The Label Letter is the official newsletter of the Union Label & Service Trades Department, AFL-CIO. It is published bimonthly and includes the Do Buy and official AFL-CIO Boycott Lists. Subscriptions are available to members only. With the exception of copyrighted material, permission to reprint is hereby granted, but credit to the source is appreciated.
Why Unions Are Surging in Popularity Despite a System Rigged Against Workers
For the first time in generations, unions are enjoying a powerful resurgence—across workplaces, industries, and demographics. From service workers to high-tech professionals, more Americans are turning to unions to win the stability and respect they’ve been denied for...
The Federal Minimum Wage Hasn’t Kept Up with Inflation. Companies are Using It to Their Advantage.
The United States is heading into 2026 with a federal minimum wage frozen at $7.25 an hour since July 2009—a wage so outdated that it no longer serves as a baseline for dignified work. Over the past 17 years, the costs of housing, food, transportation, and health care...
Fair Trade Isn’t the Same as Union Made — Workers Pay the Price for the Confusion
In recent years, ethical consumerism has gone mainstream. Shoppers are encouraged to look for labels like “fair trade,” “ethically sourced,” and “responsibly made” as a way to vote with their dollars. While these labels often reflect good intentions, there’s a...
What Local Unions Can Do Right Now to Push Back
Local unions have an essential role in fighting the Trump Administration’s reclassification of advanced degrees and the student-loan restrictions that come with it. While national unions mount federal lobbying and legal challenges, locals can drive grassroots...
Trump Administration Changes Put Women’s Degrees and Careers at Risk
A Direct Hit to the Care Economy The Trump Administration’s new student-loan rules strike at the heart of America’s care economy, reclassifying the advanced degrees held by nurses, educators, speech-language pathologists, social workers, physician assistants, and...
