Washington, DC – Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the 2014 Union Membership report. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) is optimistic about the growing union labor movement for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently the overall union membership rate stands at 11.1%, which translates to 14.6 million workers that have a voice on the job.

Even though the unionization rate of all workers dropped by .2 percent from 2013, AAPI workers unionization rates continue to rise. “As the Asian American Pacific Islander workforce continues to grow, it’s exciting to hear that more AAPIs are becoming unionized,” said Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President. “10.4% of AAPI workers have safe working conditions, flexible work hours, and better paying jobs as union members. Moreover, 11.8% of employed AAPI women work union jobs, up nearly 2 percentage points from a year ago.”

Union workers have access to stable health benefits and pensions that create a safety net for working class families. “AAPI workers are, with Latinos, the fastest-growing in the U.S. unionized workforce. In 2014, more than 1-in-17 union workers was Asian American or Pacific Islander, up from 1-in-40 two and a half decades earlier,” said Nicole Woo, Director of Domestic Policy at the Center of Economic Policy Research. “Unionized AAPI workers earn about $2.50 per hour more, are about 28 percent more likely to have health insurance coverage, and are about 52 percent more likely to have access to a retirement plan than AAPI workers who are not in unions.”

Since APALA’s founding in 1992, we have made clear that there is a positive difference when people join unions, including those in the AAPI community. Union workers’ weekly earnings are 27% higher than non-union workers; this translates to more than $10,000 a year. “Our nation’s unemployment rate continues to drop and is now below 6%,” said Gregory Cendana, APALA Executive Director. “We must continue to ensure that our communities have access to quality union jobs that can help workers become part of the middle class.”

​Click HERE to read more about the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) report on Asian American and Pacific Islander Workers’ Union Membership.

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The decision to close seven call centers is a blow to our struggling economy. APALA is disappointed that 3,300 Americans are losing their jobs in six states: Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Shutting down facilitates is not the answer. We know that other steps could have been taken to ensure economic growth and prevent tax payer abuse.

Last year, AT&T, the second largest wireless carrier in the U.S. and supporter of union workers, promised that it would not close call centers if the merger between AT&T & T-Mobile was approved. According to the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the merger would have created up to 96,000 jobs and provided economic opportunities for communities across the country. Instead, workers and families are suffering as a result of T-Mobile USA’s decision.

APALA commends and stands with CWA’s commitment to prevent the closures of call centers while ensuring union representation and safe work environments for T-Mobile USA workers.

For the statement from the Communications Workers of America, click here.
​For the blog post from AT&T Senior Executive Vice President of External and Legislative Affairs Jim Cicconi, click here.  

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Washington D.C. – Recently, politicians in several states have sought to undermine the long-held right of public employees to form unions and to bargain collectively. APA families face unprecedented challenges and should have the right to form unions to seek economic security and protection against unfair employment practices.

The additional Asian Pacific American organizations that are supporting public employees include the Asian American Action Fund, Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, APIA Vote-Michigan, Asian Services in Action, KAYA, Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC-DC), [list other non-NCAPA orgs]. There are now 45 Asian Pacific American organizations showing solidarity with public employees nationwide.

“Supporting public employee unions will help Asian Pacific Americans achieve the American Dream by allowing us to continue fighting for a voice in the workplace,” said Gregory Cendana, APALA Executive Director. “Asian Pacific American workers are struggling to keep up in today’s economy, and unions are the front line of defending APA workers, who are often immigrants. Eliminating collective bargaining rights would weaken workers’ ability to provide for their families, address issues of dangerous workplaces, discrimination, pay, benefits, & dignity on the job.”

“As the leading Asian American service organization in Ohio, we see the daily impact that the economic downturn has had on families, with increasing numbers of unemployed or underemployed parents struggling to provide for their kids.” said Michael Byun, Executive Director of ASIA. “Asian Americans who become unemployed are without work for longer than other groups. Unions have always provided a path to the middle class for immigrants, and we stand by the teachers, firefighters, and police who seek the American Dream.”

“We support the rights of all workers. It is vital that workers in the public and private sectors have the right to organize and bargain collectively. The fight for environmental justice and economic justice are linked, as unions have been one of the best ways for the low-wage immigrants that we organize to join the middle class and gain economic security. Unions provide a voice for the disempowered, uplift the disenfranchised, and allow workers to have safer environments where they live and work.” said Roger Kim, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Environmental Network.

“As a young worker, I recognize the need to preserve workplace protections for all employees.” said Stephanie Chang, President of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote - Michigan. “We express our support for the millions of workers, parents, and students who are fighting to keep their workplace freedoms and the right to negotiate for their well-being. The economy is a vital issue for APA voters in Michigan and beyond.”

​“Many of us came here to the United States in pursuit of human rights and liberties. SEARAC is proud to stand with the civil rights community to support the rights of nurses, teachers, firefighters and other public employees in Wisconsin and around the country,” said Doua Thor, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center Executive Director and Vice Chair of Membership for the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans. “We support workers’ rights as fundamental human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

Public employees also have the support of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a broad coalition of civil rights organizations including the NAACP & AARP.  

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