Cincinnati
AFL-CIO
Labor Council
Saturday, August 4, 2022
Cincinnati AFL-CIO
Labor Day Weekend Celebration
at Great American Ball Park
Only 4 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 Inflation Reduction Act is going to deliver fundamental economic change across America. It will lower health care costs—especially the high cost of prescription drugs—invest in our clean energy future and address our broken tax code.

Not only will this bill direct investments to underserved communities, it will also make sure that high working standards and high environmental standards can—and should—go hand in hand. By including labor standards and domestic content requirements, this will create millions of good-paying jobs in construction and manufacturing right here in America.
This is how we create lasting change that working families need. We see the Inflation Reduction Act as a major step forward. It will improve the lives of working people, seniors trying to pay for their prescriptions and children, who will have a healthier planet to live on. Let’s get this bill passed and signed into law.
Congress must move quickly to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which will lower health care costs, make prescription drugs more affordable to seniors, address our broken tax system to get the megarich and big corporations to finally start paying their fair share, and make significant investments in our clean energy future that create good new jobs and curb emissions.

We also need our leaders on Capitol Hill to increase protections for working people—protections such as our right to organize, accountability in the form of stronger labor laws and broader access to critical support systems like affordable child care.

Let’s use the next 96 days to organize and elect more pro-worker candidates to public office. Tell your co-workers, neighbors and friends about the pinch we’re all feeling, the candidates who share our vision to address it, and the urgent need to get to the polls and vote on Nov. 8!
Calling out bullying and harassment and getting people to reconsider their own behavior is difficult, often uncomfortable work. But we need to make sure that unions are a place where everyone is welcome—and everyone works together.

On Monday, I met members of the Masters, Mates & Pilots Women’s Caucus. I am so incredibly proud of the work they’re doing to change the culture on ships and across the maritime industry.

We all have a part to play in creating a more inclusive labor movement where every worker can fulfill their potential and no one is left behind.
Our willingness to take on new things and talk to new people is going to help us build the labor movement of the future.

That’s why we need to keep supporting courageous workers who are organizing in new places such as breweries and coffee shops, REI and Apple stores, stadiums and hospitals, higher education and museums—and even in the cannabis industry and on Capitol Hill.

We’re going to keep going to new places, trying new things and lifting up new voices. We’re going to show the next generation of organizers that we are the place to make change.
Reduce Inflation
The Inflation Reduction Act will fight inflation by cutting the cost of health care and energy for millions of Americans. It’ll fix our broken tax system where corporations and the megarich don’t pay their fair share. Add your name to thank the senators who are voting to pass this bill.
Tax corporations and reduce costs for working people? These policies are just common sense—which is why 73% of voters support this bill.
 
  1. Negotiate lower drug prices for seniors.
  2. Cap future drug price increases.
  3. Improve Medicare prescription benefits.
  4. Prevent a premium spike for Affordable Care Act enrollees.
  5. Invest in our climate and energy and manufacturing jobs.
  6. Strengthen IRS enforcement on the megarich.
  7. Impose a 15% minimum tax on big corporations.
  8. Close the “carried interest” tax loophole.
This Inflation Reduction Act offers our country a real chance to build a safer, healthier and cleaner future.
 
Instead of blaming working people for inflation, Senate Democrats are voting to pass a bill that will reduce inflation. Add your name to say thank you.
‘Absolute Bull’: UMWA’s Roberts Responds to Attack on Inflation Reduction Act
Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced last week that he has reached a compromise to support the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which will lower costs for American workers while boosting good union jobs in new technologies. The bill will also provide permanent funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which many members of the Mine Workers (UMWA) and their widows have relied on after a diagnosis of the disease caused by years of working in the mines.
 
UMWA President Cecil Roberts launched a stalwart defense of the bill’s black lung funding on Tuesday. “It was shocking to read a member of Congress from West Virginia, Rep. Alex Mooney, attack the restoration of full funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which is included in the IRA,” Roberts said. “But when blinded by ideology and ambition, some will say and do anything—even when they know they are not being straight with the people.”
AFL-CIO Ramps Up Labor 2022 Training
During the week of July 25, the training team held three Labor 2022 release staff trainings for 62 participants. Among the attendees were members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, AFSCME, American Federation of Teachers, American Postal Workers Union, United Food and Commercial Workers, and United Steelworkers, as well as members of several state federations’ and central labor councils’ staff.
 
