The post-AFl-CIO convention political skirmishing continues–except this time it happened on the international stage…not a good thing. This week, an important meeting of Union Network International (UNI) has been taking place in Chicago; UNI is a global network of about 900 service sector unions in 150 countries (wow, are there that many countries?). I’ll report on the important substance of the conference–global organizing–later but here’s what happened.
Joe Hansen, president of the UFCW, serves as the president of UNI. As we all know, the UFCW disaffiliated from the AFL-CIO. So, as the UNI convention took place, there was an attempt made by four U.S. unions to force Hansen not to run for re-election.
As I heard it, Larry Cohen, who will become the president of the Communications Workers of America next week, called Hansen on his cell phone. Hansen was standing in a parking lot. According to my sources, Cohen told Hansen that he should not stand for re-election because the UFCW no longer belongs to the AFL-CIO. I hear that Hansen politely said, “Fuck you.”
I asked Cohen to give me his view of the saga and he replied with the following, which I am reprinting, at his request, in full: “We respond only because this issue has been raised by others. CWA does not believe that a largely symbolic position, UNI presidency, should be from the UFCW or any US union at this time. We asked that Joe consider joining us in asking that the presidency pass to another country or region. We made it clear that our position had nothing to do with our own feelings about Joe or our willingness to work with UFCW on other issues.”
I think the problem with this, though, is that the whole thing went beyond just conversing with Hansen: a leaflet, which I reprint below, entitled “Statement Opposing the Reelection of Joe Hansen for UNI World President” was circulated throughout the convention.
Cohen has been one of the most vocal advocates of new organizing and solidarity work (and everyone should wish him great success at the helm of CWA)–which is why this effort makes my eyebrows go up. If the post is just symbolic, why create such a fuss over it? Internationally, people must think: what the fuck? Many countries have more than one labor federation, sometimes they merge, sometimes they leave–life goes on. What is up with these wacky Americans?
But, there is still a lot of emotional–can I use the word “growth”–that needs to happen here. It’s done, there’s a new federation in town and the AFL-CIO ain’t the only sheriff. Big deal. And what happens, as is entirely possible in the coming year, when the new federation becomes bigger than the AFL-CIO? Will AFL-CIO unions still want to make the argument about a divided labor movement–when, the argument could be made at that point, that AFL-CIO unions should merge into the newer, bigger federation?
Back in July, I made an argument that this whole “split” language was over the top and we were way too focused on the AFL-CIO as a structure. It raised a lot of hackles, including from my friend Leo Gerard, president of the Steelworkers. Back then, I said–and still believe now– that “If everyone can agree to work together no matter what structure they belong to, it will matter very little five years from now whether you belong to the AFL-CIO or not.”
But, there’s still a self-identification with the AFL-CIO as the representative of “the labor movement” that can’t be justified by the reality in the world. Even before “the split” you would have to wonder about that label. For example, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of worker community centers around the country that are not unions but do a lot of stuff to defend people, particular immigrants, at their workplaces. Were they now, or are they not now, part of the “labor movement?” In that they weren’t part of the AFL-CIO a few months ago, by a certain logic, they were “dividing” the labor movement. Of course, the opposite is true–the really good ones are doing worker defense efforts, but not in the traditional form of collective bargaining.
I suppose this will take more time but, what I said back in July is also still true: “It seems to me that the more people chastise those who want to go out on their own, the harder it’s going to be to maintain civility and forge ahead.” And so trying an unsuccessful effort to dump Joe Hansen just makes us look bad in the eyes of the international labor community–and doesn’t help calm the waters. Just my opinion.
===============================================
Statement Opposing the Reelection of Joe Hansen for UNI World President
We cannot support or vote for the candidate proposed by the Nominating Committee.
The American trade union movement is confronted by the most hostile, anti-union Administration in the history of our country. It is a time when maximum unity is demanded for the welfare of the American working family.
The proposed candidate for president of UNI is the president of the UFCW. Last month, his union along with two other disafliated from our National Trade Union Center, thus weakening the movement.
They left the AFL-CIO owing back per capita dues totaling approximately $8.5 million. Their departure not only adds an additional financial burden on the remaining affiliates but will have an impact on the ICFTU, where currently the AFL-CIO contributions equal about 20 percent of their budget.
Directly and through the Secretariat, we asked the president, in the name of global solidarity, to step down and pass the presidency to another country not faced with these serious internal divisions. We remain committed to national labor unity and global unionism.
In no way is this a personal attack or criticism of the president or his union. We will continue to work with disaffiliated unions whenever it is in the interest of working women and men. But, we strongly believe his candidacy for president of UNI sends the wrong signal at the wrong time.
Global unionism remains our mutual goal. We ask that all os us rededicate ourselves to our unified movement and not seek ways to divide it.
Submitted by:
American Postal Workers Union (APWU)
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
