Labor Action Week
Advancing the Future of Black Workers
When we work together, changes are made for the betterment of Black workers. When we advocate collectively, employment and advancement opportunities are available for Black people with equal pay, including benefits and clean jobs allowing for better health outcomes.
The NAACP has fought for the rights of Black workers for more than 114 years. We believe that Black workers have a right to earn a living wage with clean jobs that bridge the racial wealth divide. We deserve full rights, protection, and advancement in our work!
The Labor Movement: Advancing Opportunities for Black Americans
On November 1, 2022, Maximus workers held the largest strike of non-union workers in the South in recent history, when 500 workers struck for better pay, protections from abusive callers, and downtime between calls to provide relief from the crushing pace of back-to-back calls. In response, their employer has offered no meaningful improvements and even chose to lay off more than 700 workers with less than two weeks' notice right after Mother's Day this Spring.
It is time that we prioritize these frontline workers. Investigate Maximus' labor practices to ensure that we hold this contractor accountable to the highest standards of justice.
The Future of Black Workers means that employment and advancement opportunities are available for Black people with equal pay. Plus, benefits and clean jobs allow for better health outcomes.
- Keisha Deonarine, Director, Opportunity, Race, and Justice
The Economic and Policy Fight in Labor
Weakened labor movement leads to rising economic inequality. Join us in a discussion on Thursday, September 7 at 7 PM ET identifying the policies labor leaders should be watching and advocating for and how these will impact the economy in the days to come.
Black Women: Leading in Unity
Black women are the backbone of where they live, work, play, and pray. View what it means to be a Black woman in the Union space.
Black Women in Union Leadership
Yvonne Wheeler
Yvonne Wheeler is the President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.
Yvonne Taylor Brooks
Yvonne Taylor Brooks is the President of the Georgia AFL-CIO.
April Sims
April Sims is the President of the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO.
Union leadership has traditionally been a man's world. Women are the backbone of policy, economic security and saving our democracy, and it is timely to have women leading in the workforce space.
- Robin Williams, Chairwoman, NAACP Labor CommitteeLive from the Lines - Thriving Together to Make Change
Fair Wages, Affordable Healthcare, and Respect
Federal call center workers who answer calls for Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act have been fighting for fair wages, affordable healthcare, respect, and a voice on the job at the multi-billion dollar contractor, Maximus. These workers have been organizing with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), led by President Claude Cummings, a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. Support Call Center Workers United by signing on to their letter to Secretary Xavier Becerra of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Fix Air Travel and Support Airport Service Workers
Right now congress is deciding if airport service workers nationwide, who help keep our airports safe, clean, and accessible, will have a shot at a better life with fair wages, healthcare, and paid time off — or if they will be left to struggle on wages that have barely improved in 20 years. Call 646-663-5746 to tell your Senator to commit to including the Good Jobs for Good Airports standards in FAA reauthorization.
Fair Share and Increased Compensation
For more than 50 days, SAG-AFTRA members have been on strike against major studios and streamers that produce film, television and streaming content, including Amazon/MGM, Apple, NBCUniversal, Disney/ABC/Fox, Netflix, Paramount/CBS, Sony and Warner Brothers. We are fighting to ensure our members receive their fair share of streaming revenues, increased compensation to keep pace with inflation, and an agreement that will give actors informed consent and fair pay when A.I. creates digital replicas of their performance, voice, and likeness. To join the fight, come out to our events, rallies, and picket lines, or show your support on social media. Visit sagaftrastrike.org for more information, event schedules, and a social media toolkit.
Advocating for Black Workerrs
Protection of Cannabis Workers
The NAACP calls for the legalization and de-scheduling of cannabis at the federal level and reaffirms its past resolutions on cannabis, the cannabis industries, decriminalization, and equity, and expresses an intent to advocate for federal, state, and local medical and adult-use cannabis legislation.
Trade and Labor
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People National office invest and encourage Units to work to engage with and hold accountable their respective Building Trades Unions in order to resolve any exclusion of Black workers and other racial and ethnic minorities from entering the trades, successfully completing apprenticeship programs and joining the various leadership ranks of the individual unions.
Protection for Whistleblowers
The NAACP reaffirms its support for more protection of whistleblowers at the federal, state and local government levels, the need for more independent oversight to prevent retaliatory behaviors in organizations, and the development of procedures to promote disclosure of misconduct against whistleblowers.