We have a lot more coming up; check out the calendar at aflcio.org/Training to see how you can attend a Labor 2022 training!
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.
Tim Ryan Endorsement Rally
Political Update: From Ohio AFL-CIO Southwest Rep. Julien Johnson
Labor 2022
With the Ohio Primary complete, We will be moving forward to the Labor 2022, the campaign will focus heavily on Tim Ryan and the Ohio supreme court with emphasis on our state races. Information will be published and shared periodically as we get it. Campaign Actions will also be announced soon as well. 

Labor Neighbor Program:
On June 28, 2022 during the Labor Luncheon Roundtable, the Ohio AFL-CIO described its new canvassing program called “Labor Neighbor Program” This program will allow member volunteers to canvass Union households in their own communities and precincts during the Campaign. Volunteers can get their canvass distribution literature delivered to their homes, union halls or will be available for pick up from their Labor 2022 staging locations. Because this program is new, we will provide additional information, as we get closer to the Labor 2022 Campaign.

1-on-1s:
As the Ohio AFL-CIO continues to build towards Labor 2022 and discuss different actions to participate in. Locals will be asked to have 1-on-1’s with Ohio AFL CIO Southwest State Representative Julien Johnson or Labor Neighbor coordinator Jessica Risenburg (Iron Workers Local 44) to discuss Labor 2022 and the Labor Neighbor program. You can schedule your 1-on-1 by contacting Julien Johnson at 614-312-4507/jjohnson@ohaflcio.org or Labor Neighbor coordinator Jessica Risenburg jrisenburg@gmail.com/513-557-9118

Campaign Team: 
Please invite any L.U.Cs or delegates who would like to join the campaign team. Meetings will be every other Friday at 4pm. Please contact Julien Johnson at jjohnson@ohaflcio.org/614-312-4507 to be added to the list. 

Introducing Southwest Ohio Release Staff:

Veronica Stein (NATCA): Dayton Lead
Veronica Stein is a member of NATCA (National Air Traffic Control Association) and was released to the Southwest Region on July 11, 2022. Veronica is a Air force veteran and worked as a air traffic control woman for 25 years for the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and 4 years in the Air force. She currently lives in Florida with her husband of 22 years. Veronica is an experienced Union Stewardess and Release staffer, who worked on numerous campaigns in Michigan since 2018. Veronica will be our Lead in the Dayton region and help out some in Cincinnati. Veronica is excited to meet and work with our Labor Council!                                
 
Jessica Risenburg (Ironworkers Local 44 ): Labor Neighbor Coordinator
Jessica Risenbug is a member of Iron Workers Local 44 and has been active in the labor political programs for years. Jessica is has been recognized nationally for all her work and activism. Jessica first joined our team during the 2020 presidential election and will be release to us again! Jessica is our statewide labor neighbor coordinator and will be in contact with our leaders and L.U.Cs too help coordinate the new canvassing program! \
CHIPS Act Passes House and Senate, Awaits President Biden's Signature
One day after the Senate, the U.S. House passed a $280 billion bill last week to strengthen the domestic chip manufacturing industry and finance scientific research in a bid to boost the United States’s competitiveness on the global stage. The bill, called the CHIPS and Science Act, was vital to ensuring the Intel project moved forward in Ohio.
 
After passing the House, Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga released the following statement: “I commend all of the members of the Ohio delegation who helped move this bi-partisan bill through Congress. Not only is this a critical step toward rectifying years of underinvestment in our nation’s manufacturing and research and development capabilities, it will also have an enormous and direct impact in Ohio, creating tens of thousands of good union jobs. Together with provisions that safeguard taxpayers, fund workforce development and create opportunities for disadvantaged communities, the CHIPS Act will have a resounding effect on our economy for years to come.”
 
The legislation cleared the House in a 243-187-1 vote. Twenty-four Republicans supported the measure, and one Democrat voted “present.” Four Ohio Republicans, Bob Latta, Jim Jordan, Brad Wenstrup and Warren Davidson voted against thousands of Ohio jobs and America's national security.
 
