EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT

TWENTY-FIFTH

CONSTITUTIONAL

CONVENTION

2005

REWARDWORKRESPECTWORKERS Contents

President’s Report 1

Secretary-Treasurer’s Report 7

Executive Vice President’s Report 13

Executive Council Report 19 For Every Worker, a Voice 21 Reward Work, Respect Workers 29 Solidarity in Action 43 Strong Families, Strong Communities 55

Trade and Industrial Department Reports 65 Building and Construction Trades Department 67 Food and Allied Service Trades Department 73 Maritime Trades Department 77 Metal Trades Department 81 Department for Professional Employees 85 Transportation Trades Department 91 Union Label and Service Trades Department 99

“The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is an expression of the hopes and aspirations of the working people of America.

“We resolve to fulfill the yearning of the human spirit for liberty, justice and community; to advance individual and associational freedom; to vanquish oppression, privation and cruelty in all their forms; and to join with all persons, of whatever nationality or faith, who cherish the cause of democracy and the call of solidarity, to grace the planet with these achievements.

“We dedicate ourselves to improving the lives of working families, bringing fairness and dignity to the workplace and securing social equity in the nation.”

From the Preamble to the AFL-CIO Constitution

Report of the President TO THE CONVENTION

It is a crucial moment in the union movement, N THE 50 YEARS since the creation level that will strengthen us to win for a time for change Iof the AFL-CIO, much has changed— working families, now and in the future. but the values that guide America’s union at every level that movement have not. This Convention follows months of vigor- will strengthen us ous debate about what form those changes If anything, our commitment to improving should take. Debate and discussion are to win for working life for working families has grown, and our healthy and welcome—they prod us all families, now and experience and ability to do so have grown into finding the best in ourselves and our as well. ideas. In recent months, much of the in the future. debate has been about the state of the But the voice of working families is dimin- labor movement. Much of it has been ishing in our workplaces, our communities, constructive. Much of it critical. Some of it our government and the global economy. controversial. And some has divided and And the problems of workers and their diverted us from discussing what’s at stake families are urgent: Job quality is eroding, for the future of the union movement. wages are shrinking, retirement and health care security are increasingly out of reach Our job at this Convention, as leaders of and unbridled and unprincipled corporate the unions that represent 13 million hard- power threatens to make it more difficult working men and women, is to move for working families to achieve the beyond division, to make our decisions American dream. together, to move forward in solidarity and get about the business of building a better It is a crucial moment in the union future for working families. movement, a time for change at every

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 1 Winning for Working Families ent strategies: helping affiliated unions In November 2004, I asked every union, organize and engaging working people in constituency group and allied organization deeper, broader, ongoing mobilization to to share their ideas and proposals about win legislative and political gains that build how we should strengthen the union a strong future for working families. Much movement for the future. In response, of the recent debate about the future of we received 23 extensive proposals from the union movement has created a false national unions, 40 from state federations dichotomy that pits organizing against and central labor councils, four from political and legislative action. The choice AFL-CIO trade departments, five from facing us is not either organizing or political The union constituency groups, two from AFL-CIO and legislative action. The road map to success is clear: Overcoming the odds movement must Executive Council committees, two from community partner organizations, 20 from working people face today demands that grow by directing academics and other individuals—and more organizing and politics work hand in glove––as they always have––from the increased resources than 8,500 comments and recommenda- tions from rank-and-file union members. day the Wagner Act was passed more than to organizing 70 years ago. Our strategies will not sur- mount the odds unless we concede that workers, reaching Core areas of common concern and commitment emerged: there’s an umbilical link between political out especially to action and winning workers’ rights. Neither should be sacrificed at the expense of the women, people of The union movement must grow by directing increased resources to organizing other. color and others workers, reaching out especially to women, In March 2005, the AFL-CIO Executive who stand to gain people of color and others who stand to gain so much from union membership. Committee took an initial step toward much from union achieving these twin goals by directing that the federation prioritize the intercon- membership. To advance a working families’ agenda, we must build on the success of nected goals of organizing and political Labor 2004 by creating long-term, and legislative mobilization. Since then, year-round issues and member our discussions for bettering the lives of mobilization through a permanent working families increasingly have found grassroots network, ensuring the capacity common ground. At this point, the diver- to boot anti-worker politicians out of office gence in the debate is basically about and elect a pro-worker government. money—the size of federation rebates or incentives to affiliate unions that are We must strengthen state and organizing. local union movements to build the capacity for all this work. We We need to recognize a fight about dollars have made a start by bringing state and and cents for what it is—details that can local labor movements together through be overcome when debating in good faith. the New Alliance program and through the Details are critical, of course, but cannot Union Cities program. be allowed to threaten the solidarity of the union movement. At this Convention The federation must become leaner, we are going to put plans in place to: eliminate areas of duplication with affiliate union work and focus more I Build power through organizing. intently on top priorities. I Build power through issues mobiliza- Anchoring this vision are two interdepend- tion and political action.

2 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 I Build power at the grassroots union and national legislative fights with our movement level. political mobilization, and expanding our I Build power through our diversity. work with community allies, we will I Build power by strengthening our advance the efforts of all working people governance. at every level.

Build Power Through Organizing We will set our political and legislative We will increase the resources the AFL-CIO agenda and priorities based on the interests devotes to organizing and create a Strategic of working families, not the interests of Organizing Fund, allocated between creating any political party or specific candidate. incentives to encourage affiliate organizing We will work on a bipartisan basis to elect and assisting national union affiliates in candidates to public office who support a building capacity to take on larger-scale, pro-working families’ agenda, recognizing more strategic growth campaigns of impor- that neither political party is entitled to our tance to the entire union movement. We automatic support. Democrats should not will continue to provide top-level assistance expect to be endorsed by labor without to national unions in building strategic earning that support, and Republicans who organizing programs as well as training for want to work on behalf of working people affiliate organizing staff. It is the collective should be given an opportunity to meet effort of every union investing in strategic with representatives of state and central organizing that can grow the union move- labor bodies as part of an open and trans- ment. We will actively facilitate voluntary parent endorsement process. mergers of unions, especially those with common core jurisdictions, to increase Through political mobilization, we will union bargaining power and growth. assist and strengthen efforts to mobilize people of color, especially in southern We will mobilize federation-wide support states, and build stronger coalitions with for the United Food and Commercial the Latino community. At the same time, Workers in its drive to stop the Wal-Marting we will increase our efforts to recruit, train WORKING AMERICA of good jobs. Through the AFL-CIO and elect union members to local, state has enabled more Wal-Mart Task Force, we will mount a and federal public offices. major global campaign to expose the than 900,000 greed of the world’s largest employer and Because so many workers say they would workers to take hold it accountable. Expanding the join a union on the job if they had a Voice@Work and Employee Free Choice chance but are prevented from doing so action while Act campaigns to restore workers’ freedom because of employer hostility, weak labor tapping into their to form unions is core to these endeavors. laws or lack of opportunity, we launched WORKING AMERICA in 2003. As a com- potential political Build Power Through Issues munity affiliate of the AFL-CIO, WORKING and legislative Mobilization and Political Action AMERICA has enabled more than 900,000 Complementing our efforts to expand workers to take action while tapping into power. organizing outreach and mobilization, their potential political and legislative we will build year-round, year-in-and-year- power. Side by side with our issues mobi- out capacity for informing and mobilizing lization and outreach efforts, we will union members around legislative and expand WORKING AMERICA recruitment, public policy issues and for political action aiming to increase membership to 2 million at all levels. By integrating our local, state by the end of 2006, and mobilize current

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 3 and new WORKING AMERICA members will enrich decision making, facilitate for support in electoral battles and in the communication and lead to the mutual fight for corporate accountability. accountability without which a successful, growing, unified movement is not possible. Build Power at the Grassroots Union Movement Level Build Power by Strengthening To design and lead effective issues, legisla- Our Governance tive and electoral member mobilization Maintaining the current size of the campaigns in partnership with affiliates Executive Council will ensure diversity and state and central bodies, we will build in size of union, industry sector, race, state and local labor federations that will ethnicity and gender. To streamline the strengthen and grow the labor movement. decision-making process, we should reduce the size of the AFL-CIO Executive We will establish performance standards for Committee and expand the General Board state and local central bodies, and we will to include representatives of central labor lead strategic planning and budgeting councils and AFL-CIO constituency groups, processes to build strong, unified, effective in addition to the current membership of organizations at the state and local levels. the presidents of all national unions and representatives of trade departments and The national AFL-CIO, state federations, state federations. The General Board will central labor councils, national and local serve as the highest governing authority unions and constituency groups must all between conventions. be represented in this work, and these “Our greatest efforts must be supported by all levels of strength is our the labor movement. Moving Forward By building power in organizing and ability to be one Build Power Through Our Diversity political and legislative action, strengthen- voice when needed. Creating a vibrant union movement means ing our governance and making the most increased training and leadership develop- of our diversity, we can equip today’s union Being willing and ment among women and people of color— leaders to confront and address the problems able to help each and one of the best ways to do this is to facing each worker—and the entire union reach out to today’s young people. We must movement—and ensure tomorrow’s union other in times attract and recruit a diverse pool of young leaders are well prepared when they take on of crisis, be it people into the labor movement through the mantle of leadership. Union Summer, as well as through public injury or illness, outreach. The challenges we face in our nation and is another.” throughout the global economy are great. We will act decisively to expand leadership Divided, we cannot meet them. United, diversity and to strengthen democracy. we can move forward in ensuring working Working with national unions, state families reap the rewards they earn with federations and central labor councils, we their dedication and hard work––a goal that will create paths for the stewards and work- has shaped the heart of the union move- site mobilizers who will lead the renewal of ment from its inception and one of which the union movement to become the union we must never lose sight. Together, we can leaders of tomorrow. And we will structure explore our differences with an aim to our governance to allow our affiliates resolving them in the interests of working increased and active involvement that families.

4 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 Among the thousands of grassroots union our load in one direction, to combine our member responses on the AFL-CIO website strength. Union members and all working regarding the future of the union movement, people are counting on the leaders of Larry Grant, a member of Iron Workers today’s unions to work together in good One of the most Local 10 in Kansas City, Mo., spoke for so faith for a strong, united union movement many of our union members when he that can win for working families. critical lessons wrote: “Our greatest strength is our ability we have learned to be one voice when needed. Being willing We as a union movement must never and able to help each other in times of lose sight of what’s at stake for America’s throughout the crisis, be it injury or illness, is another.” workers, their families––and the nation. history of our In the words of the powerful labor leader One of the most critical lessons we have John L. Lewis: union movement learned throughout the history of our is the power of union movement is the power of solidarity. “The future of labor is the future of America.” Now is the time to come together, to pull solidarity.

John J. Sweeney

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 5

Secretary-Treasurer’s Report

Unions are working to revitalize manufacturing HIS PAST MAY I saw a news report We in the union movement are dedicated by building on the that symbolized what has gone wrong to improving the lives and working condi- T collective strength in this country. Maryland Gov. Robert tions of all workers. To counter this growing Ehrlich (R) was set to veto a bill that would corporate power and ensure quality jobs of industrial unions have required any corporation that employed for U.S. workers, the AFL-CIO has focused more than 10,000 workers to spend at least on four strategies: strengthening U.S. through joint 8 percent of its payroll costs on health care manufacturing, fighting for fair trade strategies for benefits for their workers. The kicker was pacts that ensure the rights of workers that standing at Ehrlich’s shoulder were two here and around the globe, working to creating and top executives of Wal-Mart, the only com- reform corporate management and holding maintaining pany in the state with that many workers corporations accountable through share- that does not provide adequate health care holder action. manufacturing jobs. coverage for its employees.

Big Business is exerting undue power at Strengthening the federal level and in many statehouses U.S. Manufacturing where lawmakers pass laws that favor To rebuild U.S. manufacturing, the AFL-CIO profits over people. and affiliated unions established the Industrial Union Council (IUC) in May 2002. Wal-Mart and other multinationals increas- Through the IUC, the 12 member unions ingly are enlisting the aid of the government are working to revitalize manufacturing to wield their crushing market power to by building on the collective strength of threaten workers, hammer vendors and industrial unions through joint strategies move jobs—exploiting workers and work- for creating and maintaining manufactur- ing conditions here and abroad. ing jobs.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 7

The situation in manufacturing is grim. The for the first time this year. We worked United States has lost 2.8 million manufac- together to move our top legislative issues: turing jobs since President George W. Bush trade, China’s workers’ rights and currency took office in 2001. These family-supporting manipulation, the Buy American campaign, jobs long served as the fuel that drove the pension benefits and retirement security, economy of communities around the nation. health care and domestic investment in manufacturing. In Fieldale, Va., 1,000 hardworking mem- bers of UNITE HERE lost their jobs in 2003 when Pillowtex shut down its factory. These Fighting for Fair Trade Pacts were well-paying jobs that many of these Our manufacturing jobs have been lost in workers had held for decades—as had their part because of bad U.S. trade policies and parents. In Henry County, where Fieldale is treaties such as the North American Free located, Pillowtex not only meant good Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Recently, we’ve jobs—the company was the lifeline of the faced the proposed Dominican Republic- county. It paid roughly $94,500 a month Central American Free Trade Agreement to the county for wastewater treatment and (CAFTA) and the FTAA. These corporate- $1.4 million a year in Henry County taxes, backed deals extend the damage done by supplied the town’s water and paid for the NAFTA—some 900,000 jobs lost, irreparable local police, community center and street environmental destruction and worker lights. All that financial support is gone exploitation—to the entire Western now. Nationwide, Pillowtex shut down Hemisphere. These agreements do not 16 factories and distribution centers after contain adequate workers’ rights provisions declaring bankruptcy and laying off some and do nothing to change the terrible labor 6,450 workers. practices in many of the signatory nations.

It’s essential our nation’s lawmakers under- In November 2003, I proudly marched with stand the need to maintain and expand thousands of union members, students and family-supporting manufacturing jobs, and religious leaders in Miami as we stymied through the IUC, the union movement put the plans of trade ministers meeting there manufacturing on the front burner of the to finalize the FTAA. But while the FTAA is 2004 presidential campaign. Further, our on hold, the Bush administration made actions to force our government to face up passage of CAFTA one of its top legislative to the unfair trade practices of China and priorities. Through a strong alliance of our massive effort to stop the spread of U.S. and Central American unions, we such bad trade deals as the Free Trade Area lobbied Congress and educating the public of the Americas (FTAA) invigorated the about the dangers of unfettered free trade. international and trade agenda within Congress and among the public. Our trade picture is a disaster. Last year we ran up a $618 billion trade deficit overall I see this new vigor clearly at the IUC leg- and 2005 promises more of the same. It islative conferences. This year, 1,300 union would take a 150 percent increase in our members spent two full days in workshops exports just to stay even with the 2004 and lobbying on Capitol Hill. Four deficit. Currently, the annual trade deficit unions—the Boilermakers, United Food and is running more than $100 billion above Commercial Workers, Machinists and Sheet last year. Metal Workers—took part in the conference

8 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 The trade picture with China is even more Exposing the Corporate Role troubling. In 2004, our deficit with China Behind Social Security soared to $162 billion, a 30 percent increase Privatization in one year. This is the largest bilateral trade One of the biggest displays of corporate deficit between two countries in the history greed is the scheme to privatize Social of the world. In the past two years, experts Security. This plan to privatize the nation’s estimate our deficit with China alone has most successful safety net is the biggest cost our nation 410,000 jobs. shakedown in U.S. history. Financial firms stand to gain billions of dollars in fees from To stop the China’s trade advantage depends in large managing privatized Social Security accounts part on the exploitation of its workers. In Wall Street while working families would have to make 2004, we filed a first-of-its kind petition due with smaller Social Security benefits Social Security with the U.S. Trade Representative, which and our children would be strapped with a demonstrated how China’s frequent viola- privatization huge national debt. Companies such as tions of workers’ rights give that nation an Charles Schwab, Wachovia and Citigroup juggernaut, we unfair trade advantage that has cost more are providing massive amounts of corporate than 727,000 U.S. jobs. In addition, the have had to take cash to support privatization. University of AFL-CIO also is pushing the administration Chicago economist Austin Goolsbee esti- on some of the to use its power to persuade China to allow mates companies such as Charles Schwab its currency to float on the international nation’s major Corp. could reap some $940 billion in fees market and to stop an artificial valuation over the next 75 years. financial firms that gives it an unfair advantage over its trading partners, including the United States. and expose their When Social Security privatization topped Six dollars of every $10 of trade from China the agenda of the Bush administration, we backroom support come from a U.S. company. Clearly, this needed to take action fast. To stop the Wall is not about trade but rather relocating for privatization. Street Social Security privatization jugger- production facilities to China to increase naut, we have had to take on some of the profits at the expense of American jobs. nation’s major financial firms and expose their backroom support for privatization. Wal-Mart, the same multibillion-dollar In March 2005, we sponsored a National corporation that won’t pay its employees a Day of Action to let Wall Street know living wage or provide them with affordable Social Security is not for sale. Thousands health care coverage, imported $18 billion of working families and community in goods from China, more than 10 percent activists rallied in more than 70 cities at of the 2004 U.S. deficit with China. the offices of Wall Street firms, demanding organizations such as Charles Schwab and Wal-Mart imported nearly 10 percent of all others stop supporting privatization of Chinese goods sold in this country that Social Security. year. That’s why the Wal-Mart campaign spearheaded by UFCW is so important. We We urged shareholders to withhold their must change the way that company does votes for the financial firm’s board of direc- business and make sure its workers get a fair tors because of Schwab’s boardroom role in wage and good health insurance and that it trying to take workers’ retirement by sup- buys more of its products at home. porting the privatization of Social Security. In a major success, 26 percent shareholders

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 9 withheld their votes at the Charles Schwab retirement package reportedly was worth annual meeting in May 2005. Withholding $119 million! a vote is equivalent to a vote of no confi- dence in the board, including the chair- Other CEOs get rewarded for increasing the man, Charles Schwab. Shareholders also company’s bottom line at the public’s expressed their dissatisfaction with the expense. The CEO of Wal-Mart, Lee Scott, firm’s leaders by passing—with 57 percent was paid $23 million in salary, bonuses and The AFL-CIO of the vote—a resolution requiring annual stock options last year. Yet, according to a Capital Stewardship elections of all directors. The resolution congressional report, each Wal-Mart store passed even though Charles Schwab owns employing 200 people costs taxpayers program works 19 percent of the company. about $420,750 annually in public social with affiliate unions services used by Wal-Mart workers whose Our union-backed grassroots protests by low wages and unaffordable health insur- and worker pension workers and investors at dozens of financial ance mean most of them are among the funds whose firms this year already have prompted some working poor. companies to drop out of pro-privatization combined $5 trillion organizations, such as the misnamed CEOs get away with these kinds of abuses in assets enables Alliance for Worker Retirement Security because they dominate the selection process (AWRS), which is leading the charge for for company directors. Until shareholders the union movement privatization. In February, Edward Jones have the strength to elect vigorous inde- to push for reform pulled out of the AWRS after a series of pendent boards, these kinds of outrages will community actions at many of its offices. continue. That’s why the AFL-CIO Capital of corporate Shortly before grassroots mobilizations Stewardship program works with affiliate management, aimed at investment firm Waddell & unions and worker pension funds whose Reed were set to take place in March, the $5 trillion in assets enables the union protection of company announced it was leaving AWRS. movement to push for reform of corporate workers’ pensions management, protection of workers’ pensions and creation of good jobs that and creation of Holding Corporations build our communities. good jobs that build Accountable Union members work hard and we expect In the past two years, union members’ our communities. to be paid for doing a good job. When we pension funds—such as those of mess up, we want to be treated fairly but Communications Workers of America and to be held accountable. That standard does UFCW, the Amalgamated Bank’s Longview not seem to apply to corporate CEOs. Look Collective Investment Fund and the at what happened to Douglas Ivester. In AFL-CIO Reserve Fund—led the fight to the two-and-a-half years that Ivester ran the reform executive pay and restore genuine Coca-Cola Co., the company had a product accountability in corporate boardrooms contamination scare in Europe, faced a at hundreds of companies, including racial discrimination lawsuit and lost its Safeway, Comcast, Wal-Mart and Tyco. bid to buy another company. Meanwhile, Coke’s profits and stock price slumped. The labor movement led the successful So what did the board do when Ivester fight to win the first-ever disclosure of resigned? It gave him a six-year consulting mutual fund proxy votes, which allows agreement worth $675,000, office space, workers to learn how the financial firms furniture, supplies, a company car, home that invest our pension funds vote on security service and club dues. In total, his key corporate issues.

10 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 Each year, through the extremely popular high vote totals (more than one-third sup- AFL-CIO PayWatch website (www.paywatch port) at several other companies, including .org), we publicize the enormous compensa- Peabody Energy Corp., Verizon and Waste tion packages paid to CEOs, many of whom Management Inc. The Laborers and send jobs overseas while the wages of U.S. AFSCME also sponsored shareholder resolu- workers who still have jobs stagnate or even tions at companies such as Amgen and drop in real terms. The just-issued AFL-CIO Sempra Energy. report, Behind the Curtain: How the 10 Largest Mutual Fund Families Voted When Presented with 12 Opportunities to Curb CEO Renewing Our Mission Pay Abuse in When I was growing up in the coal country 2004, examines proxy vote reports by the of western Pennsylvania, I watched my nation’s mutual fund companies. Because father and other coal miners perform mutual funds own 22 percent of all U.S. back-breaking work for long hours while We cannot rest corporate stock, their proxy votes on such breathing dust that eventually would kill issues as CEO pay and director elections them. They risked their lives in the mines until every worker can be decisive. to feed their families and provide a better receives a fair life for their children. They worked at the The AFL-CIO Proxy Voting Guidelines booklet mercy of coal company barons who sacri- wage, a secure serves as a guide for union pension fund ficed the lives and health of the workers to retirement and trustees for voting their funds’ shareholder gain every penny of profit they could. proxies. The guidelines assist trustees in affordable health exercising their ownership rights in ways Workers such as these built the union care. The future that achieve long-term value by supporting movement. Our mission is to make sure important shareholder initiatives on corpo- that never again will corporations have the of our children and rate accountability. In 2004, union and sole power to determine the fate of hard- of our way of life pension fund shareholders and trustees working people. Today, the Wal-Marting introduced hundreds of resolutions at of the world economy, with the consent depends on it. corporate annual meetings. These initiatives and support of many world governments, include board of directors’ proposals, corpo- means the union movement must grow rate governance and proposals concerning stronger and fight harder to counter corpo- employee relations, executive compensation rate power. and corporate responsibility issues. The world’s workers and our communities In the first five months of 2005 alone, are under attack. We must fight back. Our shareholder proposals by the Sheet Metal accomplishments are just the beginning. Workers, Laborers, Teamsters and Plumbers We cannot rest until every worker receives and Pipe Fitters to give investors a greater a fair wage, a secure retirement and afford- stake in director elections received majority able health care. The future of our children support at nine companies and garnered and of our way of life depends on it.

Richard L. Trumka

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 11

Executive Vice President’s Report

Working people really are one, whatever their LL OF US in the union movement would bring about in the lives of working language, or skin A believe in solidarity. And each of us people here and in their own countries. has moments when we see solidarity at its Their message that day was “We don’t color, or union very best. want good jobs in the United States to or nation. That’s be sent to our countries and turned into One of those moments for me was in my terrible jobs without rights or benefits for exactly the kind hometown of San Antonio in May 2005. our countries.” of solidarity that I traveled on the “CAFTA—We Don’t Hafta” tour with three union activists: Marta Sonia That morning, everyone in the CWA hall all of us try to Díaz Palacios of El Salvador, Reynaldo knew in their hearts what they already had build in the ways Federico González of Guatemala and heard many times: Working people really Albino Vargas Barrantes of Costa Rica. are one, whatever their language, or skin we know best. color, or union or nation. That’s exactly The tour had a great launch in Washington, the kind of solidarity that all of us try to D.C. In fact, it was a huge breakthrough build in the ways we know best. In the past for the U.S. union movement to be working few years, I have focused on five key areas: hand in hand with Latin American union building solidarity by working with the movements to oppose a trade scheme that AFL-CIO constituency groups, raising would hurt workers here and in Central awareness for the need for justice among America. But it was during the workers’ immigrant workers, building relationships forum at the Communications Workers with other union movements in the of America Local 6143 in San Antonio Americas, campaigning for voter protection where Marta, Reynaldo and Albino really and advancing the efforts of the nation’s brought home the meaning of solidarity. working women and people of color. They talked about the damage CAFTA

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 13 Constituency Groups Gain Justice for Immigrant Workers Strength Through Unity “The AFL-CIO proudly stands on the side In the past four years, the AFL-CIO con- of immigrant workers.” That was how the stituency groups have become stronger, Executive Council began its resolution more focused and more effective––and in five years ago that charted a new course the past two years, they also have become for the union movement on the issue of more united than ever. immigration.

