AFL-CIO Community Services

 The AFL-CIO Community Services Program in Contra Costa County is designed to provide service and assistance to union members and their familites in meeting the many personal problems they face not covered by their union contracts. It is designed to organize and mobilize members of the AFL-CIO unions in support of community social needs and projects. It is designed to support the Central Labor Council's program by planning and executing activities that will highlight social justice issues in the community and by building, engaging, and maintaining a diverse network/coalition of ethnic, religious, neighborhood, and other community allies to collaborate in improving our community and realizing social justice.

Among the ways in which this charge is carried out are:

• Individual casework for union members with referral and advocacy with public and private human service agencies
• Training union volunteers as peer counselors and referral resources in their unions and shops
• Recruiting labor volunteers to serve as representatives on advisory and governing boards of public and private agencies, such as the United Way and Contra Costa and Richmond Private Industry Councils
• Working with local unions and their members to increase support for local human service needs through the United Way annual campaign and other drives
• Working with unions and community groups to organize and conduct events such as the annual Letter Carriers Food Drive
• Working with local unions and community organizations to monitor and respond to the implementation of welfare reform ("CalWorks") in Contra Costa County
• Any other activities as designated by the Labor Council/UWBA.

The Community Services Program is staffed by a full-time Community Services Director, and is a Central Labor Council Program conducted in partnership with the United Way. Mary Harms is the Community Services Director and can be contacted in Martinez at 925-372-8608.