John J. Sweeny-President of AFL-CIO
Arlene Holt Baker- Executive Vice President of AFL-CIO
Richard L. Trumka-Secretary & Treasurer of AFL-CIO

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
815 16th St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006


Dear Mr. Sweeny, Mrs. Holt Baker, and Mr. Trumka,

I am sure you share my belief that we must do everything in our power to help protect fashion models who have been looked at as disposable and have perpetually been exempt from the protection of a union. That is why I am asking AFL-CIO for help today.

Modeling is a largely unregulated industry that has no particular appointed group, union or organization to act as a watchdog to enforce the rights and protections of models. There is no one to monitor and ensure best practices in the work environment. Models need a union to provide the support, advice, protection and equal benefits that actors, actresses, entertainers and performers receive.

This petition is for every working model who has ever faced unfair treatment, sexism harassment, signed an unwarranted contract, dealt with pressure to be a size zero or experienced racial prejudice within the fashion industry.

These sensitive matters, along with others like anorexia and health and dietary issues, are easily dismissed and have been for a very long time. Although these are real concerns that every model has had to deal with at one point or another during his/her career, these subjects have yet to be completely addressed collectively.

In 2007 Actors Equity Association (AEA) allowed photographic and catwalk models to join the Equity Trade Union. Equity represents professional performers and other creative workers across the spectrum of the entertainment, creative and cultural industries. I feel that AFL-CIO, who is an affiliate of AEA, can do the same for models in the U.S.

I implore you to examine these issues with fellow decision-makers and grant all working models the right to join an existing union. By allowing models to join the union in the unmonitored and unregulated industry, it will eliminate some of the ongoing issues, such as anorexia, unwarranted contracts, sexism, racial prejudice, etc.

The future of modeling careers and health issues will be unjust until a comprehensive force is in place.

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