Legislative Issues

One of the important services the Alaska AFL-CIO provides its affiliated organizations is legislative and political advocacy in the State Legislature and Congress. As with collective bargaining, by joining forces and speaking with a united voice on working families issues, we have more impact.

There are more than 60,000 union members in the state. But with very few exceptions, the positions taken on workplace issues by the Alaska AFL-CIO affect ALL working people, not just union members.

From the minimum wage to workers' compensation, from workplace safety to unemployment insurance -- the AFL-CIO, and other labor organizations are all too often the only voice representing working people on these issues. That is unfortunate, given the number of high-paid corporate lobbyists that often fight to remove or roll back workplace standards and rights... but it is a banner the Alaska AFL-CIO and other labor organizations carry with pride.

And, it is about time that our state legislators be held accountable for how they vote on issues that affect working families. 

27th Alaska Legislature

U.S. Congressional Delegation voting records

Also, to contact your legislators to weigh in on important working family issues, go to the following links:

STATE LEGISLATORS

http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/home.htm

US CONGRESS

  • Congressman Don Young
  • Senator Mark Begich
  • Senator Lisa Murkowski

Check out this article in Politico, featuring U.S. Senator Mark Begich (D) Alaska. Begich is leading a group of younger and recently elected Democratic senators and demanding they be heard.

Last week, Senator Gary Stevens (R) Kodiak was asked to speak to the group Commonweath North. It was an annual meet and greet - and the group got much more than they were expecting!