Gerry McEntee, president of AFSCME, has just sent this letter to his members giving his views on the causes for the disaffiliation of SEIU and Teamsters from the AFL-CIO. Also, there is a background document that lays out AFSCME’s views of the issues.

What’s particularly interesting is the last part of the background document which talks about current fights over raids of AFSCME units by SEIU. This afternoon’s debate about the per capita increase included a resolution to establish a special fund for CLCs and state labor bodies to, among other things, potential raids.

One speaker said, speaking about SEIU, “they have put a target on the backs of AFSCME.” He specifically cited a battle underway in Riverside, California for 40,000 homecare workers. In fact, SEIU has sent a July 25th letter to the management of the IHSS Public Authority Riverside County and, citing the fact that SEIU is no longer affiliated with the AFL-CIO, asks that it “disregard President Sweeney’s letter and proceed with processing of the petition filed by SEIU Local 434B for an election among Homecare Workers in Riverside County.”