Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Steven Tolman released the following statement following the election of Congressman Ed Markey to the U.S. Senate (see statement after the jump).

North Carolina State AFL-CIO President James Andrews says he chose the act of civil disobedience that led to his arrest and the arrests of 120 others yesterday at the state Capitol in Raleigh, N.C., because:

I stand in opposition to the immoral acts taken against the people of North Carolina by those who claim to govern in their name.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) vetoed a paycheck deception bill, saying the bill targeted a single group of employees and would have placed an undue burden on them. The legislation would've required that employees provide, on an annual basis, a written authorization for both withholding of union dues and for the authorization of the use of that money for political purposes.

On Saturday, June 29, the Utah AFL-CIO will be hosting Utah Unions and You, a great event bringing together local labor and community members to explain to the general public what unions are, how they affect all working people and how to become part of the union movement. Union members will be grilling up free food and sharing information about union apprenticeship programs and community service.

It's the hardest thing to tell a 10-year-old your mother "isn't coming home tonight, or the next day, or the next day," says Eduardo, a worker at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas whose wife was deported. Watch this new video from the Nevada State AFL-CIO telling Eduardo's story and why he supports a commonsense immigration process that keeps families together. 

If you’re in or anywhere near Raleigh, N.C., the North Carolina State AFL-CIO urges you to join Moral Monday on June 24 to let Republican state legislators know what you think of their assault on working families.

Moral Mondays began in late April and have been growing, standing up to the legislature’s unemployment benefit cuts, higher taxes for the poor and working families, rejecting federal funds for Medicaid expansion and attacks on public schools and voting rights.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has signed legislation that prevents local governments in the state from passing ordinances requiring businesses to provide paid sick days to their employees. The bill was supported by business interests, including the the American Legislative Exchange Council, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Walt Disney World and Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

This week, a California worker center that organizes domestic workers and immigrant women, Mujeres Unidas y Activas, affiliated with the San Francisco Labor Council as part of a growing partnership effort by the labor movement and the larger worker rights’ movement to strengthen advocacy and mobilization efforts for day laborers, domestic workers and all working people.

On June 15, hundreds of working families from Indiana, Michigan and Ohio will come together for the Middle Class Survival Rally in Monroe, Mich. The goal of the rally is to educate people about the ongoing attacks on working families in the United States.

Early this morning an explosion and fire occurred at the Williams Olefins chemical plant in Geismar, La., the local news reported. 

At least 73 people are reported injured and person was killed, according to ABC News. 

Fire, ambulance and rescue teams are at the scene. 

More details to follow.