Strengthening Union Power

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human and Civil Rights Conference

I was honored to help plan the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human and Civil Rights Conference in Austin, TX with other Human and Civil Rights directors from across the country. Danielle Noelle, the AFL-CIO’s Human and Civil Rights Director, was a great leader who pulled us all together and united our interests to create a program that met every attendee’s interests. From immigration, collective bargaining, and women’s rights, many threads of commonplace issues were addressed, all centered around the framework that Dr. King stood for. That is how we landed on the theme “Reimagining the Fight for Justice, Freedom, and Progress…” For over nine months, we worked together to plan this exciting conference.

In the 1970s, the APWU convention body determined that the APWU shall align our union with other organizations that fight for equality in the workplace, the community, and the world. This conference is an important part of meeting that mandate and continuing the important civil rights work that the APWU does. As we know, workers’ rights are human rights.

2025 Human Relations Educational Assembly

I am excited to discuss the vital role of coalition building, alliances, and community outreach to strengthen union power as host of the upcoming APWU Human Relations Educational Assembly in June. Our objective is for you to understand the significance of these strategies and explore how they contribute to successful union work. Coalition building is integral to strengthening union power. It involves forming partnerships with diverse groups who share common goals. These alliances amplify our collective voice, provide resources, and bolster advocacy efforts. Community outreach is essential for unions to engage with the broader community beyond our membership. By actively participating in the community, we build trust, support, and mutual understanding. This engagement has a positive impact on our union’s goals and objectives, harnessing goodwill and solidarity. The Human Relations Conference will be held in Houston, TX between June 12-16, and we will delve into empowering and educating all attendees in civil rights and engagement, the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Veterans’ rights and bene ts, the Postal Employee Relief Fund (PERF), and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Click here for more information and to register for the 2025 Human Relations Educational Assembly.

Please make plans to attend. ■