Minneapolis, MN – Over 1000 union members, immigrant rights activists and supporters marched through Minneapolis’ Whittier neighborhood on Monday, February 16, to demand an end to ICE’s occupation of the city and for the defense of immigrant rights.

Marchers held dozens of banners with slogans like “ICE our now,” “Legalization for all,” and “Killer ICE off our streets.” The march began at Stewart Park, crossed a highway where the supportive honks of passing traffic temporarily drowned out the marchers’ chants, and ended at the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street, where Alex Pretti was murdered.

Pretti was shot repeatedly in the back while held down on the ground by masked federal agents agents, after stepping between the agents and a woman who they were attempting to pepper spray.

The march was headlined by the Minnesota AFL-CIO, and was endorsed by many local unions, including AFGE Local 3669, AFSCME Council 5 and Council 65, ATU Local 1005, IATSE Local 13, IAM District 77, IUPAT District Council 82, LiUNA Minnesota and North Dakota, Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Minnesota Nurses Association, NALC Branch 9, SEIU Locals 26 and 284, UFCW Locals 1189 and 663, and UNITE HERE Local 17. Many community organizations endorsed the event and turned out their membership to march as well, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations — MN (CAIR-MN), 50501 Minnesota, Reviving Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE), Women’s March Minnesota, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC).

Speakers were unanimous in driving home the message that ICE occupation of Minnesota has not ended. Manuel Pascual, a member of MIRAC, spoke to the crowd from the back of a truck as the marchers took the streets, saying, “Just days ago, federal officials announced the end of Operation Metro Surge. Let’s be clear — that did not happen because they suddenly found compassion. It happened because people across Minnesota organized, spoke out, marched, and refused to stay silent. It happened because immigrant communities and allies showed courage. It happened because resistance worked.”

However, Pascual continued to note that the community fight against ICE continues, and spoke to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s agreeing to “unprecedented” levels of state collaboration with ICE, without details of this agreement being made public. Pascual said, “What we are seeing now is not a victory lap from those in power. It is a shift in strategy. A quieter approach. Deals being made behind closed doors. Policies that risk embedding ICE deeper into our local systems — into our jails, into policing, into everyday encounters — where harm becomes less visible but no less real. We must say clearly: we will not be fooled.”

Organizers noted that a decreased ICE presence in Minnesota also does not mean that the battle against ICE has ended on a national scale, and that just as millions marched across the country in solidarity with Minnesota, Minnesota will march in solidarity with any future city to see a large-scale occupation by ICE.

When the march arrived at the site of Alex Pretti’s murder, organizers handed out flowers to attendees so they could lay them in tribute at his memorial. The crowd was asked to repeat these slogans after the emcee: “We have a duty to fight for our freedom! We have a duty to win! We have nothing to lose but our chains!”

MIRAC plans to take their demands for an end to ICE terror and for legalization for all directly to Governor Walz, with a rally outside the Minnesota Governor’s Residence at 1006 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #ImmigrantRights #Labor #AFLCIO #AFGE #AFSCME #ATU #IAM #MIRAC #CAIRMN #FRSO

Seminole, FL – On the morning of January 29, around 20 union members and community supporters rallied outside of Representative Anna Paulina Luna’s office in Seminole, Florida. The Florida AFL-CIO organized the event to demand justice and accountability for Alex Pretti, a Veterans Administration nurse and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union member who was murdered by Border Patrol in Minneapolis.

Carol White, the legislative political coordinator for AFGE Local 547, began the event by leading a moment of silence in honor of the memory of Alex Pretti. “AFGE calls for a full and transparent investigation into Alex’s killing, led by an independent third party. We also call for bipartisan Congressional oversight to uncover the truth, ensure accountability, and begin repairing the damage in public trust,” White shared.

The AFGE was joined by speakers from the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association (PCTA) and National Nurses United (NNU). Also in attendance were union members from the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA).

“Due process does not involve any government agency shooting people on the street who are practicing their civil rights,” said PCTA president Lee Bryant.

Standing outside Representative Luna’s office, the crowd chanted “Hey, Rep. Luna, read the room! Hey, Rep. Luna, shame on you!”

Serving Florida’s 13th Congressional District, Representative Luna has been a strong supporter of ICE and regularly stands in opposition to the movement for immigrants’ rights.

“I demand that Representative Luna use our tax dollars to fund healthcare and not ICE,” said Karena Jimenez, a registered nurse and member of National Nurses United.

The Tampa Bay Area isn’t slowing down anytime soon and will continue to demand justice for Alex Pretti and all victims of ICE violence this Friday night outside of the VA hospitals in Tampa and Saint Petersburg.

