Connecticut AFL-CIO

06/09/2026

You're invited to a special screening of the powerful documentary Without Shade, Without Rest!

This moving film examines the fight for heat protections for outdoor workers in Florida in the wake of the hottest year on record, where rising temperatures collide with new political restrictions.

Following the screening, there will be an opportunity to share thoughts. Discussion will focus on what heat protections exist for workers in Connecticut and what more needs to be done.

We will have dinner so come early to grab some food and talk with your fellow union siblings.

05/11/2026

Today, Gov. Lamont signed one of the most significant advancements for workers' rights in recent memory!

House Bill 5003 ensures FAIRNESS IN OUR PAYCHECKS:

✅ Establishes a minimum wage for cannabis workers.

✅ Requires wage transparency in job postings, so workers know their value before they even walk in the door.

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This bill ensures SECURITY IN THE WORKPLACE:

✅ Protects jobs by requiring new contractors to retain existing service workers for at least 90 days.

✅ Expands workers' compensation to include "portal-to-portal" coverage for our public works employees

✅ Provides enhanced benefits for educators and healthcare workers who are assaulted on the job.

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And this bill HONORS THOSE WHO SERVE our communities:

✅ Waives tuition at CT State and CSCU for our police, firefighters, and EMS personnel.

✅ Ensures that the families of Correction Officers and Investigators killed in the line of duty receive the benefits they deserve through the Fallen Hero Fund.

05/01/2026

Today is May Day, also known as International Workers' Day.

May Day wasn't handed to us by benevolent employers. It was won in the streets of Chicago in 1886.

Just like today, these workers were tired of being treated like disposable parts in a machine and they demanded something simple but revolutionary:

"Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, and eight hours for what we will."

They faced down violence for that dream.

Because they stood together, we have:

✅ weekends

✅ child labor laws

✅ safety standards at work

The history of May Day reminds us that nothing is given.

Everything is won through collective action and worker solidarity.

Solidarity today, solidarity tomorrow, and solidarity forever!

04/28/2026

On Workers Memorial Day, we honor honor workers who have died or suffered illness or injuries on the job.

In Connecticut, 41 workers lost their lives to work-related injuries in 2024, the latest data available. An additional 34,600 workers suffered on-the-job injuries or illnesses.

This is unacceptable.

Let us remember the wise words of Mother Jones: 'Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living."

And that is exactly what we will do.

At this solemn event, we also recognized AFSCME Locals 387, 391, and 1565 for going above and beyond to protect workers' health and safety in DOC, and Sen. Julie Kushner received our Legislative Health & Safety Award for a lifetime of fighting for worker health and safety.

04/22/2026

This ceremony marks the 39th anniversary of the L'Ambiance Plaza collapse.

Due to faulty lift slab construction, 28 workers were crushed to death and 22 were injured.

Join us on April 23 at 11:30 AM to remember and pay tribute to the workers who died and those who were injured.

04/13/2026

Hair and Make-Up Artists employed by Distinct Artistry at ESPN have voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing with IATSE Local 798!

The twenty-seven Hair and Make-Up Artists are employed by Distinct Artistry to create, apply, and maintain the on-screen appearances of ESPN’s studio hosts, commentators, and guests at ESPN Headquarters in Bristol as well as at major sporting events, such as the NBA Finals.

This all-women workforce seeks to bargain for health insurance, retirement benefits, and workplace protections secured under a union contract.

04/03/2026

📣 We're hiring! 📣

The Connecticut AFL-CIO is seeking an experienced and strategic Political Director to lead our electoral efforts as we prepare for the 2026 elections!

Deadline to apply is April 24.

03/31/2026

Nearly a year ago, staff at Hearst Connecticut Media voted to form a union but management has been refusing to bargain.

Sign their petition and urge Hearst to come to the table!

Around the country, Hearst has been fighting its unionized staff who are standing up for quality local journalism. From California to Texas to New York and Connecticut, Hearst is using frivolous legal delays to union-bust its own workforce. In Connecticut, more than 100 workers at Hearst Connecticut...

03/27/2026

Observe Workers Memorial Day on April 28.

Join the unions of the AFL-CIO as we honor those who have been hurt or lost their lives on the job.

The situation is dire: every single day, more than 380 workers die and over 8,600 are injured or fall ill due to preventable hazards.

Yet job safety inspections are at an all-time low. As of 2025, the U.S. had the lowest number of OSHA inspectors and conducts fewer inspections than ever before.

This Workers Memorial Day, let’s stand together to "Hold the Line for Safe Jobs."

📅 Mark your calendar: April 28 at 12:00 PM at the Workers Memorial in Bushnell Park.

03/11/2026

Hat tip to our incredible team advocating for guardrails around the use of artificial intelligence!

We're grateful to the students in Yale Law School's Worker & Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic who are conducting research, writing amendments to strengthen the legislation, and advocating for workers' rights at the State Capitol!

AI is here to stay but without clear guidelines, it could become a tool for exploitation. We must act now to put guardrails in place that protect workers, preserve our rights, and ensure AI doesn't just fill the pockets of the billionaire class.