NORTH SHORE
AFL-CIO “IT’S BETTER IN A UNION” BUS TOUR ROCKS AND ROLLS INTO CLEVELAND, FEATURING DROPKICK MURPHYS
On Saturday, August 10, the National AFL-CIO’ s “It’ s Better in a Union” Bus
Tour rolled into Cleveland with a rally at Heritage Park in the Flats. More than 300 union members and supporters gathered to celebrate solidarity, hear from national and local labor leaders, and enjoy a performance from the Dropkick Murphys
The afternoon kicked off with Brute Squad, a union-member punk cover band led by North Shore
Executive Board member and Utility Workers Local G-555’ s Cleveland District Chairman Hector Alvarado. The band, whose members also belong to Musicians Local 4, set the tone with a high-energy performance that brought union pride to the stage North Shore AFL-CIO President and AFSCME Ohio Council 8 Regional Director Marquez Brown emceed the event, keeping the crowd fired up and focused on the message: when workers stick together, they win. Executive Secretary Brian Pearson welcomed the crowd with a call to action: “Despite all the attacks from Washington, from Columbus, and from anti-union forces Cleveland’ s labor movement is organizing, it’ s mobilizing, and it’ s building real power power that delivers for working people ” He closed with a rallying cry that echoed across the Flats: “Northeast Ohio is Union Country and Cleveland is a union town ”
The rally featured powerful speeches from UAW President Shawn Fain, Bricklayers President Tim
Driscoll, Utility Workers President James Slevin, and Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper. Gulf War veteran Tim Hauser drew connections between service and solidarity, while University Hospitals doctors shared their fight to unionize after being fired for organizing. “We have been organizing our fellow physicians into a union to strengthen the voice of frontline health care workers, including
restore collective bargaining rights for federal workers. The afternoon closed with the legendary Dropkick Murphys, who are longtime union supporters and no strangers to standing with working people in Ohio and across the country. Before heading to their evening show with Bad Religion at Jacob’ s Pavilion, they brought their anthems of working-class pride to the rally stage. Their music had the crowd
“Northeast Ohio is Union Country — and Cleveland is a union town.”
– Brian Pearson, Executive Secretary
doctors, so that we can stand up for our patients’ right to the best quality care and we were just fired for doing so, ” said Dr Lauren Beene “We will not be silenced ”
AFGE District Legislative and Political Organizer Steve Campisi added a call to action, urging participants to press lawmakers to
singing, dancing, and celebrating together proving once again that music and solidarity go hand in hand. Cleveland’ s stop on the national tour sent a clear message to the country: when workers fight together, stand together, and win together it’ s better in a union.
ZE CLE: FEDERATION LAUNCHES NEW ORGANIZING
ration proudly launched a nizing initiative this month, y a Solidarity Grant from the AFL-CIO This effort carries Resolution 1: Building Worker
Increase the Pace and Scale of ng, adopted at the 2022 on, which calls on the labor nt to make the promise of embership real for zed workers. y, we convened our first ng Roundtable, bringing local leaders and strategists to egional approach. The goal is te unions across industries, urces, and develop a ted strategy that ensures Cleveland is ready to meet the
or highlight was hosting the Organizing Institute (OI) in d for the first time in two More than 40 organizers Northeast Ohio and others tates took part in intensive on the fundamentals of power: one-on-one tions, developing workplace mapping worksites, and ssue-driven campaigns. rainers from across the nt prepared the next generation to go on the offensive
CANDIDATE EDUCATION AND POLICY BRIEFING HITS MILESTONE
This summer, our Federation reached a major milestone by leading seven Candidate Briefings that engaged over 100 candidates from Greater Cleveland. For the first time, attendance at these sessions was required for non-judicial candidates seeking the Federation’s endorsement an important step to ensure candidates understand the priorities of working people and the importance of standing with unions.
The briefings offered candidates an inside look at the labor movement and the vital role unions play in shaping wages, workplace safety, public services, and economic equity. Participants heard directly from union leaders about the challenges they face, the policies that strengthen working families, and the central role of collective bargaining and labor standards.
Instructors included Political Director Rebecca Gorski, Cara McGregor of the Berea Teachers, Michael Dancy of UFCW Local 880, David Quolke of the Cleveland Teachers, Jerry Miluk from the OAPFF, Steve Campisi from AFGE, Federation President Marquez Brown, and Executive Secretary Brian Pearson Together, they equipped candidates with the knowledge and tools to earn the trust of union members and become credible, pro-union leaders.
A special thank-you to UFCW Local 880 for opening their doors and helping make these sessions possible
To connect directly with workers, . we launched unionizecle.org a onestop hub for union jobs, apprenticeships, and organizing support. Workers can connect with union organizers in their industries, ensuring no one has to take this journey alone. With new resources, training, and tools, the North Shore AFL-CIO is making it clear: we are building power, growing the movement, and ensuring every worker in Greater Cleveland has the opportunity to join a union
SUMMER OF SOLIDARITY: RALLYING ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO
From July through September, the North Shore AFL-CIO led and supported key worker mobilizations across Greater Cleveland, demonstrating our strength and union solidarity.