 
The House and the Senate initially each passed their own China competition bills, referred to as “America COMPETES” and “USICA,” respectively, but conference negotiations between the two chambers had stalled for weeks. 
 
Lawmakers ultimately came to a consensus on the CHIPS and Science Act, which will allocate $54 billion for chips and public wireless supply chain innovation, including $39 billion that will go towards financial assistance to build, expand and modernize semiconductor facilities in the U.S. It also includes $11 billion for research and development by the Department of Commerce. President Biden is expected to sign the bill into law soon.
 
Tim Ryan's Bill That Restores Pensions for 20,000 Delphi Salaried Retirees, 5,000 in Ohio, Passes in the House
Today, the House passed the Susan Muffley Act to restore full retirement benefits to more than 20,000 retirees across the country – including more than 5,000 in Ohio – who worked for Delphi, the now-shuttered automotive parts manufacturer originally created as a division of General Motors. The bill is named in honor of the late Susan Muffley, whose husband David is one of the Delphi retirees.
 
After Delphi’s bankruptcy in 2005 and General Motors’ in 2009, responsibility for paying Delphi retirees’ pension benefits was assumed by the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). As a result of statutory limits on the maximum benefit amounts PBGC was allowed to pay, Delphi retirees saw a significant reduction in their pensions. The Susan Muffley Act directs PBGC to recalculate Delphi retirees’ benefit amounts without regard to the statutory limits – allowing retirees to finally receive their full pensions.
 
“The men and women who built up Delphi were made a promise in return for their years of hard work. They were promised a stable and secure retirement during their golden years,” said Rep. Kaptur. “Over the years, American workers have time and again seen these promises broken and the financial security that is rightfully theirs thrown away. Now, the Susan Muffley Act makes good on Delphi’s original promise. By restoring their benefits, thousands of retirees will have a better future – a future they had paid for and earned. In Defiance and Sandusky, Ohio – and across the Midwest and Industrial Heartland – the Susan Muffley Act is a giant step forward to make retirees whole.”
 
“I have worked hard for over thirteen years and three Presidential Administrations to restore the pensions of the Delphi retirees and now this bipartisan legislation will provide them with the retirement benefits that they have always deserved,” said Congressman Tim Ryan. “No hardworking American should have to worry whether their employer will deliver the benefits they rightfully earned after a lifetime of hard work.” 
President Biden Eyes Full-Scale Industrial Policy For America
The reconciliation package unveiled last week is likely the best chance Democrats have before the midterms to deliver on Biden’s promises to rebuild domestic manufacturing.
 
For all the Buy American executive orders and billions in chips funding, the reconciliation package has always been the linchpin of the Democrats industrial policy push — representing a broader and more comprehensive plan for reshoring a variety of industries connected to clean energy and mobility.
 
The new agreement, unveiled after the chips bill passed last week, includes $10 billion investment tax credits for new manufacturing facilities, in addition to credits for continued production of clean energy technologies like wind, solar and battery components, as well as the critical minerals that comprise them. There’s also money for automakers to retool their factories to produce electric vehicles, and expanded loans for new clean vehicle factories.
 
“This is game-changing industrial policy,” said Jesse Jenkins, an assistant professor at Princeton who has helped Democrats craft their climate and energy provisions. “I’m very optimistic.”The reconciliation package unveiled last week is likely the last chance Democrats have before the midterms — and maybe the presidential election — to deliver on Biden’s promises to rebuild domestic manufacturing.
 
For all the Buy American executive orders and billions in chips funding, the reconciliation package has always been the linchpin of the Democrats industrial policy push — representing a broader and more comprehensive plan for reshoring a variety of industries connected to clean energy and mobility.
 
"President Biden ran a campaign on a true industrial policy to reshore and revitalize American Manufacturing and good union jobs. Despite extremists in the Republican Party, he has delivered an historic Infrastructure Bill, the CHIPS Act and so much more to create jobs in every corner of Ohio," said Ohio AFL-CIO President Burga. "For the first time in a long time, America has a President focused on a true industrial policy."
 
