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LOCAL News :: Labor

Last Day of AFL-CIO Convention: Sweeney Gets Tough on CLC Issue

On the last day of the convention, John Sweeney has issued a three-page letter to all principal officers of state federation and Central Labor Councils. It’s darn tough and gives a sense that the Federation and the disaffiliated unions (SEIU and Teamsters) are headed for confrontations all across the country.
In introducing the letter, Sweeney has just given a very tough speech. Admitting that the disaffiliation of SEIU and Teamsters “will significantly impact” the Federation’s finances. “We must reject the free rider approach of the disaffiliated unions…We will not allow this Federation to be turned into an open shop operation,” the last comment eliciting a standing ovation.

To his credit, Sweeney allowed an open mike period to solicit comments from the delegates. Most of the delegate stayed away from any hot-button comments, choosing to praise the Federation for its focus on CLCs.

But, let’s face it—a war is going to erupt here. One delegate from Monterey County (whose name I didn’t catch) stood up to say that she was an SEIU member—to which people stood up and applauded. “I love my union and I’m very sad that for whatever reason my union choose to disaffiliate but my heart is with SEIU. But my other hear is with my central labor council. I am very very concered about the harsh…letter that I just read. I know it’s not popular but you need to understand that there are rank and file members from the disaffiliated unions out there who will walk away and believe that the AFL-CIO really doesn’t care about them.” A few people applauded but mostly silence followed her comments.

The letter basically lays down the law (this is an abbreviated excerpt—the full letter to come later today or tomorrow):

1. “Only locals of national unions that are affiliated with the national AFL-CIO may affiliate with or pay per capita (or per capita equivalents) to a state federation or central labor council or participate in its governance. State Federations and central labor councils may not accept per capita payments (or per capita equivalents) from unaffiliated unions.

2. No member of a national union that is unaffiliated with the national AFL-CIO can run for, or serve as a delegate, officer or spokesperson of a state federation or central labor council….

3. No state federation or central labor council may provide access to membership lists to any union that is unaffiliated with the AFL-CIO.

4. Under federal election law, no union that is unaffiliated with the AFL-CIO may participate in the AFL-CIO’s political program to education and mobilize members of AFL-CIO unions in support of pro-working family candidates.
 
 

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