The Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council is a regional AFL-CIO body consisting of labor unions active in the Atlanta metropolitan area. 1 2 The group advocates for expanding labor union representation into the artificial intelligence (AI), energy, and transportation sectors within the region as well as local businesses and companies including Starbucks. 3 4
The group has previously supported local labor union strikes, granting citizenship to migrants, and nationalizing voting rights legislation. 5 6 7 The group’s mission statement has previously claimed it supports “social justice to our community.” 8
The group has previously endorsed and provided funding towards political candidates, 9 including the 2024 re-election campaign of President Joe Biden. 10
Background
The Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council is a regional labor council affiliated with the AFL-CIO labor union federation representing union members within the Atlanta metropolitan area. Founded in 1955, 11 The group claims to be made up of over 70,000 members from 60 affiliated unions in Atlanta and the surrounding Georgia counties of Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton. 12
Activism
The Council’s website provides information and locations to assist people in finding a strike to support either financially or by walking picket lines. 13 In 2023, National AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler claimed that strikes are not a sign of chaos but indicators the country is headed in the right direction. 14 The Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council previously supported Starbucks employees for attempting to unionize and for organizing the largest strike in company history in 2023. 15
The Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council has previously advocated for policies such as providing citizenship for migrants, 16 creating more green jobs and an “equitable America,” 17 electing more labor-friendly politicians and officials, and expanding union organizing in industries including artificial intelligence (AI) as well as energy and technology sectors. 18 19
The Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council previously advocated for a federal law mandating paid parental leave and sick leave for all employees. 20 The Council also supports implementing state legislation to expand government worker unions’ power to collectively bargain.21 In 2022, prior to a visit to Atlanta by President Joe Biden, the Council issued a statement demanding President Biden to skip his Atlanta visit unless he had a plan to pass federal voting rights legislation and said anything less is “insufficient and unwelcome.” 22
Political Advocacy
Since 2018, the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council has contributed to the campaigns of several Democrat candidates including Charles Ravenscraft’s candidacy for the Georgia House of Representatives, the campaigns for state Senator Nikki Merritt (D-Grayson) and campaign for state Representative El-Mahdi Holly (D-Stockbridge). 23 24
The group, through an AFL-CIO website, linked to the union that had endorsed President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign prior to his withdrawal from the race. 25 In 2022, the executive director of the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council spoke at an event criticizing U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker (R) and supporting Senator Raphael Warnock (D). 26
Financials
In 2022, the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council reported net assets of $93,554. 27 According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2022 the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council recorded $335,863 in revenue and had $358,844 in expenses. 28 In 2021, the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council reported $341,901 in revenue and $339,331 in expenses. 29
Leadership
Sandra Lee Williams has been president of the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council since March 2023 and was previously executive director of the organization from 2020 to 2023. 30 From 2019 to 2020, Williams was director of human resources for the United Food and Commercial Workers union in Atlanta. 31 Williams has held positions with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, the labor relations consulting firm Chandler Group, Pilgrim’s Pride, MeadWestvaco, CG2M HILL, Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. 32
References
- Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/580701331/202331359349319623/full
- “About Us.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/about-us.
- Bose, Nadita. “U.S. Labor Movement’s Next Frontier is the Tech Industry, AFL-CIO’s Shuler Says.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. December 13, 2021. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/us-labor-movements-next-frontier-tech-industry-afl-cios-shuler-says.
- “This is the Story of How Workers Win.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. November 22, 2023. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/story-how-workers-win.
- “This is the Story of How Workers Win.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. November 22, 2023. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/story-how-workers-win.
- “Find A Strike Near You.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. July 27, 2023. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/find-strike-near-you.
- Mitchell, Tia. “Don’t Come to Atlanta Without A Plan to Pass Voting Laws, Groups Tell Biden, Harris.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution. January 6, 2022. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://www.ajc.com/politics/dont-come-to-atlanta-without-a-plan-to-pass-voting-laws-groups-tell-biden-harris/7KHTSRMZORF6THXEZVY64NW44A/; Butler, Megan. “Biden, Harris Push for Voting Rights Legislation in Atlanta Speeches.” Courthouse News Services. January 11, 2022. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://www.courthousenews.com/biden-harris-push-for-voting-rights-legislation-in-atlanta-speeches/
- Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2022, Part III Line 1 https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/580701331/202331359349319623/full
- “Labor Endorsed 2020 Candidates.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. 2020. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/labor-endorsed-2020-candidates.
- AFL-CIO. “Labor for Biden Event.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. June 16, 2023. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/labor-biden-event.
- Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/580701331/202331359349319623/full
- “About Us.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/about-us.
- “Find A Strike Near You.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. July 27, 2023. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/find-strike-near-you.
- Shuler, Liz. “’Striketober’ Isn’t a Sign of Chaos – It’s a Healthy Development for the Country.” Washington Post. October 25, 2021. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/10/25/liz-shuler-afl-cio-striketober-workers-healthy-labor-movement/.
- “This is the Story of How Workers Win.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. November 22, 2023. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/story-how-workers-win.
- “Get Involved.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc.
- “AFL-CIO Values Statement.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. October 19, 2023. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/afl-cio-values-statement.
- “This is the Story of How Workers Win.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. November 22, 2023. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/story-how-workers-win.
- Bose, Nadita. “U.S. Labor Movement’s Next Frontier is the Tech Industry, AFL-CIO’s Shuler Says.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. December 13, 2021. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/us-labor-movements-next-frontier-tech-industry-afl-cios-shuler-says.
- “Celebrating the FMLA.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. February 8, 2023. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/celebrating-fmla.
- HB 1576: Public Sector Collective Bargaining Act.” United Campus Workers of Georgia. June 10, 2022. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://ucwga.com/news/hb-1576-public-sector-collective-bargaining-ga.
- Mitchell, Tia. “Don’t Come to Atlanta Without A Plan to Pass Voting Laws, Groups Tell Biden, Harris.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution. January 6, 2022. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://www.ajc.com/politics/dont-come-to-atlanta-without-a-plan-to-pass-voting-laws-groups-tell-biden-harris/7KHTSRMZORF6THXEZVY64NW44A/; Butler, Megan. “Biden, Harris Push for Voting Rights Legislation in Atlanta Speeches.” Courthouse News Services. January 11, 2022. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://www.courthousenews.com/biden-harris-push-for-voting-rights-legislation-in-atlanta-speeches/.
- Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2022; “Charles Ravenscraft.” Ballotpedia. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Charles_Ravenscraft; “Vote Nikki Merritt.” The People for Nikki Merritt. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://merritt4georgia.com/meet-nikki/; “El-Mahdi Holly.” Ballotpedia. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/El-Mahdi_Holly.
- “Labor Endorsed 2020 Candidates.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. 2020. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/labor-endorsed-2020-candidates.
- AFL-CIO. “Labor for Biden Event.” Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council. June 16, 2023. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/atlclc/news/labor-biden-event.
- “Georgia Workers, Union Leaders Call Out Herschel Walker’s Business Record, Pattern of Lies.” Democratic Party of Georgia. October 26, 2022. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://www.georgiademocrat.org/georgia-workers-union-leaders-call-out-herschel-walkers-business-record-pattern-of-lies/.
- Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/580701331/202331359349319623/full
- Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/580701331/202331359349319623/full
- Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/580701331/202331359349319623/full
- “Sandra Lee Williams. LinkedIn. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-lee-williams-91382320/.
- “Sandra Lee Williams. LinkedIn. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-lee-williams-91382320/.
- “Sandra Lee Williams. LinkedIn. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-lee-williams-91382320/.