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• Committee hearings and bill introductions beginning in January and February
• Crossover week, when bills move between the House and Senate, typically in March
• Budget negotiations in the spring
• And a targeted adjournment in late June

Fred Yamashita

Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Director
Arizona AFL-CIO

Jan. 15–18, 2026, MLK Civil and Human Rights Conference

The civil rights and labor movements have a long, storied history of working together to secure a better future for workers. And every year, we come together with union members and civil rights activists at our AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference, where we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and strengthen the bond between both our movements.

Right now, our democracy is under threat, and our solidarity is more important than ever.

No Contract, No Coffee Pledge

Call on Starbucks CEO, Brian Niccol to bargain a fair contract with Starbucks Workers United baristas. Show support for Starbucks baristas in their fight for a union and a fair contract, and pledge not to cross the picket line.

Sign The Petition, Tell Senator Kelly, Working People Have Your Back!

Senator Mark Kelly has always stood with Arizona’s working families — now he’s facing an unprecedented and baseless attack on his service and integrity. As a veteran and lifelong champion for workers, he deserves our solidarity. Add your name to show Senator Kelly that working people have his back.

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].

Inside the Fight To Unionize California's Climbing Gyms

"This week, we’re staying in Southern California, where the workers of Touchstone Climbing Gym in Los Angeles have been negotiating their first contract with their employer. Touchstone Climbing, a regional climbing gym with over a dozen locations in California, experienced a wave of unionization in its Los Angeles locations early last year. The successful campaign with Workers United created a wall-to-wall union at each of the company’s five locations in the Los Angeles area."

Seattle Children's is Promoting Ableism with Its Sick-Time Policy

"Many of the nurses I work alongside at Seattle Children’s were drawn to work here because they have a disability and want to help kids like themselves. They are chronically ill, physically disabled, and/or neurodivergent. Some of them have become disabled – or their disabilities have gotten worse because they have put their bodies, their minds, and their well-being on the line to care for others."

Labor's Year in Review: Trump, Biggest Union-Buster in History, Dominates Workers' Struggles

"Through a series of edicts and with the gleeful aid of a compliant congressional Republican majority and two henchmen—Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and multibillionaire chainsaw-wielder Elon Musk—President Donald Trump became “the biggest union-buster in U.S. history,” according to AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler."

Fenway Park and MGM Music Hall Concession Workers Celebrate New Labor Contract

"The agreement raises the wages of non-tipped workers by $10 through 2029. Workers in tip-based roles will get a $5 wage increase over the same time frame. Gratuity for catering at the park increases from 15% to 17%, and vendors received a 1% increase to their commissions."

ECHL, PHPA Ratify New Collective Bargaining Agreement

"The association wanted the new CBA to address key issues, such as adding reasonable limitations on travel between back-to-back games, a league-wide holiday break from Dec. 24 to 26, guaranteed contracts for a season, uninterrupted medical coverage during the off-season, an increased weekly salary cap that would equate to an average weekly wage of $975 for players and a standard group licensing framework."

Minnesota State Workers Applaud Push to Restore Federal Bargaining Rights

"State workers in Minnesota said a successful try would aid their work to protect the public. In March, the White House issued an executive order to strip collective-bargaining rights for more than 1 million federal employees. Among other things, it said the move was in the interest of national security. But opponents argued it is clearly union-busting which harms public servants."

Over 8.3 Million Workers Will Benefit from Minimum Wage Increases on January 1st

"Nineteen states will increase their minimum wages on January 1, boosting earnings for more than 8.3 million workers by a total of $5 billion. In addition, 47 cities and counties will raise their minimum wages, adding to the number of workers likely to get larger paychecks because of lawmakers—or in some cases, voters—taking action to lift state and local wage floors."

Lawmakers Urge DACA Holders to Quickly Renew Their Applications

"Lawmakers and activists called on DACA recipients to begin the renewal request process six to eight months before the expiration of their DACA approval. They made the plea at a press conference outside the state capitol on Dec. 30."

Arizona's Minimum Wage Will Increase to $15.15 Starting Jan. 1st

"This year, Arizona is one of several states which will get a higher minimum wage starting at the beginning of the year. Some Arizona cities already have their own higher minimum wages." 

Arizona Task Force Proposes Plan for Statewide Workplace Heat Safety Guidelines

"Gov. Katie Hobbs in spring convened a task force to recommend new heat safety guidelines for Arizona workplaces. The group of 24 Arizonans from industries including roofing, construction and firefighting had a Dec. 31 deadline to submit recommendations to the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health."

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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]