United Way and Labor
South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
and the United Way of Central Iowa have a unique relationship. We’re
working together, serving central Iowa, by giving to our community.
This partnership between South Central and the United Way is rich in
activity and success. Every year our labor brothers and sisters are active in
the many programs of the AFL-CIO community services department at the
United Way.
A Powerful Link for Community Services
South Central Iowa Federation of Labor supports community services, an
active and vibrant program. We cannot advance the personal and social
well-being of our members without working for strong communities. Decent
housing, good schools, adequate health care, sufficient recreational
opportunities and meaningful social support programs are key to having a
better society.
We have one United Way Labor Liaison who works out of our office to
promote the caring and sharing that is at the heart of our labor
movement, and to help our continued efforts to build a better society
for all. South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO promotes
continued and increased support of these activities by all of our
affiliates.
The history of United Way and the AFL-CIO
Since 1946, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of
Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and United Way of America have
enjoyed a cooperative relationship through which they and state and
local United Ways have provided services to members of organized labor,
their families and their communities. Organized labor is also part of
the decision-making process at United Way of America. Currently, there
are five AFL-CIO representatives serving on United Way of America's
Board of Governors, two of them on the executive committee, and a labor
leader is currently serving as the chair of the board of directors of
United Way International.
United Way and organized labor work together to:
Train union members to assist co-workers with information about
available local services and to refer them to the appropriate
organizations.
Recruit, train and help place members of organized labor on the
decision-making bodies of health and human-service organizations. This
is done at the national, state and local levels.
Solicit contributions from workers through payroll deduction, which
account for approximately two-thirds of the funds that United Ways raise
each year. Through the Labor Letters of Endorsement Program of the
Department of Labor Participation, the AFL-CIO president and Field
Mobilization Department ask presidents of AFL-CIO affiliated unions,
state federations and central labor councils to send letters endorsing
United Way campaigns to their memberships. The Labor Letters of
Endorsement Program encourages individual union members to volunteer
their time and contribute their resources to United Way campaigns.
Provide a staff of more than 200 full-time AFL-CIO Community Services
Liaisons to serve as links between their state federations and central
labor councils and United Ways in 170 communities across the United
States. In addition, 21 local labor agencies and five state labor
agencies receive direct United Way support. Canada has 36 full-time
Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Labour Liaisons.
Recognize labor leaders who have rendered outstanding United Way
volunteer service by annually awarding the Joseph A. Beirne Community
Services Award, established in the memory of this remarkable leader.