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Troubled Times for the Global Green Agenda
BRUSSELS, Belgium, May 15 -- The European Trade Union Institute issued the following news:
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Troubled times for the global green agenda
This issue of the ETUI greennewdeal newsletter comes at very troubled times for the global green agenda.
In the United States, Donald Trump's political economy threatens a dramatic regression in the transition towards climate neutrality. With open hostility to the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN 2030 Agenda, coupled with an alarming push to revive protectionism and fossil fuel capitalism, the stakes could not be higher. These developments risk undermining
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BRUSSELS, Belgium, May 15 -- The European Trade Union Institute issued the following news:
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Troubled times for the global green agenda
This issue of the ETUI greennewdeal newsletter comes at very troubled times for the global green agenda.
In the United States, Donald Trump's political economy threatens a dramatic regression in the transition towards climate neutrality. With open hostility to the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN 2030 Agenda, coupled with an alarming push to revive protectionism and fossil fuel capitalism, the stakes could not be higher. These developments risk undermininghard-won international commitments at a time when global warming is accelerating and inequalities are deepening.
While experts warn that Trump's sweeping tariffs could derail progress towards net zero targets, other regions and nations might seize the opportunity to advance their own green industries. However, this does not appear to be the case in Europe, despite the EU's decarbonisation process being comparatively more advanced than in other jurisdictions.
The European Commission's recent proposal for an Omnibus Directive, while presented as a technical adjustment towards a simplification of corporate due diligence and sustainability reporting, could significantly water down the EU's climate ambition at a critical juncture. Unsurprisingly, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the European Trade Union Federations (ETUFs) have jointly condemned the proposal, claiming that it 'constitutes a direct assault on corporate accountability, workers' and trade union rights, and environmental protections'.
Even more controversial is the EU's increasing budgetary shift toward militarisation under the ReArm programme. This contested shift casts a shadow over the promise of a fair and inclusive Green Deal, redirecting public funds away from green and social priorities. As highlighted by the ETUC in its Resolution on peace and security, 'the limited flexibility proposed by the European Commission in the ReArm Europe Plan through the activation of national escape clauses for defence spending does not guarantee against the risk of trade-off between defence and social spending'.
Compounding these setbacks, recent developments at the Court of Justice of the European Union risk jeopardising the implementation of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages. The Advocate General has issued an opinion concluding that the Directive should be annulled due to its incompatibility with Article 153(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), specifically regarding the exclusion of EU competence over 'pay'. This is not only a blow to workers' rights and the labour movement, but also represents a piece of aggression towards the broader vision of a just transition. Without decent work and adequate wages, the EU transition to climate neutrality will not be socially sustainable. A net zero future must also be one based on decent work and labour empowerment.
Sparks of hope are also visible. In Sweden, Tesla's refusal to engage with unions and enter into collective agreements has met with powerful resistance from the labour movement. This resistance is necessary not only to guarantee core labour rights such as collective bargaining - a cornerstone of the EU social model: a fight against anti-union attitudes is needed to ensure in addition that the green transition - in the car industry and beyond - is also a socially fair and inclusive one.
Alongside solidarity strikes with Tesla's workers across the Nordic region, pension fund shareholder activism is putting Elon Musk under pressure. Cross-border activism by pension funds and their strategic use of financial leverage demonstrate that collective action, including emerging forms such as that mobilised by retirement institutions (e.g. KPA Pension and Akademiker Pension), still holds the potential to challenge and possibly counter corporate fundamentalism. However, the transformative potential of such initiatives has yet to yield the expected outcomes.
As we look ahead, it is clear that the fight for climate justice cannot be separated from the struggle for labour rights and democratic values. These troubled times call for stronger alliances between environmental and labour movements. We must resist rollback, defend the social pillar of the green agenda and support movements that are fostering labour and climate solidarity within and across borders. The ETUI greennewdeal newsletter aspires to play an informative and culturing role in this process, as demonstrated by the enduring series of articles published over the last five years as well as the three contributions in this new issue.
