Thanksgiving is a good time to give thanks for union members who engage in good works throughout the year. In Seattle, IronworkersLocal 86 members have been putting smiles on the faces of some very sick children since they began painting young patients’ names and messages on the beams of a new wing at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

The Ironworkers today send us this video of their action at the South Capitol Street Bridge in Washington D. C., with the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) during last week’s AFL-CIO’s Infrastructure Investment Day of Action. The actions highlighted dozens of bridges across the nation in desperate need of repair and called on Congress to put millions of Americans back to work rebuilding the nation’s crumbling bridges and roads.

Marie Smith, AFL-CIO Community Services liaison in Omaha, Neb., sends us this report.

When the switch was thrown earlier this month on a 75-foot tall, steel-framed “Tree of Lights” in downtown Omaha, volunteers of Ironworkers Local 21 had their first chance to see their handiwork sparkle.

Jay Hurley, president of the New England Ironworkers District Council, says he wanted to prove a point to those who claim that the recent focus on the deteriorating conditions of the nation’s bridges and infrastructure is overblown.

AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer sends us this report.

More than 90 children received school supply bags through donations of union members in 10 locals from Saginaw County, Mich. AFL-CIO/Michigan Community Services liaison Steven Lamb reports that earlier this month, the unions gave the school supply bags to the YMCA, First Ward Community Center, Salvation Army and the Neighborhood House to distribute to area school children.

In this op-ed, Charles Wowkanech and Laurel Brennan, president and secretary-treasurer, respectively, of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO describe the state federation’s 50 years of making a difference.

Fifty years ago today, George Meany, president of the AFL-CIO, symbolically “tied the knot” linking the hands of AFL leader Vincent Murphy and CIO chief Joel Jacobson.

AFL-CIO communications staffer Nora Frederickson sends us this report from New Hampshire.

Following weeks of speculation, William O’Brien, the speaker of the New Hampshire state House, failed to call a vote to override Democratic Gov. John Lynch’s veto of a so-called right to work legislation in a special session today after O’Brien realized he may not have the votes needed to override the veto. After Lynch vetoed H.B. 474 in May, O’Brien has scrambled to catch opponents of the “right to work” for less law off guard, holding unscheduled votes, changing the agendas on session days and bombarding session days with roll-call votes in order to ensure that he can push through an override of the veto.

AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer describes union volunteer efforts to stretch the limited dollars of Sacramento area nonprofit organizations.

Every year local nonprofit agencies spend thousands of dollars on toilet paper for families in need. That’s money they could be spending on much-needed services that benefit the community. Since 2009, the Sacramento Central Labor Council and the local United Way have partnered to create Toilet Paper Drives to help local nonprofit partners offset costs and redirect the money saved into vital programs.

The voice of America’s workers and middle class rang out loud and clear at the 7th Annual American Rights at Work (ARAW) Awards Celebration earlier this week in Washington, D.C.

AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer reminds us that residents in the Midwest are still struggling with flood waters—and union members are there to assist them.

As the waters of the Missouri River continue to rise, union members are mobilizing to help and preserve labor landmarks along the river’s bank.