In 2003, the six groups met to talk about We have been true to our word. The part- how they could be involved in the 2004 nership between our movement and the elections. The groups include the A. Philip nation’s immigrant communities is closer Randolph Institute, Asian Pacific American now than it has been in generations. Advancing the Labor Alliance, Coalition of Black Trade Advancing the rights of immigrant workers rights of immigrant Unionists, Coalition of Labor Union has become one of the highest priorities Women, Labor Council for Latin American of the AFL-CIO. It makes good sense and workers has Advancement and Pride At Work. They is the right thing to do. become one of the formed a nonpartisan group, the Labor Coalition for Community Action (LCCA). There was dramatic evidence of this in highest priorities Led by Gloria Johnson, the longtime 2003 when the AFL-CIO and affiliated of the AFL-CIO. It president of the Coalition of Labor Union unions sponsored the Immigrant Workers Women, LCCA’s aim is to mobilize, in a Freedom Ride. In September, hundreds makes good sense more unified fashion, grassroots activism of immigrant workers and their allies and is the right in local communities. representing hundreds of organizations boarded buses in 10 cities across the coun- thing to do. A year later, LCCA turned out to be the try and converged on Washington, D.C., largest coordinated effort in the history of New Jersey and New York. the constituency groups. In that time, LCCA: This year, the struggle has moved to I Sponsored 23 town hall meetings in Congress, where there are several proposals 14 states at which citizens talked about for immigration reform. The basic AFL-CIO issues ranging from revitalizing cities to position in this debate is clear and improving access to health care to creat- unchanged. We’re fighting for citizenship ing affordable housing and more jobs for all undocumented workers and their with living wages. families who have been working hard, I Conducted voter registration, education paying their taxes and contributing to and get-out-the vote activities in 41 cities, their communities, no matter where they enlisting more than 2,000 volunteers. were born or whether they are documented I Developed a southern strategy to mobi- or undocumented. They deserve the right lize African American and Latino voters to a minimum wage, a safe workplace and in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, the freedom to form unions. Louisiana and Mississippi. There is a moral principle here. In my This year, LCCA is building on the founda- opinion, no one has put it better than tions laid in the 2004 election cycle. The Kyron Parris, an immigrant from Trinidad coalition is moving forward with town hall and a proud member of Operating meetings on issues for women and workers Engineers Local 15C. “Immigrants work of color in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and longer hours, get the hardest jobs and the Detroit. least pay,” he said at the time of the

14 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 Freedom Ride. “We need a way to make who are taking a stand against the pro- sure that law-abiding immigrants who CAFTA forces in the Costa Rican National work hard get respect.” Assembly.

Exactly. In a further demonstration of hemispheric solidarity, our sisters and brothers in ORIT now have taken a strong stand on some of Building Solidarity the issues that mean the most to us in the Throughout the United States. At their April convention, Western Hemisphere ORIT members voted for resolutions we With economic globalization growing ever in the AFL-CIO had brought to the table deeper and wider, solidarity with our union calling for support of our Employee Free sisters and brothers in other countries has Choice Act; more inter-American coopera- taken on renewed urgency––and nowhere tion in protecting immigrant workers and is the need for such solidarity greater than strengthening their freedom to choose here in the Western Hemisphere. That is unions; resisting CAFTA and the Free why one of my biggest priorities has been Trade Area of the Americas; and including to build the natural alliances among unions effective guarantees of labor rights in trade in the Americas. agreements.

Four years ago, I had the great honor of It was further proof that with multinational becoming the first U.S. trade unionist and corporations threatening us all, workers in the first woman elected president of the the Americas are planning and acting and Inter-American Regional Organization of struggling effectively together. Workers (ORIT), the federation of union movements that represents more than 45 million workers throughout the Western Advancing the Efforts Hemisphere. I was re-elected for another of Working Women and four-year term in April 2005. From the start, People of Color this has been an incredible experience. I’m Although working women are nearly half constantly seeing firsthand what all of us of the workforce, they represent 55 percent With multinational already know: The interests of working of newly organized workers. What’s more, people in this country are the same as in organizing campaigns in which most corporations those of working families in every part of workers are women, they are more likely to threatening us all, the Americas. win their union. So there is no question that working women are absolutely critical workers in the CAFTA is a perfect example. We’ve seen for the union movement’s future. Americas are what a terrible disaster the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been That is why working women have been planning and acting for workers here and in the rest of North at the center of much of the AFL-CIO’s and struggling America. I’ve had the chance to get activity in the past several years. A few involved in ORIT’s effort to build an highlights: effectively together. alliance of unions and legislators against CAFTA, both here in the United States and I In 2003, we convened the first Work in Central America. We won a big victory and Family Conference on Bargaining on Capitol Hill when the Congressional and Policy. It brought together more Hispanic Caucus rejected CAFTA and have than 250 union activists to discuss how given all our support to the Costa Ricans we all can advance paid family leave,

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 15 child care, dependent care and control prepared a report on overcoming barriers to over our work hours. people of color in unions and union leader- I In 2002 and 2004, our Working Women ship structures. Similar to the findings of Vote program was a big success. For the report on working women, this report example, while working women as shows we have much more work to do to a whole voted for John Kerry by improve the participation of people of color only 51 percent to 48 percent, union at all levels of the union movement. women voted for Kerry by an over- Recommendations are similar—the need whelming 45-point margin (72 percent to increase representation of people of color to 27 percent). as leaders at all levels, appointing people of color to core positions in unions and In summer 2002, the AFL-CIO Executive combating issues of institutional racism. Council confronted the challenges women face in joining unions. Balancing work and You’ll be considering these recommenda- family needs, women often hesitate to get tions at the AFL-CIO Convention. I urge involved in organizing campaigns. And you to study them closely and take them even though more and more women are very seriously. joining as members and becoming grass- roots union leaders, they are inadequately represented at the highest levels. Protecting Our Right to Vote In 1965 when I was a young woman in To address these obstacles, the Executive Texas, the Voting Rights Act became law Council set up the Overcoming Barriers to and the world changed for people who Women in Organizing and Leadership look like me. We’re celebrating the 40th project. It researched barriers women face anniversary of the Voting Rights Act this in attaining union leadership and member- summer and we are fighting hard to make Working women as ship, developed a comprehensive report sure that many of its key provisions are and presentation, engaged union women reauthorized. I’ll never forget when it a whole voted for nationally and produced diversity policy passed. For the first time in American John Kerry by recommendations for ratification at the history, people of color could hope their 2005 Convention. constitutional right to vote finally was only 51 percent guaranteed and secure. Then came the to 48 percent, The report notes, “There is a clear road 2000 election scandal. There were no map for reaching working women. Women lynchings as in the old days—but in Florida union women respond strongly to traditional women’s and other states, thousands of people of voted for Kerry by economic issues—equal pay, work and color and immigrants were cheated out of family and control over work hours.” And their vote because of faulty voting equip- an overwhelming it recommends (among other things) ment, police checkpoints that hampered 45-point margin unions develop plans to increase women’s access to polling stations and misleading representation as leaders at all levels, voter instructions. (72 percent to appoint women to core positions in unions 27 percent). and provide work and family programs to Early last year, we in the AFL-CIO resolved help women fulfill both their union and that we were not going to let that kind of home responsibilities. abuse take place in the 2004 election. In March, the Executive Council launched a In addition to this report, the Executive massive voting rights project, My Vote, Council’s Civil and Human Rights Committee My Right.

16 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 International unions, locals, state federa- we will build on the networks we created tions, central labor councils, constituency and expand our efforts to ensure that every groups, the Alliance for Retired Americans vote is counted. and the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Here at home, Committee all pitched in. Together, we strong, vibrant educated and mobilized union members, Shaping Our Future arming them with the “Protect Your Vote” When I started out in the union movement constituency groups information they needed to defend their as a secretary in a small local union in Texas and a powerful right to cast a ballot and ensure it was fairly more than 35 years ago, many people in counted. We let them know their rights our movement considered international women’s agenda under the Help America Vote Act. We solidarity and issues of concern to people are critical for recruited union members and retirees of color and women to be secondary. The to serve as poll watchers. We set up real business of the union movement was ensuring the teams of My Vote, My Right advocates supposed to be other things. concerns of to investigate how well state and local authorities were obeying election laws. How times have changed. Today, when women and people We utilized radio, TV and other media we see global corporations exporting our of color are to spread the word in our communities good jobs to low-income economies in about registering and voting. which workers are underpaid and exploited, reflected through- we know we must build effective alliances out the union Was every voice in America heard and every with our union sisters and brothers in vote properly counted because of the union those countries. Here at home, strong, movement. movement’s My Vote, My Right campaign? vibrant constituency groups and a powerful No—but there’s no question we made a women’s agenda are critical for ensuring the huge difference in one city after another. concerns of women and people of color are By working together and coordinating our reflected throughout the union movement. efforts, we learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t. Far more important was For our movement not only to survive but that at the end of the day, the election was to prosper, we have to make those choices. fairer and more honest. In coming years, We have to—and we will.

Linda Chavez-Thompson

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 17 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT

For Every Worker, a Voice 21 Reward Work, Respect Workers 29 Solidarity in Action 43 Strong Families, Strong Communities 55

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 19 For Every Worker, A VOICE

Almost 4 million new members have joined AFL-CIO EARLY EVERY DAY in the United a percentage of the workforce. To grow, unions over the States, workers are choosing to join we must dramatically accelerate the pace N past nine years. unions to secure better wages, health care of change. While the union movement benefits and respect at work. In 2002, more has accomplished much by beginning the Yet union member- than 4,000 Cingular Wireless workers around change-to-organize process, a great deal the nation joined the Communications more must be done and it needs to be done ship has continued Workers of America. Four thousand manu- more quickly: Union density has decreased to decline as a facturing workers at Freightliner Trucks to 7.9 percent in the private sector and to plants in North Carolina chose the UAW in 12.5 percent overall. percentage of the 2003. In Houston, more than 500 workers workforce. To at the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel Helping workers form and join unions in became that city’s first unionized hotel the face of employer opposition always has grow, we must workers when they won a union voice at been a struggle. But in the past decade, it dramatically work with UNITE HERE in 2004. From 2002 has become even harder. Recent research through 2004, 1.3 million workers became shows 92 percent of private-sector employers accelerate the members of AFL-CIO–affiliated unions and whose employees want to form a union pace of change. thousands more have won union representa- force workers to attend anti-union meet- tion in 2005. ings, and half of employers threaten to shut down partially or totally if employees join Almost 4 million new members have joined together in a union. More than three- AFL-CIO unions over the past nine years. quarters of employers require workers to sit And surveys show an increasing number— in one-on-one meetings with supervisors some 57 million nonunion workers—would who try to persuade them to oppose the join a union if they could. Yet union union. Fully one-quarter of private-sector membership has continued to decline as employers illegally fire workers, and more

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 21 than half threaten to call the U.S. Bureau As part of the union-movement-wide process of Citizenship and Immigration Services to change to organize and to change the during organizing drives that involve way we organize, more than 250 top union undocumented employees. organizers from dozens of unions held the first-ever organizing summit in January Even when workers successfully form 2003. Their summit concluded that the a union by voting in a National Labor moral obligation of this generation of Relations Board (NLRB) election, employers organizers, activists and leaders is to rebuild in 45 percent of the cases still have not and reinvigorate the union movement agreed to a first contract two years after through: the election. I An immediate, ramped-up effort to The employer war on workers is aided by change the nation’s public policies to a dead-letter National Labor Relations Act restore workers’ freedom to organize (NLRA) that fails to protect workers’ rights and bargain collectively; and and an NLRB dominated by Bush adminis- I An accelerated initiative to help many tration appointees who consistently side more unions increase their capacity to with employers against workers. Recent organize, especially outside the NLRB Enabling more decisions have severely limited the freedom election process. workers to gain of university graduate workers, temporary workers and workers with disabilities to Since the summit, the AFL-CIO has geared the benefits of form unions; elevated employers’ interests up a major Voice@Work campaign to raise union membership over workers’ rights; eliminated important awareness about employers’ war on workers employee protections; and dramatically and enlist broad support for reform of is the highest reduced the effectiveness of NLRB remedies. America’s inadequate labor laws. Through priority of the member education and mobilization work- The NLRB process is so broken that only shops, more than 30,000 union members union movement. 70,651 workers joined AFL-CIO–affiliated and allies not only learned more about the unions through NLRB elections in 2004— importance of restoring workers’ freedom about one-third the total number of workers to form unions and the ordeals workers who joined unions that year. The majority face when they try to form unions, but of workers who formed unions did so by also were encouraged to become active demanding and winning recognition from participants in organizing campaigns. The employers outside the NLRB system. AFL-CIO Organizing Department helped affiliates change to organize, developed Against this tattered backdrop, enabling organizers through the Organizing Institute, more workers to gain the benefits of union recruited and trained strategic researchers membership—in wages, benefits, fair treat- and campaigners through the Center for ment and a voice on the job and in our Strategic Research and worked side by side society—is the highest priority of the union with affiliates in organizing partnership movement. Workers who join unions agreements. improve the lives of their families and their communities and bring the union move- In spring 2005, the AFL-CIO began a ment new strength to win for workers in the restructuring process with a dual goal of workplace and in important national policy increasing the size of membership through- and political debates. out the union movement while increasing union density in multiple industries. Going

22 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005

forward, the federation will assist national campaigns. In addition, the center has union affiliates in building capacity to take trained hundreds of strategic researchers on larger-scale, strategic growth campaigns— and campaigners over the past several years providing expert technical support, cam- and has provided a clearinghouse for affili- paign research and organizer training—and ate recruitment of new strategic researchers will focus greater efforts on building a cul- and campaigners. Some of those efforts have ture of solidarity and support for organiz- achieved remarkable success, including the ing. AFL-CIO assistance and support United Union of Roofers and Waterproofers’ includes organizer staffing; researcher and organizing campaign in Western states, organizer recruitment and training; coalition the Iron Workers’ national organizing building and community outreach; political support and lobbying efforts; grassroots mobilization and e-activism; international solidarity; and state and local legislative and policy initiatives. The AFL-CIO also is spear- heading efforts to amass bipartisan support for the Employee Free Choice Act in Congress as well as state and local legisla- tion to enable workers to choose for them- selves whether to form unions and, through this legislation, educating lawmak- ers, the public and community leaders about the challenges facing workers who want to form unions.

campaign at J.D. Steel Corp., AFT’s Building Capacity to Organize campaign among University of Illinois Although the AFL-CIO does not directly graduate employees at the Urbana- organize workers, it plays an important role Champaign and Chicago campuses, the in supporting affiliate organizing efforts. UAW’s campaign in the auto parts industry While encouraging affiliate unions to shift and the Teamsters’ nationwide organizing more resources into organizing, the federa- drive among America West Airlines tion steadily has increased the share of its customer service representatives. budget dedicated to organizing support. The AFL-CIO intends to create a Strategic Partnership agreements between affiliated Organizing Fund, with up to two-thirds of unions and the AFL-CIO support national it to be used as incentives to leverage union campaigns to increase density massive new investment in organizing by within core industries. AFL-CIO support affiliate unions. One-third of the fund, or includes financial assistance, staff help $7.5 million, will assist strategic organizing and Voice@Work training and strategy. campaigns of importance to the entire Recent partnerships have included AFGE’s labor movement. airport screener campaign; AFSCME’s New Mexico public employee campaign; The AFL-CIO Center for Strategic Research SEIU’s home care and building service has assisted affiliates in conducting in-depth campaigns, the Laborers’ asbestos abate- industry and company research and in ment campaign and United Food and strategic planning for innovative organizing Commercial Workers’ Wal-Mart campaign.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 23

AFL-CIO Support for Affiliate Organizing

In addition to providing on-the-ground organizing I Conducting corporate research and providing support, including lead organizers and other direct organizing assistance for IBT’s campaigns campaign support, the AFL-CIO has assisted affiliate among drivers at DHL, waste workers and organizing campaigns in the past 18 months by: customer service representatives at America West Airlines. I Assigning organizers to help with the United Union of Roofers and Waterproofers’ organizing I Helping Comcast employees win a voice at effort among low-wage, mainly immigrant work by providing Electrical Workers and CWA workers in Western states. with organizing assistance and corporate research.

I Educating and soliciting support from elected I Supporting AFGE’s airport screener campaign officials for the Iron Workers’ campaign on by lobbying Congress to overrule President behalf of 10,000 immigrant construction George W. Bush’s order taking away union workers at J.D. Steel Corp. rights from airport screeners.

I Helping with strategic planning for AFT’s I Providing corporate research and assistance campaigns among graduate employees at with local policy initiatives as part of the the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Mine Workers’ Peabody Coal campaign. and Chicago campuses, Texas teachers, New Mexico public employees and University of I Providing organizing assistance in CWA’s Pennsylvania graduate students. campaigns with high-tech workers, Bresnan cable employees and Mississippi state workers. I Providing strategic research assistance on the Cintas Corp. campaign among laundry I Using the online Working Families Network workers for UNITE HERE and IBT. to mobilize support from hundreds of thou- sands of union members and allies for workers fighting to form unions at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut, InterPark in Washington, D.C., Comcast and Cintas.

I Providing research and organizing assistance in UAW campaigns at Johnson Controls Inc., Dana Corp. Parts and Thomas Built Buses.

I Assisting in establishing coalitions with global unions to promote international solidarity in IBT’s campaign against Quebecor, the world’s largest printing company.

(Continued on next page.)

24 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005

AFL-CIO Support for Affiliate Organizing (Continued)

I Supporting CWA and IBEW efforts to organize workers at Verizon Wireless.

I Helping workers at the Hilton Americas- Houston hotel form a union with UNITE HERE by soliciting letters from members of Congress, Texas state lawmakers and the Houston City Council in support of employer neutrality. The Harris County (Texas) Central Labor Council also reached out to 50 community groups, all of which pledged to support the workers.

I Providing organizing assistance to the multi- union campaign among Puerto Rico’s public- sector workers. I Joining with UFCW and other affiliates to mount a coordinated campaign to hold I Assisting in efforts to elect New Mexico Wal-Mart accountable for its low-road Gov. Bill Richardson (D) who, once in office, business practices. supported the rights of public employees to join AFSCME, CWA and AFT. I Promoting international solidarity and introducing shareholder resolutions for PACE I Organizing community and elected officials’ International Union’s campaign with DuPont support for the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco workers. Workers and Grain Millers’ Consolidated Biscuit Co. campaign. I Assisting in research and organizing for the Machinists’ campaign among Nevada car I Providing organizing assistance for SEIU’s dealership employees. home care and building service campaigns.

I Providing organizing assistance to the Farm I Researching the extent of asbestos-caused Workers’ multicrop campaign among immigrant illnesses and lobbying Congress for adequate workers in California and the Farm Labor compensation for victims in LIUNA’s asbestos Organizing Committee’s Mt. Olive Pickle Co. abatement campaign. campaign in North Carolina.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 25 Organizing Institute organize janitors in downtown St. Louis In 2004, the Organizing Institute recruited with SEIU; joined with the AFT/Nurses and trained 300 organizers, emphasizing United’s Hospital Corp. of America’s organ- outreach to workers of color, and instituted izing drive; and with campaigns by the its first-ever Spanish-language training Painters and Allied Trades and Operating program. Those new organizers joined Engineers in New York. some 577 organizers who were Organizing Institute graduates in 2002 and 2003— Launched in 2001, the Law Student Union more than 6,252 have participated since Summer gives first- and second-year law 1996. By bringing new talent to the organ- students a rare opportunity for up-close izing effort and providing critically needed organizing experience. In 2005, 10 law skills and training, the Organizing Institute school students are working on organizing has increased the capacity of unions to and contract campaigns with SEIU, United organize. More talent has been made Steelworkers, AFT, UNITE HERE, IBT, available through the thousands of union UFCW and Professional and Technical members who have taken part in the Engineers. Organizing Institute’s Member Organizer Training Program, who now have the expe- Seminary Summer, a 10-week internship rience to serve in vital roles as volunteer sponsored by the AFL-CIO and Interfaith organizers in their unions’ campaigns. Worker Justice, gives seminarians, novices and rabbinical and Islamic graduate stu- dents and other future religious leaders the Union Summer opportunity to witness workers’ struggles In addition to Organizing Institute partici- for a voice in the workplace and join with pants, hundreds more activists have spent religious, community and union activists to their summers fighting for social justice as build support for workers organizing unions. part of the AFL-CIO Union Summer, Law Seminary Summer, launched in 2000, has Student Union Summer and Seminary graduated more than 115 students with Summer programs. More than 3,000 activists another 30 to 35 participants expected to have taken part in the Union Summer take part in 2005. program since the AFL-CIO launched the hands-on training program in 1996. Most recently, Union Summer interns helped Restoring Workers’ Freedom to Form Unions

Voice@Work Campaign The union movement in 2002 expanded the nationwide Voice@Work initiative, rededicating efforts to change the organizing climate by educating the public, community leaders, faith leaders, candidates and elected officials about the obstacles workers face when they try to organize into unions and to help affiliates win campaigns by building broad community support.

26 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 Union activists and allies from community, legislation introduced in Congress that civil rights and religious groups, along with would enable a majority of employees to elected officials, celebrated Voice@Work form a union without the debilitating obsta- Month in June 2002 with rallies, marches, cles employers now use to block workers’ forums, teach-ins and educational leaflet- choice. The Employee Free Choice Act ing. Concurrently––for the first time in would allow employees to freely choose more than 10 years––the U.S. Senate held union representation through simple hearings to explore the obstacles workers majority sign-up on cards or petitions, In 2004, the AFL-CIO face when seeking to form unions, with provide mediation and arbitration of first- workers describing to lawmakers the harass- contract disputes and establish meaningful mobilized activists ment and intimidation they have experi- remedies for violation of employee rights through e-mail enced when trying to win a voice on the when workers seek to form unions and job and the need for U.S. labor law reform. during first-contract negotiations. alerts, urging them to take action in Fueled by the AFL-CIO Executive Committee In 2004, the AFL-CIO mobilized activists resolution in February 2003 reaffirming and through e-mail alerts, urging them to take support of the strengthening the union movement’s efforts action in support of the Employee Free Employee Free in support of the freedom of workers to Choice Act. As a result, more than 182,000 choose a voice at work, the federation letters were sent to decision makers urging Choice Act. As a spearheaded face-to-face meetings between their support. The Employee Free Choice result, more than workers and key Democratic presidential Act has become an educational and candidates. Workers met with Sens. John mobilization vehicle with members, elected 182,000 letters Edwards (N.C.), John Kerry (Mass.) and officials, community leaders and the general were sent to Joseph Lieberman (Conn.); Rep. Richard public. States have passed resolutions in Gephardt (Mo.); and former Vermont support of this federal-level legislation, and decision makers Gov. Howard Dean. On Dec. 10, 2003–– congressional briefings continue in home urging their the anniversary of the 1948 Universal districts with workers involved in local Declaration of Human Rights, a key part of organizing campaigns. The Employee Free support. which is the right of people in every nation Choice Act has been used to drive organiz- to come together in unions and bargain ing issues into the national policy debate. contracts—the union movement mobilized to demand the basic human right to form By the end of the 108th Congress in fall unions and bargain collectively. More than 2004, the Employee Free Choice Act had 37,000 workers participated in 97 events the bipartisan backing of 210 House and that took place in 72 cities and 37 states 38 Senate sponsors. On April 19, 2005, the from coast to coast. More than 200 elected Employee Free Choice Act was reintroduced officials participated, from U.S. senators to as bipartisan legislation by Sen. Edward small town mayors, as did leaders of 137 Kennedy (D-Mass.), Sen. Arlen Specter allied organizations. More International (R-Pa.), Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Human Rights Day mobilizations are Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.). planned for this year and beyond. This legislation continues to gain congres- Employee Free Choice Act sional backing, with 182 House and In 2003, the AFL-CIO’s efforts to champion 37 Senate co-sponsors as of June 2005, as a Voice@Work resulted in the Employee workers and their unions ramp up efforts Free Choice Act, far-reaching bipartisan to mobilize support.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 27

Strengthening Our Forces building, research, public relations, policy Union members with Allies analysis and advocacy. American Rights at Work has investigated and exposed workers’ also are building The AFL-CIO and grassroots union activists rights abuses and the inadequacy of U.S. are using the Employee Free Choice Act to labor law; stimulated debate about workers’ and expanding reach out systematically to a wide range of rights among journalists, policymakers, their coalition allied leaders who have begun to speak out advocacy groups and the public; promoted publicly in support of the Employee Free public policy that protects workers; and partnerships with Choice Act and to educate and involve publicized success stories of profitable community, civil their own members in highlighting how companies that respect workers’ rights and suppressing the freedom to form unions build innovative partnerships with unions. rights and religious costs all members of the community. To leaders to help bolster the power of union activists, many Union members also are building and organizations in 2003 and 2004 got expanding their coalition partnerships with pass legislation to involved or stepped up their leadership on community, civil rights and religious leaders ensure workers can this issue, including Human Rights Watch, to help pass legislation to ensure workers the NAACP and the United Church of can win a Voice@Work and encourage win a Voice@Work. Christ. In addition, a new organization, employers to respect workers’ rights––and American Rights at Work, was launched hold them accountable when they don’t. to restore workers’ freedom to organize For a closer look, see Strong Families, and bargain collectively through coalition Strong Communities (page 55).