The contributions in this issue
A stronger, public investment-led strategy to deliver both climate and social justice goals is the main concern of Bela Galgoczi's analysis of the European Commission's Clean Industrial Deal (CID). Galgoczi argues that the initiative's ambitious vision is undermined by vague proposals and insufficient financial commitments. While the CID aims to drive decarbonisation, reindustrialisation and the creation of quality jobs, Galgoczi emphasises the gap between these goals and the limited tools offered (mostly reallocated funds and repackaged instruments). He criticises the reliance on market-driven mechanisms without substantial new investments. Particularly troubling, he notes, is the weak social dimension: despite references to a "quality jobs roadmap" and a just transition, there are no binding social protections. He warns that the CID risks facilitating deregulation and weakening labour standards, and also questions the viability of its international trade agenda, citing vague plans for Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships that fail to reflect the shifting geopolitical realities.
One of the most urgent areas to achieve social justice in a warming planet is occupational health and safety. Drawing on the ETUC's resolution on the content of a Directive on the prevention of occupational heat risk, Marouane Laabbas el Guennouni warns that rising global temperatures pose serious occupational health risks to workers. The article stresses that excessive heat affects both outdoor and indoor workers, exacerbating vulnerabilities based on age, gender and health. The proposed measures include setting maximum working temperatures, mandatory heat risk assessments and rights to health monitoring and the suspension of work. Laabbas el Guennouni contends that a comprehensive, consistent response is essential as climate-related risks continue to escalate, particularly in regions like the Mediterranean.
In reporting the outcomes of the ETUI's Cyborg Worker 2.0 conference, Aida Ponce Del Castillo highlights the social and environmental costs of Big Tech, including green technologies, revealing how automation and AI are not neutral, as imagined, but shaped by power and exploitation. The debates at this conference showed that tech industries are reliant on precarious labour, resource extraction and opacity, while regulatory instruments are still failing to protect workers. The historical and contemporary case studies presented at the conference show how automation is intensifying inequality and control, disproportionately affecting marginalised groups. Echoing the conference debate, Ponce Del Castillo calls for policies to address these systemic issues, warning that, without intervention, digitalisation will exacerbate inequalities and vulnerabilities. A future Cyborg Worker 3.0 aims to extend this critical dialogue.
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Original text here: https://www.etui.org/news/troubled-times-global-green-agenda
Three U.S. Policy Developments Regarding Artificial Intelligence for Behind-the-Scenes Entertainment Workers
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The AFL-CIO International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees issued the following news release:
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Three US Policy Developments Regarding Artificial Intelligence for Behind-the-Scenes Entertainment Workers
In a statement Wednesday, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) commended Part 3 of the U.S. Copyright Office's Report on artificial intelligence (AI), questioned the attempted firing of Register of Copyrights and Director of the Copyright Office Shira Perlmutter, and opposed Federal Preemption of State AI Protections as recently proposed
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WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The AFL-CIO International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees issued the following news release:
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Three US Policy Developments Regarding Artificial Intelligence for Behind-the-Scenes Entertainment Workers
In a statement Wednesday, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) commended Part 3 of the U.S. Copyright Office's Report on artificial intelligence (AI), questioned the attempted firing of Register of Copyrights and Director of the Copyright Office Shira Perlmutter, and opposed Federal Preemption of State AI Protections as recently proposedin the House Republicans' Budget Reconciliation Package.
1. Regarding the U.S. Copyright Office's "Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, Part 3: Generative AI Training" Report:
"We commend the U.S. Copyright Office's recent release of Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, Part 3: Generative AI Training. The report states that AI training is not categorically fair use and that fair use determinations depend on context and degree. This aligns with well-established case law, including the recent Supreme Court decision in Warhol v. Goldsmith.
The report concludes that "making commercial use of vast troves of copyrighted works to produce expressive content that competes with them in existing markets, especially where this is accomplished through illegal access, goes beyond established fair use boundaries." This finding echoes IATSE's position that tech billionaires and AI developers cannot circumvent established U.S. copyright law and commit intellectual property theft by scraping the internet for copyrighted works to train their models without permission from rightsholders. The theft of copyrighted works - domestically and internationally - threatens our hard-won health care benefits and retirement security.
