NYT: Politics Has Dissidents Talking to A.F.L.-C.I.O.

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/us/19labor.html?ref=us

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE
Published: July 19, 2008

The presidents of several labor unions that quit the A.F.L.-C.I.O. three years ago have been quietly meeting with union presidents in the federation to coordinate their political operations and message for the fall election, a move that labor leaders say could lead to several of the unions rejoining the federation.

In a series of dinners and meetings in Washington, the presidents of several breakaway unions and the presidents of several federation unions have been mapping strategies to help elect Senator Barack Obama and forge joint policies on trade and other issues.

Several union officials involved in the meetings said the leaders had also discussed overhauling the A.F.L.-C.I.O. to address the concerns of some breakaway unions, with the aim of persuading some to rejoin.

One issue being debated is whether Richard Trumka, the federation’s secretary-treasurer, should succeed John J. Sweeney as president. Because Mr. Trumka, considered the favorite, is unpopular with several breakaway union leaders, his election would make it less likely that those unions would return.

In 2005, several leading unions — including the service employees; the Teamsters; the food and commercial workers; and Unite Here, which represents hotel, restaurant and apparel workers — quit the A.F.L.-C.I.O., asserting that it was too bureaucratic, plodding and ineffective in reversing labor’s long decline. The seceding unions formed the Change to Win Coalition, which has created its own political field operation and organizing operation.

But now, eager for the Democrats to win the White House and increase their majorities in Congress, the union presidents are trying to maximize their political cooperation, especially in swing states where unions are strong: Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

FULL story at link.