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Since 1946, United Ways across the
country and the AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and the
Congress of Industrial Organizations) have joined together to
provide services to union families and their communities.
In Tarrant County, organized
labor’s ties with the local United Way stretch even further
back in time. The Trades Assembly, forerunner of the current
Tarrant County Central Labor Council, was one of 14 local
community groups that met in 1922 and formed the Fort Worth
Community Chest, forerunner of United Way of Tarrant County.
Today the United Way staff
includes a vice president of labor participation
who works full time as the AFL-CIO community services liaison. This person serves as a link between the Tarrant County
Central Labor Council and Tarrant County United Way.
Activities include
• Assisting unions and the Central
Labor Council in establishing community services
committees and programs, and information-and-referral services.
• Conducting educational programs.
• Coordinating labor’s
participation in the annual United Way campaign.
• Implementing programs such as
food drives and blood drives.
•
Implementing other community
service projects with assistance from United Way’s Days of
Caring
program.
• Coordinating the Union Counselor
Training Program.
Tarrant County United Way, in
partnership with the Tarrant County Central Labor Council and
the AFL-CIO, trains members of organized labor to become
certified AFL-CIO union counselors.
Union counselors help union
members, their families and friends with problems ranging from
substance abuse and health concerns to Workers Compensation
and unemployment. They provide information and also refer
people to appropriate human service agencies in the community.
Union Counselor training is just
one facet of a long partnership between United Way and
organized labor.
For more information,
contact
Charlie Galupi.
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