John,

Yesterday marked an exciting new chapter for union women in Arizona! Union sisters from across the state gathered at the Arizona AFL-CIO to officially launch the Arizona Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)—a bold step toward strengthening the voice and power of women in the labor movement.

CLUW is America’s only national organization for union women. Founded in 1974, CLUW is a nonpartisan constituency group within the labor movement. Its mission is to unify all union women in a strong organization to identify and address our shared concerns, and to create action programs that advance equity, opportunity, and leadership for women in the labor movement.

This new chapter will serve the Greater Arizona County region, including Maricopa, Pinal, Yavapai, Gila, Mohave, Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Apache, Coconino, Navajo, and Yuma counties. Union members in attendance discussed a strong vision for the chapter, including statewide meet-and-greets, joint community service projects, skills trainings, and issue-based campaigns. Plans are also underway for regional listening tours, networking events, themed outings, and conferences designed to build solidarity and leadership among union women across Arizona.

Chapter leadership nominations will take place in June, and the energy is already building.

A total of nine unions participated in the launch, including:

• CWA – Communications Workers of America

• TWU – Transport Workers Union

• NALC – National Association of Letter Carriers

• AFM – American Federation of Musicians

• UFCW 99 – United Food and Commercial Workers

• AFSCME – American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

• IAM – International Association of Machinists

• AEA – Arizona Education Association

• UCW – United Campus Workers

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Arizona Chapter of CLUW, visit www.cluw.org and click on “Membership” to become a member.

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

CALL: No Cuts That Hurt Working Families, Kids and Retirees

Right now, Senate is considering a budget that would have the largest cuts in history to Medicaid and to SNAP food assistance, as well as more cuts to retirement benefits for federal workers. These programs are a cornerstone of a secure existence for working people. 

We need you to speak out today. Tell Senate this budget would be a disaster for working families and for our nation. 

Call your representative at 231-400-0602 to tell them, "No cuts that hurt working families!"

Pride At Work Courtside - Phoenix Mercury Game Night!

Join Pride at Work Arizona Chapter for a fun evening at the Phoenix Mercury basketball game! 

Join the Movement Building Arizona’s Creative Future

PHXMF is kicking off an exciting initiative to grow Arizona’s creative workforce in Music, Filmmaking, and Gaming — and it starts by spotlighting the unsung heroes behind the scenes. These “lower credits” — the skilled craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and innovators — are the backbone of the industry, and now, they’re taking center stage.

Venture Café Phoenix, a thriving hub for entrepreneurs, creatives, and investors, sets the stage for this powerful preview event. It’s more than a meetup — it’s a hands-on opportunity to explore the cutting-edge tools, technologies, and talent shaping the next generation of production crews.

This energizing evening offers a glimpse into what’s coming this October at the PHXMF Experience, a full-scale celebration of innovation, creativity, and collaboration. Don’t miss this chance to connect, create, and be part of the transformation driving Arizona’s creative economy forward.

Date: June 5, 2025

Time: 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Location: Venture Café Phoenix, 850 N 5th St., Phoenix, AZ 85004

Arizona Needs Reliable Internet Service & Good Jobs

$42 billion in public funding for internet infrastructure is on the line, and we need your voice! While CWA members have fought for investments in reliable fiber broadband that create good, union jobs, satellite company CEOs are pushing to redirect these funds to unreliable satellite services. Satellite internet lacks the necessary speeds, employs fewer workers, and has a short lifespan that leads to repeated investments. 

⤵️Click on the link below and tell Governor Hobbs and the Arizona State Broadband Office to stand up to pressure to redirect funds to unreliable satellite internet service and continue to create good, union jobs by investing in reliable, high-speed fiber internet. ⤵️

FREE State-Registered Apprenticeship — Line Cook Training for Your Members & Community

The Hospitality Training Academy (HTA), in collaboration with UNITE HERE, is offering an 8-week, no-cost Line Cook Training Program in Phoenix, which leads directly to union jobs with benefits. This program is now officially recognized as an Arizona State-Registered Apprenticeship Program.

HTA has a strong history of preparing individuals for success in union jobs, offering fair wages, dignity, and opportunities for career advancement in the hospitality industry.

Who is this for?
✅ Anyone aged 18 or older
✅ Proficient in English with a reading level of at least 10th grade
✅ Interested in starting a career in a growing industry

Why it matters:
This apprenticeship serves as a vital pathway to help workers escape poverty and secure stable, union-backed careers. With your support, we can reach individuals in your community and membership who are ready for this opportunity.

Next steps and details:
UNITE HERE will be hosting informational sessions soon, and only those who attend will be eligible to enroll. Please share the attached flyer with your members, their families, and neighbors to help spread the word.

Union Events and Action

We want to uplift what you are doing for our members and our community!