In our view, the report offers a comprehensive, balanced, and common-sense approach that emphasizes the need to apply existing U.S. copyright law to generative AI training, thereby prioritizing the people involved in the creative process."
2. IATSE Questions Legality of the Administration's Attempt to Fire Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office Shira Perlmutter
"IATSE is deeply concerned by the Trump Administration's attempt to dismiss Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, just one day after the release of a report on the use of copyrighted materials to train generative AI models.
In this case, Perlmutter's termination does not appear lawful or legitimate because Perlmutter is an employee of the legislative branch, not the executive. This situation remains unresolved, echoing the potentially unlawful dismissal of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Chair Gwynne Wilcox whose termination was challenged in court and remains under legal scrutiny.
This is a developing situation, and whether in fact Perlmutter's firing was in retaliation for releasing the AI report is unclear. However, it wouldn't surprise us to learn that tech billionaires are wielding their influence to interfere in our government for their own financial benefit. Shira Perlmutter has served with distinction as Register of Copyrights and she must be reinstated at the behest of Congress."
3. IATSE Strongly Opposes Proposed Ban on State-Level AI Regulations Contained in House Republican Budget Reconciliation Package
"We strongly oppose a provision in the House Republican budget reconciliation package that would impose a ten-year ban on enforcement or enactment of all state-level artificial intelligence (AI) policies. This proposal, again backed by tech billionaires and corporations, seeks to override the will of the American people for common-sense AI safeguards, transfer sole authority to a historically gridlocked and slow-moving Congress, and delete all existing state AI policy to make the wild west AI landscape even more lawless.
So-called red states and blue states alike have been proactive in addressing the challenges posed by AI. For instance, Tennessee's ELVIS Act protects artists from unauthorized AI-generated voice and likeness reproductions. New York's AI Bill of Rights aims to ensure transparency and accountability in automated decision-making. In just the 2024 legislative session alone, at least 31 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands adopted AI resolutions or enacted AI legislation. Ultimately these initiatives demonstrate the critical role state-level policies play in safeguarding workers and consumers in the evolving AI landscape.
The proposed federal preemption threatens the jobs of behind-the-scenes entertainment workers and undermines the integrity of the American film, television, animation, gaming, and broader entertainment sectors. IATSE remains committed to protecting the rights and livelihoods of our members amid technological advancements.
As of today, the House budget reconciliation bill is a proposal, but we're monitoring and there's still time for us to push back, and for the bill to change. Removing the ban on state AI protections is one of many of IATSE's key priorities with respect to the budget reconciliation package.
We urge lawmakers to reject this overreach and support policies that uphold fairness, transparency, and respect for American jobs in the creative industries."
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees or IATSE (full name: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada), is a labor union representing over 170,000 technicians, artisans and craftspersons in the entertainment industry, including live events, motion picture and television production, broadcast, and trade shows in the United States and Canada.
For more information please contact:
General: comms@iatse.net
Press: press@iatse.net
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Original text here: https://iatse.net/three-us-policy-developments-regarding-artificial-intelligence-for-behind-the-scenes-entertainment-workers/
[Category: Union]
Statement on Vox Media Union's Contract Expiring in 30 Days
NEW YORK, May 15 -- The AFL-CIO Writers Guild of America East issued the following news release on May 14, 2025:
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Statement on Vox Media Union's Contract Expiring in 30 Days
The following is a statement from Vox Media Union members of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) marking the 30 days left to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement before their current contract expires:
"As of today, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Vox Media only has 30 days to negotiate a new contract with the Vox Media Union before our current one expires.
"Instead of bargaining in good faith and being proactive
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NEW YORK, May 15 -- The AFL-CIO Writers Guild of America East issued the following news release on May 14, 2025:
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Statement on Vox Media Union's Contract Expiring in 30 Days
The following is a statement from Vox Media Union members of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) marking the 30 days left to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement before their current contract expires:
"As of today, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Vox Media only has 30 days to negotiate a new contract with the Vox Media Union before our current one expires.
"Instead of bargaining in good faith and being proactiveabout reaching terms that we can all feel proud of, the Company has repeatedly stonewalled us. They've continuously rejected our proposals and refused to offer meaningful counters. In some cases, they've tried to rescind or reduce existing, well-established contract terms.
