The United Steelworkers added another $50,000 to its to help the survivors of Hurricane Rita that slammed into Texas and parts of Louisiana four weeks after Katrina devastated much of the Gulf Coast. USW members have donated some $150,000 to the union’s hurricane relief fund to go along with the USW’s initial $50,000 contribution and a $50,000 donation for the Steelworkers Humanity Fund in Canada.
The Executive Board approved a $60,000 contribution to the Postal Employees Relief Fund (PERF) Sept. 19. The fund was established by postal unions, management associations and the U.S. Postal Service in 1990 to help postal employees during emergencies. As of Sept. 19, PERF had collected about $630,000 in hurricane donations from postal unions—including $50,000 from the —workers and others.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and its San Francisco Bay Area Local 10 are packing huge cargo containers with life-saving supplies donated by Local 10 members and other union and community activists. The containers, located in front of the unions’ offices, are donated by shipping companies Horizon, Matson, Maresk and APL. ILWU President James Spinosa says, “Together we are committed to lessening the terrible human tragedies wrought by this hurricane and its aftermath.”
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada has established a Gulf Coast Relief Fund and will match members’ donations to a total of $100,000. Three AFM locals with more than 1,100 members are in hurricane devastated areas and many of those musicians have yet to be accounted for. And the union’s website has a list of several Katrina safe lists and people finder sites.
TCU/IAM, with about 2,000 members and their families in the hardest hit areas, has established a TCU Hardship Fund for hurricane survivors.
The have established a disaster relief fund to help its more than 800 members in five New Orleans and Pascagoula, Miss., locals who were in Katrina’s path. Also, OPEIU Local 2 in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area is urging its members to lend a helping hand by contributing to the OPEIU fund either through donations to their shop stewards or mailing a check or money order to: OPEIU Local 2; Attn. Hurricane Relief, Suite 1250; 8455 Colesville Rd.; Silver Spring. Md. 20910-3320.
Steelworkers Local 12-632 in Pocatello, Idaho, donated $10 per member, or $2,300 to the .
In Roswell, N.M., AFSCME Local 3199 donated $1,000 to the local Red Cross and challenged all AFSCME locals to meet or beat their donation to hurricane relief efforts, including .
AFSCME has added $100,000 to its Fallen Heroes Fund to help hurricane survivors and also is deploying a team of union staffers to Baton Rogue to provide support on the ground. Members of AFSCME Council 17 who have been affected by the storm and need help can call 1-800-272-8368.
The have established a hurricane relief fund and pledged $1 million and the union's Atlantic Coast District has pledged $500,000.
The Asbestos Workers have established a disaster relief fund to assist the members affected by Katrina. Members needing assistance may call toll free at 1-877-AWLUAID (877-295-8243).
The created the as flood waters were rising in New Orleans and as Gulf Coast residents in Katrina’s path were getting their first looks at the devastation. Established with an initial $1 million grant from the union, the fund has grown to more than $2 million through pledges from members, retirees, local unions and district councils, including a $100,000 pledge from District Council 21 in Philadelphia.
Frankly, I’m not surprised that we’re getting such a response by our members,” says IUPAT General President James Williams. “What has happened on the Gulf Coast is an unprecedented disaster and our people are facing not just the loss of work and a livelihood, but their homes as well. What you’re seeing is the union difference. This kind of support is what it means to be in a union.”
The for members of the Principals’ Association of New Orleans Public Schools, Inc. (PANOPSI), AFSA Local 17, whose lives have been besieged by Hurricane Katrina. The where PANOPSI members with access to a computer may receive news about aid programs available to them, as well as communicate with their colleagues, and obtain updates on their colleagues.
Tri-Counties (Calif.) Labor Foundation is accepting contributions for union members affected by Hurricane Katrina. Make checks payable to: Tri-Counties Labor Foundation Working Families Fund and mail to: 21 South Dos Caminos Ave., Ventura, Calif. 93003. For more information, phone: 805-641-3712 or fax: 805-643-9426.
Delegates to the Communications Workers of America convention in Chicago voted Aug. 30 to send up to $4 million in hurricane relief aid to help CWA families in the area. The union also is accepting donations for its .
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors are asking members to contribute to the Actors' Fund of America or the Motion Picture Players Welfare Fund.
