11. Progressive Constituency Organizations

11.1. Progressive Labor Unions
11.2. Progressive Religious Groups
11.3. Progressive Humanist Groups
11.4. Progressive Lawyer Groups
11.5. Progressive Scientist Groups
11.6. Other Progressive Professional Groups

11.1. Progressive Labor Unions

Also see 4.1. Worker Justice and Democracy Groups

and 4.2. International Worker Justice and Democracy Groups

AFL-CIO: Works to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to the nation by organizing workers into unions, building a strong political voice for workers in a changing economy, and encouraging the labor movement to create a strong voice for workers in their communities.

United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE): A democratic national union representing some 35,000 workers in a wide variety of manufacturing, public sector, and private non-profit sector jobs — an independent union (not affiliated with the AFL-CIO) and proud of its democratic structure and progressive policies.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU): A union which represents 1.8 million workers in hospital systems, long term care, property services, and public services, and which works for more secure jobs for our communities and helps ensure that workers, not just corporations and CEOs, benefit from today’s global economy.
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME): A union which represents 1.4 million workers in public service including nurses, EMTs, bus drivers, child care providers, custodians, and librarians, and which organizes for social and economic justice in the workplace and through political action and legislative advocacy.
Communications Workers of America (CWA): Represents 700,000 workers in private and public sector employment in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico who work in telecommunications and information technology, the airline industry, news media, broadcast and cable television, education, health care and public service, law enforcement, manufacturing and other fields.
UNITE HERE: The merger of UNITE (formerly, the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees) and HERE (Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union).
UAW — International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America: A union which represents 640,000 active workers and over 500,000 retired members in many sectors of the economy, and which struggles to secure economic and social justice for all people.
National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA): Fights for the dignity and fair treatment of the millions of domestic workers in the United State, most of whom are women.
National Education Association (NEA): A union which represents 3.2 million members working at every level of education — from pre-school to university graduate programs.
American Federation of Teachers (AFT): A union representing 1.6 million members in more than 3,000 local affiliates nationwide of pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and other healthcare professionals; early childhood educators; and retiree members.
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW): A union which represents more than 1.3 million workers at supermarkets, packinghouse, food processing plants, and retail stores across North America, and which is on the frontlines in the fight for affordable health care, equal opportunity, job and retirement security, and fairness in the workplace.
National Nurses United (NNU): A union which represents close to 160,000 members and advocates for guaranteed healthcare by expanding and updating Medicare to cover all Americans, negotiates good collective bargaining contracts for RNs, and sponsors innovative legislation and regulatory protections for patients and nurses.
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM): A union with nearly 600,000 active and retired members who demand respect and dignity in the workplace and, together, bargain for increased job security, higher wages, and improved benefits.
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE): Represents 700,000 federal government workers nationwide and overseas and District of Columbia government workers.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters: Champions of freight drivers and warehouse workers as well as organized workers in virtually every occupation imaginable, both professional and non-professional, private sector and public sector with 1.4 million members total.
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW): A union working to create one big union and to abolish the wage system.

Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW): Seeks to create connections between the feminist movement and the labor movement in the United States.

11.2. Progressive Religious Groups

Also see 2.9. Religious Peace Groups

and 6.7. Community Organizing Groups

The Interfaith Alliance (TIA): 70 faith groups and people of goodwill united to promote democratic values, defend religious liberty, challenge hatred and religious bigotry, and reinvigorate informed civic participation.
Faith in Public Life (FPL): A national network of nearly 50,000 clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice and the common good.
Network of Spiritual Progressives: A community of people from many faiths and traditions, called together by TIKKUN magazine, working on both the outer transformation needed to achieve social justice, ecological sanity, and world peace, and the inner healing needed to foster loving relationships and a generous attitude toward the world and toward others unimpeded by the distortions of our egos.
Church Women United (CWU): Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian women working for peace and justice.
Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace: Strives to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world.
National Council of Churches USA (NCC): The leading force for ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States.
Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR): A national, interfaith organization committed to active nonviolence as a transforming way of life and as a means of radical change that seeks to replace violence, war, racism, and economic injustice with nonviolence, peace, and justice.

