Printer-Friendly Page
Building Coalitions
The Union’s Bridge to Diverse Communities
Forming alliances with diverse groups enhances the labor movement. We encourage our members, locals, and state affiliates to become involved with these allied organizations.
AFL-CIO Constituency Groups strengthen partnerships to improve the standard of living for all workers and their families. They promote the full participation of women and minorities in the union movement, and assure that unions hear and respond to the concerns of the communities they represent.
Coalition building that involves workers should not be limited to AFL-CIO affiliates. By becoming involved in the struggles of other workers’ rights groups we provide further opportunities to reach out to communities and other organizations that help gain support for labor and working families.
Union members have a moral obligation to stand up for others who are unable to stand up for themselves, to right wrongs, and to promote dignity and respect for all people. Several human rights organizations can assist you in this goal.
Unions have always encouraged relationships with the religious community to help build support for workers’ struggles. Civil rights leaders such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Joseph Lowery have walked picket lines with striking workers just as union members marched with them during civil and human rights demonstrations. APWU locals and state organizations can learn more about developing relationships with the religious community through the resources at faith-based groups or through the AFL-CIO.
ABOUT THE HUMAN RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
Susan M. Carney, Director
Telephone: (202) 842-4270
Fax: (202) 216-2634
There’s more to being a progressive union than achieving and enforcing a contract — and that’s where the Human Relations Department comes in. In order to be a progressive union, we must be responsive to our membership’s needs and diversity.
Our programs and benefits inspire members to participate in the union and give them a sense of inclusion, contribution, and ownership.
