Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) is a labor organization of Asian- and Pacific Islander-American union members. The organization serves as a constituency organization of the AFL-CIO labor union federation.

A major focus of the organization is far-left identity politics in addition to the traditional economic issues that one would associate labor unions with. The organization has released guiding principles which it claims are rooted in “Black liberation, Indigenous sovereignty, and solidarity with all struggles for collective liberation.” ¹

The organization engages in union outreach to the greater Asian and Pacific Islander community, engages in in voter registration and mobilization, and develops ties with labor unions in the Asia-Pacific Rim. ²

Overview

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO is a labor organization of Asian- and Pacific Islander-American labor union members. The organization is a constituency organization of the AFL-CIO and bridges labor unions and left-progressive Asian and Pacific Islander activism. ³

As of 2021, the organization claims to have more than 20 chapters and pre-chapters and to represent 660,000 Asian and Pacific Islander union members. ⁴

The organization has an affiliated charitable arm, the Institute for Asian Pacific American Leadership and Advancement. ⁵

The organization is governed by its “Principles for Collective Liberation.” The document is inspired by other far-left identity politics movements among the black and Native American communities. Among the principles the document espouses are a “world without borders,” “ending white supremacy,” “unrigging a capitalist system,” “challenging anti-blackness,” and the claim that Americans live on “stolen land.” ⁶

History

The organization was founded in 1992 by Asian and Pacific Islander labor union members. During the organization’s first founding convention, members took part in a march to demand charges against the Los Angeles police officers who beat Rodney King, a black construction worker. ⁷

From the beginning of the organization’s existence, a major focus was union organizing among the Asian and Pacific Islander community. In the 1990s, it was the only AFL-CIO constituency group that was focused on organizing. The focus on organizing helped Asian and Pacific Islander labor union members rise through the labor union ranks and some even rose to become heads of their local labor unions. The organization established a partnership with the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute. ⁸

In 2015, the organization, along with the radical left organization Hands Up United, hosted an Asian American and Pacific Islander artist delegation to Ferguson, Missouri. The organizations put the event on to protest the police and to push other identity politics related issues. ⁹

In 2017, APALA endorsed the more left-wing candidate for Democratic National Committee chair, then-Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN). ¹⁰

In 2019, the organization held its biennial convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. While at the convention, it joined forces with the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in a picket line against Palms Casino Resort and its owner, Station Casinos. ¹¹

Leadership

Alvina Yeh is the executive director of the organization. Previously, she was director of state capacity building with the left-of-center State Voices. She is also a former program director at the left-of-center Asian Pacific Islander American Vote. ¹²

Brady Calma is the president of the organization. He is the director of API civic engagement and leadership development at the Service Employees International Union. He has been involved with labor unions for the past 15 years. ¹³

Finances

According to the 2019 tax return, the organization had $386,927 in revenue and $320,156 in expenses. It had $113,205 in assets. ¹⁴

Executive director Alvina Yeh made a salary of $111,138 and another $22,719 in other compensation and compensation from affiliated organizations. ¹⁵

1. “About.” APALA. Accessed October 19, 2021. https://www.apalanet.org/about.html.
2. “About.” APALA. Accessed October 11, 2021. https://www.apalanet.org/about.html.
3. “About.” APALA. Accessed October 11, 2021. https://www.apalanet.org/about.html.
4. “About.” APALA. Accessed October 11, 2021. https://www.apalanet.org/about.html.
5. “About.” 2021. APALA. Accessed October 11, 2021. https://www.apalanet.org/about.html.
6. “Principles For Collective Liberation.” Google Docs. Accessed October 11. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vDw_WuET5nzZC2CrZtKFlB_eSIux3Dm8/view.
7. Cendana, Gregory, and Tef Poe. “Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance And Hands Up United Partner For Asian American And Pacific Islander Artist Delegation To Ferguson.” Huffpost. June 4, 2015. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/asian-pacific-american-labor-alliance-and-hands-up_b_7515936.
8. Mogado, Linelle. 1998. “Asian/Pacific American Labor Acitivists Speak Out On Union Reform, Organizing.” Labor Notes. https://labornotes.org/1998/10/asianpacific-american-labor-acitivists-speak-out-union-reform-organizing.
9. Cendana, Gregory, and Tef Poe. “Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance And Hands Up United Partner For Asian American And Pacific Islander Artist Delegation To Ferguson.” Huffpost. June 4, 2015, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/asian-pacific-american-labor-alliance-and-hands-up_b_7515936.
10. “Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Endorses Congressman Keith Ellison For DNC Chair.” Afro. February 17, 2017. https://www.afro.com/asian-pacific-american-labor-alliance-endorses-congressman-keith-ellison-dnc-chair/.
11. “Largest National Asian American And Pacific Islander Workers’ Group To Join Culinary Union To Picket Palms.” Culinary Union Local 226. August 9, 2019. https://m.culinaryunion226.org/news/press/largest-national-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-workers-group-to-join-culinary-union-to-picket-palms.
12. “National Staff.” APALA. Accessed October 11. https://www.apalanet.org/national-staff.html.
13. “Leadership.” APALA. Accessed October 11. https://www.apalanet.org/national-executive-board.html.
14. Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990O), 2019.
15. Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990O), 2019.