John, 

As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, the AZ AFL-CIO would like to recognize Hattie Canty (1933-2012). One of the greatest strike leaders in U.S. history. Hattie successfully bridges the civil rights movement to labor history, to the women’s rights movement, and to modern-day politics and culture. 

 

Below is a piece titled, “Black Women Built That: Labor and Workers’ Rights” published on February 28, 2018 by the National Women’s Law Center. 

 

“Born in rural Alabama in 1933, Hattie Canty was one of the greatest strike leaders in U.S. history. She found work as a cook in California before settling in Las Vegas with her husband, who supported the family and ten children. Except for a short stint working as a maid at the Thunderbird Hotel in Las Vegas in 1972, Canty largely stayed home to raise the family’s ten children. In 1975, her husband fell ill and succumbed to lung cancer. Facing the prospect of caring for eight of her children who were still living at home, 41-year-old Canty took another maid job at a hotel – this time the Maxim – a hotel unionized with Las Vegas Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Because of the union, the job afforded Canty health benefits, a pension, and wages far above the minimum wage. Over the next dozen years, Canty rose through the ranks, being promoted from maid to attendant. She spent every one of her off-days walking a picket line when there was a picket line to walk.

 

In May 1990, the membership of the union elected Canty president – the first woman president of the local – and a position she held for ten years.

 

Under her leadership, the Local engaged in what became one of the longest strikes in US History, which lasted 6 years, 4 months and ten days between 1991 and 1998. In 1991, 550 hospitality workers at the Vegas Frontier Hotel walked off their jobs to protest unfair wages and treatment. Over the next six years, the union maintained a strike line 24 hours a day, seven days a week and no striker ever crossed the picket line. The strike ended in victory when the Frontier was bought by another businessman, who promised to restore the workers to their jobs, honor the union contract, and provide back pay for the workers.

 

During an oral history in 2007, Canty had this to say about striking: “… when there’s a strike like that, you’re not just striking for the benefits from that hotel. But you are learning to take up for yourself. You are learning to defend your rights. You are not letting people just run over you or you’re taking anything they give you.”

Hattie Canty was a dynamic leader who also worked to better integrate the union and address racial tensions. She was not only a fearless advocate, going to jail at least six times to defend the union, but a strategic institution builder. For example, she established a culinary training academy that helped train workers to gain promotions in the industry. Canty rose through the ranks, as a largely uneducated hotel worker, to become a union president and strike leader, strengthening the foundation of what remains one of the strongest union locals in the country today.

 

These are just two of thousands of Black women throughout our nation’s history who have fought for the rights of working people as community leaders for the benefit of all of us. We owe Lucy Parsons, Hattie Canty, and so many more a debt of gratitude for the rights we often take for granted today.”



Read full article here.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIONS

Join us on Tuesday, February 13, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport for a worldwide day of action and picketing event with AFA-CWA, APFA, and TWU

 

Flight Attendants across the industry are fighting to raise the standards for our career. More than two-thirds of the U.S. Flight Attendants are in contract negotiations right now, including red-hot contract fights at American, Alaska, Air Wisconsin, United, Omni, Southwest, Frontier, PSA, Mesa, and more.

 

Picket Locations: 11AM - 1PM

  • Terminal 3, Garden Area 
  • Terminal 4: Level 2, Southeast Curb & Northwest Curb 

2024 AZ AFL-CIO Day of Action at the Capitol - Monday, February 19th! 

Join us! This event allows union members to make their presence known in the legislature and advocate for the issues that matter most to working families in Arizona.

We will have special guest speaker, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the California Labor Federation,  Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, and offering two informative workshops.

  • "Empowering Advocacy Through Labor-Led Wins" facilitated by AFSCME's Arizona Political & Legislative Director Briona Parkinson  
  • "Common Sense Economics" facilitated by AZ AFL-CIO Staff Esau Gutierrez, Rasean Clayton, and Ryan Kelly

*Lunch Provided*

If you would like to participate as a volunteer and make this event a success, please please click on the following link and fill out the Google Form. You will be contacted with more information: https://bit.ly/3voc1aZ

'I Am Story' Nomination for NAACP's Outstanding Podcast Image Award 

 

The NAACP has nominated the “I Am Story” podcast, AFSCME’s series recounting the struggle of the 1968 Sanitation Strike in Memphis, Tennessee, for an Image Award in the Outstanding Podcast—Limited Series/Short Form category.

Help share the “I Am Story” with a new generation of workers by casting your vote no later than Feb. 24. You can vote for the podcast by following these steps:

  1. Go to the Image Awards website.
  2. Select the Outstanding Podcast—Limited Series/Short Form category.
  3. Click the “Vote” button located underneath the “I Am Story” podcast—please note that this does not officially count your vote.
  4. Click “Back to Categories,” then scroll to the bottom of the categories page and click the “Submit Your Votes” button.
  5. Enter your email into the pop-up window and click the “Vote” button, and once it says, “Thanks for voting,” your vote has officially been counted.

2024 Legislative Committee Meeting Alerts - AZ AFL-CIO 

 

Join us every Friday at 9:30 AM via Zoom to get updates and alerts on the 2nd Regular Session of the 56th Legislature. Click on the button below and complete the form. 

 

For additional questions, contact our Political Director, Joe Murphy at [email protected].  

 

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