Since the devastating January 12, 2010, earthquake in Port-au-Prince, the Solidarity Center has acted quickly to send needed supplies and support to its Haitian partners through a union-to-union effort that provides short-term emergency aid and builds toward long-term reconstruction and strengthening of Haiti’s labor movement.

Generous donations to the Solidarity Center’s Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers Fund have enabled us to provide:

Regular truckloads of canned foods, water, re-hydration liquids, plastic tarps, diapers, blankets, first aid supplies, medicine, and other critical items.

Direct funds to Haitian trade unions and labor support organizations for purchasing additional supplies, improving communication systems and outreach to workers, and restoring union offices for use as shelters and food distribution centers.

Assistance in developing a Haitian inter-union commission aimed at ensuring equitable and efficient distribution of aid as well as crafting a joint approach to long-term reconstruction efforts.

Support to union partners for developing a gender-based response to relief and reconstruction through the creation of a joint women’s union commission to address the specific needs of women workers.

All of the Solidarity Center’s relief efforts are premised on linking directly to Haitian workers through their unions and labor support organizations. From the very first days following the earthquake the Solidarity Center has supported Dominican union leaders who have been working side by side with their Haitian counterparts to assess needs, survey damages, and help open any union halls still standing as clinics, distribution centers, and shelters. In the Dominican Republic, a coalition of unions, health organizations, and human and migrant rights groups quickly arranged for weekly overland transport of water, food, first aid supplies, re-hydration liquids, plastic tarps, diapers, blankets, and other basic necessities. These shipments began on January 13 and are ongoing. The Solidarity Center also is responding to more specific requests of Haitian unions as they make progress in relocating members and better assessing needs.

Joining with unions in the Dominican Republic that have Haitian members has enabled us not only to better coordinate disaster responses, but also to enhance union-to-union cooperation between Dominican unions and their Haitian counterparts. These Dominican unions have an ongoing commitment to Haitian workers’ struggle to improve their working and living conditions.

In spite of unions’ demonstrated capacity to reach out to their members and deliver aid in a coordinated and orderly manner, labor organizations have not been included in the massive aid distribution efforts by governments and large international aid organizations. Instead the union-led effort has depended on contributions from the global labor movement, through the International Trade Union Confederation, the Global Union Federations, and the Solidarity Center.

As Haiti moves toward reconstruction, the needs of Haitian workers and their families will continue to be great. We thank those who have contributed and urge those who have not to please consider making a donation to the Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers Fund. Your contribution will help Haitian workers rebuild their homes, their lives, and their unions.