Featured Stories
Actors' Equity Association Endorses Daniel Biss for United States Congress
NEW YORK, July 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Actors Equity Association issued the following news release:
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Actors' Equity Association Endorses Daniel Biss for United States Congress
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Chicago - Actors' Equity Association's National Council has voted to endorse Daniel Biss for the United States House of Representatives, on behalf of the more than 51,000 actors and stage managers working in live entertainment.
"Daniel Biss has gone to bat time and time again for unions in Illinois, and we join our colleagues across the labor movement in supporting his campaign," said Al Vincent Jr.,
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NEW YORK, July 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Actors Equity Association issued the following news release:
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Actors' Equity Association Endorses Daniel Biss for United States Congress
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Chicago - Actors' Equity Association's National Council has voted to endorse Daniel Biss for the United States House of Representatives, on behalf of the more than 51,000 actors and stage managers working in live entertainment.
"Daniel Biss has gone to bat time and time again for unions in Illinois, and we join our colleagues across the labor movement in supporting his campaign," said Al Vincent Jr.,executive director of Actors' Equity Association. "Many Equity members live and work in Illinois's 9th district, and Biss has demonstrated that he understands how the performing arts are an integral part of Chicagoland's economy and community. We look forward to working closely with him!"
Daniel Biss said:
"I am honored to receive the endorsement of Actors' Equity Association. The Chicagoland area has a vibrant and storied arts community, and the artists who bring it to life every night deserve a champion in Congress. I'm running to fight for universal healthcare so no arts worker has to choose between their craft and their health, stand firm against the unchecked rise of AI threatening creative livelihoods, and make sure the federal government is a real partner for working people in live entertainment."
Equity's public policy priorities include defending and protecting the right to collectively bargain, a prevailing wage in the arts, racial justice, a strong minimum wage, stronger federal and state arts funding, gun violence prevention, universal federal health care, tax fairness and LGBTQ non-discrimination protections. Equity's ongoing list of 2026 candidate endorsements can be found here.
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks
July 8, 2026
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Original text here: https://www.actorsequity.org/news/PR/2026/07/09/actors-equity-association-endorses-daniel-biss-for-united-states-congress
AAUP, AFT, Yale Leaders Urge University to Resist Trump Administration Settlement Demands
WASHINGTON, July 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Teachers issued the following news release on July 7, 2026:
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AAUP, AFT, Yale Leaders Urge University to Resist Trump Administration Settlement Demands
Today, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), AFT Connecticut, Yale AAUP and the national AFT sent a letter to the Yale University Board of Trustees, urging them to reject any negotiated, closed-door settlement with the Trump administration regarding its admissions practices. The coalition warns that making concessions under political pressure would
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WASHINGTON, July 9 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Teachers issued the following news release on July 7, 2026:
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AAUP, AFT, Yale Leaders Urge University to Resist Trump Administration Settlement Demands
Today, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), AFT Connecticut, Yale AAUP and the national AFT sent a letter to the Yale University Board of Trustees, urging them to reject any negotiated, closed-door settlement with the Trump administration regarding its admissions practices. The coalition warns that making concessions under political pressure wouldcompromise Yale's academic freedom, shared governance, and institutional independence.
The letter condemns any mooted agreement that gives federal officials continuing leverage over admissions, hiring, curriculum, research, medical practice, campus speech, student discipline, or faculty governance.
The Trump administration's far-reaching investigation now spans Yale's School of Medicine, undergraduate admissions, and law school. Rather than utilizing research-funding cutoffs, federal officials are leveraging the threat of litigation to secure an agreement. "Yale has the resources, stature, and responsibility to stand firm," the labor coalition states. "It should defend academic freedom in public in solidarity with the broader higher education community, and in accordance with the principles that make a university worthy of the name."
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About the American Association of University Professors:
The mission of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is to advance academic freedom and shared governance; to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education; to promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education; to help the higher education community organize to make our goals a reality; and to ensure higher education's contribution to the common good. Founded in 1915, the AAUP has helped to shape American higher education by developing the standards and procedures that maintain quality in education and academic freedom in this country's colleges and universities.
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INFODOC: https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2026/Letter-AAUP-to-Yale-July-2026.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.aft.org/press-release/aaup-aft-yale-leaders-urge-university-resist-trump-administration-settlement-demands
National Federation of Federal Employees: DOGE Fails and Shutters, Yet Permanent Damage to Government Institutions and Federal Workforce Remains
WASHINGTON, July 8 [Category: Union] (TNSxrep) -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
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DOGE Fails and Shutters, Yet Permanent Damage to Government Institutions and Federal Workforce Remains
Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) celebrates the closing of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which expired on July 4.
