‘We Might as Well Do It Ourselves’: The Working People Weekly List

Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.

‘Standing Up for Our Workers’: U.S. Unions Raise Thousands for Victims of ICE Crackdown: “Labor unions are fundraising for workers affected by the surge of immigration enforcement across the U.S., providing legal and financial support to members affected by the brutal crackdown. Nearly $20,000 was raised for a homecare worker, Maria, a member of Service Employees International Union Local 503 in Salem, Oregon, and a U.S. citizen who was attacked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on 29 January.”

DePaul University Labor Education Center Trains Union Leaders: “DePaul University’s Labor Education Center (LEC), led by Director Jessica Cook-Qurayshi, is strengthening the labor movement through practical training for union members, tailored workshops for local unions and a growing set of youth programs that introduce collective bargaining, workplace rights and organizing skills to high school and college students. In today’s conversation on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Cook-Qurayshi described how the LEC operates as a small, self-funded unit with an outsized footprint across Chicagoland and beyond, delivering leadership certificates, advanced bargaining education and intergenerational programming designed to build long-term worker power.”

AFGE Seeks Emergency Order to Block Further FEMA Cuts: “A group of unions and nonprofits is seeking an emergency court order to stop the Federal Emergency Management Agency from restarting staff layoffs. Lawyers for the American Federation of Government Employees and other plaintiffs requested a preliminary injunction today to prohibit FEMA from continuing cuts that had started in early 2026, but were temporarily paused due to a damaging winter storm that swept through the United States in late January. The latest court action comes after AFGE and the other plaintiffs in the case first challenged the FEMA cuts in court late last month as part of a broader lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s governmentwide workforce cuts. AFGE argues the FEMA cuts violate the law and inhibit the ability of the agency to respond to disasters.”

Kentucky Unions Push Lawmakers to Repeal Right-to-Work Law: “Kentucky labor unions are mobilizing their members as they prepare to lobby state lawmakers to repeal the state's right-to-work law, which they say has weakened unions and workers' rights. ‘It cut the legs out from under working families,’ Representative Adrielle Camuel said of Kentucky's right-to-work law.”

America Isn’t Ready for What AI Will Do to Jobs: “Shuler told me that the AFL-CIO will keep pressing national elected officials for a worker-focused AI agenda, but that ‘this game is not gonna be played at the federal level as much as it will be at the state level.’ More than 1,000 AI bills are bubbling up in statehouses. Of course, the AI money will be there, too; Leading the Future has already announced plans to focus its efforts on New York, California, Illinois, and Ohio.”

Taylor Rehmet Shows Working-Class Politics Can Win Everywhere: “‘No one is coming to save labor, so we might as well do it ourselves,’ said Taylor Rehmet in a video shared by the Texas AFL-CIO. This one sentence sums up Rehmet’s campaign for state senate in Texas’s Ninth District, which covers a large swath of Fort Worth and its northern suburbs. Rehmet, a union machinist and the president of his local, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 776B, ditched the Democratic Party’s typical political playbook to laser-focus on material issues affecting all working-class people.”

IAFF-Backed Railway Safety Act Aims to Expand HazMat Training: “General President Edward Kelly commented: ‘Millions of Americans live and work along HazMat railways. We need to protect them. And, ultimately, we need to protect every firefighter who responds to a derailment.’ The remarks came at a press conference marking the third anniversary of the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Speakers included bill co-leads Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa.; John Garamendi, D-Calif.; and Mike Rulli, R-Ohio, along with co-sponsor Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.; House Rail Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.; Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo; Altoona Mayor Matt Pacifico. Alongside labor leaders, including Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen President Mike Baldwin and Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO President Greg Regan.”

Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 02/13/2026 - 11:22

Black History Month Profiles: Yasmine Lee

For Black History Month, we're taking a look at a group of leaders who are currently actively making Black history across the labor movement. Check back daily for a new profile and meet some of the people working to improve not only their community, but also to improve conditions for working people across the country. Today's profile is Yasmine Lee of the Bricklayers (BAC).

“Bricklayers and Allied Crafts Local 2 in Michigan represents everything Black History Month stands for—unity, resilience, and progress,” said member Yasmine Lee. “My union has supported me not only as a worker, but as a person, ensuring fair wages, respect, and opportunity. I am proud to be part of a legacy that continues to open doors and create change.”

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 02/17/2026 - 09:57

Tags: Black History Month