Featured Stories
National Education Union: IPPR Research Calls for SATs Rethink
LONDON, England, Oct. 21 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement:
* * *
IPPR research calls for SATs rethink
21/10/2026
Responding to new recommendations from the IPPR on reforms to primary assessment, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"IPPR's recommendations would lay the foundations for a more equitable, accessible system where teachers can focus on supporting pupils, and children can focus on developing a love of learning.
"The primary school assessment and accountability system fails all children, particularly disadvantaged
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, Oct. 21 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement:
* * *
IPPR research calls for SATs rethink
21/10/2026
Responding to new recommendations from the IPPR on reforms to primary assessment, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"IPPR's recommendations would lay the foundations for a more equitable, accessible system where teachers can focus on supporting pupils, and children can focus on developing a love of learning.
"The primary school assessment and accountability system fails all children, particularly disadvantagedpupils and those with SEND. NEU members know that change is long-overdue and cannot wait.
"The government cannot possibly hope to address the causes of disengagement from learning without recognising that this begins in primary school.
"SATs have a devastating impact on disadvantaged children and those with SEND by labelling many a 'failure', narrowing the curriculum, reducing enrichment, and failing to capture what pupils know and can do.
"While we still need to see SATs scrapped, the NEU supports IPPR's recommendation to remove the draconian, universally unpopular SPaG test and the recommendation to end the publication of school-level data.
"The education secretary recently said we need to go beyond a one-size-fits-all system that sets too many up to fail. It's time to put words into action."
* * *
Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/ippr-research-calls-sats-rethink?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
U.S. Federal Court Orders Labor Department to Publish New Wage Rule by End of Year After Finding Trump Wage Cut Illegal
KEENE, California, Oct. 19 [Category: Union] -- The United Farm Workers issued the following news release:
* * *
U.S. Federal Court Orders Labor Department to Publish New Wage Rule by End of Year After Finding Trump Wage Cut Illegal
*
Fresno, Calif.-- A federal court held that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has until December 30, 2026 to issue a new rule setting the wages of farm workers on the H-2A agricultural guest worker visa and U.S. workers who work alongside them.
The court's order, issued on October 2, 2026, requires DOL to produce a new methodology for the Adverse Effect Wage
... Show Full Article
KEENE, California, Oct. 19 [Category: Union] -- The United Farm Workers issued the following news release:
* * *
U.S. Federal Court Orders Labor Department to Publish New Wage Rule by End of Year After Finding Trump Wage Cut Illegal
*
Fresno, Calif.-- A federal court held that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has until December 30, 2026 to issue a new rule setting the wages of farm workers on the H-2A agricultural guest worker visa and U.S. workers who work alongside them.
The court's order, issued on October 2, 2026, requires DOL to produce a new methodology for the Adverse Effect WageRate (or AEWR). This new regulation must be consistent with the court's August 26 ruling that found that the Trump administration's October 2025 AEWR rule is illegal because it adversely affects U.S. workers by undercutting their wages, in violation of federal law. The August 26 ruling also required DOL to give notice to employers that they may be responsible for backpay between that notice, September 2, and when a new, lawful rule is issued.
The administration's illegal October 2025 wage cut rule, which remains in effect, cut farm worker wages between $3-7 per hour,, and transferred $2.46 billion from workers to employers annually according to DOL's own estimates.. The United Farm Workers, UFW Foundation, and 18 individual farm worker plaintiffs challenged the rule shortly after it was issued last year.
The question of whether workers paid the unlawful wage rates will be eligible for backpay will be argued and addressed by the court after DOL issues the new rule.
"Trump's illegal wage cut will now have been in effect for over a year, costing farm workers money, jobs, stress, and indignity," said Teresa Romero, President of the United Farm Workers. "Even after the wage rule was found to be illegally undercutting the jobs and wages of American workers, the Trump administration has dragged its feet, fighting to keep money out of farm workers' pockets. We are grateful that a hard deadline has now been set for the end of these illegal wage cuts, before farm workers endure another year of hardship.
