Houston-based ITF inspector Shwe Aung is just one of those volunteering to help the relief effort. This weekend he joined a Union Day of Service that worked with the local volunteer fire department to help flooded residents clean out debris from their homes and shelter evacuees. Union members also delivered essentials such as blankets, clothes, books, toys, bottled water and toiletries to evacuees who are unable to get to their homes until the flood waters recede.
ITF seafarers’ section chair and Seafarers International Union (SIU) secretary treasurer David Heindel commented: “Our inspector, Shwe, is just one of thousands of trade unionists making a difference in Texas. Like him they are all using the skills they have gained, not just as workers, but also as trade union members and activists, to help their fellow citizens, thousands of whom have been made homeless. I thank every union member for stepping up to help others in the recovery.”
Across the USA, ITF member unions are helping, with donations, a raffle to raise funds and by spearheading appeals to members to assist their affected colleagues. These are just some of them: https://goo.gl/oG9hqw, https://goo.gl/gU88T4, https://goo.gl/Nt3jg8, https://goo.gl/Q29WNf, https://goo.gl/CMTQH3, https://goo.gl/mvwULN, https://goo.gl/TQ13dM, https://goo.gl/E5oV9B, https://goo.gl/ArpxHi, https://goo.gl/36mGyy, https://goo.gl/HCiCtq and www.seiu.org.
ITF president Paddy Crumlin said that the thoughts of everyone in the ITF are with those who have been affected by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey, and that the ITF is humbled by the work of all its affiliates in the USA who have come together and are assisting the community in their recovery efforts. He encouraged union members and their families impacted by the storm to reach out to their unions for a full list of the assistance those unions are offering their members.
Read more about how union members are helping the relief and recovery efforts here.