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Reward WORK, Respect WORKERS

The federation has launched comprehensive HE NATION’S ECONOMY is being nation’s loss of family-supporting jobs, campaigns to strangled by the Bush administration’s quality health care benefits and retirement T combat the tax cuts for millionaires, economic policies security. One of the most important planks that create low-wage, low-benefit jobs and in the platform to make the economy work increasing poorly crafted trade policies that encourage for working families is the restoration of U.S. firms to move plants and jobs out of workers’ right to organize. influence of Big the country. Working families face an Business on increasingly difficult time making ends To address the crisis in manufacturing, the meet—and even keeping their jobs. AFL-CIO in 2002 established the Industrial government and Union Council—now made up of 12 lawmakers, the The AFL-CIO has fought to strengthen unions in the manufacturing sector. IUC good jobs and make the public aware of member unions are pursuing national decline of good the challenges working families face at policies that will create and sustain good manufacturing jobs home and throughout the world with the jobs, healthy communities and a voice vast economic shifts in the global economy. for working families. and the nation’s Through issues mobilization at the national, loss of family- state and local legislative stages, education Joining with global allies, the union move- campaigns among union members and ment has fought to bring workers’ rights supporting jobs, the public and global-level workers’ rights and higher standards to less developed quality health care campaigns, the federation has launched nations around the world and challenged comprehensive campaigns to combat the corporate exploitation of workers and is benefits and increasing influence of Big Business on preparing to launch a union-movement- retirement government and lawmakers, the decline wide campaign to halt the Wal-Marting of good manufacturing jobs and the of America. security.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 29

Manufacturing and Trade also are demanding immediate action to To combat the erosion of the nation’s man- press China and other nations to stop artifi- ufacturing jobs, the 12-member Industrial cially propping up their currencies by tying Union Council (IUC) pursues strategies to their exchange rate to the U.S. dollar. address the causes underlying the jobs cri- Together with the AFL-CIO, the IUC filed sis: flawed U.S. trade and currency policies, two groundbreaking trade cases against the rising health care costs, attacks on workers’ Chinese government to address China’s overtime pay protections and employers’ inflated currency, garnering worldwide war against workers’ right to join a union. press coverage and raising the awareness The IUC also is formulating international of Congress and the public. initiatives to combat job exports. China, the largest trading partner of the Led by the presidents of manufacturing United States, manipulates its currency, unions and chaired by AFL-CIO Secretary- keeping it undervalued by as much as Treasurer Richard Trumka, the IUC held its 40 percent compared with the U.S. dollar. third legislative conference in May 2005 in This means Chinese exports to the United Washington, D.C., where more than 1,300 States are underpriced by 40 percent and workers from industrial unions lobbied U.S. exports to China are overpriced by members of Congress and developed strate- 40 percent. As a result, one-fourth of gies to revitalize manufacturing, focusing the record-breaking U.S. trade deficit— on trade, health care and workers’ freedom $651 billion in 2004—is with China. to form unions. A Capitol Hill rally against the flawed Central American Free Trade The IUC unions, in coordination with the Agreement (CAFTA) capped the conference. AFL-CIO, helped organize the opposition to the proposed Free Trade Area of the Since its inception, the IUC has lobbied Americas (FTAA) in 2003, and IUC mem- government officials to use U.S. trade laws bers were among the tens of thousands of to address unfair trade practices such as union members who worked to stop the violations of workers’ rights and revisions agreement. Through rallies, town hall meet- to tax laws that encourage companies to ings and bus tours, the AFL-CIO and its leave the country. IUC-member unions allies mobilized working families to stop the pact—which would extend the North American Free Trade Agreement’s (NAFTA’s) damage to the entire Western Hemisphere except Cuba. In 2002, the FTAA seemed poised for approval. The Bush administra- tion, backed by its corporate allies, was set to move more manufacturing jobs to more low-wage nations, exploit more workers and ship the goods to sell at huge profits. The FTAA contained extensive new rights for multinational corporations—but provided no comparable guarantees for workers’ rights or environmental protections.

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But by November 2003, union members multinational corporations. Joining together, culminated their Stop FTAA efforts in a workers from these diverse countries united three-day event in Miami, where trade in their message to lawmakers: CAFTA ministers from the Western Hemisphere won’t work for workers in any nation. were meeting at the eighth FTAA Ministerial Meeting to discuss the next steps in creat- ing the FTAA. Backed by a coalition that included dozens of unions and their allies, 20,000 workers traveled to Miami and delivered hundreds of thousands of unoffi- cial ballots cast by working families across the nation opposing the FTAA. They were joined by workers from throughout the Americas waging similar campaigns in their own countries. Participants in Miami faced stiff opposition: They were beaten, gassed, shot at with rubber bullets and arrested in a state-sanctioned effort federally funded by $8 million in Iraq war funds. The attacks on FTAA protesters led to an investigation by broadcast journalist Bill Moyers. The AFL-CIO has filed suit over the brutality, and investigations still are under way. Building Good Jobs Ultimately, the mobilization against FTAA stymied its progress, and the Bush Retirement Security administration, fearing defeat in Congress, Working families’ retirement is under changed its strategy and began seeking attack: Whether through corporate bank- smaller trade deals to push more easily ruptcies, job exporting or cost cutting, through Congress. corporations are gutting workers’ pensions and putting workers’ retirement security In May 2004, Bush signed CAFTA, extend- in jeopardy. At the same time, the Bush ing NAFTA to the Dominican Republic and administration’s efforts to privatize Social five Central American countries. Building Security threaten to shred the nation’s most on the success of the FTAA fight, working successful and reliable safety net. families kept up pressure through e-mail and fax campaigns and other actions. Fewer and fewer U.S. workers can count on guaranteed pensions—since 1978, In May 2005, the AFL-CIO launched a new the percentage of private-sector workers “CAFTA—We Don’t Hafta” tour in which covered by guaranteed (defined-benefit) workers from Costa Rica, the Dominican pension plans has plummeted from 41 per- Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala and the cent to less than 21 percent today. Rocky United States traveled from Washington, conditions in the nation’s financial markets D.C., to New York City and San Antonio have put tremendous pressure on pension to describe how CAFTA would harm work- funds and greatly increased the contribu- place standards and destroy economic tions some employers must make to their development while lining the pockets of plans. Faced with increased competition

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 31 from cheap imports and a sluggish economy, Beginning in spring 2005, working families employers are looking for easy ways to staged rallies to expose the risks of privatiza- reduce costs. Some, such as United Airlines tion at each stop of a Bush cross-country and Bethlehem Steel Corp., are using the tour, in which he tried to sell his scheme nation’s bankruptcy laws to cut expenses in so-called town hall meetings before by breaking contracts with workers and screened, handpicked audiences of GOP eliminating their pension obligations or loyalists. The union movement’s education reducing the pension payouts. and information campaign has provided activists and the public with facts highlight- The AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions are ing the dangers of privatizing Social developing key principles for pension policy Security and illustrating how retirees rely reform to ensure workers retain solid on Social Security’s guaranteed retirement pension plans and to make certain more benefits. Activist tools include fact sheets, workers receive pension coverage on which charts, talking points and more on the they can count. AFL-CIO website and through the Working Families Toolkit. To strengthen Social Security and defeat Bush administration plans to privatize this Through the Office of Investment, the bedrock family economic security program, AFL-CIO launched a campaign to counter unions and their partners, including the the massive funding of and support for Alliance for Retired Americans and Americans Social Security privatization by some of the United to Protect Social Security, have nation’s largest financial firms––including launched massive member mobilization Charles Schwab Corp., Waddell & Reed Inc. and public education campaigns, coupled and Edward Jones. Working family activists with a drive to expose corporations’ and have marched and rallied at the firms’ financial firms’ support for privatization. offices in dozens of cities, and the AFL-CIO has compiled information documenting the companies’ involvement in such front groups for Social Security privatization as the Securities Industry Association, a Wall Street lobby group. The AFL-CIO mobilized activists through the Working Families Network to take online action urging Schwab and other firms to end their support of Social Security privatiza- tion. By April 2005, one of the nation’s largest brokerage firms, Edward Jones, and the investment firm Waddell & Reed dropped out of pro-privatization lobbying groups after facing public pressure.

When Bush and the White House tried to line up congressional support for the scheme, working families mobilized to win the pledges of House and Senate members to protect Social Security. By early summer

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2005, public support for Bush’s handling of Social Security had dropped to 34 percent, and even congressional Republicans were backing away from the risky scheme.

Health Care for Working Families The United States spends more on health care than any other country in the world, yet nearly 47 million Americans lack med- ical coverage. While most Americans with health insurance rely on their employers for access to quality care, employers increas- ingly are shifting their rising costs to workers who struggle to pay higher premi- ums, deductibles and co-payments.

In 2003, the AFL-CIO convened three regional conferences on health care Wages bargaining to discuss the challenges unions When the Bush administration attempted face in bargaining and to strategize solu- to steamroll a massive cut in U.S. workers’ tions. More and more, as health care issues overtime pay, working families and their frequently top the list of concerns in union unions countered with an unprecedented bargaining discussions, the AFL-CIO’s fight. Through marches, postcard campaigns, bargaining assistance to affiliated unions e-mail and fax communications, America’s on major contract negotiations focuses on working families generated massive public winning strategies for health care benefits. and congressional opposition to the Bush The AFL-CIO has assisted in the following take-away, the biggest rollback of overtime contract talks in which health care was a pay rights since passage of the 1938 Fair key issue: Labor Standards Act.

I CWA negotiations with SBC Congress voted four times in 2003 to kill Communications Inc. in 2004; the scheme—and only White House arm- I CWA negotiations with Verizon in 2003; twisting and backroom maneuvering by I IUE-CWA–led coalition of 14 unions Republican lawmakers kept it alive. By the and General Electric, mid-term strike end of 2004, Congress had voted six times and campaign to fight cost shifting to block Bush’s overtime pay take-away, in 2003; highlighting working families’ success I UFCW and Southern California in getting Congress’s attention on a key grocery employers in 2002–2003; issue the Bush administration otherwise I International Longshore and would have quietly rammed through the Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime regulatory process. Association in 2002; I BCTGM and Hershey Foods Corp. in Beginning in March 2003 when Bush first 2002; and proposed the scheme, workers sent more I IBT and Basic Vegetable Products than 1.6 million e-mails, faxes and letters (ConAgra Foods Inc.) in 2001. to lawmakers, the U.S. Department of Labor

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 33

and the Bush administration to protest the movement has countered the challenges, action. After the 2004 elections, Bush winning key battles despite the ferocity of threatened to veto a huge spending bill the opposition. needed to keep many sections of the gov- ernment running if Congress amended the The AFL-CIO and some 30 affiliated unions bill to include a ban on the new overtime developed and lobbied for legislation to Because of working rules—and as a result, Republican leaders ensure fair compensation for more than removed the amendment. But because of 1.5 million victims of asbestos exposure and families’ outpouring working families’ outpouring of opposition, to prevent legislation to bail out asbestos of opposition, the Department of Labor made significant defendants. improvements in the final rule, with the Department 2 million fewer workers likely to lose their The Bush administration’s Occupational of Labor made overtime pay than in the original proposal. Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) The resistance campaign was key to build- has not addressed the dramatic increases in significant ing union members’ awareness of the Bush both the number and rate of fatalities improvements in agenda to roll back workers’ rights. among Hispanic workers. The AFL-CIO and its affiliates highlighted these alarming the final rule, with Along with the attack on overtime pay, the increases, which occurred as the overall 2 million fewer Bush administration has backed legislation number and rate of workplace fatalities to allow employers to replace paid overtime were dropping. Unions have publicized workers likely to with compensatory time off and replace these issues in an attempt to force OSHA lose their overtime the 40-hour workweek with an 80-hour, to take stronger actions to protect Latino two-week pay period. Both proposals would and immigrant workers. At the same time, pay than in the force employees to work longer hours for unions are exploring ways to reach and original proposal. less pay. Working family opposition has educate Hispanic and immigrant workers kept both proposals from advancing. about their safety and health rights and The Bush administration and Republican protections. congressional leaders also repeatedly have blocked attempts to pass legislation to raise The AFL-CIO and its affiliates were instru- the minimum wage, which at $5.15 an mental in developing and lobbying for hour, hasn’t been increased since 1997. the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program that established a compensation system for workers made Safety and Health—The Fight ill through their employment at the for Safe Jobs Continues Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons The Bush administration has turned its facilities. Unions also led the charge in back on workers and workplace safety and December 2002 when health care workers health, overturning or blocking dozens of nationwide voiced their concerns about important workplace protections. The the Bush administration’s plan to vaccinate administration has pushed voluntary com- millions of people against smallpox. pliance rather than issuing new protective Congress overwhelmingly passed the standards and enforcing current law. Each Smallpox Emergency Personnel Act to Bush administration budget has reduced compensate caregivers, their families and the federal government’s commitment to patients who became disabled or died as protecting workers’ safety and health. a result of the vaccine. In addition, state federations, with help from the AFL-CIO As the nation’s most prominent advocate Safety and Health Department, fought for workers’ safety and health, the union against insurers, employers and extremist

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Republicans in state legislatures to protect the federation publishes a comprehensive already scant workers’ compensation bene- report on the state of workplace safety and fits for millions of injured workers. health in the United States and supports the organizing of hundreds of local events Through train-the-trainer programs at the and activities. Workers Memorial Day has National Labor College, scores of union become a global event, with trade unions in activists and staff have taken part in com- more than 100 countries now organizing prehensive training in workplace health and similar April 28 activities. safety. With input from affiliated unions, the AFL-CIO and the National Labor In the AFL-CIO’s ongoing work with affiliated College developed a new course for organiz- unions, the federation will lead the union ers, Using Safety and Health in Organizing movement’s efforts to defend existing work- Campaigns. Affiliates plan to use the course, place protections and push for action on piloted in January 2005, nationwide to train major problems such as ergonomics, job their organizers. stress, work hours, behavioral safety, chemi- cal exposures and infectious diseases. These The AFL-CIO has continued its annual efforts must be built on education and April 28 Workers Memorial Day observance organizing at the grassroots level and tied to to call attention to job safety problems and other legislative and political activities that to renew the fight for safe jobs. Each year, increase workers’ political strength.

Working Families Network Expands to Reach Millions

In 2002, the AFL-CIO developed and launched faxes, letters and phone calls to lawmakers in 2004 the online AFL-CIO Working Families Network and reinforced the importance of political action for unions, state federations and central bodies. in the 2004 elections. Union activists sent out One of the federation’s most far-reaching efforts, 15.6 million voter education e-mails during Labor the Working Families Network provides a stream- 2004 through the Working Families Network, lined method to recruit and manage lists of which now has grown to include nearly 4 million activists online by locations, interests and levels activists. Through the Working Families Network, of activism. The Working Families Network gives members have supported workers’ organizing union leaders a tool to mobilize union members— efforts in various campaigns, including at Verizon 75 percent of whom have online access—and Wireless, Cintas, Gallo and Safeway, by demanding enables activists to relay their key concerns to these employers honor their workers’ choice. elected leaders, CEOs and others. With a simple e-mail alert, union members can be mobilized to take part in rallies and events and keep abreast of the latest key working-family issues and provide support to workers seeking to form unions.

Hundreds of thousands of union members received issues education messages on Bush’s overtime pay take-away, the Medicare prescription drug battle, extremist judicial nominees, Social Security and unfair trade agreements. These e-mail action alerts generated nearly 2 million e-mails,

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 35

The AFL-CIO also will address the safety victims of corporate greed. Coming to and health concerns of workers through America seems the only way to create a union organizing. For most workers, the better life for many people in developing right to a safe job can be realized only countries slaving for pennies an hour. through collective action and a union contract. At the same time, organizing Unfortunately, immigrant workers in the around safety and health can help build United States continue to be victims of stronger active local unions. corporate greed largely because of the failure of our immigration system and our The AFL-CIO will work with affiliates to labor laws. In fact, industries that cannot develop effective strategies to incorporate outsource jobs to developing nations—such safety and health into organizing campaigns as the construction industry, meatpacking, and to support the training of organizers to food processing and service jobs—are find- identify and address workers’ safety and ing ways to import the labor standards of health concerns as part of union organizing the developing nations to this country. efforts. Nowhere is that more evident than in the courts’ interpretation of the Supreme Court’s decision in Hoffman Plastic Compounds Immigrant Workers’ Rights v. NLRB, which denies undocumented As corporations seeking the lowest wages workers who are fired for union activity and least regulation move jobs out of the the traditional remedy of back pay. United States, standards sink for workers here and abroad. With globalization The application of that decision in other destroying the infrastructure of developing areas of law has perverse incentive for nations, more and more workers become employers to abuse immigrant workers. For example, the Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, recently held that a construction worker who was injured on the job because of the employer’s negli- gence was entitled to recover back pay for the time he was injured, and so unable to work, but not at the rate he was earning in New York. Rather, the worker was able only to recover at the rate he would have been earning in Mexico, where the court said he should have been working.

In this framework, immigrant workers in the United States continue to face the harshest forms of workplace injustices: employer interference with their rights to improve wages and working conditions through unionization; discrimination and abuse at the hands of unscrupulous employers; and the enduring struggle for dignity and respect, both as workers and human beings. Further, the ability of

36 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005

employers to exploit vulnerable immigrant on Capitol Hill to push for citizenship for workers with impunity imperils workplace all immigrant workers. Immigrant workers rights and protections for all workers, and their allies also discussed with lawmakers regardless of their immigration status. the need to change the laws to allow immi- grant workers to reunite their families and The AFL-CIO has taken the lead in fighting to protect immigrants’ civil rights, liberties for justice for immigrant workers in the and workplace rights. workplace, in communities and in the public policy arena. We know communities become stronger and the balance between income and public services is restored when employers provide better-paying jobs, health care and safe working environments for all workers. As part of the union move- ment’s effort to ensure good jobs and strong communities for working families, today’s unions are standing strong to demand protection for the rights of immigrant workers and to thwart employers’ attempts to exploit immigrants and pit workers against each other.

In fall 2003, the union movement organ- ized the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, in which hundreds of immigrant workers Making the Immigrant Workers Freedom boarded buses in 10 different cities for a Ride such a huge success took months of cross-country tour highlighting immigrant strategic planning, involving hundreds of workers’ struggle for justice. union members reaching out to immigrant workers, community allies and activists— Modeled after the Freedom Rides of the and ultimately, building lasting coalitions 1960s, which challenged racial segregation for long-term mutual support. in the Deep South, the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride energized workers at every The federation also has provided ongoing stop. Moving the issue of immigrant rights legal and technical assistance to affiliates to the national agenda, the workers, who during organizing campaigns and contract represented dozens of nationalities, traveled negotiations. For example, in 2003, when more than 20,000 miles and stopped in a group of courageous mine workers of more than 100 cities across the country Mexican ancestry attempted to organize as part of a national coalition of unions a mine in Utah, the employer, one of the and community groups. At many stops, biggest mine owners in the country, fired participants took part in supporting cam- them under the guise of having “discovered” paigns by workers seeking to form unions, problems with the immigration papers. The with workers speaking to the group about UMWA, with the assistance of the AFL-CIO the opposition they faced from their Office of General Counsel, used various employers. The new Freedom Riders trav- creative legal strategies to bring justice to eled to Washington, D.C., where they held these workers’ struggle. The AFL-CIO also more than 120 meetings with lawmakers developed training materials and toolkits

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 37

to assist organizers and union leaders in I Labor and business together should reaching out to emerging immigrant design mechanisms to meet legitimate communities. needs for new workers without compro- mising the rights and opportunities of Finally, the AFL-CIO also has taken the workers already here. lead in campaigning for comprehensive I Temporary worker programs must immigration reform and has developed a guarantee all workers have enforceable set of principles that must be included in labor protections and must not allow any new federal legislation, including a employers to use workers’ immigration real process toward legalization of undocu- status to drive down wages and work- mented workers and their families. place standards. These principles are:

I Undocumented workers and their Holding Corporations families make enormous contributions Accountable to their communities and workplaces and should be provided permanent Capital Stewardship legal status through a new legalization Holding corporations accountable and program. preventing the types of corporate behavior I The Hoffman Plastic Compounds decision that brought down companies such as must be reversed. Otherwise, the cur- Enron Corp., WorldCom and Tyco Inter- rent perverse incentives for employers national Ltd. are critical parts of the to hire and exploit undocumented AFL-CIO’s efforts to ensure family-supporting workers will continue. jobs and secure benefits for working I Employer sanctions and the I-9 system families. The union movement is effectively should be replaced with a system that using the power of workers’ savings—worth targets and criminalizes employers who some $5 trillion—to reform corporate recruit undocumented workers from behavior and protect the retirement security abroad for economic gain. of millions of working families. I Immigrant workers should have full workplace rights, including the freedom Working with the AFL-CIO Office of to form unions and protections for Investment, worker benefit funds are whistle-blowers. leading the shareholder fight to challenge I Government safety net benefits are CEO excess and restore genuine accounta- important for all workers, and those bility to the corporate boardroom. Worker unfairly taken away by Congress should funds sponsored shareholder challenges to be restored. enhance corporate governance and rein in runaway CEO pay in 2004. Worker funds also are demanding greater accountability by running “Vote No” initiatives on corporate directors. In response, there have been more majority votes on shareholder proposals—46 worker fund proposals received majority votes in 2004—and more companies are engaging in meaningful dialogues with worker fund shareholders.

