Labor

A Short History of Labor Day and the Freedom to Join Together

by Ted Parsons, Palm Beach - Treasure Coast AFL-CIO
Today, the rich and powerful continue to rig the rules to take away our freedom to join together in union for a fair return on our work. On this Labor Day, we must remember why we celebrate the first Monday in September. We honor all of the accomplishments we have made for workers rights, we pay tribute to those who sacrificed so much blood, sweat, and tears, and we reaffirm our determination to continue the fight to do better, for all workers.
Community • Labor

United Children’s Shoe Drive Comes to Daytona Beach

by Josh Leclair, Volusia Flagler AFL-CIO
While many were on their way to enjoy the sun and sand in Daytona Beach on a beautiful Saturday morning, union members and their families from across Volusia County assembled to ensure the kids from the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home had new shoes and socks to start the school year with. The event, held on Saturday, July 29th at the Shoe Carnival on International Speedway Blvd, was the first time this charity has expanded in Florida and was coordinated by the United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 295 and the United Craftsmen Children's Shoe Drive, Inc., a children's charity organization.
Community • Labor

Local Voices: A Student, A Carrier Pilot, and My Friend Bunny

by Mike Stovall, North Florida AFL-CIO
As Ellen finished her remarks, her eyes glowed with pride as she looked at her son who now strives to continue in her footsteps as a union pilot and shared gratitude that Bunny and her union family could help provide that opportunity. Generation after generation, struggle after struggle, that moment defined unionism in a nutshell for me. Union is community. It’s working hard to lift one another up in any way that we can so that we can all thrive and so that we can all be heroes. 

Who is union strong? Students, hero women pilots, my friend Bunny, you and I, that’s who.
Legislative • Taxes and Economy

Trump’s Budget: A Wish List for the Wealthy, A Nightmare for Florida

by Danielle Thomas, Northwest Florida Central Labor Council
The White House official 2018 budget titled, “A New Foundation for American Greatness” reads more like a new plan to kill the American dream for working families. It includes some of the steepest budget cuts the country has ever seen. The victims of these cuts? Florida's poor, the environment, and our children.
Community • Legislative

Gov. Rick Scott Should Veto HB 7069: Terrible Education Policy that Can’t Stand the Light of Day

by Joanne McCall, Florida Education Association
If signed into law, HB 7069 will transform our public education system into a disjointed collection of privatized programs taking over a woefully underfunded public good, perhaps the most important public good that government has the responsibility to provide. Here are some of the biggest misstatements being made and why they should be rejected.
Community • Labor • Legislative
Labor
Community • Labor • Legislative

Jacksonville workers to hold ‘Rally to Defend the Working Class’

by Dave Schneider, Young Workers of Jacksonville and Mike Stovall, North Florida AFL-CIO
On Saturday, March 11, workers, unions, the North Florida Central Labor Council and community groups across Florida will rally in downtown Jacksonville to defend the working class, which faces renewed attacks from President Donald Trump and the Republican-dominated Congress.