Looks like the dems have lost the unions now

[fintstone]

Is the AFL-CIO coming apart?

Four groups, including the Teamsters and SEIU, could quit the labor federation as soon as Monday.
July 25, 2005: 9:28 AM EDT

"All the signs are that they are going to split off," former Labor Secretary Robert Reich told CNN.

The dissident unions have a combined membership of nearly 5 million workers -- about a third of the AFL-CIO's total membership. Their leaders have accused AFL-CIO President John Sweeney of putting more money into political campaigns at the expense of union organizing.

"We are not trying to divide the labor movement, we are trying to rebuild it," SEIU President Andy Stern said.

When the AFL-CIO formed in 1955, about 35 percent of American workers belonged to unions. Today, unions represent about 8 percent of the private-sector workforce.

The AFL-CIO has weighed in heavily behind Democrats in national politics, with member unions contributing tens of millions to party candidates in 2004, according to federal campaign finance records.

"In unity, there is strength," Reich said. "And if the AFL-CIO splits, the fear is at least that the entire labor union movement will be less powerful than it is today -- and that's not very powerful."

Reich, who led the Labor Department during the Clinton administration, said American workers are likely to be worse off "if the labor unions just find themselves fractured and angry."

But if the dissidents can get more workers to sign union cards, he said, "it's possible that the labor union movement, when the dust clears, is actually stronger."

Stern told reporters Sunday that he will "consult one last time tonight and make an announcement tomorrow." Teamsters President James Hoffa said he will consult with his executive board by phone before making an announcement, and UFCW President Joe Hansen said he doesn't think there's any chance for a "change in course."

Sweeney, who was president of the SEIU before becoming the federation's leader in 1995, said the federation's remaining 50-plus unions "will make major decisions about changing workers' lives this week, no matter what happens."

"It's a shame for working people that, before the first vote has been cast, four unions have decided that if they can't win, they won't show up for the game," Sweeney said in a written statement.

He said the boycotting unions "should come argue for their ideas and listen to others. That's how democracies work." He called it "fundamentally wrong to use working people's issues as a fig leaf for a power struggle."

But SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger said the AFL-CIO "has listened ... but, in the end, has not heard us." She called the differences "unresolvable."

The coalition includes three other unions -- the Laborers International Union, the Carpenters Union and the United Farm Workers. The UFW and the Laborers are not planning to boycott the convention, and the Carpenters Union is not an AFL-CIO member.

Union leaders said they were not able to consult with their members about the boycott in time to join, but said they agree with other coalition members.

[WOODPIE]

Yeah, I forget the amendment, but you are definately covered under the "Freedom to jump to your own conclusions" part.

Honestly, fint, how your thought process works...

So, the dems have lost the unions to who? The repubs? Libertarians? Greens? Martians?

Claptrap and hooey.

Goodnight

Ed

[fintstone]

Ed

Where have you been? Union leadership has supported the Dems for years. They have spent large amounts of money funding democratic candidates. Clearly if the unions are breaking up due to the membership's problem with them "putting too much money into politics," it has to favor the right.

[Jeff Higgins]

I deal with union workers every day in my job. It has been a very long time since they have agreed with the union's official position on anything political. The vast majority are very conservative in their views on family, religion, abortion, equal rights, and virtually every other current "hot button" issue. Many of them are veterans; we still send our less priveledged "working class" to fight our wars. What does all of this add up to? It should be obvious. The modern Democratic party is diametrically opposed to every one of this class of people's VALUES. There is that ugly word again that the left has labelled as a neocon shortcoming. Values; they mean a lot to these people, as well they should. When I walk through the shops here at work, I see Bush / Cheny stickers on toolboxes. The only Kerry / Edwards stickers are on the union stewards boxes. I know this union split is not motivated entirely by the AFL/CIO' political leanings, but I'm sure it's part of it. At the grassroots level there is a huge disconnect between union leadership and membership. It will be interesting to see where this goes. With Democrats having long ago quit listening to working class Americans, they really don't have many options left. After the fallout from the last election, and listening to Schumer, Kennedy, et al saying that the Democratic party simply has to do a better job of getting its message out without compromising its core values, it is clear that they have lost direction and quit listening. American workers do hear them; they do understand the message; that is why they are leaving in droves. And now their unions, too. Maybe the unions listen better and are willing to re-align with those they represent. In contrast, the Democrats quit listening and expect the workers to re-align with them, and their radically different values - or lack thereof.