"Our demands are fair, reasonable and supported by our fellow online media workers in the Writers Guild of America East. We are asking for economic gains that address rising cost of living expenses and healthcare costs, critical AI protections and basic checks and balances on management's ability to lay us off without notice or a fair process, as well as improved severance. In addition, it is imperative that the Company recognize the inclusion of the Vox Media vertical The Dodo into our bargaining unit, which management has rejected for over a year without any valid justification.
"As we count down these final 30 days of negotiations, we call on Vox Media to do better, not only for its employees but for its own reputation as a leading voice in the media space."
ABOUT THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA EAST
The Writers Guild of America East, AFL-CIO, is a labor union of more than 7,500 members working in film, television, news, podcasts and online media. The Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers' views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America East, visit wgaeast.org.
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Original text here: https://www.wgaeast.org/statement-on-vox-media-unions-contract-expiring-in-30-days/
[Category: Union]
Statement by SEIU Executive Vice President Leslie Frane on House Republicans' Plan to Gut Medicaid
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The Service Employees International Union issued the following news release on May 14, 2025:
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Statement by SEIU Executive Vice President Leslie Frane on House Republicans' Plan to Gut Medicaid
Leslie Frane, Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), issued the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced legislation that would slash billions from Medicaid and threaten healthcare access for millions of Americans:
"Congressional Republicans voted to pull the rug out from under working people by gutting
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WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The Service Employees International Union issued the following news release on May 14, 2025:
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Statement by SEIU Executive Vice President Leslie Frane on House Republicans' Plan to Gut Medicaid
Leslie Frane, Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), issued the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced legislation that would slash billions from Medicaid and threaten healthcare access for millions of Americans:
"Congressional Republicans voted to pull the rug out from under working people by guttingMedicaid--ripping away healthcare from millions so they can hand out tax breaks to billionaires.
Medicaid is a lifeline for nearly 80 million Americans. It is unconscionable that Republican leaders chose to put lives at risk and raise healthcare costs for families just to make the rich richer. SEIU members provide essential care to people in their homes, nursing homes and hospitals across the country. These cuts would mean fewer services for aging Americans, more kids going without essential care, the closure of rural and safety net hospitals, and families forced to choose between medical bills and groceries.
Let's be clear: this is a direct attack on our communities and the only people who benefit are the mega-wealthy. The plan would hit low-income families the hardest, create costly red tape that does nothing but take away people's healthcare, and punish states that dare to offer care to immigrants. It's cruel, senseless, and it won't save money--it will cost lives."
As the largest union for healthcare workers in North America, SEIU members are sounding the alarm, calling a Code Blue on Medicaid. They showed up in force at the mark up to call out the greed and disregard for everyday people at the heart of this budget. Last week SEIU members rallied for 24 hours in opposition to Medicaid cuts. Additionally, SEIU has also been producing social media videos exposing right wing lies about the program.
Contact:
SEIU Media,
media@seiu.org
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Original text here: https://www.seiu.org/2025/05/statement-by-seiu-executive-vice-president-leslie-frane-on-house-republicans-plan-to-gut-medicaid
[Category: Union]
NALC Participates in Capitol Hill Roundtable on Reconciliation Provisions Attacking Letter Carrier Retirement Benefits
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The AFL-CIO National Association of Letter Carriers issued the following news on May 14, 2025:
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NALC participates in Capitol Hill roundtable on reconciliation provisions attacking letter carrier retirement benefits
Today, NALC President Brian L. Renfroe participated in a Capitol Hill roundtable focusing on provisions set to be included in the budget reconciliation package that targets federal and postal employees' retirement benefits.
"Our members are public servants who provide an essential service for every single American household and business," Renfroe said.
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WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The AFL-CIO National Association of Letter Carriers issued the following news on May 14, 2025:
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NALC participates in Capitol Hill roundtable on reconciliation provisions attacking letter carrier retirement benefits
Today, NALC President Brian L. Renfroe participated in a Capitol Hill roundtable focusing on provisions set to be included in the budget reconciliation package that targets federal and postal employees' retirement benefits.
