The Northwestern Pennsylvania Area Labor Federation (ALF) would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us. We understand many people are confused with the many recent changes in the AFL-CIO. Most unions have a district level office between the local unions and their state or national offices. The Area Labor Federations (ALFs) are equal to the district offices of your union.

           

Within our jurisdiction there are 10 Central Labor Councils. Our function is to assist the CLC’s in our jurisdiction with: Research, Education, Communications, Fundraising, Organizing, Special Events, Political Activities, Community Outreach, Affiliation and Participation. Our research has resulted in obtaining contact information for your local. We hope this communication will result in your choosing to join us.

 

Our ALF is embracing technology in many ways:

 

·         We have established our own website: 

 

 ·         We have an e-activist network that every union member can join. We utilize this for contacts for special events (education, rallies, organizing drives, strike and informational pickets, legislative updates, and much more) we have been successful using this tool in turning out volunteers on a very short notice.

 

·         Distance Education Classes are in the planning stages that will build solidarity, educate our members, and make the geographical size of our area less problematic.

 

With the unionized workforce at less than 15% nationally, we now more than ever need to work together in solidarity. We must utilize all three elements of the union triangle to strengthen our labor movement: (1) Organizing, (2) Collective Bargaining & Negotiations, and (3) Legislative, Political, and Community Action.

 

We will be assisting our CLC’s in establishing locally held, reasonably priced Union Leadership Academy classes. Many of their committees will be working on a variety of projects to either educate the public or improve the publics’ perception of unions. The CLC’s may choose to assist in a research project that we have planned that will help our members know where to locally purchase Union-Made American-Made products and services. The results of this research will be published in our newsletter and distributed to the delegates of affiliated unions. The ALF and CLC’s will be participating in Parades, Rallies, Political events, Public Forums, and Community Projects (we will encourage each CLC to do a Christmas Program for needy children). It goes without saying that the more people serving actively as delegates to the CLC’s the more we can accomplish.

 

At the November 2005 PA AFL-CIO Convocation the Area Labor Federations (ALFs) were formed. It was determined that all per capita payments would be sent directly to the ALFs, and through a budget process the Central Labor Councils (CLCs) in the jurisdiction would be funded from the ALF.  The NWPA ALF has since its inception had a per capita rate of $0.37 per member per month. We want to assure you that there are no plans to raise the per capita rate. Our plans are to increase revenue through growth (affiliation). If you choose to affiliate, your union may have delegates serve on any of the Central Labor Councils in our region that you designate on the per capita form when you remit your per capita payment to the Northwestern Pennsylvania Area Labor Federation at 1276 Liberty St., Franklin, Pa 16323. You can base your affiliation on where your members live or work. We are including a map of the CLC’s in our area for your convenience. Sometimes it is easier to get your members to participate if the meetings are closer to home and by having delegates in more CLC’s your political influence within the union movement is increased. Those delegates make recommendations for endorsements and get involved with many aspects of the council like special projects and committees. Please appoint or elect your delegates to the CLC’s and complete the enclosed forms.

 

Remember: In numbers there is strength! In solidarity there is power! Please join us!

                                           In Solidarity,