"The federal courts have spoken: the Trump administration's wage cuts are illegal," said Erica Lomeli Corcoran, chief executive officer of the UFW Foundation. "For over a year, farm workers have been working for illegal wages that are so drastic that workers cannot afford the rising costs of rent, groceries, gas, medications, and other basic needs for survival. The administration must now issue a new, lawful rule that complies with the federal court's order and does not adversely affect U.S. workers' wages."
***
Original text here: https://ufw.org/u-s-federal-court-orders-labor-department-to-publish-new-wage-rule-by-end-of-year-after-finding-trump-wage-cut-illegal/
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 7 Texas Candidates Running for Election
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees posted the following news release:
* * *
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 7 Texas Candidates Running for Election
*
Join the 150,000 AFGE members who have already made the switch to E-Dues.
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
tim.kauffman@afge.org
KILLEEN, Texas -- The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of seven candidates running to represent Texas in the 2026 elections taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The newly endorsed candidates are Gina Hinojosa
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees posted the following news release:
* * *
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 7 Texas Candidates Running for Election
*
Join the 150,000 AFGE members who have already made the switch to E-Dues.
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
tim.kauffman@afge.org
KILLEEN, Texas -- The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of seven candidates running to represent Texas in the 2026 elections taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The newly endorsed candidates are Gina Hinojosafor governor and six incumbents for reelection to the U.S. House: Lizzie Fletcher (CD-7), Veronica Escobar (CD-16), Christian Menefee (CD-18), Joaquin Castro (CD-20), Sylvia Garcia (CD-29), and Greg Casar (CD-37).
The endorsed candidates have been supportive of AFGE's legislative priorities and often are the cosponsors of key workforce bills.
"Over 250,000 federal employees call Texas home. They care for our veterans, support our military, secure our border, and make sure Social Security checks arrive on time," AFGE District 10 National Vice President Cheryl Eliano said.
"Over the past year they have faced mass firings, a government shutdown, and attacks on their right to a union. They need leaders who fight back," Eliano said. "Gina Hinojosa has spent her career standing up for working families, from her work as a civil rights and labor attorney in the Rio Grande Valley to her leadership in the Texas House. Representatives Fletcher, Escobar, Menefee, Castro, Garcia, and Casar have stood with federal workers in Washington when it mattered most."
AFGE previously endorsed Texas State Rep. James Talarico for election to the U.S. Senate in November along with four other candidates from the state running for the U.S. House.
About 250,000 federal employees live in Texas - caring for veterans, supporting the military, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents more than 136,000 federal employees in District 10, which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Panama, and Texas.
Written by OPEIU 2 AFL-CIO
***
Original text here: https://www.afge.org/link/430dbaa0028549f1bb0f60beb1e07e4a.aspx
Forged Fiber Technicians and Facility Specialists Launch Multi-State Picket Ahead of AT&T's 50% Sale of Network to BlackRock and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Communications Workers of America posted the following news release:
* * *
Forged Fiber Technicians and Facility Specialists Launch Multi-State Picket Ahead of AT&T's 50% Sale of Network to BlackRock and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
*
NATIONWIDE - On Tuesday, Fiber Technicians and Facility Specialists at Forged Fiber, AT&T's newest wholesale fiber joint venture, will launch informational pickets across nine states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) to demand a fair contract. At stake in negotiations
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Communications Workers of America posted the following news release:
* * *
Forged Fiber Technicians and Facility Specialists Launch Multi-State Picket Ahead of AT&T's 50% Sale of Network to BlackRock and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
*
NATIONWIDE - On Tuesday, Fiber Technicians and Facility Specialists at Forged Fiber, AT&T's newest wholesale fiber joint venture, will launch informational pickets across nine states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) to demand a fair contract. At stake in negotiationsis AT&T's attempt to outsource critical infrastructure work to non-union contractors, despite directly employing over 1,100 of highly-trained unionized technicians who transferred from Lumen Technologies when AT&T acquired its fiber business earlier this year. These pickets come just as AT&T is seeking regulatory approval to sell a 50% stake in Forged Fiber to BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.1
AT&T employs thousands of frontline technicians across the United States that are represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). These workers' expertise and commitment to their local communities has enabled AT&T to become the nation's largest fiber internet provider. The Company is looking to continue this success by reaching 60 million fiber locations by 2030.2 AT&T appears to be turning towards joint ventures (JVs) that rely on contractors to reach a growing share of these locations, with nearly 13% of total locations served by JVs as of the second quarter of this year.3
Forged Fiber 37 is AT&T's second wholesale fiber JV. The first, Gigapower, launched as a partnership with BlackRock in May 2023. Gigapower relies on an entirely subcontracted frontline technician workforce for its deployments.4 CWA has repeatedly raised concerns about Gigapower's contractor-based business model with public officials and investors. In July 2026, CWA published a report analyzing Gigapower's first phase of deployment based on corporate disclosures, municipal public records, litigation documents, and field investigations. CWA found that Gigapower's first phase has been plagued with deployment delays, missed buildout targets, and ongoing high price tag litigation with former contractor partners.
