Weekly Union Recap Week of Feb 28th


February 28, 2025

[click.actionnetwork.org]Black History Month Profile
As we close another Black History Month celebration, we would like to share another AFL-CIO profile of leaders actively making Black history across the labor movement. Read IFPTE Local 29 president Tryshanda Moton’s profile [click.actionnetwork.org].

IFPTE Federal Sector Update on Trump/Musk and DOGE Attacks on Federal WorkersWeek Ending Feb. 28Read IFPTE’s latest update [click.actionnetwork.org] on our fight against the illegal and unprecedented attacks by President Trump, the so-called DOGE, including Elon Musk and his associates, and larger Trump Administration, against federal workers and the agencies they work for. __________

Ford’s Victory: A Call to Action for Ontario’s Workers
n a decisive outcome, Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party have secured a third consecutive majority in Ontario’s snap election. This victory arrives amidst significant challenges, notably the looming 25% tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump, which poses a severe threat to Ontario’s manufacturing sector and the livelihoods of countless workers. Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org] __________

AALJ/IFPTE Judicial Council 1 Calls DOJ’s Threats to Eliminate Judges’ Protections from Arbitrary Removal Unlawful
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Chief of Staff, Chad Mizelle, threatened the independence of administrative law judges (ALJs) to render decisions without fear of removal or retaliation. The AALJ/IFPTE Judicial Council 1, representing nearly 1,000 federal administrative law judges, says the DOJ’s position is an overreach and not supported by long-established precedent. Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org] __________

Ahead of Vote on Budget Resolution, IFPTE Tells House of Representatives to Oppose Cuts to Federal Employee Benefits, Medicaid, and SNAP to Fund Tax Cuts for the Wealthiest
Before the House of Representatives voted to pass a Budget Resolution on Tuesday night on a party line vote, IFPTE sent lawmakers a letter outlining the union’s strong opposition to any cuts to federal employee health and retirement benefits, Medicaid, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org] __________

Unions in Federal Workers Alliance Tells Senate Appropriators to Defund Trump Administration’s Illegal and Unconstitutional Actions
The Federal Workers Alliance sent a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins and Vice Chair Patty Murray requesting the lawmakers include in the next government funding bill language to stop the illegal and unconstitutional actions of the Trump Administration that seek to dismantle federal agencies, politicized the civil service, and instigate a constitutional crisis by ignoring Congress’ authority. Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org] [click.actionnetwork.org]__________

Society of United Professionals Joins Toronto Labour Community for Lunar New Year Celebration
Members of the Society of United Professionals/IFPTE Local 160 (the Society) joined the Toronto labour community last Friday to celebrate Lunar New Year at a banquet hosted by the Toronto & York Region Labour Council’s Chinese Workers Network. Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org] [click.actionnetwork.org]__________

Shearon, Dugovich Join Washington State Rally in Support of Federal Workers, Against Elon Musk
Brothers Paul Shearon (retired IFPTE President) and Bill Dugovich (retired SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001 Communications Director), joined thousands of protestors this week in Washington State at Elon Musk-owned SpaceX facilities and federal buildings in support of federal workers. Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org] __________

Dominick D. Critelli, Jr. Scholarship Award is Open for Applications
The Dominick D. Critelli, Jr. Scholarship Award application/information is available here. IFPTE will award four college scholarships of $2,500 each to children or grandchildren of IFPTE members. Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org]

Union Plus – Student Success Sweepstakes
The Union Plus College Program is excited to launch the Student Success Sweepstakes for a chance to win fabulous prizes. Don’t miss your chance to win. Enter by March 10, 2025. ENTER NOW! [click.actionnetwork.org]

Weekly Recap February 21, 2025




IFPTE Federal Sector Update on Trump/Musk and DOGE Attacks on Federal WorkersWeek Ending Feb. 21
IFPTE’s executive officers and staff, along with our Union partners at the Federal Workers Alliance (FWA), continue to work in coalition on all fronts – Legal, Legislative, Grassroots, PR – to fight against the illegal and unprecedented attacks by President Trump, the so-called DOGE, including Elon Musk and his associates, and larger Trump Administration, against federal workers and the agencies they work for.    This update comes as IFPTE closes out its 2025 legislative conference, in which nearly 100 IFPTE Local leaders and members from across the United States and sectors, came together in Washington, DC this week to take our concerns to our elected lawmakers. Read IFPTE’s latest update… [click.actionnetwork.org]

IFPTE Responds to Unjust Firing of NAIJ/IFPTE Judicial Council 2 Members
Last Friday, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) fired 20 immigration judges, including 13 immigration judges represented by the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ/IFPTE Judicial Council 2). IFPTE President Biggs spoke to numerous news outlets, sharing why firing Immigration Judges “makes no sense.” Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org]
Bell Canada Announces Another Round of Job Cuts
Bell Canada has once again announced significant job reductions that will impact TEAM/IFPTE Local 161 members, as part of a broader workforce downsizing affecting 1,200 unionized positions across the country. This week, Bell introduced an enhanced voluntary termination package (VRTIP) aimed at eliminating between 68 and 71 TEAM positions. In total, approximately 100 unionized jobs in Manitoba will be lost in this round of cuts, disproportionately affecting TEAM members. Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org]
Local 3 Represented Workers in Philadelphia Responding to Trump Attacks by Signing Union Cards in Droves
Local 3 President Paul Dobias commented, “it is heartening to see so many Local 3 represented members supporting their Union during these trying times. It’s clear they understand it will be their Union, Local 3, IFPTE, and our larger movement, that will save our federal civil service from this deplorable attack we are currently experiencing. We will keep organizing and keep fighting.” Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org]
Senate Budget Bill Seeks to Pay for Tax Cuts for the Wealthy on the Backs of Working Families – IFPTE Weighs In
IFPTE sent a letter to Senate lawmakers this week urging them to reject cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the SNAP program, and slashing federal agencies, as a part of their soon-to-be considered budget resolution. In doing so, IFPTE wrote that “extending tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of working families…would stifle economic growth for years to come.” Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org]
Dominick D. Critelli, Jr. Scholarship Award is Open for Applications
The Dominick D. Critelli, Jr. Scholarship Award application/information is available here. IFPTE will award four college scholarships of $2,500 each to children or grandchildren of IFPTE members. Read more… [click.actionnetwork.org]
Union Plus – Student Success Sweepstakes
The Union Plus College Program is excited to launch the Student Success Sweepstakes for a chance to win fabulous prizes. Don’t miss your chance to win. Enter by March 10, 2025. ENTER NOW![click.actionnetwork.org]
SOLIDARITY ALERT – NO to Dismantling the U.S. Postal Service
Read a critical message from our Siblings at the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), representing hundreds of thousands of dedicated letter carriers who deliver our mail six days a week.

Book & Tool Award recipients 2022

Local 400 is happy to announce the 2022 Book & Tool Award recipients.

Richard Lucia of RIDEM

Charles Lucia

Terry Walsh of RIDOT Construction

Gianni Walsh Palombo

John Golato of RIDOT Materials

Jordan Golato

Sherry Paliotta RIDOT Materials

Kylie Paliotta

Tara Paliotta

Veronica Masson of RIDEM

Genevieve Masson

Spiros Fotopoulos of RIDOT Project Management

Alexia Fotopoulos

****Congratulations to all recipients****