Posted on 11/18/2004 5:10:42 PM PST by snopercod
Divided federation is taking up issue of union consolidation as some leaders thirst for change
Changes are brewing in the AFL-CIO. A new committee of union leaders is exploring possible mergers and how to put new life into organizing. And when transformations eventually are made, they are likely to have a significant impact on the labor federation’s Building and Construction Trades Dept.
The leadership of long-time AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney is being tested and may be doomed by the defeat of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Unions spent more than $100 million in their attempt to send Kerry to the White House and dispatched more than 200,000 volunteers into the field. Organized labor’s spin doctors touted the union mobilization effort as the biggest ever and pointed to significant gains in union households registered to vote. The Democrats’ defeat was more than a mild disappointment. "Labor has taken it on the chin in the last three elections," says one observer.
Sweeney, the former head of the Service Employees International Union, was elected to the top federation job in October 1995. At that time, he vowed to raise organized labor’s political profile. Some believe that labor has been more visible in the political arena. But with Republicans controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, labor repeatedly has been on the losing end when warding off GOP policies. To add to Sweeney’s woes, union membership in the work force now is less than 13%.
Sweeney, 70, vows to run for re-election in July for another five-year term. But there could be a challenger this time. Although he will not run against Sweeney, current SEIU President Andrew L. Stern, has been leading the charge for change. At a Nov. 10 meeting of the AFL-CIO’s Executive Council in Washington, D.C., Stern called for action on a 10-point plan by January. In addition to a major new organizing program, Stern’s plan includes consolidating the 65 current unions into about 20 global organizations that "unite the strength of workers in the same industry." Stern has stated that his union will leave the AFL-CIO unless bold initiatives are enacted. To counter Stern, Sweeney has appointed a committee to study restructuring and present its findings at an Executive Council meeting in February.
If SEIU and its 1.7 million members flee the federation, they would have company. Carpenters’ union President Douglas J. McCarron and his 520,000 members left the AFL-CIO in 2001 over differences with Sweeney. McCarron has no current plans to reaffiliate.
There has been speculation that SEIU might join with the carpenters and a couple of other unions and form a new labor federation. While sources expect some consolidation, particularly among smaller unions, a drastic revamp likely would not be supported by the Executive Council.
If Stern’s merger plan were to be adopted, there would like-ly be only three construction unions–a heavy and highway union, mechanical union and electrical union–instead of the 15 unions that now comprise BCTD. That is not likely to happen, says one source.
Any plan will be strongly opposed. Many union presidents have worked long and hard to get where they are and will not give up easily, notes one observer.
"There is a need to strengthen the constitution of the AFL-CIO," asserts painters’ union President James A. Williams. But merging unions is not necessarily the correct answer, he says. Union members include contractors, and many of those small business owners have long-term relationships developed over generations, he points out. "I don’t know if we can mandate [mergers] through some doctrine coming from Washington, D.C.," says Williams, an Executive Council member appointed to the committee to study Stern’s proposal.
But Frank Hanley, president of the operating engineers’ union and another Executive Council member, maintains that union consolidation "is a discussion that should be undertaken." But Hanley believes those discussions should be held privately in the Executive Council. If public discussion continues, the "good ideas won’t see the light of day," he adds.
While Stern has been most vocal in his opposition to Sweeney, the likely challenger is John W. Wilhelm, the longtime president of the hotel workers’ union and now a division president since its merger with the textile workers’ union. Terence M. O’Sullivan, president of the laborers’ union, also has been mentioned as a contender, but sources claim he will not challenge Sweeney. But O’Sullivan is expected to have a key, discreet role in affecting change.
Hanley is expected to announce his retirement early next year. He is the longest serving of the current building trade presidents, having been first elected president in 1990. His expected successor is Vincent J. Giblin, the current secretary-treasurer. He is described by one labor leader as "a sharp sophisticated guy."
Hanley, 74, says he "has three more years" left to his term and is not leaving. But sources say that there is "quiet talking" about the impending change and that "all the pieces have been moved on the chess board."
Perfect.
unions are one of the reasons that corporations have moved work overseas.
comrade sweeney should visit china to see the future.
Bill Sammon's excellent book , "At Any Cost" contains the fascinating tidbit that during the Florida recount mess, when the DC FReepers and other GOP activists demonstarted outside the Naval Observatory..screaming "GET OUT OF CHENEY'S HOUSE" over and over, for days on end...it drove Gore bananas...He called up Sweeney, and demanded that he send over some union folks to counter demonstrate..It could have turned ugly, but Sweeney refused to send anyone over. IT was just before the Thanksgivign weekend..Sweeney told Gore that everyone was away for the holidays, and told Gore to call him after the weekend. Gore never did...
"Unions spent more than $100 million in their attempt to send Kerry to the White House and dispatched more than 200,000 volunteers into the field."
It ought to be a violation of Campaign Finance laws to do that, and if it's not, then the entire CFR ought to be thrown out as unconstitutional.
there gonna add 3 new letters to AFL-CIO
RIP
One of the most visible unions in the sKerry campaign was the International Association of Fire Fighters (the yellow-shirted slaves). Does anyone know the breakdown of union firefighters voting for sKerry vs. Bush? As I recall, in 2000, the IAFF membership voted about 40% Bush. This time, with the advent of Firefighters for Bush, the percentage has to be much higher. I understand the president of IAFF (Schaitburger) was a big shot in the campaign. Anyone know the split?
The union struck, and after six months, the company closed down, throwing about a thousand workers out on the street.
All those union workers who used to make $20 per hour - the same ones who refused to take $18 - are now working for $9, with no benefits.
Smart move.
How funny. That is a great story. The only thing is - isn't Gore already bananas?
And union members still believe that if there were no illegals that companies would pay exorbitant union wages/benefits instead of outsourcing or moving over seas.
Even construction work that has to be done on site wouldn't necessarily go to union members. Many projects simply wouldn't be built.
bump
The 3 most satisfying results of the 2004 elections.
Bush won.
Thune won.
The liberals wasted at least $1,000,000,000 to achieve that result, and now its not available for other mischief.
Yes, yes and yes......I love it!!!!!
Bill Sammon was wrong.....Sweeney did call unions and ask them to send workers over. Don't believe everything you read.
Source., please?
Unless labor union leadership changes drastically, labor unions will slowly disappear. First thing the unions should do is back out of politics. They should not back a political candidate and only should voice opinions on issues. Their mission should strictly be the conditions and benefits for their membership in the employee work environment. The primary mission is protect their memebership and insure that the employer they bargain with remains stable and healthy economically. If an employer is milked to the bone, there are no jobs and benefits. Backing political candidates who have never run a business and are hell bent on killing the goose that lays the golden egg is a waste of time and the union members money. The current labor leadership is still living in a 1930s environment!!! Get with it fools. The train has left the station without you. Backing Democrats is a total waste of time in gaining your real objectives for your membership!!!
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