Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where fear of ICE has led to the cancellation of the Pittsburgh International Parade & Festival.
Out of Fear of ICE, Pittsburgh International Parade Cancelled
For the past two years, Pittsburgh has been hosting an International Parade, where immigrants from many nations march.
However, with Pittsburgh being placed on Trump’s list of “sanctuary jurisdictions,” many fear that the parade could be targeted by ICE. Thus, organizers decided to cancel it.
“Well, at first I thought it might be an overreaction, but given some hindsight, it’s like, would you invite a bunch of people to this kind of event that celebrates inclusivity and open Pittsburgh when they might be arrested?” Joseph Murphy, an immigration attorney, told WTAE.
$2,000 Fundraising Goal by 4th of July
Rather than do constant fundraising for specific needs, Payday is hoping to reduce our email fundraising and focus on major pulls. In the next couple of weeks, we have several pressing needs and want to raise $2,000.
We are hoping to install Outpost, which will help us attract more subscribers. My $462 healthcare premium is coming due as well as my rent. Finally, I am hoping to take a few days off for the Fourth of July.
Donate to help us raise $2,000 in the next 10 days. Please, if you can, sign up as one of our recurring donors.
UAW Investment Blunder Cost Union $80 Million
Last week, the UAW federal monitor’s report presented shocking details on how UAW President Shawn Fain had purged dissidents in his ranks. (See our story “UAW Prez Threatened to ‘Slit the Throats’ of Critics as He Pushed No-Bid Contracts with DC Firms”)
Now, an exclusive report, by Reuters, shows that an “investment blunder” by the UAW may have cost the union $80 million.
In 2023, the UAW’s executive board voted to liquidate $340 million in stocks from the UAW’s investment fund. The vote specified that the money would be reinvested back into the fund once the strike was over, but so far, it has not been reinvested.
According to an internal union analysis conducted in February of 2025, the union would have gained $80 million if the money had been reinvested in the stock market as per union policy.
It’s unclear why the money wasn’t reinvested in the fund. Under the UAW’s policy, the president of the UAW, its secretary-treasurer, and its three vice presidents make the investment decisions.
UAW’s secretary-treasurer, who was demoted by UAW President Shawn Fain after objecting to violations of the federal consent decree, has denied any wrongdoing on her part.
“We welcome the monitor’s review regarding investments, because we believe that any accusations against Margaret Mock are unfounded,” Mock’s lawyer Michael Nicholson told Reuters.
SEIU Michigan to Primary Michigan Democrat
Last week, Bernie Sanders and progressive Congresswoman Rashid Talib backed the primary campaign of state representative Donavan McKinney in his bid to unseat Congressman Shri Thanedar. A millionaire, Thanedar, has drawn criticism for being too close to corporate interests.
Now, SEIU has backed the primary challenge by McKinney against Thanedar.
“Donavan's bold leadership will help rewrite the rules to win an economy that actually works for Michigan families,” SEIU Michigan Director Beth Byrd said in a statement. “As an SEIU union member and political director, Donavan helped thousands of union members secure better wages and benefits. Donavan understands the struggles of working people, while far too many politicians are beholden to the billionaires and corporations who try to divide us.”
For more, check out the Detroit Metro News.
Myrtle Beach Tourism Industry Takes a Hit
During the summer months, Myrtle Beach is swamped by tourists, but doesn’t have enough local workers to staff the positions needed. Thus, they rely heavily on seasonal guest workers.
However, with Trump’s recent immigration crackdown and denial of visas, the tourism industry in Myrtle Beach is complaining that they can’t find enough workers.
“The small businesses, like the staffing companies and cleaning companies, they have suffered significant loss. Owners are even closing up their businesses and are looking for employment themselves, because they depend on the international workers during the peak seasons,” the owner of A&B Immigration Services told WBTW. “We noticed this year that a lot of the individuals, whether they’re J-1 and H-2B workers that are applying for the work visas overseas, that at the US embassies, there’s an uptick in denials.”
North Carolina AFL-CIO President Retires
Finally, North Carolina AFL-CIO President MaryBeth McMillian has retired after 30 years in the labor movement. In her retirement message, she highlighted some of the ways that the North Carolina AFL-CIO had grown under her watch:
We expanded support for union campaigns by hiring an organizing director and now a labor-community organizer. Our movement is growing and finally, we are seeing the investment and organizing we long advocated for in the South.
The state fed increased our social media presence and created an award-winning podcast series and traveling exhibit based on our state’s labor history. We now offer more training, including Advanced Labor School. We made our conventions and events more interactive to allow leaders to get to know each other and build solidarity across unions. And we launched a paid internship program to introduce young adults to the labor movement.
With your help, we found creative ways to support affiliated unions during the pandemic, and when Hurricanes Florence and Helene hit our state, we worked with the national AFL-CIO to provide relief funds to affected members.
For more, check out the website of the North Carolina AFL-CIO.
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- Oregon passes unemployment benefits for striking workers
- Dem Connecticut Governor vetoes unemployment benefits for striking workers
- Dem Maine Governor vetoes bill to expand farmworkers’ rights
- Safeway strike expands across Colorado as union demands better pay and staffing
- 15,000 Minnesota nurses holding strike authorization vote on Monday
- Finally, PBS to air Union documentary about Amazon Labor Union organizing
Alright folks, we’ll be back tomorrow. Keep sending tips, comments, and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
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Love & Solidarity,
Melk
