Arizona AFL-CIO An Introduction to the Organization and What I Do for Them

(Pictured left-Arizona Capitol Mall)

An Introduction to Arizona's 

AFL-CIO

www.azaflcio.org

The Arizona AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations) is the voice of Arizona’s labor movement. We are a voluntary federation of labor unions in the State of Arizona, representing affiliates with over 185,000 members.

Our priorities are:

• Politics – We actively engage our members in the election of worker-friendly politicians who will defend and advance the freedom of workers to form and join unions.
• Legislation – We pursue an agenda with elected legislators to not only protect, but enhance the rights of working people to enjoy a fair wage, a safe workplace and respect on and off the job.
• Communications – Our message is simple: union members and their families are the real heroes of Arizona, and we will ensure that their voices are heard every single day, in every single venue and at every level.
• Organizing – We strategically and enthusiastically support the growth of our labor movement and our local unions so that all Arizonans find their own voice at work!
  
  Nationwide, today's unions represent 11.5 million working women and men of every race and ethnicity and from every walk of life. We are teachers and truck drivers, musicians and miners, firefighters and farm workers, bakers and bottlers, engineers and editors, pilots and painters, doctors and nurses—and more.

My Role with the Arizona AFL-CIO

My official position at Arizona's AFL-CIO is legislative intern. 

As a legislative intern, I am responsible for:

• Analyzing bills and writing summaries, fact sheets, and briefs. 
• Developing and writing testimony for committee hearings and caucuses. 
• Tracking bills in the state legislature. 
• Coordinating lobbyists meetings and communications. 

In addition to these duties, I assist the Political Director of the Arizona AFL-CIO and support staff in all phases of the Legislative process.  

An Introduction to Sarah "Charlie" Saling

My name is Sarah "Charlie" Saling. In short, I prefer to be called Charlie. I am a returning student that is currently in my junior year. I was born and raised in Kansas, where I attended Wichita State University and the University of Kansas. I then moved to Phoenix, AZ in 2006. Since that time, I have completed coursework at Paradise Valley Community College and Phoenix Community College. I am, of course, now attending Arizona State University. My major is Public Policy and Public Service with a concentration in Law & Policy.

I have always been interested in politics and public policy. Previously, I was a Political Science major, but felt that Public Policy and Public Service was a better fit for what I am aiming to accomplish career-wise. I have been a political activist since January of 2010. I have been a volunteer and staffer for several campaigns and organizations.

As a legislative intern at Arizona AFL-CIO. Through this opportunity, I hope to achieve 3 goals.
1. I want to learn more about the legislative process.
2. I want to learn more about unions and how they operate.
3. I would like to use the opportunity to network with the various people and organizations I will be affiliating with through AZ AFL-CIO.