The AFL-CIO seeks up to 1,000 more volunteers to work for three weeks at Red Cross relief shelters in the area clobbered by Hurricane Katrina, the federation said. Meanwhile, donations from unionists to help people left homeless and jobless after Katrina devastated Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama keep rolling in, hitting $10 million from unions and their members combined.

Besides the volunteers for centers in the South, the federation also needs people to staff its own hurricane relief center at AFL-CIO headquarters. That center handles calls (1-877-235-2469 toll-free) from Katrina's victims, donors and volunteers.

In addition, the AFL-CIO opened centers in the South in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Dallas, Houston, Mobile, Ala., San Antonio and Pearl, Miss. Those interested in volunteering should call the toll-free number or e-mail hurricanevolunteers@aflcio.org.

The local centers provide computers, link unionists with their parent unions--and available jobs -- and help with everything from filling out forms to medical care. Unionists and other flood victims use the computers to search for jobs, housing and lost relatives and friends, adds Atlanta Center Coordinator Cynthia Ware. Locals from the Communications Workers, AFSCME, UAW, IBEW and others donated time and labor to create the AFL-CIO local centers.

Other unions established relief funds to assist members who lost homes and jobs. They include the Plumbers and the Boilermakers -- who have locals in Mobile and Baton Rouge -- as well as CWA, IAFF, AFSCME, the International Longshoremen's Association and the School Administrators. The School Administrators union is helping New Orleans principals who lost their schools. After hearing from 1,000 Gulf Coast members about Katrina's impact, ILA members from other ports are seeking jobs for those who lost work.

This article was written by Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.