Washington, DC – Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released a new report detailing the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) workforce, including statistics on unemployment rates, earnings, and poverty. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) applauds the DOL for its disaggregation by ethnic group on labor characteristics and calls for other federal agencies to disaggregate data similarly.
 
The report’s findings reiterate the importance of the disaggregation of data. For example, AAPIs had the lowest rate of unemployment in 2015 of any major racial or ethnic group, while unemployment rates between AAPI subgroups differed substantially. In particular, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders were reported to experience the highest rate of unemployment among AAPI ethnic subgroups.
 
APALA National President Johanna Puno Hester commented: “The power of data disaggregation will fuel and better direct advocacy efforts of APALA and our partner organizations that are working across sectors to create power for our communities. When agencies like the DOL start to understand that AAPIs are not a monolith, we’re starting to break down this notion that AAPIs are not a model minority.”
 
APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana added: “We’re excited to work more closely with community advocacy organizations like the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, Payuta and the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, to advance these economic issues that affect us so closely. Alongside our partners, we’ll continue to fight for AAPI workers and economic justice for all communities of color throughout the country.”
 
To read the full report, please visit: https://www.dol.gov/general/aapi. 
To take the #NotYourModelMinority pledge, please visit: www.notyourmodelminority.org.

###

Washington, DC – This week, the Obama Administration finalized two new actions that support working people and families in America: expanding paid sick leave and advancing equal pay. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) applauds these crucial steps towards economic justice and continues to support policies that address wealth inequality and benefit working people and their families.

“Most families today shouldn’t have to choose between caring for their loved ones and losing out on a day’s pay,” commented APALA National President Johanna Hester on the administration’s actions. The Department of Labor (DOL) rule requiring federal contractors’ employees to earn up to seven paid sick days will go into effect for new solicitations issued on or after January 1, 2017 and is cited to benefit 1.15 million people.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) also finalized its data collection rule, which would collect summary pay on gender, race, and ethnicity from businesses with 100 or more employees. “Far too long have women been paid less than their male counterparts. This data will be so powerful for our advocacy to push for equal pay for equal work,” added Hester.

Hester stated: “The administration is taking steps in the right direction, but we still have so much more work to do. It is absolutely crucial that the next administration keeps efforts like this going and that we rally for candidates who really understand and can get behind the needs of working people in America.”

###

​(Washington, DC) – The people of Okinawa have been protesting the development of a new U.S. military base in Henoko for decades. Despite the widespread opposition in Japan, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has continued to support the construction of the base. Massive protest have erupted in Japan while a courageous group of Okinawan labor and peace activists set up a peace encampment at Henoko for many months to oppose the U.S. military base expansion.

Consisting of elected officials, community leaders, city council members, business members, professors and students, the All Okinawa Council (AOC) went on a tour across the United States to build community with local groups and amplify their organizing efforts to halt the construction of the military base in Henoko.

“The people of Okinawa are waging a courageous fight against the expansion of a U.S. military base that is opposed by 80% of the people, the governor, and the labor movement of Okinawa,” said Kent Wong, APALA National Founding President who met with labor leaders and labor scholars in Okinawa, Fukuoka, and Tokyo. “This is a critical time for us to show our solidarity with the people of Okinawa and join the thousands who have demonstrated their opposition.”

“The All Okinawan Council met with the APALA Alameda Chapter and National Executive Board in Oakland, CA on November 15 to signify the shared struggle for peace and justice around the world,” added Kim Geron, APALA Alameda Chapter President. “After meeting the delegates from Okinawa, APALA’s National Executive Board adopted a resolution expressing solidarity with the people of Okinawa in opposition of the Henoko base construction.”

“APALA DC Chapter was honored to join local allies in hosting the AOC delegation in Washington, DC on November 19,” said Jessica Cendana, APALA DC Chapter President. “APALA is committed to organizing in solidarity to lobby Congress and spread awareness to stop the construction of the U.S. Military Base in Henoko.”

APALA National President Johanna Puno Hester also expressed, “Opposing military base expansion in Henoko—or anywhere else in the world—is in line with APALA’s efforts to end the mass criminalization of people of color. We are proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Okinawa and call on our brothers and sisters to join us."
​
Click HERE to read APALA’s Resolution on Okinawa.
Click HERE to read the “A Broad Coalition of Okinawans Says No to a New US Marine Corps Base” article featured in The Nation.
Click HERE to read the “All Okinawa Council delegation to US meets with citizens’ groups, conveys opposition to base construction” article featured in Ryukyu Shimpo.
Click HERE to read the “保革融合「危機の反映」島ぐるみ会議が米最大労組に訴え“ article featured in the Okinawa Times.

###