Washington, DC – On Thursday, May 13th, a massive fire broke out in the Kentex Manufacturing Factory in the Manila suburb of Valenzuela City, Philippines where 72 workers were killed. The fire erupted in the lower level of the footwear factory as a result of an explosion from a welder’s torch and shoe making chemicals. Workers frantically ran upstairs to escape the blaze but were trapped upstairs, leading to their disastrous deaths.

The tragic death of the Kentex Shoe Factory workers exemplifies the need for companies to provide safe working conditions for all workers around the world. The lack of fire safety equipment, the bars that surrounded the windows and the flammable materials throughout the factory were part of the dangerous working conditions. "From nail salon workers to those killed in the Kentex Factory in the Philippines, we need safer workplaces for ALL, in the U.S. and worldwide.” said Gregory Cendana, APALA National Executive Director. Cendana also participated in a labor delegation to Bangladesh last year to hear from Rana Plaza Factory collapse survivors, their families and other factory workers where unsafe work environments are common.

​The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz indicated that only 60% of businesses across the Philippines comply with government labor safety and health standards in 2014. “Profit driven companies and employers in third world countries like the Philippines often exploit workers by paying low wages while having unsafe working conditions,” said Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President. “We stand with workers across the world in demanding safe working conditions for all and #Justice4KentexWorkers.”

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Washington D.C. – The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, is the first and only organization of Asian Pacific American workers and union members. APALA supports Affirmative Action and opposes the attacks on the Harvard University Affirmative Action program.

The United States government and many institutions of higher education have a long history of institutional racism and overt policies of racial discrimination that have harmed people of color within our society.

Affirmative Action policies were established to help correct generations of racial discrimination, and to promote racial inclusion.

Higher learning institutions, including Harvard University, for generations promoted exclusionary admissions policies that prevented fair participation from African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and women. The reason there has been a change in the racial and gender composition in higher education institutions such as Harvard University is due to Affirmative Action.

This country still has a long way to go in addressing racial justice. There are still huge disparities in the K-12 public education system, where large numbers of racial minorities face substandard, underfunded schools, with alarmingly high drop-out rates. Standardized tests which are largely used by higher education institutions for admissions decisions have been also proven to have racially discriminatory impact.

Racial barriers still exist within communities of color, including African Americans, Latinos, and certain Asian and Pacific Islander groups. In the employment arena, Affirmative Action policies have opened up opportunities for Asian Pacific Americans in the work force, and have challenged unfair racially discriminatory practices that have harmed Asian Pacific Americans in hiring and promotion. 

Anti-Affirmative Action advocates within the API community argue that African Americans and Latinos who enter higher education through Affirmative Action are taking positions that would otherwise go to Asian Americans. This is a fallacious and divisive position. Affirmative Action takes into account racial and economic barriers that have limited opportunities for students of color, and rejects the notion that test scores and grades should be the sole determinant of admissions. Affirmative Action allows for race and ethnicity to be considered in admissions decisions among fully qualified candidates. In fact, Harvard and other private universities still have “legacy” programs that provide special admissions privileges for sons and daughters of alumni, which also re-enforces racial disparity.

The Asian Pacific American community should not be used as a divisive force by conservative, anti-Affirmative Action forces who oppose racial justice and racial inclusion. Asian Pacific Americans should stand in solidarity with African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans in defending and expanding Affirmative Action.

​Asian Pacific Americans will never obtain justice and equality until all communities of color obtain justice and equality. APALA supports Affirmative Action at Harvard University, in higher education, and in the work place. 

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Washington D.C. – The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance National Executive Board issued the following statement after their board meeting:

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, condemns the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) for honoring Wal-Mart at their annual Gala.

APALA celebrates our community traditions during Asian Pacific Heritage Month, especially the contributions of Asian Pacific American working people. But Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest corporation and a fierce anti-union employer, represents corporate greed. Wal-Mart pays poverty wages, substandard benefits, and has a shameful record with regard to employment discrimination involving race and gender.

Wal-Mart has viciously attacked efforts to allow their workers to form and join unions. Wal-Mart has recently closed five Wal-Mart department stores where there were active campaigns among workers, including many workers of color, to organize for better wages and working conditions.

Wal-Mart is a global economic powerhouse that promotes the proliferation of sweatshops, violates labor and environmental standards, and is leading the race to the bottom in exploiting workers and contributing to world-wide poverty.

For APAICS to honor Wal-Mart is an insult to Asian Pacific American workers throughout the country, and the rich history of Asian Pacific American labor.

This is the 50th anniversary of the Delano Grape strike when Filipino farmworkers courageously led the fight to organize farm workers in California. APAICS is insulting the legacy of Filipino farmworkers, Chinese railroad workers, Hawaiian plantation workers, New York Chinatown garment workers, and millions of other Asian Pacific American workers who have built this country.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the tremendous contributions of the Asian Pacific American community. APAICS dishonors Asian Pacific American workers by honoring corporate greed, exploitation, and worker abuse.

​APALA National President Johanna Puno Hester added, "APALA values our partnerships with other Asian Pacific American organizations, and in that spirit, our representatives conveyed our concerns to APAICS leadership about their selection of Wal-Mart as an honoree this year. Let us be clear--we support the mission of APAICS to build the pipeline of elected officials and we look forward to engaging in a conversation about the role of corporate partnerships in the broader community."

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