UNIONS AND UNITED WAY:
WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A COMMON GOAL
 Helping each other…the goal of the labor movement and United Way.
And through United Way supported programs, the lives of workers and their families are assisted each year by the thousands.
Based upon the long-held belief that union members are first and foremost members of their community, AFL-CIO unions have honored the tradition of supporting United Way for almost sixty years! In Duluth, the partnership of labor and United Way came together formally in 1957. At that time, the United Way committed resources to the labor community services programs and the labor movement committed its support and resources to United Way and its family of agencies. On a National scale, the partnership was cemented by an agreement. The "Memorandum of Understanding" a cooperative agreement between the AFL-CIO and the United Way reaffirms both organizations' commitment to the belief that assistance through volunteerism is the essence of a democratic society. Duluth United Way and Central Labor Body signed their formal "Memorandum of Understanding" in 1983.
As a result of this partnership, programs sponsored jointly by the AFL-CIO and United Way continue to add value to the community as a whole.
Some of the elements of the year-round program are:
- Member Assistance Program
- Union Community Activist Network Training/other specialist training upon request
- National Letter Carriers Food Drive
- Services to the unemployed
- Shoes for Tots
- Carrier Alert Program
- Holiday Food Programs
- Christmas Toy/Gift Drop Program
- and many more!
The program is subject to review and approval by the Boards of the Duluth Central Labor Body and United Way of Greater Duluth.
Serving on the committee which oversees the programming are Buck Stover, Chair, Duluth Building Trades and IUOE 49; Helen Wisneski, AFSCME Retiree; Kathy Stevens, AFSCME 66; Lorraine Reinke, AFSCME Retiree; Janet Nelson, AFSCME 2980; Craig Olson, Duluth Building Trades and Painters 106; Dan Leslie, IBEW 31; Bruce Lotti, USWA 1028; Lori Doucette, DSE 956; Wayne Dunder, USWA 1028; Rick Berg, Carpenters 361; Gaynelle Johnson, NALC 114; Laurie Johnson, UFCW 1116; Todd Ericson, HERE 99; Alan Netland, Duluth Central Labor Body and AFSCME 66 and Staff Director, Yvonne Harvey, AFSCME 3558.
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