Press Release

AFL-CIO Executive Council Creates New Labor Commission on Racial and Economic Justice

(Atlanta, GA - Feb. 25, 2015) – The AFL-CIO Executive Council unanimously created a new Labor Commission on Racial and Economic Justice today to explore racial issues within the labor movement.

The Council recognizes that employers, politicians and the 1% have always used race as a means of division. Today, in the face of dramatically increasing economic inequality, decreasing union density and growing instability for the majority of Americans, the Council affirmed that the need for workers to stand united is stronger than ever. The council acknowledged that the voices of all working people must be heard on complex racial issues in order to advance the fight for workers’ rights. 

AFL-CIO President Trumka lauded the creation of the commission stating “The labor movement has an opportunity to be on the right side of history by standing up for racial and economic justice at a time when these issues are at the front of the public consciousness.  When we have embraced our better selves, we have always emerged stronger in every sense.”

The Commission is set to begin work in the coming months.

Read the full statement outlining the commission.

Contact: Amaya Smith (202) 637-5018