Cincinnati
AFL-CIO
Labor Council
Saturday, August 13, 2022
Cincinnati AFL-CIO
Labor Day Weekend Celebration
at Great American Ball Park
Only 3 Weeks Away!!!
Reds v. Rockies Sunday, September 4
Our traditional Labor Day Picnic on Labor Day, at Coney Island is not taking place this year.

After a great many discussions and considerations about changes that have taken place at Coney making it difficult to accommodate our traditional picnic, we have opted to move our Labor Day Celebration to The Great American Ballpark and attend the Reds/Rockies game, Sunday, September 4, 1:00 PM.

US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh will be on hand to throw out the first pitch and both elected and Labor leaders from all of the City, County, State and Country will be on hand to celebrate with us. Labor will own the pregame ceremonies and be celebrated on a nationally televised Baseball game. 

Please contact Nick Geraci at ngeraci@reds.com or by phone at 513.765.7975 to set up a ticket option for your Local.

If your local does not set up a ticket option or you are not affiliated with a local, please visit Reds.com/labor and use the Offer Code: LABOR for your discounted tickets.

Questions? Please contact us here at the Labor Council by email to info@cincinnatiaflcio.org or by phone to 513.421.1846.

We are excited to begin this new Labor Day tradition with all of our Brothers, Sisters, and Friends of Labor! We can't think of a better way to celebrate Labor Day than spending it together watching the Great American Past Time.

See you at the Ballpark September 4th!
This Week With AFL-CIO President, Liz Shuler
The average S&P 500 CEO made 324 times what the company’s average worker made last year. So how do we rebalance those scales? We organize. 

And there is so much opportunity for organizing—93% of private sector workers and 66% of public sector workers are not yet in unions.

If you look at which industries are growing, they’re mostly nonunion, like Big Tech and clean energy. These industries are the future of our economy, so we need to make them union industries from the start. That’s how we make sure that the future is American-made and union-made.
When we organize together, we rise together. We just saw how true that was this weekend—with our pro-worker majority delivering a huge win with the Inflation Reduction Act.

This bill supports job creation for so many of our members. And because we fought for the bill to include labor standards and domestic content requirements, these conditions are going to help us make sure the new jobs are good-paying, family-supporting jobs.

This bill, plus the CHIPS Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law, is also the kind of victory that is possible when we fight for leaders who will fight for us.
We need to be at every table creating the next generation of technology because we understand our industries better than anyone.

Workers want to make sure technology continues to help industries, not take them over. That’s why the CHIPS Act is a huge win for working people. It will ensure we can exercise our influence to help shape our workplaces for years to come.

Let’s be clear: The future of work is on the ballot this November. We have less than 100 days until the critical midterm elections. We all know that to really make our vision for the future a reality, we have to elect more leaders who share our values.
The Inflation Reduction Act will reshape the future and deliver real help to working families by reducing rising energy and health care costs; enacting clean energy tax incentives with labor standards and domestic content requirements; and addressing long overdue changes to our tax system.

It will reduce climate pollution by 40%, while spurring the economic transformation we need to address the climate crisis, make clean energy more accessible and affordable, and direct investments to underserved communities.

While this bill represents an incredible step forward, we know the fight for climate and economic justice is not over. We are united in support of this legislation, and we urge Congress to move quickly to get this passed and signed into law.
Union Night with The Dropkick Muprhy's
Brothers and sisters, the most pro-union band in the world, The Dropkick Murphys, will be playing in Cincinnati on October 29. There will be a special union member pre-party prior to the show.

To get tickets (and save on S&H) and/ or wristbands email info@cincinnatiaflcio.org with subject headline "DKM."
Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council
COPE DINNER 2022
"If Not Us, Who? If Not Now, When?!

We're Back and We're Live!

Friday, October 21, 2022
UAW Local 863 Union Hall
10708 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45241

Save The Date!

6:00 PM Social Hour | 7:00 PM Dinner and Program

Special Keynote Speaker:
AFL-CIO Endorsed Candidate for US Senate, Tim Ryan
Tim Ryan is a relentless advocate for Ohio’s working families.

Musical Guests:
Jake Speed and The Freddies
An Evening of Labor's Best Musical Heritage!

