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ATPAM: News: HL0100C

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AFL-CIO To Launch Workingfamilies.com In Early 2000

Goal is To Offer Web Access and Computer Discounts to Union Members at Affordable Prices

The AFL-CIO is launching a new "Internet community" called workingfamilies.com to help bring more members online. A partnership between the 68-Union, 13 million member labor federation and iBelong, Inc., Workingfamilies.com will be operational in late January.

The goal of this partnership is to offer Internet service and home computers to union members at affordable prices. The partnership is currently entertaining bids from Internet service providers and home computer manufacturers. Workingfamilies.com will make Internet services available at no more than $14.95 a month and will offer home computers with full financing for as low as $600. The site will also offer union members all the resources of other state-of-the-art online services, including e-mail and e-commerce, while also providing benefits, information and activities of special interest to union members.

"With Workingfamilies.com, we’re helping bridge the gap between the technological ‘halves’ and ‘have-nots,’" explains AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "This is a 21^st Century communications tool that will help co-workers share information, help our unions mobilize our members and hold policymakers accountable to working families."

A new Commerce Department study shows that millions of low-income families are "falling through the Net." The report found cost is cited as the primary reason why people do not have access to the Internet. Union members, who have higher than average incomes, are logging onto the Internet at a higher rate than the general public. According to a recent poll, 57% of union households have computers and 81% of those are able to go online.

"Too many working families are being left behind in the Information Age," said Sweeney. "Our new online community will bring all the resources, information and opportunities of the Internet to millions of union members."

ATPAM will keep its members apprised of the progress being made by the AFL-CIO in this all-important area.