Executive Council Statement

Recognizing the Achievements of the Union Veterans Council and Designating It a Constituency Organization of the AFL-CIO

Union members in every industry, occupation and region of the country have proudly and bravely served in the armed forces of the United States.

The Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO, (UVC) was established in July 2008 to “enlist millions of veterans to improve urgent veterans’ and pocketbook issues and expose the records of candidates for office at every level on [such] issues.”

The 2009 AFL-CIO Convention adopted a resolution expanding and clarifying the UVC’s purpose as “bring[ing] together union leaders and union members who are veterans to speak out on veterans’ issues and influence public policy to improve the quality of life for U.S. veterans and their families” and noting the “two primary areas of focus” as “access to good jobs and access to quality healthcare.”

The 2009 resolution called on the AFL-CIO and its affiliate unions to “support the establishment of the Union Veterans Council as an AFL-CIO constituency group organization.”

Pursuant to those actions, the AFL-CIO created the UVC as a project of the federation, governed by a nine-member Executive Committee under bylaws adopted in June 2009. The UVC has been supported since by the AFL-CIO, as well as by national affiliate unions and trade departments.

Since its founding 13 years ago, the UVC has steadily and sustainably grown in its outreach, its effectiveness and its fundraising capacity. With a diligent focus on organizing—at the national and local level—coupled with the initiative and creative thinking of UVC leadership, the UVC has evolved into a force multiplier for federation and affiliate organizing, legislative and electoral campaigns, and other important initiatives.

The UVC has now reached operational capacity that makes its status as a constituency organization more appropriate than its former project status.

The AFL-CIO Executive Council hereby recognizes the UVC as a constituency organization of the AFL-CIO as defined by the AFL-CIO Constitution including entitlement to a seat on the General Board as provided for in Article XI, Section 1.

The Executive Council approves an amendment to Section I(2)(d) of both the Rules Governing State Central Bodies and the Rules Governing Area Labor Councils and Central Labor Councils expressly recognizing the Union Veterans Council as an AFL-CIO constituency organization as the term is used in those rules.