Watch This Space for Details...
Jake Speed and the Freddies w/ Special Guests Mike Oberst and Ed Cunningham at 22nd Annual Woodyfest Celebrating the life and music of Woody Guthrie.
CHIPS Act Includes Critical ‘Worker Voice’ Provisions
The CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law today by President Biden, not only boosts domestic manufacturing jobs in critical technology sectors but also mandates for the first time that unions and our members be at the table as the federal government invests billions in innovation research and economic development.
 
“The science title of this bill boosts critical research funding for the National Science Foundation and other agencies, and directs the foundation to incorporate labor organizations into its ‘programmatic work’ as stakeholders,” said Amanda Ballantyne, the director of the AFL-CIO Technology Institute. “With these changes in law, we will see a different paradigm emerge in the federal research enterprise—one that invites workers and unions into the innovation process and incentivizes federal grant applicants to collaborate with labor and workforce training organizations.”
 
The Technology Institute, launched in 2021 as a recommendation of the AFL-CIO Commission on the Future of Work and Unions, is a hub for development of new strategies, including policy reforms around technology and the future of work. The institute has advocated for a change in how the federal government directs research and economic development investments, Ballantyne said, “with a focus on securing unions as official stakeholders, enhancing good job creation requirements, and using these federal programs to advance critical racial and economic justice objectives.”
Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond Rallies Union Members at Canvass Kickoff in Las Vegas
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond (pictured above, standing to the left) was in Las Vegas, where he rallied workers at an election canvass kickoff on Tuesday. He also met with leaders of the Nevada State AFL-CIO, took a tour of Culinary Union-UNITE HERE Local 226’s training facility and visited with workers on the job.
 
“Nevada is a key battleground state this election, with solid pro-labor candidates running in tight races up and down the ballot. I’m very proud to see what union members are doing in Las Vegas—and around the country—to drive the union message outward,” Redmond said. “It’s amazing to see: Worker strength is growing by the day at our workplaces and in our communities. We need to keep it up because what we’re doing is delivering big results.”
UVC Celebrates PACT Act Signing, Commits to Help Veterans Receive Support
The Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO, (UVC) applauded President Biden on Wednesday for signing the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, a historic law to expand health care coverage for military veterans who were exposed to toxins and burn pits during their service. After it was temporarily filibustered by a minority of anti-worker senators two weeks ago, the UVC made a nationwide appeal to its members and some 1,300 union veterans called their senators to demand that they pass the bill immediately.
 
This legislation has been a major priority for the UVC since it was formed in 2009. The Honoring Our PACT Act will have an enormous impact on America’s veterans by finally providing them the health care they deserve after suffering for years or decades from diseases that resulted from their exposure to toxic chemicals. The UVC said it will work in the coming months to ensure all union veterans, both active and retired, understand these benefits and how to navigate the Department of Veterans Affairs to receive the support they have earned.
 
Visit VA.gov/PACT to learn more about how this new law helps veterans and their families.
SMART Spotlights Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Benefits for Members
After years of political pressure from union members, President Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure law in November to invest more than $1 trillion in our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. The law promises to create good-paying union jobs and put members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) into action.
 
In the latest edition of SMART’s quarterly publication, the union highlighted the many ways in which the bipartisan infrastructure law will create more opportunities for its members. Whether they’re boosting energy efficiency in public schools, conducting energy audits or surveys on commercial and residential buildings, breaking into new markets and implementing emerging technologies, or providing apprenticeship training to more workers, SMART members will play a central role in rebuilding America. Click here to read more.
Tim Ryan Endorsement Rally
Political Update: From Ohio AFL-CIO Southwest Rep. Julien Johnson
Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga Joins President Biden At Semiconductor Bill Signing
Fresh off a major legislative victory with the Senate passing a sweeping inflation reducing and health care bill, President Joe Biden signed another major bill on Tuesday and Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga and Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council President Mike Knisley were on hand to celebrate the thousands of good-paying Ohio jobs this bill will create. The CHIPS and Science Act is a measure to boost domestic production of semiconductor computer chips and a major priority for the Biden administration to bolster American manufacturing and our national security.
 
"This is why we endorsed Joe Biden for President. From the American Rescue Plan to the Infrastructure bill and now the CHIPS Act, President Biden continues to deliver for union members and all working people," said Burga. "I was pleased to represent the 1 million Ohio AFL-CIO members and retirees as President Biden signed this historic bill into law. This bi-partisan bill will create thousands of construction and permanent jobs in Ohio while bolstering our economic and national security.” 
 
