FROM THE UNION
Sign the AFL-CIO petition to support the PRO Act
For decades, our nation’s outdated labor laws have been chipped away and weakened by anti-worker legislators. Every day, we hear about corporations proudly and openly union-busting and retaliating against working people without consequence.
The PRO Act is the most significant worker empowerment legislation since the Great Depression. If it passes, it would, among other things:
- Empower workers to form unions and bargain over wages and work conditions.
- Hold corporations accountable for union-busting.
- Repeal “right to work” laws, which were created during the Jim Crow era to divide Black and white workers.
STEELWORKERS IN ACTION
District 7’s Black Labor week to celebrate 10 years in September
USW members in Gary, Indiana, will be gathering this Sept. 20-24, 2021, for the 10th Annual Black Labor Week.Established by District 7 Next Gen activist E.J. Jenkins, the annual event was created to develop an understanding of the parallels between Black history and the labor movement and to build confidence within the Black community. “We wanted to give back in as many ways as possible,” said Jenkins.
Normally held during Black History Month, the celebration was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted Black and brown communities at much higher rates than others.
Jenkins said this year’s event should be considered the aftermath from the summer of 2020.
“We saw the gestures of change happening, and more and more began to get created.,” said Jenkins. “We’re going to make sure that we continue that momentum, through education, community service and empowerment.”
The event will start promptly on Monday, Sept. 20, at 7 a.m. and will end Friday, Sept. 24, with the conclusion of our “Celebration of Civil Rights” program that begins at 6 p.m.
IN THE NEWS
Poor People’s Campaign kicks off “March for Democracy”
The Poor People’s Campaign kicked off a four-day, 27-mile march from Georgetown to Austin, Texas, on Wed., July 28.
Inspired by the historic Selma to Montgomery march in 1965, the event is organized by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber III and serves as a call to action for Congress to pass federal voting rights legislation.
GOP politicians in Texas are seeking to pass legislation that would make it harder to vote, in a state that saw its highest turnout in decades in 2020. Texas Democrats have urged Congress to pass the For the People Act, which includes several provisions that would expand voter access, as well as an updated version of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
If your local is doing work to support communities and raise awareness about social justice issues such as women’s rights, racial equality, or environmental justice, please contact the Civil and Human Rights Department at [email protected].
This newsletter is for you and by you. Thank you for all of your hard work!