"Good riddance to DOGE - the most damaging government reform effort in the last century," said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. "The fact that the Trump Administration does not plan
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WASHINGTON, July 8 [Category: Union] (TNSxrep) -- The National Federation of Federal Employees issued the following news release:
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DOGE Fails and Shutters, Yet Permanent Damage to Government Institutions and Federal Workforce Remains
Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) celebrates the closing of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which expired on July 4.
"Good riddance to DOGE - the most damaging government reform effort in the last century," said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. "The fact that the Trump Administration does not planto publish a final DOGE report is an admission that the entire program was a miserable failure. It was so unpopular, and for good reason, that nobody from the administration even wants to talk about it. But we cannot let that happen - we must continue to show the damage that DOGE did to our government institutions, the federal workforce, and public services the American people rely on every day.
"Elon Musk and DOGE promised savings of 2 trillion dollars from the federal budget when the agency was established to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. They now claim 215 billion dollars were cut, yet DOGE has not provided any data or sources to show any of the savings they claim.
"The truth is, DOGE found very little, if any, waste, fraud, or abuse. That's because the federal government already has a long established, nonpartisan agency that ensures the effective use of taxpayer dollars via the U.S. Government Accountability Office. In reality, DOGE created massive tax waste by firing or putting on paid leave thousands of federal workers for months on end only for them to be reinstated or hired back because they were mission-critical employees.
"Although DOGE failed in its purported mission, it did have a tremendous impact by illegally firing federal workers, dismantling federal agencies, and creating toxic workplace environments. Over 300,000 federal workers were illegally terminated or intimidated into retirement, all of whom were doing critically important work in service to the American people. Nearly 100,000 veterans lost their jobs - men and women who served this country honorably and wished to continue to do so - only to get stiffed by President Trump and Elon Musk.
"The American people will be paying for DOGE's mistakes and recklessness for decades. Institutional knowledge and critical expertise have been permanently lost. DOGE has left a stain on the federal workforce, as it has become very difficult to recruit and retain the talent and experience that is necessary for federal agencies to achieve their missions. Unfortunately, the American public will suffer the consequences of this failed experiment for years to come. DOGE leaves behind a legacy of damage to the federal government and trauma for the civil service - which we must continue to rebuild after this miserable failure."
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Original text here: https://www.nffe.org/press-release/doge-fails-and-shutters-yet-permanent-damage-to-government-institutions-and-federal-workforce-remains/
NEA: From Merger to Movement - A Legacy of Keeping Hope Alive
WASHINGTON, July 8 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release:
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From Merger to Movement: A Legacy of Keeping Hope Alive
Celebrating 60 years of partnership with the American Teachers Association
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Sixty years ago, in a dimly lit Miami Beach convention center--during a time of nationwide racial turmoil--two men, both educators, contemplated the words on the historic documents they were about to sign. President R. J. Martin, leader of the American Teachers Association (ATA), an organization representing teachers of color during a time of legal segregation, and
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WASHINGTON, July 8 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release:
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From Merger to Movement: A Legacy of Keeping Hope Alive
Celebrating 60 years of partnership with the American Teachers Association
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Sixty years ago, in a dimly lit Miami Beach convention center--during a time of nationwide racial turmoil--two men, both educators, contemplated the words on the historic documents they were about to sign. President R. J. Martin, leader of the American Teachers Association (ATA), an organization representing teachers of color during a time of legal segregation, andRichard Batchelder, president of the National Education Association (NEA), were about to take the unprecedented step of joining their two prominent, national organizations together.
After signing the documents, both men rose to their feet. The crowd that had assembled to witness the new beginning began to sing, and The Battle Hymn of the Republic rang out wall to wall. History had been made. Together, they would fight for the improvement of our nation's public education system. The annual NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards were born out of that merger, and today, and each year since the merger, NEA has proudly honored leaders in the justice and civil rights movement at this event, which is taking place in Denver, Colorado ahead of the NEA's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly.
"With the stroke of a pen, the National Education Association and the American Teachers Association took a bold stand against racial segregation and inequality and merged into one NEA," said NEA President Becky Pringle. "That merger united Black and White educators in the fight for equal respect, equal access, and equal opportunity, and gave rise to the inclusive, powerful advocate we are today. The legacy endures as we mark the 60th anniversary of the merger, but the work is not done. Discrimination and inequity, coupled with direct attacks on the nation's public education system, continue to threaten the promise of a quality education for every child, and NEA will not rest until justice and opportunity are truly universal."
