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."

###

​Washington D.C. - On April 30, 2015, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Robert Scott (D-VA) introduced the Raise the Wage Act which would raise the minimum wage to $12 by 2020, index the federal minimum wage to the median wage, and gradually eliminate the subminimum tipped wage. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) supports the passage of this legislation to raise the wages for 37.7 million minimum wage workers. As the rising cost of living gradually increases, the current federal minimum wage at $7.25 per hour is simply not enough to support a family. Raising the minimum wage for all workers struggling to make ends meet is long overdue and we urge Congress to act swiftly and provide minimum wage workers the overdue raise they deserve. Click HERE to read the Raise the Wage Fact Sheet. 

###

Washington D.C. - More than 30 organizations representing a broad coalition of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) organizations urged Congress to oppose Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Fast Track legislation, also known as Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), was introduced on April 16, 2015 and will be considered by the Senate soon. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) and other members of the AAPI community are part of a movement of workers, environmentalists, people of faith, consumers and allies to simply say No to Fast Track.

Immediately following the introduction of TPA, the coalition sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House John Boehner, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The groups wrote, “We are very concerned about the unprecedented level of secrecy that negotiations have been conducted in. Leaked texts have shown that the fast-tracking of sweeping trade agreements like the TPP will have serious implications for AAPI workers and families.”

APALA-DC Chapter President Jenny Ho said, “Like NAFTA, the TPP will hurt workers across borders and create a global race to the bottom. Companies will be given more power to move production and operations, undermining the labor movement in both the U.S. and across Asia.”

“Workers are skeptical of trade agreements because of outsourced work and the erosion of good-paying jobs, and a large majority of workers have not heard about the TPP. The vast scope and content of the TPP shouldn't be kept from the public—or the representatives they elect in Congress,” Darren Shiroma, member of the APALA National Executive Board representing the Communications Workers of America (CWA) added, “With the secrecy of the TPP and the fast-tracking rail it's on, it's no surprise that every union and a broad coalition of organizations have locked arms to take a stand against it.”

Some of the AAPI organizations that joined APALA in the letter to oppose Fast Track and the TPP include: Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Boat People SOS, National Asian Pacific American Student Coalition of the United States Student Association, National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance and the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.

“It’s clear that opposition for Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership is growing,” APALA National President Johanna Puno Hester stated, “The TPP is bad for our economy, will cost the U.S. jobs, and reward governments who suppress the rights of women, religious minorities and members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. It’s clear for us that we must stop fast track and the TPP. APALA will continue to mobilize our members and partners to ensure our voices are heard in Congress.”

​For a full copy of the letter and a factsheet on how the Trans-Pacific Partnership will negatively impact the AAPI community, please click here: http://www.apalanet.org/no-on-fast-track-andtrans-pacific-partnership 

###