Labor

United Way of America and the men and women of the labor community partnered together more than 60 years ago with a common goal- to improve lives and strengthen communities.  The partnership began in 1946 with a national memorandum of understanding.  Today, the partnership remains strong across the country, with 4 AFL-CIO representatives serving on the United Way of America Board of Trustees, 2 of them on the Executive Committee and 4 union trustees in the volunteer structure of the United Way International.  From there, the partnership branches out to local United Ways in 180 communities across the country. 

This community based partnership has meant help and essential programs for working families over the years.  In RI, our work together allows us to LIVE UNITED as we partner together to plan and implement programs and initiatives for working families that create real and lasting community impact.  They have included:

• A year round Financial Literacy Initiative and Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign (EITC), which includes management of Volunteer Income Tax (VITA) Sites across the state and financial literacy programs to help working Rhode Islanders hold on to their hard earned income. Each year, thousands of workers are assisted by this important initiative, which has grown 425 % since it began 4 tax seasons ago.
• The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive. This food drive, the single largest food drive in the country, is held annually in May, in order to assist local food pantries with the increased demand for food during summer school vacation.
• Partnership blood drives to assist the RI Blood Center and aid of the most vulnerable in our community in times of need. 
• Volunteer repair projects which allow working men and women to volunteer their time to assist their neighbors in need.  Some past projects have included the construction of a wheelchair ramp and the improvement of a local church. 
• The partnership holiday drives which make the holidays brighter for some in our community.
• Programs and initiatives, aimed at building adult and neighborhood independence, which are assisted by skilled trades workers in order to educate and train workers interested in the health care and construction trades.
• Partnership campaign activities which allow working men and women to partner with management at their workplace to promote the many programs and initiatives of the United Way through workplace campaigns.
• Counseling Class Training to give volunteers essential information to connect people in need with community resources and United Way programs that can provide help.