Catholic Worker Movement: A group of people committed to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, and prayer who provide hospitality for the homeless, exiled, hungry, and forsaken and protest injustice, war, racism, and violence of all forms.
NETWORK: A Catholic leader in the global movement for justice and peace that educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation.
The Quixote Center: A faith-based, social justice center (with roots to the Gospel and the Catholic social justice tradition) working with people who have few resources for their struggles, striving to make our world, our nation, and our church more just, peaceful, and equitable in their policies and practices.
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd (NAC): Advocates for the transformation of society to the benefit of all people.
Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR): The association of the leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States.
Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM): Serves the leadership of the Catholic orders and congregations of the religious priests and brothers of the United States, providing a voice in the U.S. church and society.
Franciscan Action Network (FAN): Inspired by the Gospel of Jesus and the example of Saints Francis and Clare, seeks to transform United States public policy related to peace making, care for creation, poverty, and human rights.

American Jewish Committee (AJC): Works towards a world in which all peoples are accorded respect and dignity.
National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW): Strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC): The Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis whose membership includes more than 1800 Reform rabbis.
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action: A movement of tens of thousands of progressive Jews across America working together to transform our country to be inclusive, equitable, and supportive of the dignity of every person across race, class, gender, and faith.
Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA): Seeks to to strengthen and leverage the Jewish community to champion a just, democratic and pluralistic society and advance the right of full inclusion for all members of our society, including Jews, free of discrimination hate and prejudice.
Shalom Center: Brings Jewish and other spiritual thought and practice to bear on seeking peace, pursuing justice, healing the earth, and celebrating community.

Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA): Represents the interests of more than one thousand Unitarian Universalist congregations, providing spiritual support and speaking out in the name of justice.
United Church of Christ (UCC): A Protestant Christian church that ties faith to social justice.
Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA): Unites activists within the United Methodist Church to take action on issues of justice, peace and liberation in the church, nation, and world.
United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and Society: Works to eradicate poverty, promote global health and provide leadership development.

11.3. Progressive Humanist Groups

American Ethical Union (AEU): A humanistic religious and educational movement working to create a more humane society by engaging in a wide range of service, humanitarian, and social change projects.
American Humanist Association (AHA): Actively educates the public about Humanism, brings Humanists together for mutual support and action, defends the civil liberties and constitutional freedoms of Humanists — indeed of all peoples — and leads both local and national Humanist organizations toward progressive societal change.
Secular Coalition for America: Works to amplify the diverse and growing voice of atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, and other nontheistic Americans by lobbying the U.S. Congress.
American Atheists: Works to protect the absolute separation of religion from government, raise the profile of atheists and atheism in our nation’s public and political discourse, and educate Americans about atheism.

11.4. Progressive Lawyer Groups

Equal Justice Society (EJS): A national organization of legal scholars, advocates, and concerned individuals advancing innovative legal strategies and public policy for enduring social change.
National Lawyers Guild (NLG): Unites lawyers, law students, jailhouse lawyers, and legal workers in working locally, nationally and internationally as an effective political and social force in the service of the people and for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system.

11.5. Progressive Scientist Groups

Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS): A partnership of scientists and citizens who combine rigorous scientific analysis, innovative policy development, and effective citizen advocacy to achieve practical environmental solutions.
Federation of American Scientists (FAS): An organization of scientists that conducts research and education projects in a variety of fields, especially nuclear arms control and global security.

11.6. Other Progressive Professional Groups

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR): A public policy organization representing the medical and public health professions and concerned citizens and working for nuclear disarmament, a healthful environment, and an end to the epidemic of gun violence.
Engaging Schools: Encourages schools to embrace the values of equity, community, and democracy.
Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR): Works for peace, environmental protection, ecological building, social justice, and the development of healthy communities.
Economists for Peace and Security (EPS): Economists, other social scientists, and citizens concerned about issues of peace, conflict, war, and the world economy.
Social Welfare Action Alliance (SWAA): A national organization of progressive workers in social welfare concerned with social justice, peace, and coalition building with progressive social movements.
National Association of Social Workers (NASW): Professional organization of social workers, with 132,000 members that works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.
American Public Health Association (APHA): Brings together researchers, health service providers, administrators, teachers, and other health workers in a unique, multidisciplinary environment of professional exchange, study, and action concerning a broad set of issues affecting personal and environmental health, including federal and state funding for health programs, pollution control, programs and policies related to chronic and infectious diseases, a smoke-free society, and professional education in public health.
Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice: An association of mental health professionals concerned with mental health and social justice.
Planners Network: An association of professionals, activists, academics, and students involved in physical, social, economic, and environmental planning in urban and rural areas, who promote fundamental change in our political and economic systems.
PEN American Center: The largest of the more than 100 centers of International PEN, the world’s oldest human rights organization and the oldest international literary organization that works to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.