1 min read

Season 6, Episode 40

Corliss King: From Flight Attendant to Accidental Lobbyist

ILAFL-CIO

 

Guest Name:


Corliss King

Guest Website:


Illinois AFL-CIO 

TWU Local 556 

Guest Social Media:


Facebook

Twitter

Supportive Documents:


Corliss King, a member of Transport Workers Union of America Local 556 and Illinois State AFL-CIO board member, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her journey as an "accidental lobbyist," her efforts to change labor laws for flight attendants and her work in promoting diversity and inclusion in the aviation industry.

King's path to union activism began unexpectedly when her husband fell ill, highlighting the challenges faced by flight attendants in using sick leave to care for their family members. This personal experience led her to challenge existing laws in Illinois, ultimately resulting in a change that allows flight attendants to use sick leave for family care. King’s persistence and grassroots approach to lobbying, which she dubbed "guerrilla" tactics, involved showing up at the state capitol in uniform to draw attention to the issue. Her efforts not only succeeded in Illinois but inspired similar initiatives in other states, demonstrating individual union members' power in effecting legislative change.

As the founder of the Union for Black Aviation Unionists (UBAU), King emphasized the ongoing need for diversity and inclusion efforts in the aviation industry. She addressed the current pushback against DEI initiatives and argued that the relatively recent passage of civil rights legislation in her lifetime underscores the continued importance of these efforts. King stressed that the demand for fair treatment is not about seeking advantages but achieving a level playing field.

King's consulting firm, Corliss King Consulting, aims to empower individuals and organizations to navigate the legislative process and effect change. Drawing from her own experiences, she works with unions to understand "how to union" in the current political climate. King's approach emphasizes the importance of grassroots efforts and the power of personal stories in lobbying, challenging the notion that only those with deep pockets can influence legislation.

To hear more about King's inspiring journey and insights on union activism, listen to the full episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast.


America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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