After the historic signing, the two became one in the name of public education. The annual NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards are inextricably linked to the merger and today, this inspirational program recognizes the exceptional people and organizations that have expanded educational opportunities for students who have been traditionally marginalized, and those who have advanced and expanded human and civil rights in their communities.
This moment is a celebration to acknowledge progress in the movement towards justice nationwide, and to lift positive impacts on the education of all students no matter their gender, ZIP code, or place of birth, and celebrate leaders in racial and social justice and human and civil rights.
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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.
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Original text here: https://www.nea.org/about-nea/media-center/press-releases/merger-movement-legacy-keeping-hope-alive
[Category: Union]
NEA Posthumously Awards Teacher, Illinois Native With Its Highest Honor
WASHINGTON, July 7 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release on July 5, 2026:
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NEA posthumously awards teacher, Illinois native with its highest honor
Former Illinois Education Association President Al Llorens receives the NEA Friend of Education Award for his tireless dedication to defending public education.
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DENVER -- The National Education Association today posthumously awarded Al Llorens--former president of the Illinois Education Association and defender of public education--with its highest honor, the Friend of Education Award. The award was presented
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WASHINGTON, July 7 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release on July 5, 2026:
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NEA posthumously awards teacher, Illinois native with its highest honor
Former Illinois Education Association President Al Llorens receives the NEA Friend of Education Award for his tireless dedication to defending public education.
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DENVER -- The National Education Association today posthumously awarded Al Llorens--former president of the Illinois Education Association and defender of public education--with its highest honor, the Friend of Education Award. The award was presentedin front of nearly 7,000 educators gathered in Denver, Colorado, during the 2026 NEA Representative Assembly (RA).
Llorens spent more than 30 years as a high school math teacher and head girls' track and cross-country coach at Thornridge High School. Prior to that, he taught fourth-grade phonics and middle school reading in Champaign, and worked as a math and science teacher in Kankakee and Chicago. A two-term member of NEA's Board of Directors, Llorens served as IEA secretary/treasurer and vice president before being elected IEA president in 2023, a position he held until his passing last September.
"I was fortunate to call Al not only a trusted and brilliant colleague, but also a very dear friend whose wisdom, encouragement and support meant so much to me," said NEA President Becky Pringle. "Al is the embodiment of NEA's core values, and his legacy will inspire leaders in classrooms across the country for generations to come."
Llorens' dedication to his colleagues and students was unparalleled. He was known for going out of his way to ensure his students had the resources they needed to succeed, even if it meant showing up early or staying late to work with students one-on-one. Once, when a student broke his leg and was out of school, Llorens visited him at his house, so that he didn't fall behind.
"Al was a tireless advocate for racial and social justice, always working to ensure that every student--no matter their background--had access to the opportunities they deserved," said Pringle. "His life's work pushed all of us to act with courage in the pursuit of fairness, equity, and opportunity for all students and teachers."
As president of the Illinois Education Association, Llorens was an unwavering fighter for students, educators, and strong public schools. He played a leading role in efforts to increase investment in public education and championed policies that ensured every Illinois student had access to a high-quality public school. Among his many accomplishments, Llorens helped lead the successful campaign to end Illinois' Invest in Kids private school voucher program, a significant victory for millions of students. His steadfast commitment to public education leaves a lasting legacy for students and educators alike.
The NEA Friend of Education Award is presented during NEA's annual convention and recognizes a person or organization whose leadership has significantly contributed to improving American public education. Llorens joins previous award recipients: Nobel-prize winners Malala Yousafzai and economist Paul Krugman; education policy writer and researcher Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond; leaders of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB); U.S. Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and William Jefferson Clinton; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley; Sen. Edward Ted" Kennedy; and activists Judith Heumann, Greta Thunberg, Dolly Parton, and Quinta Brunson.
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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at nea.org.
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Original text here: https://www.nea.org/about-nea/media-center/press-releases/nea-posthumously-awards-teacher-illinois-native-its-highest-honor
[Category: Union]
Middle School Special Education Teacher From Washington State Reelected to NEA Executive Committee
WASHINGTON, July 7 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release:
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Middle school special education teacher from Washington state reelected to NEA Executive Committee
NEA Executive Committee member Shannon McCann's deep leadership experience and commitment to equality in education will continue to help NEA's mobilization efforts as communities are under attack
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DENVER--A dedicated Washington state teacher and union activist with experience at the local, state, and national level will serve another term on the Executive Committee of the National Education Association.