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Most importantly, more companies than The AFL-CIO capital stewardship program ever are responding to majority shareholder also has ramped up retirement security votes, reforming executive pay and even initiatives to defend defined-benefit retire- stripping conflicted directors of their board ment plans, particularly the many public seats and committee assignments. pension funds now under attack, and undermine Wall Street support for the Many of these reforms are occurring in Bush plan to privatize Social Security response to votes included in the annual (see Retirement Security, page 31). AFL-CIO Key Votes Survey. The Key Votes Survey rates the voting practices of invest- With Bush’s recent nomination of ment managers by surveying how they Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Calif.)—author voted on proposals representing a worker– of legislation that would have made it owner view of value. In 2004, for the first virtually impossible for shareholders to time, the Key Votes Survey also included the bring suit against companies that misled In a clear sign that giant mutual fund companies, which now or deceived them—to head the SEC, union are required to disclose their proxy votes activists have geared up to challenge the worker funds are following a successful AFL-CIO rule-making retrenchment of bipartisan corporate closing in on the petition and investor campaign that led to reform. The AFL-CIO is coordinating this new Securities and Exchange Commission ongoing effort and will continue to ramp very conflicts that (SEC) disclosure rules. In another regulatory up its corporate accountability and retire- give rise to the reform long sought by the AFL-CIO, the ment security initiatives. nonprofit Financial Accounting Standards imperial CEO, the Board moved to require the expensing of Wal-Mart business community stock options. With a record-breaking $10 billion in profits last year and more than $288 billion in now is leading an In a clear sign that worker funds are closing annual sales, Wal-Mart made more than all-out effort to in on the very conflicts that give rise to the twice the profits of its leading retail com- imperial CEO, the business community now petitors combined, according to the company’s roll back recent is leading an all-out effort to roll back most recent annual report. Wal-Mart, the regulatory reforms recent regulatory reforms and silence the nation’s largest private-sector employer, is shareholder advocacy of the worker funds one of the most visible and well-known and silence the that have been at the forefront of the U.S. corporations. But while it built its early shareholder corporate reform movement. The backlash reputation on low prices, several years of began in fall 2003 when the SEC, in response focused campaigns by the union movement advocacy of the to an AFL-CIO rule-making petition and and its allies have spotlighted the real worker funds that calls from worker funds, proposed rules that Wal-Mart: a multibillion-dollar corporation would make it easier for shareholders to that pays its employees low wages and have been at the nominate directors. The backlash intensi- provides inadequate health care benefits forefront of the fied after worker funds successfully broke while running small businesses out of up cozy boards at companies such as Cintas communities and lowering job and benefit corporate reform Corp. and Safeway Inc. Building on these standards. It has directed its vast resources movement. victories, worker funds redoubled their to stamping out its workers’ freedom to efforts in 2005, submitting another 340 form unions, changing its processes to elim- shareholder proposals by mid-2005 and, inate the work of meat cutters when they most recently, challenging the Wal-Mart chose union representation in Texas and board to address its legal compliance failures. shutting down an entire store in Canada

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 39

because workers there formed a union. earn poverty-wages, according to a report Wal-Mart also squeezes suppliers so hard by a congressional staff committee. they are forced to move jobs overseas, pri- marily to countries with egregious labor In Arkansas, where Wal-Mart is headquar- conditions. Through websites, town hall tered, Wal-Mart has more workers and their meetings, ballot initiatives and in local children on the state’s Medicaid and other town council meetings, the union move- public assistance programs for low-income ment has highlighted Wal-Mart’s reputation workers and families than any other as one of the most virulent anti-union, anti- employer in the state. In fact, virtually worker employers in the nation and one of every state that has looked into the the biggest beneficiaries of corporate welfare. question of which employers’ workers are relying on public health programs Working families and health care activists for themselves or their children reports have developed a model Health Care Wal-Mart tops the list. Disclosure Act for which they are seeking support in state legislatures to hold In 2003, unions spearheaded a community Wal-Mart and other big-box corporations coalition in Inglewood, Calif., that rallied accountable when their employees are voters who ultimately rejected a Wal-Mart– forced to use taxpayer-funded public services sponsored ballot initiative that would have because they can’t afford employer-offered allowed a Wal-Mart supercenter the size of health care benefits (see page 50). At the 17 football fields to be developed in their same time, they are seeking to pass living- community—unhindered by local and state wage laws to ensure all workers have planning review. The defeat was the first family-supporting incomes. of its kind for Wal-Mart, which had sought to bypass local lawmakers who opposed Each Wal-Mart store employing 200 people the plan. costs taxpayers approximately $420,750 annually in public social services used by Working with the UFCW, the AFL-CIO is Wal-Mart workers whose low wages and providing key support in the campaign to unaffordable health insurance mean many hold Wal-Mart accountable. Launched in August 2004, the AFL-CIO’s website, Paying the Price at Wal-Mart (www.walmartcosts you.com), has provided tens of thousands of visitors the real story behind Wal-Mart’s corporate practices and gives union and nonunion workers advice and suggestions on mobilizing their communities for justice at Wal-Mart. To further educate union members about the high costs of shopping at Wal-Mart, the AFL-CIO in 2005 sent notices through Union Privilege credit card mailings, reaching literally millions of union members. In a series of five messages on Wal-Mart this year, the AFL-CIO

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Working Families Network e-mailed nearly Colombian trade unionists by paramilitary 1.5 million activists with background troops. Working with unions, nongovern- information on Wal-Mart’s low wages mental organizations and other community and unaffordable benefits and, along with partners, the AFL-CIO American Center for The AFL-CIO also WORKING AMERICA’s e-mail outreach, International Labor Solidarity (Solidarity mobilized e-activists to protest the closing Center) supports programs and projects to is pursuing justice of the Wal-Mart store in Canada after advance workers’ rights and promote broad- for garment workers voted to form a union. based, sustainable economic development around the world. workers around the world in the International Solidarity The Solidarity Center assists independent The AFL-CIO organized international unions through programs in more than Behind the Label support from unions around the world 40 countries on issues such as ending child Campaign; helping for workers struggling for the freedom to labor, advancing workers’ rights, building organize and bargain for fair standards at union capacity and holding corporations workers win rights multinational corporations. A major recent responsible. The center worked with the in China and fight for justice took place at Quebecor International Labor Organization (ILO) World Inc., the world’s largest commercial to persuade governments to implement and Burma; and joining printer. In May 2005, the Graphic enforce the ILO’s Fundamental Principles with activists to Communications Conference of IBT, the and Rights at Work to provide union AFL-CIO and Quebecor World reached a activists with the knowledge and skills they stop the murder historic agreement on union organizing need to develop and manage democratic of Colombian at the company’s nonunion U.S. facilities. trade unions. This agreement guarantees Quebecor World trade unionists by workers across the nation the right to form In 2003, the Solidarity Center launched paramilitary and join a union free from harassment or a corporate accountability campaign geared intimidation (see Voice@Work, page 26). toward companies operating in the Americas, troops. Africa and Asia. It developed and imple- The AFL-CIO also is pursuing justice for mented workers’ rights promotion garment workers around the world in the programs in countries that have signed Behind the Label Campaign; helping workers trade agreements or are engaged in trade win rights in China and Burma; and join- negotiations with the United States and ing with activists to stop the murder of the European Union.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 41

Show Us the Jobs!

In March 2004, 51 workers—one from each state and technical writer from the telecommunications and the District of Columbia—boarded buses in industry in November 2001. Her apprehensions St. Louis for an eight-day trip through eight states reflected those of millions of Americans. and 18 cities to shine a spotlight on the effects of joblessness on their families and communities. “I’m concerned for myself and for the future of the nation,” Josephine said on the bus tour. The Show Us the Jobs tour kicked off at a time “We’ve lost a lot of our manufacturing base, when some 1.1 million workers were jobless and now we’re losing technical and service jobs for so long they had run out of emergency overseas. There should be some constraints on unemployment insurance—while the Bush free trade so it doesn’t tear apart our families and administration and Republican congressional communities. People need to work to earn a living leaders continued to block efforts to provide and keep their homes. We need to strengthen new unemployment insurance. By early 2004, America’s local economic base. So-called free an average of 85,444 people lost their jobs every trade will not result in the trickling down of new day, and under President Bush’s leadership the jobs for people like me.” nation had lost more than 3 million private-sector jobs, including almost 2.8 million manufacturing On March 31, the Show Us the Jobs buses arrived jobs. in Washington, D.C., where participants were greeted by hundreds of supporters who joined Sponsored by the AFL-CIO and WORKING AMERICA, them at a Capitol Hill rally and in lobbying visits the tour showcased the people and towns hit to support legislation to stop employers from ship- hard by the jobs crisis and sent a message that a ping jobs overseas and encourage job growth in change was needed in national economic policy the United States. Show Us the Jobs participants to create family-supporting jobs. have represented the interests of working people in the media, at the Democratic Platform Drafting The tour received wide media coverage at all Committee and elsewhere. the stops and in the national news. Many of the riders wrote daily blogs (Web logs) launched on a special AFL-CIO Show Us the Jobs website, which provided an activist toolkit with facts on the nation’s jobs crisis, biographies of the 51 partic- ipants, up-to-date bus tour highlights and action options for signing a petition and sending e-mails urging Bush and Congress to create good jobs.

In community gatherings and rallies throughout the bus tour, Show Us the Jobs participants described how they had lost their jobs because of bad trade policies that make it profitable for employers to ship jobs overseas.

Josephine, 50, a bus rider from Highland Park, N.J., was laid off from her job as an industrial engineer

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SOLIDARITY in Action

By Labor 2004, more than 225,000 union activist volunteers UELED BY THE EXTREMIST RIGHT, 19 percent in 1992. The AFL-CIO’s strategic contacted more Congress and the Bush administration mobilization also boosted grassroots F than 90 percent have escalated their war on working fami- member political action far beyond the lies and their unions since 2001, pushing ballot box: By Labor 2004, more than of America’s Bush tax breaks for the wealthy, widening 225,000 union activist volunteers contacted the wage-and-wealth gap, destroying the more than 90 percent of America’s union union members, federal budget surplus and decimating members, knocked on 6 million doors and knocked on programs for working families and the poor. made 10 million phone calls. In addition, With millions of dollars in backing from they distributed 32 million leaflets at work- 6 million doors Big Business—in a campaign war chest that sites and in neighborhoods––most of which and made 10 million expands exponentially each major election were produced through the online AFL-CIO year—Bush, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and Working Families Toolkit. The AFL-CIO phone calls. other extremist politicians have used their also mailed 30 million issues pamphlets financial momentum to make gains at to union members, and AFL-CIO affiliated the expense of working families. unions sent millions more.

Despite the hostile political environment, The mobilization’s ability to increase America’s working families are making their the number of union household voters voices heard today more than ever as has been so effective it is being imitated the AFL-CIO’s year-around political by our political foes. Notorious anti-worker mobilization—based on a 10 point plan Rep. DeLay touted the union movement’s for member-to-member issues education— political blueprint as a best practice model. continues to set record voter turnouts. In Labor 2004, union household members “Labor unions have done a better job of made up 24 percent of all voters, up from putting more volunteers on the ground

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 43

where they’re needed the most—in AFL-CIO Member Mobilization Fund will competitive races,” DeLay said in 2002. provide resources for a new long-term polit- ical strategy to build toward a progressive Affiliated unions of the AFL-CIO recognized majority over the next several election cycles. the importance of the new and expanded The fund will cover ground campaigns, political mobilization initiatives and agreed member education/get-out-the-vote (GOTV) in 2002 to increase their assessment to fund efforts, issues mobilization, initiatives and union member education, voter registration referenda, targeting and planning, special and mobilization—funding that goes elections, Target 5000 for electing union toward issues campaigns, not political members and training and support for candidates, whose endorsements the WORKING AMERICA. AFL-CIO conducts on a bipartisan basis. In creating a year-round voter mobilization Union voters made the difference in several network, building on the many political key battleground states in which union successes and strategies developed over the density was deep. But with Big Business past decade and refined in the past four outspending working families by 23-to-1 in years, the union movement is laying the the 2004 election cycle and divisive social foundation to take on local, state and issues mobilizing the extreme conservative national political battles to mobilize union voter base, anti-worker candidates prevailed members and the nearly 50 million voters in many races. in union households.

As part of a multipronged strategy that includes massive increases in mobilizing Labor 2004 workers and developing and strengthening bonds with community allies, affiliated 10 Point Political Action Plan unions and state and local bodies, the Shortly after the 2001 AFL-CIO Convention, union political leaders and activists began developing new strategies The AFL-CIO 10 Point Political Action Plan and creating cutting-edge Web-based tools to put in place the union movement’s 1. Recruit key contacts at locals and worksites. 10 Point Political Action Plan. Starting with the 2002 elections, the AFL-CIO spearheaded 2. Distribute leaflets at all union worksites. political training for union activists and 3. Maximize contact through union publications. candidates, developed a campaign to ensure every vote was counted and explored and 4. Mail frequent communications from local union launched new technologies and strategies presidents and other leaders. for nuts-and-bolts member education, voter registration and GOTV efforts. 5. Maximize the impact of union phone calls.

6. Update local member lists. Laying the Groundwork for 7. Increase voter registration by 10 percent. Labor 2004 Nearly two years before the 2004 elections, 8. Conduct a massive get-out-the-vote effort. the AFL-CIO launched efforts to educate 9. Build rapid-response networks in workplaces. union voters about the high stakes for working families. The federation’s national 10. Link politics to organizing. education initiative centered on the impact

44 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 of Bush’s political and legislative agendas the union movement’s 10 Point Political on working families. More than 10,000 Action Plan. local union leaders took part in the federa- tion’s education workshops, and numerous With a large field of Democratic presidential unions and constituency groups built on challengers lining up for the 2004 elections, and adapted them for their members. the AFL-CIO sought candidates’ views about working-family issues and submitted Although 2002 was not a presidential detailed questionnaires to the White House election year, record numbers of union hopefuls, including Bush. All Democratic members mobilized to get out the vote: candidates responded. Bush did not. The More than 4,000 local union coordinators responses were posted on www.aflcio.org. reached out to tens of thousands of union member volunteers who helped propel pro-working family lawmakers to victory. In Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, union-backed candidates wrested governors’ offices from the opposition.

To further mobilize working-family voters, the AFL-CIO launched a swing-voter identi- fication and communication program. Through an intricate statistical analysis of survey, targeting, demographic and publicly available consumer data, the virtual targeting initiative identified swing voters, enabling the federation to tailor messages and education material adapted to their specific interests—overtime pay, health care and other issues expected to be key in the presidential election.

By intensifying workplace contacts, refining To provide further information to union electronic mobilization, electing union voters, the federation conducted a Working members and reaching out to community Families Presidential Forum in July 2003 allies in 2003, union activists crafted in which all nine Democratic presidential successful mobilization test runs for 2004. candidates answered questions from workers In New Jersey, 35 of the 53 union members about vital working-family issues. The running for state and local offices won their nationally televised forum was the only races, in large part due to local union mobi- campaign event that focused exclusively lizations that resulted in high union-family on working-family issues. turnout. In Philadelphia, unions joined with community members, civil rights and With an eye toward building stronger coali- religious activists and others to re-elect their tions to battle Bush’s corporate-bankrolled pro-worker mayor, John Street. Cleveland- 2004 campaign, the union movement area unions focused their efforts on four expanded its outreach to partner groups— mayoral races, five school board contests especially to communities of color. In addi- and a city council election—and won all 10 tion, unions joined with new organizations races with the strong implementation of such as Voices for Working Families, the

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 45 Partnership for America’s Families, America had contacted millions of union members Coming Together, America Votes and about the important issues in national, state Moving America Forward, while continuing and local races. As Election Day neared and long-term campaigns such as Working the working families’ mobilization for Sen. Women Vote, which since 1996 has mobi- John Kerry (D-Mass.) and for passage of key lized women voters by connecting their working-family measures continued to everyday challenges with the need for polit- grow, more than 225,000 union activist ical action. volunteers had taken part in voter outreach, education and mobilization. They contact- Unprecedented Member Mobilization ed more than 90 percent of union members By Jan. 1, 2004, Labor 2004 staff, organiza- affiliated with the AFL-CIO, knocked on tions and volunteers were in place in key 6 million doors, made 10 million phone battleground states in which the presiden- calls and distributed 32 million leaflets at tial election was expected to be decided. The worksites and in neighborhoods. In addi- union movement concentrated resources in tion, the AFL-CIO mailed out 30 million the 16 battleground states with narrow issues pamphlets and affiliated unions sent 2000 election results, where working-family millions more. As part of Working Women voters could make a difference. Along with Vote activities, the federation coordinated a an unprecedented 290 AFL-CIO staff mem- woman-to-woman letter-writing campaign bers, national unions committed more in support of Kerry that sent nearly 5,000 than 5,900 staff and local union officers handwritten letters to undecided union to Labor 2004. women voters in battleground states and generated 20,000 messages to Sen. Kerry By Labor Day, the traditional start to the and President Bush on issues of concern election campaign, local union coordina- to working women. tors––union member volunteers––already Although Bush won a narrow victory by running a fear-based campaign that empha- Working Families Toolkit sized terrorism and ongoing military action, union members overwhelmingly supported As the union movement built its grassroots outreach in Kerry for president. Union households 2004, the AFL-CIO greatly expanded its online Working accounted for one of four voters, totaling Families Toolkit. The toolkit—which plays an increasingly 27 million union household voters in 2004, important role in mobilizing and educating members— according to an independent election night enables union leaders and activists to create, customize, survey and exit polls. Union households download or print worksite fliers and other issues educa- provided a 5.8 million vote advantage for tion materials. The fliers can be tailored for national the Democratic candidate for president, union affiliates, local unions, state federations and central according to an Election Day exit poll. labor councils, and activists can select issues that resonate with their members. In addition to customized Sixty-five percent of AFL-CIO-affiliated worksite fliers, the site offers options to create posters, union members voted for Kerry, with an cartoons, newsletter articles, sample letters from union even bigger margin—68 percent—voting for leaders, phone scripts, talking points, precinct walk Kerry in battleground states. In sharply instructions, T-shirts, buttons and other campaign divided Ohio, 67 percent of union members paraphernalia. voted for Kerry, according to the election night survey conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the AFL-CIO.

46 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 After the elections, more than 90 percent millions of U.S. citizens were denied the of union members said they received infor- right to have their votes counted. In 2004, mation from their unions on issues in the the AFL-CIO expanded voter rights efforts presidential campaign crucial to working through the My Vote, My Right campaign. families. Every Vote Counts focused on election reform legislation to mandate states to Ensuring Candidates ensure every vote was counted, educate Support Workers’ Freedom voters about their voting rights and arm to Form Unions them with the information to stand up The AFL-CIO worked with state federations, to election officials seeking to deny them central labor councils and affiliated unions their right to vote. to ensure that throughout the elections, candidate questionnaires solicited the views Through the My Vote, My Right voter of local and national candidates on the protection program in 2004, AFL-CIO state Employee Free Choice Act and their voting rights coordinators formed or joined commitment to workers forming unions. state and local voting rights coalitions in Through the candidate questionnaire, key states that engaged in extensive state during the union-backed presidential and local advocacy to protect the right debate and at events across the country, the to vote. Voter education campaigns were Democratic presidential candidates all took conducted among union members, people strong positions on restoring the freedom of color, people with disabilities and others. to form unions and the need for legislation In coalition with allied organizations, like the Employee Free Choice Act. In unions and union lawyers met with state addition, candidates were asked to take and local election officials to head off concrete action in support of active potential problems. They also set up train- organizing campaigns. When union leaders ings for 1,500 union members and others pressed to negotiate a first contract after to serve as poll watchers in eight states and workers voted to form a union with IBEW helped voter rights advocacy coalitions in January 2004, management resisted address such issues as voter registration negotiating a contract—until the state procedures and polling-place hours. More AFL-CIO and all the Democratic presiden- than 200 members of the AFL-CIO Lawyers tial candidates got involved. Democratic Coordinating Committee (LCC), a national presidential candidate John Kerry took organization of attorneys from unions and action in support of workers actively trying union-friendly law firms, monitored imple- to form a union with CWA at Comcast, with AFSCME at Walker Methodist Health Care Center in south Minneapolis and with GCIU-IBT at Quebecor World.

Every Vote Counts To ensure the integrity of the voting process in the 2002 elections, the AFL-CIO and the civil rights community launched the Every Vote Counts campaign to prevent a repeat of the election debacle in 2000, when

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 47 mentation of election rules in precincts across the nation and staffed a hot line on Election Day for voters who encountered WORKING AMERICA problems when they tried to vote. Some 57 million people say they would join a union if they had a chance. But workers Electing Union Members who try to organize face employer hostility to Public Offices and weak labor laws that can make their Electing union members to public offices fight for a union seem impossible. is one of the best ways to ensure politicians understand and address the concerns of To reach out to such workers and enable them working families. After the initial 2000 in to take action while tapping into their potential 2000 effort helped put more than 2,000 political and legislative power, the AFL-CIO union members in office by 2002, the Executive Council created WORKING AMERICA AFL-CIO expanded the strategy to Target as an AFL-CIO community affiliate. Launched 5000 and offered potential union member in August 2003, WORKING AMERICA grew to candidates assistance through the AFL-CIO more than 800,000 members in just over a National Political Leadership Institute. year, with offices in 12 cities. Many of these With the focus on the 2002 elections and new community members are swing voters, beyond, the AFL-CIO teamed up with the with 70 percent describing themselves as National Labor College to create the insti- moderate to conservative. Yet these WORKING tute, which enables union members and AMERICA members strongly identify with the staff, through weeklong training sessions, working-family issues championed by America’s to hone their political skills to run for union movement—good jobs, strong commu- public office and win elections. The nuts- nities, affordable health care, good education and-bolts training includes campaign man- for their children and secure retirements. agement skills, polling techniques, message development, GOTV strategies and volun- Through WORKING AMERICA’s door-to- teer recruitment. Today, more than 3,000 door canvassing, its website (www.working union members hold public office, includ- america.org) and regular outreach e-mails, ing the 35 New Jersey union members members of WORKING AMERICA: who won state seats for the first time and I Vote in online ballots to determine the another 118 who were re-elected nation- priorities of WORKING AMERICA. wide in 2004. I Receive news updates about jobs, affordable health care, education, retirement and real homeland security. I Get action alerts to help shape local, state and national laws and policies that work for working people.

48 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 WORKING AMERICA (Continued)

WORKING AMERICA members can provide the The 2004 election patterns of WORKING AMERICA margin of victory in important state legislative members demonstrate when politically moderate and electoral fights. They also can help build a or conservative nonpartisan voters are educated new source of workers’ power in local organizing and informed, they cast their votes on working- and bargaining campaigns and provide a nation- family issues—not on divisive “wedge issues.” wide network when America’s union movement As part of WORKING AMERICA’s issues outreach takes on corporations such as Wal-Mart. during the 2004 electoral campaign, WORKING AMERICA members, especially those in swing As part of WORKING AMERICA’s member- areas, received a combination of mail, house education process, WORKING AMERICA and the visits, phone calls and e-mails describing candi- AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council (IUC) in 2004 dates’ positions on working-family issues. launched Job Tracker (www.workingamerica.org /jobtracker), an online interactive database with The results were significant: WORKING AMERICA information on more than 200,000 U.S. corpora- members (70 percent of whom described them- tions and their subsidiaries reported to have selves as moderate or conservative) voted for Sen. moved jobs overseas, including jobs lost due to John Kerry over President Bush, 68 percent to 30 flawed U.S. trade policies. Visitors to the Job percent. In all categories, including gun owners, a Tracker site can search the database by company majority of WORKING AMERICA voters backed name or ZIP code, or by ZIP code and industry. Kerry. Those results show the tremendous potential Within seconds, detailed results are culled from a WORKING AMERICA has to effect political change database that draws from more than a dozen and impact workers’ struggles. sources. Job Tracker also enables visitors to report companies exporting jobs from their communities In the fight to save Social Security from privatiza- and send a fax to Bush and anti-worker members tion, WORKING AMERICA will continue to focus of Congress urging them to stop rewarding com- on key congressional districts. WORKING AMERICA panies with tax incentives to export American jobs. members already this year have sent nearly 70,000 handwritten letters to key senators. At the state As the Bush administration pushed for congres- level, WORKING AMERICA works on priorities set sional passage of its overtime pay take-away by the local union movement, such as health care, in 2004, WORKING AMERICA launched an Ask- anti–job-export bills or minimum-wage initiatives. a-Lawyer feature on its website (www.working At the county and city levels, WORKING AMERICA america.org), enabling visitors to ask a WORKING joins with local unions to identify issues critical in AMERICA lawyer whether their overtime pay was local campaigns. at risk. More than 1,500 people submitted ques- tions, and tens of thousands of others logged on WORKING AMERICA members are part of to see the lawyer’s responses. Thousands of the Wal-Mart campaign and will take part in WORKING AMERICA members and others used organizing campaigns and contract fights and the site’s interactive features to send personalized other initiatives to hold corporations accountable. faxes and e-mails to their elected representatives demanding they protect overtime pay.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 49 Moving a Working Families’ effort to raise the federal minimum wage, Agenda at the State and union activists, joined by other advocates Local Levels for low-wage working families, have won With Congress moving further away from minimum-wage increases in nine states mainstream working-family concerns, the since January 2002, including New Jersey, AFL-CIO is devoting more resources and Minnesota and Connecticut in 2005, and strategic efforts in state legislatures and community after community is passing a executive offices, town councils and county living-wage ordinance, some with additional commissions. Big breakthroughs are happen- protections such as worker retention and ing in state after state, including affordable local hiring requirements. Working families prescription drug legislation in Illinois and are working with state legislatures to win Ohio; affordable health care legislation in state overtime pay protections taken from California, Maine and Nevada; bargaining millions of workers by the Bush administra- rights for home care workers in Illinois, tion in 2004. New overtime protections Oregon and California; bargaining rights for have been signed into law in Illinois and public-sector workers in New Mexico and Maine, and the Massachusetts legislature is With Congress university workers in Maryland; majority considering an overtime pay protection measure. moving further sign-up rights (card-check) for Illinois public employees; and an anti-sweatshop statute In nearly 30 states, low-wage employers away from in Maine. such as Wal-Mart soon may face new laws mainstream spotlighting their drain on taxpayers and In states and communities across the state treasuries because so many of their working-family nation, union activists are holding their workers qualify for state health care assis- lawmakers accountable on economic devel- concerns, the tance and other state aid. Union members opment issues to ensure development subsi- and health care activists are working for AFL-CIO is dies and incentive programs for companies passage of Health Care Disclosure Acts are transparent, with regular public disclo- devoting more that will enable states to determine which sure of the amounts and kinds of subsidies corporate freeloaders are shifting their resources and and incentives received; jobs created with responsibilities to provide health care cover- public money are quality jobs that meet strategic efforts age for their employees onto state taxpayers. acceptable labor standards; and companies The bills require states to collect and in state are required to pay back the money when disclose the names of employers of appli- promised commitments are not met. legislatures and cants for publicly funded health care programs or uncompensated care in hospi- executive offices, In communities large and small, unions tals, as well as the cost to state taxpayers. are spearheading and supporting broad town councils The Health Care Accountability Act is a coalitions of community-based organizations recently introduced federal bill modeled and county to negotiate comprehensive community after the state Health Care Disclosure Act. commissions. benefits agreements, which require develop- ment projects to address community needs States and communities also are working regarding workers’ rights, living-wage and toward legislation to ensure public contracts other job standards, parks and recreation are not awarded to companies that violate facilities, affordable housing and responsible state and federal laws and to ensure compa- contracting and leasing decisions. nies that provide goods and services to states and communities meet minimum While the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress labor standards so responsible contractors continually has blocked any meaningful can compete successfully. In New Jersey,

