The Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO is the Detroit local affiliate branch of the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labor unions in the United States. The organization is made up of smaller affiliate unions operating in the Detroit area. ¹ The organization regularly endorses left-of-center and liberal candidates for public office. ² The organization advocates for increased unionization and more lenient labor legislation at the local level.

Affiliates

Prominent labor unions in the Detroit area make up the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO. Notably among these are the AFSCME, the largest union in the United States representing government workers; American Federation of Teachers, the second largest teachers’ union in the country; Unite Here, one of the fastest growing and most politically active unions in the U.S.; and United Steelworkers, a prominent labor union that largely supports the Democratic Party. ³

The organization also lists a number of politically active organizations among its affiliates—including the National Football League Players Association, the union representing professional football players—and is active in advocating for liberal positions on a variety of left-of-center economic, social, and racial issues. ⁴

Leadership

Daryl Newman is the president of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO. He previously served as the secretary treasurer for the Michigan state branch of the AFL-CIO. Prior to his work at the AFL-CIO, Newman worked for the American Federation of Teachers as a member mobilizer. He also worked for the Michigan Democratic Party where he served as a political director. During his tenure, he was the youngest political director of a state Democratic Party organization in the United States. ⁵

Labor Day Parades

The Metro Detroit AFL-CIO hosts an annual Labor Day Parade that involves AFL-CIO affiliates, and other unions like the Teamsters, and the Michigan Building Trades Council. ⁶ The parade is regularly attended by Democratic Party figures. Most notably, Democratic Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton have all attended. The Labor Day parade was cancelled two years in a row in 2020 and 2021 amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. ⁷

Political Endorsements

The Metro Detroit AFL-CIO regularly endorses Democratic candidates for public office. Most recently, the organization released a list of endorsed candidates that included then-presidential candidate Joe Biden (D), Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), and numerous Democratic candidates for Congress including outspoken member of the far-left Democratic Socialists of America, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). ⁸

HEROES Act

The Metro Detroit AFL-CIO expressed support in 2020 for the HEROES Act, a $3-trillion bill proposed by Nancy Pelosi and backed by numerous labor unions and left-of-center organizations. The bill would have expanded unemployment payments, funded COVID-19 contact tracing programs, forgiven student loans, and made grants to essential workers. The bill passed through the House of Representatives, but ultimately failed to pass a vote in the Senate. ⁹ The bill was endorsed by the AFL-CIO and many of its state branches as well as Unite Here and Pride at Work. ¹⁰

Corruption among Leadership

Cathy Gail Long, former treasurer for Metro Detroit AFL-CIO, was arrested in 2021 and charged with embezzling funds from the organization. According to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Long “falsified an accounting computer program, forging names of authorized signers on checks and manufacturing documents to give the appearance of legitimate expenditures.” Long is alleged to have stolen almost $50,000 from the organization. ¹¹

In 2021, FBI agents raided the home of Janee Ayers, former Metro Detroit AFL-CIO vice president and current Detroit city council member. Ayers was served with a search warrant as part of an ongoing corruption investigation involving numerous Detroit city council members. The raids come only a month after Detroit Councilman Andre Spivey was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery. Spivey’s lawyer reported that he is cooperating with federal agents in a further probe into the Detroit City Council. ¹²

1. Affiliates: Metro Detroit AFL-CIO. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/detroit/affiliates
2. Endorsements: Metro Detroit AFL-CIO. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/detroit/2020-candidate-endorsements
3. Affiliates: Metro Detroit AFL-CIO. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/detroit/affiliates
4. Affiliates: Metro Detroit AFL-CIO. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/detroit/affiliates
5. “Daryl Newman.” AFL-CIO. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/detroit/about-us/daryl-newman
6. Labor Day Parade Route Map. MPFFU. Accessed September 19, 2021.  http://www.mpffu.org/2019%20%20March%20(Parade)%20Route%20Map.pdf
7. “Labor Day parade cancelled over COVID-19 concerns, Metro Detroit AFL-CIO.” Janelle James, Detroit Free Press. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2021/08/06/labor-day-parade-canceled-metro-detroit-afl-cio/5521812001/
8. “2020 Candidate Endorsements.” AMetro Detroit AFL-CIO. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://unionhall.aflcio.org/detroit/2020-candidate-endorsements
9. “HEROES Act.” Investopedia. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.investopedia.com/democrats-usd3-trillion-coronavirus-relief-bill-4844752
10. “Pass the HEROES Act.” Action Network. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://actionnetwork.org/forms/call-in-day-of-action-2
11. “Ex-Detroit area union treasurer charged with theft.” Oralandar Brand-Williams, Detroit News. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2021/03/16/former-metro-detroit-afl-cio-treasurer-charged-embezzlement/4722699001/
12. “FBI raids homes of Detroit Councilmembers Janee Ayers, Scott Benson, Benson Chief of Staff.” Detroit Free Press. Accessed September 19, 2021. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2021/08/25/detroit-city-council-fbi-raid-janee-ayers/5584587001/