"Our members are public servants who provide an essential service for every single American household and business," Renfroe said."Our members go into public service because it's a good, stable job with reliable benefits.
"Cutting retirement benefits and increasing what we have to pay for them is unconscionable, and let's call it what it is--a pay cut."
Renfroe pointed out that taxpayers do not fund letter carrier retirement benefits or USPS.
"The agency is off-budget. Lawmakers are trying to use hard-working letter carriers and postal employees to offset federal spending, even though taxpayers' dollars have nothing to do with us.
"These proposals are pay and benefit cuts for postal employees that won't make a dent in the deficit. It's an attack. Plain and simple," he said.
Representatives from other unions representing federal and postal employees also attended.
Today's round table followed the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability advancing a measure as part of the budget reconciliation process that attacks postal employee retirement benefits on April 30.
These provisions include:
* Increasing the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) contribution rate for existing employees up to 4.4 percent
* Cutting retirement benefits by eliminating the FERS special annuity supplement
* Reducing annuity payments by calculating a retiree's annuity based on their high-five salary average (instead of three)
The budget reconciliation process allows Republican leaders in Congress to pass these provisions with a simple majority and bypass Democratic opposition. The House is expected to vote on the full reconciliation package by the end of the month. Click here for more information.
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Original text here: https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-participates-in-capitol-hill-roundtable-on-reconciliation-provisions-attacking-letter-carrier-retirement-benefits
[Category: Union]
Labor and Workplace Health and Safety Groups Sue to Restore Programs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The AFL-CIO issued the following news release on May 14, 2025:
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Labor and Workplace Health and Safety Groups Sue to Restore Programs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Unions across nursing, education, mining and manufacturing industries, along with a manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE), today sued the Trump administration to reverse the illegal dismantling of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Trump administration
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WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The AFL-CIO issued the following news release on May 14, 2025:
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Labor and Workplace Health and Safety Groups Sue to Restore Programs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Unions across nursing, education, mining and manufacturing industries, along with a manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE), today sued the Trump administration to reverse the illegal dismantling of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Trump administrationand HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s reckless cuts to NIOSH--made under the direction of Elon Musk's DOGE--have shut down vital programs and will result in the firing of more than 85% of the staff by July. The chaos of dismantling, temporarily recalling and piecemeal reinstatements of staff has wreaked havoc on workers' lives, discontinuing services and programs altogether and creating total disruption in the benefits and protections that workers and the public depend on.
Public Citizen Litigation Group and the AFL-CIO's Office of the General Counsel filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of unions, workplace safety experts and a PPE manufacturer. The plaintiffs include the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC), California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), Dentec Safety Specialists Inc., the Machinists (IAM), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Nurses United (NNU), New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), United Auto Workers (UAW), Mine Workers (UMWA) and United Steelworkers (USW).
As the complaint explains, the cutbacks directly threaten the lives of workers whose safety and health depend on NIOSH, detailing cuts to its vital, congressionally mandated work that all depend on the expertise throughout the whole of the agency, including:
* Certifying respirators and testing other PPE and technologies used by workers across industries, including in health care, mining, manufacturing, firefighting and construction, and preventing counterfeits from entering the market.
* Conducting critical mine safety research and providing medical screenings for coal miners.
* Investigating workplaces to identify and mitigate exposure to toxins and potential health hazards.
* Funding the formal training for future industrial hygienists, epidemiologists, physicians, and other occupational safety and health professionals through universities and field-based internships.
* Providing scientific and technical support to enable medical compensation for nuclear weapons workers and Sept. 11 first responders.
On Tuesday, following a sustained outcry from unions, public health experts, and lawmakers, HHS rescinded the layoff notifications for approximately 300 workers, a fraction of the total NIOSH staff of approximately 1,000 workers. The move came after a judge granted a temporary restraining order late Friday, ordering the Trump administration to stop any moves intended to implement Trump's February executive order directing agencies to begin major reorganizations. Today's complaint calls for all NIOSH workers to be reinstated across the agency so that NIOSH can resume its work.
