Organized Labor Partnership

Since 1946 the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has partnered with the United Way of America, United Way state associations, and local United Ways to provide services to members of organized labor, their families, and their communities. Organized labor is also part of the decision-making process at many United Ways across the nation.

United Way and organized labor work together to:

• Train union members to assist co-workers and their families with information about available local services and refer them to the appropriate organization.
• 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 though payroll deduction, which accounts for approximately two thirds of the funds that the United Way raises each year. The Labor Letters of Endorsement Program, which asks presidents of state and local unions to send United Way endorsement letters to their membership asking their members to volunteer their time and contribute their resources to United Way Campaigns, has greatly enhanced the United Way’s ability to advance the common good.

Pennsylvania Union Contacts: