AFL-CIO Adds Transgender Protections To Its Constitution

[Amelia Pond]

AFL-CIO Adds Transgender Protections To Its Constitution
Chris Geidner, September 9, 2013 11:18pm EDT

The AFL-CIO, the country's largest labor federation, amended its constitution Monday to add a provision banning discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression.

The decision to ban transgender discrimination at its 2013 convention followed the decision of several unions within the federation already to have made the addition of similar nondiscrimination policies into their own policies. The federation is made up of 57 national and international unions representing more than 12 million workers.

"Very exciting," National Center for Transgender Equality executive director Mara Keisling said. "Labor has really been stepping up, and the AFL-CIO has been stepping up."

Human Rights Campaign Vice President Fred Sainz said, "The labor movement has long been a leader on full inclusion in the workplace. This important addition to the governing document of the largest federation of labor unions is a historic and important step forward to ensuring that every American has an equal shot at employment and equal benefits."

[Bardoux]

The AFL-CIO, the nation's largest labor federation made up of 57 national and international unions representing over 12 million workers, amended its constitution on Monday by adding a provision banning discrimination based on gender identity or expression. 

Several constituent unions had already added similar wording to their policies.

THE AFL-CIO's own LGBT organization, Pride at Work, called the federation's decision, "a great day for our movement."

Section 4 now reads:

Section 4. To encourage all workers without regard to race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, [or] sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to share equally in the full benefits of union organization.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/13/1238695/-AFL-CIO-gives-transgender-equality-a-big-push