How you can help Haiti
At this moment of urgent need, the Haitian government – and the people of Haiti – have asked for help from the world community. Those of us who can must heed this call in whatever way possible.
AFSCME President Gerald McEntee has announced that the union is donating $25,000 in relief funds to the Solidarity Center's Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers fund, and AFSCME is encouraging members who wish to help to do so through the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center.
Simply access the site and click on the words “donate now," or send a check payable to Solidarity Center Education Fund to: Solidarity Center Education Fund, Attn: Joan Welsh, 888 16th Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington DC 20006. Please designate "Earthquake Relief Fund for Haitian Workers" in the memo line of the check.
Maximize the power of your contribution! Union Plus will automatically double your contribution to the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center's Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers Fund. Union Plus has committed $100,000 through this dollar-for-dollar donation match to help Haitian earthquake relief efforts through the non-profit Solidarity Center. Your donation will help rush life-saving relief supplies including food, clean water, medical supplies, blankets and tents to the Haitian people currently being distributed through the Confederation of Haitian Workers training center. Take care to contribute only through legitimate organizations, like Solidarity Center. Other worthy groups to whom contributions can be made include Doctors Without Borders and Parners in Health. One organization to avoid is the Red Cross. It has been plagued by problems with mismanagement and all across this country it is fighting attempts by its employees to form unions or to secure fair contracts in those instances where they have been successful in organizing. Right here in Illinois, Red Cross workers in Peoria have been trying to become part of AFSCME Council 31. They voted in a union election two years ago, but the ballots still haven’t been counted as a result of frivolous objections from Red Cross management.