Each year, more than 5,000 workers die from injuries on the job, 135,000 workers die from occupational disease, and millions more are injured. Without NIOSH, these numbers will increase. The lawsuit follows a May 1 letter from the AFL-CIO and 27 unions urging Congress to intervene to reinstate NIOSH staff and restore its programs.
"By gutting NIOSH, Elon Musk and his DOGE won't just be cutting corners--they are cutting lives short and placing working people in danger. Working people have fought too hard for these critical protections to now watch an unelected billionaire dismantle them and take us back to a time when chronic disease and death on the job was commonplace," said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. "I'm proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with unions and partners today in filing this lawsuit to challenge this illegal, reckless and potentially deadly assault on worker health and safety."
"The Trump administration's rash move to decimate the NIOSH workforce is not only unlawful but shortsighted," said Bonnie Robin-Vergeer, Public Citizen Litigation Group attorney and lead counsel in the case. "Established by Congress, NIOSH is often called a 'small but mighty agency,' and Congress has repeatedly recognized its importance each time it appropriates funds to the institute to carry out its critical work. In bypassing Congress and effectively shutting down the agency, Health and Human Services violated federal laws and exceeded its power under the Constitution."
"NIOSH's job is to protect workers on the job and its gutting is a body blow to the millions of Americans who rely on it to ensure they return home safely every night to their families," said AFT President Randi Weingarten. "Make no mistake: Lives will be lost because of the illegal actions of Elon Musk and his DOGE chain saw, because NIOSH is the principal government agency to ensure work doesn't leave people sick or injured. These attacks have nothing to do with 'efficiency,' and everything to do with mindless and arbitrary cost cutting. The nobbling of NIOSH is Exhibit A of the human cost of DOGE's blatantly unconstitutional actions--and it is why we are fighting in both the courts and the court of public opinion."
"While it was announced yesterday that some NIOSH staff will be brought back, occupational health and safety specialists and the workers they serve need all NIOSH staff and programs to be restored immediately," said Amber Mitchell, executive director of the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics. "The Trump administration's indiscriminate cuts to research, training and other essential NIOSH services will cause more disabling injuries, illnesses and deaths to American workers. As an organization that represents clinics that diagnose and treat injuries and diseases caused by work, we see firsthand how important NIOSH is for our patients."
"The illegal firing of NIOSH workers and the gutting of critical safety programs by Elon Musk and the Trump administration will have devastating consequences for American workplaces," said IAM International President Brian Bryant. "This reckless action threatens our preparedness for workplace violence, emergency planning, chemical and biological threats, and vital worker training. This lawsuit will help us to restore NIOSH's mission and protect the safety and health of workers throughout our nation."
"Federal employees and workers across the country rely on NIOSH to ensure workplaces are safe," said NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin. "It is unconscionable that the Trump administration is attempting to dismantle a critical agency that is responsible for keeping American workers safe. The health and wellness of firefighters, nurses and so many other essential civil servants is our highest priority. We are proud to join our union partners in challenging this reckless action."
"Nurses across the country are proud to join our union siblings to fight back against this attack on working people," said Sandy Reding, registered nurse (RN) and president of California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC). "As nurses, we rely on NIOSH to keep us safe and healthy, especially the agency's work to inspect and certify N95s and other respirators. Dismantling this agency will not only put workers and patients in danger, it will make it harder to hold executives accountable to protecting us and our patients. Without NIOSH's oversight on respirators, our employers will undoubtedly race to the bottom, jeopardizing our lives and our patients."
"Millions of workers, including nurses and our health care colleagues in hospitals across the country, rely on NIOSH to help keep us safe at work," said Nancy Hagans, RN and president of National Nurses United (NNU) and New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA). "Trying to destroy agencies like this makes clear the current administration doesn't care about working people, aligning them with the hospital industry. Our recent experience during the pandemic demonstrated that health care executives can't be trusted to keep us and our patients safe, which is why we are fighting to reinstate NIOSH."
"For decades, NIOSH has conducted vital research and offered important recommendations to help prevent work-related injury and illness," said UAW President Shawn Fain. "The agency provides workers with guidance and support on numerous important issues, including chemical hazards, workplace violence, first responder and firefighter safety protocols, preventable workplace fatalities, and many more. The attack on NIOSH workers will have far-reaching negative consequences for workers in this country and beyond, and we demand they be reinstated."
