APALA Congratulates Historic Election of New AFL-CIO Officers
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
For Immediate Release
September 23,
2009
Contact: Malcolm Amado
Uno
Phone: 202-508-3733
Email:
muno@apalanet.org
Website:
www.apalanet.org
Washington D.C. - On
September 17, 2009, the AFL-CIO elected a new
slate of officers that includes President
Richard Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth
Schuler and Executive Vice President Arlene
Holt-Baker.
"APALA applauds President
Richard Trumka's committment to diversifying
the labor movement as well as his pledge to
actively engage younger workers," said John
Delloro, APALA President. "This vision is
consistent with APALA's contributions of
forging stronger student and worker alliances
and bringing the message of organized labor to
the Asian Pacific American community. We
look forward to working hand in hand with
President Trumka to continue fighting on behalf
of working families across the country,
starting with passage of the Employee Free
Choice Act."
For the past year, APALA
assumed a leadership role to engage and educate
the Asian Pacific American community on the
Employee Free Choice Act. As a result of
this pro-active strategy, over a dozen national
Asian Pacific American organizations have
signed off in support of this legislation,
which would change labor law to allow all
workers the freedom to join unions.
This
election also represents the first time in the
history of the AFL-CIO that a woman has been
elected to the position of Secretary-Treasurer,
as well as the first time that two women have
been elected to serve in leadership positions
in the same administration.
"The
election of Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth
Schuler and Executive Vice President Arlene
Holt-Baker symbolizes a shift of the perception
of women in the labor movement," said Johanna
Hester, APALA Treasurer. "We know that
women have historically played an instrumental
role in the fight for worker's rights.
However, now we can all take pride in the fact
that two out of the three top positions in the
labor movement are held by strong women
leaders."
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