#SeminoleFL #FL #Labor #ImmigrantRights #AlexPretti #AFGE #NNU #APWU #AFACWA

Tampa, FL – Alrededor de 20 trabajadores del Departamento de Asuntos de Veteranos (VA, por sus siglas en inglés) y simpatizantes se manifestaron frente a la clínica del VA en Bruce B Downs Boulevard en Tampa temprano en la mañana del 4 de agosto. La manifestación fue organizada por la Federación Americana de Empleados Gubernamentales (AFGE) Local 547 y forma parte de una campaña nacional más amplia en contra de los continuos ataques a los trabajadores federales por parte de la administración Trump.

En febrero, después de la toma de posesión de Trump, el VA anunció que eliminaría 80,000 puestos de trabajo, equivalentes al 20% de la fuerza laboral del VA, como parte de los recortes impulsados por DOGE. Esto comenzó con el despido de los 2,400 empleados en periodo de prueba.

En marzo, Trump emitió una orden ejecutiva que eliminó los derechos de negociación colectiva para muchos trabajadores federales, incluidos los del VA, en lo que ha sido considerado el mayor ataque contra el movimiento obrero en décadas.

Aunque estas medidas han sido revertidas temporalmente por el sistema judicial, forman parte de un ataque continuo contra los trabajadores federales, y los trabajadores siguen en la lucha.

Los trabajadores estaban muy motivados en el piquete, coreando consignas como: “Cuando atacan al VA, ¿qué hacemos? ¡Defendernos y luchamos!” y solicitando apoyo de los vehículos que pasaban. Su ánimo se mantuvo alto gracias al récord de trabajadores que se han unido a la AFGE en respuesta a los ataques del gobierno de Trump.

#TampaFL #Labor #Trump #VA #AFGE

Tampa, FL – About 20 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) workers and supporters rallied at the VA clinic on Bruce B Downs Boulevard in Tampa early in the morning of August 4. The rally was put on by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 547 and is part of a larger nationwide campaign opposing ongoing attacks on federal workers by the Trump administration.

In February, after Trump was inaugurated, the VA announced it would be cutting 80,000 jobs, or 20% of the total VA workforce, as part of the DOGE-led cuts on services. This started with the firing of all 2400 probationary employees.

In March, Trump delivered an executive order stripping collective bargaining rights from many federal workers, including workers at the VA, in what has been called the greatest attack on the labor movement in decades.

While these have been reversed by the court system for now, they are part of an ongoing attack on federal workers, and workers are continuing the fight.

Workers were highly motivated at the picket, chanting “When the VA is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” and soliciting support from passing vehicles. Their spirits were buoyed by record numbers of workers joining the AFGE in light of the attacks from the Trump administration.

#TampaFL #FL #Labor #VA #AFGE #Trump #Feature

La Comisión Sindical de la Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad condena a Trump y a su cómplice Elon Musk por los crueles ataques contra los trabajadores federales.

Hasta ahora, decenas de miles de trabajadores federales han sido despedidos o suspendidos. Los despidos se han llevado a cabo de la manera más cruel posible. El número exacto no está claro debido al caos que ha acompañado este proceso. Correos electrónicos inesperados enviados tarde en la noche. Mensajes de texto diciéndoles a los trabajadores que recojan sus cosas y se vayan a casa. Y el presidente Trump usando las redes sociales para burlarse de quienes enfrentan esta situación. Nada de esto es razonable, ni bueno, ni aceptable.

Para quienes estamos activos en el movimiento obrero, este es un momento crítico, como el “canario en la mina”. Es una prueba que no podemos fallar. Es vital que todo el movimiento obrero se movilice en apoyo a los sindicatos de trabajadores federales, como la Federación Americana de Empleados del Gobierno (American Federation of Government Employees), y exigir que se respeten los contratos y que se reviertan los despidos. Para lograrlo, debemos exigir que nuestros sindicatos apoyen a los trabajadores federales. Líderes sindicales como el presidente de los Teamsters, Sean O'Brien, están equivocados al decir que debemos esperar a ver qué pasa.

En 1981, el presidente Reagan cambió el rumbo de las relaciones laborales en EE.UU. cuando despidió a 11,000 controladores aéreos en huelga. Hoy estamos ante un momento similar. Trump está amenazando con privatizar el servicio postal. Hay ataques contra la Junta Nacional de Relaciones del Trabajo (NLRB). Y por supuesto, decenas de miles de trabajadores federales no recibirán su pago esta semana. La complacencia no puede ser la orden del día.

