AFT is a force at APALA convention

Two AFT members were elected as board officers of the preeminent Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance at its 18th biennial convention this summer, signaling the AFT’s continuing commitment to and involvement with this powerful group of unionists. Mikayla Vu, from AFT Massachusetts, was elected president, and Seung Lee, from the United Federation of Teachers, was elected treasurer.

Other AFT members on the 2025-27 APALA board are Jessica Tang, AFT Massachusetts; Tracy Lai, AFT Washington; and Kasi Perreira, Rutgers AAUP-AFT.

The convention, held in Los Angeles June 26-29, was themed around solidarity, resistance and unity. A vibrant roster of panels, speakers and workshops ensured participants were immersed in up-to-the-minute knowledge; personal, shared experiences; and strategies to elevate, protect and defend Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

AFT President Randi Weingarten spoke as part of the opening plenary, “Labor Leading the Way.” Her call for resistance to the threats on democracy—and the need to mobilize nonviolently with rallies and actions—prompted some of the most enthusiastic cheers of the conference. Others on the labor panel were American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees President Lee Saunders; American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley; and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers President Matt Biggs.

Other AFT leaders were also a big part of the convention, co-leading 10 of the 14 workshops offered. Jessica Tang led “Organizing the Resistance”; Kent Wong, a vice president of the CFT, moderated a panel on immigration and resistance; Kasi Perreira co-led a session on racial justice and cross-racial solidarity organizing; Mikayla Vu led a workshop on using digital tools to strengthen local APALA chapters; Arlene Inouye, from United Teachers Los Angeles, presented with Perreira on how the AAPI labor movement story can be told through documentary and curriculum; and Seung Lee led a finance workshop for APALA chapter leaders. More than 35 AFT leaders, members and activists from Hawaii to Boston, San Francisco to Saint Paul, participated in the convention.

Participants also heard from an international delegation about how we can support workers in the Philippines and participated in a solidarity action with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union to support grocery store workers. Former Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and former Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su also addressed the gathering.

[Virginia Myers]