United Way of Central Iowa and South Central
South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and the United Way of Central Iowa have a unique relationship. We’re working together, serving central Iowa, by giving to our community.
This partnership between South Central and the United Way is rich in activity and success. Every year our labor brothers and sisters are active in the many programs of the AFL-CIO community services department at the United Way.
A Powerful Link for Community Services
South Central Iowa Federation of Labor supports community services, an active and vibrant program. We cannot advance the personal and social well-being of our members without working for strong communities. Decent housing, good schools, adequate health care, sufficient recreational opportunities and meaningful social support programs are key to having a better society.
We have one United Way Labor Liaison who works out of our office to promote the caring and sharing that is at the heart of our labor movement, and to help our continued efforts to build a better society for all. South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO promotes continued and increased support of these activities by all of our affiliates.
The history of United Way and the AFL-CIO
Since 1946, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and United Way of America have enjoyed a cooperative relationship through which they and state and local United Ways have provided services to members of organized labor, their families and their communities. Organized labor is also part of the decision-making process at United Way of America. Currently, there are five AFL-CIO representatives serving on United Way of America's Board of Governors, two of them on the executive committee, and a labor leader is currently serving as the chair of the board of directors of United Way International.
United Way and organized labor work together to:
Train union members to assist co-workers with information about available local services and to refer them to the appropriate organizations.
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 through payroll deduction, which account for approximately two-thirds of the funds that United Ways raise each year. Through the Labor Letters of Endorsement Program of the Department of Labor Participation, the AFL-CIO president and Field Mobilization Department ask presidents of AFL-CIO affiliated unions, state federations and central labor councils to send letters endorsing United Way campaigns to their memberships. The Labor Letters of Endorsement Program encourages individual union members to volunteer their time and contribute their resources to United Way campaigns.
Provide a staff of more than 200 full-time AFL-CIO Community Services Liaisons to serve as links between their state federations and central labor councils and United Ways in 170 communities across the United States. In addition, 21 local labor agencies and five state labor agencies receive direct United Way support. Canada has 36 full-time Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Labour Liaisons.
Recognize labor leaders who have rendered outstanding United Way volunteer service by annually awarding the Joseph A. Beirne Community Services Award, established in the memory of this remarkable leader.