"AT&T has achieved success as a union company, with experienced and highly skilled union labor," said CWA District 7 Vice President Susie McAllister. "But instead of building on a successful union model, AT&T seems determined to replicate its race-to-the-bottom strategy that already failed at Gigapower. Our members at Forged Fiber are demanding that AT&T bargain in good faith and not put our communities and customers at risk by using substandard contracted services."
Forged Fiber 37 technicians are highly skilled and well-trained infrastructure professionals with years of experience serving their communities. AT&T's failure to bargain in good faith and attempt to circumvent highly skilled unionized labor degrades workers' rights and work quality standards that can have serious negative impacts on consumers and public infrastructure. CWA filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board in August 2026 alleging that Forged Fiber is refusing to bargain in good faith.5
***
Original text here: https://cwa-union.org/index%2Ephp/news/releases/forged-fiber-technicians-and-facility-specialists-launch-multi-state-picket-ahead (TNSmrp)
Former vice president Ron Brown dies
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO National Association of Letter Carriers issued the following news:
* * *
Former vice president Ron Brown dies
*
Ronald Brown, age 84, died on Oct. 16. During his 62-year postal career, Brown served as a Region 6 national business agent (NBA), national vice president and director of retired members.
Joining the Postal Service in 1964 after three years in the Army, the Royal Oak, MI Branch 3126 member became safety officer in 1970 and shop steward the following year. After serving his branch as secretary from 1973 to 1975 and vice president
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO National Association of Letter Carriers issued the following news:
* * *
Former vice president Ron Brown dies
*
Ronald Brown, age 84, died on Oct. 16. During his 62-year postal career, Brown served as a Region 6 national business agent (NBA), national vice president and director of retired members.
Joining the Postal Service in 1964 after three years in the Army, the Royal Oak, MI Branch 3126 member became safety officer in 1970 and shop steward the following year. After serving his branch as secretary from 1973 to 1975 and vice presidentthe next two years, and as state training officer in 1977, Brown was named regional administrative assistant for Region 6 that year, where he excelled in grievance handling and arbitration.
Brown spent 10 years as NBA for Region 6 before being appointed as vice president in September 2000 and served until 2002, when he was appointed director of retired members. He served in that position until the end of that year.
Affectionately known as "The Godfather," Brown was a respected leader, mentor and friend who continued to be involved with NALC projects and trainings after his retirement.
"I grew up in a union family, so I've always been aware of how the union helps working people," Brown told The Postal Record in 2000.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Marie Brown; his children, Ronnie Brown and Donna Brown; his grandchildren, Cory Bowman, Parker Bowman and Sarah Carlson; and his brother, Jerry Brown. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thelmer and Pauline Brown.
"NALC mourns the loss of Brother Brown," NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. "He dedicated more than six decades to fighting for the rights of letter carriers, never refusing to help a union brother or sister in need, and setting a standard of service that will not be forgotten. On behalf of the NALC, I extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed."
More information is available here.
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe presents Ron Brown with his sixty-year pin at the Royal Oak, MI Branch 3126 Retiree Lunch in October 2024.
