What do you guys think about the rift in the AFL-CIO

[JohnKleeb]

Labor's one of my big issues personally having been in a union at one time as have many of my family members. It saddens me. Anyhow I think I feel compelled to side with Sweeney upon learning that one of the main unions during the splintering, the SEIU gave a little more than a half million dollars to the National Republican Governors Assosication which according to the article I read was the largest donation they received. I believe it was the head of the SEIU, Stern who was a real bastard to Kerry during the convention too saying it would be best if he didnt win. Dont know if my former union, the UFCW was part of the breakaway group nor do I know if the unions my relatives were in that is the UMWA and the USA were part of the break up either. The Teamstera and the AFSCME I believe were the two major other ones to break away. I think Ronald Reagan's legacy is that he ruined American labor's power and might, its a shame that labor isnt as powerful as it was when my dad was my age.

[Mass]

1. I am all for strong unions

but I have to say the AFL-CIO did not strike me as having the kind of strength unions in other countries are.

I do not know enough except that to judge their effectiveness for the American Workers (Why do all European countries have decent healthcare access for workers, for example, but not this country).

Stern was a bastard, you're right. The question is to know in what direction he wants to move. If it is to be more pro-business, this is a bad thing. If it is to fight for the workers, it is not. No clue where he stands on all the issues he should stand for.

I have to say this few words get my attention:

Andy Stern, of the SEIU, says it’s about changing priorities in order to regain union strength, changing from servicing union workers to organizing union workers.

“SEIU and other unions have tried for 10 years to get the AFL-CIO to adopt changes that would unite the strength of millions more workers in each industry.

But it remains to see what happens.

Read Sandy's blog for more info:

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1293

[sandnsea]

2. I just wrote on that

Funny you should bring it up. Yes, I really do think it's as simple as a fight over who is going to get the Wal-Mart workers, because they will organize eventually. And the Republican thing makes perfect sense because Republian social values fit with too many of these Wal-Mart workers and truck drivers anyway.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/?view=plink&id=1293