Alliance of South Asian Labor (ASAAL) 18th Annual Convention : Keynote Speech

Ambassador M. Osman Siddique, Atlantic City, New Jersey, December 06, 2025 : Good evening and a warm welcome to the 18th Annual Convention of the Alliance of South Asian Labor (ASAAL).
It is truly inspiring to gather once again as a united community committed to justice, empowerment, and the dignity of working-class South Asians across America.
This year marks an important milestone in ASAAL’s history. After 18 years of extraordinary dedication, hard work, unwavering devotion, and trailblazing leadership, ASAAL’s founding national president Mr. MAF MISBAH UDDIN is stepping aside. Allow me to say a few words about my friend, a hero, a leader who has inspired many, including me. I first met MAF in 2008, the year of ASAAL’s founding in Denver at the Democratic National Convention where he attended as a DNC delegate. There are many tributes and attributes that I can list here but then it will be a very long evening. But what I saw in him was an extraordinary leader who was a selfless advocate of the common workers’ rights and aspirations. His passion for our common humanity, his understanding of the basic challenges faced by all Americans especially South Asian Americans was humbling. I learnt the basics of the American political and labor movement from bother MAF.
Today, on behalf of all of you, I extend my sincerest gratitude and heartwarming thanks to him for his vision and hard work. We proudly honor him today as ASAAL’s President Emeritus.
At the same time, we are thrilled to welcome ASAAL’s new leadership and pride MOHAMMED KARIM CHOWDHURY. Brother Karim is ASAAL’s current National Secretary, a protégé of brother MAF and who has been elected to serve as ASAAL’s National President beginning in 2026. With 25 years of experience in America’s labor movement, he also brings deep knowledge, understanding, passion and commitment to advancing workers’ rights. If anyone can step into the large shoes of President MAF MIBAH UDDIN it is going to be President KARIM CHOWDHURY. We wish him great success as he leads ASAAL into its next era of growth, unity and service. I may also note here that KARIM CHOWDHURY has been asked by mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani to join his transition team.
Despite its glorious successes, ASAAL faces future challenges like expanding its diverse membership base, organize unorganized workers and amplifying South Asian voices in broader labor movements. With ai, rampant social media, changing demographics ASAAL needs to reinvigorate and redraw its game plan.
To become more effective, ASAAL can adopt targeted strategies that build on its community roots while leveraging modern tools and data. How? Let me briefly go over them with you.
FIVE points I will briefly touch and they are 1).AMPLIFY DIGITAL OUTREACH and membership growth 2).STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND INTERNAL CAPACITY 3).DEEPEN COALITIONS AND ISSUE SPECIFIC CAMPAINS 4). NETWORKING 5). DIVERSITY FUNDING AND SUSTAINABILTY.

1. AMPLIFY DIGITAL OUTREACH AND MEMBERSHIP GROWTH. ASAAL’s social media presence, e.g. sporadic X posts sharing videos and endorsements reaches limited audiences, missing opportunities to engage younger South Asians or new immigrants who rely on platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok for community building. Growing from 10,000 members to 20,000+ would strengthen your bargaining power and funding.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT?
a) Launch targeted digital campaigns. Create short-form videos in multiple South Asian languages like Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, highlighting success stories from job fairs or voter drives.
b) Offer tiered incentives: Beyond $20 annual memberships, introduce free virtual workshops on resume building or union rights for sign-ups, and partner with apps like WhatsApp for chapter specific groups.
c) Track progress: Use free tools like Google Analytics to measure engagement and aim for 20% membership growth annually.

2. STRENGTHEEN LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND INTERNAL CAPACITY.

Seek innovative methods and cutting edge ideas to train leaders and address barriers like language access or cultural stigma around activism in South Asian communities. Empowering more members as stewards would decentralize operations across chapters.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT?
a) Develop a national leadership academy. Host quarterly hybrid in person/virtual programs like negotiation skills, anti-discrimination advocacy and coalition strategies where South Asians are overrepresented.
b) Mentor emerging voices. Pair seasoned members with young professionals to build a pipeline of union reps and elected officials.
c) Measure success: Survey participants post-training to ensure 70% take on chapter roles within six months.

3. DEEPEN COALITIONS AND ISSUE-SPECIFIC CAMPAIGNS: ASAAL’s annual voter registrations are a core strength, registering hundreds per chapter, but post election follow ups could sustain momentum and counter low turnout.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT:
a) Build a year round voter ecosystem. Integrate apps like Vote.org and create roles in chapters to host town halls on specific issues like affordable housing.
b) Target underrepresented groups. Copy Mamdani’s playbook!
c) Goal: Increase registered voters by 15% per cycle.

4. DEEPEN COALITIONS and ISSUE SPECIFIC CAMPAIGNS:
ASAAL already collaborates with hundreds of groups on censuses and elections. But focusing on high impact issues like wage theft or deportation fears could yield quicker wins and visibility.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT:
a) Prioritize 2-3 campaigns like NO DEPORTATION FOR DREAMERS partnering with AFL-CIO and AAPI.
b) Expand job fairs and host industry specific events for taxi drivers, street vendors.

5. DIVERSITY FUNDING AND SUSTAINABILTY:

Reliance on $20-50 membership donations limits scalability. Innovative revenue could fund more staff or tech upgrades.

HOW TO IMPLEMENT?

a) Crowdfund via platforms like GoFundMe for example for specific goals like legal aid.
b) Corporate sponsorships with ethical South-Asian owned businesses for event sponsorships etc.
By implementing these steps ASAAL can evolve from a vital voice to a transformative force ensuring South Asian workers not only to survive but lead America’s labor landscape.
Once again, I’m grateful for your inviting me and allowing me to say a few words.

In solidarity, unity and brotherhood I thank you for your time and patience.