Get to Know AFL-CIO’s Trade Departments: Union Label and Service Trades Department
This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our trade departments. The series will run weekly until we’ve covered each of the departments. Next up is the Union Label and Service Trades Department (UL&STD).
Name of Department: Union Label and Service Trades Department
Mission: To promote the products and services produced in America by union members—especially those products and services identified by a union label, shop card, store card and service button.
Current Leadership: Richard Kline serves as president. Union Label has 13 vice presidents: Debby Szeredy, Nicole Rhine, James B. Wood, Derrick Kualapai, John Daniel, David Beard, Kenneth W. Cooper, Amy Martin, Frank Lima, David Woods, Dora Cervantes, Fedrick C. Ingram and Jordan Esopa.
Affiliated Unions: Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU); American Federation of Musicians (AFM); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); American Postal Workers Union (APWU); Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM); Railroad Signalmen (BRS); Communications Workers of America (CWA); Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE); Ironworkers; Fire Fighters (IAFF); Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIU); IAM Union (IAM); Boilermakers (IBB); Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Longshoremen’s Association; Novelty and Production Workers; Bricklayers (BAC); Operating Engineers (IUOE); Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC); Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU); Plasterers and Cement Masons (OPCMIA); Seafarers (SIU); International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART); United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA); UAW; United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW); Mine Workers (UMWA); Roofers and Waterproofers (Roofers) and Utility Workers (UWUA).
Current Campaigns/Policy Agenda: UL&STD maintains Do-Buy and Don’t-Buy lists as well as a database of union-made products and services. The department publishes its printed newsletter, the Label Letter, and Rich’s Label Blog six times per year. Its Walk in My Shoes feature allows rank-and-file union members to submit a day in their lives, helping illustrate the rich, diverse tapestry of hard-working people who make up the American labor movement. The department urges its affiliates to submit their products and services to the database and contact the department if any listed product is no longer union-made.