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Organized labor has fostered a strong tradition of supporting the partnership with the United Way of Michigan for more than 60 years. The United Way of Michigan, now named the Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW), was founded through the initial efforts of Walter Reuther (President of the UAW), August Scholle (First President of the Michigan State AFL-CIO) and Henry Ford (President of Ford Motor Car Company) in 1947. In 1951, two state labor staff were hired at UWM to:
In 1952, a third labor staff was hired and the fourth liaison was selected in 1954. Organized labor continues to be an integral part of the United Way fund raising efforts in Michigan. Each year, organized labor contributes more than 35 million dollars to support the statewide human service delivery system. It is estimated that 33 percent of the blood donated in Michigan is given by union members. Currently, MAUW employs a State Community Services Director position. There are also 20 Local Community Service Liaisons employed by Local United Ways in the 16 larger communities in Michigan. Additionally there is a liaison employed by the American Red Cross and a liaison employed by the March of Dimes. The state labor program, co-sponsored by MAUW and the Michigan State AFL-CIO coordinates three annual educational events with the help of a planning committee consisting of state labor officers, state and local community service liaisons:
The state labor program responds to special requests for plant closing seminars unemployment seminars, united way/labor speaking engagements, campaign assistance, information and referrals, and special projects such as the Letter Carriers annual Food drive. The state labor liaison program has developed a “State Labor Leads” registry that recognizes labor United Way donors that have made leadership pledges to their respective United Ways in excess of $250 with recognition levels for amounts that exceed $500, $750, $1000 per year. The initial booklet in 1999 listed 317 union leadership givers. The 2006 registry listed 1,800 union members and labor councils/international unions that contributed over $1.2 million in leadership gifts through the 59 local United Ways in Michigan.
Michigan State AFL-CIO / Michigan Association of United Ways Community Services School
The recently concluded Michigan State AFL-CIO / Michigan Association of United Ways Community Services School held at the Walter & May Reuther UAW Family Education center in Onaway, Mi., was a great success! Nearly 100 participants attended and heard guest speakers discuss topics such as; Legislation affecting working families, Labor History, Health & Safety, MAUW and United Way Worldwide. Delegates received classroom instruction on Basic and Advanced Community Services skills, United Way Fundraising and Programming. The advanced class workshop included Onaway High School students/instructors, where participants learned about making an impact in a community. Ten wooden "park benches" were constructed and six of those were donated to the high school for placement throughout the community. There were two expanded "Skills Building" workshops. One provided students with knowledge relevant to building a better Community Services Program at their local union and/or CLC/CAP councils. The other provided participants with publis speaking skills, advanced technology usage and the best methods to use in framing a message. Michigan State AFL-CIO President, Mark Gaffney, was the keynote speaker bringing the delegates to their feet with his rousing report on the attacks faced by unions and the middle class. President Gaffney spoke to the delegates about how they can get involved and challenge those attacks. Mark asked each participant to get involved with local Community Action Teams (CAT) and to bring non-profits and agencies to those meetings noting we must bring our allies and friends to the table as we attempt to thwart repeal of bargaining gains and rights. A big thank you to all the resource people, Local United Way personel and to the Labor Liaisons for all their hard work in making this one of the best Community Services Schools ever held. AFL-CIO UCAN Program The objective of the AFL-CIO UCAN "Union Community Activist" program is to train union members, and others in the community, to become information and referral specialists by making them aware of resources in their community. The union information and referral specialist is trained to refer a person with a specific problem to an agency which can provide assistance. This training includes sessions on empathic listening, communication, confidentiality, and information regarding health and human care services and programs which are available in the community. Examples of those services are: credit counseling, health care, individual/marital/family counseling, legal services, substance abuse prevention and treatment. A major component of this training is the actual hands-on case studies, where the student is given examples of problems that he/she may encounter, and actually completes the referral through role-playing. Your AFL-CIO C.S. Liaison is available to help provide this training for you and your community services committee, in your local community, and at our statewide community services school at Black Lake. For more information call your local liaison or the Michigan State AFL-CIO Community Services Department at (517) 371-4360.
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