Union Label Celebrates Centennial, Looks Ahead
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The AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department (UL&STD) celebrated its centennial earlier this month by looking forward to the future. Delegates to the department’s convention in Pittsburgh adopted new strategies to help working families cope with the new American workplace and to help them rebuild the American middle class.
The convention adopted several resolutions to prepare for the next phase of the department’s growth. A key resolution modified the department’s functions to emphasize information and communication sharing. Another resolution called on affiliated unions to help improve the quality of data on union-made goods and services, to link any product lists on their websites to the Union Label website and to regularly advise the department of goods and services made by union members.
The delegates also re-elected President Richard Kline and Secretary-Treasurer James Dunn and chose 17 vice presidents.
In his keynote address at the convention, United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo Gerard praised President Obama’s decision to enforce trade laws and provide relief to the U.S. tire industry from the surge of tire imports from China.
Finally, we have a president who is not afraid to act.
[The tire decision] won’t result in the opening of a closed tire plant, but it does send the message that an American president is willing to stand up for workers.
USW President: AFL-CIO Convention Opportunity to Rally Activists
This is a cross-post from the United Steelworkers.
United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard today gave the keynote speech at the Union Label & Service Trades Department convention in Pittsburgh, saying the meeting along with the upcoming AFL-CIO convention is an opportunity.
Gerard said working families should be hopeful after President Obama’s decision last night to enforce trade rules in the 421 trade case that showed a flood of tires imported from China was harming the domestic industry. Thousands of jobs at U.S. tire plants have been lost because of the imports. (Click here for more information on the 421 story.)
Union Label Week Kicks Off on Labor Day
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With the nation’s unemployment rate at the highest level in more than 25 years and U.S. manufacturing jobs especially hard hit, it is more important than ever for consumers to buy union-made products.
The AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department (UL&STD) is launching its annual Union Label Week, beginning Labor Day through Sept. 12 to remind people that union-made goods are high in quality and help support middle-class communities.
UL&STD President Richard Kline says buying union-made goods helps the entire country.
“Many Americans are hurting in this economy. That’s why it’s more important than ever to support union families by looking for union goods and services. By doing so, you can ensure that the hard-earned money you spend will reward employers who act with integrity, not runaway manufacturers and offshore employers.
“When you buy union, you not only get the highest quality goods and services, but you also help maintain good union wages and benefits that sustain the quality of life in U.S. communities.”
Even in these tough times, we’ve all got to buy essentials like new clothes and supplies for children going to school. Some of us may even need a new car, tools, appliances, furniture or hardware. No matter what you need to buy, Kline says, the main thing is to look for the union label.
“Support quality union jobs, support integrity, and support your community. Make smart decisions about how you spend your hard-earned money and look for union-made choices.”
Click here and here to learn more about union-made goods and services.
‘Walk In My Shoes’ June 11
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Here’s your chance to tell the world what the workday is really like for workers. The AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department (UL&STD) wants to know what it’s like to walk in your shoes. If you work on an auto assembly line, in a hospital emergency room, classroom, coal mine, mailroom, office, grocery store or one of a million other locations, Union Label wants to hear your story of what it is really like on your job. It doesn’t matter if you’re laid off, unemployed or retired—your story is important as well.
Here’s the idea. Tell Union Label what your workday was like on “Walk in My Shoes Day”—Thursday, June 11, 2009. Union Label wants to hear it all—whether you faced a tough commute, dealt with a grumpy boss, took on a big challenge or had a great success. The best submissions will be posted in the Label Letter and on the UL&STD website.
