The American Library Association (ALA) and the American
Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) will join a
coalition of 19 national and global organizations in announcing the
formation of Professionals for the Public Interest (PftPI) at a press
conference at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 20, in the First Amendment Lounge (13th floor) of the National Press Club.
Professionals for the Public Interest: Associations and Unions Defending Professional Integrity. Our common focus: defending professional integrity against external pressures in the interests of the public. We address that focus with our members, policymakers, and the public.
Our organizations include eight professional associations; 10 national unions; and the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE). Collectively, we represent more than four million professionals. Their disciplines range from the sciences and engineering to human services. Each organization has endorsed a consensus statement, Defining Common Ground on Professional Integrity. To date, the endorsing organizations are:
* Actors’ Equity Association
* American Association for the Advancement of Science
* American Chemical Society
* American Federation of Musicians
* American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
* American Federation of Teachers
* American Library Association
* American Library Association-Allied Professional Association
* American Public Health Association
* Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
* Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-USA
* International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes
* International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers
* National Association for the Education of Young Children
* National Association of Social Workers
* Office and Professional Employees International Union
* Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
* United American Nurses
* United Steelworkers