The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), representing a wide range of Asian Pacific American communities, pledged support for public employees in a historic and unified gesture of solidarity. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), a constituency group of the AFL-CIO, is one of the 29 member organizations of the coalition and currently sits on the Executive Committee.
Recently, politicians in several states have sought to undermine the long-held right of public employees to form unions and to bargain collectively. Said Gregory Cendana, APALA executive director and NCAPA secretary:
Supporting public employee unions will help Asian Pacific Americans achieve the American Dream by allowing us to continue fighting for a voice in the workplace. Asian Pacific American workers are struggling to keep up in today’s economy, and unions are the front line of defending APA workers, who are often immigrants. Eliminating collective bargaining rights would weaken workers’ ability to provide for their families, address issues of dangerous workplaces, discrimination, pay, benefits and dignity on the job.
George Wu, executive director of OCA and chair of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, adds:
OCA understands that the hopes and aspirations of Asian Pacific American workers is tied to labor protections and the right to bargain collectively. We express our support for the millions of workers, parents and students who are fighting to keep their workplace freedoms and the right to negotiate for their well-being.
