The basic workplace rights that Americans enjoy today have been championed by organized labor for more than 100 years.
Without the political efforts of unions, American workers would not have a right to a minimum wage, a forty-hour week, overtime pay, worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, or the right to form and join unions. Unions have been at the forefront of the fight to make workplaces safer and to ensure that no one will be discriminated against at work because of their race, ethnicity, or gender.
The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO remains politically active because there are organized interests in Pennsylvania and the United States that want to dilute or eliminate the rights workers have established over the last century of struggle.
The PA AFL-CIO participates in politics in three ways.
First, at election time, the PA AFL-CIO endorses candidates for public office at all levels who pledge to support working families.
Second, the PA AFL-CIO monitors legislative politics in Harrisburg and Washington D.C. and speaks out against initiatives that will harm workers' and their families. This legislative work is carried out according to an agenda adopted at the PA AFL-CIO's biannual convention by the elected representatives of rank-and-file workers. The PA AFL-CIO often works closely with other advocacy organizations to advance a common progressive agenda.
Third, the PA-AFL-CIO conducts political education and training programs for its members through the work of its Committee on Political Education (COPE).
How You Can Get Involved
Whether you are a member of a union or not, you can help support the fight for workers' rights in Pennsylvania by:
Reading About the Issues. There is background material on a issues on this Web site available from the links above. Information about long-term trends in the Pennsylvania economy is available from the PA economy section of this Web site.
Joining the Pennsylvania Labor Network (see box at right) to get the latest news on issues effecting workers and the workplace via email. If you don't want the hassle of email, you can use the PA AFL-CIO RSS service.
Volunteering to participate in AFL-CIO sponsored political action. The PA AFL-CIO sponsors political action activities on a variety of issues on an ongoing basis. Use the volunteer form to sign up to help.
With your help we can build a more just Pennsylvania and a more prosperous Pennsylvania economy.
TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
1. Securing Access to Affordable Quality Health Care.
2. Protecting Worker's Compensation.
JOIN THE PA LABOR NETWORK
Sign up to receive email from the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and keep up on all the latest news effecting working Pennsylvanians. Enter your email address below and press the subscribe button. Don't want the hassle of email? Use the AFL-CIO RSS service and get news syndicated directly to your desktop.