February 24, 2025

Contact: media@haitianbridge.org, info@haitianbridge.org

San Diego, California. – The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) proudly honors Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, with the 2024 George Meany–Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award in recognition of her unwavering advocacy for migrants, refugees, and workers’ rights. The award was presented at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C on February 19, 2025, celebrating her leadership in ensuring the dignity, protection, and fair treatment of immigrants, including Haitian workers, within the U.S. labor system.

The AFL-CIO, representing over 15 million workers across 63 unions, has a long history of fighting for labor rights that uplift American workers, including Black, immigrant, and low-wage workers. Guerline Jozef’s leadership aligns with the federation’s commitment to ensuring immigrant workers are not exploited but instead recognized for their contributions to the U.S. economy.

Unions and the labor movement have historically played a vital role in securing economic opportunities, fair wages, economic protections, and economic mobility for African Americans and other marginalized groups. From the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, led by A. Philip Randolph in the 1920s, to the United Auto Workers’  support for civil rights in the 1960s.

Guerline Jozef’s Statement on Receiving the Award:

“I am deeply honored to receive the GMLK Human Rights Award from the AFL-CIO, an organization that has long championed the dignity of all workers,” said Guerline Jozef. “As we celebrate this recognition, we must continue the fight for justice—not just for migrants, but for all workers who contribute to this nation’s economy, regardless of their race, background, or immigration status. Dr. Martin Luther King, who was a strong advocate for labor unions and workers’ rights, reminded us that ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’ and today, we recommit to ensuring that all workers are treated with fairness and dignity.”

As the United States continues to grapple with labor shortages coupled with mass deportations, economic disparities, and the treatment of migrants, the Haitian Bridge Alliance will continue to push for:

• Stronger protections against workplace abuses for all workers, including immigrants.
• Pathways to citizenship for essential migrant workers contributing to the U.S. economy.
• Fair wages and union representation to close racial and economic disparities.

The 2024 GMLK Human Rights Award ceremony marks not just a celebration of Guerline Jozef’s work but a call to action for policymakers, labor leaders, and communities to continue the fight for justice.