Devon Whitman of the AFL-CIO Field Department reports on a huge victory for domestic workers at the International Labor Organization (ILO) meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

Last night, following a week of intense negotiations, governments, employers and workers from across the globe reached agreement on the 19 articles which will make up the first international convention on domestic work at the 100th annual conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO). While the final vote of the ILO’s general body will take place on June 16, the victory last night marked a major achievement on the road to winning a strong international convention setting out the rights of domestic workers the world over.

A handful of states this year have introduced bills to raise their minimum wage. That’s generated the usual cries from business groups and the regular gang of lawmakers who fight darn near every piece of pro-worker legislation that comes along. 

Netroots Nation, the annual conference for online activists, is on next week, June 16-19, in Minneapolis. The union movement has a big presence there, as we seek to work more closely with our progressive allies in the netroots community. Here are some highlights:

• AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler is taking part in a June 17 lunch panel to talk about breaking down economic barriers that keep many Americans from moving ahead, especially young people, women and communities of color. She is joined by communications consultant Anat Shenker-Osorio and hip-hop artist Rha Goddess.

Hundreds of New Hampshire small businesses are taking part in a 36-hour tweet-a-thon, telling the New Hampshire Legislature, especially House Speaker Bill O’Brien, to keep the Granite State open for business and stop playing political games with so-called right to work legislation.

This is a cross-post from the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO by Karen Hickey in AFL-CIO Field Communications.

Wisconsin nurses and health care workers took on Scott Walker and his legislative allies in the fight for quality health care this evening in Walkerville. In a mock boxing match, the people of Wisconsin continued to raise awareness for the need for first rate health care in Wisconsin.

Firefighters are everyday heroes, protecting and serving the public. But a group of Fire Fighters (IAFF) members in Worcester, Mass., have found a way to be heroes in their spare time by building ramps for people who need one.

This past weekend at the Central Florida Fairground near Orlando, more than 5,000 working people from across the state took part in the first Festival for Florida’s Future. Florida AFL-CIO Communications Director Joshua Anijar sends us this report.

Billed as a day of celebration and solidarity for activists after a tough legislative session that directly attacked the foundations of the middle class—including education, health care and law enforcement—Saturday’s Festival for Florida’s Future, combined some serious elements along with some well-deserved fun.

It’s the 10th anniversary of the Bush tax cut for millionaires, and some millionaires say enough is enough. They’ve bought enough boats, added enough wings to their mansions and put enough of their extra millions in the bank. It’s time to “Tax me” they say.

Here’s some good news on the trade front: U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk announced today that China has ended certain wind power equipment subsidies that gave its companies an unfair advantage in the global market.

This is a cross-post from the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO by Karen Hickey in AFL-CIO Field Communications.

The Raging Grannies kicked off the noon program in Walkerville today, Tuesday, June 7. Singing to a lively crowd, the elders harmonized to fight for health care for Wisconsin citizens. The group was joined by local health care workers holding an upside down Wisconsin flag because the state is in distress.