Change to Win Federation

Change to Win Federation is a labor federation in the United States that was formed in 2005 by several major unions, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), United Farm Workers (UFW), United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), and Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), with the goal of increasing union membership and improving working conditions for workers. The federation is led by Liz Shuler, who serves as the president, and has a membership of 4.5 million workers, making it one of the largest labor federations in the United States, alongside the AFL-CIO and the International Trade Union Confederation. The Change to Win Federation has been involved in various campaigns and initiatives, including the Fight for $15 movement, which aims to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and has worked with other organizations, such as the National Employment Law Project and the Economic Policy Institute, to advocate for workers' rights.

● History

The Change to Win Federation was formed in 2005 by several major unions, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), United Farm Workers (UFW), United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), and Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), with the goal of increasing union membership and improving working conditions for workers. The federation was established in response to the declining membership of the AFL-CIO and the need for a more effective and efficient labor movement, as noted by John Sweeney, the former president of the AFL-CIO, and Andy Stern, the former president of the Service Employees International Union. The Change to Win Federation has been involved in various campaigns and initiatives, including the Fight for $15 movement, which aims to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and has worked with other organizations, such as the National Employment Law Project and the Economic Policy Institute, to advocate for workers' rights, as supported by Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and Bernie Sanders, the United States Senator from Vermont. The federation has also worked with international organizations, such as the International Trade Union Confederation and the Global Union Federations, to promote workers' rights and improve working conditions globally, as highlighted by Sharan Burrow, the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.

● Organization

The Change to Win Federation is led by Liz Shuler, who serves as the president, and has a membership of 4.5 million workers, making it one of the largest labor federations in the United States, alongside the AFL-CIO and the International Trade Union Confederation. The federation is governed by a board of directors, which includes representatives from each of the affiliated unions, such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), and United Farm Workers (UFW), as well as other organizations, such as the National Union of Healthcare Workers and the Workers United. The Change to Win Federation has a number of departments and committees, including the Organizing Department, which is responsible for organizing new workers and increasing union membership, and the Collective Bargaining Department, which provides support and resources to affiliated unions during collective bargaining negotiations, as noted by Mary Kay Henry, the president of the Service Employees International Union. The federation also has a number of partnerships and alliances with other organizations, including the AFL-CIO, the International Trade Union Confederation, and the Global Union Federations, as well as community organizations, such as the National Council of La Raza and the Asian American Justice Center.

● Affiliates

The Change to Win Federation has a number of affiliated unions, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), United Farm Workers (UFW), United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), and Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA). The federation also has a number of other affiliated organizations, including the National Union of Healthcare Workers and the Workers United, as well as community organizations, such as the National Council of La Raza and the Asian American Justice Center. The Change to Win Federation works closely with its affiliated unions and organizations to promote workers' rights and improve working conditions, as supported by Richard Trumka, the former president of the AFL-CIO, and Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers. The federation also provides support and resources to its affiliated unions and organizations, including training and education programs, research and policy analysis, and communications and media support, as noted by Lee Saunders, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

● Activities

The Change to Win Federation is involved in a number of activities and campaigns, including the Fight for $15 movement, which aims to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, which aims to promote the rights of immigrant workers, as supported by Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and Chuck Schumer, the United States Senator from New York. The federation also works on issues related to collective bargaining, workers' compensation, and occupational safety and health, as noted by John Sweeney, the former president of the AFL-CIO, and Andy Stern, the former president of the Service Employees International Union. The Change to Win Federation has also been involved in a number of high-profile campaigns and strikes, including the United Parcel Service (UPS) strike in 1997, which was led by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), and the University of California strike in 2018, which was led by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The federation works closely with other organizations, including the AFL-CIO, the International Trade Union Confederation, and the Global Union Federations, to promote workers' rights and improve working conditions globally, as highlighted by Sharan Burrow, the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.

● Criticisms

The Change to Win Federation has faced a number of criticisms and challenges, including criticism from some unions and labor activists that the federation is too focused on organizing new workers and not enough on supporting existing union members, as noted by Bruce Raynor, the former president of the Workers United. The federation has also faced criticism for its handling of internal conflicts and disputes, including a high-profile dispute between the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) in 2009, which was led by Sal Rosselli, the president of the National Union of Healthcare Workers. The Change to Win Federation has also been criticized for its relationships with employers and corporations, including criticism that the federation is too willing to work with employers and compromise on workers' rights, as noted by Stephen Lerner, the former director of the Service Employees International Union's Private Equity Project. Despite these criticisms, the Change to Win Federation remains a major player in the labor movement, with a strong commitment to promoting workers' rights and improving working conditions, as supported by Richard Trumka, the former president of the AFL-CIO, and Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers.

● Impact

The Change to Win Federation has had a significant impact on the labor movement and workers' rights in the United States and around the world, as noted by John Sweeney, the former president of the AFL-CIO, and Andy Stern, the former president of the Service Employees International Union. The federation's campaigns and initiatives, including the Fight for $15 movement, have helped to raise the minimum wage and improve working conditions for millions of workers, as supported by Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and Bernie Sanders, the United States Senator from Vermont. The Change to Win Federation has also played a key role in promoting workers' rights and improving working conditions globally, through its partnerships and alliances with international organizations, such as the International Trade Union Confederation and the Global Union Federations, as highlighted by Sharan Burrow, the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. The federation's commitment to organizing new workers and increasing union membership has also helped to revitalize the labor movement and promote workers' rights, as noted by Mary Kay Henry, the president of the Service Employees International Union, and Lee Saunders, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Overall, the Change to Win Federation has been a major force for promoting workers' rights and improving working conditions, and its impact will be felt for years to come, as supported by Richard Trumka, the former president of the AFL-CIO, and Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Category:Labor unions in the United States