Public Employee Press

Union Scrapbook
South Asian labor group re-elects DC 37 treasurer as its president

Members of Alliance of South Asian American Labor, or ASAAL, gathered Aug. 8 at DC 37 for their second annual convention, with a theme of “Organizing to Unite for Power.” Participants also focused on the economy, immigration and health-care reform, as well as state and local politics, and re-elected DC 37 Treasurer Maf Misbah Uddin as president.

ASAAL represents members with family roots in South Asia, which encompasses Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. People from the eight countries constitute a quarter of the world’s workforce.

The organization hopes to become an independent constituency group of the AFL-CIO or a part of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, said Uddin. It works to train activists for political and community work and to educate members and the public about labor issues.

About 100 delegates attended the convention, including many DC 37 members. The delegates also elected Local 375 Secretary Ahmed Shakir as treasurer, Local 375 member Morshed Alam as executive director and 10 DC 37 members as vice presidents.

“We are encouraged by the growing participation of union activists at the convention,” Uddin said. “About 100 people attended this time, almost a 50 percent increase over last year.”