50 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 acting Gov. Richard Codey (D) signed into and grassroots activists set their legislative law May 5, 2005, union-backed legislation priorities. The agenda centers on creating that ensures the state uses taxpayers’ dollars and strengthening good jobs, stopping the to create jobs by requiring contractors that export of state jobs, ensuring accessible win state service contracts to do that work health care, the freedom to join a union in the United States. In a half-dozen other and holding corporations—including states, coalitions of unions and community Wal-Mart—accountable. and religious groups worked to win legisla- tion addressing outsourcing. Overall in 2005, In 2002 and again in 2004, federation- more than 31 state legislatures around the sponsored meetings of activists from central nation introduced laws that would bar labor councils, affiliates, partner organiza- states from using taxpayer money to ship tions, academia and research organizations Overall in 2005, jobs overseas, with most seeking to ban all across the country focused on legislative more than 31 state vendors from doing state work abroad. and policy changes at the local level. Through an examination and discussion legislatures around To bolster these efforts, the federation has of successful campaigns, the 2002 meeting the nation brought online activism to state legislative was directed at improving labor standards issues with the Working Families Network through living-wage-plus provisions, anti- introduced laws and a password-protected Legislative Issues sweatshop ordinances and economic that would bar website that provides resources, materials, development requirements. The primary information and collaborative tools for focus of the 2004 meeting included devel- states from using union leaders, staff and activists. The inter- oping community benefit agreements and taxpayer money to active website offers the most up-to-date influencing economic development. tools and resources, including model and ship jobs overseas, sample legislation, talking points and State-level legislative efforts also have been with most seeking detailed analyses of legislation critical to directed at stopping anti-worker forces as local activists. they shift from introducing ballot initiatives to ban vendors to working through state legislatures to from doing state The AFL-CIO’s annual Workers’ Voice con- push “paycheck deception” legislation that ferences, launched in 2000, bring together would limit political spending by unions work abroad. state labor federation activists and state law- and union members. But working with makers to discuss important working family the AFL-CIO’s State Issues Initiative that issues and craft strategies for state legislative provides information, resources and other battles. The federation has helped increase assistance, union activists and progressive membership in the National Labor Caucus allies have beaten back most “paycheck of State Legislators (NLCSL), a bipartisan deception” and right-to-work-for-less network of union member and union- measures in the past four years, including friendly state lawmakers committed to 14 of 15 in 2003 and more than a dozen advancing issues working families care about such measures last year. in state legislatures throughout the country. Some 550 lawmakers from all 50 states Working families in California are fighting lobby for working families through the back to defeat “paycheck deception” NLCSL. legislation again, after rejecting it in 1998, when the AFL-CIO led a successful state- In 2005, the AFL-CIO’s Workers’ Voice State wide grassroots campaign against the Issues Project developed a 12-point Working measure. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Families State Agenda—including model called for a special election in fall 2005 on legislation—to help state federations, unions a ballot measure aimed at public employees

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 51 and on other anti-worker measures, includ- and relying on state and local labor move- ing one that gives the governor the ability ments. By broadening, deepening and to cut the budget without the legislature’s increasing the activism and involvement approval. Media reports revealed of its members—and staying mobilized Schwarzenegger’s political team and top not just for elections but between elections, contributors plan to demonize public- creating a permanent culture of activism— By broadening, employee unions and convince the public the union movement can defeat Social that unions are behind the state’s fiscal Security privatization, win quality health deepening and problems. care for all, change the rules of the global increasing the marketplace and restore workers’ freedom Building on Labor 2004 to form unions. activism and Labor 2004’s record-setting grassroots mobi- involvement of its lization is the foundation on which union The AFL-CIO plans to integrate local, state working families will build their political and national legislative fights with political members—and efforts this year and in coming years. mobilization and expand our work with staying mobilized community allies to join the fights of union In 2005, working-family voters are working members with those of other working peo- not just for elec- to elect governors in New Jersey and ple at all levels. We will work together with tions but between Virginia and local public officials in several every national union as well as state and major cities. Union member lawmakers, local labor movements to identify tens of elections, the their union activist colleagues and commu- thousands of local union coordinators to union movement nity allies also are working to strengthen the lead worksite issue education and mobiliza- voices of working families in the decision- tion efforts. Further, we plan to develop can defeat making process—whether in city councils, and support full-time campaign directors in Social Security county boards or state legislatures—and key areas and create mobilization capacity continue to build a network to win pro- in every state through joint planning and privatization, worker legislation and elect pro-worker training, working with and through state win quality health candidates. Major mayoral and municipal federations, area labor federations and elections are on tap this year, including central labor councils. care for all, change races in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, the rules of the Miami and Detroit. In addition, the labor America’s unions must adopt a longer-term, movement will mobilize working-family member-driven strategy focused on creating global marketplace voters in California to fight the anti-worker a pro-worker government that acts in the and restore initiatives Schwarzenegger and his allies interests of working families—at the federal are seeking to place on the special election level and in city halls and statehouses workers’ freedom ballot. across the nation. It’s time to expand what to form unions. has worked and retool where improvements Through Labor 2004, working families can be made. Going forward, the union further refined and expanded the union movement’s detailed strategy looks ahead movement’s effective member-to-member not just to next year’s elections or even outreach, building strong networks for the important presidential elections in ongoing grassroots action. With the three years, but also to 2010 and beyond, support of state and local labor movements, when working families can influence the the AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions can congressional redistricting that will create expand those assets to build lasting mobi- a new political landscape in 2012. lization structures rooted in communities

52 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 Putting the Brakes on Right-to-Work-for-Less in New Hampshire

In early 2003, the National Right to Work lobbying campaign, distributing postcards protest- Committee (NRTWC) launched a vitriolic, ing the legislation. Voters ultimately signed more anti-union hate-mail campaign aimed at than 48,000 postcards and letters, many filled out New Hampshire voters. With its well-financed at worksites. campaign, support from corporations and groups such as the American Legislative The grassroots lobbying campaign took several Exchange Council (ALEC), which brings together unique turns, especially in the state’s smaller towns Big Business interests and anti-worker lawmakers, and communities. Many union members and a 2-to-1 Republican majority in the state telephoned their representatives—some of whom House and Senate, the NRTWC seemed poised were their neighbors—while others dropped by to win its fight for a state “right to work” law. their homes.

But the New Hampshire AFL-CIO, the state’s On the day of the vote, union members hauled unions and the national AFL-CIO mounted a 20,000 signed postcards to the state capitol and grassroots mobilization built on workplace and presented them to lawmakers before packing the member-to-member contact, special lobbying gallery to watch the vote. The effort paid off when days and town and neighborhood walks in the almost completely Republican New Hampshire which activists distributed some 50,000 fliers. House voted 262–103 to kill the “right to work” The state federation also mounted a mail legislation.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 53 STRONG Families, STRONG Communities

Evolving to meet the changing political and TATE AND LOCAL union movements Strengthening State and economic are the frontline fighters in our efforts Local Union Movements S challenges, state to win key legislative, political and organiz- ing battles on behalf of working families. Building a Unified Labor Movement: federations and Evolving to meet the changing political and Creating Effective State and Local economic challenges, state federations and Labor Councils central labor central labor councils are transforming their The Executive Council of the AFL-CIO councils are structures and functions to become stronger adopted a policy resolution at its March and more effective organizations through 2005 meeting that reaffirms the commit- transforming their the New Alliance program and Union ment of the AFL-CIO to improve the structures and Cities. performance of our state and local organiza- tions. The Committee on State and functions to At the same time, state and local union Local Strategies, charged with overseeing become stronger movements are building even closer work- these responsibilities, has determined that ing relationships with community and faith as a movement we need to build upon and more effective groups, AFL-CIO constituency groups, local the work undertaken through the New organizations lawmakers and new allies and with national Alliance and Union Cities initiatives and partners such as WORKING AMERICA and hold all of our organizations accountable through the New the Alliance for Retired Americans to ensure for their participation and performances. Alliance program family-supporting jobs and strong commu- nities. And increasingly, state and local labor New Alliance and Union Cities. movements are reaching out to immigrant The goal of the union movement’s New workers, helping to protect the rights and Alliance initiative is to build strength for stop exploitation of this vulnerable group working families by growing and strength- of workers. ening state and local union organizations.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 55 The New Alliance aims to bring all parts the Colorado AFL-CIO and the Denver Area of the labor movement in a state together Labor Federation mobilized for municipal around a unified vision and program in elections that included 10 city council seats, support of working families. In some states, the mayor’s office, a city auditor and two the New Alliance initiative includes new election commissioners. Denver Area strengthening local union movements by Labor Federation unions released 19 staff bringing together central labor councils members to the mobilization, and 300 local to create larger and better-resourced Area union volunteers hit the streets and work- Labor Federations. So far, seven states have sites to talk to union members. When the forged New Alliances—Arizona, Colorado, votes were counted, 66.7 percent of union Maryland/District of Columbia, Minnesota, members had turned out, compared with New York, North Carolina and Oregon. just 44.8 percent of the general public—and the strengthened union movement elected New Alliance has resulted in new solidarity all 10 union-endorsed council candidates and strength. After its restructuring through and an auditor. the New Alliance program, the Oregon AFL-CIO experienced the largest increase In Oregon, New Alliance cooperation in affiliation––more than 40 percent—among enabled the IUOE and IBEW to join forces New Alliance state federations. Before the to help workers at the Washington Defense Oregon AFL-CIO retooled its structure, Group’s Hermiston weapons plant win a unions representing 100,000 workers voice at work with IUOE. The two unions were members. After the state federation formed a joint council to fight the employ- adopted the New Alliance, affiliation ers’ virulent anti-union actions and organiz- jumped by 40,000 members from newly ers from several other unions volunteered affiliated unions. The Maryland State and their time to conduct house calls. D.C. AFL-CIO affiliation rose 35 percent, the North Carolina State AFL-CIO affiliation States with New Alliance structures repre- rate increased 26 percent and the New York sent more than 20 percent of national State AFL-CIO saw a 23.5 percent increase union density. In response to the March in affiliation. 2005 call by the Executive Council to step up these efforts in key states, more than This solidarity and strength translates into 80 union leaders from Florida, Ohio and concrete results. As one example, in 2003, Pennsylvania met with members of the Executive Council and AFL-CIO field staff in May 2005 to develop a strategy to estab- lish New Alliance plans for their states.

Union Cities The AFL-CIO Union Cities program has helped central labor councils build political and community alliances in states across the nation. The Union Cities program formed in 1997 when the unions of the AFL-CIO joined with central labor councils to strengthen local unions and the union

56 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 movement community by community. In and elderly individuals by requiring county recent years, some of the nearly 200 local contractors to enter into labor peace agree- labor councils that are part of Union Cities ments with unions seeking to represent have won significant electoral and organiz- their workers. Thirteen hundred workers ing victories for working families. The have union contracts as a result. A federal South Florida AFL-CIO recently helped pass district judge upheld the ordinance in a general obligation bond in Miami-Dade March 2005. The Los Angeles County County and is working to ensure construc- Federation of Labor in 2004 helped lead a tion bonding will result in union jobs. fight with Inglewood, Calif., residents to The Milwaukee County Labor Council keep Wal-Mart from steamrolling construc- mobilized to support a county Labor Peace tion of a supercenter development the size ordinance that prevents disruptions in of 17 football fields. In communities includ- services provided to people with disabilities ing Cleveland, Chicago, St. Paul, Minn.,

The New York Area Labor Federations

For years, 25 central labor councils operated full-time staff and engage in more extensive across dozens of counties in upstate New York, actions. The results have been impressive. home to more than a half-million union workers. Nearly all of those small councils were adminis- In 2003, when Gov. George Pataki (R) vetoed a tered by one or two unpaid officers. But those working-family–backed state budget, the new Area dedicated union officials also worked full time Labor Federations mobilized members to contact at their day jobs and could devote just a few their mostly Republican upstate legislators—many hours a month to labor council activities. of whom said later they seldom had heard from their union-member constituents. Many of those The councils also were seriously underfunded, Republican lawmakers joined in the successful lacking resources to carry out large-scale political, veto override. legislative and organizing campaigns. Four years ago, Empire State union leaders and members The Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation helped came together in a New Alliance (see page 55), negotiate a majority sign-up agreement for a an AFL-CIO program that involves devoting more planned Native American casino in 2004. Last year, resources to politics, legislation and organizing. the Western New York Area Labor Federation played a major role in electing union-backed As a result, New York union leaders founded five Rep. Brian Higgins (D), who replaced a long- upstate Area Labor Federations. The effort is part of time House member whom working families had a nationwide move by central labor councils and tried to unseat in past elections. state federations to meet the changing political and economic challenges by transforming their All the New York Area Labor Federations—includ- structures and functions to become stronger and ing the Capitol District, Central New York and more effective organizations through the AFL-CIO’s Rochester—have mobilized to elect pro-worker New Alliance initiative. The new Area Labor county executives, mayors and council representa- Federations increased union affiliation and the tives. They also are major participants in the cam- member unions agreed to channel available paign to hold Wal-Mart accountable and bring jus- resources to the Area Labor Federations, hire tice to Wal-Mart workers across upstate New York.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 57 Denver, San Diego and elsewhere, labor LCCA played a prominent role in distribut- councils have led successful efforts to stop ing leaflets and brochures on voting rights the Wal-Marting of their communities. in locations where conservative groups In 2003, the Labor Council of South Bay tried to intimidate or suppress voter turnout AFL-CIO joined with community allies in black and Latino communities. LCCA in Sunnyvale, Calif.—the region’s second- organizations held gatherings in advance largest city after San José—and won a of Election Day to familiarize voters with working-family–friendly majority on the new voting equipment before they went city council. to the polls.

The AFL-CIO’s Committee on State and LCCA was the only labor organization to Local Strategies continues to work with explicitly develop a “southern strategy” to The AFL-CIO’s state and local central bodies to build upon mobilize black and Latino voters in five so- constituency their successes and learn from their setbacks called “red states” (Florida, North Carolina, to develop strategies for strengthening the Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi). In groups are unions’ union movement at the state and local levels. Jackson, Miss., for example, 4,000 people bridge to diverse packed an auditorium for a panel discussion organized by LCCA to discuss issues ranging communities, Working with Key Partners from revitalizing blighted urban areas to creating and creating affordable housing and more jobs Constituency Groups that pay living wages. strengthening The AFL-CIO’s constituency groups are partnerships unions’ bridge to diverse communities, Today, LCCA working with the AFL-CIO creating and strengthening partnerships and with Voices for Working Families in the to enhance the to enhance the standard of living for all Social Security debate. LCCA co-sponsors standard of living workers and their families. From their the National Summit on Diversity sched- unique vantage point, these groups play an uled for July 23, 2005, prior to the AFL-CIO for all workers important role in developing the capacity Convention. and their families. of unions to organize by promoting the full participation of women and minorities in The constituency groups have members the union movement and ensuring unions in approximately 300 chapters across the hear and respond to the concerns of the country. Their work is implemented in communities they represent. these chapters and by these chapters, work- ing with community-based organizations Formed in 2003, the Labor Coalition for and often partnering with state federations Community Action (LCCA) is the umbrella and central labor councils. organization of AFL-CIO constituency groups created to coordinate constituency The hope is that LCCA will be even more group activities in the 2004 elections. LCCA involved in outreach to nonunion mem- conducted voter registration, education and bers, in reaching potential voters and in GOTV operations in 41 cities in the 2004 other community-based activities promot- cycle. More than 2,000 community and ing legislation and the labor movement union volunteers assisted with phone itself. As a bridge to diverse communities, banking, driving senior citizens to vote at LCCA strengthens the labor movement’s their correct polling locations, registering ability to advance a working families’ agenda. new voters and door-to-door canvassing in African American, Latino, and Asian Pride At Work (PAW), the newest con- American and Pacific Islander neighborhoods. stituency group of the AFL-CIO, mobilizes

58 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 mutual support between the union move- ment and the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Formed in 1997, PAW promotes social and economic justice through education and mobilization, serving as the only bridge between labor and the LGBT community.

In 2003, PAW supported an LGBT Organizing Institute, and in fall 2005, PAW will host a labor institute at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change conference. Since 2002, PAW has campaigned against anti-union business practices such as those of Wal-Mart, while providing resources on receiving equal The Labor Council for Latin America benefits in union contracts. PAW mobilizes Advancement (LCLAA) serves as a voice its members to support legislation promot- for change in the Latino community and ing collective bargaining and organizing recognizes the importance of mobilizing rights. Similarly, PAW promotes equal workers and their families. access to benefits and nondiscriminatory legislation for the LGBT community. As part of the Latino community, one of LCLAA’s core principles is to aggressively The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance seek partnerships with other Latino organi- (APALA) is the first and only national zations at the national and regional levels. organization of Asian and Pacific Islander The success of LCLAA’s advocacy support American union members. It organizes and is enhanced by this new Latino awareness works with Asian and Pacific Islander of LCLAA’s presence. American workers, many of them immi- grants, to build the union movement and Along with playing a big role in the address exploitative conditions in the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride and garment, electronics, hotel and restaurant, conducting voter registration and mobiliza- food processing and health care industries. tion in Latino communities, LCLAA helped form the Latinos for a Secure Retirement In the 2004 elections, APALA reached deep coalition to mobilize the Latino community into Asian and Pacific Islander communities against Social Security privatization. and households to turn out the vote. In LCLAA also is mobilizing its members and Nevada, where Asian and Pacific Islander community allies to fight against unfair Americans, especially Filipino Americans trade deals such as CAFTA. and Hawaiians, are among the fastest- growing populations, APALA contacted The Coalition of Labor Union Women more than 82,000 voters. In the twin cities (CLUW), America’s only national organiza- of Minneapolis and St. Paul, APALA’s Labor tion for union women, empowers working 2004 effort boosted voter participation women to become leaders in their unions among the 50,000-strong Hmong commu- and encourages them to create positive nity, while in Portland, Ore., APALA change on the job and in their communities. members reached out to young Asian and CLUW focuses on concerns of working Pacific Islander voters. women, including equal pay, job security,

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safe workplaces, affordable health care, With more than 60 chapters across the child and elder care benefits, reproductive country, the Coalition of Black Trade rights and protection from sexual harass- Unionists (CBTU) worked to energize and ment and violence at work. Recently, mobilize the African American community CLUW chapters educated their members during the 2004 elections. CBTU, along and communities about the devastating with LCCA, held more than 30 town hall effects of Social Security privatization. They meetings and issue forums to address key are engaged in organizing a nationwide working-family issues and to educate com- lobby day in August 2005 to urge the pas- munity members about their voting rights. sage of the Employee Free Choice Act and CBTU and APRI’s voter protection efforts are fighting for the expansion of the Family and get-out-the-vote campaign was particu- and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). CLUW is larly effective in several Southern states in engaged in the Wake-Up Wal-Mart cam- which African American voters continue to paign designed to bring public attention to face voter intimidation and harassment. the anti-worker, anti-union practices of the nation’s largest private-sector employer. Along with the election efforts, CBTU has worked with community groups and the CLUW’s Contraceptive Equity Project, faith community to establish after-school launched in 2001, works with unions to mentoring and apprenticeship programs, ensure health plans cover contraception if provide clothing to local homeless shelters the plans also cover preventive drugs and and back initiatives to improve living and devices. In 2005, West Virginia and Arkansas working conditions in African American adopted mandates, thus raising to 23 the communities. CBTU also continued inter- number of states that have mandated national labor solidarity outreach, provid- health plans to cover contraceptives. In ing leadership development for trade 2001, CLUW also launched its HIV/AIDS unionists in South Africa and Brazil. project, an initiative funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that The A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI), involves collaboration with CLUW, the which also serves as a bridge between the AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions and con- union movement and the country’s African stituency groups to raise awareness and American communities, supports and educate their members about HIV/AIDS. promotes workers’ ongoing struggles for CLUW’s Cervical Cancer Prevention Works economic justice, racial equality and equal project focuses on empowering union opportunity, black voter participation and women to be aware of how to prevent this political, economic and social democracy deadly disease. at home and abroad.

During the 2003 and 2004 Dec. 10 International Human Rights Day actions, APRI mobilized its affiliates nationwide around workers’ freedom to join unions, and throughout the 2004 election year continued voter registration drives in cities with sizeable African American populations.

60 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 In 2005, APRI activists took part in demon- downloaded from the Alliance website, strations across the country during the www.retiredamericans.org. AFL-CIO National Day of Action, protesting support for Social Security privatization by As part of the union-movement-wide effort investment firms Charles Schwab Corp. and to strengthen Social Security, the Alliance Wachovia Corp. launched four regional Truth Truck tours that carried more than 1 million petitions APRI conducted regional and national opposing Social Security privatization to conferences educating and training activists 20 states and more than 60 congressional to be an effective voice for racial equality districts. The 10,000 Miles, 1 Million Voices and economic justice in their communities tours garnered considerable press attention and unions. In conjunction with APRI’s and activated Alliance leaders and members national conference, the organization held across the country. Over the 2005 Memorial a youth leadership conference, providing Day recess, the Alliance partnered with young people across the country with an Americans United to Protect Social Security understanding of the approach to economic and social change initiated by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, the nature of unions and the role of African Americans in them. The conference also inspired youths to become activists on their campuses and in their communities with local APRI activists.

Alliance for Retired Americans Since its launch in 2001, the Alliance for Retired Americans has grown to a grassroots organization of more than 3 million for activist union retirees and seniors across the nation. The Alliance plays a major public education and political mobilization role in such critical working family issues as Social Security and Medicare.

Most recently, the Alliance has been at the forefront of the battle to strengthen Social Security. Actress Olympia Dukakis narrates as part of the Take a Stand campaign. the Alliance’s educational video “Saving Alliance members called on more than 80 Social Security,” released in May 2005 and members of Congress and urged them to translated into Spanish, with 10,000 copies attend town hall meetings and publicly distributed through the Alliance’s state state their stance on Social Security privati- organizations, state federations, affiliated zation. Since its inception, the Alliance has unions, senior clubs, lawmakers and allied mailed more than 14 million leaflets and organizations across the country. More than letters describing the dangers of Social 3,000 copies of the video have been Security privatization and on Medicare

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prescription drug issues, and Alliance mem- 30 additional chapters by the end of 2005. bers have sent more than 1.8 million peti- The Alliance includes 200,000 dues-paying tions to the president and members of donors from outside the union movement Congress. and more than 300,000 community-based activists. In the 2004 election, Alliance members voted 73 to 24 percent for presidential The Alliance uses its website and e-mail candidate John Kerry nationwide—a more activist list to educate seniors, sending than 10 percent increase over the union weekly e-mail Friday Alerts to some 40,000 retiree vote for Al Gore in 2000. Union members and activists (who in turn forward retirees cited Social Security and health it to hundreds of thousands of potential care/prescription drugs as the two most online activists) on issues critical to seniors. The Alliance important issues that influenced their 2004 Members can access legislative and other includes 200,000 presidential votes, signaling the success of key information updated daily on the web- the Alliance’s 2003 Medicare campaign, its site. The power of senior e-mail activism dues-paying voter contact in 2004 and grassroots field was displayed in June 2003, when House donors from mobilization efforts throughout the election committees began marking up a version cycle. of the Medicare prescription drug bill. outside the union The Alliance sent more than 26,000 e-mail movement and In one of its first actions in May 2002, the calls to action urging activists to contact Alliance mobilized retired union members their members of Congress to defeat the more than 300,000 on Capitol Hill, for a speak-out to promote bill—and more than 7,000 messages went community-based a Medicare prescription drug plan that to Capitol Hill opposing the bill in a single offered real benefits to seniors. As the fight day. Throughout 2003, on the Medicare activists. for a Medicare prescription drug plan drug issue alone, the AFL-CIO and the became a battle between a pharmaceutical Alliance for Retired Americans generated and insurance industry giveaway bill and a more than 100,000 faxes, 31,000 phone drive to win a real prescription drug benefit calls and 90 in-state visits to members for the nation’s seniors, the Alliance turned of Congress; produced customizable up the heat. In 2002, the Alliance sponsored worksite fliers that more than 89 union a series of RxExpress bus trips to enable U.S. locals downloaded; and ran television seniors to travel to Canada—where prescrip- spots on CNN nationally. Alliance leaders tion drugs are substantially cheaper than in also keep in touch with grassroots activists the United States—to publicly highlight the through regular conference calls. exploding costs of the prescription drugs Approximately every two weeks, as many seniors need to stay healthy. Hundreds of as 100 Alliance grassroots leaders join a seniors took part in more than 30 bus conference call with national Alliance trips, garnering more than $1 million in officials to discuss the status of bills prescription drug savings and highlighting and exchange ideas about strategy and America’s need for an affordable Medicare potential actions. prescription drug benefit. The Alliance now is building on this By working with union members and com- groundwork to create a national organiza- munity groups to explain the organization’s tion of senior activists as the nation moves goals and train activists in building strong toward the critical elections of 2006, 2008 local chapters, the Alliance has chartered 21 and beyond. state chapters and expects to charter nearly

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Developing Union Leaders

The National Labor College (NLC) is the major A technologically advanced classroom facility, source of leadership training for union leaders and conference center and distance learning facility activists and recently attained college status as are slated for completion this year. The new well. In March 2004, the Middle States Higher Kirkland Center—a tribute to the late AFL-CIO Education Commission awarded the college full President Lane Kirkland—will boast an 8,000- accreditation, which makes the college eligible square-foot multipurpose room divisible into four for Maryland state operating and capital funds classrooms; breakout rooms; casual gathering and may allow its students to become eligible for space for student interaction, art exhibits and federal Pell grants. receptions; a state-of-the-art computer lab and video conferencing center; and campus dining The NLC, with AFL-CIO President John Sweeney as room and bookstore. chairman of the board of trustees, which includes AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka and Campus renovation will include 165 newly Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson, renovated dormitory rooms, increasing the serves thousands of union leaders and activists maximum sleeping occupancy of the campus each year through its education programs and to 255. Of the project’s total $40 million cost, $15 conference center operations. million will be financed, $10 million has been com- mitted by the AFL-CIO, $5 million has been raised The NLC also has taken on the former AFL-CIO in state and federal grants and $3 million has been Education Department functions and consequently committed by a combination of union and private has expanded its curriculum support work with donors. Fundraising activities are under way to unions. In 2002 and 2003, the center worked with raise the remaining $7 million. 15 unions and the AFL-CIO on various curricula for unions to use with their leaders and members.

