Arlene Holt Baker was approved unanimously as AFL-CIO executive vice president by the AFL-CIO Executive Council in September 2007, becoming the first African American to be elected to one of the federation's three highest offices and the highest-ranking African American woman in the union movement. With more than 30 years of experience as a union and grassroots organizer, Holt Baker began her work in the union movement with AFSCME, and as an organizer and international union representative, she helped public-sector workers in California form a union and win contracts that provided better wages and pay equity for women.

Blog Entries by Arlene Holt Baker

Women and People of Color Down for the Count in Jobless Recovery

Posted October 13, 2009 | 12:17 PM (EST)


A close look at the unemployment figures shows that while white males are taking it on the chin in this recession, women and people of color are down for the count.

Although, in this recession, unemployment is rising faster for whites than for African Americans, the fact is that...

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The Stars Align for Employee Free Choice Act

27 Comments | Posted May 14, 2009 | 04:49 PM (EST)


From the big screen to the Broadway stage, a stellar lineup of stars is joining the fight for working families.

Amy Brenneman, Nancy Giles, Esai Morales and Mike Farrell are among 47 performing...

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Is the Insurance Industry Getting Behind Comparative Effectiveness Research?

Posted May 13, 2009 | 02:51 PM (EST)


This week many watched as the president joined with the largest associations of insurers and doctors to acknowledge the excessive costs of health care and the burdens it places on working families. While many who advocate for patients, consumers and workers' rights are skeptical of the industry's real commitment,

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Civil Rights Leaders Urge Passage of Employee Free Choice

Posted April 2, 2009 | 04:10 PM (EST)


Martin Luther King Jr. often drew the parallels and connections between the civil rights and union movements. Today, on the eve of the anniversary of King's assassination, national civil rights leaders called for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would give workers the choice of how to...

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Ask a Working Woman

Posted May 21, 2008 | 05:48 PM (EST)


As working mothers, we struggle to balance work and family and sometimes fear we won't be able to make ends meet when we take unpaid maternity leave. As working women, we worry about affording health care or retirement security while suspecting we're being paid less than our male co-workers.

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AFL-CIO Survey Turns Politics of Health Care Reform Upside Down

Posted April 11, 2008 | 11:47 AM (EST)


Despite all the hubbub about health care, the secret belief in the Washington punditry has long been that real health care reform in America is a political non-starter. They know that nearly all voters are insured, and they believe insured voters fear health care reform more than they desire it.

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