Transcript AFL-CIO - Watford Grammar School for Boys Intranet

AFL-CIO
Tom & Joel
Background Info
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The American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial
Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a voluntary federation of 57 national and
international labour unions.
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The AFL-CIO was created in 1955 by the merger of the AFL and the
CIO.
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The AFL-CIO union movement represents 11.5 million members
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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
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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
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“We will build a broad movement of American workers by
organizing workers into unions.
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We will build a strong political voice for workers in our
nation.
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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
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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
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1996: America Needs A Raise Campaign
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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
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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
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100
302/ap_on_el_ge/us_afl_cio_politic
s
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100
01424052748704486504575097970
727109164.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_U
S_PoliticsNCampaign_4