Most of the semiconductors and microchips that power our phones, household appliances, our vehicles and even our military’s weapons are made outside the U.S. The CHIPS bill gives incentives to American companies to manufacture them here in the U.S. This is a massive investment in micro-chip production here in the U.S. with the proper guardrails to ensure corporations that receive the assistance are doing the right thing for our national interests.  
 
Spurred by the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, this week, companies have announced nearly $50 billion in additional investments in American semiconductor manufacturing, bringing total business investment to nearly $150 billion since President Biden took office.
What's In The Inflation Reduction Act
The Democrat controlled Congress is poised to pass another bill aimed at creating good-paying jobs, taxing the wealthy, reducing costs for working people, and cutting the deficit. Here’s how:
 
Creating jobs: The bill seeks to create new jobs in industries including manufacturing, construction, and renewable energies, the bill's authors say. Policy-research company Energy Innovation estimates that the bill would create up to 1.5 million jobs by 2030. Meanwhile, the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute estimated the bill would generate 912,000 jobs per year over the next decade.
 
Curb Stock Buy Backs: Democrats have long wanted to rein in stock buybacks, which exploded in the wake of former President Trump's corporate tax cuts in 2017 and hit a record $881.7 billion in 2021, according to data collected by S&P. A company buys back its own stock when it wants to boost its stock price, by reducing the number of outstanding shares on the market. It's an alternative to the traditional route of distributing cash to shareholders in the form of dividends. It also has the effect of inflating the value of executives' shareholdings. 
 
Cut Prescription Dug Costs: the act say it would enable patients on Medicare to get high-priced drugs for the lowest price possible by allowing Medicare to begin negotiating prescription drug prices directly from 2023. The bill would also cap at $2,000 per year the amount senior Medicare patients spend out of pocket on prescription drugs. Currently, no cap exists. Capping spending could save more than 860,000 Medicare enrollees an average of $900 a year, according to estimates from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which makes grants and publishes research relating to healthcare.
 
Free vaccines for seniors: The bill would make all vaccines free for seniors on Medicare. Vaccines typically cost $25 per dose, according to analysis by Peterson-KFF Health Systems Tracker.
 
What about our tax bill?
People who make less than $400,000 a year shouldn't be affected by the higher taxes proposed in the bill. The bill will be funded by higher corporate taxes, savings on prescription drugs through Medicare, and IRS tax enforcement, among other things, the bill's authors say. They say taxes shouldn't be higher for anyone with less than $400,000 annual taxable income.
 
Kimberly Clausing, a tax professor at the UCLA School of Law and former senior Treasury Department official, previously told Insider that the average American's tax bill is "absolutely" not going to be affected under the legislation. "Are you a big corporation that earns over a billion dollars and pays less than 15%? If not, there's no increase in your taxes," she said.
 
Union Members Answer the Call in Eastern Kentucky
Parts of eastern Kentucky were ravaged by deadly flooding several weeks ago that left dozens dead. Members of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO have been on the ground since then, helping to coordinate relief efforts. On Saturday, members of the United Steelworkers (USW) District 8 responded to the needs of its members and the communities that were affected.
 
District 8 Director Larry Ray (not pictured) reported that he and District 8 Sub-Director of Kentucky Roger McGinnis (not pictured) helped source tens of thousands of dollars of materials that union members delivered to four different hospitals. Members of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO, the Teamsters (IBT), Laborers (LIUNA) Local 1392, Owensboro Area Building and Construction Trades Council, the Fire Fighters (IAFF), Northern Kentucky Labor Council and the Greater Louisville Central Labor Council helped transport the supplies. “This was just the beginning of the effort to help our affected sisters and brothers as they rebuild,” said Ray.
Teacher Shortage Near Tipping Point, Warns AFT’s Weingarten
Schools districts across the country are scrambling to fill teaching positions ahead of the new school year. The teacher shortage is a problem that has been brewing for years and it is near a tipping point, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten said.
 
