The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since July 24, 2009, and tomorrow, in a national day of action in more than 30 cities across the country, a broad coalition of labor, faith, civil rights, community and policy activists will call on Congress to raise the minimum wage.

Click here to sign our petition asking Congress to raise the minimum wage.

AFT’s just-launched “Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education” initiative aims to ensure that all children have access to services that meet their emotional, social and health needs.

AFT President Randi Weingarten told the nearly 3,000 educators in Washington, D.C., for AFT’s TEACH Conference that teachers are not here to protect the status quo in public education, but to build up and support public education for generations to come.

For generations, America's workers have labored and sacrificed to give their families a chance at a better life. Parents send their children to school, help them with their homework and strive to save so their children can attend the college of their dreams. Students, in turn, work toward their bachelor’s degree, intent on climbing the ladder of economic opportunity and graduating into a better lifestyle. 

House Democrats this week released the When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families. The overall goal of this economic agenda is to address the realities, disparities and opportunities for working women and families through effective policy and legislation.

The Senate today voted (54-46) to confirm Thomas E. Perez as labor secretary. His nomination had been threatened by a filibuster, but Republicans backed down this week as Democrats were preparing to change Senate rules to allow simple up or down majority votes on executive branch nominees.

Three months ago today in West, Texas, 30 tons of highly explosive ammonia nitrate—stored in wooden sheds without sprinkler systems and near other combustible material—caught fire, exploded and killed 14 people including 10 firefighters. The blast leveled the West Fertilizer Co., plant and demolished a good portion of the surrounding town.Yet ammonia nitrate is still regulated by the same “patchwork” of state and federal standards with “many holes."

Today the Senate in a 60-40 cloture vote ended debate on President Obama's Labor Secretary nominee Tom Perez. This means the nomination will move to a full Senate vote, which is expected tomorrow. 

With Senate Democrats on the verge of changing Senate rules to block filibusters on executive branch nominees, Senate Republicans yesterday relented on their obstruction tactics that have blocked votes on several of President Obama’s nominees for key Cabinet and agency posts, including the National Labor Relations Board. Says AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka:

Want some truth with those fries? Want to super size it? McDonald's this week is being mocked (rightfully so) for its nonsensical budget tool that assumes a person has two jobs (sure, who doesn't these days?), pays $20 a month for health care and $0 for heating. Don't rub your eyes, that's a big fat zero. Oh, and the budget also ignores food, child care, gas and other obvious necessities.

Come check out a sneak preview of the documentary film "Citizen Koch" at a free screening at noon, Friday, July 19, at the AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

The film by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin explores the impact that the unlimited campaign spending by wealthy donors like the Koch brothers and corporations that was unleashed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling had in the fight over workers’ rights in Wisconsin.