***
Original text here: https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/former-vice-president-ron-brown-dies (TNSmlt)
National Nurses United condemns Trump's unhinged political and racist attack on Rep. Omar
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Oct. 17 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United posted the following news release:
* * *
National Nurses United condemns Trump's unhinged political and racist attack on Rep. Omar
*
The nation's largest union of registered nurses issued the following statement, in response to the federal government's raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's home, confiscating her possessions, and reports of attempting to strip her of her citizenship:
Trump's use of state power to try and silence political opposition is fascism. The lengths to which the Trump administration is going to target Rep.
... Show Full Article
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Oct. 17 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United posted the following news release:
* * *
National Nurses United condemns Trump's unhinged political and racist attack on Rep. Omar
*
The nation's largest union of registered nurses issued the following statement, in response to the federal government's raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's home, confiscating her possessions, and reports of attempting to strip her of her citizenship:
Trump's use of state power to try and silence political opposition is fascism. The lengths to which the Trump administration is going to target Rep.Ilhan Omar, who has been an outspoken opponent of the president in her role as a champion for working people and immigrants, is a clear abuse of power and should urgently mobilize all people who value our democracy.
As the midterm elections get closer, nurses are letting our patients and our communities know that our democracy is coding. In just the past two years, Trump has crossed red line after red line. He has cancelled the union contracts of VA nurses and tens of thousands of federal workers. He has slashed nearly $1 trillion from health care spending that will result in millions losing insurance and their local hospitals to pad the wallets of his billionaire donors and fund endless wars. He has unleashed armed federal agents into our streets and terrorized our immigrant communities, tearing apart families and sending our neighbors to concentration camps where they are abused while prison corporations profit.
In addition to attacking Rep. Omar for her vocal opposition to his administration's actions, he is targeting her for being a brown immigrant woman. Nurses respect and uphold the human dignity of each person, period. Trump and his administration instead espouse a white supremacist order of society where Black and brown immigrants are dehumanized, vilified, otherized, and scapegoated. This ideology again, reinforces fascist techniques of dividing and controlling the public.
Trump's heinous actions against Rep. Omar are among the dozens of power grabs inflicted against Americans, which not only cause immediate suffering for hard-working people, but also threaten the very ability of working people to shape their futures. While Trump goes after his political enemies, Americans are struggling to put food on the table, cover their medical bills, and build better futures.
National Nurses United will be in this fight with Rep. Omar against these baseless attacks. Nurses will also remain vigilant as the midterms approach to ensure free and fair elections. If Trump and his backers interfere with the midterm elections, union nurses are prepared to work together with allied groups to restore our democracy through mass acts of peaceful civil disobedience, protest, and strikes.
***
Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/national-nurses-united-condemns-trumps-unhinged-political-and-racist-attack-on-rep-omar
National Education Union: Ofsted Complaints Procedure
LONDON, England, Oct. 17 -- The National Education Union issued the following news release:
* * *
Ofsted complaints procedure
16/10/2026
Commenting on Ofsted's plan to pilot an independent complaints review service, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Ofsted are fiddling while Rome burns. In the face of widespread loss of confidence in Ofsted's leadership and the new framework, these reforms to the complaints process are nowhere near the level of change needed.
"We are also concerned that the new Independent Complaint Review (ICR) service does not go far
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, Oct. 17 -- The National Education Union issued the following news release:
* * *
Ofsted complaints procedure
16/10/2026
Commenting on Ofsted's plan to pilot an independent complaints review service, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Ofsted are fiddling while Rome burns. In the face of widespread loss of confidence in Ofsted's leadership and the new framework, these reforms to the complaints process are nowhere near the level of change needed.
"We are also concerned that the new Independent Complaint Review (ICR) service does not go farenough. It is still up to Ofsted to make a decision about whether to re-inspect and re-grade a school if the ICR makes a recommendation about grading outcomes. The inspectorate has been shown to be completely incapable of positive change and cannot be left again to mark its own homework. Legislation may need to be looked at again.
"At this stage, there's only one pathway toward a safe, fair and effective inspection system: a pause to current inspections and a proper review of the inspection framework, taking into account the range of short- and long-term recommendations made in our report to improve the working conditions of teachers and leaders across our schools.
* * *
Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/ofsted-complaints-procedure?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