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WASHINGTON, July 7 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release:
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Middle school special education teacher from Washington state reelected to NEA Executive Committee
NEA Executive Committee member Shannon McCann's deep leadership experience and commitment to equality in education will continue to help NEA's mobilization efforts as communities are under attack
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DENVER--A dedicated Washington state teacher and union activist with experience at the local, state, and national level will serve another term on the Executive Committee of the National Education Association.Shannon McCann, a middle school special education teacher from Seattle, Wash., was reelected by her union siblings at NEA's Representative Assembly (RA) to serve on the organization's influential and highest governing body.
A labor activist since her childhood, McCann has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of her fellow members. As president of the Federal Way Education Association, she organized transformational bargaining wins for local education support professionals. At the state level, she has served on the Board of Directors, Racial Justice Committee, Executive Committee and Budget Committee for the Washington Education Association (WEA). She has also chaired the WEA LGBTQ+ Caucus.
"Shannon McCann has been an instrumental member of our Executive Committee, and I know she will continue to be," said NEA President Becky Pringle. "As communities come under attack, NEA members are mobilizing because unions are made for moments like these. Shannon's deep organizing experience and unwavering commitment to racial and social justice will continue to help power our movement forward and protect the rights of every educator and student."
Prior to her election to the Executive Board, McCann had served on NEA's Strategic Plan and Budget Committee; Board of Directors; Safe, Just, and Equitable Schools Policy Statement Task Force; and the Racial Justice in Education Internal Language Stakeholder Group. She had also chaired both the NEA Legislative Committee and the Retired Conference Planning Committee.
"Thank you delegates for reelecting me to the NEA Executive Committee. I am humbled and honored. This work has never been about one person -- it's about the collective power of educators, ESPs, public service employees and communities standing together," said McCann. "I will continue to bring my experience in organizing, bargaining, and coalition building to this role, fighting for the pay, respect, and support every educator deserves and every student needs. I believe an inclusive union is a strong union, and that strong locals mean a strong state, a strong nation, and a strong democracy. Together, we will keep organizing, keep advocating, and keep building a public education system worthy of all our students."
Nearly 7,000 educators are in Denver, Colo., for the 169th Annual Meeting and 105th RA, the organization's top decision-making body, which sets association policy for the coming year. Delegates will complete an agenda, which includes adopting a budget, electing Executive Committee members, and addressing new business items.
For more information on NEA's Annual Meeting and RA, go to nea.org/ra.
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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at nea.org.
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Original text here: https://www.nea.org/about-nea/media-center/press-releases/middle-school-special-education-teacher-washington-state-reelected-nea-executive-committee
[Category: Union]
Bazooka Teamsters Ratify Strong Contract
WASHINGTON, July 7 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Bazooka Teamsters Ratify Strong Contract
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Press Contact: Lena Melentijevic Phone: (347) 208-2279 Email: LMelentijevic@teamster.org
(SCRANTON, Pa.) - Over 60 workers at Bazooka's Ring Pop facility in Moosic, Pa., represented by Teamsters Local 229, have ratified a strong new contract. The three-year agreement delivers a 15 percent wage increase, more affordable health care, improvements to the Teamsters pension plan, a stronger vacation structure, increased shift differentials,
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WASHINGTON, July 7 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Bazooka Teamsters Ratify Strong Contract
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Press Contact: Lena Melentijevic Phone: (347) 208-2279 Email: LMelentijevic@teamster.org
(SCRANTON, Pa.) - Over 60 workers at Bazooka's Ring Pop facility in Moosic, Pa., represented by Teamsters Local 229, have ratified a strong new contract. The three-year agreement delivers a 15 percent wage increase, more affordable health care, improvements to the Teamsters pension plan, a stronger vacation structure, increased shift differentials,and enhanced profit-sharing language.
"This contract is a major win for the hardworking men and women at Bazooka," said Joe Secor, Vice President and Business Agent of Local 229. "Their labor is crucial to producing Ring Pops, one of the company's most iconic products. I'm proud of the unity and determination this group showed throughout negotiations."
Teamsters at the Bazooka facility perform critical work across production, maintenance, shipping, packaging, and quality control operations that keep the business running and products moving to customers nationwide.
"I've been at this plant for over 20 years, and I'm glad we were able to secure such a strong contract," said Bernie Hoover, a worker at Bazooka and steward with Local 229. "This is going to make a real difference for us and our families. It's a proud moment for all of us who have built our lives around this work and in this town."
Headquartered in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Teamsters Local 229 represents over 1,000 members in a half dozen industries across Northeastern Pennsylvania. For more information, visit teamsters229.org.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/07/bazooka-teamsters-ratify-strong-contract/