“We have a teacher shortage because we have a shortage of respect for public school educators. A shortage of the professional working conditions which makes it difficult for teachers and other staff to meet their students’ needs,” she told “GMA.” “We have a shortage of pay for what is arguably the most important job in the world. And we have politicians who want to ban books and censor curriculum rather than help teachers meet the social, emotional and academic needs of kids.”
PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES: Register Now for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Info Webinar (RSVP Link Below)
PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES: Register Now for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Info Webinar (RSVP Link Below)

If you are a public sector employee, you may be eligible for student loan relief through the U.S. Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.To learn more, join OPEIU and representatives from the Department of Education for an informational webinar on Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. EDT.

Many student loan borrowers who work in the public sector or at a wide range of nonprofits may be eligible to take advantage of recent temporary changes PSLF program.

On Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. EDT, OPEIU is hosting an informational webinar with the Department of Education to educate eligible borrowers before the program's changes expire on Oct. 31. Information on program eligibility and recent changes to the program will be provided.


Learn more about the PSLF program at studentaid.gov/pslf and RSVP today for the Sept. 7 webinar at 3 p.m. EDT here. The webinar will be recorded and available on opeiu.org shortly after it concludes.
Week Three of AFL-CIO’s Labor 2022 Training Teaches Effective Campaigning Strategies
During the third week of the AFL-CIO’s Labor 2022 training, we got ready to hit the doors!
 
Fifty-seven release staff, state federation and central labor council staff joined us last week to rebuild our door-knocking muscles for this crucial election year. We held workshops on script writing for both door-to-door and phone banking campaign events, as well as how to run a successful canvass. We finished out our week with a rerun of the code of conduct training.
 
This week is the launch of our one-on-one conversation training to further strengthen our skills to hold meaningful member-to-member conversations. The AFL-CIO is also planning our next round of training sessions for the month of September. Be sure to regularly check the calendar to find out what trainings are coming up and to register.
Take Action: Support Freight Rail Workers
Freight rail workers are a vital part of our supply chain, responsible for moving billions of dollars worth of consumer goods and cargo. While seven rail companies have made $146 billion in profit since 2015, how are the rail workers, who actually make sure we get the supplies we need, faring?
 
Some 45,000 of their jobs were cut. They haven’t had a raise in nearly three years.  Many are on-call 24/7 and only get one day off per month. A rail conductor told NBC News he nearly missed his wife’s funeral because he couldn’t get time off. Horrific.
 
Workers have been fighting for a fair contract for nearly three years. Earlier this month, President Biden stepped in and appointed an emergency board to mediate. It’ll make recommendations in mid-August, and we need to be ready.
 
The labor movement must rally behind these workers who transport the supplies we need to live and work. If you’re a person who supports fairness and dignity for our rail workers, add your name in support.
 
U.S Senator Sherrod Brown: Working For Working People!
Join Us Next Week!
Free CPR Class!
Will you be a lucky duck this year?
The 28th annual Rubber Duck Regatta event-day details are being finalized.

This event is a long-standing tristate tradition, but it’s what each duck continues to represent that makes our annual event so special. Every duck can help provide 15 meals for kids facing hunger — and behind each one is a generous donor making it possible.

More than 76,000 tristate children were facing hunger before the pandemic began, and now that number is up to 90,000.
Grand Prize: A New Honda Vehicle

Courtesy of the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Honda Dealers and possibly $1 MILLION if your duck is the “Million Dollar Duck.”

ONE LUCKY DUCK WILL WIN GROCERIES FOR A YEAR!
A year’s worth of groceries from Kroger (up to $5,200).

Five additional winners will receive $500 cash from Kemba Credit Union.
Plus, all duck purchases of $50 or more will receive a 2022 Rubber Duck Regatta T-shirt! Supply is limited up to the first 2,000 transactions of $50 or higher through 9/4/2022, while supplies last.

When every duck you purchase can bring a chance to win PLUS help provide 15 meals to kids living with hunger — it makes every duck a winner!


With gratitude,

Kurt L. Reiber
President & CEO
Freestore Foodbank

P.S. Ducks are no longer available for purchase at Kroger checkout. The best and easiest way to get your ducks is to buy them online right here!
Open Registration for FMCS Institute Summer and Fall courses
Enrollment Open for FMCS Institute Courses
   
(These courses will be conducted entirely online. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the institute prior to registration to ensure computer access). 