[widebody911]

DNC -> RIP

It's going to be interesting to watch the RNC court the union folx now, particularly after all the union bad-mouthing.

[legion]

Maybe things are ripe for more than two real political parties?

[targa911S]

Unions have been in bed with big corp and politicians for a long time now. It's about time at least some of them get back to their roots of taking care of the working man. Bring it back to the shop floor ..not the beltway.

[bryanthompson]

Originally posted by widebody911
It's going to be interesting to watch the RNC court the union folx now, particularly after all the union bad-mouthing.

That will be interesting... Prominent repubs have admitted to, basically, abandoning the black vote and unions. Recently they tried appealing to blacks by apologizing for just leaving with the dems. I mean, we haven't even been fighting for the black vote, really. It does both sides a disservice when it's just assumed that one group will vote for a certain party.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
we still send our less priveledged "working class" to fight our wars.

Where I agree with you, I will say so - you made one point which I agree with and say is true.

[cowtown]

Originally posted by targa911S
It's about time at least some of them get back to their roots of taking care of the working man. Bring it back to the shop floor ..not the beltway.

That's exactly what one of the heads of the breakaway movement (Service Employees, I think) said on Jim Lehrer - GASP! PBS! GASP! - last night. More jobs, better wages, better protections for families, and getting "out of the beltway."

The thing is, this rhetoric doesn't square with either party, and he's not proposing how to do any of those things.

The Rs will not put protectionist measures into law, and will not increase taxes to raise social services for middle to lower class families.

The Ds pay lots of lip service to the evils of outsourcing, but no one proposes stopping it because it would hurt the very same people who benefit from the cheap goods the global economy provides. Want union-protected jobs? Then you'd better be willing to pay a lot more for what you buy. WHO is shopping at WalMart? Lots of union workers and their families.

If I'm remembering the piece yesterday correctly, the breakaways were about 20% of the members. That's a lot of dues, and a lot of PAC money.

No answers here, just the way I see it. These guys are orphans. The service/manufacturing-based unions will split up and disintegrate. Economics is passing them by.

[DaveE]

I'm sure we'll suddenly see the right become pro-labor.......NOT!!

[techweenie]

Ths is a brilliant chess move.

And no matter what they say, it's not because of a desire to be 'outside the beltway.' Quite the opposite. It's to create another pressure point against NAFTA, CAFTA, outsourcing and lax immigration rules -- one that both parties will have to address.

[gaijindabe]

The price of playing politics instead of building your base.

One day soon African American voters are going to split from the Democratic Party.

[RallyJon]

Dick Gephardt in '08!!! Whoo hooo! Get out your base!

[techweenie]

All your base are belong to us.

(somebody had to say it.)

[techweenie]

Originally posted by gaijindabe
The price of playing politics instead of building your base.

One day soon African American voters are going to split from the Democratic Party.

Uh, sure they are. Any day now. And how do we formulate that into a bet?

[widebody911]

Originally posted by RallyJon
Dick Gephardt in '08!!! Whoo hooo! Get out your base!

Bring out your dead... Bring out your dead...

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by techweenie
Ths is a brilliant chess move.

And no matter what they say, it's not because of a desire to be 'outside the beltway.' Quite the opposite. It's to create another pressure point against NAFTA, CAFTA, outsourcing and lax immigration rules -- one that both parties will have to address.

I sure hope you are right, tech. There has been an ongoing slide down a very slippery slope on these issues, with no one really representing the American worker. The Republicans have been too busy with their corporation building, and the Democrats have been too busy with unpopular peripheral special-interest social issues. The Republicans have never forgotton the American worker, and I don't mean that in a good way. They have done everything in their power to promote offshore outsourcing of American jobs and the importation of the cheap goods produced. When the American worker looked to the Democrats for relief, they were too busy with gay rights, abortion, the environment, and their own brand of corporate schmoozing. Maybe this will be the proverbial "shot accross the bow" that they will need to finally wake up and start taking care of their former base.

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by techweenie
Uh, sure they are. Any day now. And how do we formulate that into a bet?

The day Condi is nominated!

[stevepaa]

Nice summation, Jeff. Thanks