The Union Veterans Council (UVC) in mid-March got a boost from the AFLCIO.
The federation’s executive council (SIU President Michael Sacco is the longest-serving member of that group) unanimously voted to recognize the UVC as the AFL-CIO’s seventh official labor constituency group.
UVC Executive Director Will Attig noted, “During the 2009 AFL-CIO Convention, the AFL-CIO passed a resolution to form the Union Veterans Council. From its inception, the UVC was a force multiplier for union veterans and all working families in their fight for economic freedom and security. And we are proud to announce that because of our success and growth, the UVC is becoming its own nonprofit labor organization….”
He continued, “This decision by the UVC board, with the support of the AFL-CIO, will allow us to scale our programmatic work and capacity to be even more effective as we fight to help union veterans and all working families better their lives. The Union Veterans Council’s foundation will remain unchanged and our mission to bring working-class veterans together to speak out on the issues that impact us most remains the same…. The Union Veterans Council was built to protect working-class veterans and their interests. We will continue to do so now with greater authority and reach. I want to thank everyone who was a part of this transition and for your continued support in the next part of our journey.”
The related AFL-CIO Executive Council statement reads in part: “Union members in every industry, occupation and region of the country have proudly and bravely served in the armed forces of the United States…. Since its founding 13 years ago, the UVC has steadily and sustainably grown in its outreach, its effectiveness and its fundraising capacity. With a diligent focus on organizing – at the national and local level – coupled with the initiative and creative thinking of UVC leadership, the UVC has evolved into a force multiplier for federation and affiliate organizing, legislative and electoral campaigns, and other important initiatives. The UVC has now reached operational capacity that makes its status as a constituency organization more appropriate than its former project status.”
The federation’s other constituency groups are as follows (with descriptions from the AFL-CIO website:
A. Philip Randolph Institute: APRI is an alliance between labor and the civil rights movement. Today, it fights for racial equality and economic justice.
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance: APALA is the nation’s first national organization of AAPI workers. It focuses on advancing worker, immigrant and civil rights.
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists: CBTU is an independent voice for Black workers within the labor movement.
Coalition of Labor Union Women: CLUW unifies union women to face shared concerns. The coalition focuses on action on issues important to women workers.
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement: LCLAA represents 2 million Latino workers. The council organizes working people to protect the rights and expand the influence of Latinos.
Pride At Work: Pride@Work brings together the labor movement and the LGBTQ community in pursuit of social and economic justice.
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