Our History
The role Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) play in the labor history is rich, varied and powerful. From labor heroes such as Philip Vera Cruz, a Filipino labor organizer instrumental in the formation of the United Farm Workers Union, and Gene Viernes and Silme Domingo, who co-founded the Alaska Cannery Worker’s Association to Katie Quan and May Chen, young organizers who helped lead the Chinese Garment Workers strike of 1982 and Kent Wong who fought tirelessly for AANHPI inclusion within the house of labor and nonviolence as a means to social change: these AANHPI leaders contributed greatly to the strength and power of the entire labor movement.
Our nation’s history has not always been welcoming to AANHPI workers. Despite legalized exclusion -- from barriers to enter the U.S. to restrictions from participating in acts like owning land -- and efforts to stop AANHPI workers from joining the labor movement, our ancestors nonetheless knew the power of the collective and the importance of solidarity in winning justice at work.
It was against this backdrop that AANHPI labor activists approached the AFL-CIO in 1990 with a historic proposal to form a national Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander labor group. A year later, the AFL-CIO Executive Council established a committee to explore the formation of what would become APALA. The Steering Committee included the three regional AANHPI labor groups, representatives from the Hawaii State AFL-CIO and representatives from the seven founding unions.
In 1992, over 500 AANHPI labor activists from around the country gathered in Washington, D.C. for the founding convention of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO. At this convention, members marched to demand justice after the beating of Rodney King, signaling a deep commitment to racial solidarity that continues today. We remain the first and only national organization of AANHPI workers, most of whom are union members and our allies, building power for AANHPI workers and communities.
In 2011, it established the Institute for Asian Pacific American Leadership & Advancement (IAPALA), a 501(c)3 non-profit to handle broader education and civic engagement.
Today, APALA is the voice of almost 800,000 AANHPI union members and operates over twenty chapters across the country. We continue to advocate for worker rights, immigration reform, end to anti-Asian racism, voter registration and racial justice.
Our nation’s history has not always been welcoming to AANHPI workers. Despite legalized exclusion -- from barriers to enter the U.S. to restrictions from participating in acts like owning land -- and efforts to stop AANHPI workers from joining the labor movement, our ancestors nonetheless knew the power of the collective and the importance of solidarity in winning justice at work.
It was against this backdrop that AANHPI labor activists approached the AFL-CIO in 1990 with a historic proposal to form a national Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander labor group. A year later, the AFL-CIO Executive Council established a committee to explore the formation of what would become APALA. The Steering Committee included the three regional AANHPI labor groups, representatives from the Hawaii State AFL-CIO and representatives from the seven founding unions.
In 1992, over 500 AANHPI labor activists from around the country gathered in Washington, D.C. for the founding convention of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO. At this convention, members marched to demand justice after the beating of Rodney King, signaling a deep commitment to racial solidarity that continues today. We remain the first and only national organization of AANHPI workers, most of whom are union members and our allies, building power for AANHPI workers and communities.
In 2011, it established the Institute for Asian Pacific American Leadership & Advancement (IAPALA), a 501(c)3 non-profit to handle broader education and civic engagement.
Today, APALA is the voice of almost 800,000 AANHPI union members and operates over twenty chapters across the country. We continue to advocate for worker rights, immigration reform, end to anti-Asian racism, voter registration and racial justice.
MissionThis organization is committed to develop a comprehensive strategy to organize Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders into Unions, and to promote the participation and leadership of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders within the Labor Movement. This organization is further dedicated to strengthening International Labor Solidarity, especially with Labor Unions of Asia and the Pacific.
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ConstitutionOur Constitution is our highest document within APALA, AFL-CIO and governs the organization. Only delegates to Constitutional Conventions may amend it.
You can find the most recent version of our constitution by clicking the button below. |