Labor
For over 85 years, United Way for Southeastern Michigan and labor unions have partnered to help working families thrive.
The collaboration began in 1942, when the American Federation of Labor (AFLand National Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) announced their partnership with United Ways, formerly known as Community Chests, to encourage labor contributions to World War II relief.
AFL-CIO’s agreement also opened positions for labor representation within United Ways. To this day, United Way’s “labor liaisons” work directly with labor unions to create programs, volunteer projects and provide wrap-around services to local families.
Here in Detroit, United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s predecessor, the Detroit Community Union, fundraised to help local families affected by WWII with the War Chest. When the war ended in 1945, the Detroit Community Union continued to raise money for the Community Chest of Metropolitan Detroit.
“When United Way and labor stand together, we unite compassion with action,” said Alicia Dennis, director of Labor Relations at United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “This partnership is essential because strong communities are built by people who care and people who act.”
With the help of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Detroit became the first major city to successfully organize a United Way fundraising drive in 1949. Today, labor unions’ contributions to United Way comprise 40% of all workplace giving donations.
The relationship between United Way and labor goes far beyond payroll deductions. Each year, United Way, labor liaisons and local union members gather to deepen our community impact through Labor in Action, Labor on the Links, Labor of Love, Sneaker Ball, UCAN Classes and Youth Skills Classes.
“Our labor family always shows up and shows out for our community— Sneaker Ball was no exception,” said Alicia, after the 2025 Sneaker Ball. “The event raised $26,000 and with the ongoing support of our labor brothers and sisters, our kids will feel the love during the holidays and beyond.”
VOLUNTEERS THROUGH THE YEARS
Since October 2023, more than 1,500 local union members volunteered for over 12,000 hours across 88 projects, including food distribution, reading to youth and United Way’s Labor of Love program.
For the past 15 years, Labor of Love, which provides Christmas gifts and a holiday party for students in need, has been a highlight of labor’s volunteerism with United Way.
“This is about one of the best things that happens during the Christmas season, you actually see Christmas,” said Michael Martin, chairman of UAW Local 174. “We try to do what needs to be done to help the kids, and we thank God for United Way.
“If we didn’t have United Way, we wouldn’t be doing this—no way.”
United Way can say the same; without labor, the work couldn’t be done. Through donations and volunteering, labor continues to serve as the lifeblood of United Way’s services.
LISTENING TO LABOR
Since the beginning, United Way and labor have been aligned in a mission to move working families out of crisis and into stability and prosperity. Labor advocates have provided blueprints for change, and United Way leans on that experience to inform their work.
“We really need to celebrate, lift up and lean into our 80-year relationship with our brothers and sisters in labor,” said Kyle DuBuc, vice president of Communications and Advocacy at United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “If anyone knows that we have to come together to demand systemic change to improve the lives of working people, it’s the people who have been leading the charge and making it happen for over 100 years now in the United States of America.”
In 2025, United Way’s labor liaisons hosted Labor in Action to collaborate with labor unions and community leaders on creative solutions to the community’s most pressing needs. The event included a panel of labor and community leaders speaking on the intersection of labor and community impact.
“Labor is the community, so we have to get more vocal about what it means to be a union member: being in a union is about having a voice,” said Rick Blocker, labor advocate and former president of the Detroit-Metro AFL-CIO. “This partnership between United Way and unions matters so much.”
Through its collaboration with labor, United Way for Southeastern Michigan is supporting working families and creating a brighter future for our region.
Inspired by our labor partners to give back? Donate today!
