This was no surprise, actually. It had been brewing for some time and a few days ago I was told it would become more public:

Teachers Union President Randi Weingarten acknowledged for the first time Tuesday that she’s contemplating a new job – president of the national teachers union.

Weingarten’s possible ascent to the national post from one of the city’s largest and most powerful unions has been widely anticipated as talk grew that American Federation of Teachers President Edward McElroy would step down.

Tuesday, after McElroy announced that he would not run for reelection when his term expires in July, Weingarten, president of the United Federation of Teachers, confirmed her interest in the national post.

    Now, wouldn’t you know it, we’re honoring Weingarten in just a few weeks…what this article doesn’t mention, but it is mentioned in The New York Times piece, is that Weingarten oversaw one of the largest organizing victories for labor in recent times: winning the right to represent 28,000 child care workers in New York State. It is true that the victory was possible because New York’s Governor Eliot Spitzer signed an executive order giving those folks bargaining rights. But, still, you have to go out and recruit them.