Beginning in 2005, the NLC will offer a cutting- edge, fully online bachelor’s degree in technical and professional studies. This new distance- learning capacity will be shared with all the unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO for use in their own leadership education and training programs.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 63 TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Building and Construction Trades Department 67 Food and Allied Service Trades Department 73 Maritime Trades Department 77 Metal Trades Department 81 Department for Professional Employees 85 Transportation Trades Department 91 Union Label and Service Trades Department 99

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 65

Building and Construction Trades Department

The BCTD sustained virtually all of the federal laws

S IT APPROACHES its 100th I Developing a new and ongoing dialogue that protect anniversary in 2008, the Building with the Construction Users Round- A construction and Construction Trades Department table (CURT), whose corporate mem- (BCTD) has continued its diverse and bers represent more than $100 billion workers, despite essential functions in legislation, grassroots annually in construction spending. a largely hostile political programs, organizing and strategic This initiative soon will result in new, research, health and safety, adjustment of uniform national drug-testing protocols Congress and jurisdictional disputes, labor–management and several “demonstration” productivity White House. relations and other activities to promote jobsites, at which a unique “tripartite” and protect building and construction model of labor–management relations trades unions and their members. will be implemented; I Expanding the department’s political In addition, the department has undertaken grassroots program during the 2002 several new initiatives since 2001. They and 2004 election cycles; include but are not limited to: I Updating and modernizing longstand- ing jurisdictional agreements among I Restructuring the department’s staff BCTD-affiliated unions; into six operating divisions; I Sustaining virtually all of the federal I Initiating the Helmets to Hardhats laws that protect construction workers, program jointly with management to despite a largely hostile Congress and recruit veterans of the U.S. military White House; and into unions and their apprenticeship I Adding a strategic research staff and programs; initiating a national project to uncover the flawed and failing apprenticeship programs of the so-called open shops.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 67

The BCTD’s activities are directed by the chapters sponsored an apprenticeship president and secretary-treasurer, and the program that graduated more than half of department is governed by its Governing its apprentices. In fact, 25 chapters had Board of Presidents representing each of 15 graduation rates below 25 percent and BCTD-affiliated national and international another 20 ABC chapters either failed to unions. sponsor a program or failed to enroll apprentices in the programs they sponsored.

Organizing: Helping Workers The BCTD is continuing to investigate the Gain a Voice@Work national ABC, its chapters, training trusts The department’s National Temp Campaign, and benefit plans and other ABC-related launched because of the increasing number organizations. of temporary workers at construction sites and their need for fair treatment and safe Organizing for the Future working conditions, came to a close in 2002. Plans for the next four years for the The largest temp agency and major focus of Organizing Department include launching the campaign, Labor Ready Inc., suffered a National Organizing Campaign, revamp- losses due to violations in filing paperwork ing construction organizing classes at the with the Securities and Exchange National Labor College (NLC) and increas- Commission, the Occupational Safety and ing the number of organizers attending Health Administration on standards for these classes. workers and the Department of Labor. The National Organizing Campaign still is Currently, the Associated Builders and in the early planning stages. With 57 per- Contractors (ABC) is the largest anti-union cent of total U.S. construction in residential construction trade association in the United development, the campaign will center on States, with some 23,000 members and the continued growth of nonunion work in The national 80 local chapters. The department has been the residential sector. organizing actively investigating the group’s poorly performing apprenticeship programs and The current construction organizing classes campaign will financial irregularities in the training trusts at the NLC have been struggling with out- center on the that fund these programs. dated teaching techniques and materials. The Construction Organizing Guide recently continued growth In September 2004, the department released was rewritten along with the entire curricula of nonunion work a report on the annual financial reports for the construction organizing and labor filed by 19 local ABC chapters and their cor- law classes. BCTD-affiliated union organiz- in the residential responding apprenticeship programs, high- ing directors have assisted the department sector. lighting a failure to fully disclose financial by volunteering to share their experiences transactions between ABC apprenticeship and teach classes. They also are encouraging trusts and local ABC chapters as well as pay- their councils and locals to participate, and ment from apprenticeship trusts to chapters as a result attendance has doubled. By in excess of the actual services provided. teaching and providing new materials to building and construction trade organizers, In March 2005, the department’s second they can go out to the field with better report revealed six of the ABC’s 80 local tools to organize new members.

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Meeting the Challenges department in 2001 succeeded in its efforts of the Global Economy to ensure lawmakers included Davis-Bacon The BCTD does not engage in bargaining protections in Brownfields legislation. The campaigns. Rather, this activity is reserved to Davis-Bacon improvements came about BCTD-affiliated national and international after a deal was struck with House unions. Republican leaders that involved funding projects in the bill under section 104 of Global Economy CERCLA (the Superfund statute), the only Like most other segments of the economy, section of the statute containing such the construction industry is indeed global. coverage. Also in 2001, the BCTD focused The department entered into extensive dis- its efforts on school construction legisla- cussions with the International Federation tion, additional Davis-Bacon battles and of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW) legislative proposals covering OSHA, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), to explore possible affiliation. Additionally, BCTD also worked the department maintains a corresponding the Patients’ Bill of Rights and apprentice- relationship with the Swedish Building ship standards. BCTD also worked on on bipartisan bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Workers Union (BYGGNADS). legislation to George Miller (D-Calif.) and Peter King The department long has operated the Office (R-N.Y.) to overturn Bush’s prohibition on overturn Bush’s project labor agreements (PLAs) in federally of Canadian Affairs and plans to explore prohibition on additional international relationships. assisted projects. project labor In 2002, a legislative pattern strengthened agreements Political and Legislative and continued in which federal infrastruc- Action ture bills were prevented from coming to a (PLAs) in federally In 2000, the significantly more pro-worker vote because of Davis-Bacon. Congressional assisted projects. political climate, which included a leaders, especially in the House, refused to Democratic White House and smaller GOP schedule bills for votes knowing a majority majorities on Capitol Hill, facilitated the of House members favored Davis-Bacon department’s efforts to pursue progressive application and any challenges to it would legislative initiatives. Those initiatives be unsuccessful. This logjam affected included federal financial support of local approximately $80 billion in projects, school construction and higher pension centered primarily in federal water and payouts for multiemployer plan partici- rail construction activities. In September, pants under Section 415 of the Internal building and construction trades unions Revenue Code. The department ultimately convinced several friendly Republicans to was successful in achieving the 415 relief, support school construction legislation, but school construction legislation no H.R. 1076, as an alternative to tuition tax longer is on lawmakers’ agenda. The depart- credit legislation, H.R. 5913. As the sched- ment is fighting attacks on Davis-Bacon uled vote on H.R. 5913 got closer, it became prevailing-wage protections and attacks on clear that enough GOP moderates would BCTD-affiliated unions’ apprenticeship pro- vote for school construction over tax cred- grams and battling anti-salting legislation its, which resulted in H.R. 5913 being and bad trade proposals. pulled from the floor––the only time a tax bill has been pulled from the floor since the In addition to the Section 415 relief, which Republicans took control of the House in was passed in a package of tax changes, the 1995. Throughout the remainder of 2002,

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the department focused on homeland 2000, 2001 and 2002. Ultimately, only security legislation (in which the Homeland single-employer plans were granted mean- Security Department was created without ingful relief because of political opposition specific Davis-Bacon protections), unem- to multiemployer relief from the White ployment insurance (UI), energy, pipeline House. Achieving multiemployer pension safety, nuclear waste repository, asbestos relief also was fueled by the inability of liability, apprenticeship standards and United Parcel Service to get pension conces- compensation for nuclear workers. The sions at the bargaining table and the department succeeded in winning the ini- company’s pursuit of a legislative solution tial round of federal funding, $3.4 million, to collective bargaining. The rest of 2004 for the BCTD’s Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) was spent on issues such as asbestos liability, program. nuclear workers’ compensation, the Military Base Security Act aimed at preventing Building and construction trades unions undocumented workers from gaining access faced ongoing legislative stalemates through- to sensitive military installations, energy out 2003. Continuing the logjam over legislation (including success with $18 federal infrastructure spending, Congress billion in federal loan guarantees for the In each federal again failed to pass rail, water and highway construction of an Alaskan natural gas construction legislation (the TEA-21 high- pipeline), immigration proposals and election cycle, way authorization expired Sept. 30, 2004, winning another round of funding for the department and by mid-2005 had yet to be reautho- H2H––$6 million for fiscal year 2005. rized). The department spent considerable has put together time securing the necessary labor protec- By mid-2005, the BCTD has worked on grassroots tions on these bills as well as on issues advancing a multiemployer pension reform involving Medicare prescription drug legis- plan proposed by the National Coordinat- political programs lation and Taft-Hartley health and welfare ing Committee for Multiemployer Plans, involving all funds. An inadequate, politically motivated addressing Specter-Leahy asbestos liability bill affecting Taft-Hartley health and welfare legislation (S. 852), advancing surface trans- 15 BCTD-affiliated funds ultimately was passed by both houses portation legislation (H.R. 3), improving unions. and was reported out of the conference McCain-Kennedy immigration legislation committee and signed into law by President (S. 1033), passing ANWR exploration and Bush. The BCTD also focused on asbestos production authorizations in the House liability legislation, S. 1125, as well as and Senate, addressing comprehensive proposed legislation concerning comp time, energy legislation, working against CAFTA energy, UI and overtime regulations. The and fighting battles involving Davis-Bacon BCTD won $5.5 million for fiscal year 2004 application. The department plans to secure for the Helmets to Hardhats program. another round of funding for H2H and to carry out additional labor law battles. In 2004, continued gridlock on infrastruc- ture spending included several temporary In each federal election cycle, the depart- extensions of TEA-21 because Congress ment has put together grassroots political would not complete action on a surface programs involving all 15 BCTD-affiliated transportation authorization bill. The unions to assist them in educating their BCTD focused on winning funding relief members on the issues at stake for for multiemployer pension plans reeling working families. from investment losses incurred during

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A Voice in Our Communities retention and leadership advancement. The Success in the current political and economic committee will provide increased visibility climate depends on using new strategies, for these issues within the department and building new coalitions and offering new throughout BCTD affiliates and industry initiatives. The department has been partners. moving forward in these areas with positive results. In its third year, the Helmets to Hardhats program spearheaded by the BCTD links The department convenes regional meetings returning veterans with training and job to advise, involve and engage tradesmen opportunities in the unionized construction and tradeswomen at the state and local industry. H2H has exceeded expectations levels in its programs and initiatives. and received national recognition and the These meetings are an effective catalyst for department is proud of the extraordinary In 2005, the effort of affiliate leaders who incorporated increasing awareness and collective action Committee of on major issues confronting BCTD affiliates this program into their trades. It has paid and their members. dividends to thousands of veterans and Women in the their families. Trades, two years The department has initiated and partici- pated in programs that promote the posi- The department also is supporting the in development, new Crayons to CAD program to encourage tive attributes of a unionized workforce. became only the Within the construction community, the interest in the construction trades from tripartite initiative has built bridges of early grades. Teaching a math and science sixth standing curriculum incorporating unionized understanding between unions, contractors committee of the and owners that have resulted in a mutually construction awareness in middle schools beneficial dialogue to solve problems. around the country serves to enhance department. our organizations’ visibility and credibility In 2005, the Committee of Women in the with America’s youth. Trades, two years in development, became only the sixth standing committee of the The BCTD continues to build partnerships department. Representatives from all build- and alliances with numerous national ing trades unions serve on the committee, and community organizations to increase which is committed to increasing the awareness of and support for critical issues number of women in skilled trades careers including health care reform, pension by promoting strategies for recruitment, protection and workers’ rights.

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Food and Allied Service Trades Department

The “FAST Manual of Corporate Investigation” HE AFFILIATES OF THE Food and Information for Organizing is one of the T Allied Service Trades Department and Bargaining (FAST) represent millions of workers in foremost sources an increasingly large and diverse set of FAST truly thinks—when used correctly— on corporate occupations, including nurses, retail information is power. The more knowledge clerks, industrial workers, housekeepers, workers and their unions have, the more investigations for building engineers, flight attendants and effective they will be. Providing real infor- union organizers meatpackers. FAST affiliates’ members are mation in a timely fashion to decision as varied as their occupations, representing makers at all operational levels of affiliated and researchers. all ages, races and ethnicities. No matter unions always has been and will continue the industry or need, FAST is dedicated to be a primary function of FAST staff. To to assisting affiliates in fights against this end, FAST provides a number of employers that trample the rights of resources: workers. The department’s contribution is to provide comprehensive research to The FAST Manual of Corporate allow a detailed understanding of compa- Investigation is one of the foremost sources nies, the industry and key players and on corporate investigations for union power structures, so affiliates can develop organizers and researchers. The manual has innovative and effective tactics and strate- been online (www.fastaflcio.org) for several gies to fight and win on behalf of their years now, and it is constantly updated with members. new hyperlinks and sources. It is organized in a step-by-step fashion, walking users through the basics of researching both

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public and private companies. The manual FAST’s research staff includes some of the includes state-specific information and most motivated and best-trained investiga- guides to regulatory agencies and now has tors in the union movement. FAST an extensive list of hard-to-find links for researchers assist affiliates and their local Internet users who want to expand their unions in all sorts of projects and campaigns, sources. All members of FAST affiliates can ranging from matching names and addresses receive passwords for access to this manual of workers in a potential bargaining unit that will help them find information about to spending weeks on the ground actively targeting, organizing, bargaining and rank- helping during strikes and organizing and-file communications. campaigns.

The FAST Healthcare Industry Labor Database CD Manual is a supplement to the Manual FAST developed its first version of the of Corporate Investigation. The Healthcare now-ubiquitous FAST Labor Database on Manual, also found on the FAST website CD-ROM in early 1999. Recognized as an (www.fastaflcio.org), is structured in a indispensable tool for organizers and similar fashion to the full manual and researchers across the country, this single- provides much greater depth of informa- volume CD includes 20 databases contain- tion on researching the health care indus- ing more the 1.6 million records compiled try. Users can familiarize themselves quickly from U.S., Canadian and Mexican govern- with hospital and nursing home ownership- ment sources. It includes detailed indices type sources; they can learn how to uncover of NLRB petitions, elections and unfair quality-of-care issues; and they easily can labor practice charges; Federal Mediation access all 50 states’ health departments and Conciliation Service contract In addition to through user-friendly links pages. In addi- notifications; and wage-and-hour compli- the online research tion, the “Finding Workers” section is an ance activity, to name a few. The database excellent guide to creative ways to identify can be sorted and searched in multiple guides found on health care workers employed in different ways, which allows an organizer to quickly the FAST website, parts of the industry. create a history of labor relations at a given company or in a certain region or industry. FAST has amassed The FAST Labor Database is updated an extensive FAST Office Resources annually, and new databases are added as In addition to the online research guides they become available. collection of found on the FAST website, FAST has CD-ROMs and amassed an extensive collection of Information for Community CD-ROMs and books that provide even Coalition Building and Legislative books that more specialized information useful to Change provide even affiliates. FAST’s library holdings encompass Over the years, FAST has honed its expertise such wide-ranging topics as people finders, in assisting affiliates in community coali- more specialized corporate affiliations, institutional investors tion building. Whether identifying local information useful and import–export data. Many of FAST’s groups and community leaders available books and CDs are updated on a monthly to help during an organizing campaign or to affiliates. or quarterly basis. To supplement the participating in a broad-based coalition to department’s library collection, FAST main- actively support a strike, FAST has worked tains active subscriptions to many trade successfully with its affiliates to help build journals and publications useful in gather- power for workers and local unions across ing information for affiliates’ fights. the country. Additionally, the department To supplement these information sources, collects and updates information on

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regulatory and local development issues FAST actively participates in international of interest to affiliates and their members, campaigns for labor rights in regions and including corporate subsidies, urban sprawl industries that impact affiliate unions. and environmental compliance. In the FAST has taken a leading role in the fight broader national arena, FAST has continued for human and worker rights in China and to work on legislative and regulatory will continue to illuminate abuses in that matters ranging from worker health and country as well as the corporate-dominated During the past safety to food stamps. U.S. foreign policy that supports the denial of those basic rights. FAST has assisted several years, Information for International affiliates in NAFTA labor-related cases at FAST has dedicated Labor Solidarity the National Administrative Office and at FAST’s affiliates form part of an increasingly the Organization for Economic Co-operation itself to expanding unified international labor movement. and Development. its information Union members around the world are joining to fight the expansion of corporate Moreover, FAST is working to elaborate sources on control at the expense of working people a strategic analysis of immigration issues international trade, and to defend the rights of workers every- of significant importance to its affiliates. where. Understanding corporate power is Immigrants are filling an increasing number international truly global and exposing these international of low-wage and dangerous jobs, and investment and links and relationships is critical to building FAST’s affiliates are rising to the challenge of power in the labor movement. Labor rights, helping these workers organize. To do that, labor solidarity human rights, fair trade and decent jobs it is important to develop a comprehensive and to making and wages are issues that transcend national understanding of the forces propelling borders. immigration––not only questions of why this information certain jobs are being filled by immigrants available to To meet the needs of affiliates in these in the United States, but also the reasons areas, FAST has developed a special under- why people are leaving their home coun- affiliates. standing of many areas pertaining to inter- tries. This ongoing investigation is provid- national labor solidarity. During the past ing affiliates with important insight to facil- several years, FAST has dedicated itself to itate the increasing number of organizing expanding its information sources on inter- campaigns in which immigrant workers are national trade, international investment participating. and labor solidarity and to making this information available to affiliates. The Staff Development FAST corporate library includes numerous FAST continues to offer bright and volumes and CDs to help researchers and committed young men and women the organizers identify international production opportunity to learn the fundamentals of locations, subsidiaries and trade data. In comprehensive campaigns and gain varied addition, the FAST Labor Database CD- experience fighting corporate power. FAST ROM contains information on Canadian trains these folks and places them in and Mexican unions, which facilitates positions in the labor movement. Many of direct cross-border contact between unions. these talented young people now are work- ing throughout the labor movement and are making significant contributions.

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Maritime Trades Department

Port Maritime Councils have been working with HE MARITIME TRADES A Voice@Work for the affiliates and DEPARTMENT (MTD), which begins Working Families T central labor its 60th year of service to working families Although not constitutionally permitted in 2006, is a constitutionally mandated to directly run organizing campaigns, the councils to urge department of the AFL-CIO. It was char- MTD continues to assist affiliated unions their elected tered in August 1946 to fight for workers in ensuring workers have a voice on the in all aspects of the U.S. and Canadian job. The Port Maritime Councils remain federal officials maritime industry. The 29 international the department’s vital eyes and ears at the to endorse the unions within the MTD represent merchant grassroots level. Across the United States, mariners, shipbuilders, dock workers, vessel Port Maritime Councils have been working Employee Free suppliers, office workers and others. with the affiliates and central labor councils Choice Act. to urge their elected federal officials to The department provides information and endorse the Employee Free Choice Act. support for federal programs and practices From marching in solidarity with United affecting the U.S.-flag and Canadian-flag Food and Commercial Workers members maritime fleets. It also promotes new issues on strike in Southern California to support- and ideas that could benefit the working ing locked-out dock workers and hotel people within its affiliated unions. employees along the Pacific Coast and in Hawaii, they have answered the call. The MTD utilizes a network of 24 port maritime councils across both nations Councils from New Orleans to St. Louis to to provide grassroots support for these New York were proud of their efforts to maritime-related concerns and other issues ensure the success of the 2003 Immigrant that affect the entire union movement. Workers Freedom Ride. In South Florida,

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council members marched with thousands Addressing the Challenges of union members in 2003 to highlight the of the Global Economy need for improved U.S. trade policies. The MTD has been dealing with the realities of the global economy since the In Philadelphia, port council members department’s inception. In fact, the MTD assisted in IBT picket lines. Norfolk, Va., was launched in the wake of World War II, and Baltimore councils affiliates stood with when the U.S. government was breaking Steelworkers and Flight Attendants-CWA to up the world’s largest merchant fleet at call attention to their causes. The coffee cut-rate prices to help other countries wagon from the Toledo, Ohio, council return to the sea. provided assistance to brothers and sisters on strike in that Great Lakes town. Since then, U.S. and Canadian merchant mariners––the best-trained workers on the safest ships in the world––have struggled U.S. Flag Returns to to compete with runaway flag fleets. The Cruise Ships vessels that fly these flags of convenience In the past few years, the U.S. flag has fail to live up to minimum international returned to the high seas on two passenger safety and labor standards. In the most vessels. These ships, which circle the extreme instances, some crew members Hawaiian Islands, are entirely crewed by may go for weeks on diets of rice and water union members. The renewal of the U.S.- or months without pay. MTD affiliates in flag passenger fleet has created thousands Canada and the United States work with During the past of new jobs locally as well as nationally— the International Transport Workers’ four years, port for those at sea as well as along the docks Federation to assist stricken mariners from and inland. A third vessel is expected to around the world and bring their plight councils from join this fleet early next year. to the attention of the public. coast to coast From the local level at which Port Maritime The MTD also monitors the impact of trade assisted in the Councils participate, to the international negotiations on the maritime industry. The fight to organize level, at which the MTD national office department has worked continuously with provides assistance, the department under- industry and government representatives to Wal-Mart, Verizon stands the necessity of helping all workers keep maritime issues off the table. Opening Wireless and gain a better life for themselves and their U.S. maritime laws to such negotiations families. would have a disastrous affect on American countless other jobs and the industry. drives at the During the past four years, port councils from coast to coast assisted in the fight to The domestic shipbuilding industry has national and local organize at Wal-Mart, Verizon Wireless and faced its own challenges from overseas. levels. in countless other drives at the national Shipyards in China and South Korea are and local levels. The commitment of this aided by government subsidies, so they are department and its port councils to able to offer merchant vessels at rates far organizing will continue. below those possible by North American facilities. Because of this, numerous ship- yards have shut down along the Great Lakes, Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts.