Meet your 2022 training objectives with our virtual curriculum! Our mission is to keep you at the forefront of conflict management and prevention with innovative topics and comprehensive course offerings that prepare you for real-world challenges and organizational change. Enroll today and take advantage of our discounted early-bird rates.
Negotiation Skills
August 16-18 and August 23-25, 2022
11a - 5p EST
Early Bird $1,500 to July 23, Single $1,600,
Group 3-5 persons $1,300, Group 6+ $1,200
 
Develop the negotiation style that’s right for you. This interactive workshop focuses on techniques for 21st-century contract negotiations. The workshop covers traditional and interest-based negotiations. The workshop will teach participants how to negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
 
Participants will receive an FMCS Certificate of Training upon completion of the course.
 
Instructors: FMCS Commissioners Isael Hermosillo, Kent McVay, Dan Sims, and Christy Yoshitomi
Mediation Skills    
October 25-27, and November 1-3, 2022
11:00a - 5:00p EST 
$1,500 before September 25
$1,600 (Group rates available)
 
Highly interactive, this course will use large and small group discussions, online discussion boards, role-plays reflecting a variety of workplace conflicts, and other exercises along with instructor-led presentations to prepare you for real-life workplace disputes and problem resolution. Facilitating difficult conversations, creative problem-solving, interpersonal negotiations, and communication will be covered.
2022 Freedom Fund Dinner
Tickets to our Annual Freedom Fund Dinner are on sale NOW!

Click HERE to purchase.

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact the branch office at
513-281-1900 or at freedomfund@cincinnatinaacp.com.
COVID-19 Dashboard
Why the Omicron Offshoot BA.5 is a Big Deal
By Brenda Goodman, CNN
(CNN) Once again, Covid-19 seems to be everywhere. If you feel caught off-guard, you aren't alone.

After the Omicron tidal wave washed over the United States in January and the smaller rise in cases in the spring caused by the BA.2 subvariant, it might have seemed like the coronavirus could be ignored for a while. After all, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in December that nearly all Americans had been vaccinated or have antibodies from a past infection. Surely all that immunity bought some breathing room.
But suddenly, many people who had recovered from Covid-19 as recently as March or April found themselves exhausted, coughing and staring at two red lines on a rapid test. How could this be happening again -- and so soon? [READ MORE]
Ohio Vaccination Dashboard

The COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard displays the most recent data reported to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) regarding the number of individuals that have started and completed the COVID-19 vaccination series by various demographics and county of residence.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard displays the most recent data reported to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) regarding the number of individuals that have started and completed the COVID-19 vaccination series by various demographics and county of residence. “Vaccination started” indicates that the individual has received at least one valid dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The number listed as “vaccination completed” is a subset of the number included in “vaccination started,” indicating that those individuals within that group have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses and are considered fully immunized. ODH is making COVID-19 data available for public review while also protecting privacy. This dashboard will be updated daily. Please see footnotes below for more details.
Ohio COVID-19 Dashboard
Overview

ODH is making COVID-19 data available for public review while also protecting patient privacy.

The State of Ohio COVID-19 Dashboard displays the most recent preliminary data reported to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) about cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Ohio by selected demographics and county of residence. Data for cases and hospitalizations is reported to ODH via the Ohio Disease Reporting System (ODRS), and verified mortality data is reported via the Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS).
Current Trends
Below are the current reporting trends from Friday, August 12 for key indicators calculated from data reported to the Ohio Department of Health. These trends are updated daily and are presented by report date.
Below is a snapshot of key metrics pulled Friday, August 12, 2022 from daily data reporting to the Ohio Department of Health. These metrics are updated daily.
Hamilton County
Cases
212,359
Hospitalizations
6,610
Deaths
2,101
Clermont County
Cases
57,570
Hospitalizations
1,615
Deaths
567
Brown County
Cases
12,318
Hospitalizations
113
Deaths
186
Butler County
Cases
102,895
Hospitalizations
3,436
Deaths
1,180
Warren County
Cases
64,814
Hospitalizations
1,383
Deaths
594
Other News For and About Working People:
Cincinnati AFL-CIO
Labor Council
President

Executive Secretary-Treasurer

Executive Assistant to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer
1385 Tennessee Avenue | Second Floor | Cincinnati, OH 45229 | 513.421.1846 | info@cincinnatiaflcio.org | www.cincinnatiaflcio.org