AFL-CIO Staff

Michael Hutton is a sports reporter for the Post-Tribune in Gary, Indiana, and a member of The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA) Local 34071. For Hutton and his co-workers, everything is now a COVID-19 story

NewsGuild-CWA member Andy N. didn’t think he was going to lose his job when he received the email for the “all staff” meeting. But that is exactly what happened. Dozens of journalists got laid off, including him, because of the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jennifer C. is an actress from New York and a member of the Actors' Equity Association. Her industry is 100% unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Broadway is closed for the indefinite future. Learn more about how dancers, singers and the rest of her community are affected during these dangerous times.

Michelle Simmons is a letter carrier who lives and works in Grand Island, Nebraska, and is a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). Grand Island is a COVID-19 hot spot with one of the highest density rates of contagion anywhere in the country. 

​​​​​​​She speaks here about what it feels like to be considered "essential."

Leaders of America's unions send a message of support and thanks to the union members and workers who are keeping our economy going and providing all of us with basic needs and essential services.

Kennita Jones is a roll mixer and has been working at Schmidt Baking Co. for 19 years. She is a member of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 68 in Baltimore. Like so many of America’s workers deemed essential, Kennita still leaves her family