distinguished career of fighting on behalf of workers across the country and throughout the world. Those of us who worked with him knew his commitment to the labor movement and will forever be thankful for his dedication to working people.

Add President Joe Biden to the list of those honoring Trumka's life work. This week, Biden will award Trumka with the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trumka is one of 17 honorees who will be recognized in a ceremony later this week.

In describing the recipients of the medal, the White House wrote, "These seventeen Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation -hard work, perseverance, and faith. They have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities-and across the world-while blazing trails for generations to come."

WGAE Members at ABC News Ratify New Contract

The 110-member bargaining unit at ABC News overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract with the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE). The unit includes news editors, newswriters, continuity writers, researchers, assignment editors, desk assistants and graphic artists who work for various ABC properties. The contract increases wages by 9% over three years, raises minimum wages for certain jobs, increases paid time off and provides numerous other benefits.

"We are proud our members have won solid increases in pay and pension contributions, gains for full-time 'temps,' DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] protections and more," said Lowell Peterson, executive director of the WGAE. "This demonstrates that, even in a mature industry, collective bargaining works."

ALPA Pilots Hold Informational Pickets at Delta and FedEx

Several hundred FedEx Express pilots, crew members and supporters held an informational picket at the FedEx Express Air Operations Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have been negotiating for a new contract for more than a year, and several significant issues are outstanding.

"Throughout the pandemic, while many were shutting down and working virtually, FedEx pilots were flying across the globe, keeping the world economy intact. We have earned an industry-leading contract through these remarkable efforts, and now is the time for FedEx to deliver," said Capt. Chris Norman, chair of the FedEx ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC).

Meanwhile, ALPA members who work at Delta conducted informational pickets at Delta hubs across the country. The Delta pilots last signed a new contract in 2016. The pilots are seeking improvements in pay, retirement benefits, job protections and scheduling.

"Delta pilots were front-line leaders during COVID-19 and the recovery. We have helped our airline recover by flying record amounts of overtime and spending more time away from our families than ever before to get our customers safely to their destinations. It's time for management to recognize our contributions. If Delta can invest billions in foreign airlines and its subsidiaries, it must invest similarly in its pilots," said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, chair of the Delta ALPA MEC.

These ALPA members and their allies are advocating for long-overdue new contracts that recognize their contributions to the airlines' growth and success.

Oregon AFL-CIO Applauds Increase in State's Minimum Wage

On Friday, Oregon's new minimum wage increases went into effect, boosting wages for more than 108,000 workers across the state. The minimum wage is now $14.75 in the Portland metropolitan area, $13.50 in other urban counties and $12.50 in nonurban counties.

Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor spoke to the state federation's efforts toward raising the wage: "Oregon's unions worked tirelessly to increase our state's minimum wage. We did so because the minimum wage was too low and was leaving too many working people behind, unable to afford basic necessities. Today, we're proud of what we accomplished in 2016, especially with the knowledge that each year the minimum wage will be tied to inflation. We know that when we increase wages for workers, that money goes directly into Oregon's economy, paying for goods and services in communities throughout the state. With gas prices and inflation on the minds of working families, we need to continue to step up and find ways to help working people make ends meet like we did in 2016. The Oregon AFL-CIO is a strong voice for Oregon's workers, and we will continue to use that voice to advocate for policy solutions like raising the minimum wage that directly impact the kitchen table economics of Oregon's working families."

Minimum-wage workers who don't see an increase in their next paycheck can file a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries for a remedy.

LIUNA Family Member Among Winners of 2022 Union Plus Scholarship Awards; Union Plus Distributes $200,000 Among 189 Students

Adrian Arciniega, whose stepfather, uncle and grandfather are all members of Laborers (LIUNA) Local 1309, recently completed his first year as a neurobiology major at the University of California San Diego. He aspires to become a neurologist and conduct research on diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

"A college education will grant me with the tools to go on to medical school and open the doors to many research opportunities pertaining to neurological disorders," Arciniega said.

Though Arciniega was among the top students in his high school's graduating class, he said that LIUNA has a huge role to play in his ability to go to college.

"[LIUNA] is the foundation on which my family is built. Without the union, my stepdad would not have job security, and I wouldn't have ever dreamed of going to college," Adrian said. "I am blessed to be able to go to school and chase my passions. I am grateful for the men in my family who allow me to stand on their shoulders while I reach for my dreams. I am grateful for the union for being the sturdy base on which my family stands and the safety blanket in case they fall."

To see the full list of this year's Union Plus Scholarship winners, visit unionplus.org/scholarship.

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