While the House GOP-engineered government shutdown will have devastating effects on our nation's veterans, women with children and federal workers furloughed without pay, America's working families visiting the U.S. capital were locked out of the national parks and monuments paid for by their hard-earned tax dollars. 

AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. today issued the following statement on the House Republican-forced government shutdown:

The moment we have been dreading has arrived. The House of Representatives has shut down the federal government, locking out 800,000 federal employees who want to go to work to support the American people.

If you want your Halloween to be all treats and no tricks, make sure all your candy is union-made in America. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor's resource site, Labor 411, has an extensive list of union-made candies. Here are some highlights, featuring sweets made by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW):

A looming federal government shutdown is slated to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka released the following statement on the House Republicans' hostage taking:

As of today, it is clear that the Republican Party and the Tea Party have become one and the same when it comes to federal fiscal policy. House Republicans have decided that they will shut down critical public services, stiff public servants, hold America’s credit rating hostage and kill off jobs because they are upset that President Obama decisively defeated Mitt Romney last November. That some Republicans are participating in this fiasco against their better judgment does not obscure their responsibility. All responsible voices must speak and act against policy making by hostage taking.

The University of Maryland (UMD), National Labor College and the AFL-CIO will announce tomorrow a landmark gift to the UMD Libraries collection. This gift will be the largest of its kind to the university. 

Three AFL-CIO community service liaisons boxed up 10,400 pounds of sweet potatoes at the Second Harvest Food Bank in San Mateo, Calif., during the United Way Bay Area's Week of Caring.

SAG-AFTRA National President Ken Howard officially opened the union's national convention yesterday, in the most important governance event since the merger of SAG and AFTRA. “What we have created today is an overwhelming and moving tribute to the power of this union to improve the lives of its members all across the country,” he said. “When we work together, we are a powerful voice. When we work together, we are proud and strong. When we work together, we are an unstoppable force that diligently and selflessly works to empower and strengthen the union and our fellow members. We are taking the first, early steps on a remarkable journey. There will only ever be one first SAG-AFTRA convention.”

After seven years of organizing and two vetoes, California domestic workers finally got some good news today as Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights into law. 

Harry Lombardo, 64, was elected international president of the Transport Workers (TWU) at the union's convention in Las Vegas this week. 

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Lombardo replaced James C. Little, who headed the union since 2006.

This week, the Transport Workers (TWU) union is hosting its 24th Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas.

Check out all the video highlights from the TWU Convention here, and watch the video in the post from TWU about its wins for workers in recent years.