History & Labor Involvement Fact Sheet
AFL-CIO Basic Principles
Awards & Recognition
Labor Leadership Giving Society Program
Labor Participation Committee
Labor Participation Department
NEA/PSEA Involvement & Support
United Way/Union Board Members

LABOR PARTICIPATION DEPARTMENT

In 1948, United Way of Wyoming Valley in cooperation with the Greater Wilkes-Barre Labor Council (AFL-CIO) created a Labor Participation Department, which was one of the first in Pennsylvania, as well as nationwide.  This came about as a result of United Way of America (then called the Community Chests and Councils) recognizing the great level of monetary and voluntary support that unions were providing for their local communities and the nation.  United Way of America called upon local United Ways to include labor representation on their boards and year-round committees and hire full-time labor staff where posssible. Link to "History & Labor Involvement Fact Sheet," for more information on the history of the United Way & Labor Partnership.

The Labor Participation Department consist of one full-time employee, who must be a union card carrying member.  The person's title in this position is AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison & Vice-President Labor Participation.  Currently, Walter Klepaski, a member of Laborers' Local 215 has been serving in this position and head of the department since the end of 1979.  He can be reached by telephoning (570) 829-6711, extension 229, or sending an e-mail to waltk@unitedwaywb.org.

The Labor Participation Department works cooperatively with the United Way and the local labor movement in carrying out their missions. Some of  the broad areas of responsibility of this department include:

Gaining organized labor's voluntary & monetary support for United Way's year-round activities and operations

Implementing a wide range of the AFL-CIO's "Community Services Programs"

Some "key focus areas" of the Labor Participation Department include:

· Continually identify and recruit labor volunteers for key United Way committees, activities, etc.

· Conduct volunteer training programs for labor's involvement with "Community Services Programs"

·Expand upon the "Labor Leaderhsip Giving Society Program"

·Address dislocated workers about United Way supported services

·Serve as a key contact in providing information & referral services to members of organized labor, as well as the rest of the community

The strong historic partnership that exists between the United Way of Wyoming Valley and the local labor movement (primarily through the Greater Wilkes-Barre Labor Council) have resulted in both state and national recognition.  In 1990 the Greater Wilkes-Barre Labor Council and its Community Services Committee won the initial Pa. AFL-CIO Boyer-Uehlein Community Service Award, for their excellence in the area of  community services activities.  In 1998, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Labor Council and United Way of Wyoming Valley attained the National AFL-CIO Model City in Community Service Award, which recognizes labor councils and United Ways who work cooperatively in developing effective community services programs in meeting human service needs. In 2002, United Way of Wyoming Valley and its Labor Participation Department's Labor Leadership Giving Society Program was named a "Best Practice Program" by United Way of  America.

United Way of Wyoming Valley
8 West Market Street, Suite 450
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 18711
Phone: (570) 829-6711
Fax: (570) 822-0522