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Despite these challenges, U.S. shipyards are In the wake of the Persian Gulf War, delivering world-class vessels with new ones maritime unions worked with the industry, on the drawing boards as American mariners military and elected officials to create the aboard container vessels deliver U.S. and Maritime Security Program (MSP). This Canadian-made goods to ports around the bipartisan legislation, passed in 1996, world while bringing back products for created a 10-year program to provide funds the domestic market. Through the efforts of to assist in the cost of maintaining U.S.-flag the MTD, the U.S. and Canadian maritime vessels and their infrastructure that could industries will remain a force in future be made available to the armed forces in world trade. the event of a war or national emergency. The MSP proved to be a boon because of the operational and construction savings The Maritime Port Security a Priority realized each year. Because of the program’s After the tragic attack on the United States success, the U.S. Congress last year reautho- Security Program on Sept. 11, 2001, port security has become rized it for 10 more years. In addition, has proven so a major concern, not just in the maritime Congress expanded the number of vessels industry but also across the North American covered from 47 to 60. successful, Congress continent. The unions of the MTD have reauthorized it for been working with local and federal govern- The MTD worked hard to ensure passage ments to improve conditions at harbors, of the Maritime Security Program’s reautho- another 10 years. ports and inlets. The department is review- rization and expansion. Funding for the ing various proposals for a universal trans- program must be acquired each year, and portation workers’ identification card. the MTD continues to work with lawmakers One example from Florida shows the to ensure they recognize its value. necessity of moving toward this type of identification. The Jones Act The Jones Act––the nation’s freight Today, a person in the Sunshine State seek- cabotage law––continues to be a priority. ing to work on a ship or on the dock must Although efforts to weaken the law during carry identification cards issued by each the past decade have not resurfaced, the individual port authority rather than one MTD remains vigilant for any attack at the document recognized by all. Acquiring the local or federal level. The MTD, along with required cards costs workers time and money. several of its affiliates, is a charter member The unions representing these workers of the Maritime Cabotage Task Force, a think there is a more efficient way to coalition of labor and industry dedicated to address this discrepancy and ensure security. preserving the Jones Act. (The act states that any cargo transported between two domes- Maritime Security Program tic ports must be carried aboard a U.S.-flag, As during the Persian Gulf War in the 1990s, U.S.-built and U.S.-citizen–crewed vessel.) the United States, beginning in 2002, once again called upon its U.S.-flag merchant Meanwhile, the MTD is working with fleet to transport supplies and materiel to the industry and the U.S. Department of the armed forces at the fronts in Afghanistan Transportation to create a dedicated coast- and Iraq. Since the 1990s, the U.S.-flag fleet wise shipping fleet. As America’s highways had significantly improved its functions and and railways become more congested, was better prepared to meet the challenge. coastwise shipping would reduce the num- ber of containers transported along land

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routes. Domestic transportation planners Energy concerns also affect the unions have estimated the amount of goods com- of the MTD. We have stood for nearly a ing through America’s ports within the next decade with our brothers and sisters in the The MTD will 15 years probably will double. A coastwise fight against electric deregulation policies at continue its fight shipping program would create more jobs the national and local levels. MTD affiliates for American mariners while providing also have worked with unions from the to improve the much-needed new construction within Building and Construction Trades living and working American shipyards. Department to allow the safe exploration of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. conditions of its Cargo Preference Laws affiliates and its The MTD long has fought to maintain While the diverse range of issues involving America’s cargo preference laws. The the MTD varies, all have one common theme: members––the MTD opposes efforts now debated in more and better jobs for our members. department’s Washington, D.C., to simply send funding to nations seeking to acquire grain or other mission since food aid rather than sending American Summary its inception and provisions overseas aboard U.S.-flag vessels. For nearly 60 years, the Maritime Trades Such a move would tragically hurt America’s Department has been a vital link between its goal into the farmers and mariners. If such provisions the labor movement and the maritime 21st century. had been in effect last year, victims of the industry. The MTD will continue its fight tsunami in Southern Asia would never have to improve the living and working condi- experienced firsthand the goodwill and true tions of its affiliates and its members––the concern of Americans. department’s mission since its inception and its goal into the 21st century.

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Metal Trades Department

The department relies on the expertise of staff S A CONSTITUTIONAL DEPART- Metal Trades has undergone a series of tran- from 17 affiliated A MENT of the AFL-CIO, the Metal sitions over the past four years. John Meese Trades Department (Metal Trades) has retired in January 2002 after nine years as unions who are fundamental representation and collective the department president. On Jan. 10, 2002, assigned by bargaining responsibilities to our 25 Metal the Department’s Executive Council named Trades Councils and eight Federal Employee Ronald Ault to succeed President Meese. their respective Metal Trades Councils. These councils are international established under the Metal Trades constitu- President Ault works with the department’s tion and bylaws that provide democratic two general representatives—Jim Seidl and unions to represent representation and jurisdictional protections Tom Schaffer—to share the basic collective Metal Trades units. to constituent unions within the councils. bargaining, case handling, training and travel. The department’s mix of federal and private-sector bargaining units presents Because of growing demands on the complex challenges further complicated by department’s limited resources, the depart- the wide diversity of industries in which the ment relies on the expertise of staff from member unions represent workers: nuclear 17 affiliated unions who are assigned by research and development, nuclear remedi- their respective international unions to ation and cleanup and other Department of represent Metal Trades units. In the past Energy operations; military reservations and four years, as in previous years, Metal weapons plants; shipbuilding and repair in Trades–affiliated unions have been very the private and federal sectors; petrochemi- generous in assisting the functioning of cal and refinery operations; mining; and the department. other industrial operations.

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Building E-Activism Hatch Act, these regional meetings enabled In consultation with the Metal Trades’ Metal Trades to assess local concerns and Executive Council and delegates to the create an awareness of those concerns by department’s annual conferences, President the presidential candidates. Ault adopted several initiatives to better uti- lize technology to streamline communica- A Winning Coalition Against tions between constituent councils and the Dow Chemical department as well as among department Metal Trades continues to confront unique affiliates. Metal Trades uses its website representation challenges by large global (www.metaltrades.org) and a growing corporations such as Dow Chemical Co. e-mail list of activists to alert councils to and federal agencies that, since the new developments affecting their con- terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, have stituent unions and, ultimately, their attempted to sharply curtail employees’ union members. The website is updated collective bargaining rights. By adopting as frequently as needed. The department aggressive, multifaceted campaign tactics, also publishes a quarterly newsletter, the including mobilizing and building solidarity, Metaletter, as a key communications tool. inviting community involvement and working closely with other AFL-CIO com- Metal Trades held a training session in fall ponents, affiliated unions and, in some 2003 at the Machinists’ Winpisinger cases, like-minded industry organizations, Training Center to launch its new technology the Metal Trades has stood strong against Metal Trades uses initiative. Some 60 local leaders took part enterprises that deploy massive resources. its website and a in this training, which included discussion and information on the department’s In the case of Dow Chemical, the Metal growing e-mail list efforts to energize communications out- Trades confronted an extremely volatile sit- uation in Texas City, Texas, involving a of activists to alert reach among affiliated unions. 1,500-member bargaining unit that faced councils to new unacceptable employer demands at the bargaining table. The department received developments Political and Legislative Mobilization substantial support from the Steelworkers, affecting their Metal Trades’ annual conferences include PACE International and several Metal Trades–affiliated building trades unions constituent unions representational training and practical skills and information to improve the effective- that hold contracts with Dow and its sub- and, ultimately, ness of our councils in the areas of griev- sidiaries. Metal Trades affiliates provided expertise and assistance in developing a their union ance handling, safety, contract negotiations and representation before third parties. shareholder initiative to confront Dow’s members. During election years, conference emphasis annual meeting. The department created is on legislative developments and voter a website and produced e-mails and fliers education programs. that members widely distributed through- out Dow’s U.S. locations to publicize the In a first-ever voter education training out- company’s unfair tactics. reach, Metal Trades’ September 2004 confer- ence capped a series of regional meetings The Texas AFL-CIO discussed the situation called to educate councils and the members with local lawmakers and congressional they represent about the issues of the 2004 representatives, and the International presidential election. Undertaken with full Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and consideration to the constraints imposed General Workers’ Unions Employees on many Metal Trades members by the (ICEM) spearheaded a global campaign.

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The elements of this multipronged cam- NSPS: Ideology, Not Security paign eventually forced Dow to back down The greatest threat the Metal Trades and negotiate an acceptable agreement. Department faces today is the development That victory also spawned similar contracts of the so-called National Security Personnel for two other Texas-based Dow units. System (NSPS). In November 2003, Congress authorized the secretary of defense to Legislative Action develop a new personnel system to cover Metal Trades cultivates congressional 750,000 civilian employees of the Defense relations and monitors appropriations and Department. Congress acted in response to policies affecting workers in Metal Trades– Secretary Rumsfeld’s request for personnel Metal Trades represented units engaged in shipbuilding policies that are “more flexible” and and related defense activities. The depart- “nimble.” The legislation creating the is analyzing and ment has focused on the loss of the U.S. NSPS was tucked into the annual appropria- developing a industrial base, especially the effect on tion bill for the Defense Department and America’s national security. Metal Trades passed with little or no discussion of its response to the has worked with legislative representatives implications. threatened base from affiliated unions in coordination with the AFL-CIO Legislative and Public Policy The NSPS outline is derived from policy closures as departments, along with a network of U.S. papers developed within the ultrareac- advanced by U.S. employers that share Metal Trades mem- tionary Heritage Foundation and presented bers’ concerns. The department’s priorities to the new Bush administration within Defense Secretary include protection and expansion of Buy weeks of Bush’s first inauguration. The Donald Rumsfeld American statutes. Metal Trades seeks to tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, provided the maintain an effective mechanism for hold- administration with an opportunity to this spring under ing lawmakers accountable and publicizing advance a policy of dismantling the the Base the unhealthy reliance on foreign suppliers nation’s civil service system—first within for defense and related goods and services. the Department of Homeland Security and Realignment and now at the Department of Defense. The Closure Act (BRAC) Metal Trades works closely with affiliates Heritage Foundation essentially argues and other AFL-CIO departments to monitor union representation, collective bargaining recommendations. and respond to congressional or administra- and a voice on the job “compromise” tive threats to circumvent, undermine or national security. Evidence, facts and threaten to repeal the Service Contract Act, experience of the positive value of union the Davis-Bacon Act and budgetary issues representation for government workers related to support for domestic shipbuilding. proves conclusively the opposite: Union members have higher morale because they Among the most significant challenges to have family-supporting wages, job security U.S. shipbuilding in recent years are efforts and a voice at the workplace. The rights by the Bush administration and the U.S. of freedom of association and due process Defense Department to radically cut appro- are key principles of American democracy. priations for maintaining a healthy Navy They must not be subordinated to fleet. Metal Trades is analyzing and develop- vague and subjective national security ing a response to the threatened base clo- considerations. sures as advanced by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld this spring under the The NSPS is an ideologically driven Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) program unrelated to ensuring the nation’s recommendations. security. It is a blatant effort to create a

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template for a union-free environment in Metal Trades has taken a leading role the federal sector that can be transplanted in the development and operation of the easily to bargaining environments for any United Department of Defense Workers other federal agency or public-sector Coalition, a coalition of 36 affiliated and employer––and ultimately, to any major independent unions formed to combat private-sector employer. NSPS, and has filed a legal challenge to The policies NSPS. With the support of AFL-CIO staff, adopted and President George W. Bush already has this coalition has presented the Department indicated his intention to model all federal of Defense with a solid front to preserve action taken in civilian agencies on NSPS. Elements of NSPS and protect the rights of Department of the past four years have surfaced in the personnel policies of Defense workers. several new Republican governors––high- will serve to lighting how this is a threat that extends strengthen Metal beyond Department of Defense civilian Summary workers to the entire structure of U.S. The Maritime Trades Department, the Trades’ capacity to labor relations. Transportation Trades Department, the assist affiliates— Building and Construction Trades Historically, personnel policies of the federal Department, the Union Label and Service and most government have served as models for the Trades Department and the Food and Allied important, union entire economy. At times, such policies Service Trades Department have provided have had a positive impact—in the area ongoing assistance in the day-to-day members—for of civil rights, for example. Integration operations of the Metal Trades Department years to come. of the nation’s armed services after World and have worked cooperatively in develop- War II is recognized widely as a major ing Metal Trades member programs. stimulus for the civil rights movement that Together with these AFL-CIO departments, culminated in such milestones as the Metal Trades remains strong and committed Voting Rights Act. When federal policies to combating attacks on working families have a malicious intent, as does the NSPS, and advancing the interests of our mem- the ripple effect could be devastating. bers. The policies adopted and action taken in the past four years will serve to strengthen Metal Trades’ capacity to assist affiliates—and most important, union members—for years to come.

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Department for Professional Employees

“If the labor movement is to grow and if workers are to get the kind of representation they deserve, Numerous DPE-affiliated unions already Professional Workers in the unions have to 21st Century represent millions of workers in white-collar retool, restructure In 2002, the Department for Professional occupations, providing a significant base Employees (DPE) celebrated its 25th from which the union movement can and and redirect their anniversary. In the years since its inception, should grow. But many in the public are energies. Key post-industrial America has experienced unaware of the extent to which this white- seismic changes in the nation’s workforce— collar base constitutes the union move- targets in this ment’s membership—a paradox that needs a transformation marked by an explosion in endeavor are the the white-collar world of work. to change. new professional By mid-2005, more than 51 percent of all In 1977, when the AFL-CIO chartered the workers who don’t DPE, 13.9 million professional and highly union members are white-collar workers, fit the mold of skilled technicians were on the job in the while professional and related occupations American economy. By 2004, that number represent the largest contingent of union traditional nine-to- had more than doubled. Analysts project members of any occupational classification. fivers.” in the 10-year cycle through 2012, the number of these professional workers will increase by 6.5 million—or 23.3 percent— A Voice for Professional ––Edward McElroy, and remain the fastest-growing occupational Workers’ Issues AFT president and DPE chair, group in the nation. At the same time, DPE’s most aggressive initiatives over the Speech to DPE Organizing past four years involved improved internal while overall U.S. employment is projected Conference 2005 to increase by less than 15 percent, profes- and external communications. DPE achieved sional and technical occupations will a presence within national, regional, state account for an astounding 30.3 percent and local media on the issues of offshore of all employment growth. outsourcing, guest worker visas, media

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reform and overtime pay for white-collar A Voice for Workers in the workers. The DPE hosted six major press Changing Global Economy events; appeared on more than a dozen In recognition of the profound changes television and radio interviews, including that globalization, technological innovation ABC Nightly News, CNN, Voice of America and other factors bring to the professional radio and Fox News; and was quoted in and technical workforce and workplace, nearly 30 national daily newspapers. the DPE in 2004 created a Committee on DPE leadership debated offshore advocates the Evolution of Professional Careers with in nearly 20 public forums around the representatives from nearly 20 national country. DPE also established its first unions. The committee’s goals are to: website as well an electronic newsletter— Newsline—that details DPE’s work and is I Review and analyze the trends affecting sent to several thousand union leaders, the future of white-collar work; key staff and allied activists. I Ascertain the careers and professions likely to emerge over the next decade; Dedicating Resources to Ensure I Determine appropriate strategies Workers Gain a Voice@Work necessary to organize these workers; DPE focuses its resources on activities to I Explore organizational models of DPE achieved a assist its affiliates in connecting to and unionism that offer the potential organizing the professional, technical and presence within to enhance membership among administrative support workforce. DPE’s professional workers; national, regional, major initiative related to organizing was I Better prepare unions to align them- Organizing Professionals in the 21st state and local selves with the workforce of the future; Century, a March 2005 three-day confer- and media on the ence on organizing professionals in the new I Develop a consensus about appropriate millennium. It brought together some 200 issues of offshore public policy, bargaining strategies, participants—organizers, decision makers, organizing goals and tactics as well outsourcing, guest researchers and staff—from 19 national as other courses of action essential unions affiliated with DPE, along with rep- worker visas, to expanding union density in the resentatives from nearly 25 other unions, professions. media reform allied organizations and universities. Discussions centered on new organizing and overtime pay Leadership Development and strategies, innovative organizational models, Strategic Planning for white-collar successful campaigns and the presentation In the past three years, the DPE augmented of ground-breaking attitudinal research workers. its work by adding new capacity in leader- by key professionals in nursing, higher ship development and strategic planning. education and information technology. DPE’s activities included facilitating: Presentations focused on professional asso- ciations and their success in attracting new I Numerous high-level leadership discus- professional members as well as a case study sions between the American Federation of the Kaiser Permanente Coalition of of Television and Radio Artists and the Unions, in which interunion cooperation Screen Actors in 2002 and 2003 regard- and aggressive union action have fostered ing the consolidation of the two organi- successful organizing and collective bargain- zations; despite an overwhelming ing outcomes. The conference laid the recommendation from the leadership foundation for a broad-based network of to merge, a 60 percent supermajority professional organizers and set priorities for constitutional voting requirement was new research.

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easily surpassed in the AFTRA vote but on engaging the entire union movement narrowly failed in SAG. in the fight; bringing pressure to bear on I Staff training for AFGE in 2003, the FCC; joining with allies to stop the development of AFTRA’s national staff commission’s monopolistic efforts; lobbying conference in 2002 and organizing a Congress to derail media deregulation; and one-day retreat for the Executive Board building public awareness through media of AFTRA’s Nashville, Tenn., local union outreach. that developed a consensus about priorities for action (2004). The DPE sponsored major press events I Workshops on “Professionalism and with coalition and labor allies on the pro- Unionism: Are They Compatible?” posed cross-ownership rule, attacking the and “Making a Difference Through FCC’s analysis supporting deregulation, Leadership and Power” for national and unveiling an exposé on Clear Channel state leaders at the United American Communications and releasing a poll of Nurses Labor Leader Institute (2004). media workers and the impact of industry From late 2001 I A three-day retreat for the UAN consolidation on their profession and work Executive Council, state collective life. The AFL-CIO Executive Council also through midyear bargaining leaders and Organizational weighed in on a DPE-drafted policy resolu- 2005, the DPE was Structure Committee (2005) and tion, “Media Monopolies: A Threat to providing the UAN with an overview American Democracy,” which the council involved in nearly of effective union structures. adopted February 2003. 40 different

In Congress, the DPE and its allies attacked congressional and A Voice for Workers in the FCC on multiple legislative fronts after state legislative Legislation and Public Policy the commission issued the new deregula- From late 2001 through midyear 2005, the tion rules. In the most significant victory issues as well as DPE was involved in nearly 40 different of DPE’s campaign, a bipartisan Senate several federal congressional and state legislative issues as majority voted by nearly 60 votes to well as several federal regulatory and other approve a rarely used Congressional Review regulatory and matters. In four key areas—preservation of Act veto of the rules. But intransigent other matters. Federal Communications Commission Republican leadership in the House refused (FCC) rules against media monopolies, the to take action. DPE, media unions, state offshore outsourcing of white-collar jobs, and local labor councils and public interest professional guest worker visas and over- allies mobilized massive public protests by time pay for professionals—the DPE helped hundreds of activists at forums in San lead the union movement’s legislative and Antonio and Monterey, Calif., at which regulatory efforts. FCC commissioners got an earful about deregulation. In a major victory for public FCC Media Rules interest, consumers and labor, the U.S. What began as an agency effort to eradicate Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit the ban against newspaper-broadcast cross- scuttled the rules and sent them back ownership became a crusade by the FCC’s to the agency for further work. GOP majority to eliminate all of the FCC’s anti-monopoly rules. Under the leadership The collective efforts of DPE unions and of the DPE’s Standing Policy Committee on allied organizations to stop deregulation the Arts, Entertainment and Media spawned a nationwide protest movement Industry, the department set in motion a as well as a congressional media reform multifaceted strategy. The strategy focused caucus to continue the fight in the

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Big Business-friendly 109th Congress legislatures by storm as efforts focused on (2005–2006). banning the offshore outsourcing of state contracts and procurement. In addition, In anticipation of an oncoming assault on activists worked with state governments to telecommunications laws and regulations, withdraw their commitments to the Office the union movement and its media reform of the U.S. Trade Representative to open up allies rallied around a new statement of their procurement under national free trade principles, the Bill of Media Rights, which agreements to export. DPE worked with speaks to the rights American citizens AFL-CIO Executive Council to craft a policy have with respect to media and the news, resolution, “Outsourcing America,” adopted The union information and entertainment that flows in March 2004. movement and through its various pipelines. DPE authored a comprehensive AFL-CIO Executive Council In 2005 the DPE is continuing its work with its media reform policy resolution, “The Media Reform the AFL-CIO in Congress and state legisla- allies rallied Campaign,” adopted in March 2005. tures as well as with the national media. around a new Most importantly, the campaign served as Guest Worker Visas statement of the foundation for solidifying organizational DPE continues to lead efforts to defeat alliances at the national level while uniting industry efforts to expand the H-1B visa principles, the Bill individual grassroots unions and allies into program after the statutory cap had receded of Media Rights, a massive nationwide movement to combat to 65,000 visas annually. However, in late big media in the years ahead. 2004 the Congress added a new visa cap which speaks to exemption for up to 20,000 foreign gradu- the rights Offshore Outsourcing of ates of U.S. colleges with advanced degrees. White-Collar Jobs DPE wrote a comprehensive AFL-CIO American citizens This issue exploded onto the American Executive Council policy resolution have with respect political landscape late in 2003 in part “Reform the H-1B and L1 Guest Worker because of the work of the DPE. Early that Visa Programs,” adopted in August 2003. to media and the year, reports began to surface about the DPE also led efforts to delay for two years news, information extent to which white-collar jobs had efforts by the Bush administration to begun to be sent overseas—professional and defund the H-1B technical skills training and entertainment. technical jobs that free-trade advocates had program that uses visa fees to retrain U.S. assured the nation would remain in this workers for jobs impacted by this guest country, even as millions of manufacturing worker visa program. job opportunities were lost. New reports forecast the loss of millions of these jobs Overtime Pay Regulations as U.S. companies scoured the world for In March 2003, the Bush Department of cheap labor. Labor proposed regulations to cut overtime pay protections. Over the next year-and-a- Working with the DPE, the AFL-CIO set half, the DPE played a leading role in work- up a task force of key departments and ing with the AFL-CIO, affiliated unions and affiliates to devise policies and strategies to numerous union allies to block the rules deal with this new crisis. The DPE testified by highlighting the deleterious impact the on the issue before Congress and in state proposed rules would impose on white- legislatures and worked with the AFL-CIO collar workers. A public outcry and repeated to develop federal and state legislative legislative victories by unions and their responses. At the state level, the issue took members led the Labor Department to

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revise its proposals, but the final rule still salaried and professional women and has adversely affects millions of U.S. workers. been building bridges to the women’s community. DPE contributed to a book, The DPE also focused on major legislative 50 Ways to Improve Women’s Lives: The and regulatory issues involving media and Essential Guide for Achieving Health, Equality telecommunications; labor law; pay, bene- and Success for All, published in March fits, and job security; and taxes, trade and 2005. DPE’s essay, “Support Labor Unions,” intellectual property. outlines the benefits of union membership for professional and other women.

A Voice for Workers Professional Associations in Our Communities DPE continues to assist in building relation- Outreach and Building Coalitions ships with nonunion professional associa- DPE has initiated efforts to expand the tions and their members—paving the way union movement’s coalition-building for organizing––by establishing a presence strategies. at their major meetings and conferences.

Lunch and Learn Programs Outreach to Preprofessionals Since February 2004, the DPE has spon- Recognizing the importance of young sored five sessions examining the state professionals to the future of the labor Since February of the nation’s health care system and movement, DPE is continuing to expand proposals for change. Featuring outside its college-based outreach program. This 2004, the DPE experts, these programs have attracted more initiative is intended to change the culture, has sponsored than 400 participants from labor, govern- paving the way for future organizing by ment, academia, community, consumer informing students of unions’ crucial role five sessions and women’s organizations, public health in the United States and highlighting the examining the groups, student organizations, think tanks ways in which unions can improve the and foreign embassies. These programs help status of professions and help individuals state of the enhance the image of unions by bringing achieve their career goals. nation’s health together many different organizations and their representatives with workers to focus Research care system and on the single largest problem in the U.S. In the past four years, the DPE has issued proposals for economy—runaway health care costs. six reports, six detail-rich statistical com- pendiums, five analyses of the benefits change. Women Professionals of union membership for employees in var- Women professional employees currently ious professional societies and organizations make up 47 percent of the labor force and and 17 fact sheets that address public policy more than 56 percent of professional and issues of critical concern to professional related employees––a percentage that is employees and provide comprehensive expected to increase. DPE has developed portraits of the white-collar work force. a range of materials and fact sheets on

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Transportation Trades Department

A strong, safe and secure transportation E ARE PLEASED TO SUBMIT I The Bush administration and Congress network is a key to the 2005 AFL-CIO Convention are failing to invest adequately in W component of the a report on the activities and initiatives of transportation. the Transportation Trades Department (TTD). I Privatization of the nation’s transporta- nation’s economy, Since the AFL-CIO 2001 Convention, trans- tion system is a growing threat to portation workers have faced unprecedented workers and the public. and transportation challenges and attacks within all sectors. I Rollbacks in job security, health care workers are in the While the specific issues confronting the and guaranteed pensions are becoming department’s 35 affiliated unions vary, all too common in the transportation forefront of that common themes have emerged: sector. network.

I Globalization is threatening transporta- Despite these challenges, TTD and its tion workers as never before. member unions have fought back––and I Outsourcing of transportation jobs has even scored victories––in a tough political exploded in the past decade––a problem environment. exacerbated by the growth of nonunion competitors. I Basic workers’ rights, including collec- Taking a Strong Stand tive bargaining rights, continue to be TTD has made the case that a strong, safe eroded and attacked through hostile and secure transportation network is a key policy proposals and government component of the nation’s economy, and actions. transportation workers are in the forefront I Transportation security challenges since of that network and deserve support from Sept. 11, 2001, have been neglected. elected officials and corporate leaders.

