Organizing workers vs. Politicians
Over the last year, labor leader Andy Stern has been pushing the envelope in labor, making waves, and generally stirring up some shit. And boy is it time. With union density at an all time low and a very strong conservative, anti-worker Presidential administration, we need to think outside the box and try new things.
Andy Stern wants the AFL-CIO to rebate half of money it collects from affiliated unions in dues to help qualified unions run aggressive organizing campaigns. Unless labor regains density in the workforce, he argues, it will become increasingly weaker.
President Sweeney responded with a rival proposal that would devote half of the dues into AFL-CIO political campaigns and try and elect more labor-friendly candidates. At the AFL-CIO executive board meeting in Las Vegas, Sweeney won by a 15 to 7 vote.
The debate is not over though. The AFL-CIO Convention is this summer and Stern will definitely continue to fight for his proposal. Stern has threatened to take SEIU out of the AFL-CIO if they don’t reform themselves.
While Stern lost the vote, he did win in that he has created a debate within labor. Labor is not dying in America. Labor is intentionally being murdered. And Andy is doing his best to wake up labor to this fact.
Progressives discover Andy Stern
Progressive writer and former candidate for Governor, Arriana interviewed Andy Stern recently and had this to say about Andy Stern:.
‘And so that's exactly what he does, shaking things up with his reform-or-else threat to break up the AFL-CIO; with a campaign to bring Wal-Mart to its knees; and with his pledge to "pay back" politicians, "no matter who they are or what party they come from ... who looked us in the eye and said they were for us – but then went out and betrayed us." But Stern is far more than just a fearless fighter; he is also a brilliant and innovative thinker and strategist. "To lead is to choose," he says, "and it is unacceptable in these extraordinary times to ignore the choices facing us. I want the SEIU to be the leading political force in our country that moves our leaders to face the difficult choices."
Isn't it great to hear a labor leader talk like a labor leader? And isn't it great to hear labor talking about organizing workers instead of just trying to elect politicians? Whether Stern wins the battle or not in July, he has already won the war.
Andy Stern wants the AFL-CIO to rebate half of money it collects from affiliated unions in dues to help qualified unions run aggressive organizing campaigns. Unless labor regains density in the workforce, he argues, it will become increasingly weaker.
President Sweeney responded with a rival proposal that would devote half of the dues into AFL-CIO political campaigns and try and elect more labor-friendly candidates. At the AFL-CIO executive board meeting in Las Vegas, Sweeney won by a 15 to 7 vote.
The debate is not over though. The AFL-CIO Convention is this summer and Stern will definitely continue to fight for his proposal. Stern has threatened to take SEIU out of the AFL-CIO if they don’t reform themselves.
While Stern lost the vote, he did win in that he has created a debate within labor. Labor is not dying in America. Labor is intentionally being murdered. And Andy is doing his best to wake up labor to this fact.
Progressives discover Andy Stern
Progressive writer and former candidate for Governor, Arriana interviewed Andy Stern recently and had this to say about Andy Stern:.
‘And so that's exactly what he does, shaking things up with his reform-or-else threat to break up the AFL-CIO; with a campaign to bring Wal-Mart to its knees; and with his pledge to "pay back" politicians, "no matter who they are or what party they come from ... who looked us in the eye and said they were for us – but then went out and betrayed us." But Stern is far more than just a fearless fighter; he is also a brilliant and innovative thinker and strategist. "To lead is to choose," he says, "and it is unacceptable in these extraordinary times to ignore the choices facing us. I want the SEIU to be the leading political force in our country that moves our leaders to face the difficult choices."
Isn't it great to hear a labor leader talk like a labor leader? And isn't it great to hear labor talking about organizing workers instead of just trying to elect politicians? Whether Stern wins the battle or not in July, he has already won the war.
1 Comments:
For more on Stern, also see this Stern interview at Daily Kos.
It's clear that there is beginning to be a serious rethinking of Labor's strategy within the movement, which is incredibly exciting for those of us who have been in and around the labor movement.
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