AFL-CIO Tom & Joel

Background Info  The American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a voluntary federation of 57 national and international labour unions.  The AFL-CIO was created in 1955 by the merger of the AFL and the CIO.  The AFL-CIO union movement represents 11.5 million members  The AFL-CIO is affiliated to the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation, formed November 1, 2006, and incorporates the member organisations of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, of which the AFL-CIO had long been part.  Mission Statement: “The mission of the AFL-CIO is to improve the lives of working families—to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our nation. To accomplish this mission we will build and change the American labor movement.”

Classification  Sectional Group - represent the common interests of workers in the USA  Umbrella Pressure Group – made up of 56 national and international unions  Membership in the AFL-CIO is largely unrestricted

Aims  “We will build a broad movement of American workers by organizing workers into unions.  We will build a strong political voice for workers in our nation.  We will change our unions to provide a new voice to workers in a changing economy.  We will change our labour movement by creating a new voice for workers in our communities.”

Methods  Lobbying Congress to get better hours and wages for their workers  Petitions – one now protesting against the firing of the Central Falls High School staff  On their job safety and health website, they provide the latest job safety and health information and resources for union and non union workers, local union safety representatives and job safety and health professionals  Supporting presidents, governors, or congressman for Office – Barack Obama in 2008 supported by AFL-CIO because of Health Care reform and other ideals

Successes  1996: America Needs A Raise Campaign  Helped win a higher minimum wage  Advocated for better jobs  1996: after 28 months, Rubberworkers and Steelworkers at Bridgestone stopped the largest private-sector effort to permanently replace lawfully striking workers.  Backed Obama’s ‘American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’ which is creating over 2 million jobs.

Criticisms  AFL-CIO backed John Kerry for President in 2004; however, he lost to George Bush  Union membership in 2005 slipped to 12.5% of wage workers  The New Unity Partnership (NUP) dissolved from the AFL-CIO in 2005 and formed the Change to Win Federation  As the AFL-CIO prepared for its 50th anniversary convention in late July, three of the federations' four largest unions announced their withdrawal from the federation: the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters ("The Teamsters"), and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)  Health Care reform has had problems getting through despite support from the AFL-CIO

Useful Articles  302/ap_on_el_ge/us_afl_cio_politic s 302/ap_on_el_ge/us_afl_cio_politic s  html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_U S_PoliticsNCampaign_ html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_U S_PoliticsNCampaign_4