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The department has better used the power support stems from TTD’s efforts over the of the Internet, expanding the TTD website past decade to cultivate a bipartisan bloc of and using an online activist network to supporters who mobilize when transporta- ensure policymakers hear directly from tion workers face legislative attacks. rank-and-file transportation workers. The department has increased the size of its TTD’s grassroots and political programs are political action committee, worked with expanding, and the department has unified affiliates in support of grassroots efforts on transportation unions behind a common pending legislation and ensured candidates agenda. Whether testifying on Capitol Hill, for elected office took a stand on issues mobilizing activists or responding to federal directly relevant to transportation workers. regulatory initiatives, TTD always has In 2002 and 2004, TTD staff members were fought for policies that enhance the lives released to work with state and regional and economic securities of transportation labor bodies in support of working family workers. Despite the challenges ahead, TTD issues. plans to continue that fight.

Since 2001, TTD has seen two of its out- standing officers step down from their Effects of Sept. 11, 2001, positions after leading transportation workers Attacks Shape Agenda TTD’s grassroots through the dark years of Newt Gingrich TTD’s most recent report, filed just weeks and political in the 1990s and overseeing a successful after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, predicted restructuring of the department. the events of that awful day would be long programs are felt across the transportation industry and expanding, and Sonny Hall, the retired president of the drive the agenda in Washington, D.C., Transport Workers and Pat Friend, president for years to come. That prediction––both the department of Flight Attendants-CWA, resigned as in positive and negative terms––could not has unified president and secretary-treasurer of TTD, have been more accurate, as transportation respectively, in fall 2003. With the strong workers have seen their jobs and profes- transportation support of Hall and Friend, the TTD sions change forever. unions behind a Executive Committee elected Edward Wytkind as president and Michael Ingrao as Aviation Industry in Crisis common agenda. secretary-treasurer. TTD’s 2005 Convention The aviation industry has borne the brunt re-elected Wytkind and Ingrao to five-year of the economic impact of the Sept. 11 terms and named Sonny Hall TTD presi- attacks that grounded the airlines and left dent emeritus in recognition of his years them in financial ruins. These problems of service to the department, TWU and have been worsened by rising fuel prices the entire union movement. and the flawed policy decisions of the Bush administration. In the days after Sept. 11, Looking ahead, TTD is well positioned to TTD worked to save the airline industry fight and win on behalf of transportation by advocating for federal assistance. While workers. Policymakers in Washington, D.C., President George W. Bush signed the aid have come to respect and depend on the package into law, his administration insisted substantive input TTD and its affiliated on deep wage concessions and imposed unions offer on transportation policy other conditions that were neither realistic debates. TTD has built a bloc of supporters nor envisioned by Congress. The result is on both sides of the aisle who will vote less than 15 percent of congressional with transportation workers in tough authorized loan guarantees were distributed battles––and openly lead the charge. Such to airline carriers. Four years later, the

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airline industry still is in peril, workers’ In April 2003, TTD and the AFL-CIO jointly pensions have been eliminated, 150,000 petitioned the Bush administration to close jobs have been cut and wages reduced. facilities abroad that maintain U.S. aircraft until security audits could be completed. In the face of such economic dislocation, In yet another flawed policy decision, the TTD and its affiliates insisted airline work- administration summarily rejected the call. ers––not only airline corporations––receive TTD and the AFL-CIO then turned to financial relief. After winning a key vote Congress––and achieved the most signifi- in the U.S. House of Representatives by cant legislative victory on this issue since 265 to 150 (with 67 Republicans voting the 1988 regulations made it easier for to provide financial relief to transportation foreign stations to work on U.S. aircraft: workers) and securing an amendment in Passage of a bill authorizing security audits the Senate, Congress approved 26 weeks followed a 52 to 42 vote in the Senate of extended jobless benefits for workers at and leadership from Rep. James Oberstar airlines, aerospace manufacturers (including (D-Minn.) in the House. But the Bush Boeing) and airports in the fiscal year 2003 administration once again has slow-walked budget. The TTD and its affiliates achieved implementation of the security audits this victory despite strong opposition by required by Congress, and TTD is returning Republican leaders on Capitol Hill and the to Congress to force government action. White House, which referred to such aid as “excessive.” Working for Fairness in Maritime and Rail Security Fighting for Improved While aviation has been in the spotlight Transportation Security and has received more than 90 percent of After Sept. 11, 2001, transportation unions the billions of federal dollars allocated by immediately led the fight for greater trans- the government, other modes of transporta- portation security, and TTD has achieved tion have been shortchanged. Congress improvements in the airline industry. passed the Maritime Transportation Security Airports are better protected, airplanes’ Act (MTSA) in 2002, making improvements cockpits more secure, the federal air to port and maritime operations, but too marshal program expanded and resources many of the requirements mandated by the invested to close security vulnerabilities. new law are not being adequately enforced. For example, worker training and evacua- Loopholes still remain, and TTD has tion procedures are lacking and cargo demanded the government’s rhetoric on containers flowing through the nation’s security match reality. Flight attendant ports are not being checked adequately. security training has been mandated by Congress but delayed by the Bush adminis- On the rail and transit side, TTD has won tration, and funding for key programs has support in Congress for many priorities, been cut back or held up at critical times. but a hostile administration and a reluctant The department also has fought cargo Republican leadership have stymied carriers’ attempts to exempt themselves comprehensive bills. The TTD is seeking: from security requirements. Further, the Bush administration used the security I Mandatory security training; debate to deny—under a phony veil I Whistle-blower protection for workers; of “national security”—collective bargain- I Financial grants for over-the-road opera- ing rights to 50,000 federalized airport tors so companies and workers no longer screeners. will have to fend for themselves; and

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I Federal oversight for the unique setting and in the pending TEA-21 security needs of hazardous material reauthorization bill. TTD also is working transportation. with affiliates to make sure commercial van operators and so-called curbside operators In response to the host of extensive back- do not cut corners on safety and school ground checks imposed on transportation bus safety is taken seriously. workers in the aftermath of Sept. 11 and reports of worker discrimination and unfair TTD, together with IBT, scored a major dismissals, TTD took a leadership role to victory for safety by defeating a Wal-Mart– develop and implement a unified labor sponsored initiative that would have position. TTD argued background checks allowed the company to force longer hours must provide workers with basic due for its drivers. Under mounting public process rights, focus on rooting out true criticism, the company and its special- security risks, protect workers’ privacy and interest legislation were defeated. not be used to unfairly prevent someone from working in his or her chosen profes- For more than a decade, lawmakers, facing sion. During consideration of the maritime fierce industry opposition, have been security bill, TTD won many of these unable to reauthorize the Hazardous protections. The department then used this Materials Transportation Act. With an experience to fight for fairness for hazmat estimated 1 million hazmat shipments truck drivers and aviation workers and to moving by truck, rail, pipeline, air and improve maritime security checks. There water each day, protecting the public and is little question these checks will spread to workers involved in the shipment of these workers in other areas of the transportation dangerous goods has never been more TTD has worked industry, and TTD will continue to lead important. Yet the industry has stonewalled with the the fight for fairness as the debate moves meaningful reforms, sought to weaken the forward. role of the Occupational Safety and Health Teamsters and Administration (OSHA) in protecting the Amalgamated Improving Transportation Safety workers and blocked worker training As the rail industry has stood in the way requirements. In addition, the department Transit Union to of advances in security, it also has also is working to expand training grants for ensure hours of managed to stonewall meaningful safety firefighters and transportation workers and legislation. Worker fatigue is a growing defeat special-interest exemptions. TTD also service regulations problem, track maintenance and staffing has been working with flight attendant enhance safety have not been maintained, remote control unions to ensure flight attendants receive technologies are misused and the “dark the same OSHA protections afforded to and do not territory” problem—racks without signal other workers. undermine jobs. systems—must be addressed. Too often, the Bush-controlled Federal Railroad Administration simply has been too cozy Addressing Globalization with the industry it is supposed to regulate. and Outsourcing It is impossible to talk about transportation TTD has worked with the Teamsters and safety and security without recognizing the the Amalgamated Transit Union to ensure threats globalization and outsourcing pose, hours of service regulations enhance safety not only to the jobs of transportation and do not undermine jobs. This effort will workers, but to the safety and security continue to be an issue in the regulatory standards critical to the country.

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Nowhere is this more evident than in the In the aftermath of the lockout of fight over allowing Mexican-domiciled International Longshore and Warehouse trucks and buses entry into the United Union members at West Coast ports, States as called for under the North American TTD defeated attempts by Wal-Mart and Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). For more its major shipper lobby to allow the use of than a decade, transportation labor has foreign-flag vessels in defiance of Jones Act successfully made the case that Mexican- requirements. This was an obvious attempt domiciled operators do not meet U.S. safety by the industry to interfere in an ongoing and security standards. Despite efforts of labor dispute and do an end-run around the the White House to allow such unsafe important maritime protections included in vehicles into this nation, a bipartisan the Jones Act. Congress has rejected the president’s views and embraced the efforts of TTD and affili- ated unions. Inspection and enforcement Defending Workers’ Rights capabilities are not ready for the influx of In a post-Sept. 11 climate marked by severe traffic generated by full implementation economic and security challenges, some of NAFTA. While the border has yet to be political and business leaders have shame- The department fully open, industry and foreign interests fully sought to exploit these difficult times has actively are pushing hard, and TTD and its affiliates by waging war against workers and their will continue to push back. unions. defended airline foreign ownership The Union Pacific railroad also has attempted Under the Bush presidency, the National to outsource train inspections to Mexico. Mediation Board (NMB), the federal agency and cabotage TTD defeated this dangerous proposal, but that oversees collective bargaining and restrictions. it is only a matter of time before major rail organizing in the air and rail industries, companies try to take advantage of global has carried out the same politically charged, operations at the expense of safety and U.S. anti-worker agenda that has marred the jobs. TTD stands ready to fight these efforts. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In fact, the NMB has allowed collective bar- The department has actively defended gaining to drag on far past the point of airline foreign ownership and cabotage constructive negotiations, forcing workers restrictions. TTD has defeated attempts by to wait years for new contracts. It has “liberalization” advocates such as Richard endorsed a rail industry effort to tax workers’ Branson to subject airlines and airline rights by creating steep filing fees for griev- workers to the type of unfair competition ances with the intent of reducing the num- that has devastated American aerospace, ber of workers who protest unfair corporate steel, auto and textile workers. These and behavior. TTD has mobilized against this other workers’ issues are on the table as proposal, enlisting the support of lawmakers the United States negotiates a new aviation and transportation activists. agreement with the European Union. Through official submissions to the U.S. Since 2001, TTD has stopped the airline State Department and the Department of industry’s campaign to replace collective Transportation and advocacy on Capitol bargaining with winner-take-all, “baseball- Hill, TTD and its aviation affiliates have style” arbitration. In addition to intensive secured congressional support in opposition lobbying on Capitol Hill, TTD, working to sweeping reforms of laws designed to with the AFL-CIO, successfully urged protect national interest. Democratic lobbyists––hired by the indus- try to peddle this misguided scheme––to

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oppose it. When it became clear key when management locked out ILWU Republicans weren’t backing this effort, the members and the Bush administration airlines publicly withdrew their campaign. issued a Taft-Hartley injunction. The TTD But it’s possible the industry may resurrect publicly condemned the White House this effort to weaken workers’ bargaining actions, enlisted congressional opposition rights. and joined the AFL-CIO in pushing for a groundbreaking agreement that protected TTD also has been busy ensuring basic the long-term interests of ILWU members worker protections, including Section 13(c) under assault from major shippers such as bargaining rights and Davis-Bacon, remain Wal-Mart. in place and are applied to all federal infra- structure programs. In the pending TEA-21 reauthorization bill, the Senate bill includes Investing in Transportation a provision that weakens Section 13(c) Jobs protections. In response, TTD has secured TTD has long led the fight on Capitol Hill 24 House Republicans on record against the and within the Bush administration for change, helped affected unions mobilize a greater federal investment in the U.S. trans- grassroots effort against the provision and portation system and infrastructure. TTD raised the profile of this issue with senior has argued successfully that such invest- TTD also has been members of the House and Senate. TTD will ments create and support millions of jobs busy ensuring do what’s necessary to ensure these workers’ and ensure the nation’s transportation protections are not eroded. system can serve as an economic engine for basic worker other industries dependent on the efficient protections During consideration of the Federal movement of goods and people. Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthoriza- remain in place tion bill in 2003, TTD worked closely with As Congress debates the pending TEA-21 and are applied the National Air Traffic Controllers reauthorization bill, TTD so far has been Association and the Professional Airways successful in ensuring the funding guaran- to all federal Systems Specialists to fight privatization tees and so-called budget firewalls adopted infrastructure schemes that would have allowed the FAA in the original 1998 TEA-21 bill are pre- to contract out air traffic control services. served. While the funding levels currently programs. TTD secured a partial prohibition and sig- under discussion fall short, the bill would nificantly raised the profile of this issue, still represent a major increase in spending making the case that putting profits ahead over the objections of a White House that of safety is not acceptable. TTD also has for two years has used veto threats to block joined with FAA unions to fight attempts robust highway and transit investment. by the FAA to unilaterally impose contract TTD also has secured major elements of the terms without fully negotiating with its department’s safety and security agenda. unions. This end-run around the collective As this legislation is concluded, TTD will bargaining process demonstrates the oppose any effort to weaken protections anti-worker, anti-union bias at the FAA— for workers, impose privatization mandates one that has not served the long-term or create special-interest exemptions from interests of the agency or the nation’s air safety rules. transportation system. In the four years since President Bush took TTD worked with AFL-CIO Secretary- office, TTD and its rail unions have kept Treasurer Richard Trumka and the ILWU Amtrak funded despite White House

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opposition. The department also has transportation. TTD has enlisted all blocked senseless privatization initiatives transportation unions to stand with the pushed by the administration, which seeks FAA unions in the face of this blatant to eliminate all funding for Amtrak, force attempt by the FAA to break the spirit of a bankruptcy and break up the carrier. the employees and weaken the power of Amtrak’s own board has turned on its the unions. passengers and employees by pushing a plan that would weaken Amtrak workers’ collective bargaining rights and undermine Conclusion the railroad retirement system. TTD has While TTD has achieved significant success mobilized against these proposals and despite strong opposition, the multifaceted gained support on the Hill, on both sides of challenges of the post-Sept. 11 era remain the aisle, for a plan that would make real as daunting as ever. Going forward, the The Transportation and lasting investments in Amtrak and the Transportation Trades Department will Trades Department nation’s entire rail system. continue to be a bold voice for transporta- tion workers, restoring the power of will continue to And at a time when more Americans are transportation workers on the job, identify- be a bold voice for flying than ever before, the administration ing opportunities to increase the size and has attempted to scale back programs to influence of the transportation sector of transportation modernize the nation’s airports and air traf- the labor movement and ensuring a strong workers. fic control system. Its FAA administrator has and well-funded transportation system. mismanaged air traffic control moderniza- Carrying on its mandate to represent the tion and virtually declared war on FAA interests of transportation workers, TTD will workers and their unions by pressing for work to strengthen transportation safety contracting-out schemes and engaging in and security and demand transportation heavy-handed collective bargaining strate- workers’ rights on the job are protected— gies. As a result, the agency has a staffing and that these men and women are treated crisis and labor–management relations with the dignity and respect they deserve. have eroded at a crucial time for U.S. air

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Union Label and Service Trades Department

By increasing consumers’ awareness of their HE UNION LABEL & SERVICE or near-identical products and services, purchasing power, TRADES DEPARTMENT (UL&STD) some union made, some not. They shift T billions of is the only branch of the union movement production between union and nonunion charged with marketing union-made goods facilities, move overseas, go out of business consumer dollars and services to union members and the or open new lines of business. can promote general public. In addition, the department is responsible for publicizing AFL-CIO– Keeping data accurate and up to date in more just and endorsed boycotts and explaining the goals the midst of these changes is the main responsible and benefits of trade unionism. challenge facing the UL&STD. Accurate information is essential to effective market- corporate behavior. By increasing consumers’ awareness of their ing outreach and in assisting consumers purchasing power, billions of consumer in identifying and purchasing union-made dollars can be steered toward or away from goods and services. specific employers, augmenting union organizing, bargaining and other efforts A further goal of the UL&STD’s marketing to promote more just and responsible campaign is reaching consumers effectively corporate behavior. Active marketing can with the “Union Label message.” In addi- open a whole new front in the struggle for tion to holding numerous press interviews good jobs and workers’ rights. and presentations at union conferences, conventions and other gatherings, UL&STD The UL&STD marketing mandate also cre- publishes the Label Letter newsletter. Mailed ates unique challenges because of the need six times a year to some 30,000 union to maintain up-to-date information on leaders, members, supporters, reporters and union-made products and services. Modern allied organizations, the award-winning companies often offer a mix of identical publication features original news articles,

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the boycott list and a “Do Buy” page of The Union-Industries Show generates union-made products and services. positive media and opens the way for important organizing opportunities for Central to UL&STD communications out- unions while fulfilling the mission of the reach are the AFL-CIO Union-Industries department. The Union-Industries Show: Show and the revamped Union Label website, www.UnionLabel.org. I Introduces the public directly to union- made goods and services and to union representatives. People can touch the The AFL-CIO Union-Industries products and sample the services, Show which augments their knowledge of The AFL-CIO Union-Industries Show is the and interest in products they have nation’s only trade and skills exposition fea- heard or read about in the media. They turing exclusively union-made goods and can meet union members face-to-face services. UL&STD has held the show every in a positive setting instead of learning year since 1938, except for a brief period about unions through media reports during World War II. that too often focus on conflict and strife. Since 2001, the Union-Industries Show has I Allows union companies to meet and opened in such working family cities as network. Unionized producers, suppliers Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and most and distributors join forces at the recently, Portland, Ore. Open to the public, Union-Industries Show and forge The Union- the show draws between 150,000 and business relationships that can create 250,000 visitors each year, giving them more union jobs. Industries Show a firsthand look at the wide variety of I Energizes the regional labor movement. generates positive union members’ skills and crafts and the Unions throughout the region become many vital services our unions provide involved in organizing this celebration media and and support. of the quality products and services opens the way union workers proudly produce, while Each year during the Union-Industries thousands of union members attend for important Show, one or two companies receive the the show and find renewed pride in the organizing prestigious Labor–Management Award in union movement. recognition of their outstanding commit- I Generates positive publicity for unions opportunities for ment to collective bargaining and genuine and their members. For four days, the unions while workplace cooperation. Since 2001, the press focuses on unions’ contributions award has been issued to Amtrak West to the community. The Union-Industries fulfilling the (nominated by the Brotherhood of Railway Show is filled with compelling stories mission of the Signalmen), Fenton Art Glass Co. (USW), and irresistible photo opportunities, Cutco Cutlery (USW), George Lucas (IATSE), from union-trained guide dogs for department. Greyhound Lines Inc. (ATU), Cingular the blind to the latest model Harley- Wireless (CWA), Rockwell Collins (IBEW), Davidson motorcycle and exquisite South Side Roofing Co. Inc. (United Union hand-etched crystal. of Roofers and Waterproofers), General Motors Powertrain, Flint Engine South (UAW) and Georgia-Pacific Corp. (PACE).

100 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 Marketing the Union Label and website after the tremendous consumer on the Web response to the department’s all-union With Internet retail sales currently valued Internet shopping site launched in fall at $56 billion a year––and doubling every 2004. Coinciding with the AFL-CIO- 36 months––the potential for selling union- endorsed “Buy Union Week” promotion–– a national effort to stimulate sales of union- made goods and services is tremendous. In May 2005, the Union-made products are available in many made goods and services during the 10 days of the hottest-selling categories, such as after Thanksgiving, the busiest shopping UL&STD launched days of the year––the site demonstrated the computers, clothing, auto parts, lawn and www.ShopUnion garden supplies, furniture, appliances and potential for robust, Web-based marketing. sporting goods. Recent research also shows Made.org, an In May 2005, the UL&STD launched fully one-third of the buying public will eye-catching, spend up to 40 percent more to buy goods www.ShopUnionMade.org, an eye-catching, they think are produced under fair and high-speed website that enables consumers high-speed to purchase goods and services online and decent working conditions. website that allows union companies to advertise. The UL&STD is deeply engaged in develop- Backed by a large and growing database, enables consumers the all-union Internet shopping site offers ing new programs to carry the Union Label to purchase goods message far beyond the range of the Label consumers the option of searching for prod- Letter, the Union-Industries Show and tradi- ucts by category––such as automotive, and services clothing and house and home––or search- tional websites. Creative use of the Internet online. removes two of the biggest barriers blocking ing by keyword. Product information also shoppers from finding and buying union- is available for goods that can be accessed made goods and services: online or offline, providing consumers with the widest range of purchasing options. I The inability of many union companies to sell through the large retail chain With ShopUnionMade.org now in place, stores. Large retailers demand such the UL&STD plans to expand its Web-based low prices it often is impossible for the outreach, building on Buy Union Week producers to pay union-scale wages and momentum and promoting special sales benefits. events such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s I The high cost of advertising. Small- and Day, Father’s Day, back to school and medium-sized unionized companies Labor Day. often cannot afford to advertise through print, radio or TV. Building Support for Marketing on the Internet bypasses the Organizing and Education large retail stores and high-priced ad com- Building broad support for good union panies, allowing the UL&STD to reach mil- jobs is the goal of all UL&STD efforts, and lions of consumers directly and inexpen- the ShopUnionMade website is but one sively, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. component of the UL&STD presence on the Internet. The department’s redesigned The UL&STD committed to launching a Union Label home page, www.UnionLabel year-round marketing presence on the .org, is focused on educating and organizing Internet and began rebuilding and com- the public in support of unions and pletely revamping the Union Label database pro-worker economic and social policies.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 101 The new website actively promotes numer- the fight for good jobs. In the near future, ous union programs, including Wake Up the UL&STD will: Wal-Mart, Good Jobs First, the Apollo Alliance, Sweat-free Communities and I Add thousands of new union-made United Students Against Sweatshops. goods and services to the database by working with affiliated unions and The new site features breaking news through the department’s partnership from Workers Independent News (WIN), with the University of Massachusetts Press Associates Inc. and other sources; Labor Center in Amherst; background information on vital issues; the I Consider programming the site so AFL-CIO Boycott List and updates; and consumers can order goods and services links to the Economic Policy Institute, from multiple companies, place the Citizens for Tax Justice and other respected orders in a single online shopping cart pro-worker organizations. and execute one convenient sale; I Protect the integrity of the Union Label. In addition to communicating with union Too many companies today blur the members, the UL&STD is focused on reach- line between union- and nonunion- ing and influencing the tens of millions made goods and services or engage of people who are increasingly alarmed by in outright fraud. The UL&STD will the erosion of jobs and living standards protect union jobs and honest union and who are searching for ways to fight companies by promoting proper use back. Polling shows millions of workers of the Union Label; without union representation would join a I Strengthen Union Label Councils and union today if they could, and UL&STD’s create new councils; goal is to reach those workers. In addition, I Begin publishing material in Spanish the website has the potential to reach mil- and examine the need to publish in lions of others who are indifferent or even other languages as well; hostile to unions and who may consider I Strengthen its working relationships themselves conservative or apolitical but with allied groups and organizations whose world views are in increasing conflict promoting workers’ and union rights; with the reality around them. The depart- and ment seeks to provide a coherent alterna- I Increase the department’s focus on tive to the anti-worker ideologies of reac- promoting union services. With more tionary political extremists by offering a people every year holding service-sector more humane, reality-based explanation of jobs, better information on unionized world events and multiple opportunities to service providers is necessary to find engage in practical programs for change at creative ways to promote union services. the local, state and national levels. This requires involving more service- sector unions in the work of the Union Label Department through affiliations Looking to the Future and active collaboration. The www.ShopUnionMade.org website should begin producing advertising revenue Not since the Great Depression have so sufficient to operate and expand the web- many wage earners in North America site and finance significant new initiatives experienced such profound economic to promote union-made goods and services dislocations––and the global forces driving and to educate and organize people around the turmoil and unrest are bound to

102 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT • AFL-CIO 2005 accelerate for years to come. Millions The UL&STD is committed to helping the of people today are looking for answers; public understand its vast untapped power millions of people are looking for some- to alter the face of the economy. Sixty-eight thing they can do, right now, to make percent of the U.S. gross domestic product— things better. $6.8 trillion of the $10 trillion of wealth created annually in this country—derives The UL&STD is This was made clear to us in 1999 and early from personal consumer spending on committed to 2000 by the overwhelming public support everyday products such as toothpaste, for the UL&STD-led campaign to outlaw use diapers and dish soap. helping the public of the Made in the USA label on garments understand its made in the U.S. protectorate of Saipan. Such consumer power offers the union Public pressure was so intense that in a movement a key opportunity to build vast untapped worker-unfriendly, GOP-dominated Congress, on the Union Label, educate and mobilize power to alter 237 House members and 51 senators agreed concerned consumers and generate a to sponsor the UL&STD-backed legislation. powerful mass movement for good union the face of the Only the refusal of Speaker Dennis Hastert jobs. economy. to permit a floor vote prevented the bill from passing in the House.

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