AFL-CIO/See Ya

[ls317]

The Service Employees International Union yesterday took the first concrete step toward breaking up the AFL-CIO, the nation's central labor federation.

The SEIU executive board, at a meeting in San Francisco, authorized union leaders to quit the federation. As many as four other unions -- the Teamsters, the United Food and Commercial Workers, Unite Here and the Laborers -- could follow suit, pulling out 5 million of the AFL-CIO's 13 million members

.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/12/AR2005061200022.html?nav=rss_print/asection

[robcon]

1. This is sad.

A power play, pure and simple.

[formercia]

2. Sweeney is in Fearless Leader's pocket

The five dissident unions, which together represent about 40 percent of the AFL-CIO's membership, have been calling both for the replacement of President John J. Sweeney and for changes in the structure and powers of the 58-union federation.

Breaking up the AFL-CIO was Sweeney's plan all along.

[justgamma]

3. Sweeny was at our plant

before the Iowa caucuses. He was campaigning for Dean. Just thought that was interesting.