In June, we hosted the “No Budget for Billionaires” virtual town hall, followed by a July 1 press conference and rally with unions, community allies, and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, opposing the federal budget That action included handdelivering testimonials to Senator Moreno and Husted.
On July 9, SEIU Local 1 security officers launched their first-ever contract campaign downtown with a press conference at Playhouse Square. They are demanding fair pay, respect, and protections for over 200 workers across Cleveland’ s busiest commercial and cultural districts.
Concerned UH Physicians rallied twice on July 11 outside UH’ s Shaker
Heights offices and on July 31 at UH
Cleveland Medical Center calling for the reinstatement of two fired pediatricians and the right to form a union
On September 18, staff at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, who formed a union last year, held a spirited picket demanding
management bargain in good faith
Meanwhile, Teamsters Local 507 continue their nationwide Airgas strike, demanding respect, safety, and fair contracts. A picket line continues in Valley View and stretches to 15 other sites nationwide, showing collective determination. These mobilizations prove Cleveland’ s unions are united, resilient, and ready to fight for dignity, safety, justice, and fairness on the job.
UNION-BACKED CANDIDATES WIN PRIMARY, ADVANCE TO NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION
The Federation is proud to celebrate the success of our endorsed candidates in the September 9 primary elections Every candidate we supported advanced to the November 4 general election, including Cleveland City Council candidates Rebecca Maurer (Ward 5), Stephanie Howse-Jones (Ward 8), Kevin Conwell (Ward 9), and Danny Kelly (Ward 12) In Cleveland Heights, Davida Russell will also move forward
Danny Kelly, a member of Laborers Local 310, and Davida Russell, a member of OAPSE and the North Shore Executive Board, bring vital union experience and a strong pro-worker perspective to their and a strong pro-worker perspective to their campaigns
Our Federation backed these candidates with financial contributions, mailings, digital ads, canvassing, literature drops, phone banking, and robocalls showcasing the full strength of organized labor in local politics.
These results highlight the deep connections our candidates have to their communities and underscore the critical role of unions in shaping local leadership As the November election approaches, the North Shore AFL-CIO will continue to stand behind pro-worker candidates who fight for labor rights, workplace protections, and economic equity
REI UNION CLEVELAND JOINS LABOR FEDERATION
In July, the North Shore AFL-CIO proudly welcomed REI Union Cleveland into our Federation. Workers at the Orange store voted overwhelmingly to unionize with RWDSU in March 2023, part of a growing national movement of REI employees demanding fair pay, job security, and a stronger voice at work
More than two years later, management continues to stall, and these workers remain without a first contract. The Federation has organized multiple actions in support of their organizing and bargaining effort, including hand-delivering a letter to management signed by members of the State Legislature
Their affiliation with the Federation reflects both their determination and our shared commitment to building power so every worker can achieve dignity, fairness, and respect on the job.
LABOR DAY 2025: CELEBRATING WORKERS, BUILDING POWER!
This year’s Labor Day was our biggest yet part of a nationwide week of more than 1,000 celebrations, marches, trainings, and rallies that lifted up the power of working people. From coast to coast, unions reclaimed Labor Day as our own, reminding the nation that we make America work for working people not billionaires and CEOs
Here in Greater Cleveland, we marked the holiday with a series of events that showed the strength of our movement On Tuesday, we stood with Mayor Justin M. Bibb, City Council President Blaine A. Griffin, Councilman Danny Kelly, and the Fair Wage Employment Board outside Cleveland’s historic Public Auditorium to celebrate pro-worker legislation passed in recent years. Together, we called for strong enforcement of fair wage laws because Cleveland must be a city that truly values its workers.
On Thursday, we hosted our It’s Better in a Union Youth Art Show and Open House at the Parma-Snow Library Young artists from union households shared their vision of solidarity through powerful artwork, reminding us that the future of the labor movement is bright Each participant received a gift card and a union-themed book courtesy of the Federation and the Cleveland Teachers Union.
On Sunday, Labor Sunday, we joined local congregations to lift up the shared values of faith and labor: fairness, dignity, and economic justice. Executive Secretary Brian Pearson spoke at East View United Church of Christ in Shaker Heights, while Board Member David Sheagley brought the message to Old South Church UCC and South Euclid UCC calling us to walk together in this mission
Finally, on Labor Day, hundreds of union members, families, and allies marched in the 11th Congressional District Labor Day Parade Our delegation carried banners, raised voices, and represented dozens of unions across the region. The parade wasn’t just a celebration it was a show of unity and power, proving that when working people stand shoulder to shoulder, we are unstoppable.
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