The new agreement, unveiled after the chips bill passed last week, includes $10 billion investment tax credits for new manufacturing facilities, in addition to credits for continued production of clean energy technologies like wind, solar and battery components, as well as the critical minerals that comprise them. There’s also money for automakers to retool their factories to produce electric vehicles, and expanded loans for new clean vehicle factories.
 
“This is game-changing industrial policy,” said Jesse Jenkins, an assistant professor at Princeton who has helped Democrats craft their climate and energy provisions. “I’m very optimistic.”
 
DOL Proposes $480k in Additional Fines To General Aluminum For Unsafe Working Conditions
Federal safety investigators found workers at General Aluminum Mfg. Co.’s Wapakoneta site exposed to machine hazards, just 36 days after they found similar violations at the aluminum vehicle parts manufacturer’s facility in Conneaut.
 
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected the Wapakoneta facility in February and found a band saw and quench tank lacked adequate machine guarding. The agency also found the company failed to train workers performing service and maintenance tasks on industrial machinery on energy control procedures – commonly known as lockout/tagout – which exposed them to amputation, caught-in and struck-by hazards. OSHA inspectors also issued citations for these violations at the Conneaut and Ravenna facilities.
 
OSHA cited one repeat, two willful and 10 serious violations at the Wapakoneta plant for exposing workers to fall hazards while working on top of casting machines, burn hazards due to water accumulation around casting machines, and using improper personal protective equipment. Inspectors determined worker exposure to electrical and arc flashes, confined space and powered industrial vehicle hazards. The agency has proposed $480,240 in penalties.
 
Virtual Public Hearing Open for Registration

The United States Postal Service will host a virtual public hearing regarding intent to prepare a supplement to the Next Generation Delivery Vehicles Acquisitions Final Environmental Impact Statement.

When:
August 8, 2022
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Eastern

Where:
Zoom
Registration is required at the following link:

NOTE: If you registered for the Public Hearing prior to it being postponed, your registration is still active for the revised date.
This hearing will be limited to the first 10,000 attendees, and registration is required to receive the link to the Zoom meeting. Upon registration, participants will receive a confirmation email with meeting access information.
Agenda:

The Postal Service will provide a presentation at 7:00 p.m., followed by the opportunity for participants to provide comments at two minutes per speaker. The presentation will be repeated at 8:30 p.m. followed by an additional comment period, also allowing two minutes per speaker. Comments may also be typed into the meeting chat. The meeting and all written and verbal comments will be recorded. All comments will be addressed in the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).
U.S Senator Sherrod Brown: Working For Working People!
Free CPR Class!
These Rubber Duckies Help Feed Kids
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.
P.S. Don’t forget, your purchase of this year’s Quack Pack — buy 10 ducks, get 2 free — earns you a unique 2022 Rubber Duck Regatta T-shirt (while supplies last) and puts you in the running for some amazing prizes!
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
Please join us as we educate, empower, and engage the community. We would look forward to hearing from you. With the Cincinnati NAACP: YOU Are The Movement!
The Cincinnati NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Dinner is a long-standing tradition that brings together NAACP members and community supporters to raise funds to support the operations of our local Branch. At the level where we have been working diligently to eliminate discrimination and inequalities for over a decade, since 1915, in 52 neighborhoods and our surrounding communities.
Our initiatives are needed as much now as they ever were. Every day we focus on these key areas: voter education and empowerment, criminal justice reform, public safety, racial health disparities, and economic inclusion, among other aspects. We couldn’t do this work, and accomplish our goals, without the generous support of our community, and monetary support of our mission by our allies and partners. For sponsorship information or to donate click the buttons below or call us at 513-281-1900.
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 5 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 5, 2022 from daily data reporting to the Ohio Department of Health. These metrics are updated daily.
Hamilton County
Cases
210,594
Hospitalizations
6,579
Deaths
2,098
Clermont County
Cases
57,076
Hospitalizations
1,604
Deaths
566
Brown County
Cases
12,175
Hospitalizations
112
Deaths
186
Butler County
Cases
102,085
Hospitalizations
3,413
Deaths
1,176
Warren County
Cases
64,332
Hospitalizations
1,382
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