Please fill out all the required information to have your Local's event uploaded to our Arizona AFL-CIO website or featured in our next Labor Dispatch. If you have any questions please reach out to Alina Cordoba, Communications & Operations Director at [email protected].

AZ AFL-CIO's Book Club: A New Chapter Begins!

We're back—and better than ever! The Arizona AFL-CIO Labor Book Club is now  formatted as an end-of-the-month book review, offering fresh perspectives on thought-provoking reads that resonate with our movement. 

📖This Month's Book Review: Butcher's Crossing by John Williams

Check out this week's review, written by Esau Gutierrez for a deeper dive: 

Join Our Weekly Meetings

Join us every Friday at 9:30 AM via Zoom as we prepare for the upcoming 2025 Legislative Committee Meetings. This is an important opportunity for union members to learn about the key issues and topics that will be discussed during the 1st Regular Session of the 57th Legislature.

Stay informed and engaged as we navigate the legislative landscape together and ensure that our voices are heard in the decision-making process.

San Diego's Tourism Workers Deserve More Than Gratitude

"San Diego is one of the most visited cities in the United States. Our beaches, world-class attractions and perfect weather draw tens of millions of people each year. But none of that magic happens without workers."

Arizona Students Deserve Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander History

"As longtime members of the Arizona Education Association (AEA) and active Arizona educators — with one of us teaching middle and high school social studies in Mesa for 30+ years and the other teaching high school social studies in Phoenix for over 18 years — we see everyday that the content students learn in school shapes their identity, their attitudes toward others, and their understanding of our nation."

IAM Union Members at Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut Achieve Contract Victory, Ending Three-Week Strike

"Approximately 3,000 IAM Union Local 1746 and Local 700 (District 26) members have voted by 74% to ratify a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with engine-maker Pratt & Whitney, officially ending the three-week strike that began on Monday, May 5."

DEI Belongs In Union Contracts Because Corporate Promises Aren't Enough

"When Big Business and far-right politicians wage war on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), workers need more than vague assurances from corporations—they need enforceable protections codified in federal law and in collective bargaining agreements. That’s why labor leaders at the 54th Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) International Convention made it clear that DEI must be cemented into union contracts in the first place."

Culinary Union Secures Historic Contract with Cosmopolitan Las Vegas

"The deal, reached on May 21, 2025, includes the largest wage increases in the Culinary Union's 90-year history, following the standards set during the 2023 Citywide Contract fight and the Virgin Las Vegas 69-day strike."

These Tacoma Hospitals Physicians Vote to Unionize Ahead of Move to New Campus

"One hundred physicians at Mary Bridge voted Wednesday to organize with Northwest Medicine United “so they can formally engage with hospital administrators through a collective bargaining agreement on decisions that will improve patient care,” according to the release."

Chemical Plants Near Black Neighborhoods Pollute While Hiring Few Black Workers

"A new study confirms what locals and environmental activists across the Gulf South and beyond have said for years: Black, Brown and Indigenous workers do not benefit equitably from jobs offered by the petrochemical industry despite their communities often bearing the brunt of its pollution."

Education Coalition Urges Arizona Lawmakers to Reject HB2867

"The Arizona Education Association (AEA) is leading a coalition of 10 statewide labor unions and advocacy organizations to oppose House Bill 2867 — a dangerous bill that would leave Arizona educators vulnerable to bad-faith lawsuits from outside groups and political extremists."

Arizona Launches HEAR Program to Help Families Save on Energy Costs and Beat the Heat

"Today, a coalition of community organizations celebrates the full launch of Arizona’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) Program, a landmark effort led by the Governor’s Arizona Office of Resiliency that delivers critical financial support to help families upgrade their homes, lower utility bills, and stay safe in the face of extreme heat."

Phoenix Could Save Millions Providing Legal Aid for People Facing Eviction

"To bolster that argument, Organized Power is waving a newly released economic impact report. The analysis found that the city would see economic benefits for its housing safety net costs and homelessness-related expenses by investing nearly $25 million on right to counsel."

Attorney General Mayes Secures Consent Judgment Against Family Dollar to Resolve Mispricing Claims

"In addition to paying $275,000 in civil penalties and $25,000 in attorneys’ fees, Family Dollar has agreed to injunctive terms to improve its pricing accuracy going forward, including dedicating additional employee hours to ensure correct pricing, spending an additional $300,000 internally to improve employee training and oversight, and promising consumers that Family Dollar will honor the advertised price if it is lower than what rings up at the register."

Thank you for reading the Arizona Labor Dispatch! Can you help us grow our readership by sharing our sign-up form? 

If you'd like to promote an event for your union in our weekly newsletter, fill out our submission form or email AZ AFL-CIO  Communications & Operations Director Alina Cordoba at [email protected]