AFL-CIO ... What lies ahead?

[StLRes2cue]

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[GeorgeWendtCFI]

This is my OPINION! Please bear in mind thaT I am a union member.

I think that you are witnessing the beginning of the implosion of the organized labor movement in the US. I believe that this has been a long time brewing. These issues are the driving force.

1. 50 years ago, the organized labor movement represented the common working man. They fought for, and won, many battles on behalf of workers in many industries. Wage and salary laws, occupational health and safety, arbitration laws, and other rights were won either in court or in the legislature. In that vein, they have had to pick other battles.

2. Today, most labor unions do not represent the common working man. They are viewed by mainstream America as radical. They are percieved as overtly partisan. Many of these organizations promote incompetence. The NEA is a perfect example of this with their obsessive battle against teachers meeting standards to stay licensed.

3. Most of the stereotypical "working class" are not partisan Democrats. Yet, the unions typically pour thousands of dollars into the coffers of Dem politicos.

4. That said, some of these unions have battles ahead of them that they will be in a better position to fight w/o being saddled with the archaic ways of the AFL-CIO. The Service Workers Union is a perfect example. The Garment Workers Union is another.

In short, in most cases, organized labor has outlived its usefulness.

[Nail200]

George,

I believe we're pretty much on the same sheet of music on the union issues.

I'm not so sure this adds up to an implosion. I think these unions will seek another federation to rally around. I think that competition may work to the member's advantage as far as better representation. The Democrats are likely to loose some funding but most if not all the union leadership will still be married to them.
More likely it will be a shuffling of the deck and a deal pushed towards the same end game.

If these unions follow Harold's strategy it will bring them back to the middle on much of the moral, gun, and defense issues. The economic philosophy will likely go unchanged. Some union leaders think they can win the moderates by not catering to the fringe left groups the AFL CIO allied itself with. They're probably right.

In March the AFL CIO met in Vegas and decided to up the dues going to the legislative agenda. I think it was to the tune of 90 million over the next two years. This may have been the trigger. Many union leaders feel more money and effort should be put towards the individual members and the efforts to organize and build. Although I'm not keen on the union movement, this will likely fair better for them.

I hear what Harold is saying. I'll have to see some action before I buy it. I look hard at the way the IAFF spends its PAC funds. It is the most bipartisan of the group. The PAC funds are used for two reasons, to buy political favor and to help elect friendlies. There is hardly a single instance of a Republican in a tough race getting supported by IAFF PAC funds. I'm very skepticle of what is put out to the public and the membership and what is actually the real agenda.

When the IAFF pulls out of the AFL CIO and chooses to let the rank and file vote on union leadership at the national level, I'll take another look at coming back.

[JackTee09]

George is correct - Labor is imploding. In early 1980 it was predicted - though wags then said it would take 30 years. In fact it has not taken the entire 30.

The American people have changed their "fundamental" views of politics and policy - they see unions as reactionary and in this post modern climate - that is fatal. Labor leaders know it which is why many are trying to undo the ties that have so handicapped unions in the past.

The problem is that it likely to late. How this will alter the IAFF is unknown-though there will be brothers who say it will always exist-and others who say it will shrivel.
It will be a while and a lot of posturing and so forth - but the DLC has even advocated a fundamental shift away from close ties to ANY organized labor.

As someone who was a member of two unions my opinion is that labor movements in America are as close to being dead as they ever have - in short the nation changed and labor did not.

[allineedisu]

This may be the time for all unions to go their seperate ways and not be associated with the AFL/CIO any longer.

This was a bold step for them to pull away. I expect to see more down the road.