The labor movement has grown even stronger with the return of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to the AFL-CIO. After nearly two decades outside the national federation, SEIU’s decision to reaffiliate marks a renewed commitment to solidarity and collective action for working people.
Throughout their time outside the AFL-CIO, SEIU remained a powerful force in the fight for workers’ rights, organizing and advocating alongside their union siblings. Many SEIU locals stayed connected to state and local labor bodies through solidarity charters, ensuring continued collaboration with AFL-CIO state federations and central labor councils.
Rich Kline, president of the Union Label Department, welcomed SEIU’s return, emphasizing the importance of labor unity. “Having SEIU back in the AFL-CIO strengthens our movement and our ability to take on corporate greed,” Kline said. “When unions stand together, we get a little bit closer to seeing true economic justice.”
As corporate interests and anti-union forces ramp up their attacks on workers, a unified labor movement is more crucial than ever. SEIU’s return to the AFL-CIO ensures that millions more workers can mobilize under a single, powerful federation, advocating for policies that protect union jobs, expand organizing rights, and advance economic fairness.
With SEIU back in the fold, the AFL-CIO is positioned to make an even greater impact in the ongoing fight for justice and dignity for all workers. Their return is not just a moment of celebration but a signal that the labor movement is growing stronger and more united in its mission.