AFL-CIO Daily Briefs: Shuler; AFGE; APWU; ICWUC/UFCW and IAM

Message from President Liz Shuler

• Today's passage of the bipartisan CHIPS Act in the Senate is a critical step toward rectifying years of underinvestment in our nation's manufacturing and research and development capabilities. This legislation will boost America's domestic supply chains, create thousands of high-paying jobs, strengthen our technology infrastructure, increase national security and promote vital research to ensure that we remain a global leader in innovation.
• The billions of dollars in funding allocated for the semiconductor industry will expand our ability to develop more chips and incentivize companies to ramp up production nationwide.
• Reinforcing U.S. labor laws and deterring China's harmful trade practices are top priorities for our movement, and we won't stop fighting until these necessary measures and reforms are in place. Working people deserve a voice and a seat at the table in every step of the process, and when we have one, we will build a more competitive America.

Big Win for AFGE: IT Workers at USDA Vote to Form Union

More than 800 workers at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) have joined AFGE after their election to form a union. The campaign was exciting and posed unique challenges as these IT workers all worked remotely and had limited engagement with each other before the organizing drive began. But through phone banking, sending texts, holding virtual meetings and, most importantly, tasking activists to contact their co-workers, they overwhelmingly voted "Union Yes."

"They became organized under the basic principle of wanting a say in their working conditions because they saw firsthand what a difference having a seat at the table could mean," said John Dean, AFGE's lead organizer for the campaign. "This election was the workers' chance to stand up to the agency, and they did."

Drivers at 10 Roads Express Win Union with APWU

Truck drivers for 10 Roads Express in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, have voted to form a union with the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). The 100 professional drivers join nearly 1,000 others at the U.S. Postal Service's largest trucking contractor who are already part of the APWU. The union said the workers stood strong in solidarity against a concerted anti-union campaign from their employer.

"Together, we will fight to secure things such as fair work rules, seniority rights, bidding rights, job security and more," said Bill Hamilton, an 18-year veteran mail-haul driver. "Most importantly, we will not accept being treated with anything less than the dignity and respect that we, as professional drivers, deserve."

West Virginia Chemical Workers Join ICWUC/UFCW for a Better Life

Workers at Elementis Specialties Inc., in New Martinsville, West Virginia, joined International Chemical Workers Union Council/United Food and Commercial Workers (ICWUC/UFCW) Local 566C for the better wages and benefits that come with a union contract. Elementis is a global chemical company, and the 25 workers are employed as chemical operators, lab technicians, material handlers and maintenance technicians.

"The ICWUC is proud of the solidarity the workers of Elementis displayed with their unanimous election win," said ICWUC/UFCW President Lance Heasley (pictured above, right). "We are looking forward to getting to the bargaining table and working to secure a contract for these workers."

Auto Technicians on Unfair Labor Practice Strike Against San Diego Dealership

For more than a month, about 35 area auto technicians who are members of Machinists (IAM) Local 1484 are on an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike at Mercedes-Benz of San Diego. Members of Local 1484 have experienced and reported unilateral changes in working conditions, direct dealing, unlawful interrogations and unlawful terminations.

"I, along with the rest of the members, want respect and dignity for the work we provide for the customers and the dealership," said Local 1484 Chief Shop Steward Pedro Gomez (not pictured). "This ULP strike is a case of David versus Goliath. Our members stand united and will keep up the fight as long as it takes to get justice on the job."

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