"For generations, the United Mine Workers of America has fought to protect the health and safety of coal miners and all working people. The dismantling of NIOSH and the elimination of its critical programs--like black lung screenings--puts miners' lives at risk and turns back decades of progress. This lawsuit is about holding decision-makers accountable and making sure every worker has the right to come home safe at the end of the day," said Cecil E. Roberts, International President, United Mine Workers of America.
"USW members working in a wide range of industries from mining and manufacturing to chemical production and oil refining have all seen the tangible, on-the-ground benefits of NIOSH's work. This includes providing resources to both workers and employers to help prevent occupational exposure, spearhead health hazard evaluations, certify personal protective equipment and so much more. There is no doubt that the administration's baseless assault on NIOSH puts workers and their communities in peril," said USW International President David McCall.
"Many of our members responded to the 9/11 tragedy, and many others also supported survivors in their recovery. As a result, many of our members have gotten sick and some have died. We cannot allow those who risked their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice to be forgotten and neglected," said Joe Puleo, president of AFSCME Local 983. "We must stand together and make sure that these heroes are afforded all that we can provide for them in their time of need. Any reduction of the staff at NIOSH is a reduction in our American principles."
"My factory has been manufacturing NIOSH-approved respirators for more than 25 years," said Claudio Dente, Dentec Safety Specialists president. "The NIOSH respirator approval program ensures respirator manufacturers meet the stringent quality control process to consistently produce a respirator that protects and saves lives. Without NIOSH, we are condemning workers and the general public to serious illness and possibly death."
The complaint can be found online here (https://aflcio.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/Complaint%20-%20FINAL%20%282%29.pdf).
Contact:
Prerna Jagadeesh,
202/637-5018
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Original text here: https://aflcio.org/press/releases/labor-and-workplace-health-and-safety-groups-sue-restore-programs-national-institute
[Category: Union]
America's Transportation Labor Federation Welcomes 38th Affiliated Union
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department issued the following news release:
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America's Transportation Labor Federation Welcomes 38th Affiliated Union
The Operative Plasterers' & Cement Masons' International Association (OPCMIA) became the 38th affiliated union of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO. As America's largest transportation labor federation, TTD represents millions of workers across the country in aviation, rail, maritime, transit, manufacturing, construction, school transportation, public safety, and other industries.
Organized
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WASHINGTON, May 15 -- The AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department issued the following news release:
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America's Transportation Labor Federation Welcomes 38th Affiliated Union
The Operative Plasterers' & Cement Masons' International Association (OPCMIA) became the 38th affiliated union of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO. As America's largest transportation labor federation, TTD represents millions of workers across the country in aviation, rail, maritime, transit, manufacturing, construction, school transportation, public safety, and other industries.
Organizedin 1864, the OPCMIA is the oldest building and construction trades union in the United States. At the national, state, and local level, the union promotes the recruitment, training and welfare of their skilled trades members across the U.S. and Canada.
"Through our world-class pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, OPCMIA recruits and trains skilled plasterers and cement masons," said OPCMIA President Kevin Sexton. "The strength of our union is as durable and storied as the cement and plaster materials that our members work with every day. The construction and transportation trades are forever intertwined and we look forward to working with TTD to advance the cause of skilled trades workers."
The TTD and OPCMIA have long advocated for federal policies and rules that will promote the welfare and safety of trades workers. From building on the investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and advocating for Project Labor Agreements for federally-supported construction projects to supporting a federal heat safety standard for outdoor workers and urging Congress to pass the PRO Act, our work continues from one administration to the next.
"At 38 unions strong, our federation's increasing membership reflects the growing unity of the labor movement, especially among members in skilled trades careers," said TTD President Greg Regan. "Cement masons and plasterers have built projects of historic significance and beauty across this nation. We are proud to welcome them to our federation and are ready to get to work for the skilled workers of today and those in generations to come."
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Original text here: https://ttd.org/news-and-media/press-releases-and-statements/americas-transportation-labor-federation-welcomes-38th-affiliated-union/
[Category: Union]
