Before I head off to the airport to return back home (where I can now chew my fingernails over the last few games of the regular season…), a few wrap-up thoughts.

A number of people have been critical of CTW (and, I guess, me, too) for the lack of specifics coming out of the convention. I’m not sure I’ve been to any labor convention that unveils specifics about organizing campaigns, for better or worse. Now everyone has the chance to watch the actions of CTW and see if the new federation can pull it off.

But, personally, I was impressed by this one having more content than most conventions I’ve attended (I’m not going to name names but if others want to comment on conventions they’ve been to, by all means). The first thing was the repeated admission that the labor movement is dying–when have you ever heard that honestly dealt with from the podium? Usually, it’s a lot of patting on the back. Here, you had more honesty about the failures of labor.

Tom Woodruff’s presentation (a version of which I’ve seen before) was quite interesting, in particular for the many delegates: while people know the general theme of decline, the specifics are helpful–as are the areas of opportunity for growth. I’m not arguing the growth can be done fast enough to keep unions relevant. But, at least, delegates got a very good picture on the challenge (and Woodruff does a very good Donahue/Oprah imitation, wandering the stage with a wireless mike–let’s hear it for fewer behind-the-lectern speeches)

A few quick answers to questions: yes, a constitution was approved (I’m going to get the full e-version and post it, hopefully by the end of today). Ty asked: “I assume the sector coordinating committee for “food manufacturing” will involve UFCW and Teamsters and include meatpacking and other areas of food processing, taking on companies such as Smithfield, Hormel, and Tyson. But will it also take on agriculture? If not, what’s the UFW’s role in CTW?” Don’t know re: the UFW’s role, Ty, but it’s a good question.

There was no discussion about forming CTW central labor bodies–at least not publicly. My hunch is that everyone is trying to figure out whether the proposal from the AFL-CIO to pursue Solidarity Charters goes–that should play itself out in the next couple of weeks since John Sweeney has suspended kicking people out of the CLCs until October 15th. Just on that note, I would predict that if a compromise on the Solidarity Charters is not reached and the October 15th deadline (which I thought was unneccessarily short) is not extended, the Laborers will leave soon after (as reported here first, the Laborers have already decided to leave and Terry O’Sullivan has reiterated to his delegates that the issue is not if but when).

I assume public sector organizing will continue to be important; as Andy Stern mentioned to a gaggle of reporters outside the convention hall, you can take the exact type of worker, with the same background and same job, and, overwhelmingly, the public sector workers will join unions at a higher rate than private sector workers…for one reason–employer behavior and opposition in the private sector. But, at least to the delegates, the emphasis was on private sector organizing.Remeber what Tom Woodruff said yesterday, as I reported it from the CTW press conference: “50 million workers are in jobs that can’t be off-shored and can’t be digitized–six million are in the CTW unions now so 44 million are to be organized.” Most of those 44 million are in private sector jobs.

I think Steven Greenhouse’ piece today in The New York Times (subscription required) does touch on one repeated theme: many of the CTW leaders emphasized that any political support will be less tied to party affiliation. The Democratic Party must be having heart-failure. Certainly, you already can see that in the NY mayoral election where major CTW unions (UNITE HERE and SEIU’s 32BJ) have endorsed Bloomberg (a position I disagree with). But, of course, let’s see how that actually plays out in the 2006 mid-term elections.

I will say this to all unions: why does anyone need a convention that lasts more than one full day, maybe two at most? You can have a fully participatory, fully democratic convention that gets a lot done if you work a full day and eliminate all the pomp and meaningless speeches given by a parade of guests and elected officials. It will save every union millions of dollars in direct expenses and time.