Muchos de nosotros que somos sindicalistas activos tenemos amigos o conocidos que son miembros o líderes de sindicatos de trabajadores federales. Debemos instarlos a organizar protestas y tomar otras acciones. Esta es una preocupación de cada miembro de un sindicato, y debemos unirnos a cualquier resistencia contra estos ataques. Una herida a uno es una herida a todos. ¡El ataque contra los trabajadores federales puede, debe y será derrotado!

#Labor #FederalWorkers #AFGE #FRSO #OSCL #Statement

That contract protects approximately 47,000 Transportation Security Officers. The plaintiffs include the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFGE TSA Local 1121, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA).

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle, the lawsuit seeks to block this illegal action, which violates the constitutional rights of federal employees and undermines collective bargaining protections. The plaintiffs argue that Secretary Noem’s actions constitute unconstitutional retaliation against AFGE for exercising its First Amendment right to advocate on behalf of federal workers. They also argue that the administration’s actions also violate the Fifth Amendment by stripping TSA workers of vested property rights without due process.

The plaintiffs demand immediate injunctive relief to stop the administration from rescinding the existing contract, eliminating union representation, and stripping workers of their bargaining rights.

“The decision to eliminate collective bargaining rights for TSA is terrible for aviation security and everyone who depends on safe travel,” said Sara Nelson, president of AFA-CWA, representing 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines.

“This attack on our members is not just an attack on AFGE or transportation security officers. It’s an assault on the rights of every American worker,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #Labor #AFGE #TSA #CWA #AFACWA

Chicago, IL – Health care workers and veterans have been protesting at VA Hospitals across the country as President Donald Trump and his multibillionaire sidekick Elon Musk attempt to gut healthcare for veterans. Union members who work at VA Hospitals have been in the forefront of the fight to save veteran benefits.

VA hospitals were amongst the hardest hit by the firing of tens of thousands of federal workers. “We love our veterans,” Aimee Potter of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) told a February 26 rally outside the Jesse Brown VA Hospital in Chicago. “We are here to support them.”

U.S. military veterans have historically been given preference in hiring at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Despite this, Trump has already fired an estimated 6000 veterans in his first weeks in office. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced plans to cut 80,000 more jobs. Many of these jobs are held by veterans.

Pat Kearns is a registered nurse at the Iowa City VA and president of AFGE Local 2547. Appearing on the Fight Back! Radio podcast, Kearns noted, “Our patients are pretty fiercely loyal to us. Everybody at least has to give lip service, even in the Republican Party, to the fact that veterans deserve healthcare. And so I think it's death by a thousand cuts rather than one firing of half the employees in one fell swoop. The VA's been underfunded for a number of years. You don't have to kick it very hard to tip it.”

Workers and unions are not taking this lying down. Unions, including AFGE, have taken the Trump administration to court to block these illegal terminations. So far, many of the unions’ efforts have been successful.

Encouraged by the AFL-CIO, workers, including veterans, have been holding hearings to tell their stories. The Chicago Federation of Labor and the Jobs with Justice Workers Rights Board held such a hearing in Chicago, March 10, where VA social worker Denise Mercherson testified, ”The VA is the biggest employer of social workers in the country. We have 9.1 million veterans in the VA system. Are you aware of the number of homeless veterans? But we have closed the gap due not only to the social workers, but the VA healthcare system.”

The DOGE attack on the federal work force puts veterans, who make up 30% of the federal workforce serving in every department, directly in the crosshairs. But it is more than an attack on veterans, it is an attack on the working class.

Business and government’s all-out attack on unions over the last 50 years has reduced union membership in the private sector to 6.7% of the workforce. This is compared to a total union membership of 35% of the workforce in 1954. Currently half of all union members are in the public sector. Rather than rebuild worker power, Trump seeks to destroy it through attacks on the public sector workers and unions.

This was evident to Aimee Potter at the rally as she told the crowd, “We need solidarity and collective action. Democracy as we once knew it is no longer!”

Workers across the country will be joining immigrants and others under attack to march for justice on May Day, International Workers Day.

Richard Berg is the host of the Fight Back! Radio podcast. The current episode features President Pat Kearns of AFGE Local 2547

#ChicagoIL #IL #Labor #FederalWorkers #AFGE #Trump #Layoffs #Veterans #VA

The Labor Commission of Freedom Road Socialist Organization condemns Trump and his accomplice Elon Musk for the callous attacks on federal workers.

As it stands, tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired or laid off. The terminations have been carried out in the most callous way possible. The exact number is unclear because of the chaos that has accompanied the process. Unexpected late-night emails. Text messages telling workers to take their things and go home. And President Trump taking to social media to mock those facing hardship. Non