Former Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su recently convened a listening session in partnership with Honest Arizona, the Arizona AFL-CIO, and AFGE Local 2391 to bring attention to the real and lasting impacts of the Trump administration’s policies on working people in Arizona.
The May 20 session served as a platform to amplify worker voices, particularly those affected by budget cuts and policy rollbacks at the Department of Labor, with a specific focus on immigration-related challenges faced by workers in the state.
The event featured firsthand stories from workers who are directly impacted by changes in labor enforcement and protections. Attendees shared how reductions in Department of Labor resources have made it more difficult to hold employers accountable for wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and violations of child labor laws. The discussion also addressed the intersection of immigration status and worker vulnerability, emphasizing the critical need for strong worker protections regardless of background.
“One of the best parts of the job of acting U.S. Labor Secretary was being able to bring people together and make sure workers who’d been left out and left behind were heard. The worker listening session in Phoenix gave me a chance to do this again,” Su said.
“I also got to hear from public servants like Omar who never thought that protecting workers for a living would mean that one day he’d be fighting for his own rights as a federal employee. Thank you to everyone who testified and who refuses to be silenced or intimidated in the face of the Trump administration’s war on working people.”
Omar Algeciras, vice president of AFGE Local 2391 and a veteran federal employee, delivered a compelling speech underscoring the essential role federal workers play in safeguarding the rights of millions of Americans.
“To lawmakers, we need more than words of appreciation. We need funding, staffing, and laws that reflect the reality of today’s workforce. Stand with us, not just in rhetoric, but in action. Protect the agencies that protect working people,” he said. “To the public, know that we’re out here fighting for you. Every time we recover stolen wages, enforce child labor protections, or hold employers accountable, we’re standing up for your rights. Support us, speak up, and don’t let anyone dismantle the safety nets working families depend on.”
“And to my fellow federal employees, don’t stay silent even if they try to silence you,” he added. “We are not villains. We are the guardians of fairness, the defenders of the forgotten, and the backbone of public service. Let’s keep showing up, speaking out, and stay standing strong together.”
Algeciras also highlighted the increasing challenges faced by federal workers due to staffing shortages, shrinking budgets, and political interference that undermine the Department’s ability to enforce labor laws effectively. He emphasized that despite these challenges, federal employees remain dedicated to their mission of protecting workers and ensuring fairness in the workplace.
The listening session concluded with a call to action, encouraging attendees and community members to engage in grassroots organizing and advocate for stronger support of the Department of Labor at the state and federal levels. Resources and guidance were shared to empower workers and allies in their efforts to hold policymakers accountable and preserve critical worker protections.
Local 2391 represents DOL workers in Alaska, Idaho, Hawaii, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, American Samoa, Guam, and Saipan.
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