The Changing Role of Cleveland’s Unions

CLEVELAND: Harriet Applegate, executive secretary of the North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor, will speak on the union’s new proactive role in regional economic development, the role they play in combating poverty, and their plans for the 2008 elections at noon on Friday, August 24, 2007, at The City Club of Cleveland.

Applegate has served in a number of positions in the Cleveland and Cincinnati labor movement, including staff representative of the national AFL-CIO. She has concentrated most of her efforts on improving labor’s political infrastructure and educating members on ‘common sense’ economics and the true cost of ‘free trade.’

Applegate is a graduate of the University of Rochester and has a Master’s from the University of Cincinnati.

The North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor (formerly the Cleveland AFL-CIO) represents more than 120,000 workers and retirees from 136 affiliated unions. The national split between AFL-CIO and Change-to-Win unions does not exist in Cleveland; both groups belong to the local AFL-CIO.

The organization is the premier political organization, putting hundreds of workers on the street, mobilizing members at worksites with thousands of volunteers, and making tens of thousands of phone calls during political campaigns.

Tickets for this City Club Friday Forum are $18 for members and $30 for non-members. Lunch is included. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance of the event. They can be purchased by calling The City Club at 216.621.0082 or visiting the website at www.cityclub.org.